LEADERSHIP Fort Bend
Leadership is critical to the success of a community. Fort Bend County is in a cycle of positive growth because of the outstanding efforts of its diverse contingent of leaders.
Many of those leaders are graduates of Leadership Fort Bend, as will be many of those who lead Fort Bend County into the future. Leadership Fort Bend was organized in 1986 under the sponsorship of the Central Fort Bend Chamber Alliance. The concept for the program grew out of what was perceived to be a real and ever growing need for volunteer leadership in the Fort Bend County area.
As a program of the Chamber, Leadership Fort Bend is designed to create an understanding of how the community functions, and to increase leadership skills and incentive. The program offers skills training, education and new approaches to the study of regional issues. This provides the community with a pool of talent for participation on boards, employment, volunteerism and project facilitation, while building relationships.
Graduates of Leadership Fort Bend are encouraged to use these newly acquired skills to contribute greatly to the area through their service with the Chamber, local government, and many other worthy endeavors.
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Program
Leadership Fort Bend is a nine-month program, from September to May, including two two-day retreats, a two-day trip to the state capitol and six all-day sessions.
Participants missing any of the two-day sessions or more than two of the one-day sessions will not graduate.
The program includes training in communications, character and personal career management skills, as well as community issues. The sessions’ topics include education, infrastructure and economic development, city and county government and history, the judicial system, state government, health and social services and volunteerism.
The sessions are facilitated by alumni.
All graduates are encouraged to remain active in alumni affairs and Chamber activities that support the ongoing success of the Chamber and the Leadership Fort Bend program.
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Purpose
The programs commitment to the community:
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To provide a continuing source of active, responsible and trained leaders to meet community needs;
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To provide a forum for discussion of challenges facing the Fort Bend community;
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To promote a better understanding of local and state-level government, and the issues affecting the community.
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Participants
Candidates are chosen each year from a wide spectrum of the area’s population. Those selected represent business, government, civic and nonprofit organizations, and many other professional fields. Candidates are usually nominated by businesses and organizations, or by self-nomination. Nominees must be able to commit to the attendance requirements as it is stated in the program information below.
An important factor in selecting participants is identifying individuals apt to utilize their leadership for the long-term benefit of the community.
Basic criteria for the process are as follows:
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A sincere commitment, motivation and interest to serve the community;
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Demonstrated leadership through past activities;
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Intentions of seeking key leadership roles;
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Possessing the potential for advancement in to leadership positions within one’s own organization;
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Having an occupational commitment to remain in Fort Bend County for the immediate future;
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