Class of 1999-2000

Gateway to Community Service For Youth

Mission Statement:

“Educating and motivating youth to lifetime community service in Hancock County”

Problem Analysis:

Lack of service opportunities
Items brought up at Social Issues Day
Decline in volunteerism
Recruiting practices

Action Plan:

Complete appointment of board of directors and hold retreat
- Elect officers and create curriculum
Develop brochure describing the program and inviting applicants
Recruit speakers/presenters, locate meeting places.
Distribute brochure and advertise program
Meet with local service agencies that are interested in participating
Finalize planning, begin reviewing applications.
Make final selections of participations and notify them

Group Members:

Sandy Abel
Teri Dunlavy
Rob Jackson
Hope Moran
Dorothy Swanson-Glancy

Public Information Access- Virtual Courthouse

Recognizing the Problem:

Hancock County did not have access to the latest technology for County officials, or resident

Analysis of the Problem:

Interviewed County Officials
- All believed that county needed electronic GIS as well as “Virtual Courthouse”
- Reduces phone calls
- Saves money from mailings
- Forms available online for residents/businesses

Action Plan:

Offer offices access to Internet
Offices to develop “wish lists”
Technology training
Communicate needs to task force
Obtain funding

Group Members:

Tim Higbie
Ann Johnson
Nancy Simpson

The Class of 2017-18 wrapped up its final class day on March 7 and is now fully pivoting to finish up its group projects.

The results of those six projects will be presented at the class's graduation celebration on May 2 at Bradley Hall in downtown Greenfield.

The class finished its official studies with a two-part seminar on "situational leadership" led by Steve Long, CEO of Hancock Health. Long led an insightful discussion about methods people can use to inspire those they lead. As the class learned, leaders often have to mold their approach to be successful. "Successful leadership is a partnership" between leaders and those they supervise, he said.

That approach upends the thinking of traditional top-down management theory, but Long told the class organizations can't be successful until their leaders have the vision to tailor their approach to make their messages resonate.

The class also were the guests of honor at an alumni luncheon, which made its return after an absence of a few years. About 60 people attended the event, which was held the Greenfield-Central Educational Services Center.

The class also toured Hancock Regional Hospital, which played host to the group for the day. Hancock Health is a major supporter of the program.

Founded in 1996, Leadership Hancock County was conceived as a pipeline of sorts for emerging leaders. Since then, more than 400 people have gone through our program. On that roster of graduates are CEOs, political leaders, educators and key managers in dozens of organizations.
Our program works to foster leadership skills in promising students in an immersive, eight-month study of our communities and the qualities that go into making strong leaders. Along the way, enrollees learn how to work as part of a team, and they gain valuable insights into how to communicate effectively and contribute to their organizations in impactful ways.
If you or someone in your organization is on a leadership track in your organization, we'd love to hear from you.