Program seeks people anxious to lead
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The organization is made up of two segments, Leadership Warren and Leadership McMinnville.
Leadership Warren is the alumni association. Leadership McMinnville is the class that is conducted every year.
The 2003 Leadership McMinnville class graduated 16 who, as in the past, will move on to become involved in a variety of community activities and leadership positions. Former Leadership McMinnville graduates include City Administrator Herb Llewellyn, Chamber Board of Directors Chairman Larry Flatt and McMinnville Electric’s Rodney Boyd.
The program got started as part of a state initiative, according to Chrisawn.
“Leadership McMinnville actually is one of those programs recommended by the state,” she said. “It has been a requirement for a Three Star Community to have a leadership program and a youth leadership program. Warren County had one of the first in the area, and has taken that leadership and grown with it since then.”
The first Leadership McMinnville class was in 1987, according to Chrisawn.
“We’ve already graduated 16 classes,” she said. “It’s a wonderful program and we’re working diligently to make it an even better program, to take it to that next level.”
Chrisawn said the program offers a wide range of information and training.
“We can acquaint them with what is in the community and the needs of the community. We look at the educational system, we look at the government, the way the city and the county are set up and how the judicial system is set up. We look at the economic process within our community and within the state. We take them to Nashville to introduce them to the state legislators.
Last year’s Leadership McMinnville class chairman was Carol Simcox, a Bridgestone employee who also serves on the program’s Steering Committee. Simcox said the program is looking for a certain sort of individual.
“We look through the applications and make a decision on who is going to make a difference,” she said. “Who is really committed to giving back to the community, because that’s the bottom line. We want good people in our community who are educated, aware of what’s going on, and will be able to make a difference.”
The program meets one day each month for an intensive training session which can include trips to various institutions or governmental entities. Tuition for the Leadership McMinnville program is $450 per year and applications are available at the Chamber of Commerce. There are also some local scholarships available for the program.
For more information, contact the Chamber at 473-6611. The scholarship applications are due Feb. 2 and the regular applications are due Feb. 4.