Leadership Susquehanna Valley E-Newsletter

October 2009 Edition

Attention Valley Employers

As Leadership Susquehanna Valley begins its 15th class, 24 individuals from organizations around the Valley are embarking on a unique hands-on learning experience.  Would you consider offering this experience to a valuable emerging leader in your organization?   Typically, we begin recruiting efforts in the spring in order to finalize the participants prior to the September start of the LSV class.  However, over the past several months, we have been told that this is the most appropriate time of the year to consider sponsoring an employee from your organization to participate in this beneficial program, as budget decisions are being made.

Leadership Susquehanna Valley is a 501(c)(3) organization committed to providing leadership through training programs designed to identify, involve, educate, motivate and prepare a diverse group of area citizens for positions of effective community leadership.

Using the Valley itself as a classroom, over the course of nine months class participants are exposed to the many facets of the Susquehanna Valley - economic development, the education system, health and human services, law and the judiciary system, local government and agriculture. The class looks at what makes up a community, studies ways to manage and resolve conflict, and observes how community boards operate and expectations of a board member.

Dr. Robert G. Witten, executive director of the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit (CSIU), said, “We at the CSIU are believers in the value of Leadership Susquehanna Valley.  Leadership has helped our participants enhance networking and customer service skills, which are vital for staff of an agency that is service oriented and market driven.  Even more importantly, Leadership Susquehanna Valley has had a positive impact on life in our Valley.  Through LSV, we are creating a cadre of ambassadors for the Valley, for the good work being done in private-sector businesses and public-sector agencies.”

If you’re interested in including a Leadership Susquehanna Valley class member from your organization in your 2010 budget, please complete the application. 

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Daddario, Executive Director

Class of 2010 Begins

The Leadership Susquehanna Valley (LSV) Class of 2010 kicked off the new class year with its overnight retreat at the Mountain View Bible Camp in Danville. 

The 24-member class participated in team building exercises and initiative games led by Dr. Dan Perna of James Daniel & Associates and LSV Board President Ryan Unger of SEDA-Council of Governments. Bennett Hoffman of Team Works also facilitated team development activities. 

Penn State Continuing Education concluded the retreat, utilizing its mobile lab to identify Susquehanna Valley’s greatest strengths, biggest weaknesses and current opportunities and threats.  The information gained from the lab will assist the class members in their service projects, which will be presented at the June 2010 graduation ceremony.

Pictured, left to right: Mandi Ruhl, Mifflinburg Bank & Trust; Brent Papson, Susquehanna University; and Mary Mahoney-Ferster, Penn State Cooperative Extension – Union County, work together during a team building exercise led by Bennett Hoffman of Team Works.

Education in the Valley

By: Dawn E. Raszcewski

The Leadership Susquehanna Valley Class of 2010 learned about current trends, issues and alternatives in education at the Oct. 15 program day held at SUN Area Technical Institute in New Berlin.

“It’s not the sort of thing you read about,” said Dr. Wesley Knapp, superintendent, Midd-West School District, of trends in public education.

Education is one of the largest businesses in the country, he said, adding that the industry

spends over $500 billion a year.

Since 1965, with the inception of the Education Savings Account Act, education “has radically changed,” Knapp said.

One of the biggest problems today is that students are bored, as shown by the GATE Study, he said.

The No Child Left Behind Act has been a disaster too, said Knapp, adding that reading levels are dropping because students are spending too much time prepping for tests.

Before NCLB, reading levels were increasing, he said.

Reading levels are something that can increase if a child receives a proper early childhood education too.

"The topic today (early childhood development) was the essential issue as to why the budget took 101 days to pass," said Lloyd Lamm, retail president/CEO, First National Bank of PA and a member of Pennsylvania's Early Learning Investment Commission.

The dollars you spend on children aged 0-5 are critical, Lamm said, adding that for every dollar spent on early childhood education, there is a $17 return on investment.

It is critical because the brain undergoes its most rapid development in the first three years of life, he said.

"That's not estimates, that's not guesses - that's the facts," said Lamm.

Another issue that can be improved with early intervention is autism and spectrum disorders.

Autism affects one in 150 individuals, said Jess Shuman, behavior support consultant, Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit (CSIU).

With the projected rates, autism could affect one in 50 individuals in the future, said Shuman, adding that getting support early on helps.

Taking a closer look at school districts and how they operate, Jeff Hummel, business administrator, Selinsgrove Area School District, gave the class an inside glimpse into how a school budget is formed.

Only 5 percent of expenses can be controlled; the other 95 percent are fixed costs, said Hummel.

The 2006 Act 1 radically altered the way school districts put budgets together, he said, adding that now schools have to start in October, whereas they used to start in late spring.

While some school district costs can't be changed, there are still many ways businesses and individuals can get involved in their local school districts.

"Businesses can play a huge part, especially on the high school level," said Patti Cross, principal, Warrior Run High School, and LSV Class of 2005 graduate.

They can provide job shadowing opportunities, partner with PTAs and like organizations, and participate in programs like Adopt-a-Classroom or One Book, Every Young Child.

Looking outside public education, class members learned about alternative education including cyber schools and home schooling.

"There are certainly misconceptions out there," said Karin L. Shipman, assistant to the CEO, SusQ-Cyber Charter School, of cyber schools.

SusQ-Cyber Charter School is the first cyber school in Pennsylvania, she said.

There are over 18,000 homeschoolers in the state, said Marsha Hubler, best-selling author and noted speaker on home schooling.

The No. 1 reason students choose home schooling is because their parents have religious or discipline ideologies different than that of public schools.

Acknowledging that leaders are life-long learners, area organizations talked about the importance of continuing education for adults.

"The market place is going to force us (to provide adult education)," said Susan Greene, associate director, Penn State Continuing Education – Williamsport, and LSV Class of 2005 graduate.

Program Day Sponsor Spotlight

SUN Area Technical Institute was the program day and lunch sponsor. The school has around 260 students, who compete nationally and internationally. Students can earn up to 15 college credits at the institute, which saves students around $21,000. One of its most recent projects undertaken was a student-built house. The New Berlin house is complete and is currently for sale. For more information, call 570-966-1031.

Founders Spotlight – Union County United Way

The Union County United Way is governed by a 21-member Board of Directors that includes past LSV graduates.

It is a great way to be involved in the community, said Tina McDowell, executive director.

Currently, the UCUW is in its campaign. McDowell said that $52 a year can provide 192 meals at a local food bank. For more information, call 570-523-8929.

Attention Alumni - Committee Positions Available

As a proud alumnus of Leadership Susquehanna Valley, you are in a unique position to serve your community in many ways.  Why not consider serving on one of LSV’s many dynamic committees?  If you are interested in joining one of our teams, please give Jenny a call at 570-743-4100 or e-mail at jdaddario@gsvcc.org. 

The available committees include: Long-Range Planning; Development; Alumni; Program; and Recruitment.

An opportunity awaits you.  We are excited to welcome you.