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Posted By Kris V. Shock,
Thursday, February 29, 2024
Updated: Wednesday, February 28, 2024
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by Kris Valerio Shock, LAA President & CEO
 As we approach LAA’s 30th Anniversary celebration this June during the annual Tribute to Community Leadership, impact is foremost on my mind:
How do we measure and communicate the impact Leadership Anne Arundel has had on Anne Arundel County over 30 years?
When I went searching for meaningful quotes on impact, nothing I found on the internet compared to a quote I keep on the windowsill in my office from my mentor and friend, Dr. Maravene Loeschke.
Maravene was the chair of the Theatre Department at Towson University during my time as a Theatre major at Towson, became dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication in 1997 and Towson's 13th president in 2012. She passed away in 2015 from complications of adrenal cancer at the age of 68 (read more). Maravene shared the quote featured here in an address to Towson Graduates during her tenure as president. It has been a continued source of inspiration to me ever since.
LAA is an organization full of individuals who function from this mindset. We wake up every day asking how we can positively impact this community. Over time that adds up to enormous collective positive impact. We’ll be spending the coming weeks and months collecting stories and data to help us visualize LAA’s collective impact on individuals, institutions and initiatives in Anne Arundel County at the 30th Anniversary Celebration.
If you haven’t done so already, we invite you to share how your LAA participation has positively impacted your life and the community at large through a brief Impact Survey.
Please also take a moment to register to attend the 30th Anniversary Celebration and Tribute to Community Leadership on June 26th at Live Casino and Hotel.
If your organization would benefit from top visibility among county leaders, you might consider investing in sponsorship. Opportunities are detailed here.
I look forward to celebrating the collective positive impact of 30 years of Leadership in Anne Arundel County together in June.
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Posted By Kris V. Shock,
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
Updated: Tuesday, January 30, 2024
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by Kris Valerio Shock, LAA President & CEO
 Have you heard? LAA is celebrating 30 Years of Leadership and we need your help!
Background:
The first Leadership Anne Arundel Flagship Class graduated in 1994. Thirty years later, the Flagship class of 2024 will graduate on June 26, 2024.
Twenty five years ago, in 1999, we graduated the first Neighborhood Leadership Academy (NLA) class and although there were a few years since where we did not have a NLA class, this June our 22nd NLA class of grassroots community leaders, the NLA Class of 2024, will graduate alongside the Flagship class.
Five years ago, just before COVID radically changed how we gather, we filled a great room at Live! Casino and Hotel to celebrate LAA’s 25th Anniversary. The evening was a wonderful stroll down memory lane featuring our founder Art Ebersberger and a video rich with personal accounts of the value individual graduates received from engaging in LAA. It was a wonderful celebration of our purpose and history.
#30yearsofleadership
Just five years later, the 30th Celebration will be all about the Impact LAA has had in Anne Arundel County over the last 30 years. We are guilty of “shoemaker syndrome” (the shoemaker who has no shoes) in that we get so busy year over year always on to the next program, sharing all that community organizations are doing and achieving all year long and connecting community leaders to other organizations, that we don’t do a great job of communicating LAA’s impact in terms of individuals, institutions and initiatives that have been fundamentally impacted by the work of Leadership Anne Arundel over thirty years in our county.
Enter the 30th Anniversary Committee, led by FLG19 Helaine Barry: Dedicated to creating a great celebration of LAA’s Impact over 30 Years at the 30th Anniversary Tribute to Community Leadership & Graduation on Thursday, June 26 from 5:30 - 8:30pm in The Hall at Live! Casino & Hotel.
And that’s not the only way we’re celebrating! In addition, to the big 30th event, we have launched a 30th Anniversary Podcast, sponsored by M&T Bank, and we’re planning a “Sip & Swing” Golf Event for May 17th at the Preserve at Eisenhower Golf Course.
We Need Your Help: Here’s where you come in!
We are currently raising funds to make these celebrations a success and there are a few super easy and rewarding opportunities to celebrate LAA’s 30th Anniversary with your financial support:
1. Sponsor the 30th Anniversary Tribute to Community Leadership - Tribute sponsorship offers top visibility at the event in June and all year long. Click here for details (PDF) or click here to purchase online.
2. Sponsor the Sip & Swing Golf Event - A full range of sponsorship opportunities are currently in development. If you love a good golf event, contact us for details on Sip & Swing sponsorship as they are available.
3. Contribute any amount to the LAA 30th Anniversary Fund - $30 for 30 Years? Really, any amount is greatly appreciated! Click here to show your support with a contribution to the 30th Anniversary Fund!
4. Share your LAA Impact Story - How has your LAA participation impacted your life and community leadership? Got a Flagship Project outcome or some other LAA impact story to share? Click here to shoot me an email and share your story!
We look forward to celebrating 30 years of IMPACT over the next several months and moving forward together into the next 30 years of Leadership!
Thank you for your support!
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Posted By Kris V. Shock,
Wednesday, December 20, 2023
Updated: Tuesday, December 19, 2023
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by Kris Valerio Shock, LAA President & CEO
 Last month I wished you time to reflect and this month I wish you rest.
According to Natasha Bonnevalle of leadership B corp THNK, "A resilient employee is a well-rested one. However, rest isn’t just about sleep."
Let's face it, the holidays can be a bustling time packed with family and community commitments. I challenge you to find some time for some honest to goodness rest between now and the New Year.
If your holiday plans make that sound rather unrealistic, know that where rest is concerned quality beats quantity.
My gift to you this month is Natasha's blog post on the importance of rest to leadership, featuring seven types of rest. It's a quick, but invaluable read. Take a moment, and enjoy!
Click here to read.
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Posted By Kris V. Shock,
Wednesday, November 29, 2023
Updated: Wednesday, November 29, 2023
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by Kris Valerio Shock, LAA President & CEO
This holiday season I have one wish for you - the opportunity to slow down and reflect on your leadership journey.
Midway through our 30th Anniversary year, LAA is busier and more vibrant than ever. A Flagship class of 49 participants is off an running through their program year, more than 20 applications are already in for the NLA24 program class and we just wrapped the 4th Annual Collection-Palooza bringing in food and cash donations to the Anne Arundel County Food Bank, hundreds of sweaters for #justonesweater and 12 units of blood for community members in need. Ongoing events such as Leadership and Lattes and the Leadership Speaker Series continue to deliver connection and inspiration for LAA Alumni.
While we look forward to gathering with the LAA community to celebrate the season at the Holiday Party on December 12th, we also look forward to pausing as we wrap up 2023 to reflect on LAA's impact and vision for the coming months.
The temptation is to charge forward into the New Year, but there is great wisdom and truth in John Dewey's words that "we do not learn from experience, we learn from reflecting on experience." It's only from pausing and reflecting that we have the opportunity to absorb the lessons and glean the opportunities in our leadership journey. The pace of life doesn't support reflection.
It takes patience and discipline to pause in the midst of the hustle and bustle of daily life, let alone during the holiday season.
I hope you will seek out those moments and take the time to pause and absorb the blessings of the past many months.
What are you most proud of? What have you learned? What do you most look forward to in the months that lie ahead?
We look forward to providing loads of opportunities to connect with leaders throughout Anne Arundel County in the New Year, and in the meantime wish you a joyful and reflective holiday season.
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Posted By Kris V. Shock,
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Updated: Wednesday, October 25, 2023
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by Kris Valerio Shock, LAA President & CEO
 We're less than a month away from the 4th Annual Food Collection Event which has turned into a Collection-Palooza, adding Blood and Sweaters to the mix. You heard it right - rather than "Blood, Sweat and Tears", our Collection-Palooza is all about Blood, Sweaters, and Food!
What began as a way to bring our alumni together during the extraordinary early days of the covid pandemic, has turned into a beloved annual service event to gather much needed resources at the start of the holiday season.
(If you’re not familiar with the event, click here to read the recap of last year’s event or click here to watch a brief video of the inaugural event in 2020.)
This year, event chair Eileen Mitchard (FLG20) has raised the bar (and the goals) for the collection, challenging us to bring in 4,000 pounds of food, 1200 Sweater Donations, 40 Blood Donations and $1500 for the Anne Arundel County Food Bank!
Add a friendly dose of competition and the event has evolved into a marvelous way to determine who really is the BEST CLASS, as emails are circulating to rally class members and turn out to DONATE and VOLUNTEER.
The GREAT news is that even if you aren't available on the actual date of the collection, there are super easy opportunities to join your class and the broader LAA community to benefit those who are struggling to make ends meet.
ON THE DATE - Saturday, November 18th between 10:00am and 2:00pm at Chamber's Park
**Alumni can sign up to volunteer for a shift, assisting to direct traffic and collect donations.
**Anyone and EVERYONE* can swing by Chambers Park to drop off donations for the Anne Arundel County Food Bank and #JustOneSweater and/or to give blood at the Luminis Blood Bus. (*Please SHARE with your networks! Let your community and any/all local orgs you support know and ask them to swing by Chambers Park on 11/18!)
Not Available on 11/18? No worries - you can still participate:
**Visit any M&T Bank location in Anne Arundel County and drop off a food donation.
**Scan the QR code below to Donate directly to the Anne Arundel County Food Bank.
**Stop into the Luminis Blood Center anytime the week prior to the collection and tell them #LAA sent you!
**Text "sweater" 410-991-4663 to arrange for sweater drop off/collection in advance of the event with LAA Board Member Kristi Krankowski.
Want to get credit for your class? Post a selfie of yourself donating in the comments below and hashtag your class (ex. #FLG06)
Click here to visit the event page for current and emerging event details.
Let's make this the BEST YEAR YET!!
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Posted By Kris V. Shock,
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
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Welcome Flagship 2024!
#30yearsofleadership
By Kris Valerio Shock, President & CEO
 If you were able to join us for the Program Kickoff & Homecoming event, then you certainly felt the energy. This time of year is so very exciting for the LAA Community - and especially this year as we embark on the 30th Anniversary of LAA.
Program classes are notorious for claiming they are the "Best Class". It's a fun rivalry across 30 years of classes. I'll let you in on a secret: they are all correct. Each class is quite simply the best class... for the participants of that class. It's the magic of the Flagship experience - this shared journey of connection and learning and greater understanding.
 Following the two-day retreat, bonds have already been formed. This cohort will gather on the second Thursday of each month and come to understand our county, community leadership and each other through their shared experience. By the time we reach graduation next June, they will have established lifelong friendships and have colleagues they can call on for years to come.
Next month we will begin recruiting for the 2024 Neighborhood Leadership Academy (NLA) and they will embark on their journey in January, also graduating in June.
It is such an honor and privilege to support dedicated community leaders through each of these programs. We need committed and compassionate, thoughtful leaders now more than ever and LAA programs provide connection and support so vital to their success.
Whether you graduated 30 years ago our last June, we invite you to engage in upcoming LAA events to get to know the new "Best Class" and to reconnect with LAA graduates spanning #30yearsofleadership.
We are deeply proud of LAA's 30 years, and yet in many ways, we're just getting started! I hope you will make it part of your plan to be a part of LAA's 30th Anniversary Year. We'll be celebrating all year long in everything we do. The next opportunity is featured here on our community calendar. We look forward to seeing you soon!
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Posted By Kris V. Shock,
Wednesday, August 30, 2023
Updated: Wednesday, August 30, 2023
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by Kris Valerio Shock, President & CEO
This year LAA is turning 30. Founded in 1993, the first class graduated in 1994, so this year, we will celebrate our 30th year in everything we do. As we prepare to welcome 50 new community leaders to the LAA Flagship program, I've been reflecting on LAA's Mission and Vision:
The mission of Leadership Anne Arundel is to provide people of diverse backgrounds with the education, resources and networks necessary to become successful proactive leaders.
The vision of Leadership Anne Arundel is to develop and nurture community trustees who improve the quality of life in Anne Arundel County by convening diverse stakeholders, bridging their divides, and facilitating resolutions for the common good.
This is essential work and as we turn 30, many LAA graduates have become our most treasured community leaders providing years of dedicated service and enormous impact to our community.
At this 30 year milestone, there is a somber but natural occurrence, that many of our first-generation LAA community trustees are retiring and in some cases sadly passing away, making it that much more crucial that we nurture a new generation of leaders to take the baton and carry forward the work.
Over the last month, several examples of LAA's most dedicated community leaders have come to mind as the mantle of leadership is passed down.
Vanessa Carter, was born and raised in Anne Arundel County and has lived here most of her life. A Flagship 1995 graduate, she has an extensive history of volunteer work. From 200 - 2001, Vanessa served as Chair of the LAA Board of Directors. In 2020, her efforts were recognized with the Volunteer of the Year Award by the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County. In addition to LAA, she has previously held board positions with various organizations such as Arundel Community Development Services, Chrysalis House, London Town Foundation, Opportunity Builders, and the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County. She presently serves on the board of the YWCA of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County and is also a member of the Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation and the 21st Century Club of the greater Annapolis area. Vanessa was in the news recently as her mother Sarah E. Carter, the first African American and one of the first three women elected to serve on the Anne Arundel County Council, was celebrated with the naming the Arundel Center North in her honor, now the Sarah E. Carter Building. We are excited to celebrate Vanessa's legacy of leadership in October when she is inducted into the Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce Business Hall of Fame.
We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of NLA05 graduate Gertrude Makell(pictured above, center, with Lyndra Marshall nee Pratt at right; that’s me on the left). Gertrude was a recipient of the 2007 Community Trustee Award by Leadership Anne Arundel and the Capital-Gazette Newspapers for helping to create a more vibrant community in 2006. Gertrude was so very generous in sharing her knowledge and passion for the Galesville community. If you wanted to know Galesville, you needed to know Gertrude. Up until her passing, Gertrude was the president of Galesville Community Center Organization, Inc. She was the visionary leader and driving force behind the restoration of the Galesville Rosenwald School. With her energy, commitment, and creativity, the Galesville Rosenwald School has been restored and converted into a vibrant space that serves as a permanent home for the activities of the Galesville Community Center Organization. The Flagship class of 2023 was fortunate to meet Gertrude during their tour of Southern Anne Arundel County (photo above). She will be so deeply missed.
A true highlight of the summer has been following LAA Board Member (NLA19/FLG20) Dee Ward's Facebook posts celebrating his great collaboration with NLA23 graduate Rita Dorsey serving the youth in the Woodside/Newtowne communities in Annapolis. Not only are Rita and Dee next-generation LAA leaders themselves, they are literally raising up a new generation of youth leaders from their amazing work with these kids this summer. We hope to see their students make their way to the NLA and Flagship programs in the years to come. (Love the LAA shirt!)
Finally, a shout out to next-gen community trustee Diesha Conte (NLA23) who organized a third annual Braid-a-thon to ensure that nearly 200 young people in underserved communities could return to school with the confidence that back-to-school hair styles can provide. After years of participating in drives for back to school supplies and other charitable events, Diesha saw an opportunity to support in a unique way providing an extra level of self esteem for young people. Beyond the sharp hair styling, these young people have received an invaluable lesson in grassroots community trusteeship from Diesha's dedicated and tireless work.
We look forward to celebrating these and other stories of crucial community trusteeship throughout the coming year of 30th Anniversary celebrations. Do you have a story of OG or next-gen community trusteeship to share? Comment below to share with the LAA community.
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Posted By Kris V. Shock,
Friday, July 28, 2023
Updated: Friday, July 28, 2023
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by Kris Valerio Shock, President & CEO
 The summer months are super busy in the LAA office. We have a short period of time to wrap up our fiscal year and begin the new one, welcome new Board Members, confirm the next Flagship class and get their program planning and logistics rolling.
In the midst of this whirlwind, we’ve had an influx of new, renewing and Lifetime Members in June and July, and we have to take a moment to pause
and recognize the individuals who support all that we do all year long with their Membership investment.
THANK YOU LAA MEMBERS!
Please see all of the Members, new and renewing in June and July, featured below. Members really are the engine that keeps LAA growing and serving decades of community leaders. As we embark on celebrating 30 years of LAA in the coming year, we look forward to featuring and celebrating Members throughout LAA communication channels, programs and events!
Lifetime Members Cruise Aboard the Wilma Lee
Speaking of Lifetime Members, on July 20th we had a magical night of LAA Lifetime Member connections hosted by Kristen Pironis (FLG22) aboard the Skipjack Wilma Lee. The group shot is featured at right and more photos are available here.
The charter embarked from City Dock in downtown Annapolis and set sail for a two-hour cruise. Lifetime Members have made a significant investment in LAA and we are honored to recognize their support with unique and exclusive events like this one. Lifetime Membership is a one-time investment available to all LAA graduates. It does not expire. Lifetime Members receive access to unique Lifetime Member hosted gatherings, Member rates for all LAA events, full access to the online community, connection with 1600+ graduates and more. All LAA Alumni are invited to upgrade to Lifetime Membership. Click here for the full roster of LAA Lifetime Members and to learn more about Lifetime Membership.
For More information on LAA Membership, click here to contact us today.
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Posted By Kris V. Shock,
Thursday, June 29, 2023
Updated: Thursday, June 29, 2023
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“My wish for you is that you continue. Continue to be who you are, to astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness." - Maya Angelou
 Each year as the Tribute to Community Leadership & Graduation approaches, it seems like an awesome challenge ahead for our small team of three - to bring all of the pieces together. Shout out to Operations Director Nancy Hartzell who is the driving force behind the event. As ominous as it may seem in the weeks leading up to the event, once the plaques and awards are in hand and the badges and programs are printed, I find a calm comes over me. I realize again, the magic of the Tribute event and in Leadership Anne Arundel for that matter, lies in the people.
What makes Tribute so special year over year is the amazing room full of community leaders - graduates who invested their time in the Flagship or Neighborhood Leadership Academy programs; featured honorees, recognized for the richness of their contributions to the community; Board Members, Members, volunteers and sponsors all coming together to positively impact our county.
"Just add people!" But not just any people - community leaders are a unique mix of passion, purpose, commitment and resilience. It is an absolute honor to shine the spotlight on Anne Arundel County's dedicated community leaders.
And now, as our graduates and honorees continue onward in their leadership journeys, LAA prepares to welcome a whole new class of Flagship participants. We turn inward for a few short weeks to plan and prepare and in early September we will welcome 50+ new community leaders into their Flagship year kicking off our 30th Anniversary year.
 If you are wondering what the best fit would be for your LAA engagement in the months ahead - whether you just graduated, you graduated ages ago or anywhere in between, there are loads of opportunities to connect in the coming months. Join me for the next LAA 101 to learn more. Click here for details and registration.
Or, if you’re just looking for the next opportunity to cross-pollinate with our rich network of community leaders, save the date for the Program Kickoff & Homecoming event on Tuesday, September 26th from 5:30 - 7:30pm at the Annapolis Maritime Museum! #seeyouthere
Click here to see the Tribute 2023 Photo Album.
Photos:
Upper Right - NLA2023 “Eagles Nest”
Lower Right - FLG22 volunteers at Tribute 2023 Registration
Below - (Center) Bertina Nick Flagship Scholarship Honoree Toccara Colbert, NLA23
(Left: LAA Board Chair Chris Barber FLG16; Right: LAA President and CEO Kris Valerio Shock FLG06)
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Posted By Kris V. Shock,
Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Updated: Tuesday, May 30, 2023
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News Flash: On June 22nd from 5:30p - 8:00pm you need to be at Live! Casino & Hotel for LAA's annual Tribute to Community Leadership and Graduation.
 Okay, so, Tribute is also LAA's graduation celebration. Graduates from both LAA programs, Flagship and the Neighborhood Leadership Academy (NLA), will be there along, with their friends and family to celebrate their graduation. And of course, we'll be recognizing three special guests: Excellence in Leadership Honoree April Nyman, President & CEO of the Arts Council for Anne Arundel County; and Distinguished Graduate Honorees Janice Hayes-Williams and Jon Korin. So they'll be there, along with their friends and family. We'll even announce the Bertina Nick Scholarship to the 2024 Flagship program that will go to a NLA graduate.
Okay, you say - but why do you have to be there?
The truth is, bad news is easy to come by. We are inundated with the tough stuff of life on the daily. Tribute is an opportunity to soak in the good stuff.
Tribute is an annual gathering to celebrate the community leaders carrying our county forward in so many ways. Nowhere will you get such a feel-good event, providing connections and boosting morale across the county.
The work of community leadership is tireless. It is relentless and often thankless. But Tribute provides an opportunity to pause and celebrate the efforts of so many dedicated community leaders. This is not some boring, long commencement ceremony. There will be fabulous food and beverage courtesy of Live! Casino & Hotel. We'll begin with a brief inspirational video by Comacell Brown, Jr. and the program will move swiftly from featured honorees to graduating classes. The excitement of our most recent graduates as they celebrate their LAA connections will provide a fresh boost of inspiration and connection to power you through the summer months.
We keep the registration affordable, just $25 for LAA Members. If you're an Alumni - NonMember, now it the perfect opportunity to upgrade to Membership and come out to celebrate our newest Alumni. Click here to register today.
Got questions? Contact me today to learn more about how to make the most of Alumni connections and the Tribute to Community Leadership & Graduation Celebration. #seeyouthere
Tags:
#community #leadership #celebration
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