Letter from our Executive Director,
Jan Paul
The New Year brings new personal and professional goals. One of my professional goals was realized when I was selected to attend the Executive Leadership Program for Nonprofit Organizations at UGA's Fanning Institute for Leadership Development.
It was an exceptional program with great speakers and interesting dialogue.
Workshops included: 1) board and executive director leadership; 2) organizational and community leadership; and 3) sustainable, healthy financial leadership. Also, we discussed the ever-changing landscape of nonprofits and the need for strategic thinking and adaptability. Very productive sessions!
While there were some great "take-aways" for organizational improvement, LSS is strong in all three categories! The workshops confirmed that: 1) our board and executive director organizational management and governance is sound; 2) our community leadership through LSS/YLSS class programs, community-wide and alumni events is robust; and 3) our financial governance and sustainability are solid.
What is abundantly clear is that our alumni are the driving force of LSS. Many of the other nonprofits at the table were impressed with the commitment and passion we exemplify. I could not have been more proud to represent LSS at this nonprofit leadership program!
|
Alumni Dues Drive Final Reminder...
and Great News
We knocked it out of the park! Over $31,000 was raised for our
30th year, and our auspicious goal was $30,000.
Thank you all!
It is not too late to donate, giving
you a chance
to be eligible for
the 12 @ 12 CEO lunches
and
receive event discounts.
Speaking of 12 @ 12, LSS Alumni donors: in eary February, watch
your email for the next event in March
.
The first 12 to respond
are in!
|
Live Learn Lead is Almost Here! Thursday, February 9
You are the new CEO, a Community Changemaker. CEOs are not just the people at the top; they are individuals who demonstrate leadership where it happens. These and other novel concepts will be discussed by Lee Fisher, president and CEO of
CEOs for Cities
at
LSS'
third annual Live Learn Lead event Thursday, February 9 at Holy Innocents' Episcopal Church.
Lee leads a national innovative network of cross-sector leaders
who share the smartest ideas and practices for city and regional economic competitiveness and success.
He will explore the secret sauce of a city's success, drawing on his experience in connecting leaders with each other, curating smart concepts and benchmarking city accomplishments through exclusive tools like City Learning Clusters.
Networking
and heavy appetizers - 6:30 p.m.; program - 7:30 p.m.
LSS Alumni Donors - $25; LSS Alumni/General Public - $30
|
Class of 2017 Update
Education Day
The 2017 Class got a boots-on-the-ground view of education in our city, visiting public and private schools. They heard from education experts including Fulton County Superintendent Dr. Jeff Rose, Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education President Dr. Stephen Dolinger, Executive Director of Sandy Springs Education Force Irene Schweiger (Class of 2006) as well as District 7 Representative for Fulton County Board of Education Julia Bernath (Class of 2003), and Harvard Graduate School of Education PhD candidate (Class of 2013) Tyler Thigpen.
|
Evening with the Mayor Recap
On January 5, 2017, Leadership Sandy Springs alumni got an exclusive up-close look at what is going on in the city of Sandy Springs
at the annual Evening with the Mayor, with Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul, held at Newell Brands. Many issues were addressed including transportation, redevelopment, managing growth, and the city's land use plan, as well as his decision not to run for Rep. Tom Price's vacated seat. Thanks to current class member Calvin
Lower for sharing the lovely New
ell Brands offices with
us. To see the full speech and Q & A, view video here
(Photo credit: John Ruch, Sandy Spring Reporter; video credit: Adell Henderson, Prefessional U)
|
Youth Leadership
Sandy Springs Applications are Available Now
Need leadership experience? Practice working as a team?
Youth Leadership Sandy Springs offers rising 10th and 11th graders both leadership training and teamwork experience - along with a unique chance to explore how a community works.
In YLSS, students get a close up look at Sandy Springs' government, environment, public safety, economy and social services.
Throughout the 2017-18 school year,
YLSS students on Improv Day with actors from The
students explore and learn during a cell Basement Theatre
phone scavenger hunt, act as attorneys in a mock trial, plan a new town center with city planners and developers, go to jail, develop a city budget, explore the Chattahoochee River with a federal park ranger. At the end of the year, YLSS students act, creating a group service project.
Applications for YLSS are available here. Deadline to apply is March 22. There are only 30 spots available.
|
Alumni Spotlight
To celebrate the progress and accomplishments of 30 years of LSS, we are highlighting alumni over the course of this anniversary year. In this enewsletter, we hear from inaugural Class of 1987 alumni Terry Harth and
John Cheek (Class of 1996). Terry is a former high school teacher and professor at
Georgia State, and has held various educational research and director posts, worked in government service and for numerous nonprofit organizations serving as an officer and on the boards.
John is
an architect employed by Live Learn Lead sponsor, the Collaborative, and works on the firm's contract with the City of Sandy Springs in the City Development Department.
How do you stay connected to the Sandy Springs community?
TH: I participate in LSS, the Sandy Springs Society, and many other organizations that actively serve our community and contribute to improving the present and the future. Living in Sandy Springs has blessed me with wonderful neighbors; my neighborhood has truly become a community, not just an area where one resides.
JC: I work for the City's government now so I have a lot of connection to what is going on around town. I live here, so I see and get to visit with folks as I go about daily life, too. And, of course, I try to get to all the LSS events I can, since they are great way to stay in touch with both people and events.
What is your greatest achievement?
TH: Marrying Len Harth; but, before that, I had survived many personal and professional crises. Learning that, as long as you don't give up you are not completely defeated, prepared me to accept the great gift that was my marriage. One of my most treasured moments was when I was teaching and a student told me "You believed in me so I learned to believe in myself."
JC: Helping to raise two sons who are caring, thoughtful, hard-working and entertaining.
What's on your bucket list?
TH: A place at the beach, participating in the life events of my grandson, traveling to Thailand and other places I have not been and perhaps sailing in Greece again.
JC: Seeing all my Indian former co-workers and friends in India.
How has LSS positively affected your professional and other areas of your life?
TH: Participating in LSS has broadened my learning and enriched my community activities. I have been part of setting and reaching goals, working with others, etc. All of these are like throwing stones in a pond - the ripples spread out in many ways and form unpredictable friendships which affect all areas of life.
JC: LSS introduced me to a lot of wonderful folks and impactful organizations in our community. It helped to open up the depth and richness of this community for me and has given me some lifelong friends.
|
VBSS 2017! April 22
Save the date now
Leadership San
dy Springs announces
VBSS 2017, so mark your calendars for an Earth Day celebration of service to our city.
Encourage your workplace to participate. For questions about volunteer opportunities, contact vbss@leadershipsandysprings.org.
|
|
Check out our Calendar
Never miss another LSS event!
Go to our new
calendar webpage
(under the Events heading)
and click the down arrow
above the month
to download all of our events to your calendar.
|
|
Alumni Updates
Let us know when LSS Alumni are promoted or receive recognition so we can share with everyone.
Tisa Moore (2008) is now working as Public Relations Manager for the City of Chamblee
Willis Lanier (2009) received the Heritage Sandy Springs
James Kambourian Landscape Award at Heritage Sandy Springs members, volunteers, and staff gathered for the Annual Meeting and Volunteer Recognition in December of 2016
Karen Trylovich (2011)
was tapped to be a
new member of the Heritage Sandy Springs Board of Trustees
Mitch Reiner (2011) received the Heritage Sandy Springs
Community Partner Award on behalf of his company
Capital Investment Advisors
Sally Wyeth (2013) has taken a new position as Senior Supervising Attorney at Padgett Law Group. Her new contact information is One Securities Centre, 3490 Piedmont Road, NE, Suite 1060, Atlanta GA 30305 866-480-9372 X144 swyeth@padgettlaw.net
Bret Giles (2015) hast accepted a new position at Duke Energy and will be moving to Charlotte, NC. Don't be a stranger Bret!
Stacey Hader Epstein (2015) received the Heritage Sandy Springs Volunteer of the Year Award
Stephanie Graham (2016)
has opened her own business:
The Law Offices of Stephanie P. Graham, LLC,
P.O. Box 28973,
Atlanta, GA 30358
Youth Leadership Sandy Springs
AJ Whitney and Jacob Buck (both YLSS 2016) recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout. They are seniors at Mt. Vernon Presbyterian School and members of Troop 463.
http://bit.ly/2jE4YAu
Inara Valliani (2016) was named a POSSE Scholar. The Riverwood High School senior will attend George Washington University this fall on a full-tuition, four-year scholarship. Started in 1989, POSSE is one of the most renowned college access and youth leadership development programs in the nation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
