Athenian Dialogue - Year of Yes

Course code:26-SS-174
Dates:February 10-11, 2026 Alternate Course Dates
Meets:Tu and W from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, 2 sessions
Hours:6.00
Location:Live Online via Zoom
Instructor:Libby Hume
Fee: $100.00Fee Breakdown

Description

Athenian Dialogues explore leadership principles and practices, drawing on the insights contained in a book that all participants have read. Dialogues are a channel of communication in which municipal clerks share their experience and understanding as they relate to the author’s ideas and the relevance of those ideas to their public leadership role.

Book Selection — Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person by Shonda Rhimes
Length: 352 pages

In Year of Yes, acclaimed television producer and writer Shonda Rhimes shares how a personal challenge—to say “yes” for one year to opportunities that scared her—transformed her life. Her journey from fear to courage demonstrates the power of stepping outside your comfort zone. For clerks, embracing a “yes” mindset can foster personal growth, expand leadership capacity, and build confidence when facing new challenges in public service.

Learning Outcomes:

  1. Recognize how fear and avoidance can limit leadership opportunities
  2. Practice saying “yes” to professional growth experiences that build confidence
  3. Apply lessons of courage and openness to strengthen clerk roles and community engagement

Notes

Meeting Times
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM Eastern
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM Central
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Mountain
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM Pacific

Facilitator: Libby Hume, MMC
Libby Hume is the Town Clerk of the Town of Cape Charles on the Eastern Shore of Virginia and has been in the position since 2008. Libby has over 25 years' experience in administration, fifteen with the Town of Cape Charles, and ten in the private sector. She joined IIMC and the VMCA in 2009 and obtained her CMC in November 2013 and her MMC in September 2016. She was inducted into the IIMC Athenian Leadership Society as a Fellow in May 2018 and is the first clerk in the Commonwealth of Virginia to receive this designation. She is the only clerk in Virginia certified by the IIMC to facilitate Athenian Leadership Dialogues.

The book must be purchased separately on your own. Please read the entire book prior to the session. Athenian Dialogues will be held live online using Zoom meetings. VCU will provide you with a link where you can connect through your PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, or Android device. We encourage full participation and require that all clerks have their cameras on and be seen for the entire session.

Registration Options

IIMC Points
To earn International Institute of Municipal Clerk (IIMC) education points, participants must fully participate in the dialogue and successfully complete a written assessment within 30 days of the last session. Submission instructions will be provided via email at the end of the dialogue. The facilitator will review and provide feedback and approve the submission in order for the participant to earn the IIMC education points.

Attendance Only
To earn an "attendance only" certificate toward your fellow application to the IIMC Athenian Leadership Society, clerks must fully participate in the entire dialogue.

Cancellation and Refund Policies:
You may cancel your registration up until two weeks before the start date, and receive a full refund minus a $35 credit card processing fee. After that date, no refunds will be given. Cancellations must be received via email at ocpe@vcu.edu
In the unlikely event that this workshop is cancelled or postponed due to insufficient enrollments or unforeseen circumstances, the university will fully refund registration fees, but cannot be held responsible for any other expenses, including change or cancellation charges to include but not limited to airlines, hotels, travel agencies, or other organizations.
Student/Participant Conduct:
Participants are subject to all university policies applicable to students, unless a specific university or VCU Continuing and Professional Education policy explicitly states otherwise. University policies governing students are available at https://vcu.public.doctract.com including:
Student Code of Conduct
Honor System and Standards of Academic Conduct
Preventing and Responding to Discrimination
Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy-Interim
Sex-Based Misconduct Policy-Interim
For Academic Accommodations, please visit https://ocpe.vcu.edu/courses/policies.html#accommodations

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