September 2010
Chamber News A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE GREATER DECATUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
DLI Rewinds to 1985 The Decatur Leadership Institute is going back to the future with a Rewind to 1985 theme for its 26th annual class, which begins Sept. 10. DLI began in 1985 as a Chamber initiative under former Metro Decatur Chamber of Commerce President Rick Lutovsky. The intent was to provide a ready pool of community leaders to serve on nonprofit boards, civic committees, and as candidates for elected office. Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce members and DLI graduates Carla Brinkoetter, Julie Moore, Gretchen Murphy and Mirinda Rothrock are working with Chamber staff to restructure the current DLI program, taking it back to its original "100percent community-focused" concept. The 26th DLI class will take place over a shorter 12-week schedule and will kick off with the popular "trust course" bonding experience at Rock Springs Nature Center. Other sessions will give DLI participants an inside view of industries and issues that shape our region, including agriculture, manufacturing, and public safety — featuring a trip to a local farm, a factory tour, and police ride-alongs. The state legislature day in Springfield, a staple of the DLI program, will be retained, as will the service-learning project component. Service learning is an integral part of the DLI experience. Participants work in teams on projects to make the community a better place to live and work. One of the first DLI service projects was an idea to restore the Lincoln Square Theater. Today, the theater is operational and a valued community resource. Other early projects included landscaping the county building, signage for the city of Decatur, downtown Christmas lighting, and the Reach for the Future community image campaign. Proposed categories for service learning projects for the incoming DLI class include community image, government, leadership and education. Projects will be needs-based and address tangible community problems with a goal toward actual implementation, rather than conceptualized solutions. The price for DLI participants will wind back significantly for the new program – dropping from $1,200 to $485 for this year’s
September through December course. The former classroom-based program required participants to complete homework. Other than contributing to their service-learning project, participants will learn about community and municipal services, instructed by key leaders — without the homework. Civic leadership programs Decatur is not alone in recognizing the value of civic leadership programs such as DLI. Philadelphia developed Leadership, Inc. in 1959, which is believed to be the first community leadership program in the country. However, Leadership Atlanta, founded in 1969, claims to have the longest sustained leadership program in the nation. The Georgia program grew out of a leadership vacuum following a tragic 1962 plane crash that claimed the lives of over 100 of Atlanta’s most outstanding civic leaders. In 2003, Entrepreneur.com reported there were over 700 civic leadership programs operating across the United States. These programs share the common goals of training and inspiring current and future leaders to serve their communities as problem-solvers for civic-related issues and in volunteer roles such as members of nonprofit boards and appointees to governmental commissions. Leadership programs often mix classroom teaching with hands-on learning activities to foster the skills and knowledge needed for individuals to lead the community. These programs place focus on creating an understanding of the community’s dynamics, such as the demographics, events, and organizational structures that shape the community. Entrepreneur reports that studies have indicated, "Communities with strong civic
Business Journal
engagement and strong local leadership tend to have lower crime rates, better schools, and more effective government institutions." DLI’s community contribution Dan Brintlinger, co-owner of Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Homes, was in DLI’s first class in 1985. Since Brintlinger had worked for 15 years in his family’s well-established business, he was already quite familiar with the community. However, he says DLI opened his eyes even more. He got involved with the Clean Community System and Salvation Army as a direct result of his DLI experience. Employers also benefit from sending their employees through DLI. Corky Nicholson, president of Hickory Point Bank and Trust and a member of DLI’s original formation committee, notes, "As an employer, I have always strongly supported DLI. I have watched (participants) become more involved in the civic fabric of Decatur due to the community exposure they gained through DLI." One prime example of Nicholson’s observation is Debbie Seitz, vice president of marketing at Hickory Point Bank. Seitz, a
1990 DLI graduate, has since served on the boards of Decatur Sister Cities, Downtown Decatur Council, Easter Seals, Junior Achievement, Macon Resources, March of Dimes, Project Success, and the Rotary Club, as well as serving on numerous committees for local nonprofit organizations. Seitz was is active in the DLI Alumni Association, serving as president in 1997 and honored as Outstanding Alumni in 1998. She continues to be one of DLI’s biggest fans, stating, "I’m excited every year when I see it’s time for another group of people to experience DLI. Our community is only as strong as those who are leading it!" DLI’s future The original vision of the DLI steering committee has been fulfilled. If you look around Decatur, you will see many DLI graduates in leadership positions throughout the community. However, the need for leaders is continuous. Applications for the Decatur Leadership Institute’s 26th annual class are being accepted. For more information on DLI, visit www.decaturchamber.com/decaturleadership-institute/ or call the Chamber