Download the 2013-2014 President’s Report
Overview:
In all the important ways, the year was much like the twenty preceding it. The
class was engaged and inspired. Our all-volunteer board, committees, day
facilitation teams, and guest speakers continued to improve our program and
strengthen our organization. We remain fiscally sound, solidly positioned for the
future, and committed to promoting a dynamic, empowered community by
preparing citizens for active participation and leadership.
Curriculum:
Leadership Corvallis concluded its 2013-14 program of ten, full day sessions on
Thursday, June 5. Individual days were organized around the Corvallis 2020
Vision Statement. Jeff Davis, Class of 2009, was Curriculum Committee Chair.
Deb Rose, Class of 2005, served as the Class Host.
This year’s program garnered a 4.2 average rating (out of a possible 5) in class
members’ responses to the question, “How valuable did you find today’s
session in helping you, as a community leader, become even more effective and
engaged?” This rating is consistent with average ratings for recent years.
Each class day began with Micky Shields, Class of 2012, Kaci Buhl, Class of 2013,
or Penny York, Class of 2001, focusing attention on three categories of skills
needed for community leadership: framing ideas, building social capital, and
building resources. Using the Community Leadership Handbook (Krile 2006),
they led hands-on, experiential activities within each of these categories,
enabling the class to develop 14 leadership skills.
Leadership Corvallis continues to emphasize sustainable business practices,
shifting our reliance from printed materials to digital information. Class Host Deb Rose helped the incoming class get acquainted early on by posting pictures
and biographies on the class website prior to the first class. Information about
classes, including agendas and speaker information, was shared via monthly emails
and the class website. Additional information posted (out-of-class
assignments, background information on sites and presenters, activities related
to community service projects) saved printing and helped the class stay
connected between class meetings.
Class Members:
The Recruitment Committee, chaired by Mark Kalmar, Class of 2010, recruited
29 class members, from a broad cross-section of the community. Ten of these
participants came from businesses, six from education, four from nonprofits, five
from health care, and four from government. Twenty-seven participants met the
graduation requirements by attending at least 80% of the class days.
Community Service Projects:
Lisa Schubert, Class of 2008, chaired our Community Service Projects
Committee. Each year, Leadership Corvallis class members are asked to partner
with local non-profit organizations on a service project. The Class of 2014
successfully completed seven projects:
- Remodeled the laundry room at the Jackson Street Youth Shelter
- Promoted and recruited for the Benton County Career Convention put on
by the Corvallis Public Schools Foundation - Helped Heartland Humane Society promote its “A Cat About Town”
adoption program - Developed a promotional video for the Boys & Girls Club of Corvallis
- Beautified the landscaping of Alsea Rural Health Clinic
- Designed and built an outdoor kitchen for the Starker Arts Garden for
Education (SAGE) - Produced a stunning video and photographs of the Class of 2014 at
http://video214.com/play/GfxUxuv1HsD9r7VQXphtHg/s/dark
Community Perceptions and Support:
Leadership Corvallis enjoys a stellar reputation in the community. Our program provides significant value, especially for producing well‐informed and connected citizens who are sought out for their participation on boards and commissions.
The greatest expression of support for Leadership Corvallis comes from the
participation of community leaders and experts who come to our classes to share their knowledge, expertise and perspectives on issues. Thirty‐one organizations made contributions to Leadership Corvallis in the form of space, tours and other in‐kind contributions. Those making in‐kind contributions included Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, Hilton Garden Inn, LBCC Benton Center, OSU Federal, Your Community Credit Union, OSU LaSells Stewart Center, and Visual People Design.
The Public Relations Committee, chaired by Rebecca Badger (Class of ’09),
worked to increase awareness of Leadership Corvallis in the community by
sharing news via press releases, “Good Words” letters to the Gazette-Times,
and the organization’s website. The committee worked closely with the Alumni
Committee to better connect with our alumni network via our Facebook alumni
group and targeted email communications. The Public Relations Committee also
collaborated with our Recruitment Committee to generate and track interest
through a new website form, a promotional business card to be used as a leave behind piece, and social media posts. The committee produced the 2014
yearbook and began a redesign of the Leadership Corvallis website, which is
scheduled to launch this fall.
Alumni Involvement:
Alumni are why Leadership Corvallis is able to fulfill its vital service for the
community. They serve on the board and its committees. They act as day
facilitators and class speakers. They help us recruit new class members by
sharing their own experience. They step up to participate in special Leadership
Corvallis undertakings.
Elizabeth Westland Schroff, Class of 2011, chaired our Alumni Committee. This
year we held four alumni receptions: the first in September, after Class Day One,
the second in October, following Arts, Recreation and Entertainment Day, the
third in January, just before Celebrate Corvallis, and the fourth in May, at Tyee
Wine Cellars, following Natural Resources Day.
Graduation:
Carole Hobrock, Class of 2012, chaired our Graduation Committee. The event
was held on Thursday, June 5, 2014 at The Vue. Seventy-eight alumni, class
members, Advisory Council members, and guests attended. With the graduation
of the 27 members of the Class of 2014, the ranks of Leadership Corvallis alumni
now number 571.
Our Keynote speaker was Scott Rueck, Head Coach, OSU Women’s Basketball.
Our Class of 2014 speaker was Cassidy Riordan.
During the evening, Helen Higgins, Class of 2008, was presented with the 11th
Annual Hans Neukomm Leadership Award. Leadership Corvallis gives this award
to one of our alumni who has made significant contributions to the community
and exemplifies the leadership qualities epitomized by Hans Neukomm.
Advisory Council:
A group of 24 recognized leaders in business and public service lend their
names to the Leadership Corvallis program and provide guidance to the Board
of Directors. Many members of the Advisory Council are active in the program
as day facilitators and speakers, giving our class members a chance to create
relationships with community leaders.
We are grateful to these respected community leaders for their invaluable
counsel and unwavering commitment to the Leadership Corvallis program.
Funding, Financials and Scholarships:
Leadership Corvallis is solvent and has a reserve, adequate to fund a year’s
operation. Kristen Gose, Class of 2005, chairs our Finance Committee, and is our
Treasurer.
This year’s total income was $15,606.66 from tuition, graduation dinner fees, contributions, and interest. This year’s total expense was $12,940.77. Net income for the year was 2,213.64, as compared to a budgeted net of $158.00.
Tuition this year was $600 with an early application discount of $50 if
applications were received by May 1. $16,300 was collected in tuition this year.
Four scholarships were awarded at a total cost of $1,000 (one Hans Neukomm
scholarship and three regular scholarships). At fiscal year-end, our balance sheet
showed $17,546.33 cash on hand, no liabilities, and $18,662.31 equity.
Board Actions:
In addition to recording the minutes of Board meetings and maintaining all
records, our Secretary, Stacy Mellem, Class of 2006, has provided the following
summary of actions taken by the Board of Directors during the year:
- Approved changes to the Advisory Council for the program year.
- Approved changes to the Waiver and Release of Liability form.
- Insurance was reviewed but no changes were made.
- Noted that it would be the responsibility of the Chair of the Alumni Committee to be the keeper of the Leadership Corvallis banner.
- Reviewed the issue of the Board terms being out of balance with too many members scheduled to off-board at the same time in June of 2015. To get back in balance, Kristen, Roger and Elizabeth volunteered to reduce their Board terms by one year. They are now scheduled to end in June 2014, but are eligible for re-election.
- Approved Rebecca Badger and Ron Thiesen as the Leadership Corvallis 2013 nominees for Celebrate Corvallis.
- Approved updates to policy #004, Scholarships and Tuition Waivers.
- Approved cover letter to accompany distribution of Yearbooks.
- Approved becoming an Award Sponsor for Celebrate Corvallis and dropping the Table Sponsorship.
- The December Human Services Day was cancelled due to bad weather. Agreed that if future cancellations are needed the Curriculum Committee Chair and/or President will send an email to the entire Board to alert them to the event. Agreed that the organization had an obligation to try to provide a make-up class. Added a phrase to that regard to the application.
- Approved The Vue as the venue for graduation with Forks and Corks as
the caterer. - Reviewed a request from the da Vinci Days steering committee to survey Leadership Corvallis alumni via Constant Contact. Agreed not to allow an outside group to contact our alumni directly, but it would be appropriate to send a notice out to our alumni with a link to the survey.
- Agreed that bus transportation would be made available for Community by Design Day even if it meant that we were over budget.
- Did not reach a decision on sponsorship of either the Yearbook or specific days. Discussed pros and cons of sponsorships and agreed this needed further discussion.
- Approved creation of a 5-year legacy gift fund of $2,500. The fund would be used to present a $500 gift to the recipient of Celebrate Corvallis’ “Non-Profit of the Year” award for the next five years.
- Approved dinner fee for graduation. Class members, the Hans Neukomm Award recipient and one guest, and the Keynote Speaker and one guest should not be charged for their dinner, but all others – including Board members – should pay $35.00.
- Approved new policy #009 Board Selection and Development.
- Approved the Recruitment Committee recommendations for class participants and three (3) scholarships – for the 2014-15 program year.
- Elected new Board of Directors for the 2014-15 program year.
State and Federal Registration:
Leadership Corvallis, Inc., is a non‐profit, tax-exempt 501c(3) organization
registered with the State of Oregon and the Internal Revenue Service as of
August 31, 1998. Leadership Corvallis renewed the listing with the state and the
assumed business name of Leadership Corvallis.
State of Oregon Registry Number: 650586‐88
IRS EIN Number 93 1251566
Board Officers who served in 2013-14:
Curtis Wright, President
Scott Jackson, President-Elect
Stacy Mellem, Secretary
Kristen Gose, Treasurer
Board Members who served in 2013-14:
Kavinda Arthenayake, At Large
Rebecca Badger, Public Relations Committee Chair
Jeff Davis, Curriculum Committee Chair
David Hamby, At Large
Carole Hobrock, Graduation Committee Chair
Mark Kalmar, Recruitment Committee Chair
Roger Lizut, Vision Committee Chair
Deb Rose Class Host
Elizabeth Westland Schroff, Alumni Committee Chair
Lisa Schubert, Community Services Committee Chair
Todd Washington, At Large
A Special Thank You To Stacy Mellem:
Stacy Mellem, Class of 2006, has been our Secretary for the past three years.
Her nine years of service to Leadership Corvallis also includes stints as Day Lead,
Co-Lead, or team member for five different days, as Curriculum Committee
Chair, as President-Elect, as President, as Past President, and eight years as a
board member. I know of no other person after our founder, Hans Neukomm,
who has given more of them self to Leadership Corvallis than has Stacy. It is an
understatement of epic proportion to say we will miss her.
In Closing:
This concludes my second term as president. It has been an honor, a privilege,
and a lot of fun. Thanks to a quirk of fate, I ended up serving as president longer
than anyone other than Hans. Just between you and me, I would have been
happy to stay on for years to come. Because, to paraphrase the rallying call of
every graduating class, Leadership Corvallis is the best organization, ever!
Respectfully submitted,
Curtis Wright, Class of 2007
President
Leadership Corvallis, Inc.
Helen Higgins, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Corvallis, has been honored by Leadership Corvallis as the 11th Hans Neukomm Award winner.
Thank you to those who made this year’s Community by Design Day a great success. The day would not have been possible without the support of Peggy Joyce, Ken Gibb, David Livingston, Eric Adams, Kirk Bailey, and Lori Stephens.