Qualified applicants begin the program in September with an overnight retreat at which the participants learn the history of the community, learn team building skills, get acquainted with the other members of the Leadership Class and begin to develop their community project.  After the September retreat, the Leadership group meets once a month to explore issues pertinent to the community and to learn more about the community they live in through presentations, role playing, tours and other activities.  The uniqueness, history, culture, strengths and shortcomings of the community are examined.

Leadership Fond du Lac is a 9-month program. Participants are divided into small groups to develop a community project, which is based on their research and knowledge of the community. The mandatory September kickoff retreat is designed to provide additional information about the program, build teams and allow the group to become familiar with each other.

The topics covered in the 9-month program:

• Team building
• History of Fond du Lac County
• Community projects
• Local & regional government
• Boardsmanship
• Financial statements
• Panel discussion - Volunteering/serving on boards and committees
• Human services & social issues in the community
• Wisconsin state government - travel to Madison
• Education - K-12 (public & private)
• Higher education
• Health care
• Business and economic development
• Diversity in the community
• The arts
• Media

Participants in the program must be at least 18 years of age, must live or work in Fond du Lac County and must have the desire and dedication to get involved in the community.

Tuition for the program is $1,200. The Fond du Lac Area Foundation has provided partial scholarship grants for individuals who qualify for tuition assistance.

Thanks to the vision of the Association of Commerce, a group of local CEO's and local entrepreneur Donald Jones, the Leadership program began in 1998 with a class of 12.

If you are interested in the program, please contact Lesley Manowske, Director of Leadership Fond du Lac, at lesleym@fdlac.com or (920) 921-9500 ext. 115.  Information and an application will be sent to you.  Applications are accepted anytime, the interview process begins in June and the class is filled by August 15.  Payment is due upon acceptance to the program.

Leadership Fond du Lac Class of 2009-2010

Download Leadership Fond du Lac application in PDF format.

Volunteer Resource Guide for 2009 pdf

LEADERSHIP FDL MEETING DATES
Class of 2009/2010
(3^rd Wednesday of the Month) 
(topics subject to change)

September 11 & 12, 2009	Retreat at Heidel House, Green Lake – All day Friday and until noon on Saturday.
October 21, 2009	Local and regional government
November 18, 2009	Boardsmanship, financial statements, public safety & media
December 16, 2009	Human services and social issues
January 20, 2010	Education
February 17, 2010	State government Day
March 17, 2010	Health care
April 21, 2010	Business and economic development
May 19, 2010	Arts & diversity (last meeting day) Graduation dinner in the evening

                    

            

Kathy Strong-Twohig
2009 recipient of the Donald G. Jones Leadership Alumni Award

The award was presented to Kathy Strong-Twohig at the Leadership FDL Graduation on May 20, 2009, by AC Board Chairman Lisa Washa.

This award recognizes the efforts of a Leadership alumnus for his or her efforts to the Fond du Lac area through volunteer service and leadership.

As the eighth Leadership Fond du Lac alumna awarded this honor for community volunteerism, Kathy Strong-Twohig has not only served on and led countless boards and committees, but also currently heads Habitat for Humanity of Fond du Lac County as its executive director.

She graduated from the Leadership Fond du Lac Program in the Class of 2005.

A native and lifelong resident of the Fond du Lac area, Kathy acquired a wide array of business experience since graduating from Sheboygan’s Lakeland College in the field of business administration. She also earned an Associate’s degree from Moraine Park Technical College and attended Fox Valley Technical College. From 1984-1994, Kathy worked at Ripon Medical Center. Acknowledging the rapid change in technology during that time period, she said, “I started there in data processing, which is a term no one uses anymore, and by the time I left, I was in MIS (management information systems).”

In 1994 she worked in a family-owned business, Twohig Furniture & Flooring, as well as in the funeral home portion of the company until she started at Habitat in 2004.

From ringing bells for Salvation Army to working with local Girl Scouts on badge education, Kathy devotes her extra time to helping others. She has also served her community by sitting on the City Parking and Traffic Advisory Commission, the Hamilton Area Neighborhood Development (HAND) and co-chairing a team for Loaves & Fishes.