A new initiative in Marshfield aims to enhance the leadership skills of local youth and business owners to improve the future of the city.
“We want to teach people leadership skills os that they’ll become the leaders of our city, our non-profits, churches, etc.,” explained Blair Gann. “We’re starting this initiative called Leadership Marshfield and we’re excited for the opportunities it will bring to Marshfield.”
Leadership Marshfield is organized through the University of Missouri Extension Center in Webster County and will accept applications for members through Friday, Dec. 15. Leadership Marshfield will meet one day a month on seven individual dates. The program starts in February and runs through October, with two months off in July and August.
Goals of the program include:
- Enhance the leadership skills of participants to improve Marshfield’s future.
- Familiarize participants with the community’s opportunities, needs, problems, and resources.
- Identify and analyze current economic, political, and social forces affecting the community’s future.
- Establish professional and collaborative peer relationships.
- Provide a common ground for communications between participants and community leaders.
- Educate participants on how to move people and ideas to action.
The committee for Leadership Marshfield is composed of Will Brooks, Blair Gann, Missy Montgomery and Tim Clarkson. The group organized Leadership Marshfield by pulling from existing programs in other communities including Lebanon, Camdenton, Springfield and more.
“It’s basically the same thing as Leadership Springfield, which has become a pretty well known program and proven to increase the quality of leaders in the community,” she added. “It’s all about getting to know people and resources in your community so that if you want to make a difference, you have first-hand information and knowledge to do those things.”
Applications are available through the Extension Center, located at 800 S Marshall Street in Marshfield or at any of the industry members businesses, including the Seymour Bank, Central Bank, Tyler Pipe, Southern Bank, the Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce and Marshfield City Hall. The program will be free of charge for the participants during the first year of Leadership Marshfield.
The committee is still seeking members for the inaugural class of Leadership Marshfield. Membership levels include Gold for $1,000, Silver for $500, Bronze for $250 and $100 for Supporting members. Monies collected cover class materials, logo gear, field trips, continental breakfasts, lunches associated with each season and the graduation banquet in October.
“These partners are providing support of this initiative so far, they’re basically providing the funding for the first group of individuals in Leadership Marshfield,” she said. “We didn’t want to charge people because we didn’t want to create barriers for people who may not be able to afford a $500 class. We wanted, at least, this first year to be something that was free for everybody who wanted to apply.”
For more information, contact the University of Missouri Extension Center–Webster County at 417-859-2044.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here