Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Leadership class graduates, Ross tells importance of public service

It was out with the old and in with the new, so to speak at the Leadership Nevada County Graduation Tuesday, Dec. 2.

This was the second graduating class for the program, which began in 2001 with the inaugural group of local residents who want to provide leadership for the area in the future.

The graduating class included: Faith Beavert, Clark Crellin, Ivory Curry, Pat Frederick, Travis George, Edie Greenwood, Kay Haynie, Perry Nelson, Lisa Pennington, David Poole, Karen Richards and Elaine Williams.

Jon Chadwell, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office, acted as master of ceremonies, with Congressman Mike Ross on hand as the keynote speaker for the occasion.

Ross congratulated the graduates and told them challenges are on the way.

In the late 1980s, he said, there was discussion locally on the need for an economic development office in Prescott and Nevada County. At the time, such offices were a rarity instead of the norm as they currently are.

There was some opposition, but those who looked forward saw the need for such an office, and one was created.

Since its inception, Ross said, the EDO has brought in enough money in state and federal grants to more than pay for itself.

But, he said, this wouldn't be possible without having people in the office who knew how to write the grants.

Ross told how he fought to get the $1 million to build the new library, even though there are those who say they won't use it. "They should," he said. "It will be more than a library. It will be one of the first things people see when they drive into Prescott, and it will say a lot about the town, where it is and where it hopes to be in the future.

"We need people like you to get involved in the community. We need fresh ideas and different approaches to things. What you learn here, you can carry with you throughout your life."

More people need to get involved in the community, Ross said, because public service is still a noble cause.

"What Prescott looks like in 10 or 20 years is up to us," he said. "We're also setting examples for younger people. You can be a roll model for a young person and not know it. What you do can influence them to be involved in Prescott."

Ross said he takes his position as one of 435 members of Congress seriously, as the House of Representatives and Senate set the priority and vision for the future of everyone in the nation.

Chadwell explained the leadership program to the class of 2003, saying it's to help people be able to make things happen locally, provide a resource network, have fun and inspire all to leave something worthwhile behind.

Each group within the class must come up with a project and complete it within the year-long program.

He had the groups from the class of 2002 explain their projects and how they were done.

Team 1, calling itself "Team Gitmo" from a sign that used to be on the old Broadway Hotel espousing people to come in and "gitmo chicken", erected a flagpole behind the marquee on Main Street.

The team, made up of Nelson, Crellin, Poole and Beavert, managed to get the project done without having to raise any money, as materials and labor were all donated.

Team 2, made up of Curry, Pennington, Richards and Frederick, was inspired by what the members had learned in the leadership program and organized Leadership Nevada County for high school students.

Their idea was to teach students about leadership and get them involved as well. The students also had to come up with and fund projects.

Team 3, consisting of George, Haynie, Williams and Greenwood, went with the idea of getting brochures made up showing the services available in Prescott and Nevada County.

They raised the money necessary to get the printing done and distributed the brochures at the Health-a-Rama and Ministerial Alliance.

Following the speeches, "friendship" awards were handed out to the graduating class. These "awards" were based on traits exhibited by individuals during the course of the program. The awards were done in the spirit of fun.

Chadwell issued a challenge to the graduates. He said they had a good time in the program and will make a difference in the community in the future.

His challenge was for them to make this a better place to live and work. "Our job is to leave something worthwhile behind," he said, "not to be recognized by name for the things we do."

The class of 2003 was also introduced at the dinner. It consists of: Patricia Blake, David Cassels, Brad Crain, B.J. Glass, Vince Grimes, Elaine Halliday, Sandy Harlow, Kay Hendrix, Brandi Karlovec, John Miller, Sam Reeder, Todd Richards, Savitri Surbaugh, Linda Terry and Brenda Williams.