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Looking for a few good community leaders

It’s a good idea to get an infusion of new blood into the fabric of a community every once in a while.

New people can bring a fresh perspective, with new ideas and opinions on the direction we are going, a particular project or even just the way things are done in general.

If you don’t, then after a while things start to get a little stale. Events don’t change, fewer people attend them, and, eventually, there’s no point in putting the activity together.

New leadership is needed for just about everything in society.

If we just keep doing the same old thing, we are not going to get anywhere. That means no growth, no opportunities and a very dim future for the area.

Basically, everything those from outside the Ohio Valley already say about us.

With all that in mind, this column is aimed at our local business community, in particular. The Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce is, once again, recruiting for its next class year of Leadership Weirton, and I hope some of you reading this may consider nominating someone to go through it, or even take part yourself.

Now, as I do every year, I will be completely open about my involvement in the program.

I’m a 2008 graduate, currently serve on the chamber’s board of directors and chair the Education Committee which puts Leadership Weirton together.

I work to promote this program because I believe in it. I’ve seen people’s lives changed by participating, and I’ve seen individuals looking for ways to become a part of their community.

Leadership Weirton primarily is geared toward those individuals our local businesses would like to see take a bigger role in their operations, but those interested in being a bigger part of the community also will benefit.

It provides you with an opportunity to learn more about your community, showing you a little bit about some of the businesses in the area, a chance to see government in action, to get a glimpse of our healthcare offerings and education system.

There is also a chance to learn more about the options of volunteering available in our region.

Through it all, the hope is you learn more about our area and more about yourself. Then, perhaps you will look for ways to become more involved, whether it is in your neighborhood, your city as a whole or in your business.

There are several leadership programs in the Tri-State Area, but Leadership Weirton tries to be a little different in order to offer a unique experience.

Participants aren’t just sat in a room and lectured to the entire time. There’s more of a hands-on approach in order to encourage the class to get involved in the course of the program.

There are sessions planned every month of the program, focusing on a different topic.

Through my own experience, I learned about several area businesses, saw first-hand the good organizations such as the Salvation Army and United Way do in our area and made several new friends.

This is a program which helps to showcase what the Weirton Chamber is all about. It introduces you to new people, helping you to grow your business network, showcases aspects of the community with which you may be unfamiliar, and encourages us to be active in our towns.

You never know what kind of interest you might find you have if a particular door is opened for you. You might decide to volunteer at a local food pantry or animal shelter. You might get involved in the United Way. You might decide to find a few other like-minded individuals and organize a community festival of some sort.

You might even decide to get into politics.

Leadership Weirton helps to show you the options, and cracks open those doors. It is up to you to learn from the experience, and then decide whether to walk through.

The Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce is looking for participants in the next class right now. The 2018 class will begin Jan. 19-20 with its traditional kickoff weekend activities, and continue through June.

If you are interested, or know of someone you feel would be a good fit for the program, I urge you to contact the chamber as soon as you can for more information.

(Howell, a resident of Colliers, is managing editor of The Weirton Daily Times, and can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com or followed on Twitter @CHowellWDT)

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