Emerging and existing leaders have the opportunity to learn more Logansport and Cass County and make many new networking connections.

Logansport-Cass County Chamber of Commerce and Cass County Purdue Extension are hosting their fourth Loganland Leadership Academy.

“We brought the leadership academy back after several past graduates asked,” Chamber president Brian Shafer said. “They saw the value in the program and were sad to see it stop.”

After looking into the idea nearly three years ago, Shafer discovered Fulton County was conducting a similar program.

The nine-month program is designed to offer information and experiences intended to expand and motivate participants to become community leaders in Cass County.

The two organizations have worked together to provide the Loganland Leadership Academy to the community the last three years.

“In a small community, your base of volunteers is somewhat limited,” Shafer said. “In order to find future emerging leaders, we need a program in place to show the opportunities that are found in the community. We want to unlock their potential as leaders. It also increases their network and knowledge of the community.”

Shafer feels it is especially important to help others establish more contacts.

“I think it is extremely valuable,” he said. “If you look at the social media network, we need to still look at how we can increase people we know in the traditional way — face to face.”

The academy offers networking opportunities in a variety of ways, including the introduction to various businesses, agencies, health care, fitness, recreation and government.

The program is open to any individual who resides or works in Cass County. It is limited to 20 participants.

The first class will begin Sept. 7 and the program runs until May 17.

The classes are typically conducted every other Tuesday from 8 a.m. until noon, with the exception of two classes, which will last longer.

Class topics and tours will include a gathering retreat, county history, a personality and leadership assessment, state house tour, agriculture and creative thinking, agriculture tours, education and conflict management, government panel and tours, community health and team building, health care tours, business tours, volunteerism and interpersonal communications, volunteer

organization tours, media and community leadership, and generational differences between boards and committees.

The Loganland Leadership Academy uses i-LEaD, also known as Indiana Leadership Education and Development.

The vision of the program is to “develop emerging and existing leaders through self-awareness and enhancement of leadership skills, in order to bring together community members to make decisions and to take action for the common good.”

Each year the program has been fine tuned. Last year, in addition to a visit to the State Capitol, participants had an opportunity to visit the Indiana Department of Transportation office for a tour and to learn more on the transportation process.

Shafer felt this was important, especially due to the Hoosier Heartland Corridor project in Cass County.

Tours in the industrial and agriculture fields vary each year.

“We try to change them a little bit to show a different perspective,” Shafer said.

The three academy sessions have graduated 32 participants. The Loganland Leadership Academy is still accepting applications and several seats are open.

Shafer would like to see people who are new to the community, people who are looking to become more involved, either by serving on a potential board or committee, as well as people who are looking to improve their professional development.

He encourages people to participate because it will aid their personal growth, help make new friends and allow community pride to foster.

The success of the academy has shown Shafer several things.

“We’re doing something right and the program has value,” he said. “We are filling a need of the community.”

He’s also enjoyed watching the group projects that are required of participants. The most recent graduates decided to work together as one large group to help landscape the Hervey Preserve and try to obtain a boulder at the entrance, so people know where it is located.

The group is also hosting a golf scramble to benefit the United Way of Cass County to raise awareness for domestic violence. During the event, they will collect children’s books for Reading Railroad.

“The most memorable part for me is watching the relationships develop in the groups,” he said. “I find it amazing for a group of almost complete strangers at the start to develop relationships that could be life-long friendships at the end.”

• Denise Massie is a staff writer at the Pharos-Tribune. She can be reached at 574-732-5151 or denise.massie@pharostribune.com

Learn more

For more information on Loganland Leadership Academy or to apply by Aug. 28, contact the Logansport-Cass County Chamber of Commerce at 574-753-6388, or the Cass County Purdue Extension at 574-753-7750.