Education

LEADING PEOPLE. LEADING PROSPERITY. E D U C A T

I O N | A D V O C A C Y | C O L L A B O R Best Class Ever! That is a phrase that is tossed around frequently every

year by current class members and alumni alike. We all believe our class; our experience; our leadership was the best ever. And each class has the ability and the facts to make a case for their class to be the “Best Class Ever!” That includes our current class - the Class of 2020 - or as it has become known in some circles - the COVID-19 Class. Become a Champion for Our Community Through Leadership

Longview | Applications for the Leadership Longview Class of 2021 are Being Accepted Now!

Leadership Longview is an intense, 9-month journey of diving deep into what makes Longview and Gregg County tick. The mission is to strengthen and transform Longview through a program of leadership development, community study, and involvement.

Leadership Longview Objectives:

• To identify potential leaders in Longview and prepare them for positions of public and private decision-making. • To maintain and strengthen communication by creating opportunities to meet and exchange ideas with each other and community leaders. • To provide community education. • To increase awareness of problems, opportunities and issues affecting the Longview community. Through participation in Leadership Longview, graduates become part of a new community resource capable of directing important activities in the community. Are you ready? Or do you have someone in your company who is ready? Applications for the 2020-2021 class year are available online now. The deadline to apply is May 31, 2020.

Overcomers!

Because I, too, belonged to the “Best Class Ever!” (class of 2015), I will not make an argument for another class to own that title. I will, however, suggest that our current class has perhaps been the most challenged class ever. From my perspective as Leadership Longview Coordinator, it started with the retreat. Our “go-to” retreat facility was unable to provide our accommodations, something that would potentially throw a wrench into our processes, and impact attendees’ experience of self-awareness and team establishment. We overcame that obstacle.

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When it came time to choose their class project, they chose one that several previous classes had passed on due to the challenges it presented. It was a project for the Women’s Center of East Texas. They were up for that challenge and jumped right in.

They immediately ran into obstacles with the project, but they persevered. Along the way, there were concerns about their timeline and being able to complete the project within the designated time-frame. Again, they rose to the challenge and pressed on with their work.

Then COVID-19 burst on the scene shortly after their March Tour Day. The April class day (which is designated for SWOT analysis and project ribbon cutting, signaling completion) was postponed indefinitely. Their project was put on hold due to guidance and executive orders resulting in the Women’s Center restricting access to their facility. And now their graduation has been postponed indefinitely.

10 WWW.LONGVIEWCHAMBER.COM There is so much uncertainty throughout our society today and this just adds another brick on that wall for these class members. In the meantime, I want to call on our Leadership Longview Alumni - hundreds of you - to be thinking about how we can help this class finish strong. This class will graduate and we will celebrate. The project will be completed at some point and we will celebrate that as well. Class of 2020 - while I can’t give you the title, “Best Class Ever!,” you can certainly claim it. And I will bestow upon you the medal of OVERCOMERS!, because that is what you are.

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