Leadership San Juan Islands celebrated the graduation of its 2010 Class VI on May 21.
A county-wide tuition-based program, Leadership San Juan Islands fosters leadership skills such as facilitation, collaborative problem solving, and public speaking as well as the analysis of local systems related to governance, economics, social services, history and culture, education and the environment.
The graduating cohort has worked together since January, and celebrated the completion of the community-based course on the Washington State ferry. “We wanted to bring closure to our time together by celebrating our graduation while we traveled on the ferry, a passage maker that truly connects each of us and the islands,” stated Amy Windrope, LSJI 2010 Program Coordinator.
Graduates Krista Bouchey, Karrie Cooper, Jesica DeHart, Mikial Denker, Sara Farish, Kathleen Foley, Joy Goldberg, Patsy Haber, Rebecca Hillman, Jim Hooper, Steve Hushebeck, Sam Jacobsen, Melina Lagios, Susan Key, Caitlan Parker, Vernadel Peterson, Thomas Sandstrom, and Tanja Williamson presented their proposed community service projects and received certificates of completion.
Businesses and agencies across the County played a part in the success of the program. This year the class appreciated significant housing donations by Smuggler’s Villa and Heartwood House on Orcas Island, Harrison House Bed and Breakfast, and Lopez Islander Bay Resort. Facilitation and support were provided by Carnachan Associates, Non-Profits Unlimited, Process Experts, and Strategy Design, Inc. Every challenge day and retreat was co-organized by alumni from the past five years of LSJI. “This year’s program has been a culminating effort of six years of constant feedback from emerging leaders as to what they need to be effective communicators, facilitators, and positive community influences,” says Liz Illg, Curriculum Development Coordinator for LSJI.
Many participants were sponsored in part or wholly by their employer or a local nonprofit program. This year the following sponsors provided support: Law Offices of Skinner and Saar, Lopez Island Family Resource Center, Lopez Island Prevention Coalition, Roche Harbor Resort, San Juan Historical Museum, San Juan Island Community Foundation, San Juan Island Prevention Coalition, San Juan Islands National Historical Parks, Lopez Island Family Resource Center, San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau, San Juan Preservation Trust, and the Whale Museum. Institutional co-sponsors were Skagit Valley College San Juan Center and the San Juan County Economic Development Council.
Leadership San Juan Islands encourages employers to consider sponsoring an employee or community member in 2011. Applications will be available in September 2010 on the website. Participants are selected in the fall and spend five months together, January through May, with a staff of four and many regional leaders.
For more information see: http://www.leadershipsanjuanislands.org/.
