With over two decades of involvement in grassroots Republican involvement, I have had the opportunity to attend a slew of training classes. Some have been better than others, I admit. For the past few years, I have been consistently impressed with what I have heard about the Marian Berguson Excellence in Public Service Series. Established here in the Golden State in 2004, the program was started with the goal of inspiring, empowering, and advancing Republican women through education, training and experience.
I have to tell you — it works. I have had the chance to know and work with many Bergeson school graduates, both before they started the course, and afterwards. This program takes capable students new to politics, and gives them an excellent running start. It also consistantly takes more seasoned GOP women, and pushes them to new heights, giving them to training and tools to be effective in elective or appointed office, or to serve in government positions, or in political roles.
My good friend, Leisa Brug Kline, currently serves as Chief of Staff to Assemblyman Chuck DeVore. She is a great example of someone who was more seasoned when she took the course. Here is a testimonial from Leisa about her experience, and how she gained from participation:
When I began the Marian Bergeson Excellence in Public Service series I had just opened a boutique PR firm specializing in government relations. The overwhelming encouragement I received through the series compelled me to join a team and apply for a federal grant from the Health and Human Services Department to promote embryo donation and adoption – a concept President Bush wanted to promote encouraging more options in the debate over stem cell research. We received that grant and another one the following year. Because of the good job we did advancing the "embryo adoption option", the President invited us to the White House to meet with him and witness his first Presidential veto. In addition to the thrill of being recognized by the President for this work, I have had the good fortune of placing articles and broadcasts on this topic in such media as People Magazine, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, the Washington Times, ABC News, NBC News, CBS News, The Today Show, FOX News and many other local, regional, national and international outlets. The children resulting from embryo donation and adoption are often referred to now as “Snowflakes” – a term that we were able to cement permanently into the national stem cell research debate. Simultaneously, I was asked by newly-elected Assemblyman Chuck DeVore to serve on his legislative staff. Prior to the series, I didn’t think I would ever return to a governmental staff position, feeling a bit beleaguered as a Republican in our blue state. The series re-sparked the flame and I am in my third year with Assemblyman DeVore, serving now as his Chief Of Staff.
I credit the series for helping to navigate me back to the important work of affecting public policy. The support, opportunities and friendships I developed through the series are unmatched by any other professional experience in my life. Any woman interested in politics would be CRAZY not to graduate from the series!
When the folks associated with this Series asked me if I would be willing to write about it, and encourage Republican women who read the FlashReport to consider applying to participate, I immediately jumped at the opportunity. I even threw in a free advertisement (see it below to the right). I encourage any Republican woman looking to step up their career in politics and government take a look at this program and consider applying to be part of the Class of 2008. You will learn about the ins and outs of political campaigns, fundraising, communications, the inner workings of local, state and federal government and so much more from some of the best consultants and professionals in the business.
The program is appropriately named in honor of Marian Bergeson (pictured), a trailblazer for women in Republican politics and the first woman elected to both the California State Assembly and State Senate. There are more than 20 other states with similar programs, all with the goal of increasing the number of quality Republican women serving in the political process.
Additional information about the series and applications for the 2008 class are available by opening up the .pdf of the program’s brochure and insert below, and by clicking here to go to the Bergeson Series website..
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