I want to start by thanking The Liberty Group, where I work, for nominating me for Leadership Lycoming. It was truly an honor to be nominated, and after going through the interview process, I was even more appreciative to be selected. I don’t take that opportunity lightly.
The Leadership Lycoming program is something special, and I’m very proud to be a part of it. It began in 1988, and it’s still thriving today. It’s not easy to get into, and it’s definitely challenging, which makes it even more meaningful. I am excited to graduate this spring, but I am also torn because I don’t want the program to end.
What I love most about Leadership Lycoming is that it brings leaders from all across the community together. It gives us the chance to learn not only what each other does to help make our county great, but also to better understand the different areas that keep Lycoming County strong.
The class includes eight program days; each focused on a different part of the community. Those days cover health and human services, law and judiciary, history and the arts, leadership and community service, business and economic development, education, government, and environmental issues.
We’ve only had a few program days so far, but it’s already been awesome learning about the education opportunities here in Williamsport, getting a better understanding of the law and judicial system, and seeing the history and impact of the arts in our area.
The Leadership Lycoming mission statement says it best, “A specialized training program designed to understand the needs of the community it serves and develop and motivate effective leaders committed to utilizing their skills and talents for the betterment of their community.”
I can honestly say this program has helped me learn so much more about the place we live, but it has also shown me just how many great leaders and good people we have right here in our community. I look forward to each program day and the opportunity to keep learning something new.
One of the best parts about Leadership Lycoming, though, is something you don’t really expect when you start. I now have 27 friends I can truly count on. I know that if it’s within their power, they’ll show up, help out, and be there for me.
We’ve all come together and really gotten to know each other, not just professionally, but personally too. We’re more than classmates, we’re genuine friends.
We started this journey together in August, and at the time, I shared that Lauren was pregnant. Now we’re still going through the program together, and since then, Beau was born. It’s been awesome to see how many people in the group have reached out to congratulate me and share in such a big moment for our family. We even have another member of our class who recently had a baby, and two others who have recently gotten engaged. It’s truly been amazing being able to share life along the way with everyone.
You can also tell just how great a program Leadership Lycoming is by the level of support it receives. Between the people who donate and the alumni who come back to give their time, it’s clear that those who go through it take great pride in it and truly want to see it continue to grow.
I’ll leave you with this: don’t shy away from something just because it seems time-consuming or requires volunteer hours. The experience, the relationships, and the chance to truly make the place you live even better are more than worth it.
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” – 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)
