2/26/01

Contacts:
Beverlyn Lundy Allen, Sociology, (515) 294-9107
Barb McManus, Ag Communications, (515) 294-0707

LEADERSHIP SUMMIT GOAL: DEVELOP AND CONNECT IOWA'S LEADERS

AMES, Iowa -- Strengthening community leadership is the focus of the Leaders of a Visionary Future for Iowa summit to be held March 7 at the University Park Holiday Inn in West Des Moines. The purpose of the conference is to combine resources from around the state to develop and enhance local leadership roles.

"There is a need to address the scarcity of community leaders in Iowa, especially small-town Iowa," said Beverlyn Lundy Allen, Iowa State University Extension sociologist. "We need more people to come to the table of leadership, to deal with local community issues and to be involved in organizations and keep them running."

The summit co-coordinators are Susan Judkins, Iowa Department of Economic Development, and Cory Peterson, ISU Extension field specialist. Peterson said the summit would strengthen local leadership programs by bringing together leadership organizations throughout the state.

"We want to help community leaders form a network with their peers across the state," Peterson said. "We also will give them an opportunity to expand their skills and knowledge."

The summit will address how leadership skills help communities solve problems. The idea for the summit evolved as organizations throughout the state recognized the need to assist current leaders and recruit new leaders.

"Communities that are succeeding are doing so because of the leadership they are tapping. This is a critical issue for our state if we are going to deal with issues in rural and urban areas," Judkins said.

Speakers will include Christie Vilsack, Iowa's first lady; James Autry, leadership speaker and author; Michael Gartner, chair of Vision Iowa and Iowa Cubs owner; Joe Tye, motivational speaker; Bill Boon, ISU professor of landscape architecture and creativity; C.J. Niles, IDED director; and Steve Padgitt, ISU Extension to Communities.

A follow-up session will be held March 8 for program directors and managers at the Salisbury House in Des Moines.

The summit is co-sponsored by ISU Extension to Communities and IDED in collaboration with Iowa 2010 Strategic Planning Council, Iowa Agricultural Development Authority, Iowa Association of Business and Industry/Leadership Iowa, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Health System/The Center for Healthy Communities, Iowa Rural Development Council, Office of the Governor and Lt. Governor, Schneider Consulting Group and Wells Fargo.

For more information contact Allen, (515) 294-9107, Judkins, (515) 242-4870, or Peterson (712) 336-3488. Or go to http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Pages/communities/ to view or download the registration materials.

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