Leadership Susquehanna Valley E-Newsletter

April 2009 Edition

Letter from the Interim Executive Director

Jenny Daddario

With one more program day to go, the Class of 2009 is looking ahead to its graduation on June 18 at the Country Cupboard. 

Thermal Product Solutions (TPS) in New Columbia was the host of the Local Government Program Day in March, providing the class with a tour of its immaculate facilities.  A new sponsor of the program, TPS is looking forward to partnering with Leadership Susquehanna Valley on other projects.  During this information-packed day, the class learned about how to run a successful political campaign, local government and planning for community development and the ins and outs of county government services.  The day was capped off by an eye-opening (or should we say nose-opening) tour of the Milton Regional Sewer Authority plant.

April was the month for one of the programs most popular days – Law and Judiciary.  White Deer Treatment Facility was the host for the first half of the day, with attendees participating in discussions on chemical dependency and co-occurring disorder treatment, meth labs and drugs in the Valley and drug treatment court.  The second half of the day was hosted by Allenwood Medium Security Federal Correction Institution.  The class was able to experience first-hand the life of inmates and the programs available to assist them in turning their lives around.

In May, the class will be experiencing the Valley’s agriculture industry as they visit local sites in Union County.  Thank you to Kreamer Feed Inc. for sponsoring this day.

If anyone has ideas for our program days or is interested in presenting a relevant topic, please give us a call.  We would love to get you involved.

Spots Open for the Class of 2010

The Board of Directors has been actively reaching out to area organizations, seeking applicants for the Leadership Susquehanna Valley Class of 2010.  The Board members have truly enjoyed the opportunity to talk with individuals about the leadership experience and are looking forward to welcoming the class at the kick-off retreat in September.  With the application deadline of Aug. 14, there is still time to get your application in.  Please click here to download your application.  If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Daddario, interim executive director at jdaddario@gsvcc.org or 570-743-4100.

Guy Temple Award Nominations

The LSV graduation will be held this year on June 18, 2009, at the Best Western Country Cupboard at 6 p.m.   Please mark your calendars and save the date.  Look for an invitation in late May.  We hope to see alumni from each class in attendance. 

As part of that ceremony, the LSV Board honors an alumnus with the Guy Temple Distinguished Leadership Alumni Award. This award honors a Leadership Susquehanna Valley alumnus who has demonstrated regional and community leadership.    LSV is currently accepting nominations for this award.  Nominees will be judged on their service, leadership and achievements.  In addition to being a Leadership Susquehanna Valley alumnus who has successfully completed the program’s coursework requirements, a nominee should have the following:

Service – Actively serve one or more organizations that have a positive impact on the Susquehanna Valley and its communities;

Leadership – Provide leadership or other talents to an organization that contribute directly to the ability of that organization to fulfill its mission;

Achievement – Have been responsible, in demonstrable ways, for significant accomplishments in these organizations through his/her leadership and service.

If you know a LSV alumnus that you feel deserves this recognition, feel free to nominate that person.  Applications are due May 15, 2009. To obtain the application please click HERE.

Long-Range Planning Committee Update

Leadership’s Long Range Planning Committee was re-activated in April with five committee members attending.  Class of 2007, Rick O’Neill, is currently chairing the committee.  The committee is reviewing the work done to date and has developed some immediate goals for 2009, some of which include developing a survey for employers and releasing an updated survey to all alumni.  The committee will also be working closely with the Development Committee in order to develop a case study for the program.  If you are interested in serving on the Long-Range Planning Committee or any other Leadership Committee, please don’t hesitate to contact Jennifer Daddario, interim executive director at jdaddario@gsvcc.org or 570-743-4100.

Development Committee Update

The committee is having a lunch meeting with the Founding Organizations on May 5th, to keep them informed on status of the LSV program.

Alumni and LSV Board Appeals have been completed and results will be announced shortly.

We are also working to put a "Case Document" together, which will be a working document that will address: "Why you should support the LSV Program." We hope to have this document prepared and ready for use by June 30.

KidsGrove Needs Volunteers

KidsGrove Playground in Selinsgrove is looking for some interested LSV graduates to serve on its Board. As a group, the Board has to come up with its own funding and take care of the playground with the help of things like fundraisers and getting local companies or groups to donate time to help with the work that needs to be done at the playground itself.

Board members only meet one night a month for about two hours.  During that meeting members discuss what the playground needs, the planning of the Fall Festival that takes place each year and any new ideas that come up during the meeting. There is no hard labor at the playground.  If anyone is interested and would like to come to a meeting to see what it is all about, please contact Jessica Murphy at twstd_angel5@yahoo.com.