Chamber to offer student leadership program
Pictured above is the Tomorrow’s Leaders Today committee is pictured above, from left to right: Stacy Runnels, Angela Seymour, Gary Whyte, Chuck Pilant, Dana Kammerlohr and Mindi Artherton.
April 8, 2015
Steve Chapman
The Cassville Chamber of Commerce has created a new leadership program in which a select group of Cassville High School students will get the opportunity to learn more about the city and the importance of community involvement. The program, called Tomorrow’s Leaders Today (TLT), begins during the 2015-16 school year and will bring the students together with community leaders and local business owners. In this program, which begins in the next school year, the students will participate in a day-long session each month, beginning in November 2015 and going until March 2015. During each session, they will tour Cassville businesses and participate in workshops designed to educate them about leadership.
TLT is the brainchild of Mindi Artherton, director of the Chamber of Commerce. Artherton learned of a similar program in Joplin and decided it could be beneficial to students at Cassville High School. “I felt that it would be a good fit for Cassville,” she said.
Artherton first brought her proposal to the Chamber Board. They approved of the idea and formed the TLT Steering Committee to develop the program. The members of the committee are Gary Whyte, Larry Eden, Chuck Pilant, Stacy Runnels, Angela Seymour and Dana Kammerlohr.
Artherton also spoke to Dr. Richard Asbill, superintendent of the Cassville R-4 School District, and Jeff Swadley, principal of Cassville High School, and got their approval for the students to participate in the program. The Steering Committee worked closely with high school counselors Jordi Miller and Michelle Johnson to determine the training schedule and application process. They were also instrumental in planning an assembly with the current junior class to announce the program.
TLT was introduced to the junior class at Cassville High School in early March. Students who wanted to participate were urged to apply before the deadline on March 30.
According to Artherton, the exact number of students who will be allowed to participate has not yet been chosen. “We know it will be less than 20, but we haven’t determined the exact number,” she said.
Participation in the program requires an adherence to high standards. Students who are chosen to take part in TLT are expected to attend each session, dress appropriately and actively participate in the program. Students may miss one session if they notify Artherton in advance, but those who miss two sessions for any reason will be dropped from the program.
Each session will cover a different topic. The topics that will be covered are: Government and Law; Industry; Leadership Development, Community Service and Small Business; Healthcare and Natural Resources. At the end of the program, there will be a graduation celebration and participants will be eligible for one of two $500 scholarships.
Artherton said the Chamber is still looking for Cassville businesses willing to sponsor TLT. Sponsorships cost $200, and the money will be used to provide lunch to the students, ensure funds are available for the two scholarships, cover the costs of any materials that might be needed and to offset expenses for the program’s opening lunch and the graduation celebration. Businesses that sponsor the program get first opportunity to speak during lunches, first opportunity to be involved in tours, recognition during the opening day luncheon and the graduation celebration, and their logos will be on the graduation celebration program.
So far, seven Cassville businesses are sponsoring the program: Freedom Bank, All-Points Recycling, Runnels Chiropractic, Commerce Bank, MariCorp, Barry Electric and Regal. Hutchens Construction has provided polo shirts for all of the participants to wear during the program sessions.
Any business owner wishing to become a TLT sponsor should contact Mindi Artherton at (417) 847-2814.
Steve Chapman
The Cassville Chamber of Commerce has created a new leadership program in which a select group of Cassville High School students will get the opportunity to learn more about the city and the importance of community involvement. The program, called Tomorrow’s Leaders Today (TLT), begins during the 2015-16 school year and will bring the students together with community leaders and local business owners. In this program, which begins in the next school year, the students will participate in a day-long session each month, beginning in November 2015 and going until March 2015. During each session, they will tour Cassville businesses and participate in workshops designed to educate them about leadership.
TLT is the brainchild of Mindi Artherton, director of the Chamber of Commerce. Artherton learned of a similar program in Joplin and decided it could be beneficial to students at Cassville High School. “I felt that it would be a good fit for Cassville,” she said.
Artherton first brought her proposal to the Chamber Board. They approved of the idea and formed the TLT Steering Committee to develop the program. The members of the committee are Gary Whyte, Larry Eden, Chuck Pilant, Stacy Runnels, Angela Seymour and Dana Kammerlohr.
Artherton also spoke to Dr. Richard Asbill, superintendent of the Cassville R-4 School District, and Jeff Swadley, principal of Cassville High School, and got their approval for the students to participate in the program. The Steering Committee worked closely with high school counselors Jordi Miller and Michelle Johnson to determine the training schedule and application process. They were also instrumental in planning an assembly with the current junior class to announce the program.
TLT was introduced to the junior class at Cassville High School in early March. Students who wanted to participate were urged to apply before the deadline on March 30.
According to Artherton, the exact number of students who will be allowed to participate has not yet been chosen. “We know it will be less than 20, but we haven’t determined the exact number,” she said.
Participation in the program requires an adherence to high standards. Students who are chosen to take part in TLT are expected to attend each session, dress appropriately and actively participate in the program. Students may miss one session if they notify Artherton in advance, but those who miss two sessions for any reason will be dropped from the program.
Each session will cover a different topic. The topics that will be covered are: Government and Law; Industry; Leadership Development, Community Service and Small Business; Healthcare and Natural Resources. At the end of the program, there will be a graduation celebration and participants will be eligible for one of two $500 scholarships.
Artherton said the Chamber is still looking for Cassville businesses willing to sponsor TLT. Sponsorships cost $200, and the money will be used to provide lunch to the students, ensure funds are available for the two scholarships, cover the costs of any materials that might be needed and to offset expenses for the program’s opening lunch and the graduation celebration. Businesses that sponsor the program get first opportunity to speak during lunches, first opportunity to be involved in tours, recognition during the opening day luncheon and the graduation celebration, and their logos will be on the graduation celebration program.
So far, seven Cassville businesses are sponsoring the program: Freedom Bank, All-Points Recycling, Runnels Chiropractic, Commerce Bank, MariCorp, Barry Electric and Regal. Hutchens Construction has provided polo shirts for all of the participants to wear during the program sessions.
Any business owner wishing to become a TLT sponsor should contact Mindi Artherton at (417) 847-2814.
