The Quarterly Newsletter for Class Members, Officers & Alumni

Fall 2017

Leadership  

Vestavia Hills

 

P.O. Box 660591

Vestavia Hills, AL

35266-0501

 

leadershipvestaviahills.com

 

 

OFFICERS

2017-2018

 

President

Chris Eckroate

 

Vice-President

President-Elect

Donnie Winningham


Secretary

Denene Lemke

 

Treasurer

Penny Lewallyn

 

Advisory Committee Chair

Pauline Parker

 

 

 

 

For edits or information to include in future newsletters,

please contact

Julie Miller at [email protected] 

or Lauren Helmer at

[email protected]

 

 

  



You're Invited!

Class Members, Board Members, and Alumni: Please join us
at Mugshots for our annual holiday party on Dec. 7.
We hope to see you there!



2017-2018 Class Projects
    
Here's what the current class will be working on:

Harvest in the Hills Farm-to-Table Meal
Vision: To plan, organize, and deliver a fundraising event in the spring of 2018 consisting of a meal highlighting the bounty from local (Vestavia Hills and other Birmingham area) gardens and prepared by local chefs. The proceeds of the event will go to the 501(c)(3) organization, Harvest in the Hills, to be used for future garden-related projects.
Mentors: Martha Reeves Cook, Sam Duffey, Rob Belcher

Pop-up/Temporary Parks Project
Vision: To plan, organize, and develop a master plan for the creation of community gathering places created by reclaiming underutilized urban space. Target opening: 2019. 
Mentors: Rebecca Olsen, Tony Renta

Cahaba Heights Tree Canopy Project
Vision: To fundraise, design, and implement a tree planting campaign specifically for the areas in Cahaba Heights hit hardest by the tornadoes of April 2011.
Mentors: Vaughn Sparks, Rebecca Olsen, Alicia Hunsberger, Tony Renta

Vestavia Hills Video Project 2.0
Vision: To create a mini-documentary highlighting an aspect of Vestavia Hills' history, building on 2016-2017 class video focusing on the formation of the Vestavia Hills school system. This video will be used as a teaching and marketing tool for future LVH classes, the schools, and as part of any educational, municipal, and promotional initiatives.
Mentors: Vaughn Sparks, Sam Duffey, Suzanne Scott-Trammell, Lauren Helmer
Youth LVH

In an effort to engage eighth graders at Pizitz and Liberty Park Middle Schools, the Help the Hills Student Team (a part of Vestavia Hills High School's Youth Leadership Vestavia Hills) hosted approximately 300 eighth graders at the first One Rebel Party after the high school football game on September 15, 2017. YLVH representatives Sadie Daniels and Breck Cuddy updated the LVH Board at the October meeting. Great work, students!

BOARD MEMBER PROFILE
Donnie Winningham

    
Name: Donnie Winningham
Occupation/Job Title: Attorney, Bressler, Amery & Ross, P.C.
LVH Class Year: 2010
Vestavia Hills resident since: 2006

Other civic involvement or community activities? Board Member and Volunteer for Birmingham Volunteer Lawyers Program; Adult Education Program Coordinator and Bible Class Teacher at Hoover Church of Christ

In layman's terms or in a concise mission-statement-esque manner, describe your job. I strive to provide my clients with the best counsel possible when facing litigation.

What is most rewarding? Having the opportunity to provide services to those that are in desperate need but cannot afford to hire counsel.

What was your favorite day of LVH and why? Team Building Day, because I'm fascinated by the personality tests and how the different personalities work together.

Tell us about your class project. My project group was tasked with getting out information about the 2010 Census and encouraging maximum participation by the citizens of Vestavia Hills.

How did LVH impact your personal or professional life? As a non-native resident of Alabama and Vestavia Hills, LVH was a fantastic introduction to all the city has to offer and how to be of service to the city to make it a better place to live.

What did LVH teach you? That leaders are needed in the community to make sure things get done. It doesn't just happen - it takes dedicated members of the community to see things through.

What do you like most about our community? As the father of young children, I'm focused on schooling and am thrilled to live in a community with a school system that I know will prepare my children for a great future.

What do you like to do for fun? I really enjoy traveling with my family, reading, and sports generally.

What is the best hidden gem in Vestavia? McCallum Park

Finish this sentence: If I could have any superhuman power it would be: Wisdom (like Solomon)

Do you have any mentors or role models, and if so, why do you admire them or what have they taught you? My mentor/role model has always been my father because he taught me the most important lessons in life: how to be a Christian husband and father.

If you had to choose another career, what would it be? College professor, because I really enjoy learning and talking to others about subjects I'm interested in.

-Roddy Taylor

Class Schedule

Team Building Day, November 2017

December 7, 2017
Government Day
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Vestavia Hills City Hall

January 4, 2018
Economic Development Day
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Vestavia Hills City Hall
Council Chamber Room

February 1, 2018
Education Day
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Vestavia Hills Board of Education Building
1st Floor Board Room

March 1, 2018
Quality of Life Day
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Vestavia Hills City Hall

April 10, 2018
Project Presentations and Graduation Reception
2 pm. to 7 p.m.
Vestavia Hills City Hall
For submissions for future newsletters,  please contact 
 Julie Miller at [email protected]  or
Lauren Helmer at  [email protected].