The Carolina Foothills Chamber of Commerce will start its Foothills Leadership Initiative (FLI) classes in September.
Participants in the leadership program spend one day each month, over a nine-month period, learning about a specific aspect of the community in each session. Two classes have successfully completed the 9-month-long program with 17 graduates.
The FLI classes will begin in September and continue through May 2013. Through these classes, a group of 10 individuals will have the opportunity to learn about various aspects of the Carolina Foothills region, which will prepare them to assume leadership roles in the community. Sessions will be devoted to government, education, arts and leisure and health and human services. In keeping with the rural nature of this area, time will be devoted to agriculture and to the traditions and economic impact of the equestrian community and industry.
During the program, time will also be devoted to training in various aspects of leadership. This portion of the program will be led by local professionals Jim and Lisa Murphy of JW Murphy & Associates (www.teammurphy.com). Community leaders in the various aspects covered by FLI will facilitate each session’s topic and will arrange speakers and activities. The sessions will take the participants into the community for direct observation and interactive learning opportunities.
Applications for the program may be obtained from the website of the Carolina Foothills Chamber of Commerce, www.carolinafoothillschamber.com, or from the chamber office. The deadline to apply is Sept. 5. A committee of Chamber Board members will select the participants for the class.
For more information, contact Janet Sciacca at 828-859-6236 or  janet@carolinafoothillschamber.com or Stacey Lindsay at 828-859-5890, 864-360-6170 or stacey.lindsay@td.com. Sciacca is the executive director of the chamber; Lindsay is a graduate of Leadership Greenville Class XVII and is a former president of the Landrum Chamber of Commerce and FENCE. She is the Polk County Executive for TD Bank and has facilitated the first two leadership sessions.
– article submitted by Janet Sciacca