This document summarizes a women's leadership conference being held on May 18, 2012 in Naperville, Illinois. The conference will address challenges facing women in local government leadership and feature keynote speakers and breakout sessions on topics like leading from the military perspective, critical thinking, advocacy for parent care, and diversity and inclusion. The conference is being organized by the Legacy Project, a group of Illinois women in public service who aim to advance women in local government through knowledge sharing, mentoring, and encouraging diversity.

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Women s Legacy Conference
May 18, 2012
NIU Naperville, Illinois
lead∙er∙ship
Definition of LEADERSHIP
1: the office or position of a leader
2: capacity to lead
3: the act or an instance of leading

2. Northern Illinois University Center for What is the Legacy Project?
Governmental Studies and The Legacy In April 2011, a group of women from various levels
of public service within Illinois began to meet to
Project invite you to the first annual Women s
start a dialogue focusing on their legacy as leaders.
Legacy Conference to address Issues Facing
The core questions before them centered on the
Women in Local Government.
following themes:
Challenges facing women in leadership are
How can we help attract, mentor and retain
neither new nor unrecognized. Women have made
women in local government?
many inroads since the passage of Title IX in the
How can we encourage students to pursue a
1970's. They continue to push against the glass
career in local government management?
ceiling in business and public administration. They
How can we help diversify the profession
make up an increasing number of the student
and encourage more minority
population at colleges and universities and
representation?
continue to earn a greater percentage of degrees at
both baccalaureate and post baccalaureate levels.
The women emerged from the meetings with ideals
However, despite these advancements, the number
and action plans about their legacies - captured by
of women in leadership roles remains
the purpose statement of Advancing Women in
disproportionate given that women make up half of
Local Government. Goals and programs were also
the global population.
discussed in detail, especially those relating to the
chosen core values:
According to a recent speech given by Esther
Brimmer, Assistant Secretary of the US Bureau of
Share knowledge and expertise
International Organization Affairs, "When women
Mentor women in local government
are not serving in governments, when their voice
Diversify the profession to encourage
and experience are muted, when they are not at the
greater minority involvement
negotiating table their absence has direct impact
on society, on peace and security, on strengthening
Today, this effort is known as The Legacy Project.
Legacy ¦ 5/18/2012
democracy in the communities, nations and world
in which we live."
Register at http://tinyurl.com/legacy2012
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3. Conference at a Glance...
8:30 AM Registration & Continental Breakfast
9:00 AM Opening Keynote Jill Morgenthaler, Retired Army Colonel
Winning at Work: 21 Ways to Lead and Succeed in Business
10:45 AM Choice of Break Out Sessions
Leading from the Front - Leadership Lessons from the US Military
Critical Thinking for Leaders
12:00 PM Lunch
1:00 PM Choice of Break Out Sessions
Parent Care - How to be an Astute Advocate
Diversity, Inclusion and Cultural Management for Women Leaders
2:30 PM Closing Keynote Rita Athas, President, World Business Chicago
Myth Busters ‒ Are Women Really Held Back or are We Doing It to Ourselves?
3:30 PM Networking Wine & Cheese
chal·lenge
verb ˈcha-lənj
Definition of CHALLENGE
1: to demand as due or deserved
2: to dispute especially as being unjust, invalid, or outmoded : impugn
3: to question formally the legality or legal qualifications of
4 : to confront or defy boldly : dare
Legacy ¦ 5/18/2012
5: to arouse or stimulate especially by presenting with difficulties
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4. Opening Keynote
Winning at Work: 21 Ways to Lead and
Succeed in Business
Presented by Retired Army Colonel Jill Morgenthaler
Some people roar ahead in their careers while others
stagnate. Some advance their careers and some
unknowingly sabotage their careers. Jill shows you 21
ways to move forward while eliminating unconscious
mistakes that could be holding you back. You can easily
incorporate these invaluable coaching tips into your social
and business skills. If you recognize and change certain
behaviors, the results will pay off in career opportunities
you never thought possible - and in an image that
identifies you as someone with the power and knowledge
to lead and succeed.
Addresses ICMA Practice Area(s): Personal Development
lead‐er‐ship
Definition of LEADERSHIP
1: the office or position of a leader
2: capacity to lead
3: the act or an instance of leading
Legacy ¦ 5/18/2012
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5. Morning Break Out Sessions
Leading From the Front ‒ Leadership Critical Thinking for Leaders
Presented by Molly M. Fine, MBA
Lessons from the US Military
Presented by Retired Army Colonel Jill
Effective leaders possess critical thinking skills.
Morgenthaler
This workshop will explore the development and
application of critical thinking and the tasks and
This interactive workshop has been developed to
challenges leaders will face in their professional
help individuals and organizations move forward.
experiences. Participants will identify their
In this dynamic workshop, participants will share
decision-making preference and how it can be
how to advance while leading from the front. As a
adapted as roles and responsibilities change.
bonus, you can easily incorporate these invaluable
tips into your social and business lives.
Addresses ICMA Practice Area(s): Staff
Effectiveness
Addresses ICMA Practice Area(s): Staff
Effectiveness
Register at http://tinyurl.com/legacy2012
Cautious, careful people always casting about to preserve their reputation or social standards
never can bring about reform. Those who are really in earnest are willing to be anything or
nothing in the world's estimation, and publicly and privately, in season and out, avow their
sympathies with despised ideas and their advocates, and bear the consequences.
Susan B. Anthony
Legacy ¦ 5/18/2012
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6. Afternoon Break Out Sessions
Parent Care - How to be an Astute Diversity, Inclusion and Cultural
Advocate Management for Women Leaders
Presented by Signe Gleeson, RNC, CCM, MS,
Presented by Tanesha D. H. Pittman, MBA, Ed.D.c,
ElderCare Solutions Inc.
Executive Director of the Institute for Women s
Global Leadership
This session will address the issue of how to care for
an aging parent. Many issues face children of aging
This session will help individuals develop an
parents and knowing how to start a conversation
understanding of the complex issues of diversity
with an older adult is a significant skill. Join Signe as
and inclusion and how to effectively address these
she shows how to ask critical targeted questions to
issues. Participants will learn to embrace and
accomplish what is needed for medical
demonstrate inclusive behavior and to successfully
intervention. Signe will cover the importance of the
work with people who are different from
need for Power of Attorney in health care as well as
themselves.
what needs to be included in such a document. She
will also provide tips on the difference between
Addresses ICMA Practice Area(s): Diversity
watchful waiting and slow medicine - and if a rush
to judgment is required.
Addresses ICMA Practice Area(s): Personal
Development
ad‐vo‐ca‐cy
Definition of advocacy
Legacy ¦ 5/18/2012
The act or process of advocating or supporting a cause or
proposal
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7. Afternoon Keynote Hotels
Myth Busters There are a
Are Women Really Held Back or are We number of
Doing It to Ourselves? hotels available
Presented by Rita Athas, President, World Business for overnight accommodations
Chicago
including:
Conventional wisdom offers a number of all too
Courtyard by Marriott
familiar reasons why women don t move into
630-505-0550 or 800-321-2211
leadership positions as quickly as men ‒ the
Hampton Inn, Naperville
mommy track, the hesitancy to speak up, an affinity
630-505-1400 or 800-639-0019
for support service positions, collaborative
Fairfield Inn-Naperville
leadership, and on and on. While these may play a
630-577-1820 or 800-228-2800
factor (or not at all) it may be time to look inward.
Country Inn & Suites
Are there things as women we think or do that
630-505-3353 or 800-596-2375
inadvertently set us back, or have we simply
decided that leadership positions aren t as
glamorous or fulfilling as we were taught to
believe? Register at http://tinyurl.com/legacy2012
Addresses ICMA Practice Area(s): Personal
Development
Legacy ¦ 5/18/2012
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8. Rita Athas Molly M. Fine, MBA
Rita Athas is the president of World Business Ms. Fine is a creative and results-driven executive in
Chicago (WBC). WBC is a public-private partnership the information technology discipline with
formed by Mayor Richard M. Daley in 1999 to serve significant accomplishments in design,
as a business advocate to bring and retain business development, and delivery of high performance,
in Chicago. As President, Ms. Athas oversees day- cost effective technology solutions in a variety of
to-day operations of the organization, and with the corporate environments. She is a strategic thinker
input of the WBC private sector Board, develops its with extensive experience in the development of
strategic direction. Athas has a long history with infrastructures and processes to support business
local government. Prior to joining Mayor Daley's needs. She has been a recognized leader in her
staff, she served as the Executive Director of the field focusing on team building, communication,
Northwest Municipal Conference (NMC), a and project management skills. Over the past 25
consortium of 40 municipalities representing a years, she has held a variety of titles including CIO,
population of over 1 million in Northwest Illinois. VP of Systems Development, and Business
The NMC is widely recognized as one of the most Information Officer.
innovative regional councils in the country.
She has held several board positions in education
Athas was recognized by Crain's Chicago Business including Founding Board for the School for
as one of the 100 most influential women in Illinois. Informatics at SUNY Buffalo, Governing Board for
She is a 1988-89 Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow. the Buffalo State University, and Advisory Board for
She has been appointed by the Illinois Governor to the International MBA at American University. She
serve as a Great Lakes Commissioner. Athas serves has also participated at the Board level in the March
as Vice President of the Chicago Metropolitan of Dimes and the United States Dressage
Agency for Planning (CMAP). She is an Executive Federation (local Chapters in Virginia, New York,
Legacy ¦ 5/18/2012
Council Member of Chicago Metropolis 2020. and Illinois).
Register at http://tinyurl.com/legacy2012
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9. Signe Gleeson, RNC, CCM, MS, ElderCare Retired Army Colonel Jill Morgenthaler
Solutions Inc. Retired Colonel Jill Morgenthaler is a woman of
Ms. Gleeson is the President and Co-Founder of many firsts. She was one of the first women to train
ElderCare Solutions Inc. She received her BS in as an equal with men in college ROTC. She was the
Nursing from St. Louis University and her MS from first woman battalion commander in the 88th
the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Ms. Gleeson Regional Support Command, the first woman
is also a Certified Care Manager and has practiced brigade commander in the 84th Division, and the
as a Registered Nurse at Rush University Medical first woman Homeland Security Advisor for the
Center. State of Illinois.
Tanesha D. H. Pittman, MBA, Ed.D.c., Executive Colonel Morgenthaler handled disaster recovery
Director of the Institute for Women s Global during the San Francisco earthquake in 1989,
Leadership worked as a peacekeeper in Bosnia, and conducted
Ms. Pittman is an educator, innovator, international evacuation operations for Kosovar refugees. For
speaker, life coach, and budding author. She has her leadership performance in Iraq in 2004, she
over 15 years of experiences in the academic, received the Bronze Star. For her thirty years of
government, and corporate sector. Ms. Pittman extraordinary service, the Army awarded her the
currently serves as an Executive Director for Legion of Merit.
Benedictine University s Moser College of Adult and
Professional Studies. An accomplished orator, she Colonel Morgenthaler is a motivational speaker,
has spoken at the Oxford Roundtable at the exhilarating audiences with her showdown with
University of Oxford in Oxford, England, United Saddam Hussein and leadership street smarts.
Negro College Fund, University of Wisconsin ‒
Platteville, National Diversity Council, Hispanic
Alliance for Career Enhancement, and Solid Rock
Women s Conference in Kenya. Legacy ¦ 5/18/2012
Ms. Pittman serves on several boards, including The
Joseph Center for Adult Education, University of
Illinois Extension State Advisory Council
(chairperson), UIC Urban Health Outreach Program,
and Young Women s Leadership Charter School.
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10. Register for the 2012 Women s Legacy Conference (#12231)
Name First Name for Badge
Title Municipality/Organization
Address (of Cardholder)
City State Zip
Phone Email
Leading from the Front Circle Morning Session Critical Thinking for Leaders
Parent Care Circle Afternoon Session Diversity & Inclusion
Do you plan to attend the Networking Wine & Cheese following the conference? Yes No
REGISTRATION
Online at www./tinyurl.com/legacy2012 FAX: 815-753-6900
If registering by mail send completed registration form and payment to:
Outreach Registration Office
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL 60115
MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO NIU Outreach
Credit Card Payment (circle one):
Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
Registration fee (please circle one)
Regular Attendee $69.00 Student Attendee $29.00
Card Number Exp Date
Name on Card Signature
Legacy ¦ 5/18/2012
Cardholder s name and the billing address must be exactly the way they appear on their credit card statement.
Register by May 11, 2012, For a full refund, you must cancel your registration by May 14, 2012. Questions
about the conference? Call Tracy Rogers at 815-753-2090 or e-mail Ms. Rogers at tlrogers@niu.edu
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11. Legacy ¦ 5/18/2012
Register at http://tinyurl.com/legacy2012
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