Forums to focus on civic issues

Wisconsin State Journal
1/12/2006

By: Marv Balousek

The definition of "civitas" is citizenship, shared responsibility and a sense of community.

It's also the name of a new series of monthly forums that will focus on local finance, public education and other issues.

Jim Wood of Wood Communications Group in Madison, who is helping to organize the Civitas program, said he hopes it will create a pool of knowledgeable people who will be engaged in community issues, generate ideas and perhaps seek public office.

"Our goal is to improve involvement and understanding of civic business," he said. "It is about how local government works. It's how a budget gets put together. It's how the process works."

The program will draw on former elected officials and others to make presentations at a monthly luncheon meeting. Topics will include understanding property taxes, the local budget process, how we pay for schools and funding of public safety, social services and transportation. The last session, scheduled for December, will be a candidate training seminar.

Presenters at the first session on Feb. 8 on property taxes include Todd Berry, executive director of the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance; former public official Jonathan Barry; former Sun Prairie Mayor Joanne Orfan; Ed Huck of the Wisconsin Alliance of Cities; and Dane County Controller Charles Hicklin.

At future sessions, presenters Will include Lon Sprecher, former state budget director; Mike Ley, former state revenue secretary; and former Dane County Executive Rick Phelps.

Jennifer Alexander, director of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber is a partner with Wood Communications in developing the program.

"We're really excited about Civitas," she said. "It's one more way for people to become aware and civically involved."
Civitas is similar to a 13-year-old chamber-sponsored program called Leadership Greater Madison. Connie Shomberg, its director, said the two programs are compatible.

"Actually, I think it's a wonderful combination," Shomberg said. "We're directing our focus to people serving on local boards, committees and commissions. We're not trying to get people to run for public office."

Today, she said, about 37 people in the current Leadership Greater Madison class will spend the day at Jefferson Middle School studying issues that affect early childhood development. That program involves a full day each month.

If the Civitas program succeeds, advanced seminars may be offered next year along with the original seminars for a new group of participants. The cost is $200 per person, which covers lunch.

"Our purpose is to raise the dialogue and understanding of issues facing the Dane County area," said Kennan Wood of Wood Communications.

The program is supported by nearly a dozen sponsors such us CUNA Mutual Group and Madison Gas and Electric Co., which are providing money for program materials and other costs.

Participants have been nominated by community groups and people can apply at www.civitaswi.org.

"It's the 101 (class) of government," said Howard Cosgrove of Wood Communications. "We have sent out information to all kinds of groups around the county asking them to nominate people."