Leadership Programs |
Effective leadership is a key element in any
successful community. Continually developing and
encouraging the participation of new leaders is
essential in developing fresh ideas and perspectives and
ensuring a continuity of leaders for the future.
The Norman community is fortunate to have had several
visionaries who, years ago, saw the potential for
developing formalized leadership programs through the
auspices of the Norman Chamber of Commerce. The
resulting three programs—Leadership Norman, Tomorrow’s
Leaders, and Leaders Plus—have served Norman well for a
number of years.
The first class of Leadership Norman graduated in 1981.
Designed for the working professional, the program
identifies and seeks to motivate emerging leaders in the
community to develop their potential for community
leadership. This is accomplished by stimulating an
interest in the quality of life in Norman and by
providing a common ground of shared concerns among
leaders from all sectors of the community. Beginning in
October, the class participates in approximately 15
different sessions over a span of six months,
culminating in a graduation ceremony held in April. The
sessions explore the many facets that make up the Norman
community including a close up look at city and state
government, public safety, education, health care,
economic development, and the arts.
“Leadership Norman was by far the number one highlight
for me personally since coming to Norman, and years from
now, I believe you will hear me still proclaiming that
same message,” said Speer, who graduated from the 2003
class and is a current co-chair of the program.
“Leadership Norman is one of the state’s longest running
and most recognized leadership programs and during the
next seven months class members will learn about
themselves, about classmates and, most importantly,
about Norman.”
From the Leadership Norman concept spawned the
Tomorrow’s Leaders program in the mid-eighties. This
program is designed for local high school students who
demonstrate excellent leadership skills through academic
success as well as community and civic activities. The
Tomorrow’s Leaders program begins in early January and
includes 10 sessions designed to introduce the students
to the resources the Norman community has to offer. One
unique experience the students gain from this program is
the opportunity to network with participants from the
other two classes. During one of the sessions, the
students travel with the other two classes to the state
capitol where they spend the day meeting and listening
to various elected officials. Applications for this
program are available in the counselors’ offices at each
high school. The selection process begins in November
and the class is announced by the beginning of December.
Leaders Plus graduated its first class in 1994. This
program is designed for individuals who have retired
from their careers or demonstrated leadership in
volunteer activities and want to develop a more active
involvement in community affairs. The Leaders Plus
program, aside from offering a superb introduction to
the Norman community, offers its participants the
opportunity to be part of an alumni group that continues
to meet monthly and participates in various activities.
“Leaders Plus is absolutely the best experience for
anyone who is interested in learning more about Norman
or becoming more involved as a volunteer,” said Sydney
Shilling, 2001 Leaders Plus Co-Chair. “The memories and
the friendships made during the program are
unforgettable.” This program also begins in January and
consists of 10 sessions ending in April. The Leaders
Plus program is open to all interested individuals, and
enrollment forms are available at the Chamber office
beginning in late October.
The Norman Chamber of Commerce is extremely proud of the
reputation and tradition of these leadership programs.
To date, these three programs have graduated over 1,000
participants, most of whom continue to serve our
community as leaders. For more information on how to be a
part of future classes, please contact Kristi Cain at the
Norman Chamber of Commerce, (405) 321-7260 or
kristi.cain@normanchamber.com. |
