| General Manager's Update
I hope this newsletter finds you well. While I'm out this week, the Chair of the Neighborhood Council Congress Planning Committee, Cindy Cleghorn, accepted my offer to write the GM Message. Cindy stays busy with her own Neighborhood Council plus co-chairs PlanCheckNC and still finds time to lead the team that organizes the annual Congress of Neighborhoods each September. We're so lucky to have her as the champion for this empowering event that brings Neighborhood Council leaders together with our elected officials and our department heads. I thank Cindy for taking the time to share her thoughts with you today.
Have a great weekend!
 Best,
Grayce Liu,
General Manager
Department of Neighborhood Empowerment
Empower Yourself.
Empower Your Community.
Empower LA.
******************************** Hello Neighborhood Councils, It has been more than a decade since I moved my business to Tujunga and began working with my neighbors to make our community a better place to live, work, and play. Along the way, I served as one of the first board members of the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council and I learned how the City of Los Angeles Works by working as a Commissioner, the Chair of PlanCheckNC, and as the Chair of the Neighborhood Council Congress Planning Committee. This is an exciting time for us, plans are underway and the energy is building for the Congress of Neighborhoods which will take place in City Hall on September 20, 2014. 
The theme this year is "Keys to Success" and this will be your opportunity to network with elected and appointed City officials, City department managers, staff and Neighborhood Council leaders from across the City. This is our Congress of Neighborhoods at City Hall. Whether you're brand new to your Neighborhood Council or have been around for a few years, there's something for you at the Congress. Resources and networking great ideas, real life experiences and opportunities where Neighborhood Councils have made a difference and where they would like to make a difference in their communities, for themselves and beyond. The Congress is designed so you can take something (or many things) back immediately and put them to use for yourself and your community. Below is a sample of the workshop topics to be included at the 2014 Keys to Success event: Meet Your City Officials
Developing Leadership Skills
Outreach and Technology Guidelines
Ethics Training
Finance Training
Interactive Problem Solving
Disaster Preparedness events
Neighborhood Purposes Grants
Public Works Roundtable
Committees - where the work gets done
Working with non profits for community improvement
Land Use 101 and 102
Animal Welfare
What's Important to your neighborhood?
Opening the Door
and more.... The NC Congress is organized by and for NC Congress Leaders. Mark your calendar now for this all day event. Registration will open August 10. More info at nccongressla.com or contact hosts@nccongressla.com. 
Cindy Cleghorn
Chair, NC Congress of Neighborhoods
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