Posted 1:22 am Friday, February 03, 2012
Alumni Laud Organization’s Effect On Community, Individuals
By CASEY MURPHY
Business Editor
Vel Williamson had no idea what Leadership Tyler was or what an honor it was to be selected to participate in the program.
But after the deputy executive director of Discovery Science Place completed the nine-month program as part of Leadership Tyler Class 24, she learned a lot and met great friends who help her continue to learn and grow, she said.
Ms. Williamson, along with Roy Martinez, Dawn Rhodes and Stacey Thompson, shared their stories of how Leadership Tyler has impacted their lives at the organization’s 25th anniversary Celebration Luncheon on Thursday.
“Thank you for allowing me to be a part of Leadership Tyler,” Ms. Williamson said.
Martinez, community banking sales manager for Regions Bank, said after he got involved in the community and nonprofit organizations, he didn’t know how he could make a true, positive impact of the lives of needy families. After going through the program as part of Leadership Tyler Class 19, he said he picked up a skill set to use as building blocks to fill that gap. He said his classmates helped him realize his strengths and weaknesses.
Business Editor
Vel Williamson had no idea what Leadership Tyler was or what an honor it was to be selected to participate in the program.
But after the deputy executive director of Discovery Science Place completed the nine-month program as part of Leadership Tyler Class 24, she learned a lot and met great friends who help her continue to learn and grow, she said.
Ms. Williamson, along with Roy Martinez, Dawn Rhodes and Stacey Thompson, shared their stories of how Leadership Tyler has impacted their lives at the organization’s 25th anniversary Celebration Luncheon on Thursday.
“Thank you for allowing me to be a part of Leadership Tyler,” Ms. Williamson said.
Martinez, community banking sales manager for Regions Bank, said after he got involved in the community and nonprofit organizations, he didn’t know how he could make a true, positive impact of the lives of needy families. After going through the program as part of Leadership Tyler Class 19, he said he picked up a skill set to use as building blocks to fill that gap. He said his classmates helped him realize his strengths and weaknesses.
“Leadership Tyler brought the best out in everybody,” Martinez said, adding that each classmate had different skill sets and talents.
Martinez is the incoming chairman of the Leadership Tyler board of directors.
“Before Leadership Tyler, I never utilized my strengths because I didn’t know what they were,” IN Magazine Sales Executive Dawn Rhodes told the crowd. The program “taught me how I perceive Dawn and how others perceive Dawn is totally different.”
She said the program taught her what she thought were negative traits about herself were actually assets she could use for her job and in her community. She said she cherishes the tapestry of friendships she had made through the organization as part of Class 20.
“I will always be grateful for what Leadership Tyler has done for me personally and professionally,” she said.
Martinez is the incoming chairman of the Leadership Tyler board of directors.
“Before Leadership Tyler, I never utilized my strengths because I didn’t know what they were,” IN Magazine Sales Executive Dawn Rhodes told the crowd. The program “taught me how I perceive Dawn and how others perceive Dawn is totally different.”
She said the program taught her what she thought were negative traits about herself were actually assets she could use for her job and in her community. She said she cherishes the tapestry of friendships she had made through the organization as part of Class 20.
“I will always be grateful for what Leadership Tyler has done for me personally and professionally,” she said.
Stacey Thompson, Bullard City Council member, said after joining Leadership Tyler Class 16, she quickly learned her classmates were some of the most genuine, good-hearted people she had ever met, and she remains great friends with them today.
“Leadership Tyler changed my life,” she said. “Not only did I get (my husband) Clay, but it gave me the confidence and courage to try things I never would have tried.”
She said it also gave her the courage to dream and to persevere.
Emcee Shannon Dacus, of Leadership Tyler Class 19, said they were just an example of the hundreds of Leadership Tyler graduates equipped to lead the community.
“We have a very strong core of leaders,” she said.
Ms. Dacus said the greatness of the city of Tyler is a result of hard work by a lot of people and leaders in the city, including 25 years of Leadership Tyler.
“They’re out there everywhere,” Ms. Dacus said of Leadership Tyler alumni. “They’re working to make our community better. …”
Leadership Tyler is a nonprofit organization providing unique opportunities for people to improve their professional skills, learn about Tyler area needs and develop as community leaders.
Carol Weisman, an internationally acclaimed motivational speaker, humorist and specialist in leadership training and community service, was the keynote speaker Thursday.
Mrs. Weisman, president of Board Builders, is the author of nine books, a past faculty member of the Learning Institute for Nonprofit Organizations and was an adjunct professor at Washington University in St. Louis at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work. She has served on 32 boards and has been president of seven.
Mrs. Weisman, a governance and fundraising consultant, used humor in her speech to educate the audience on “the characteristics of successful nonprofit leaders.”
She said what really makes great boards and leaders is people who associate themselves with people who are quite different from them.
“Some of our teachers turn out to be the most unusual people you can imagine,” she said. “Try dancing with somebody who you’d never imagine would be your partner.”
She said no one gets paid for volunteering so people need to say thank you and to reward them in unique and creative ways.
“You have to say thank you as a nonprofit leaders,” she said.
Mrs. Weisman said thanking people is also vital in fundraising and is actually a bigger part of fundraising than asking for money.
She said a wonderful thing about being in the nonprofit community is “build community” by bringing people together.
“Sometimes you need to give some money, sometimes you need to work on the front lines and sometimes you need to simply say thank you,” Mrs. Weisman said.
Leadership Tyler Executive Director Colleen Colby said about 375 people attended the luncheon at Green Acres Baptist Church CrossWalk Conference Center.
Presenting sponsor was Robert M. Rogers Foundation; speaker sponsor was Ramey & Flock; and platinum sponsor was Austin Bank.
“Leadership Tyler changed my life,” she said. “Not only did I get (my husband) Clay, but it gave me the confidence and courage to try things I never would have tried.”
She said it also gave her the courage to dream and to persevere.
Emcee Shannon Dacus, of Leadership Tyler Class 19, said they were just an example of the hundreds of Leadership Tyler graduates equipped to lead the community.
“We have a very strong core of leaders,” she said.
Ms. Dacus said the greatness of the city of Tyler is a result of hard work by a lot of people and leaders in the city, including 25 years of Leadership Tyler.
“They’re out there everywhere,” Ms. Dacus said of Leadership Tyler alumni. “They’re working to make our community better. …”
Leadership Tyler is a nonprofit organization providing unique opportunities for people to improve their professional skills, learn about Tyler area needs and develop as community leaders.
Carol Weisman, an internationally acclaimed motivational speaker, humorist and specialist in leadership training and community service, was the keynote speaker Thursday.
Mrs. Weisman, president of Board Builders, is the author of nine books, a past faculty member of the Learning Institute for Nonprofit Organizations and was an adjunct professor at Washington University in St. Louis at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work. She has served on 32 boards and has been president of seven.
Mrs. Weisman, a governance and fundraising consultant, used humor in her speech to educate the audience on “the characteristics of successful nonprofit leaders.”
She said what really makes great boards and leaders is people who associate themselves with people who are quite different from them.
“Some of our teachers turn out to be the most unusual people you can imagine,” she said. “Try dancing with somebody who you’d never imagine would be your partner.”
She said no one gets paid for volunteering so people need to say thank you and to reward them in unique and creative ways.
“You have to say thank you as a nonprofit leaders,” she said.
Mrs. Weisman said thanking people is also vital in fundraising and is actually a bigger part of fundraising than asking for money.
She said a wonderful thing about being in the nonprofit community is “build community” by bringing people together.
“Sometimes you need to give some money, sometimes you need to work on the front lines and sometimes you need to simply say thank you,” Mrs. Weisman said.
Leadership Tyler Executive Director Colleen Colby said about 375 people attended the luncheon at Green Acres Baptist Church CrossWalk Conference Center.
Presenting sponsor was Robert M. Rogers Foundation; speaker sponsor was Ramey & Flock; and platinum sponsor was Austin Bank.
