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LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY SMITH COUNTY HISTORY
Leadership Opportunity Smith County began with meetings of county leaders, representatives of Leadership Upper Cumberland and the Smith County Chamber of Commerce. In 1998 the Governing Board was formed and officers were elected. Mr. Jerry H. Futrell was chosen to be the first Chairman. The first board consisted of Jerry H. Futrell, Joe Vance, John Foster, County Executive Billy Bass, Mayor Joe Anderson, Jerry Cole, Faith Young, David Glover, April Martin, and Regina Brooks. After many, many meetings and lots of hard work the first leadership class was set to begin in February 1999.
Mr. Futrell served as President through 2002. John Foster was elected President for the Leadership program in 2003 and served through 2007. Phyllis McKinney was elected President in 2008 and still serves in that position in 2012.
The programs of Leadership Opportunity Smith County consist of a one and one-half day retreat in February, seven topic-oriented one-day sessions, and a graduation ceremony in October. Presentations include lectures, panel presentations, tours and a wide variety of group activities. Participants are given the opportunity to meet with county leaders and to explore issues of interest to our county.
The opening retreat provides structured exercises and presentations, which explore theories of leadership, problem solving skills, and community goal-setting through group discussion and analysis. The one-day seminars, held on the fourth Thursday of each month from March through September, focus on major areas of community life in Smith County. Participants are made aware of various components that contribute to the quality of life in our area. To graduate from this program, class participants are required to attend the opening retreat and all program activities. They are required to do various homework assignments, to be completed outside the classroom, group projects and individual projects relative to program topics.
Since the program’s inception in 1998, thirteen classes have graduated from the leadership program with 124 graduates.
When asked about their year in Leadership Opportunity, most graduates recall it as a great learning experience. Class sessions have been on government, lifestyles, business and labor, agriculture, health and social services, education, and law and order. The graduates also cherish the continuing friendships that began during the retreat or program days. The overriding element that led to these good feelings was participation.
Each Leadership class is asked to complete a class project after graduation. A list of those projects follows this history. The class of 2000 chose as their project to establish a Youth Leadership Opportunity Program, which began in September 2001. The Youth Leadership is a combination of students from Gordonsville and Smith County High Schools. Class sessions are held on Wednesday of each month and extra project activities are required for graduation. The Youth Leadership Program has graduated 12 classes and will graduate a thirteenth class of 32 students in April of 2013.
CALL: 615-735-2093 For Application Information
