A Joint Initiative Between     Heart of Wisconsin     Business & Economic Alliance and     Community Foundation of     South Wood County

Home About Us B2B Club Breaking News Contact Donate Events / Programs Feedback Ideas Incubator Industry Clusters Links / Resources Progess Funds Progress Teams Public Art / Murals Publications		Breaking News April 24, 2006 - Leadership program grads ready to serve By: Jill Cavanaugh, for the Daily Tribune Editor's note: The Daily Tribune will regularly publish columns updating Community Progress Initiative activities and the work of its groups in local communities. The Heart of Wisconsin Community Leadership Program will graduate the 17th class of participants Wednesday. The leadership program, an eight-month course starting in September and ending this Wednesday, provides interactive, educational and skill building opportunities that enable participants to better understand themselves, their community and their personal roles as leaders. It aims to establish strong communication skills and channels among participants and community leaders and to encourage community volunteerism and service on nonprofit boards. A key element of the program design is to introduce participants to community/business leaders and resources and create a network of leaders as catalysts for positive change. One component of the Leadership program is the community project, which participants have been working to accomplish throughout the year. The following is a brief description of each project. • Bike trail enhancements This group is adding two shelters along the bike trail, which runs through Wisconsin Rapids, Port Edwards and Nekoosa. We have a great trail in our community, and we felt it was important to make it as user-friendly as possible. The shelters will be completed by June 2006. Group members include: Michelle Balla, North Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Board; Sherry Berry, Bull's Eye Credit Union; Michelle Hartness, United Way of South Wood County; Frank Hofer, Stora Enso; Mike Kumm, Nekoosa Public Schools; and Teed Pagel, Opportunity Development Center. • Community information trailer Any of you with children in sports in this community or those of you who attend local craft fairs have seen the hundreds to thousands of visitors that these events draw. We chose a project to help keep those visitors in our community and encourage them to plan a future visit. This summer, thanks to the generous donations from our gold sponsors -- Rainbow Casino, Solarus, Hotel Mead, Paper City Savings and the Wisconsin Rapids Area Convention & Visitors Bureau -- as well as our bronze sponsors -- American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees 1075 and DNL Recreation -- we will have a community information trailer at major events in the Heart of Wisconsin Area. We also thank the Community Foundation of South Wood County for their support of our project. This trailer will provide information about local events, businesses, maps and be staffed with community ambassadors to welcome people and provide directions. Please stop by and visit our community information trailer. Group members include: Jay Bemke, city of Wisconsin Rapids; Sharon Bergsholm, Riverview Hospital; Paula Golke, Paper City Savings; Brian Hennessy, Solarus; and Melissa Loken, Heart of Wisconsin Business & Economic Alliance. • Love where you live Our leadership group has put together a campaign to highlight at least "52 reasons to love where you live." The campaign includes a print brochure, Web site, a weekly article in the Daily Tribune and slides with each reason running on Public Access. Brochures will be distributed at major employers, the Heart of Wisconsin and the Convention & Visitors Bureau. A campaign about the area that highlights things to do for families, seniors and students alike will help contribute to positive self-esteem about the area for our community members. Group members include: Brian Ashbeck, River Cities Bank; Margie Dorshorst, Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools; Joe Helmuth, IBEW Local Union 1147; Karin Mast, Wisconsin Rapids Area Convention & Visitors Bureau; and Diane O'Connor, Christian Life Fellowship. • Classic Cinema under the stars Downtown Wisconsin Rapids once boasted a beautiful Art Deco movie theater, and although the building is gone, we're bringing the excitement back to the West side this summer with "Classic Cinema under the stars." June 15 will see the return of the "silver screen" to the downtown area. Moviegoers are encouraged to bring a picnic meal to enjoy with their families and food vendors also will be available on site. There will be entertainment for children and adults as we await the showtime at dusk. We may not have the theater anymore, but that won't stop us from bringing everyone together for a movie night. Gather up your families, friends and picnic blankets and join us for a movie under the stars. Group members include: Pam Anderson, WoodTrust Bank; Kristopher Gasch, Fey Publishing; Randy Jahns, Wisconsin Rapids Police Department; Eunice Lafler, Stora Enso; and Shannon Matott, Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools. Although the cost to the participant for the Heart of Wisconsin program is $595, the actual cost of the program is approximately $1,000 per person. The additional costs are underwritten by community partners, such as Solarus, Paper City Savings, Marshfield Clinic-Rapids Center, Stora Enso, Renaissance Learning, River Cities Bank and Wipfli LLP. The Heart of Wisconsin now is accepting applications for the 2006-07 Community Leadership Program. Anyone interested can call Jill Cavanaugh at 422-4860 or stop in at the Heart of Wisconsin office at 1120 Lincoln St. Jill Cavanaugh is a member of the Heart of Wisconsin Business and Economic Alliance.
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