GSC Web Admin
03-30-2009, 01:21 PM
By FRANK KONKEL
Sentinel-Standard writer
Published: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 11:42 PM CDT
(http://www.sentinel-standard.com/articles/2009/03/26/news/01news.eml)
IONIA - The second annual Ionia County Strong Communities Summit recognized the first batch of future leader graduates Wednesday at a ceremony housed at the Ionia County Intermediate School District.
The ceremony recognized the inaugural 17 graduates of the Ionia County Leadership Academy, representing the first future leaders to complete the program, which began this January.
“We tried to get the word out and we're pleased to have the response we did,” said Ionia County MSU Extension Director Eric Hufnagel, referring to the 17 graduates who expressed desire to become stronger community leaders. “We've helped develop the leadership of these individuals and helped develop connections amongst people in the county. That was a main goal of the Ionia County Strong Communities Summit.”
Graduates in the class of 2009 include Penny Beeman, Randy Hart, Jessica Rowland, Leigha Christensen, Kevin Klutman, Catherine Sage, Rush Clement, Tony Mapes, Candy Straubel-Sower, Phil Cloud, Frank Mitchell, Laurie Tjalsma, Kerry Fountain, Christine Ray, Craig Wheeler, Christina Frost and Michael Reed.
Though he'd attended a leadership seminar 20 years ago, Cloud said the Ionia County Leadership Academy was structured differently and much easier to attend.
Standing in front of his graduating class and an audience of successful Ionia County leaders, Cloud told the crowd that, at times, he didn't know whether or not he was cut out to be a leader. The academy, he said, reinforced his leadership skills and his belief in himself and abilities.
“Count me in for helping out next year,” Cloud said. “I highly recommend this program for anyone. A lot of us are leaders in our respective fields, but this program has helped us sharpen our skills.”
After graduates dined with community members and later received their diplomas, keynote speaker Dr. Soji Adelaja spoke on leadership and “the new economy.”
Adelaja is a John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor in land policy and Director of the Land Policy Program at Michigan State University; he also holds joint faculty appointments as Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics, Department of Geography and Department of Community, Agriculture and Recreational Resource Studies.
According to Adelaja, providing leadership skills to community members is a step in the right direction.
That's been the goal of the Ionia County Strong Communities Summit and the Ionia County Leadership Academy all along. The summit was designed to create a network of Ionia County community members to collaborate, problem solve, network and foster leadership throughout the community.
According to Hufnagel, the Strong Community Summit steering committee is made up of community leaders of varying backgrounds recruited to develop program content for the Ionia County Leadership Academy. The steering committee, currently made up of 14 Ionia County employees, booked speakers, sponsors and even helped recruit potential participants beginning in February, 2008.
“Because it's the first time it's been done, we didn't want to bite off more than we could chew with the steering committee,” Hufnagel said. “We looked at the basic content important for people to have to help develop a knowledge base that would make them both comfortable and knowledgeable to be involved in community leadership roles.”
Graduates attended Monday evening meetings for each session - and also took field trips to places like the Capitol in Lansing - providing 2009 graduates the opportunity to listen to 18 separate speakers and session presenters in just two months of meetings. Topics ranged from public speaking to legislation, and according to one graduate, there was a lot of information to go through. But the academy packaged the information in an interesting fashion.
“Every session was fun,” said Ray, who also spoke to her peers upon graduation. “You wouldn't think anything could get me looking forward to Mondays, but this did. I really enjoyed my time.”
Hufnagel said the turnout so far has been excellent and expects the program to continue in the coming years.
“I know we already have an interest from several people who wanted to participate this year but couldn't,” Hufnagel said. “There's definitely interest out there.”
http://www.greatstartioniacounty.org/forums/images/News/grad_day.jpg
WION announcer Phil Cloud speaks to the audience and his fellow 2009 graduates of the Ionia County Leadership Academy. Other graduates at the Ionia County Strong Communities Summit Wednesday night included Penny Beeman, Randy Hart, Jessica Rowland, Leigha Christensen, Kevin Klutman, Catherine Sage, Rush Clement, Tony Mapes, Candy Straubel-Sower, Frank Mitchell, Laurie Tjalsma, Kerry Fountain, Christine Ray, Craig Wheeler, Christina Frost and Michael Reed. Sentinel-Standard/FRANK KONKEL
Sentinel-Standard writer
Published: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 11:42 PM CDT
(http://www.sentinel-standard.com/articles/2009/03/26/news/01news.eml)
IONIA - The second annual Ionia County Strong Communities Summit recognized the first batch of future leader graduates Wednesday at a ceremony housed at the Ionia County Intermediate School District.
The ceremony recognized the inaugural 17 graduates of the Ionia County Leadership Academy, representing the first future leaders to complete the program, which began this January.
“We tried to get the word out and we're pleased to have the response we did,” said Ionia County MSU Extension Director Eric Hufnagel, referring to the 17 graduates who expressed desire to become stronger community leaders. “We've helped develop the leadership of these individuals and helped develop connections amongst people in the county. That was a main goal of the Ionia County Strong Communities Summit.”
Graduates in the class of 2009 include Penny Beeman, Randy Hart, Jessica Rowland, Leigha Christensen, Kevin Klutman, Catherine Sage, Rush Clement, Tony Mapes, Candy Straubel-Sower, Phil Cloud, Frank Mitchell, Laurie Tjalsma, Kerry Fountain, Christine Ray, Craig Wheeler, Christina Frost and Michael Reed.
Though he'd attended a leadership seminar 20 years ago, Cloud said the Ionia County Leadership Academy was structured differently and much easier to attend.
Standing in front of his graduating class and an audience of successful Ionia County leaders, Cloud told the crowd that, at times, he didn't know whether or not he was cut out to be a leader. The academy, he said, reinforced his leadership skills and his belief in himself and abilities.
“Count me in for helping out next year,” Cloud said. “I highly recommend this program for anyone. A lot of us are leaders in our respective fields, but this program has helped us sharpen our skills.”
After graduates dined with community members and later received their diplomas, keynote speaker Dr. Soji Adelaja spoke on leadership and “the new economy.”
Adelaja is a John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor in land policy and Director of the Land Policy Program at Michigan State University; he also holds joint faculty appointments as Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics, Department of Geography and Department of Community, Agriculture and Recreational Resource Studies.
According to Adelaja, providing leadership skills to community members is a step in the right direction.
That's been the goal of the Ionia County Strong Communities Summit and the Ionia County Leadership Academy all along. The summit was designed to create a network of Ionia County community members to collaborate, problem solve, network and foster leadership throughout the community.
According to Hufnagel, the Strong Community Summit steering committee is made up of community leaders of varying backgrounds recruited to develop program content for the Ionia County Leadership Academy. The steering committee, currently made up of 14 Ionia County employees, booked speakers, sponsors and even helped recruit potential participants beginning in February, 2008.
“Because it's the first time it's been done, we didn't want to bite off more than we could chew with the steering committee,” Hufnagel said. “We looked at the basic content important for people to have to help develop a knowledge base that would make them both comfortable and knowledgeable to be involved in community leadership roles.”
Graduates attended Monday evening meetings for each session - and also took field trips to places like the Capitol in Lansing - providing 2009 graduates the opportunity to listen to 18 separate speakers and session presenters in just two months of meetings. Topics ranged from public speaking to legislation, and according to one graduate, there was a lot of information to go through. But the academy packaged the information in an interesting fashion.
“Every session was fun,” said Ray, who also spoke to her peers upon graduation. “You wouldn't think anything could get me looking forward to Mondays, but this did. I really enjoyed my time.”
Hufnagel said the turnout so far has been excellent and expects the program to continue in the coming years.
“I know we already have an interest from several people who wanted to participate this year but couldn't,” Hufnagel said. “There's definitely interest out there.”
http://www.greatstartioniacounty.org/forums/images/News/grad_day.jpg
WION announcer Phil Cloud speaks to the audience and his fellow 2009 graduates of the Ionia County Leadership Academy. Other graduates at the Ionia County Strong Communities Summit Wednesday night included Penny Beeman, Randy Hart, Jessica Rowland, Leigha Christensen, Kevin Klutman, Catherine Sage, Rush Clement, Tony Mapes, Candy Straubel-Sower, Frank Mitchell, Laurie Tjalsma, Kerry Fountain, Christine Ray, Craig Wheeler, Christina Frost and Michael Reed. Sentinel-Standard/FRANK KONKEL