Leadership on a Local Level
By Chris Comer
It is a new year and the Leadership Kernersville class is hard at work, making a difference in our community. Leadership Kernersville is an adventure and learning experience that creates and builds lifelong business relationships.
In past years, the Leadership Kernersville class has hosted lunches, built rock gardens, held pet washes, hosted pancake breakfasts, created programs for kids and all the while met the second Thursday of the month for ten months to learn about our town.
The class is divided in half and each is tasked with coming up with a community service project. This year is no different. One team is working on a project called “Chairing is Caring,” a raffle to benefit The Shepherd’s Center of Kernersville. The Shepherd’s Center empowers individuals and enriches the lives of older or disabled adults in our community. They put all of their resources toward those in need, and the chairs that are used in their facilities are often in need of replacing. “Chairing is Caring” allows you to help purchase a chair for the Senior Enrichment Center. Our goal is to raise at least $2,000 to put towards the purchase of new chairs to replace old worn out ones that are currently being used. Purchase your raffle ticket by contacting one of the Leadership Kernersville members or the Kernersville Chamber of Commerce at 336-993-4521. Fabulous prizes are being offered and the drawing will be held on February 26, 2016.
The second project created by the other half of the class is a Historic Tour at Spring Folly. Kernersville is known for its rich history. Kernersville really began to make a name for itself in the 1880’s. This year’s class would love to share the information with those that attend Spring Folly by offering guided historic walking tours that will begin in front of the Kernersville Museum and end at Körner’s Folly.
We will be stopping at points along the way to give visitors a glimpse into the history of the town and a feel for what life was like in the early days of Kernersville. The tours will last approximately 30 minutes. The tour will be designed so that it can be easily done as a self-guided tour with a brochure that will include a map featuring the history of some of the important buildings and historic homes in Kernersville. The goal is to have a lasting impact and an ongoing benefit to residents and visitors alike.
Leadership Kernersville has a rich history itself. In 1993 the first class of Leadership Kernersville graduated. This program continues to fulfill the role of the Chamber of Commerce to connect people with their own community. We want people to know about their community—its history, the strengths of the business community, know about their government, and community resources.
With this in mind, in the summer of 1992, Arnold King and Doug Anderson started the Leadership Kernersville program, observing the models of other Leadership programs operated by other chambers. Class participants range from bank leadership, non-profit leadership, business owners, volunteers, and elected officials.
Over the years, the topics covered in the program include Camp Hanes / Myers–Briggs, History of Kernersville and our Heritage, Human Services, Government, Leadership Development, Education Day, Emergency Services, Health Services, Economic Development Day as well as an orientation social and graduation.
I tell people that Leadership Kernersville is one of the best things I have ever done. After reading this, I am sure you will want to get involved, in the current projects or in a future class. Leadership Kernersville delights in developing our leaders of tomorrow.
Next year’s application can be found on www.KernersvilleNC.com or call 336-993-4521.