The Leadership Challenge

One measure of a community’s greatness is the voluntary contributions made by its leaders.  The future of our community is closely tied to the quality and commitment of our next generation of leaders; the individuals who are needed to serve on boards, commissions, in community groups and in elected positions.  This kind of leadership talent must be aggressively sought out, nurtured and given the tools to lead successfully.  As we look out into the community, many of the most profound accomplishments have been made possible through the leadership of volunteers giving of their time and talents.  The Chamber is a wonderful example of volunteer leadership.  It’s Board of Directors as well as all of the committees and task forces are made up of volunteers that give of their time and share their expertise and talents.  We need to realize that it takes the efforts of willing leaders to build and better the community.

The business community and individuals can be a part of building leaders for tomorrow by nurturing potential leaders today.  Seeking out opportunities for those with leadership talent, providing responsibilities in daily routine or through special projects, companies can teach and cultivate the leadership abilities of their staff thus producing leaders for their organization for years to come.  Individuals may also be proactive in seeking out opportunities to take on additional responsibilities and volunteer for such leadership roles that will give them the chance to stretch and practice their abilities to direct and accomplish results through group actions.

The Chamber sees this nurturing or leadership as a vital part of sustaining the growth of our community.  We admonish and invite the businesses in our area to review what they are doing to foster leadership in their companies and how they can foster leadership talent or allow those with demonstrated skills to apply their talent.  We invite individuals and the business community to become more active in volunteering their time to build the community in whatever capacity they see fit.

The Chamber, understanding the importance of nourishing new leaders and helping to foster leadership talent, instituted the Leadership Program in 2004.  Taking cues from the many wonderful programs already in place throughout the United States and Idaho, the Chamber will enter its eighth year hosting the leadership program.

This eight month program is geared at cultivating the needed talents, knowledge and networks that help create an effective leader. Each year, the aim of the program is to increase a base of informed and capable leaders who are committed to using their talents to meet the needs of our businesses and community.

All of the sessions are designed to be highly interactive, stimulating and thought provoking.  A typical day might involve a fast-paced combination of group discussion, exercises, field trips and presentations by respected local leaders.  Class sessions will be held in locations appropriate to the topic, the community is the classroom.  The instruction will not reflect any one solution or political viewpoint but rather will present varied and diverse approaches to problem solving.  Participants will be expected to share their unique experiences and learn from one another.

The 2012 program will be held once a month typically from eight-thirty in the morning to five in the afternoon.  Areas of exploration in 2012 will include:  Personal Leadership Skills, Industry & Agriculture, Local Government, Health Care, Education, Law & Justice, Media, and Tourism.  2012 Mini-Cassia Leadership will begin on January 19, 2011 and graduation will be in August.  If you or someone in your company would like to participate, the registration deadline is January 13, 2012 and class space is limited to 18 participants.  Tuition is $395, all transportation, meals and materials will be provided.  Tuition must be paid prior to the first session.  For more information, please call the Chamber at 679-4793.

This community draws strength and moves forward through the efforts and abilities of those who are willing to work at making a difference.  Leadership is not only the directing and teaching of others, but more importantly the courage to take that first step towards getting something done.

It's time for the Chamber's Annual Women's Seminar and Expo.  The date has been set for April 28, 2011. 

Pick up a Penny

John Webster – Mini-Cassia Economic Development Commission

When was the last time you picked up a penny?  You probably cannot recall because if you are like most, the bother of bending over to pick one up is not worth the inconvenience.  Ironically, we typically get rid of the “inconvenience” at a “convenience” store by donating them to the – round out your purchase kitty – located next to the cash drawer at C-stores.    The value of a penny – 1 cent – is often worth so little to us that we hate to be troubled with them hanging out in our pockets.

For nearly ten years now my wife and I have been engaged in a contest of sorts.  Every day each of us looks for a penny on the ground to pick up. Nearly every day we both find and retrieve at least one that has been discarded or dropped.  We use those pennies to buy favors from each other.  The price of a good back rub for qualified buyers is 2 cents.  The price for more exciting things goes up from there.  Of course on birthdays, anniversaries and days that have the letter “a” in their name we have incredible clearance sales.  But I digress…

Here’s the point. -- As we are looking for pennies, we typically find as many nickels, dimes, and quarters as we do pennies.  The inconvenience of picking up a penny is hardly worth it, but for nickels, dimes, and quarters most of us will stoop.  The path to the shiny silver variety comes as we are looking for copper.

Your local economic development professionals respond to all kinds of requests-for- proposals (RFP’s) from companies that use the shot-gun approach to development in search of sites in which to locate new or expanding businesses. There are many requests and most are the “penny” variety and often “inconvenient” to spend the time and effort responding to because our area is clearly not a match for their needs.  However, they respond to them all because it is generally as we are responding to the penny variety that the path leads to the nickel, dime, and quarter opportunities.

We all live in this village together.  As you hear of potential opportunities for our community don’t cast them off -- share them.  They may be the penny variety but be reminded, in life; you usually get to where you are going on your way to somewhere else.  We are not only looking for new businesses to locate here, but are seeking ways to help established local businesses expand.  There are several local facilities, from schools to factories that at present are unused and are target opportunities for development.  We all have suppliers, vendors, and other business contacts that are looking for new opportunities more often than you might think.

So, pick up a penny, it might lead to a nickel, dime or quarter for the entire village.

Speaking of doing something inconvenient – your local businesses along the Overland construction route would appreciate you dropping “buy”.   I know it’s a hassle but…they need your support and a few of your nickels, dimes, and quarters.



Lately we often hear the phrase renewable energy or green energy and the favorable impact these alternative energy sources have upon the environment. However, we’re now hearing about sustainable energy and although the terminology is new, the meaning is about the same.  Sustainable energy’s goal is to meet current consumer requirements without compromising future needs. Further, sustainable energy distinguishes itself as the ability of energy sources to continue providing energy. As with renewable energy, sustainable energy typically includes wind, solar, geothermal and bio-materials power.  Southern Idaho is poised to produce all of these power sources and meet consumer demands for energy.

It wasn’t too long ago that the wind energy projects near Mountain Home, Hagerman and Bell Rapids were constructed. Closer to home, it was just a few years ago that Windland Corporation began considering their wind project for Cotterel Mountain above Albion validating our wind resource.  Currently, we’ve probably all noticed the wind tower construction projects underway here In Mini-Cassia. And so it blows. However, not only do these projects provide energy, they provide additional economic benefits in the communities where they’re located. Job creation is just one ancillary benefit with any large construction project and as we’ve all become aware, more dollars are spent as they’re earned stimulating the local economy.

Our partner, the Southern Idaho Economic Development Organization, has recognized sustainable energy as an increasingly important sector of Idaho’s economy. SIEDO, along with the College of Southern Idaho and the Idaho National Laboratory (INL)  have together organized the Sustainable Energy Conference 2010-Powering Idaho’s Future. This conference will feature panel discussions focused on technology, market, business strategies as they relate to wind, solar, biomass, hydro and geothermal energy power. This conference will provide an opportunity to gain local, state and national perspectives on sustainable energy and learn how to capitalize on the resources and prospects in Idaho.

Economic development is happening all around us and we’re fortunate to live in a place where many people are working to improve our economy. Be positive about what we have and where we live and spread the word.

Dave Westfall

Vice-chair, MCEDC