11/12/97

Contacts:
Joani Gent, Institute for Public Leadership, (515) 294-2951
Brian Meyer, Iowa State University Agriculture Information, (515) 294-0706

FIRST COMMON GROUND LEADERSHIP AWARD PRESENTED

AMES, Iowa -- The Institute for Public Leadership has presented its first Common Ground Leadership Award to Ralph Rosenberg and Linda Hanson.

Rosenberg was honored as the founder of the institute, which was established in 1995 to promote communication, cooperation and quality service delivery among Iowa's three branches of state government. Rosenberg, who served for 13 years as a state legislator from Ames, is is now executive director of the Coalition for Family and Children's Services in Des Moines.

Hanson is director of the Iowa Department of Personnel and an institute board member. She was instrumental in gaining the support and resources needed to make the institute a reality. In 1996, she wrote the nomination that resulted in the institute receiving an honorable mention award for innovation from the National Association of State Personnel Executives.

The Common Ground Leadership Award was presented in early November on the final day of the Institute for Public Leadership's 1997 training session. The award will be given annually to a person or group that has made significant contributions toward enhancing quality of governmental services delivered to Iowans; increasing governmental effectiveness, efficiency and communication; and exemplifying the spirit of intergovernmental cooperation and achievement.

Each year the nonprofit Institute for Public Leadership provides training for emerging leaders from all levels and branches of state government. The goal of the training is to facilitate intergovernmental cooperation and enhance the quality of government services.

The institute's advisory board is made up of representatives from the executive, legislative and judicial branches of state government, Iowa State University Extension, other regents institutions and the League of Women Voters.

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