FAMILY CONNECTIONS AND COMMUNITY ISSUES by Jennifer Voyles

Held at the Continuing Education Building, the Monday, January 24 Leadership class was a great success.  Guest speakers Ronnie Burke and Chad Bennett spoke on family connections and community issues. 

Mr. Burke provided statistics and informed students of ways to get involved in the community in order to combat issues which need addressing such as: domestic violence, drug abuse, the illiteracy rate, teen pregnancy, poverty, and disabled residents of Decatur County, among many others.  Mr. Burke's presentation was factual and informative, as he provided students with eye-opening reports of particular community issues from the past few years.  Suprisingly, the illiteracy rate in Decatur County is roughly 40%, an overwhelming statistic meaning nearly half of all residents of Decatur County can neither read nor write. 



Sgt. Chad Bennett spoke to the class mainly about drug and substance abuse.  Sgt. Bennett is actively involved in the fight against meth and warned students of the devastating effects that meth can have on the body, even after only one use.  The students applied their newly-acquired knowledge of meth and the dangers it entails as they viewed numerous METH ads on the internet.  Though the ads were extremely realistic, they provided the students with an actualization of the harmful effects one bad decision can bring. 

Students also received  "Field Trip Permission Forms" which must  be signed by parents and teachers in order to participate in the February 3rd Industry Tour. Forms should be completed and return by Monday, January 31.

Students:  Remember that you are required to serve (5) volunteer hours, but are permitted to do as many as you please!  The student with the most service hours will receive $25 in Bainbridge Bucks. 

See you next week, January 31 at Continuing Ed! 

The RETREAT by Jennifer Voyles

I can say I am honestly still sore from the game of partner tag we played at the retreat, and I think all the students can say that they are experts at the spider web now.  Mr. Greg makes the retreat so enjoyable, while making it his mission to see that all the students are actively engaged and strengthening their leadership potential.

          

The Youth Leadership Steering Committee by Jennifer Voyles

Youth Leadership Steering Committee:  Kyle Harris, Christina Greene, Sara Franklin, Tad Young, Josh Smith, Abbey Smith, Sara Margaret Bush, Michael Jones, Jennifer Voyles, Ann Reynolds,Gabby Howard, Adam Anderson, Sam Slaughter, Taylor McDonald, Stephen Dunn

As a participant in the Decatur County Youth Leadership Class of 2010, I was chosen to be a part of the Steering Committee this year and have thoroughly enjoyed planning and coordinating events and activities for the Leadership Class of 2011.  As a member of the Steering Committee, it is my responsibility to ensure that things are running smoothly and without delay, assisting in any way that I can.  Though I am supposed to be helpful in all ways possible, Steering Committee members were not allowed to participate in games or to aid the students in any way while they strategized and worked together at the retreat.  It was difficult to refrain from giving the students my advice or input, but in doing so, I was able to see true teamwork and cooperation at its finest.  The Leadership Class of 2011 consists of a mixture of students—some more outspoken than others, some more reserved—but the students really seemed to have found a common ground and meshed well together.  They made me proud.

Youth Leadership Class of 2011 by Jennifer Voyles

The Decatur County Youth Leadership Program is designed to develop leadership skills, offer interaction opportunities in our county, and increase awareness of community issues, needs and resources. 

Students chosen to partake in the various events and activities that the leadership program offers were nominated by teachers, family and friends.  Each nominee was required to complete an application and write an essay on "Why I should be chosen to participate in the leadership program?" The class was selected by the Youth Leadership Steering Committee.

Congratulations to the following students who were selected for the Leadership Class of 2011:  Alyssa Bardwell, Diamond Bouie, Bailey Bristow, Megan Brock, Kelly Brooks, Bernard Burke, Jr., Lauren Carraway, Meredith Conder, McKenzie Conder, Savannah Cook, Will Dozier, Dustin Eakin, Clint Edmunds, Marc Fleetwood, Shelby Gordon, Natasha Green, Cassandra Henry, Devin Hubbard, Jackson Jones, Justin Maxwell, Justin Maxwell, Bryceson McQuaid, Stephanie Mills, Kristen Monson, Caroline New, Blair Nix, Evan Rentz, Morgan Rogers, Austin Rowe, Joedaycya Sanders, Noah Thorn, Ashley Waddell, Caylin Walsingham, and Emily Ward.