The deadline for enrolling in Leadership Catoosa has been extended to allow a few more people the opportunity to participate in this community education program.
Classes are limited to no more than 30 participants who live or work in Catoosa County and are Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce members, either individually or as a business.
“People have been signing up, but we still have space available,” said Teresa Mullis, operations director for the Chamber.
Since 1987 the local Chamber has conducted these classes to encourage and develop emerging leaders in local communities.
“This class teaches them how the different entities, governments and businesses work together within the county,” Mullis said.
Catoosa County Clerk Melissa Hannah said that even though she has lived in the county all her life, attending the 2009 class showed her aspects of the county that she was totally unaware of.
“It was very enlightening,” she said. “I made a lot of contacts, the class was good for networking and I found out about things I didn’t know existed – it was worth attending.”
Members meet once each month (except during April and June) to study various aspects of the county. Topics covered include health and social services, local and state governments, business and industry, agriculture, education and tourism.
Class members attend government, school board and civic club meetings; visit businesses and attractions; complete homework assignments and will travel to Atlanta to meet with state officials and attend a legislative session.
Each year the group works together on a class project, which this term will deal with promoting tourism in the area, Mullis said.
“This is one of the largest industries in Georgia and is increasingly a major component of Catoosa County’s economic growth,” she said.
Registration and payment of the $495 tuition must be made before classes begin next Wednesday, Jan. 19, Mullis said.
“I’ve never had anyone not learn something from the classes – even people that have lived here all their lives,” she said. “No one has ever asked for their money back.”
For more information or to apply to Leadership 2011, contact Teresa Mullis at the Chamber office, (706) 965-5201, ext. 16, or Brad Denton, 2011 Leadership Committee chairman, at (706) 937-3489.