Regional Leadership Program Celebrates CLASS XI

May 2008 --   Leadership Mid-America, Inc. recently celebrated the graduation of Class XI as friends, family and co-workers showed their support for the Leadership Class of 2007- 2008 by attending the graduation held at Mid-America Technology Center.  The program was planned and led by the graduation class.

Megan Beason, First American Bank, Purcell, began the evening with the invocation followed by classmate, Vernice James who signed to the song, “God Bless America ” from a Whitney Houston CD.  Beason then led in the Pledge of Allegiance followed by class member, Kim Brown, who introduced the slide show she had created of Class XI and the experiences from each session.  Next, Lena Martin gave the invocation.  After the dinner, catered by Mid-America Technology Center and served by Purcell Key Club & Builders Club, Beason welcomed the guests and thanked the individuals and groups who had assisted in banquet preparations.  Debbie Hudson, Food Service Manager, was presented with a gift of appreciation for the quality and attitude of service she has shared with the Leadership program for 11 years of preparing meals and snacks.  Kevin Meyers, Walker & Sons, Inc., Newcastle , and Alyssa Jensen, Alltel Wireless, introduced the Leadership Mid-America Board from the board members’ responses to the question, “What are you passionate about at work and/or in your community?”  They presented James Powell, Board President, with an engraved desktop motivational cube organizer for his time and dedication to the Leadership Program.

Connie Wollenberg, McClain County OSU Extension, and Gayla McLin, First American Bank, Maysville, called attention to the businesses who sponsored a participant in Class XI and have supported the program during the year.  Dusty Ricks, Superintendent, accepted the award given to Mid-America Technology Center in appreciation for aligning the technology center with the Regional Leadership Program’s goals throughout the year.  Three companies were recognized for sponsoring at least one graduate per year from their company 10 or 11 years – Mid-America TC, McClain Bank and First American Bank of Purcell.  All businesses were recognized who sponsored a participant from their business.  On behalf of Class XI, Wollenberg & McLin presented Sandy Bull, LMA Director with a gift of appreciation from the class.   

Class members Patty Johnson, McClain County DHS & Linda Kruger, Pioneer Library System, Newcastle Branch, presented “Highlights from Class XI by sharing lessons learned and experienced from the leadership James Powell of Walker & Sons, Inc., Board President and James Jan Dye, Pre-Paid Legal, Board Vice-President, called each graduate forward by reading a narrative, written by the graduate, entitled “Who am I?”  The graduates were presented a framed Certificate of Completion.    Graduates from the program have completed monthly class sessions developing community leadership and covering topics including leadership styles and teamwork through the ropes course experience in the Arbuckle Mountains .  The class also toured communities in the region to gain onsite experiences in education, history and tourism, civic & human services and traveled to the capitol for state government.  Powell and Dye also presented each graduate with a” Congressional Citation of Regional Leadership” created and signed by Representative Lisa Billy and a picture of the class taken at the State Capitol and individually signed by Senator John Sparks. 

Jayme Shelton of McClain Bank closed the program by sharing a excerpt from his book he had shared during the April regular session, You Don’t Have to Have a Title to be a Leader, as he encouraged everyone to choose their attitude and remain positive in their work, home and community efforts.

Mid America Leadership, Inc. is a non-profit organization formed by a group of business and industry individuals interested in promoting area leadership to communities primarily located in the Mid-America Technology School District . The mission of the program is “Developing and Uniting Regional Leaders.”