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What is Leadership San Luis Obispo's mission?
What is Leadership San Luis Obispo's history?
What does Leadership San Luis Obispo achieve?
How do I apply?
How are participants selected?
Who invests in LeadershipSLO?
When is the deadline for next year's class?
How much does it cost?
What is the structure and the content of Leadership San Luis Obispo?
How can I contribute time, meeting facilities or funding to LeadershipSLO?
What can I do to learn more?
What is Leadership San Luis Obispo's mission?
The purpose of the Leadership San Luis Obispo program is to identify and develop effective community leaders to work together in pursuit of a combined vision for the county. Its mission is to support and advance the educational, cultural and economic interests of San Luis Obispo County communities by:
- Informing, challenging and motivating emerging leaders to enhance their effectiveness and willingness to serve in leadership roles in their local communities.
- Providing access and a forum for dialogue between recognized corporate, cultural, educational and political leaders and individuals interested in more community participation.
- Strengthening personal communication and management skills that help advance professional and volunteer activities.
- Increasing partnerships between the business community and educational, governmental and non-profit organizations by creating a greater awareness of community resources and opportunities for participation and recognition.
What is Leadership San Luis Obispo's history?
More than a decade ago, we realized that the same pool of people were called upon relentlessly to serve in leadership positions. Clearly, there was a need to encourage and enable new leadership in the community. Leadership San Luis Obispo resulted from this need to have a ongoing flow of informed and motivated community leaders.
Leadership San Luis Obispo's Class I convened in January,1992 with 38 participants. Now completing its 17th year, almost 500 individuals have graduated from the program. These graduates have gained the knowledge and confidence to effectively lead the community into the future by meeting and interacting with current leaders, working on their own individual leadership styles, studying issues and contributing to finding solutions to complex problems.
What does Leadership San Luis Obispo achieve?
Leadership San Luis Obispo graduates can be found throughout San Luis Obispo County where people are working together to improve our community. They're out pursuing their passions and galvanizing the community on prominent issues.
Several graduates hold public offices such as mayor and city council members, and on school boards.
Many alumni serve on advisory bodies and boards of directors. Of the almost 500 non-profit organizations in San Luis Obispo County, you're likely to find a Leadership San Luis Obispo graduate active as a volunteer or Board member.
They've spent thousands of hours as volunteers for a broad range of community service and non -profit organizations.
They've been at the forefront of local ballot initiatives.
Our hope is that Leadership San Luis Obispo graduates will take what they've learned back to their organizations, participate in the civic activities and volunteer in leadership positions throughout the community. Participants will continue to receive mailings including Alumni News which includes updates about alumni events and workshops. It also provides a forum for the alumni to express their views on current issues and promote events in which they're involved.
What is the structure and the content of Leadership San Luis Obispo?
Leadership San Luis Obispo requires a serious commitment of time and energy. Each year, a diverse mix of approximately 35 people participate in the 10 month program which meets for a 2 ½ day opening retreat in January, then meets once monthly on the second Friday of each month February through October. Each monthly session is all day, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with each session designed to cover core subjects impacting the community.
Each session is highly participatory. Participants work in both small and large groups, experience role playing around key issues and are introduced to a variety of existing leaders with different backgrounds and with different points of view. Participants are taught to recognize their leadership style and practice basic leadership skills including public speaking, consensus building and critical thinking. Each class is encouraged to discuss typically divisive issues in a non-hostile, supportive environment.
Retreat and Orientation
Participants attend a 2½ day retreat in January. Professional facilitator Michael Kokinos leads this two day retreat (Thursday afternoon through Saturday afternoon) at Wonder Valley Ranch at the foothills of the Sierra mountains. The retreat focuses on building a team out of 35 individuals. Participants begin to appreciate different styles and approaches to leadership and learn some basic leadership and team building skills. The retreat involves small and large group exercises, involving building consensus and critical thinking, as well as outdoor team-building challenges to build trust and confidence. Class members explore characteristics of leadership, personal responsibility, explore their own group dynamics and become aware of what it will take to coalesce as a team. They also establish a foundation for the coming year in terms of personal goals and expectations. The retreat is followed by nine all-day sessions on the second Friday of each month (February through October) involving the following topics.
Education / Diversity
Current issues and challenges facing educators, schools, the implications of monetary and social issues and alternative education are addressed in this session. Class members meet local leaders in a range of educational roles and explore whether education is meeting the needs of the area. Participants will also be involved in exercises that reveal the diversity among the group and how individuals respond to opinions, people and orientations different from their own. Discussions will present ideas on how to move beyond tolerance to valuing diversity in the workplace and community.
Key Community Components - Manufacturing and Agriculture
Class members begin the day with breakfast hosted by the San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau. Local farmers and ranchers will provide insights into key issues facing the business of ranching and farming. Participants then board a bus to tour local manufacturing companies and hear about their business needs and challenges. The tour will continue into regional wine, farm and ranch lands to give class members a more in-depth understanding of the role these areas play in the local economy and the challenges they face in operating their businesses.
Media and Communication
Getting your ideas to the public through the news media is the theme of this day. Local radio, television, print media and advertising public relations specialists give their views in interactive panel discussions. Class members will be given the perspective of media as a business. Each class member will also be given the opportunity to practice proven interview techniques and receive personal instruction in a "real world" scenario.
Business / Economic Development
An overview of national, state and local economies is reviewed. Issues impacting the economy, such as energy or government regulation, are explored with the involvement of community business leaders. Participants will also hear about the role of a Chamber of Commerce, and examine local economic development efforts, land use, and the economic picture from a regional perspective.
The Environment / The Arts
A half-day is dedicated to each of these subjects. Participants explore the many facets of the environment and its link to community growth and quality of life. Sustainability, recycling, water quality and availability, public land, open space, wetlands and range management are just a few of the subjects that may be discussed. Valuing the arts and realizing the impact of the arts on individuals and the community is the focus of the other part of this day. Sustaining the arts and securing funding in the community and schools, art's role in rehabilitation and the creative process are explored with panel discussions and small group sharing of personal experiences in the arts that affected people's lives.
Criminal and Civil Justice System
Class members will spend time with their local law enforcement agency to prepare for this session. During the class, they will tour the county jail, have lunch at the Honor Farm, and hear from representatives from various law enforcement and rehabilitation agencies, as well as community-organized prevention groups. Civil law, processes and actions explained by local judges and attorneys are also explored during this day.
Health and Human Needs
Major issues confronting the affordability, accessibility and availability of health care and human services for all populations are addressed. Class members will hear from specialists in the medical and health services fields about the various dimensions of this subject. This session also consists of an overview of community resources relating to human needs and includes visits from individuals involved as staff, volunteers or participants in several non-profit health and human services organizations.
Shaping the Future and Sharpening Skills
Facilitator Mike Kokinos returns to wrap up the year. The day is designed to bring the year's experience into focus and to sharpen each individual's confidence and leadership skills, and to motivate class members to pursue continuing leadership opportunities within their chosen area of interest. Because leaders are constantly challenged with balancing both personal and professional obligations, Michael will lead a discussion on balancing these two important worlds. He will also facilitate class member's thoughts about the ending of this program and the future of the group as a team and as individuals. A graduation celebration with friends, family and sponsors ends the day and the Leadership year.
How are participants selected?
In summer of each year an outreach program is conducted to reach a wide variety of applicants from throughout the county. Adults from all walks of life are encouraged to apply. Diversity is paramount to the success of the program. An application with two letters of recommendation is required. The deadline for applications is in late October. Each applicant is asked to attend a group interview in early November.
Each class is created to have representatives from different cultures, sexual orientations, backgrounds, economic conditions and ages. Likewise participants are sought from large and small businesses, health care, non-profits, private and public education, public safety, government and the unemployed or retired. The only prerequisite is a desire on the part of the applicant to give back to their community through some aspect of civic participation, to attend each session and to participate fully in the program.
How do I apply?
Applications for Class XVIII, starting January, 2009, will be available in September of 2008. For more information please contact Executive Director, Lindsey Miller at (805) 786-2673 or by email at lindsey@slochamber.org. Applications are also available for download from this web site, or can be picked up in person at the SLO Chamber of Commerce Visitor’s Center at 1039 Chorro Street.
When is the deadline for next year's class?
The deadline for applications for 2009 is October 16, 2008. All applicants will be contacted to schedule a group interview in late October or November. Applicants selected for Class XVIII will be contacted in December and begin their Leadership year with the Retreat in January, 2009.
How much does it cost?
Tuition for the 10 month program is $995.00 which covers a hotel room at the mandatory retreat, all meals and supplemental reading materials throughout the 10-month program. Partial scholarships are offered to assist those who otherwise couldn't participate and awarded based on greatest need. Since scholarship funds are limited, Leadership San Luis Obispo encourages applicants to seek sponsorship from their employers and community affiliations.
Who invests in Leadership SLO?
Leadership San Luis Obispo is an affiliate program of the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce. Other major business sponsors in our program have included Unocal Corporation, Duke Energy, and Pacific Gas and Electric Company. Additional support comes from grants, class tuition, annual alumni fund raisers, and by generous contributions, both financial and in-kind, from businesses throughout San Luis Obispo County. Leadership San Luis Obispo also enjoys a wealth of expertise and time gifted by volunteers who serve on the San Luis Community Leadership Foundation board and others who have contributed hundreds of hours help to organize fund-raising events.
How can I contribute time, meeting facilities or funding to LeadershipSLO?
Leadership San Luis Obispo depends on community support to sustain our program. Cash investments and in-kind contributions of a facility and/or food to sponsor a day session are always welcome and appreciated. Your tax-deductible contribution to the Leadership San Luis Obispo Scholarship Endowment Fund, managed through the San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation ensures that no qualified applicant will be excluded base on inability to pay, and that a truly diverse mix of class members may participate. Please contact our office for more details.
What can I do to learn more?
Call Leadership San Luis Obispo Director Lindsey Miller at 786-2763 or E-mail her at lindsey@slochamber.org A short video created and produced by Leadership San Luis Obispo Class VIII about the program is available upon request at no cost.
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