By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
Local leaders congregated at the Lowe-Volk Park Nature Center Thursday morning to sign a proclamation. Bucyrus Mayor Jeff Reser, Galion Mayor Tom O’Leary, and Crawford County Commissioners Doug Weisenauer and Jenny Vermillion were on hand to sign a document proclaiming May 8 as Leadership Day in conjunction with the Leadercast Program.
Dave Williamson, director of Crawford County Partnership for Education and Economic Development and a leader in Crawford: 20/20 Vision, explained why the proclamation was made.
“Leadercast is May 8. That is a whole day where we here from leaders throughout the world on their thoughts on leadership,” Williamson said. “So in advance of that we are proclaiming that, and by we, I mean the elected officials actually, in our community are coming together. The mayors, and the county commissioners are coming together to proclaim May 8 as Leadership Day in Crawford County to add some weight to that, to help the citizens of the community realize the importance to think about our own personal leadership.”
Prior to signing the document, Crawford 20/20 Vision Leadership Chair Debbi Gifford welcomed those in attendance noting that Leadership is important in Crawford County.
“Leadership isn’t just with those who are elected officials, but can be those walking down the street,” Gifford said prior to introducing Williamson.
Williamson addressed the crowd reminding them that Leadercast would be May 8 at the First Church of the Nazarene in Bucyrus with the theme titled “The Brave Ones.”
In his presentation Williamson showed a video in which a person was dancing. Williamson noted that the leader embraced the first follower and included them, shortly after the first follower another person joined and the new followers were embraced by the other followers.
“Leadership is over-glorified,” Williamson said. “No movement can be successful without a first follower.”
Michelle Failor communications director for Crawford: 20/20 Vision, explained that there are other ways that organization promotes leadership.
“We have CU Lead, and Crawford Conversation, which is a lecture series, but we encourage everyone to look into those opportunities and share it with their colleagues, their friends, and their family, because that is what is going to carry us into tomorrow,” Failor said.
After the presentation and signing of the proclamation, a boxed lunch was provided for those on hand.