CRESTLINE, Ohio – Crawford County’s current leaders invested in the development of the county’s future leaders by proclaiming May 8, 2015 as Leadership Day throughout Crawford County.
The proclamation stated that Crawford County’s businesses and residents recognize that having a strong and sustainable pipeline of new leaders is critical to the county’s future. Crawford County leaders, including Commissioners Jenny Vermillion, Douglas Weisenauer and Steve Reinhard, Bucyrus Mayor Jeff Reser, Galion Mayor Tom O’Leary, Tiro Mayor Ronald Brown, and Chatfield Mayor Sara Cotsamire, all signed the proclamation.
May 8 was chosen as Leadership Day because on that day, hundreds of area residents will invest in leadership development for themselves and their employees by attending this year’s Leadercast presentation, hosted by the community development initiative Crawford 20/20. Debbi Gifford, chairperson of the Leadership Development team, explained the team was developed in 2012.
“We need to get elected officials as well as everyday leaders on board with turning the tide for Crawford County and making it go in the right direction,” said Gifford.
The Leadercast theme for 2015 is “The Brave Ones,” and will include speakers such as Malala Yousafzai, the teenage girl shot in the head by Taliban terrorists because she advocated for girls’ education.
“At Leadercast this year they will explore the brave ones, learn what it means to lead in such a way that creates bold cultures, builds faithful employees, and produces high achievement,” said Dave Williamson, executive director of the Crawford County Partnership for Education and Economic Development.
Williamson shared with the leaders present a video of a man dancing alone at a concert in order to illustrate the importance of being a leader and encouraging followers. Eventually, a large crowd of people joined the dancing man.
“The point is it takes some courage to dance like that,” said Williamson. “It’s not easy to be in your positions, and we all recognize that. It’s a very difficult position to be in and most people have no idea, most of you probably had no idea what you were getting into. We need to nurture others that will take your lead and follow you. We need to support you, because you’re the brave ones.”
Crawford County is also investing in their future leaders by applying for a grant for the project “Growing the Leader in Me.” Gary Frankhouse, economic development coordinator for the Crawford County Partnership for Education and Economic Development, said Crawford County is the lead applicant for the grant that would extend to five of the county’s six school districts.
“The issue we have way out there with our current employees, we start to work toward a resolution when we start working with kindergartners, first graders, second graders, because we’re implanting a seed that may not blossom until later but it’s going to blossom,” said Frankhouse.
The grant would bring about $1 million into the community toward educational leadership, approximately $88,000 per district.
Gifford thanked the elected officials present on Thursday for proclaiming May 8 as Leadership Day; noting it would put a spotlight on the day and hopefully carry the enthusiasm through the rest of the year.
“It’s a great day to come and be with like-minded individuals thinking positively and wanting to change their communities,” she said.
