The Webster Progress-Times

Leadership82 organizers are seeking candidates and financial support for the program, which provides educational activities to assist citizens in becoming more effective leaders.

The training program will serve Carroll, Choctaw, Montgomery and Webster counties. The cooperative effort is patterned after the LeadershipPlenty program and is designed to enable participants to learn and use skills and information for the improvement of their respective communities and workplaces.

Each county is to enlist six participants representing the diverse population of the region to meet in a retreat setting at Mathiston's Wood Institute in 1-1/2-day sessions once a month, with classes beginning Sept. 11 and concluding in March.

David Putman of Winona, president of Leadership82, gave an overview of the program at Tuesday's meeting of the Eupora Rotary Club. He said he is excited about the enterprise and predicted that it will be the best such leadership training program in the state.

"Our goal is to break down regional barriers," said Putman.

Program objective include creating vibrant, energized rural communities by enhancing the leadership potential of citizens in the region, creating a spirit that embraces development opportunities and promoting broad-based involvement of local individuals in their communities.

The Leadership82 program promotes growth in all of these areas, according to a fact sheet. Participants will examine ways to encourage positive group development, explore specific techniques for encouraging productive participation, and develop the skills needed to plan and implement projects to address specific community and workplace issues.

"These vital skills are the backbone of community and economic development. Empowering citizens with these skills will promote positive growth in the individuals, families, the community and our local communities," the fact sheet states.

Specific skills include:

identifying both corporate and individual strengths

structuring productive meetings

managing conflict

building relationships

developing a plan for action

measuring success

effectively communicating goals and objectives

racial reconciliation training.

Four members of the Webster County Development Council participated in the Pew Partnership's LeadershipPlenty Institute during April in Jackson: WCDC Executive Director Steve Anderson, District 1 Supervisor James "Pop" Woodard, retired Catholic minister Gene Grabbe and county Extension Director Cynthia Wilson.

In addition to soliciting candidates, Leadership82 officials are seeking contributions of any amount to help cover program expenses. Anyone interested in providing financial support to help fund the enterprise may contact Tom Sullivan at The Wood Institute at 263-5352. Candidate recommendations may be provided to Sullivan or any of the local LeadershipPlenty graduates.

An overview of the program and contact information is also available on-line a www.leadership82.com.