“Embedded within the Leadership Springfield program is a sense of community involvement. Whether it is participation in the United Way allocations process or serving on a Chamber of Commerce committee, many of the volunteers will have graduated from the Leadership Springfield program.” 

- Cliff Davis, vice president for Institutional Development, Ozarks Technical Community College, Class V

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Advisers play key role in successful program days

Planning, learning from and participating in program days never ends for some Leadership Springfield graduates. Although they may be from a class years ago, alumni can continue to play an active role by serving as advisors to a current class planning program days for classmates.

"I enjoy it," said Kathy Fritts, director of information technology at City Utilities of Springfield and a Class IX graduate who advises for the adult program's Civic Awareness Day. "I enjoy seeing the variety that different classes bring to their day, even though it's the same day, and I think the benefit is they can learn from advisors' multiple years of experience on what has gone well and what has gone not so well," she said. "It's really to keep them on focus on the objectives of the day."

Alumni serve as advisors for three Leadership Springfield programs: Leadership is for Teachers (LIFT), designed for area educators; Leadership Springfield for area professionals; and Leadership Academy for high school students.

The role of advisors is to guide class participants in the development and implementation of program day activities. Advisers meet with the small group planning a program day and help ensure they have the support to meet the goals and objectives of that program day. Advisers may also have more contacts in the community than LIFT participants.

Our hope is that the alumni advisor serves as a vital link to community resources for these students. We ask advisors not to plan the program day for the students, but to serve as a sounding board for their ideas and a community contact for potential speakers.

"The advising is so much a matter of listening to them, helping them ask the right questions, not doing it for them, not telling them what to do, but just being there as a resource," said Julie Guillebeau, a Class III graduate and chief operating officer at Council of Churches of the Ozarks. She has served as an advisor for both the adult and academy programs. "It's fun, and you always learn something." Leadership Springfield alumni interested in serving as advisors may contact Tammy Mast, chairman, Class Committee; Laura Ward for the academy; David Hall for LIFT; or Kim Everest, Leadership Springfield, 862-5567; or go to the Web site, http://www.leadershipspringfield.com.