About

Founded  in 1998, Sidney Area Leadership Program is designed to develop the leadership potential within our community. Sidney Area Leadership Program brings together individuals of diverse backgrounds and experiences with demonstrated talent and commitment . The program offers these selected individuals a unique opportunity to explore the resources of their community and the impact of social and economic changes on the Sidney area.

 Goals

· To identify and motivate emerging leaders.

· To acquaint emerging leaders with community needs and resources.

· To instill a sense of “community” to motivate participants into leadership roles.

· To provide skills development training to enhance leadership capabilities.

Benefits

Participants gain valuable new perspectives and become actively involved in solving problems, building a unique and distinctive group identity and serving as a corps of  informed, motivated leaders to benefit the community.

The program has an immediate, positive effect on participants, their work place, and the community.  Graduates are well-informed and skilled in active community leadership- a lasting benefit as they assume positions of responsibility.

 Tuition

• $250/Participant
• Chamber members save $50!

 Sidney Area Leadership Program is self-sustaining through tuition and community support. Tuition helps offset the cost of meals, speaker expenses, administrative fees, and supplies necessary to run the program. Participants are encouraged to ask their employer to sponsor their tuition fees in return for the skills and knowledge they will bring back to the workplace.

Commitment

Those selected to the program will attend seven Issue Days between September and April from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Each issue day is held at various locations in Sidney and includes a combination of lectures, panel discussions, small groups and field excursions.  In addition, class participants will participate in a Skills  Development Session and other enrichment activities: the Chamber Banquet, a School Board meeting, a City Council meeting, and volunteer at a Chamber event. Each class will work collectively to complete one class project before they graduate at the end of their second year of the Leadership program. A full schedule of times, places, obligations and other details will be sent to all successful candidates.  The second year, class participants will each teach one of seven issue days to the next year’s class.

 2021-2022 Schedule

September 8 | Agriculture Day | Richland County Extension Office | Coordinated by Sydney Salsbury

October 13 | Government Day | Richland County Fire Hall | Coordinated by Laurel Molden

November 10 | Skills Development | Sidney Elks Lodge | "Gracious Space" by Katie Dasinger and Leslie Messer of Richland Economic Development 

December 8 | Energy Day | Location TBD | Coordinated by Tori Happel and Danielle McGahn

January 12 | Small Business Day | Richland Ranger Hockey Arena | Coordinated by Dawn Rehbein

February 9 | Education Day | Sidney High School Library | Coordinated by Nadia Watson-Anthony

March 9 | Tourism and Recreation Day | MonDak Heritage Center | Coordinated by Becky Yonts

April 13 | Health & Human Services Day | Location TBD | Coordinated by Kelly Berndt

Class Projects

Each Leadership class is tasked with completing a community improvement project within the 2 year duration of their participation. Examples of past class projects include: the Richland Park rock signage, MonDak Heritage Center flower beds, MonDak Heritage Center benches, the cement military stamps around the stage at veterans park, the Richland County license plate etc. The class will identify a project they'd like to take on in November, 2021. 

The Leadership class welcomes suggestions for their class project from the community. If you would like to suggest a project, please complete the form linked below or call the Sidney Area Chamber of Commerce at (406) 433-1916.

Leadership Class Project Suggestion Form: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r...