This month's guest writer is outgoing Leadership Worthington President Suzan Jervey.
Dear LW Network,
We can look back at experiences in our lives where personal growth and sense of achievement can be found. For most of us, the nine months we spent in our own leadership program is one of those experiences. For me, another experience is the past two years serving as president of Leadership Worthington.
During the past two years, I have had the pleasure of overseeing some wonderful accomplishments. We evaluated the projects and structure of our board and refined our mission and vision. We have and continue to improve our communications methods with this enewsletter, an improved website, and the beginnings of a more unified marketing campaign. We have reestablished the 8th grade training program and created an additional program for high school students. Our sponsorship program, which was in its infancy when I was elected president, has become a part of our funding structure.
I can’t take credit for these things; I only presided over meetings and read all the emails in which I was carbon-copied. Instead, it was the incredible network of volunteers and staff working together who deserve the credit.
Thank you to each of you for your dedication. Worthington is a proud and wonderful community. I am pleased to have served an organization that continues to make Worthington even more proud and wonderful.
Suzan Jervey
Class of 2004
Service Day
Seventy volunteers completed 75 jobs at the 16th Annual Leadership Worthington Service Day held on May 2, 2009. Volunteers gathered at the Kilbourne Middle School at 8:00 a.m. for breakfast provided by the Kiwanis Club of Northern Columbus, heading out to perform jobs beginning at 9:00 a.m.
Service Day began in 1994 as a LW Class Project that was established to help seniors and the disabled in Worthington with chores such as yard work, window washing, and garden planting. Service Day draws volunteers from the Worthington area schools, churches, civic organizations, and many individuals, as well as LW past class members and board members. It is a requirement that members of the current LW class participate in Service Day each year.
The 2009 Service Day committee was co-chaired by Jim Sauer and Kathi Reddy. Committee members were: Bob Reddy, Mark Feldbush, Jim Hilz, Joan Bird, Steve Putka, Rob Wendling, Susan Costakos-Slomka, Valerie Knapp, and Rose Byrd. Service Day was sponsored this year by Lions Club International, Worthington Chapter, as well as our Silver sponsors: Clark, Shaefer, Hackett & Co., Dr. Anthony Lordo, DDS, and Tilton's Automotive Service; and our Bronze sponsors: Allstate Insurance, Katherine Reddy Agency, First Place Bank, Schoedinger Funeral Services, and State Farm Insurance Agent-Bill Alsnauer.
Leadership for a Lifetime Awards
What is your definition of a leader? Does it include words like visionary, integrity, dedication, courage, humility, creativity, fairness, assertiveness, good listener, sense of humor, honesty, motivator, or consistency? After careful consideration of 23 nominations from the community, Leadership Worthington is proud to announce the four 2009 recipients of our Leadership for a Lifetime Award who all possess many of these qualities. The winners are as follows:
Cassady Watson (Elementary), the oldest of seven children, is a fourth grader at Granby Elementary School where she serves on the executive board of the student council, is a member of Kids for Saving Earth and is passionate about saving the gorillas in Rwanda. Cassady's nominator states that “the leadership qualities she displays at such a young age shows that she has the capacity to do great things as an adult.”
Hannah Vincent (Middle School) is an eighth grader at McCord Middle School where she has had a very positive impact on her fellow students. Hannah steps up as a leader in her school, the classroom, the basketball court, as well as in the community, and does not let anything get in her way to do what is right. Hannah's peers look up to her because she leads by example and is positively able to influence other young adolescents through her action and words.
Rebecca Alexander (High School) is a senior at Worthington Kilbourne High School. Rebecca has served as President for two years of the Gay-Straight Alliance, a student advocacy group that works against name-calling, bullying, and harassment, combined with effective responses. Rebecca is also a student board member of the Inter-professional Commission of Ohio Civic Responsibility Panel and has also been recognized for several academic and athletic awards at WKHS. Rebecca is a leader among her peers and is well respected for her personal convictions to make our community a better place to live and work.
Jeff Appel (Adult) is a partner with the law firm of Appel & Hellstedt LLP in Worthington. His family of four are lifelong residents of Worthington. Jeff has shown and taken leadership roles in many community service organizations, including the Dublin-Worthington Rotary, Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce, Worthington Education Foundation Board, Worthington Youth Boosters (as a lacrosse coach), and has served as an Elder at the Worthington Presbytarian Church. Jeff graduated from Leadership Worthington in 2005 and helped develop the Annual Fourth of July Family Picnic as a class project, which has become a tradition in our community. Jeff shows compassion and dedication and is an advocate for many community causes.
Leadership for a Lifetime began as a LW class project in 1994 and has continued for 15 years. The selection committee for this year was co-chaired by Kathy Starks and Mark Huber. Committee member were Jim McElligott, Kathryn Paugh, Lou Briggs, Pam Sturiano, Sandy Byers and Kathy Moore. To be nominated for this award, one must live or work in the Worthington school district, exhibit leadership qualities, and be nominated by someone other than a family member (except elementary school age category). Recipients are honored at our annual Service Day and are presented official plaques and given a chance to speak at our annual meeting in May each year. Honorees also receive a brick engraved with their names which is placed in the sidewalk in front of the Worthington City Hall.
Leadership Worthington Newsletter