Leadership Development

Leadership Greater Vidalia® is designed to bring together new, emerging and potential leaders from the area to address pertinent community needs, strengthen individual leadership abilities, and encourage participants to personally commit to assuming new leadership roles in the community. The program is designed to enhance a participant’s awareness of our community and its needs by examining how leadership in the historical, geographical, educational, economic, governmental, and cultural segments work together to perpetuate and advance the Toombs-Montgomery area.

History
The Chamber implemented Leadership Toombs-Montgomery in 1994. Jack and Lynette Dell helped develop the program and served as Program Co-Chairs for three years. Since then nearly 400 community citizens have graduated. These are people who share the common knowledge of our community’s assets and are aware of opportunities to further growth and prosperity. Many of these individuals serve as elected officials, on boards of community organizations, on festival and event committees, manage or own large or small businesses – in essence leadership graduates are involved in every segment of our community. Leadership Greater Vidalia® is a powerful tool that helps make our area a great place to live and do business.

Five Reasons to Apply:

1.  Expand your leadership capacity through immersion into the realities and opportunities of our community
2. Collaborate with the region’s top community leaders and organizations
3. Develop deep relationships with a network of diverse colleagues
4. Gain valuable insight into the most challenging issues facing our region
5. Ignite change in our area

Nomination Process
The Chamber accepts nominations from March through May annually. Nominations may be submitted by firms, organizations or individuals.  All nominees receive a detailed application which they must complete by June1^st.

Application/Selection Process
The Chamber appoints a five-panel volunteer selection committee each year. These volunteers are tasked with the job of reviewing and scoring each application and selecting a diverse group of class members based on geographic location, race, sex, employment sector, etc.

Special Note: Class size is limited. If you are not accepted into the class you are encouraged to reapply for an upcoming program.

Graduation Requirements/Tuition
Individuals accepted into the Leadership Greater Vidalia® program are required to sign a Graduation Requirements Policy indicating they agree to participate in a two-day orientation, six one-day learning sessions, a visit to the State Capitol, and Graduation. Your employer, if applicable, is required to sign the Graduation Requirements Policy indicating you will have the time allotted to participate.

Tuition is $800 and covers portions of the program that include your spouse/guest including admission for the Annual Membership Meeting. Partial scholarships of one half tuition may be awarded based on financial need.

Eligibility

Applicants should:

• Demonstrate leadership in his/her community
• Have an interest in furthering his/her knowledge about the Toombs-Montgomery area and community leadership
• Commit to full participation in the program. The program requires a significant time commitment. Please be sure you can make this commitment before applying.
• Applicants will be expected to become active participants in advancing the community and making a positive contribution to the Toombs-Montgomery area.