Quote
notinit
My new boss is sending our entire boss to Contegrity's "Essence of Leadership" training next week. Does anyone know anything about this and what I might expect?
Sounds like another clone of Landmark/est. There isn't a dime's worth of difference between most of these copy-cats.
Ellen
[
www.borderlandnews.com]
Borderland Friday, July 11, 2003
Briones trip rekindles criticism
David Crowder
El Paso Times
Briones
County Judge Dolores Briones won approval from Commissioners Court to
attend a three-day personal development seminar starting today in New
York City, but the trip is drawing a new round of potshots aimed at her
travel habits.
The $1,500 seminar is being conducted by Contegrity, an organization
whose two founders hail from Landmark Education Corp., which has ties to
Werner Erhard and Associates and the Erhard Seminars Training, better
known as "est."
Est and Erhard were at the epicenter of the New Age human potential
movement of the 1970s.
Briones, who attended a Contegrity seminar in Austin last November at
county expense, concedes that the programs are about personal growth but
says they are effective as executive training.
"It has allowed me to create things I wasn't able to create before, like
Strong Families, Strong Future," she said, referring to the centerpiece
initiative of her administration. "I go looking for something that will
get me thinking outside the box."
In addition to the $1,500 tuition, the trip is likely to cost the county
at least another $1,000 for travel and expenses. The theme of the
seminar is "Intentionality and Power -- Flexibility and Perseverance in
Causing Life's Fulfillment."
When county watchdog Ray Gilbert lambasted Commissioners Court for
allowing such travel at public expense last week, Commissioner Dan
Haggerty backed Briones, saying, "I don't have a problem with your
going, Judge."
The usually frugal Republican told Briones she has the right to spend
her travel budget as she pleases. He then voted in favor of the county
paying for the seminar.
Haggerty's views on the matter, however, have changed this week.
Other elected officials may have used their travel and training budgets
to attend nontraditional training, but Briones' constant absence has
made her travel an issue, Haggerty said.
"I would hope (other officials) haven't gone to things like this," he
said. "But to be perfectly honest, it's up to the discretion of the
elected official."
David Crowder may be reached at
dcrow...@elpasotimes.comCopyright © 2001 El Paso Times.