Leadership SouthCoast Gears Up for First Year of Operation Seeks Founders and Students to Build New Generation of Community Leaders By Peter F. Kortright, President & CEO Fall River Area Chamber of Commerce From the May, 2004 issue of Business News & Views Published by the Fall River Area Chamber of Commerce Have you ever wondered how things get done in our community and just who is responsible? Of course we all elect our municipal, state and federal executives and legislators. These leaders are essential parts of our formal government structure – making and implementing policies, programs and laws. But what about everything else that gets done? Who runs the hospitals, universities, social service organizations, arts councils, community sports leagues, Red Cross and Salvation Army, service organizations such as Rotary and Lions Clubs? Who governs the hundreds of not-for-profit organizations that exist in our community such as the United Way, YMCA, Boys & Girls Clubs, Chamber of Commerce and Family Services organizations? In the past twenty-five years, the government has gotten smaller in relative terms. Over the years, we have heard political phrases come out of Washington such as “A Thousand Points of Light”. Apparently, many people don’t want to spend their tax dollars on certain functions anymore and expect that a burgeoning volunteer sector will provide for the social safety net. This is not a new phenomenon in American history but one that seems more permanent and widespread. There is even a new acronym in use globally for Non-Governmental Organizations or NGO’s that one hears often on the nightly news. Throughout the world, communities just like Fall River, Somerset, Swansea, Westport and Assonet are realizing that if we want to get things done, we cannot rely just on government or politicians to make things happen. In order to get things done these days, and increasingly in the future, we will depend more and more on Leadership: responsible, visionary, accountable Community Leadership. This means individuals who care enough to get involved, learn the territory, work with others, roll up their sleeves, sacrifice their time and resources and often take extraordinary risks. Individuals who will say YES when asked to serve on a local committee or board of directors. Individuals who will volunteer to serve and even individuals who will seek to take charge of a problem or opportunity when nobody else is doing anything about it! That’s leadership. But where does it come from? Are leaders born or are they made? Do we have enough? In my position as President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce, I participate in an amazing number of committees, initiatives, partnerships, boards, task forces, working groups and the like. Most of the work centers around economic and community development. It is part of my job and one that I must constantly manage in order to continue to perform those other functions that I am also paid to perform. Week in and week out I sit in meetings of these committees, task forces and working groups. I enjoy what I do. I am not alone. There are probably 40 or 50 other individuals that work a similar regimen as I do in the community and economic development arena in the SouthCoast. Some of us have been doing it for 20 or 30 years. You might be one of another group of long-time workers – whether paid or unpaid – in another arena such as healthcare, environmental protection, education or social services. In our region, there are hundreds if not thousands of hard-working people serving their respective communities. To be honest, while we all have leadership potential, most of us are limited in the amount of leadership we can provide. We need more Leadership in order to make lasting change a reality. Several years ago, a number of SouthCoast leaders – from various walks of life – began to ask where the next generation of leaders would come from? Several individuals in the discussion spoke up and described an experience that they had participated in prior to relocating in the SouthCoast. One had been a graduate of a program called Leadership Orange in Orange County, NY. Another was a graduate of Leadership Buffalo and several more were either founding members or graduates of Leadership Rhode Island. These discussions have continued and grown. As we speak, a brand new not-for-profit organization to be known as Leadership SouthCoast, Inc. is in the birthing process. It is a very focused and driven group of veteran leaders who know full well the importance of developing new leaders for the hard work ahead of us in the future. The Fall River Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to have been invited to help found this exciting new venture. We want it to succeed. Success will have profound and possibly unforeseen implications for the success of the SouthCoast region and for our future quality of life. The material reprinted on page ____ is taken directly from the Web site of Leadership SouthCoast and is featured this month in Business News & Views because of our commitment to this initiative. We are in the process of recruiting a number of Founders who are asked to contribute $5,000 to help jump-start the program. Below, you will read more about how the program will work and how you or someone you know, can get involved as one of the first class of students in Leadership SouthCoast. The application deadline of June 30 is fast approaching. I urge you to read the material and consider playing a role. It could be one of the most satisfying investments you will ever make in your life. WHAT IS LEADERSHIP SOUTHCOAST AND HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED? <=== back a page / back to top