We often hear we need more involvement from the business community to help solve some of the issues facing the community, and to provide leadership.
The business community has an opportunity to help recruit and train new leaders for the Peoria area by enrolling key employees with leadership potential in the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership School.
Education reform, economic development, crime, and shrinking resources are just some of the challenges our community faces. These issues require that we continue to identify, develop, support and promote our future leaders.
The Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce’s Community Leadership School (CLS) has been developing community leaders since 1975.
CLS is a very intensive, 14-week program designed to educate future leaders about the issues facing our community; assign leaders to a project team to tackle a community issue and make substantive recommendations; and, assign participants to serve, as a non-voting member, to a community or civic board for a one-year period, with the intention of becoming a full board member at the end of that year. Many of today’s current leaders are past CLS graduates.
CLS students also develop relationships with other potential leaders that provide benefits far into the future.
How can your company or organization help shape the face of leadership in our community? By actively promoting interest in CLS 2002.
Talk with individuals who have shown you their leadership potential and encourage them to apply. If selected, support them as they juggle early Friday morning meetings, field trips, and team tasks along with their work and family responsibilities. The time commitment is significant, but I can assure you, the experience pays benefits for years to come.
CLS 2002 is looking for a wide range of candidates, representing the rich diversity in our community. We have found that diversity has helped past classes develop a better understanding of different perspectives addressing future challenges. Applications are due October 5, 2001. You can get one by visiting www.peoriachamber.org or by calling 676-0755. IBI
