Chamber Window - June 14, 2009

By, Phyllis Snodgrass
President, San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce

June 13, 2009 08:08 pm

— Many communities across the state, including San Marcos, have recently graduated their Community Leadership Classes. Volunteers, alumni who have themselves graduated from the leadership program, are now making plans for the coming leadership year: organizing sessions, selecting speakers, planning outcomes and recruiting students. Is it worth the effort?
Absolutely. Every leadership class member that San Marcos creates makes available more help and assistance in making something of importance happen in this community.
Will all the graduates of our community Leadership Program get directly involved in volunteerism in our town? Probably not. Will most of them? “Yes”. In some way or another, they will find a place to make a difference in our community.
Teaching individuals about the community they live in and preparing them to take on leadership roles is only the first step. The next step belongs to us as a community. Do we regularly look to Leadership San Marcos graduates for new volunteers? Does the community reach out and embrace the leadership program and its alumni and fully integrate these caring, knowledgeable individuals into the fabric of our volunteer community? I hope so.
We have often heard it said that 20 percent of the people do all the work in any organization. That may be true. But that does not mean the other 80 percent are sitting on the sidelines doing nothing. If they are not volunteering for your organization or cause, they probably have already committed their precious spare time to their children's schools, their favorite charity or a church group of their choosing.
Living life to its fullest necessitates getting involved. Getting your hands dirty, rolling up your sleeves, making something happen. That's what Leadership San Marcos teaches. It teaches students to understand the world around them, and in doing so, to better understand themselves. Becoming a leader starts by living fully and being an active participant in the community we live and work in. If we need more leaders, let's groom more leaders by recommending the Leadership San Marcos program. We are fortunate to have a group dedicated to growing our leadership and volunteer base in our community. They deserve our support and encouragement. Who did you recommend to the Leadership San Marcos program today?
The San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce is a proud supporter of the Leadership San Marcos Program.