By Kris Valerio Shock, President & CEO, Leadership Anne Arundel 

 

 

This is the way it's supposed to work. Rising leaders go through one or both of our programs and then bring their leadership and ideas to the table to benefit the broader leadership community. The rising tide raises all boats. (See what I did there?)

 

LAA Alumni are an endless resource of ideas and thought leadership to move our community forward. The LAA structure provides the support needed to make Alumni ideas a reality.

 

Over the next month, you have the opportunity to participate in three entirely different events: All Member-Driven, created by and for LAA Alumni and available to the broader leadership community. Skill building, coffee connecting or grappling with our community's toughest issues - over the next month LAA Alumni events offer something for everyone.

 

FLG21 Ellen Shiery's Golf Clinic (for women who don't golf) is the very model of an ideal alumni driven event. Ellen found herself in a conundrum. She needed a few players to round out a charity golf foursome and all of the female colleagues she reached out to were reluctant because they didn't feel confident in the game. This inspired Ellen to round up a golf pro and a formula for a golf clinic event to provide women leaders an opportunity to get the foundation they need to say YES to the charity golf events (and all of the connections that take place on the greens). Ellen brought the idea, the connection to the golf pro and the sponsorship (thanks Merrill!) to the party and LAA provided the logistical support to make it happen. The first date was sold out in 24 hours - so a second date is scheduled for May 10th! Click here for details.

 

FLG20/LAA Board Member Kristi Krankowski loved the pre-covid model for LAA101 - casual connecting over coffee with local leaders. Since we had to shift to a virtual event for the 101 due to covid, it's become more of an online training to get the scoop on making the most of the LAA Community Platform. So, Kristi conspired with FLG22 Lindley Bucci to create "Leadership and Lattes“, a casual connecting opportunity for community leaders and 20 people have already signed up for the first one on May 5th. InGrano won't know what hit them! Click here to learn more and consider hosting the next Leadership and Lattes!

What about the tough issues facing community leaders? For several months Opioids have been a subject of discussion at Alumni Events Committee meetings. We knew we wanted to bring together community leaders to discuss the challenge in our county, but it took FLG22 Lindley Bucci's participation on the committee along with FLG22 Danny Watkins leadership with the recent FLG23 Health and Human Services Day panel on addiction and recovery plus co-chair FLG20/LAA Board Member Kim Curry's leadership driving momentum forward to bring all of the pieces together for the upcoming Community Leadership Roundtable: Opioid Crossroads - Moving Forward. The June 1st event will feature legal, crisis response and treatment professionals moderated by FLG22 Tonii Gedin, Acting Arundel County Health Officer, on how the county and private organizations are supporting communities impacted by opioids. Click here for more.

 

This is how it works. LAA Alumni bring the ideas, the connections and the sponsorship and LAA provides the operational support to lighten the lift and bring the pieces together to benefit the broader leadership community.

 

If you have an idea to benefit the LAA community, drop it in the chat below or contact me today and let's get it rolling through the LAA Alumni Events machine.