By Dana DeMet,
Executive Director, Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce.

Earlier this month, UW-Extension and the Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce announced that applications for participation in Leadership Oneida County are now being accepted. This nine-month program focuses on developing emerging local leaders by giving them the knowledge and skills to make a significant impact in their communities. I encourage anyone who lives or works in Oneida County to consider participating in the program if you are seeking to gain a deeper knowledge of your community and how you can help it thrive.

Leadership Oneida County isn’t just about field trips and trust falls, it’s an in-depth program in which participants will learn more than just a little bit about themselves, meet local and state leaders to discuss the issues facing Oneida County and the Northwoods as a whole, and learn about what is already being done to keep our area relevant to new businesses and families to the Northwoods.

Each program day focuses on a different subject that is applicable to life and community in the County, including Education, Medicine, Law Enforcement and Governance, Community Service, Business and Tourism, Industry, and Media Relations. The specific format of each day will vary but typically includes in-depth discussions with leaders or experts in the day’s subject, a tour of relevant businesses or establishments, and a wrap-up discussion on the topic and leadership as a whole. Each program day takes place in different parts of the County including Rhinelander, Minocqua, and Three Lakes.

Besides learning about leadership in the County, participants will also take part in helping a local community group solve a problem they’re currently facing. Halfway through the program, participants are given a slate of community service project opportunities and are then matched to a project to work on for the remainder of the program. Past projects have ranged from media and public outreach projects, to strategic planning, and event planning. Participants will not be asked to help fundraise as part of the projects they are involved in.

If you are looking to build your leadership potential and get more involved in our community, then I highly recommend you apply for the 2015-2016 class of Leadership Oneida County. Applications are available now on ExploreRhinelander.com and through the Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce. Scholarship opportunities are available to help off-set the program cost. Applications should be submitted no later than August 28. For more information about the program, visit ExploreRhinelander.com or email [email protected]
Dana DeMet is available at 7155-365-7464.