Leadership, Leadership, Leadership

Poster

This poster presentation will demonstrate how to conduct a successful Community Leadership Program with limited funds.

Brantley County is a bedroom community with a desperate need for jobs and the tax growth that is the result of new and expanding business and industry. In 2000, our community recognized the need for Leadership Classes. Responding to the community's request, the Director of the Development Authority pulled together a steering committee, which was comprised of the sponsors of, as well as representatives from, a 1987 class, which was sponsored by the UGA Extension Service. This committee pulled together to develop what is now Leadership Brantley. Sponsors are the Brantley County Chamber of Commerce, Development Authority and Extension Service. However, unlike the 1987 class, Leadership Brantley had a coordinator and a long-term vision to keep the class as an ongoing community project. This leadership was provided by the Director of the Development Authority.

With no funds, the first Class was funded by nominal participant fees ($50.00) and community donations. In 2002, Leadership Brantley applied for and received a Community Leadership Initiative grant (CLI) from Georgia Rural Development Council. With the assistance of the Department of Community Affairs, the committee has pioneered a Leadership Program which, five years later, is a highly-successful program, managed by Leadership Brantley Alumni, and has been recognized across the state as a Leadership Development Success Story.