Leadership Fond du Lac

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The Mission of Leadership Fond du Lac is to assist in the preparation of a strong, diverse group of leaders qualified to represent our communities and willing to make responsible decisions affecting both the public and private sectors.

The Program
Leadership Fond du Lac is a community-based program to provide information and experience to individuals willing to make a lasting commitment of service to the city and county of Fond du Lac.

Qualified applicants begin the program in September with an overnight retreat, in 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 meeting, the Leadership group will meet 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. The group meets once a month for a day of information, interactive participation and visits to various entities in the community. The participants are divided into small groups for the purpose of developing a community project. The small groups develop the community project based on their research and knowledge of the community. All participants are required to attend the Kick Off Retreat in September. The 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 are:

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 - verbal and written

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 currently $1,200 and that is all inclusive. The Fond du Lac Area Foundation has provided partial scholarship grants for individuals who qualify for the tuition assistance.

Leadership Fond du Lac Class of 2008-2009

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 Patty Brandl, Director of Leadership Fond du Lac at (920) 921-9500 ext. 115 or patty@fdlac.com. 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.

Download Leadership Fond du Lac application in PDF format.

Volunteer Resource Guide for 2008 PDF

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 19, 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.