Leadership Clinton County plays vital role

 

Human capital.

Every community needs it.

Every community depends on it.

Every community can thrive because of it.

“It” being people – people willing to commit time and energy to serve their communities.

No question that smaller, rural communities face the toughest challenges in building human capital.

Yet, smaller communities tend to have a very passionate pride.

Enter Leadership Clinton County (LCC), a program of the Clinton County Economic Partnership.

LCC Coordinator April Bittner understands the importance of educating and inspiring people to become civic volunteers and leaders.

“Every community needs volunteers and leaders to grow. The LCC program understands this need and strives to educate its participants on all aspects of the community. Our hope is that they use those skills to become more involved,” she said.

Founded in 2000, LCC has graduated hundreds of people and sent them out into the county to serve.

It is funded by various business sponsors, employers paying tuition, grants, the Partnership but also the Clinton County Community Foundation Inc. Tuition is $600, with partial scholarships available. The Foundation funds not only help with these scholarships but the overall program as well.

LCC is a nine-month program where participants meet once or twice a month.

“We’re always looking for applicants who want to make a difference in their community,” Bittner said.

Enrollment for the new class that begins in the fall ends this Saturday, July 1.

Interested applicants can call April at 570-748-5782 or email her at coordinator@clintoncountyinfo.com.

As with any successful organization, support beyond yearly participants is key.

For LCC, its advisory committee and especially its alumni are integral to recruiting “students,” raising funds and promoting the mission.

Ben Green, executive director of the Clinton County United Way, is among the proud LCC graduates.

“Eye opening” is a term he uses to describe the program.

“I found the experience to be incredibly enriching,” Green said.  “It challenged me to meet goals in both my career and in my personal life. The skills taught in the class are applicable to all areas of one’s life from improving relationships with friends and family to learning how other personality types may react in different situations in a professional setting.”

So what does the program offer?

Tours of area businesses and institutions integral to the county’s economic health highlight the program. Sessions on leadership and networking also are offered, with motivational speakers. Community development is a primary theme and participants interact with those responsible in growing the area.

Some of the leadership topics covered in the program include leadership styles, conflict resolution, teambuilding, meeting management and public speaking.

“In addition, they gain a better understanding of their community … the many assets we have and also our issues.  Session topics include: health and human services, education and youth, agriculture and environment, economic development, media-public relations, the history of Clinton County and more,” she added.

Marci Orndorf of the Wayne Township Landfill management team thoroughly enjoyed her time in the program. She was inspired to join after hearing a speech on LCC by then Lock Haven Mayor Rick Vilello.

“The biggest highlight from my time in the program has to be the relationships forged with those in the program, as well as those you meet through the program.  I have made many valuable connections and friendships with people I’ve met because of LCC,” Marci said.

“The course gives you an inside look at a lot of aspects of the county’s resources that one normally would not explore or experience. It also instills teamwork through team building activities, as well as public speaking skills through the required presentations and introductions of speakers at the monthly meetings,” she added.

John Gradel is another LCC graduate who encourages people to get involved.

“Leadership Clinton County taught me that our area has so much to offer. From how local government operates, how to get involved in your community, as well as valuable leadership skills. I know that during my time in the program, I improved my skills which has helped me succeed,” he said.

It can be argued that LCC is more important now than ever as the county feels some loss of human capital from a right-sized Lock Haven University and from UPMC Lock Haven closing its in-patient hospital.

Not to mention a gradual decline in population typical for rural counties, as younger people favor more urban areas.

Angela Harding, another LCC graduate and a current county commissioner, is a strong advocate for leadership.

She believes the program has more to offer than people realize.

“Leadership Clinton County has been and continues to be a pathway to helping community members of all ages, all backgrounds, and from anywhere a chance to learn an immense amount about how the county works, where the needs are, what the issues are, and who is doing the work to make our county the best it can be,” she said.

“It is always interesting to me that graduates who are from Clinton County and lived here all of their lives are amazed by how much they didn’t know. Knowledge is power and graduates of the program are always ready to get more involved in the process and join in the work of progress. Volunteering is a huge part of the message and each year many organizations are able to grow due to the program. In addition, the positive impact of Leadership Clinton County will, in my mind, only improve the challenges of our county because Leadership graduates have a new sense of pride,” added Harding, who graduated from LCC in its second year.

She called benefits of going through LCC “everlasting.”

“This program is impactful for many reasons and provides a level of professional development that you won’t find anywhere else. The Alumni group stays involved and meets regularly so that graduates can continue the networking within the program. I know a lot has changed over the years and Leadership Clinton County has made modernizations to the program,” Harding added. “With that said, the results and reflections are always the same. Graduates are so happy they enrolled and went through the program.”

Besides personal professional development, the program strongly promotes and encourages graduates to go out into the county and serve, whether with nonprofits, municipalities or charities. That really is one of the main points emphasized.

“Throughout the program, LCC encourages volunteering in the community,” Bittner said. “We initiate that by dividing the class into smaller groups and they complete 8-plus hours of community service to a local non-profit. This year’s class volunteered at The Beech Creek Santa Jump handling all the children’s activities, Downtown Lock Haven, Inc. helping with Haven Holidays, Frozen Snot race serving at the checkpoint, and the Salvation Army during the Christmas holiday. After graduation, we continue to offer many opportunities for the graduates to volunteer, not only through the alumni association but also individually.”

Green, Orndorf, Gradel and Harding are like many active graduates.

Combined, they have been, or are involved with the City of Lock Haven, Clinton County United Way, county government, Clinton County Historical Society, Friends of the Bald Eagle Valley Trail, Absolutely Theatre and Fundraising, Downtown Lock Haven, Keystone Central Foundation, Clinton County Economic Partnership, booster clubs, Salvation Army and more.

Harding pulls no punches when it comes to the quality of LCC graduates, saying, “The next time you see ‘Leadership Clinton County’ graduate on a resume, be sure to give that person an interview.”