November of 2010 marked a end to the third class of Leadership Golden Belt graduates who attended almost three months of leadership training in the Golden Belt region. Now, the dates for the 2011 session have been announced, said Christy Tustin, director of the Golden Belt Community Foundation which sponsors the program.
It will run Sept. 9 through Nov. 22. Leadership Golden Belt is a development program for business and community leaders that incorporates a combination of skills-based training and community exposure through speakers and tours.
In 2010, the program introduced new activities thanks two key grants. The first key grant in the amount of $5,050 administered by Farm Credit System Foundation allowed for keynote panelists to travel from Wichita, Manhattan, Hutchinson and Ellsworth to present on leadership topics. The grant was funded through the Douglas D. Sims Fund for Rural Leadership, which was established in 2006 by CoBank with a $1 million donation to recognize Douglas D. Sims’ 37 years of service to the Farm Credit System.
This second grant was a $900 scholarship granted by the Kansas Leadership Center for attendance to a three-day, all expenses paid, Kansas Community Leadership Initiative Summit in Wichita. The summit gave Leadership Golden Belt participants a chance to connect with over 200 diverse community leadership program participants from across the state of Kansas. This intense three-day summit challenged ways of thinking, acting, and doing while making the experience a very personal one.
Tustin said there are already some new activities and improvements planned for Leadership Golden Belt 2011. The dates are below:
Sept. 9 – Extended-day retreat
Sept. 22 – All-day session
Oct. 6 – All-day session
Oct. 20 – All-day session
Nov. 3 – All-day session
Nov. 13-15 – KCLI Leadership Summit
Nov. 21 – Half-day class session
Nov. 22 – Evening graduation and celebration
Anyone who would like more information about Leadership Golden Belt, who is interested in attending, or has a recommendation of someone who may interested, can contact Kristy Rupe at Golden Belt Community Foundation, 620-792-300 or e-mail krupe@goldenbeltcf.org.
