Submitted by Leadership San Juans

If you want to strengthen leadership skills, gain a deeper understanding of issues affecting the San Juan Islands and connect with citizens on all islands, consider Leadership San Juan Islands, a countywide tuition-based program designed to educate and motivate community members interested in developing their professional leadership skills and to facilitate their learning about issues affecting San Juan County.

Started as a collaboration between Skagit Valley College and the San Juan County Economic Development Council, LSJI is in its 15th year, continuing with support from the many businesses and nongovernmental organizations that sponsor their employees to attend.

The LSJI program is five months long, with up to 20 participants. Candidates can be nominated by an organization, a company or may nominate themselves. Most participants are sponsored in part by their employers, at least for time off from their responsibilities and in many cases, supported by the payment of all or partial tuition as a form of professional development.

The 2019 LSJI participants will attend a total of 11 days including three overnight retreats and three other challenge days from January 2019 through May 2019. Retreats meet on Orcas, Lopez and San Juan Island, and include both leadership skill building and challenge days. All challenge days feature local leaders as speakers, with discussions and activities on a major “system”. The major topic areas covered include:

• County and municipal government.

• Natural resources and ecology.

• Economic and workforce development.

• Equity and social health services.

• Current issues in education.

• Art, culture and history of the islands.

The program is supported by the LSJI program director and other facilitators who work with the participants to provide continuity throughout the program. Challenge day coordinators work in conjunction with the program director to produce these unique learning experiences.

Community leadership programs are a means by which local communities take the initiative in developing a trained network of people engaged in community work. These programs train future politicians, business leaders, agency heads, educators, board members and volunteers. Leadership San Juan Islands began in the fFall of 2004 and each consecutive class has produced alumni committed to service in many areas of the County. “Give back” projects, as well as taking on permanent volunteer work and employment, have occurred in the areas of agriculture, transportation, environmental issues, business development, land use, governance, education, community development, recreation and the continuing success of LSJI.

There is a non-refundable application fee of $55 due at the time of your application. Tuition for each participant in Leadership San Juan Islands is $795, of which the participant should pay at least $250 personally. Tuition is payable upon receipt of invoice after acceptance into the program and must be paid by January 2019, unless other arrangements have been made. LSJI has some tuition assistance and payment plans are available. Neither your request for tuition assistance nor other payment options will impact the review of your application.

Visit www.lsji.org for more information dates and for an application.

LSJI urges you to consider participation in Leadership San Juan Islands as a commitment to the future. Graduates having a longstanding influence, actively leading the community in positions of responsibility in employment, government, nonprofit enterprise and community action. Each selected participant commits to provide voluntary service following commencement. The future of the islands will be decided in the islands.

For more information, contact 2019 program director Shannon Borg at leadershipsanjuanislands@gmail.com, or 360-317-6563