PA Rural-Urban Leadership Program Seeks Applicants

RULE/PALP Alums volunteering at the PA Livestock Association Booth at the 2013 Farm Show.

The Pennsylvania Rural-Urban Leadership (RULE) program, a two-year leadership development initiative, is seeking applicants interested in becoming members of the program's 15th class, according to State Senator Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming).

“RULE’s purpose is to encourage and foster the development of community leaders from all segments of Pennsylvania,” Yaw said. “The program of study is bolstered by its partnership with Penn State connecting RULE with cutting edge leadership research.”

The program focuses on developing proficiencies in four target areas: communication skills, group process, personal leadership and specific community issues. During the first year, the emphasis is on local, regional and state public policy issues. The second year focuses on national and international issues. Participants take an active role in the learning process and in program development. New skills are directly applicable to current public policy issues and personal growth.

The program's selection criteria are designed to include participants from diverse backgrounds with different interests and goals, as well as a demonstrated commitment to community involvement and solving public issues.

The RULE program is collaboratively funded by individual participants, sponsoring organizations, private and public contributions, and Penn State. RULE fellows are admitted without regard to age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, national origin, race, religious creed, political affiliation, gender, sexual orientation or veteran status. RULE is in the College of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Agricultural Economics & Rural Sociology.

How Can you Benefit from the RULE Program
RULE Fellows will learn strategies for taking charge and leading their organizations and communities in positive directions. Through practice, each participant will assume new responsibilities and develop new skills and confidence. Every skill they learn will be directly and immediately applicable to the issues and problems facing their organizations and communities. Participants in the program will achieve various results:

• Increased understanding of the economic, political, cultural and social forces inherent to the public decision making process.
• Enhanced knowledge of the application of leadership skills, processes and strategies to resolve conflict.
• The ability to study community problems and issues from a broad economic, political, cultural and social perspective.
• Increased understanding of contemporary social and economic problems and policy issues, and how to effectively impact public policy.
• An understanding of the budgetary concerns encountered by rural/urban communities.
• An enhanced awareness of international relations and the world economy.
• A broadened understanding of the legislative process and legislative procedure.
• Increased ability and opportunity to participate in local government and non-profit community organizations.
• Expanded and strengthened leadership skills, the catalyst for the democratic process.

For applications or information, call (814) 863-4679. More information also is available at the program's Web site at http://extension.psu.edu/rule