— from Liz Illg —
The Leadership San Juan Islands professional development program launched a new class on January 8, with an orientation day held at the Harrison House Suites in Friday Harbor.
Eighteen islanders from Orcas, San Juan, Fidalgo, Whidbey and Lopez make up the 12th Cohort and will meet for 11 sessions around San Juan County during the next five months. Co-Directors Tara Dalton and Liz Illg lead the group, supported by a Curriculum Committee headed by Jim Hooper and made up of the ten other Alumni who coordinate particular sessions. Lynne Hobbs will lead several sessions on facilitative leadership during overnight retreats on San Juan and Lopez Islands. Other days will include presentations and discussions with local leaders in business, government, education, local economics, agriculture, nonprofits, the arts, social welfare and environmental issues.
Major support for the program comes in the donation of space from Harrison House Suites, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church, Outlook Inn and Lopez Islander Resort.
Organizational and business sponsors include: Windermere Real Estate; Madrona Institute; Alumni Gregory Maynard; San Juan County Economic Development Council; National Park Service; Orcas Food Co-op; Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church; Aurora Farms; San Juan Island Grange #966; OPALCO; Washington Vocational Services; San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild; Samish Indian Nation; San Juan Islands Visitor Bureau; North Beach Inn; Lopez Island Conservation Corp; San Juan Island School District; Skagit Valley College and San Juan County Parks.
Leadership San Juan Islands (LSJI) began in 2004 as a collaborative effort between the San Juan County Economic Development Council, Skagit Valley College and United Way of San Juan County. Since then the 165 graduates have created a separate 501(c)3 organization and presented the annual class. For more information on LSJI and to learn more about volunteer and donation opportunities see: www.lsji.org/.
