Get engaged!

No, not with a ring, with your community. As the presidential race grinds on, people are inundated with politics on the national level. How will this candidate or that govern? Which policies will be best for the country?

In reality, the elected officials that have the most impact on our daily lives are those who hold local public office. Do you know who your county supervisor is? School board member? Do you even know what district you live in?

Want to know how our wonderful schools are funded? More about Goochland’s history?

There’s an easy and rewarding way to learn what makes Goochland tick and get to know people from all walks of life that you might not otherwise encounter.

It’s called Goochland Leadership Enterprise. Begun in 1996, GLE is recruiting for its next class. Sessions are typically held at 7 p.m. every other Wednesday evening between mid-September and mid-March at locations around the county to provide insight about places not on your usual “flight path”. A holiday hiatus runs from November 30 to January 4.

Each meeting explores a different facet of Goochland including its history; agriculture; county departments; courts and law enforcement; county services; economic development and the budget process. GLE provides an opportunity to meet with elected officials on the state and local level and spends a day at the Virginia General Assembly for an up close look at how our state government works.

The final meeting provides an overview of volunteer opportunities on Goochland.

Created to help newcomers and lifelong Goochlanders get acquainted and involved with their community and each other, GLE graduates serve on the Board of Supervisors, School Board, and leadership of most county organizations. Several GLE grads have served as Goochland’s Christmas Mother. One blogs.

Goochland is a great place to live, and GLE is a great way to get to know it better.

Registration will be open until the first class on September 14. For additional information, brochure, and applications call the Goochland Extension Office at 804-556-5841.