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07/12/2005: "SJI Leadership Looking For 20 Participants"

The First Leadership Class
The following press release is from the Leadership San Juan Islands organization that is a self perpetuating organization, run by the participants and the graduates of each leadership class. Some of the members of the first class (Story on First Leadership Class) are now involved in the organizing, and the recruiting, for the second class.

July 11, 2005 PRESS RELEASE:

Leadership San Juan Islands is a countywide program founded in 2004 to educate and motivate emerging community leaders. LSJI is looking for individuals with outstanding leadership potential to apply for membership in Class II which begins in September.

This successful community leadership program seeks to identify potential community leaders on all the populated islands; educate the participants in the workings of the larger systems within which our community operates; offer participants a program to develop individual leadership skills; and create a network of diverse community leaders across age, geographic, economic and cultural lines.


LSJI is an educational and experiential program and is limited to twenty participants. Participants can be nominated by an organization or may nominate themselves. Each class of participants will be as diverse as possible, reflecting the geographic, social, economic, ethnic, gender and sexual orientation segments in the San Juan Islands. Classes will include members associated with the following areas: the arts, business, community, education, environment, human services, media, politics/government, and religion. LSJI participants will be selected on the basis of the following criteria: leadership potential, influence, commitment, creativity, contributions made to their field, the capacity to commit attendance to the program and the capacity to commit to a one year assignment to public service.

Participants will attend day-long workshops and retreats during the program from September 2005 through May 2006. Each workshop will present speakers, discussions and activities on a major topic. Major areas to be covered in the program are leadership skills; state, county and municipal government; natural resources and land use planning; economic development; education; social services; nonprofit enterprise

The program is supported by facilitators, who works with the participants to provide continuity throughout the program and by a web-based classroom environment, which allows students to communicate and collaborate on projects between workshops. Each selected participant will be asked to make a commitment to provide one year of voluntary service to a local nonprofit organization following commencement. These "Stewards of the San Juans", as graduates of LSJI are called, will continue their leadership learning through service in what is hoped will be a life-long commitment to civic engagement. Assistance will be provided in matching each Steward with an organization that represents his/her passion for community betterment.

Leadership San Juan Islands is funded by in-kind donations, grants, sponsorships and tuition and is supported by Skagit Valley College-San Juan Islands, the San Juan County Economic Development Council and United Way of San Juan County. We are seeking Program Sponsors at $1,500 or more, and Tuition Sponsors at $500 per participant. Organizations and businesses are encouraged to nominate and sponsor an employee or member to participate, also. All funds collected in support of the program will be applied directly to out-of-pocket costs

Applications are now available and must be completed and returned by AUGUST 22, 2005. You can learn more about the program and hear alumni from the Inaugural Class share their experiences at our upcoming Open House meetings. Please join us at the Orcas Island Library on Friday, July 22th and at the Lopez Island Library and San Juan Island Library on Monday, July 25th. All Open Houses begin at 5:30 PM.

For more information, applications, sponsorship opportunities or to make a donation please contact the LSJI Co-Chairs: Gretchen Krampf (Orcas Island '05) 360.317.8220 (orcasislandwoman@aol.com); Jim Skoog, SJC Economic Development Council, daytime work 378.3707 ( arrowhead@rockisland.com ) or LSJI's Program Coordinator, Shannon Calverley (San Juan '05) at Skagit Valley College, 360. 378.3220. Our mailing address is LSJI c/o Skagit Valley College, 221 Weber Way, Friday Harbor, WA 98250.