Leadership AAHSA offers a challenging and engaging year-long learning experience, designed to help aging services professionals accelerate their leadership development so they are better equipped to serve our field. Program activities will include: Virtual Peer-to-Peer Interactions facilitated by an online learning community and monthly conference calls that foster continued sharing and engagement among the fellows, faculty and coaches. Leadership Theory from a wide range of authors and experts that generate discussions about the practical connections to our field, including emerging trends and important policy issues. Self-Evaluation Exercises that encourage introspective reflections of personal leadership and learning styles, revealing the powerful relationship between self-awareness and transformational leadership. An Action Learning Project that provides fellows with an opportunity to reflect on their growth as leaders and experiment with their expanding knowledge, perspective and skills. Five Face-to-Face Learning Opportunities that include facility tours and intimate conversations with aging services leaders, through which fellows are immersed in the leadership capacities that enable transformation, innovation, and person-centered care. The selected sites, themes and dates for the 2009 Leadership AAHSA class are as follows: Leading from the Mind and Spirit October 12 - 16, 2008 (in conjunction with the 2008 AAHSA Annual Meeting) Philadelphia, PA Creating Home: The Heart and Science of Culture February 4 - 6, 2009 Trinity Continuing Care Services Frasier, MI Building Networks and Partnerships April 18 - 22, 2009 (in conjunction with the 2009 AAHSA Future of Aging Services Conference) Washington, DC Sustaining an Ethic of Caring and Service July 7 - 9, 2009 Cathedral Square Corporation Burlington, VT Passing it On: A Lifetime of Leadership November 7 - 8, 2009 (in conjunction with the 2009 AAHSA Annual Meeting) Chicago, IL Please Note: Hotel accommodations will be determined based on availability. Eligibility The program is available to anyone who works for an AAHSA member provider, irrespective of clinical or managerial experience. It is far more important for a potential Fellow to demonstrate deep leadership potential within their organizations than it is for them to carry specific job titles. A $5,000 tuition payment* is required from each Fellow's organization. In addition, lodging, travel expenses and some meals are also paid by each Fellow's organization (the costs incurred vary depending on the locations of the site visits). Please note that Fellows are responsible for the 2009 Annual Meeting registration fee. AAHSA provides complimentary registrations for each Fellow to the 2008 Annual Meeting and 2009 Future of Aging Services Conference, both of which are part of the year-long program. In addition, some meals are provided onsite at no additional cost. Fellows will need access to a personal computer for regular e-mail contacts and to participate in the Leadership AAHSA Online Community. * Please Note: A limited number of tuition scholarships are available. For scholarship consideration, please write a statement of need in the online application. Application Components The Leadership AAHSA application contains multiple components (you will move through these sections as you complete each component): Background Information Applicants will be asked to provide general information about themselves and their organization. Leadership Essays Applicants will be asked to explore the following: Describe the capacities that you possess that make you an effective leader and the specific ways in which you have utilized these attributes in your personal and professional life. In doing so, please refer to a significant professional achievement, your specific role in attaining that achievement and the impact it had on your organization (no more than 500 words). Describe the perspective and knowledge you hope to acquire as a result of your participation in Leadership AAHSA and how these insights will enable you to become a transformational leader (no more than 500 words). Describe your personal commitment to aging services, share your journey into the field and illustrate your vision for the future of aging services (no more than 500 words). * Please Note: We recommend that you draft your essays in advance so that you can copy and paste the text directly into the application. Resume Applicants will be asked to provide information about their education and work experiences (describing both informal and formal leadership roles that have contributed to their leadership development). Letters of Reference Applicants are required to list two references and direct each of them to our Letter of Reference page to submit a reference electronically. We suggest approaching selected reference early in the process to ensure they are completed prior to the May 15th deadline. Memorandum of Understanding Applicants are required to submit a Memorandum of Understanding with formal signatures by the May 15th deadline. Please mail/fax a signed copy to: AAHSA c/o Leadership AAHSA Application Review Committee 2519 Connecticut Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20008-1520 Fax: (202) 939-5827 * Please Note: The Memorandum of Understanding must be signed by the Chief Executive Officer or Executive Director of the applicant's organization. If the applicant is the highest ranking executive officer, the organization's board chair should sign the memorandum. Evaluation Criteria All application submissions will all be reviewed to ultimately assemble a diverse class of Fellows (in terms of life experience, leadership roles, geography, type of organization as well as other unique characteristics). A committee of AAHSA members and association staff will evaluate applications using the following criteria: How well defined and insightful are the leadership essays? How well does the applicant demonstrate a personal commitment to the field of aging services? How well does the applicant demonstrate a dedication to life long learning? How well does the applicant demonstrate the leadership capacity needed to become a transformational leader? Submission Deadline To ensure consideration, please complete the online application and mail/fax the Memorandum of Understanding by May 15, 2008. Applications that fail to meet all guidelines or are incomplete cannot be considered for review. Applicants will receive notification of their acceptance status in August 2008. Questions? E-mail: LeadershipAAHSA@aahsa.org Phone: (202) 508-1212