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Willcox Young Guns learning to lead
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Ainslee S. Wittig/Range News On the track to be future leaders of Willcox: Front row, from left, Michael Placencia, Peach Unrast, Julie Hilton, Pam Barnett, Ricki Goodwin and Woody Johnson. Back row, from left, Heath Moreman, Heath Bowen, Dustin Todd, Jennifer Wilson, and Jim Hirshouer. Missing from picture are Eldon Merrell, Joel Todd, Jesus Esqueda Jr., Stacy Green, Jim Graham, John Hilton and Kari McLean. |
By AINSLEE S. WITTIG/Arizona Range News
A group of Willcox residents learned Friday about education and its importance to the community through the Willcox Young Guns program.
The program, which focuses on developing future city leaders, is a response by the Northern Cochise Community Hospital (NCCH) to its governing board's wishes for it to become a force in the economic growth of Willcox.
The hospital designed the program to educate the city's up-and-coming men and women.
Nineteen area residents make up the 2004 Willcox Young Guns: Pam Barnett, Heath Bowen, Jesus Esqueda Jr., Ricki Goodwin, James Graham, Stacy Green, Jim Hilton, Julie Hilton, Jim Hirshouer, Elwood "Woody" Johnson, Peggy Judd, Kari McLean, Eldon Merrell, Heath Moreman, Michael Placencia, Dustin Todd, Joel Todd, Peach Unrast and Jennifer Wilson.
Speakers at Friday's session included Dr. Karen Nicodemus, president of Cochise College; Trudy Berry, Cochise County school superintendent; Dr. Don Roberts, Willcox schools superintendent; and directors of various public and private schools and preschools in Willcox.
Jennifer Wilson, who works at J.W. Martin & Company, said before the group's summer break, they learned about public meetings, agendas and parliamentary procedure; personality traits and leadership qualities; using focus groups and techniques to have productive group meetings without controversy.
"It's been really interesting," said Wilson, whose employer Jim Martin encouraged her to apply.
Ricki Goodwin, director of operations and services at Northern Cochise Community Hospital, said she wanted to apply for the group because, "I didn't want a lot of criticism and not be able to get involved and do something about it."
The program teaches those ready to lead the community the tools to do so, as well as make them aware of the community service and volunteer opportunities in the city.
Participants make a commitment to go to every one of the nine classes planned over about a 12-month period, said Ellen Clark, NCCH director of community relations.
Classes educate participants in areas such as parliamentary procedure, conflict management, strategic planning and goals, reading financial reports, meeting agendas and minutes, healthcare and education issues, community development, and legislative process.
Clark said there are more than 30 organizations in Willcox, which need board or commission members, or other volunteer positions filled. The hospital sees this program as a way to ready adults for those positions, she added.
The Young Guns' next meeting, on Friday, Oct. 22, will cover local government, Clark said, and in November, health-care issues will be discussed. In January, the group will travel to Phoenix to study state government, with former Willcox resident and previous Speaker of the House Joe Lane as their "tour guide," Clark said.
The cost of the program is estimated at $8,000, which pays for teachers, supplies, dinners or snacks, a graduation celebration and possible travel expenses for some classes.
Several area businesses have donated to the program, including Valley TeleCom Group, which gave $5,000 to help launch the program in January.
Selection of participants was determined by a committee comprised of community and business leaders.
The program, which focuses on developing future city leaders, is a response by the Northern Cochise Community Hospital (NCCH) to its governing board's wishes for it to become a force in the economic growth of Willcox.
The hospital designed the program to educate the city's up-and-coming men and women.
Nineteen area residents make up the 2004 Willcox Young Guns: Pam Barnett, Heath Bowen, Jesus Esqueda Jr., Ricki Goodwin, James Graham, Stacy Green, Jim Hilton, Julie Hilton, Jim Hirshouer, Elwood "Woody" Johnson, Peggy Judd, Kari McLean, Eldon Merrell, Heath Moreman, Michael Placencia, Dustin Todd, Joel Todd, Peach Unrast and Jennifer Wilson.
Speakers at Friday's session included Dr. Karen Nicodemus, president of Cochise College; Trudy Berry, Cochise County school superintendent; Dr. Don Roberts, Willcox schools superintendent; and directors of various public and private schools and preschools in Willcox.
Jennifer Wilson, who works at J.W. Martin & Company, said before the group's summer break, they learned about public meetings, agendas and parliamentary procedure; personality traits and leadership qualities; using focus groups and techniques to have productive group meetings without controversy.
"It's been really interesting," said Wilson, whose employer Jim Martin encouraged her to apply.
Ricki Goodwin, director of operations and services at Northern Cochise Community Hospital, said she wanted to apply for the group because, "I didn't want a lot of criticism and not be able to get involved and do something about it."
The program teaches those ready to lead the community the tools to do so, as well as make them aware of the community service and volunteer opportunities in the city.
Participants make a commitment to go to every one of the nine classes planned over about a 12-month period, said Ellen Clark, NCCH director of community relations.
Classes educate participants in areas such as parliamentary procedure, conflict management, strategic planning and goals, reading financial reports, meeting agendas and minutes, healthcare and education issues, community development, and legislative process.
Clark said there are more than 30 organizations in Willcox, which need board or commission members, or other volunteer positions filled. The hospital sees this program as a way to ready adults for those positions, she added.
The Young Guns' next meeting, on Friday, Oct. 22, will cover local government, Clark said, and in November, health-care issues will be discussed. In January, the group will travel to Phoenix to study state government, with former Willcox resident and previous Speaker of the House Joe Lane as their "tour guide," Clark said.
The cost of the program is estimated at $8,000, which pays for teachers, supplies, dinners or snacks, a graduation celebration and possible travel expenses for some classes.
Several area businesses have donated to the program, including Valley TeleCom Group, which gave $5,000 to help launch the program in January.
Selection of participants was determined by a committee comprised of community and business leaders.
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