BE OUR GUEST: LEADERSHIP CAPE DESIGNED TO IDENTIFY AND MOTIVATE EMERGING LEADERS

Kristy Mehner is a resident of Cape Girardeau and coordinator of Cape Leadership '93.

In our businesses, most of us have the opportunity to attend seminars and programs that are designed to teach us more about our trade or profession. But it is a rare opportunity to attend a program that is focused solely on the city in which we live and work. Le~adership Cape is such a program. Sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Cape is designed to identify and motivate emerging leaders, regardless of age, and to develop their potential for community leadership roles by exposing them to the opportunities, realities and challenges of the community.

Leadership begins with education. Leadership Cape educates participants by inviting community leaders and experts from Cape Girardeau organizations and institutions to participate in the class sessions with the purpose of stimulating and provoking new thoughts and ideas. Panel discussions and group interaction are key elements of the program. Leadership Cape consists of seven sessions held every ~Thursday morning beginning with a continental breakfast at 7:30 a.m. and concluding around noon.

Leadership Cape '93 will have its first session on Feb. 4. Participants will begin the 1993 program with a bus tour of Cape Girardeau, narrated by Assistant City Manager Al Stoverink. The tour will focus on city development and planning. ~The bus tour was a new addition to 1992 program and the class participants felt it provided good background information for the rest of the program.

Leadership Cape '93 will continue the following week (Feb. 11) with a program on Government, Politics & the Media. Issues that will be addressed and discussed will include: What is the structure of our local and state governments? Who is responsible for what? What responsibility does the media have to inform the community on city issues? Is the media really objective?

Other topic areas and dates of Leadersh~ip Cape '93 are:

Feb. 18 Healthcare

Feb. 25 Education (luncheon included)

March 4 Legal and Law Enforcement ~~

March 11 Tourism/Community Involvement

March 18 Finance (luncheon included)

March 25 Graduation Banquet.

Individuals who have a genuine interest in the community, and who desire to increase their own levels of involvement and broaden their scope of knowledge, are encouraged to participate in Leadership Cape '93. For more information or applications for the program, please contact the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce.

Leadership Cape would not continue to be a successful program each year without the efforts of the Chamber's Leadership Development committee. I'd like to thank the committee members who have been instrumental in putting the 1993 program together. They include: John Grimm, Jon Rust, Al Stoverink, John Fidler, Laural Adkisson, Calvin Bird, Jeanne Goodman, Jill Wilferth, Steve Green, and Anita Hillin.

It is truly going to be an excellent opportunity for anyone interested in taking a more active role in the community and we encourage your involvement. There is no age limit; however, class size will be limited to 25 to allow for greater participation and involvement.

If you are interested in being a participant in Leadership Cape '93, applications are available at the Chamber office, 601 N. Kingshighway. The deadline for applications is Dec. 31, 1992. Tuition cost is $235 and covers all expenses for meals, notebooks, handouts, and all other costs incidental to operating the program.

For additional information please contact the Chamber of Commerce office at 335-3312 or any of the committee members listed above.