The Tri-County Journal
& Chattahoochee Chronicle
PO Box 850, 71 Webb Lane
Buena Vista, GA 31803
229-649-6397
tjournal@alltel.net

(From the August 2, 2006 issue)
   On Tuesday night, July 27, family and friends gathered in Columbus at the Cunningham Center to honor graduates of the inaugural Cusseta-Chattahoochee County Leadership Development Class.
   The classes, meeting each Tuesday night since early May, have demanded dedication and commitment from the participants. The goal of the leadership classes is to build a network of community leaders who will use their enhanced leadership skills to foster economic growth, resolve community challenges and improve quality of life for the residents of Chattahoochee County. They learned about the many facets of county government, analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of the community, and focused on problem solving, consensus building and effective communication.
   The graduates are: J.D. Abercombie, Elizabeth Adams, Renae Annis, Gwendolyn Askew, Gene Burgamy, Pan Burgamy, T.S. Duval, Susie Thornton Foster, Carol Greer, Johnny Jackson, Sadie Jackson, Jim Lawrence, Ken May, Phyllis May, Craig Potter and Kathryne Van Horn.
   Dr. Frank Brown, president of Columbus State University, encouraged the class to continue in their commitment to community growth and development. Dr. Carmen Cavezza, executive director of the Cunningham Center for Leadership Development, and Dr. Ed Helton, director of the Leadership Institute, who both played a vital roll in the development and delivery of the classes, also spoke, challenging the participants to form an alumnae organization that will ensure the continuance of leadership development in Chattahoochee County.
   Graduate certificates were presented by Dr. Brown, Dr. Cavezza, Dr. Helton, Commissioner Larry Dillard and Family Connection Chair Deloris Baker. David Jankowski, Cusseta-Chattahoochee County Chamber of Commerce chairman, presented each graduate with a membership in the Chamber. Class members also participated in the program with Rev. Johnny Jackson giving the invocation; Carol Greer, J.D. Abercrombie and Renae Annis speaking about how the class has impacted their perceptions of the county and the importance of working together, and Sadie Jackson and Phyllis May introducing the class project as a slide show projected the class landscaping around the sign to the Roscoe Robinson Recreation Center. The class will also be assisting the Chamber of Commerce in sponsoring the Christmas Parade.
   The following Advisory Council Members took part in the program. Dallas Jankowski, chair of the Program Design Committee, delivered the welcome. Commissioner Larry Dillard congratulated the participants on their dedication and challenged them to become involved in the community by serving on one of the many volunteer boards. Chair Martha Burgamy thanked all those who contributed to the success of this first leadership training effort especially the Fanning Institute for its $5,000 grant and the Chamber of Commerce for its $2,000 seed money. She also recognized in the audience, Spence Muller from the Department of Community Affairs who was so very helpful to the Advisory Council in providing information and encouragement to get the program started in Chattahoochee County. Abbie Dillard, Selection Committee chair introduced the class members. Dave Jankowski, Finance chair, gave the closing remarks graciously acknowledging all the hard work and many months preparation needed to pull the program together. Other Advisory Council Members attending the dinner were Emmett Moore, Sr. and Annelle Harp. Earetha Thymes, Al Tatom, Walter Kenny, Mattye Kenny and Laverne Wright also served on the Advisory Council.