The Albert Lea/Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce and Riverland Community College announce that they are once again partnering to present Leadership – a community based leadership program. The vision of the program is that Freeborn County will have a wealth of willing leaders. Its mission is to nurture and develop the future leaders of our county.

The program, entering its fifth year, is patterned after successful programs that have preceded it in Austin and Owatonna. Ron Langrell, executive vice president of Riverland Community College, along with former Chamber Board Chairman, Matt Benda, spearheaded the implementation of the program in Albert Lea.

Leadership is a program designed to enable attendees to learn about Albert Lea/Freeborn County resources, values, strengths, weaknesses and challenges. It is a learning experience geared toward providing an intense look at the business community, politics, education, quality of life, health care, law enforcement, media, diversity and other topics inherent in our community. Attendees will build networks, exchange ideas and begin the process of identifying and solving important community issues.

Leadership is aimed at individuals who have a desire to increase their community involvement in order to assume present and future leadership roles. Leadership builds civic awareness and helps develop relationships to better connect individuals to the community. The 10-month program begins with a social in August, followed by a series of all-day monthly sessions. The June session concludes with a graduation.

Leadership involves a major commitment on the part of both the attendees and their employer. Each attendee agrees to commit one day per month (currently the third Tuesday of the month) to the program. Additionally, they are asked to complete various assignments throughout the course of the year and to make a presentation at the graduation ceremony in June.

Up to 20 people are selected to participate in the year’s Leadership program. There is no age limit, and anyone may apply who is a resident of Albert Lea or Freeborn County. Participants are selected on their individual merits. The class selection process seeks individuals from a cross-section of the community with different backgrounds to reflect Albert Lea and Freeborn County’s educational, political, social, and cultural diversity.

Many employers support the program through either full or partial reimbursement of the tuition fee. Tuition for the nine-month program is $695. A detailed brochure is available in the Albert Lea/Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce office and is also available on its website. Deadline for application is June 1. For more information, contact the chamber office at 373-3938.

Leadership is presented by the Albert Lea/Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce and Riverland Community College with generous support from the local business community, which in the past has included the Albert Lea Medical Center – Mayo Health Systems, Alliant Energy Foundation, Freeborn-Mower Cooperative Services, Mrs. Gerry’s Kitchen and the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation. Further support has been received from the city of Albert Lea and Freeborn County.