I am beyond proud to share that on September 8th the Flagship 21 class kicked off their program year with the Opening Retreat at London Town. The full roster of the flagship class is available here and photos from the Opening Retreat are captured here.

For weeks prior to the retreat, we had individual and group conversations managing expectations around what the Flagship 21 year would look like. Would it be all virtual? Could we meet in-person safely? Will the 2021 class get the same value we've come to expect from the Flagship experience?

It is a known concept that good leaders must be able to adapt in times of challenge. The Flagship 2021 class is putting that concept to the test in a true case study on adaptability. Our hybrid approach to session planning is to provide safe, in-person opportunities whenever possible coupled with robust innovative and interactive virtual sessions.

The class of 37 participants represents a broad spectrum of appetite for in-person interaction during these challenging times. Some class members are in front-line positions and have therefore been in the community and with the public since the early days of the pandemic. Others have been isolated in their home offices and on screens. Some crave more in-person interaction, others are wary of the risks. All have embraced the Flagship experience in these uncertain times. All are adapting to new ways of connecting and showing up in their role as leaders.

The Opening Retreat was its own lesson in adaptability. With morning sessions planned outside at London Town, foul weather called for adjustments and quick reshuffling of the game plan. Hopping online, leveraging online polls and breakout groups we adapted "the way we've always done it" to the way we could get it done - to great success! It was a great energizing couple of days and a great start for the Flagship class of 2021!

Of course Flagship 2021 adapting has only just begun. Each Flagship Day committee will create plans A and B to prepare for the unknown - peaks and valleys in our health numbers, evolving health guidelines, ever-changing weather. Fortunately the Flagship Committees are packed with LAA Alumni all rolling and adapting in their own leadership roles on a daily basis.

LAA is far from alone in our necessary adaptations. Look around and organizations and individuals are swiftly embracing new ideas and approaches. Examples are everywhere. To name just a few, click the links below to explore:

Wellness House - Fall Rock n Roll Benefit on the Bay - On Thursday, September 24th, in support of Wellness House of Annapolis' free services to our community touched by cancer, they will offer an exciting virtual concert experience - exclusively for the Wellness House - with gourmet dinner and wine! Read more.

Maryland Hall - On September 11th Maryland Hall transitioned their famous "Arts Alive" fundraiser into a livestream launch party for their new Front Stairs Concert series and statewide mission. Read more.

Annapolis Symphony Orchestra - The Annapolis Symphony Orchestra is in the process of rolling out a new at-home symphony experience, finding ways to comply with pandemic restrictions while delivering their standard of musical excellence to patrons in their homes. To do so, they've invested in Symphony+, a comprehensive virtual platform powered by Vimeo Over the Top (OTT) comprised of three unique components: ASO Live!, ASO RePlay and ASO Chats. Read more.

Each of these innovative approaches to disruption are inspiring examples of adaptive leadership. They are also deeply challenging and downright exhausting. Adaptive leaders need other adaptive leaders to share ideas, work out concepts and leverage partnerships; challenging us to reimagine what is possible and celebrating our collective success. 

Leadership Anne Arundel provides our local leaders with peers, colleagues, mentors and lifelong friends to power through the transformational change thrust upon our community by disruption. We are excited to nurture a new class of community leaders to support, encourage and challenge each other to adapt and thrive in the weeks, months and years to come.