Leadership Stockton class

kicks off year

Session Sponsor: San Joaquin County Office of Education

Leadership Level Sponsor: Financial Center Credit Union

SEPTEMBER 2008 - Leadership Stockton kicked off the 2008-2009 class with a successful day-long Leadership Dynamics session hosted at the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE). The goal of the session was for participants to learn more about themselves and their classmates, through a variety of teambuilding exercises, activities and discussions.

The day began, after a the class learned more about each other through a fun and laughter-filled icebreaking activity, with a welcome from Stockton Mayor Ed Chavez (Class of 1984), Chamber CEO Doug Wilhoit, and members of the Leadership Stockton Alumni Association board of directors, each of whom provided inspiration for the year to come.

After the class learned more about each other through a the icebreaking activity, they headed outside to the “Venture On Challenge Course”. Course facilitator Rob Kroff, with SJCOE, led the class through a variety of exercises that kept the group moving, laughing, and getting to know each other better. These challenge course activities allowed the class to discuss as a group the importance of risk taking, communication, trust, cooperation, and teamwork. The class worked hard, got a little dirty, and bonded as a group as the day grew warmer! The outdoor activities finished just in time for lunch.

After the lunch break, the class learned about “Achieving Peak Performance” facilitated by Susan Frederick with University of Phoenix (Class of 2006). The class, who completed an online questionnaire prior to the session, discovered their DISC profile, analyzed what it meant, and additional materials were provided to allow them to further apply the results to their professional and personal life. The class found the exercise to be surprisingly accurate, eye-opening and lots of fun.

This led into the final part of the session where the class brainstormed about community needs in preparation for the community project process at the Retreat in September. This always challenging portion of the day brought the class to a point where they narrowed the field down to three potential community needs areas in which to focus on for the class project. The three groups will now explore and determine the validity of the community need and return with more information at next months retreat where the final decision will be made.

The session concluded with our third annual “meet and greet” welcome reception hosted by the Leadership Stockton Alumni Association at the home of Laurie Schrum (Class of 2004). This casual and delicious event allowed the class the opportunity to unwind and get to know the Alumni Association and each other better. A great way to end the day!

This session set the tone for the remainder of the year, and by the way things went, this class is surely going to be one to watch. Special thanks to the generous team at the San Joaquin County Office of Education: Mick Founts, Denise Irvin and Rob Kroff. Additional thanks goes to the Leadership Stockton alumni who gave their valuable time to be a part of this session. Thanks to Ramon Velez (Class of 2006) for being there all day and helping cover when needed. And a big thank you to Michael Duffy (Class of 1995) and the Financial Center Credit Union for their yearlong Leadership Level Sponsorship of all the Sessions!

Next month, follow the class of 2009 as they decide on the community project at the Leadership Retreat at Camp Lodestar, September 19-20. For more information about Leadership Stockton and sponsorship opportunities contact Timm Quinn at 547-2960 or tquinn@stocktonchamber.org or visit www.leadershipstockton.com.