Leadership Morgan Hill Class of 2014 ( BCE )
Mission Accomplished !
As we head into the holiday season , it ’ s a good time to reflect on the events of 2014 . For me , it has been a blessed year . Good health , time with family , wonderful work opportunities , and something else . I ventured out of my comfort zone and got involved in community life . This is a first for me , and I must say I ’ m glad to have chosen Morgan Hill as my community .
Permit me to dish a little , and I ’ ll tell you why .
In early 2014 , I applied and was accepted into a nine-month leadership program conducted each year by a non-profit organization known as Leadership Morgan Hill ( LMH ). I became part of a class of about 20 people , all working professionals from a variety of fields including high tech , finance , government , social services , engineering and more . Adding this new layer of activity into our already busy lives was a challenge for many of us , but we learned to work together and we pulled it off .
Each month our class focused on a different aspect of community life . We learned from leaders of local , county and state government as well as the business community , the school district , health and social services , and the non-profit sector . Mayor Steve Tate , Police Chief David Swing , Historical Society President Kathy Sullivan , MHUSD Superintendent Steve Betando , entrepreneur / inventor Mike Cox and many others were incredibly generous with their time and information . They welcomed us into the community and we got to know them on a first-name basis .
During our program we were tasked with a community service project . It was up to us to decide what to do and then get it done before the end of the program . We created a community service video and called it “ Meet Morgan Hill ,” giving a nod to the slogan coined by community members who are working together helping Morgan Hill promote itself as a tourist destination .
At one point during our project , it looked as if we ’ d bitten off more than we could chew . Then one by one , various classmates stepped up and took responsibility for fundraising , finding a video production company , writing and editing the video script , coordinating video interviews with community leaders , publicity and event support , and the myriad of details that go into what has become a top-quality video by virtually anyone ’ s standards .
Along with my classmates , I graduated from the LMH program in September . The LMH board hosted our graduation ceremony on the beautiful grounds of Guglielmo Winery . We were treated to an inspiring keynote delivered by Roberta Gonzales , an Emmy Awardwinning CBS TV and Radio Weathercaster and popular Bay Area personality . If only we could bottle her positive outlook and perseverance !
We were all a little misty-eyed during our send-off speech , delivered by our fearless leader , LMH class facilitator Theresa Kiernan . She donned a “ Cat in the Hat ” style top hat and borrowed some words of wisdom from Dr . Seuss to encourage us in our next steps as Morgan Hill community leaders and supporters . According to Kiernan , our class is really “ going places !”
Indeed , this is the case . Members of our class have wasted no time in stepping up to the plate . Some have joined the board of directors of Leadership Morgan Hill , others are taking positions on Morgan Hill City Council Commissions , a number are now members of the Chamber of Commerce , and still others are volunteering with local non-profits including the Wildlife Education and Rescue Center ( WERC ), Community Solutions , and Morgan Hill Community Foundation ( MHCF ). There really are countless options to suit all manner of community interests .
If you ’ re inspired to community leadership and support , LMH is taking applications for the Class of 2015 . It ’ s first come , first served , and class size is limited , so don ’ t procrastinate . Learn more online at leadershipmorganhill . org .
Our community service video , “ Meet Morgan Hill ,” debuted at the graduation ceremony and we were gratified that it was well received . That little video has taken on a life of its own in the community , available to any organization that wants to share with others what makes Morgan Hill “ a great place to live , work and play .”
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