Leadership Marion!, a comprehensive program designed to prepare the community’s next generation of leaders, is now accepting applications for its 2016-2017 class.
“Each year Leadership Marion! invites high-potential candidates from throughout Marion County to join in a journey to understand Marion’s history, its current challenges and its future,” said Pam Hall, president, Marion Area Chamber of Commerce.
Hall said the class, which meets one day a month from September through May, explores essential building blocks of the Marion community, from education, business and government to health care and social services.
“We learn about Marion’s past from visits with local historians,” Hall said, “and we see Marion’s current challenges through the eyes of the community, business and government leaders who are facing those issues every day.”
The leadership course not only gives class members a comprehensive understanding of Marion’s community infrastructure–participants also establish valuable relationships and identify meaningful ways they can get personally involved, she said. In addition, class members will have an opportunity to make an immediate impact on Marion through a service project they will identify and complete during their time together.
Tuition for the nine-month program is $775 for chamber members and non-chamber members $1,150.
“Every organization needs visionary leaders to thrive…and so does our community,” Hall said. “Our leadership class members will be better for the experience, and so will our hometown.”
Returning as program facilitator this year is Tom Toney, President of Current Family, Inc. and Senior Pastor of Family Life Church. Hall said that Tom brings a level of energy, enthusiasm and leadership expertise to the program that enables the participants to learn about Marion County while experiencing advanced leadership techniques and principals.
Deadline for submitting applications for this year’s class is Friday, August 26, 2016. For more information on this year’s program or to obtain an application visit www.marionareachamber.org/leadership.htm or email Doris Dunn, chamberstaff@marionareachamber.org.
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