Lutheran Church park. At least five volunteers are needed to help serve the lunch. Daily sponsorships to buy the food for the meals are $150 per day. LMC classes could sponsor a

day if each class member donates $10. If anyone is interested, please contact Mary Jane. Finally, the luncheon ended with

a book review by Stephanie Watson, class XIII, on ‘The Energy Bus’. She went over the 10 ways to fuel your life and work with positivity and forward-thinking to accomplish your goals. Please continue to watch for

invitations for the 2nd Quarter Happy Hour at the Beloit Country Club!

those ideas,” explains Gina on the tours she took as a class member. Laura says she learned to be flexible through LMC. “And being able to roll with the changes is key in a position that will constantly be changing with the introduction of new technology.” Kendal says coming into a new town and position, he needed to diagnose the situation correctly. “If I didn’t identify the right problems, then I would be working on the wrong things,” states Kendal. “To be able to set goals and objectives, I had to first understand the problem.”

Congratulations to these three alums! We are proud you are making your communities a better place!

The LMC Connection would love to feature you if you’ve accepted a new position or role. Please contact us at lmcconnection@gmail.com.

After LMC, many alumni use their leadership skills to acquire new careers in and out of Mitchell County. Gina Chitty, Kendal Francis and Laura Lorenz are three of those alumni who have recently accepted new positions.

Gina, Class X, is the new office manager at Gray Drug and Fountain. She manages daily accounting, payroll, taxes and insurance. Her previous position as the manager at Thunder Bank/Bennington State Bank gave her great people skills. Laura, XI, took a position at Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems in the Health Information Management Department, or Medical Records. She is converting paper files to digital files. Both positions deal with sensitive materials and require discretion and care.

Kendal, Class IX, recently

accepted a position in Lakin, Kan. as their city administrator. He oversees nine departments daily. Although the core competencies weren’t being introduced to LMC classes while he was a current member, Kendal spent time on the LMC board during that time. He said he has used all of the competencies in the first two weeks at his position. “I hate hearing ‘that’s the way we’ve always done it,’ and in Lakin, I hear that a lot,” says Kendal on the competency Intervene Skillfully. “I have to make a conscious choice on when, why and how I intervene.”

All three of the alums have used what they learned through LMC in their new positions. “It was the places we visited that I can see what has made those businesses successful and hope to be able to help Gray Drug utilize some of

MC

Kansas Young Professionals Summit Thursday, April 3, 8 am-5 pm, Salina Bicentennial Center, $20-50

Beloit Farm, Home & Garden Show Fri, April 4, 12-7 pm and Sat, April 5, 9 am-2 pm Mitchell County Fairgrounds

Easter Sunday, April 20

Beloit Planning Steering Committee Meeting Tuesday, April 22, 7-8:30 pm Municipal Building Basement

Playday and Jayhusker Race Saturday, April 26, 2 and 7 pm Solomon Valley Raceway, Beloit

Beloit City-Wide Garage Sale Saturday, May 3

Beloit Homecoming Parade Saturday, May 24, 10 am

Demo Derby Sunday, May 25, 2 pm Solomon Valley Raceway, Beloit

Friendship Dinners Every Monday at the United Methodist Church, Beloit, 5:30-7 pm

LEADERSHIP CALENDARVolume 4 • Issue 2 • April - June 2014

Editor: Mandy Fincham, Class XPage Design: Danielle Jeardoe, Class VIII Storywriter: Brandy Goddard, Class XII

Special Writer: Heather Hartman, Class III

Email: lmcconnection@gmail.com

On March 26, around 20 LMC alums attended a luncheon held at Plum Creek and sponsored by class XIII. Board member Mary Jane

Chapman talked about many of the projects going on with alumni and LMC. The 2nd Quarter Happy Hour event will be held at the Beloit Country Club. No date is set yet. The alumni survey was e-mailed out but they only received six back. If you still have one, please submit it. Alumni committee members will be calling those that don’t submit a survey back to ask them the questions. A new logo designed by Danielle

Jeardoe, class VIII, was passed around. The annual Fall LEAP event will showcase Beloit. Committee members are still needed for this. Please contact Gina Chitty, class X, if you are interested. Matt Otte, class XII, is planning

on doing a political debate in June. The event will be sponsored by LMC. If you are interested in helping, please contact Matt.

Eric Hilt, class XIV, and Mindy Hilt, have found a passion in helping young children learn about leadership skills. They will be organizing a summer leadership camp for 4th, 5th and 6th graders. The camp will be for three days in July and is sponsored by the Beloit Parks & Recreation Department and LMC. Volunteers are needed to help teach the children leadership skills. Please contact Eric or Mindy for more details. Mary Jane talked about Summer

Kids Café, a project she has been working on with a group of citizens. A lunch will be provided for around 75 children during the summer weekdays at the

1st Quarter Alumni Luncheon www.leadershipmitchellcounty.org

Mitchell County Food Pantry -Volunteers -Call Beverly James, 738-5164

Beloit Elementary School -Help in the school library Contact Roberta Meier at 739-3581 or rmeier@usd273.org

Beloit Jr./Sr. High School -Tutoring -Substitute teachers -Paraprofessionals Paid positions, contact USD 273 office at 738-3261

Mitchell County Partnership for Children -volunteers in various capacities Contact Karen at MCPC Office at 738-3055 ext. 1

Big Brothers, Big Sisters -Children and “Bigs” to volunteer and mentor -Call 785-243-1620 for more information

LEADERSHIP VOLUNTEERISM

MC

Chitty, Francis and Lorenz in New PositionsTaking a break at the March Session in Downs, KS

KARL Program Continues

Cheyenne Erichson, Class XIV; Mandy Fincham, Class X; and Stephanie Simmons, Class XII, attended the Kansas Sampler Foundation’s 2nd Big Rural Brainstorm in Newton on Friday, March 14.

The purpose of the Big Rural Brainstorm is to “convene a network of good thinkers for a collective brainstorm that will result in powerful, positive action to sustain, preserve and elevate rural communities.”

“I attended the first brainstorm two years ago and knew I wanted to go back,” said Mandy. “It’s such a different ‘conference’: just open

Heather Hartman, Class III, has been accepted into the 2013-2015 KARL (Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership) class. She will be shar-ing her experiences of the program through the LMC Connection over the next two years.

I have completed three more sessions as part of the Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership (KARL) program. In January, the State of the State was in Topeka. We spent time with Representative Susan Concannon, Class VII, and Senator Elaine Bowers. I’m very thankful they both took time to meet with us and listen to our concerns. We had classmates

whose representation didn’t take the time to meet with them.

In February, our session was Conflict Management in Leavenworth. This session includes a tour of the prison system. After visiting Ellsworth Correctional with LMC, I thought I was prepared. To say the least, Lansing Correctional is nothing like Ellsworth!

Then in March, we had the National Study Tour in Washington, D.C. This was a fascinating trip. I’m amazed at the doors that open for us because of the KARL program. We met with our U.S. Senators and Representatives. We spent a

day with the USDA discussing the Farm Bill and Agriculture Marketing. We also had a security briefing at the FBI that included some ideas of new agro terrorism, and it is all scary. We were treated to a reception by the South African Embassy. The Embassy took time to give us an idea of what to expect next March when we travel to South Africa for our international study tour. We met with the California and also the New Jersey Leadership Classes. It was interesting to compare what we do in our respective programs. We did have a little time to tour, and besides visiting the monuments and Arlington, I spent some time in the National Archives. It was fitting that we ended our trip with a visit to Gettysburg and a history lesson. The KARL class won’t meet again until November when they go to Fort Worth, Texas for their Blue Chip Tour of a Fortune 500 company at BNSF Railway. Please contact me with any questions and be sure to check out our Web site at www.KARLprogram.com and look us up on Facebook.

Spring is in the air! It’s time to get back out into the fresh air and enjoy some time outside! If you work indoors all day, a walk over

WELLNESS CORNER: Why Worksite Wellness? from Lori May - Class Xyour lunch break can really improve your day! Switch into a pair of tennis shoes and grab a friend. A 10 minute walk can have a significant impact on your afternoon attitude, productivity

LEADERSHIP VOLUNTEERISM

MCMC

MCMC

and it may curb the afternoon slump that has you reaching for coffee or sugar!

While you are out, take a look around and analyze your environment. Which routes do you take and why? Is it safer one way than another? Do you always

trip on the sidewalk in one spot? Would you take a kid with you on a bike route that you generally take or do you feel the amount of traffic or the speed of traffic is just too much? Try to look at the route from the perspective of someone who is in a wheelchair trying to get around town or maybe a child who stays home alone in the summer and wants to go to the library or the pool. What do our pedestrian routes look like to them? Keeping aware of your surroundings while exercising and learning how to improve them makes for a healthy community!

Paula Rominger, Class IV, has received the NCK Tech 212 Degrees Award. Paula has demonstrated superior dedication and the willingness to go the extra “degree.” The award is called such because 212 degrees is water’s boiling point.

Paula was nominated by her fellow peers and was selected by a five-person committee of NCK Tech employees. She is one of two who will receive the award this year. Paula is NCK Tech’s payroll/accounts payable manager.

Rominger Receives Award

Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems -Auxiliary, and economy shop and Pink Ladies volunteers needed Contact Vickie Mears at 738-5066

Bloodmobile (5 events per year) -Assistant to chairperson -Help set up and tear down Contact Vickie Mears at 738-5066

Mitchell County Historical Society Museum -Manual labor, file and office work Contact Kyle Peterson at 738-5355

Meals on Wheels -Delivery drivers to deliver meals, including bad weather Contact the MCHHS at 738-2266

Senior Center Meals -Delivery drivers Contact Judy at 738-5802

Road to Recovery -Drive cancer patients to appointments Contact Pat Cashatt at 738-3828, pjcashatt@nckcn.com

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) -Volunteers will receive training to be advocates for abused and neglected children in the court system. Contact Carol Miller at 243-8200 or 877-576-2272, nckcasa@cloudcountyks.org

Heart Choices Heartbeat Pregnancy Center -Janitorial Services -Reception/Clerical Work -Donations of baby supplies (diapers, wipes, etc) Contact 738-3433, heartbeat@nckcn.com

Alums Attend Big Rural Brainstorm

dialogue with like-minded people and lots of out-of-the- box ideas!”

Simmons enjoyed a session about getting citizens involved in government policy making. “I left this session invigorated with some new ideas on how to meet the different generations of our community where they are at and find ways for them to engage in a convenient and effective manner with their city and county governments.”

“The conference really energized and motivated everyone and got us more excited about why we are rural by choice,” said Cheyenne. “We all know change won’t be seen over night, but by working together we will make a difference.”

MC

LMC Class XIV helped clean up the yard of the Purdue House for their class project. The class worked in the daylight evening hours the week of March 24 raking leaves, trimming shrubs and trees, spraying weeds and other miscellaneous yard work. “We didn’t want the recognition for it, we just saw the need and wanted to help,” said Jennifer Whitman-Cooper, current class member. Many members donated equipment from their business or home to use during the clean-up.

Class Project

NEW LOGO