Golden Belt Community Foundation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 8, 2011

Leadership Golden Belt Announces 2011 Dates

November of 2010 marked a successful end to the third class of Leadership Golden Belt graduates who attended almost three months of leadership training in the Golden Belt region. While the Kansas Leadership Center introduces new ideas in leadership based on their research across the state of Kansas, this local program strives to incorporate purposeful, new, and energizing material to participants in hopes to educate, connect, and inspire leaders of our communities.

Leadership Golden Belt 2010 introduced new program activities that would not have been possible without the funds received by 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. The Fund focuses on the development of rural leaders, particularly those who are committed to making their rural communities better places to live. The Fund is administered by the Farm Credit System Foundation, a non-profit corporation sponsored by donations from Farm Credit System institutions and by more than 1,000 individuals affiliated with the Farm Credit System.

This second grant was a $900.00 scholarship granted by the Kansas Leadership Center for attendance to a 3-day, all expenses paid, Kansas Community Leadership Initiative (KCLI) 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. It provided a setting to reconnect and nurture on a much deeper level, the new theories, principles, and competencies that were incorporated into this year’s curriculum. This intense 3-day summit challenged ways of thinking, acting, and doing while making the experience a very personal one.

There are already some exciting new activities planned for Leadership Golden Belt 2011 as well as improvements to the class content and outcomes. If you are interested in participating please mark your calendar now for the Leadership Golden Belt 2011 dates in the fall:

September 9 - Extended Day Retreat
September 22 - All Day Session
October 6 -All Day Session
October 20 - All Day Session
November 3 - All Day Session
November 13-15 - KCLI Leadership Summit
November 21 - Half Day Class Session
November 22 - Evening Graduation and Celebration

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. If you would like more information about Leadership Golden Belt, are interested in attending, or have a recommendation of someone who may interested, please contact Kristy Rupe at Golden Belt Community Foundation: (620)-792-300 or email: krupe@goldenbeltcf.org.