Leadership Grand Traverse
The Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce established the Leadership Grand Traverse Program in 1985 with the firm conviction that today's leadership has an obligation to nurture tomorrow's leaders. The Leadership Grand Traverse Advisory Board has been directed to recruit a group of the area's finest emerging leaders who would represent a broad spectrum of the community. We extend an invitation for you to participate as a sponsoring organization or class member. Click here to download a brochure on Leadership Grand Traverse.

Purpose Leadership Grand Traverse 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.

Key Objectives To identify potential leaders; To educate participants about community needs and leadership opportunities; To improve management and leadership skills; To develop relationships of value when working together on community projects; To create rapport among participants and community leaders; and To assist in matching talents of selected participants with leadership needs.

The Program The format of the Leadership Grand Traverse Program is similar to successful programs in other communities. The program is designed to acquaint class members with information on the organizational structure and unique features of the community. It is also designed to encourage their participation in community affairs. Alumni from previous classes are called upon to take part in planning programs for new classes.

The Program Year The program year begins with an overnight "opening retreat" held on a Friday and Saturday in October. The retreat format varies from structured exercises, to exploring dynamics of our society, to analyzing individual leadership and decision making styles, to an effective utilization of group process. Following the retreat the program consists of eight "day sessions" which each focus on a major area of community concern and explore the issue of leadership within the context of the day's issue. Both applicants and their employers must agree that each applicant will devote at least one day per month, October - May, to attend each day session. One of the eight day sessions is a one-day trip to Lansing. The year will end with a graduation ceremony which is an evening event. A tentative schedule of the current program year is included in the application packet for your review.

Organizational Structure Leadership Grand Traverse operates as an independent program within the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber Board of Directors has appointed an Advisory Committee to oversee the day-to-day activities related to the program and will provide a director.

Selection Leadership Grand Traverse actively solicits applicants from all sectors of the community. Criteria for selection include demonstrated leadership skills, active involvement in the community and a commitment to invest the time required by the program. A conscientious effort will be made to select participants who represent a cross-section of the community so that the diversity of perspectives will generate meaningful personal interaction and learning in the Leadership Program.

Attendance Requirements Attendance by participants in Leadership Grand Traverse is mandatory. Prospective participants who are unable to attend the retreat, the established program and the graduation need not apply.

Impact The Leadership Grand Traverse program will provide participants an opportunity to meet and talk with leaders from all segments of our community. They will exchange views and share opinions and concerns facing the Grand Traverse area. In addition, because of the interaction of the participants, they will have the opportunity to develop mutual trust and respect which will encourage continuing relationships outside the formal program. Over a period of time, when the alumni increases their community participation and assume positions of greater responsibility, our community will be strengthened.

A New Resource Graduates of the Leadership Grand Traverse Program will become a part of a new community resource, a group of men and women with the desire and ability to positively impact important community activities. They will have gained a new awareness of our community - what makes it work, its strengths, its weaknesses and what needs to be done in the future.

Tuition Tuition may be paid by the sponsoring organization or corporation. The current tuition rate is $1,350 per participant. In addition to tuition, each participant contributes $250 for meals and materials.

Scholarship / Tuition Assistance The persons who meet the following guidelines may be eligible for scholarship or tuition assistance.

The purpose of the scholarship/tuition assistance program is to ensure a diverse and cross section of community participation in the Leadership Grand Traverse program. Consideration for full or partial scholarship will be based on the following criteria: A.) An employee or administrator of a non-profit organization with a past history of civic involvement who would be unable to participate without tuition assistance; B.) An individual with a past history of civic involvement who would be unable to participate without tuition assistance.

First consideration will be given to those individuals who request less than a full scholarship. All requests for scholarship/tuition assistance will remain confidential.

How To Apply Applications may be initiated individually or by nomination. Participants will be chosen from the written applications. Nominees will require the full support of the organization or business which they represent. Attendance and participation in each session are essential.

Applications are accepted May through July. For more information contact: Caryn Cleland at (231) 995-7107.

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