Green County Leaders Class of 2016-2017 Graduates

Twenty-seven members of the Green County Leaders Class of 2016-2017 successfully finished the intense nine-month coursework and became Green County Leaders graduates on May 17th at a ceremony and celebration held in their honor at the New Glarus Hotel.
This was the fifteenth class to graduate from the program. Participants represented businesses, non-profits and government organizations. The program, which held its full-day orientation in August, covered various aspects of leadership and leadership development along with information about Green County community, history, infrastructure, government, natural resources, businesses, economy, and resources.
The classes were held throughout the county, allowing members a chance to get to know the various communities in Green County. To further develop their leadership skills, participants created teams to complete a final class project focused on helping the Green County community. Five specific projects were accomplished by the class, bringing the total number of community projects up to 61 completed projects conservatively worth over $350,000 in volunteer time. Community Projects for the 2016-2017 GCL Class included:
<strong>Monroe Area Community Closet </strong>
Project Team: Arianna Meier, Gina Haldiman, Jessica Day, Katie Letcher, Lauren White, Shari Ruesga.
This group partnered with Family Promise and the Church of Nazarene in Monroe to create a community closet. Free clothing is available to any community member through this community closet. This has already helped several families who have experienced difficulties such as house fires. Extra clothes that are collected will be sold to a company in Milwaukee that reuses the clothes for various purposes. In other communities, the money made from these transactions has gone to the local school district.
<strong>Promoting Inspire: Youth Career Programs</strong>
Project Team: Amy Hollis, Dan Perdue, Megan Wells, Teri Schaver, Val Johnson, Wes Speer.
The Inspire program helps connect youth with career and apprenticeship opportunities in the Madison area, including Green County. However, at the start of the GCL year, only eight businesses in Green County participated in this program. Through outreach and education, this group increased the number of participating businesses to 28. The group also worked with the Inspire program to develop marketing materials specifically for Green County, to assist in increasing engagement.
<strong>Expanding Access to Broadband</strong>
Project Team: Aaron Lehman, Blake Canterbury, Kathy Raymond, Theresa Bernstein, Teresa Joranlien, Wendy Ellingson.
This group partnered with the Green County Development Corporation (GCDC) to reach out to municipalities across Green County to engage them in expanding access to broadband. Specifically, they asked municipalities to support the creation of a grant application to increase broadband in Green County. This required a financial contribution and a letter of support. These efforts made it possible for GCDC to contract with the Southwestern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission to put together a grant application on behalf of Green County. The grant is anticipated to be submitted in 2017.
<strong>Expanding Bicycle Benefits to Green County</strong>
Project Team: Briana Lenzlinger, Laura Gams, Marco Puga, Nick Hein.
This group worked with several area businesses to bring the Bicycle Benefits program to Green County. This national program involves bicyclists purchasing a special sticker for their helmet. They can then receive different benefits, such as discounts, from participating businesses. Because this is a national program, tourists in Green County will be able to also receive benefits, and Green County will be included in the national program map.
<strong>Synthesizing the Monroe Arts Center Focus Group Study</strong>
Project Team: Angela Noel, Bret Shaw, Catherine Boughton, Susan Lawson.
In the fall of 2016, the GCL class facilitated 14 focus groups designed to get community perspectives on the Monroe Arts Center's (MAC) programming. This project group analyzed that data, synthesized it, and wrote a report to inform the MAC board of the community perspectives. MAC will be using this information to inform their strategic planning process and their future programming.
Members of the class included Aaron Lehman, Colony Brands, Inc.; Amy Hollis, Monroe Clinic; Angela Noel, Brodhead Public Library; Arianna Meier, City of Monroe; Blake Canterbury, Crossroads Community Church; Bret Shaw, UW-Extension; Briana Lenzlinger, Chalet Landhaus Inn; Catherine Boughton; Cody Sulzer, Colony Brands, Inc.; Dan Perdue; Gina Haldiman, Monroe Clinic; Jessica Day, Colony Brands, Inc.; Katherine Raymond, Monroe Clinic; Katie Letcher, Alliant Energy; Laura Gams, Colony Brands, Inc.; Lauren White, New Glarus Public Library; Marco Puga, Colony Brands Inc.; Nick Hein; Megan Wells, Bank of New Glarus &amp; Sugar River Bank; Shari Ruesga, Monroe Clinic; Susan Lawson, Monroe High School; Teresa Joranlien, Mitek, Hawk's Mill Winery; Teri Schaver, Precision Drive &amp; Control; Theresa Bernstein, Landmark Services Cooperative; Val Johnson, Woodford State Bank; Wendy Ellingson; and Wes Speer, Monroe Clinic.
Green County Leaders is made possible through a partnership of the Green County Development Corporation, Green County UW-Extension and other area organizations and businesses that donate their time by serving on program committees and as session speakers. The program's mission is to provide an educational program where individuals can practice leadership skills, deepen their understanding of community issues and prepare for leadership roles, thereby creating a network of individuals committed to the future of Green County. The program consists of a full-day orientation, nine classes and the graduation ceremony. Since its inception in 2001, the alumni network has grown to 321 people throughout Green County.
Recruitment for the class of 2017-2018 is underway. Brochures on the program are available at the Green County UW-Extension office, Green County Justice Center, 2841 6th Street, Monroe. For more information, a brochure or an application, please contact Victoria Solomon by calling (608) 328-9440, email victoria.solomon@ces.uwex.edu or check out the Green County Leaders website at www.greencountyleaders.com.