By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
Understanding the value of connecting community leaders, the Hays Chamber is bringing back a leadership program after the first of the year.
“Oftentimes, we talk about kind of keeping your bucket full after attending a leadership class and just those moments of opportunity to engage with other people who have been trying to tune their leadership muscles and just keeping those conversations going,” said Hays Chamber president and CEO Sarah Wasinger.
The new program, Igniting Leadership, is similar to the Konza leadership group, an organization that regularly brought together graduates of Ellis County leadership programs.
Laurie Kennedy will spearhead the program.
“It's open to anybody, but especially people that want to flex their leadership muscles,” Kennedy said. “So, anybody that's taken Leadership Hays, Dale Carnegie, really anything in the community, just to keep that conversation and the spark going about leadership.”
The meetings are free to attend and open to the public.
“It might be a great opportunity for you to learn just enough to maybe make you want to take the class or figure out what your next step in your leadership journey might look like,” Wasinger said.
She said it is also designed to establish mentorships and can help those looking for leadership opportunities.
“We have our Hays Young Professionals program,” Wasinger said. “We've got our Ambassadors and our Chamber Board of Directors if you've done all those things, and maybe you're like, ‘Well, what's that next thing? Where do I fit in?’ We thought that this program … would be nice for folks who have served in other capacities to still have a place where they can come in and make a difference.”
But while those organizational meetings and educational opportunities may serve as a basis for the group, Kennedy said the group would reflect those participating.
“We’re wanting it to be very organic and grow as the people who attend [decide] what they want this to be,” she said. “It's not going to be structured specifically. Just kind of wherever it leads us. If people have ideas or challenges they've been facing and want to get different perspectives, they can bring it to us, or we can bring it up at a later date.”
The monthly meetings will rotate from lunch to evening to accommodate as many people as possible.
The first class is scheduled for noon Jan. 11 at The Press, 230 E. Eighth.
“And then the rest of the noon times will be March 8, May 10, July 12, Sept. 13, and Nov. 8,” Wasinger said.
The evening sessions are scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at Defiance Brewing Co. Downtown, 111 W. Seventh, on Feb. 8, April 12, June 14, Aug. 9, Oct. 11, and Dec. 13.
To register, visit the Hays Chamber website, hayschamber.com.
“You are still more than welcome to go if you miss that registration link, but that way, we kind of get a headcount to make sure we have enough space and be a little prepared for what's coming up,” Kennedy said.
“We're very grateful to have the opportunity to help facilitate and bring that class to the city of Hays, but just in general, sometimes I feel like we feel lost after we have those [leadership class] opportunities,” Wasinger said. “And so this is the place to stay engaged and communicate with people who are like-minded, who maybe want to make a difference in our community. And who knows, maybe the next great idea that the Chamber needs to tackle will happen right in the conversations that will occur in that space.”