By Lindsey Rowland
lrowland@wbcowqel.com
Crawford County is a place full of potential, and Crawford: 20/20 Vision is full of people who are excited to step up and harness all that there is for taking.
Crawford Unlimited Leadership, “CU Lead,” was formed with the vision of providing a framework to grow leadership skills, create an environment for community needs to be identified and met, to encourage individuals to become effective agents to keep Crawford: 20/20 Vision alive and moving, and to create a growing team of passionate, committed leaders who will benefit every aspect of our community.
Monday evening, the third class of CU Lead gathered to graduate from the program, celebrating all that they had accomplished together.
The Class of 2014, led by Paul Johnson and Andrea Presler as facilitators, consisted of 12 participants: Sherri Tinch-Greter, Gregg Busch, Neeta Shuff, Wade Cramer, Adam Wixtead, Angie Chandler, Teresa Slone, Jim Calhoon, Laura Weir, Scott Burger, Barb Scott, and Adam Knapp.
Each of the members come from all different backgrounds and companies around the county to unite under one cause: to grow in leadership and to take those skills back to their community.
Before each of the graduates received their diplomas, a short video was played that voiced some of their thoughts, and the overwhelming response was that CU Lead most definitely helped them to grow in skills, but also helped to profoundly shape them as individuals.
Teresa Slone said that the program helped her to see that there are strengths that they all do have, as well as weaknesses, and one should know both. “The best moment,” Slone said, “was when I realized that I am a leader!”
Angie Chandler said, “It doesn’t take just one person, but a whole community, to lead.”
This fact was affirmed over and over again by each testimony, but none so much as by Gregg Busch, who was chosen as the speaker on behalf of the class. Amidst a myriad of inside jokes that had everyone in the class laughing warmly, Busch spoke to the deep friendships that were developed and how that adds to the beauty of what is going out into the community.
“Everyone learned from everyone else,” Busch said proudly, “and we look forward to our next level of service to Crawford County.”
Ultimately, Scott Burger summed it all up beautifully. “CU Lead is a very unique program and I got a lot more out of it than I expected. I met a lot of great people that made me a better community leader…we built relationships that will last forever and help this community become a better place for everybody.”
CU Lead is underwritten by a grant from The Ohio Mutual Insurance Group. For more information about CU Lead and Crawford: 20/20 Vision, visit the website at www.crawford2020vision.com.