Northeastern Indiana is enjoying a mid-winter thaw with temperatures in the 30’s but for all of us at Leadership Fort Wayne it means we are halfway through our program year!  While the traditional overcast and gray winter skies of northern Indiana cause most of us to dream of sunny days and warmer climates, we here at Leadership Fort Wayne are gearing up for next year’s programs and graduation for Youth Leadership Fort Wayne and adult Leadership Fort Wayne as well as NINA’s Emerging Leaders participants. Indeed it is a busy time of year with alumni activities, program days and updates to our strategic plan including improvements to next year’s programs.’s Challenge and contributed over $2,500!  Big thanks to all who purchased their Fort Wayne On Board games. Under the leadership and determination of LFW staff member, Anne Duff, we have sold almost 250 games since October 2009. If you don’t have one, call or e-mail us to reserve this fun board game. Cost is just $10.00 and we have a rather large, but limited, supply to sell as quickly as possible!  They make great birthday gifts and are especially good for businesses who want a fun way to acquaint someone to the Fort Wayne community!

Leadership Fort Wayne wishes you all a wonderful holiday!  We have enjoyed some great things at Leadership Fort Wayne.  Our signature class is working hard on their CAT projects and are bonding as a class, as they are enjoying time together over the holidays.  Our YLFW class is a great group of young people who are doing a great job of becoming servant leaders.  They read books to the children at Fairfield Elementary in November, and they will enjoy another meeting in January.  Our LEAD facilitators were very helpful for our Youth orientation and their retreat.   They will be preparing to go to middle schools this spring to spread the word about being leaders in school and the community.  Youth as Resources met for the first time this month.  We have a great group of youth and adult mentors.  The council is made up of some old and new faces - including a few grant recipients.  They are looking forward to the Grant Review night on February 17.  Our NINA Emerging Leaders program class will begin in January with some great monthyly programs.  This program continues to be a great support to the non-profit organizations in our area. 

We would also like to thank all of our alumni who took the challenge from our Board president, Clifford Clarke, and gave generously to our organization.  A big thank you to all of our sponsors and funders.  We couldn’t run five fantastic programs without your continued support.  We are looking forward to a fabulous 2010!  Once again, Happy Holidays and a prosperous New Year from all of us at LFW! 

LFW newsletter

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Alumni Newsletter

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Click here for YAR Grant application  Do you work with youth?  Do you know someone who works with youth?  A teacher, scout leader, youth pastor, youth center director…if you work with youth or know someone who does, why not engage your youth in a community service project?  YAR (Youth as Resources) awards youth groups up to $750 in grant money for youth to do a community service project.  The project should all be youth initiated, planned and completed by youth, ages 6-18, with the guidance of a caring adult.  Grant should stress being drug-free or show how alternative activities can provide youth other things to do than drugs.  Applications are due on January 31.  Youth must prepare a 5 minute presentation for Wednesday, February 17, in front of the Youth as Resources Grants Council. 

Our YLFW class just returned from a 2 day retreat at Camp Crosley.  The young people had a great time doing team building activities, high ropes and just hanging out and getting to know each other.  The group seemed to bond really well and many of them made comments about how amazing it was that they became so close so quicly.  We had 4 LEAD facilitators join us and they lead several of the evening activities.  The food was great, the cabins were warm, and the ULead instructors did an outstanding job.  Now we can all catch up on our sleep and get ready for our November program day at the Boys and Girls Club! 

See pictures of the retreat on the pictures section of this website or become a friend on our Youth Leadership Fort Wayne facebook page and see pictures there as well. 

Saturday was a great time with our wonderful new YLFW Class of 2010!  Both Clifford Clarke and Cheri Becker welcomed our newcomers and greeted our parents of these fantastic youth.  Our LEAD facilitators did an outstanding job leading the majority of the days activities.  Hula hoops, ball toss, agree disagree…you remember those activities, right?  Their retreat will take place this coming Sunday and Monday, October 18-19 at Camp Crosley.  We are looking forward to getting to know them better and know they will enjoy these, fun, busy and adventurous 2 days! 

“Orange” you glad you attended the LFW Retreat?  What a wonderful time and a great way to get to know fellow classmates.  Not only did we learn about the Flexble Thinker, but we also learned how to remove a bottle cap using a table, that Mike Rosenberg has an identical twin, oranges aren’t just for eating, and they have REALLY big toothpicks in Canada.  Two days of Earth, Water, Air and Fire…we have a great group for the LFW Class of 2010!  We are looking forward to a fabulous year…see you on the 15th for the memorable Road Trips!

Christmas shopping?  Get the perfect gift of a Fort Wayne on Board game, the monopoly-style board game based on Fort Wayne businesses!  What a steal for only $10.00 a game!  Makes a great gift for your family or for friends and relatives who once resided in our great city.  Call the office to reserve yours! 

The new LFW Class of 2010 had a great time at their Orientation last Thursday at the Fort Wayne Country Club.  We were extremely happy to have our new Executive Director, Cheri Becker, welcome the newcomers with such enthusiasm.  Ian Rolland, former Lincoln CEO and community leader, and Bob Taylor, President and CEO at Do It Best Corp, both inspired their listeners with their philosophies on servant leadership and received rave reviews!  Project Leaders for Community Action Teams projects discussed the needs of their organizations and many class members already have chosen their top three projects.  Thank you to United Way/Learn United, Mustard Seed, Blue Jackets, Erin’s House, Science Central, JLFW and Allen County Education Partnership for taking time to explain your project with our class.  This wonderful day would not have happened without the support of Mike Eikenberry and National City Bank/PNC.  We are looking forward to getting to know everyone even better at our Retreat planned for October 5 and 6 at Potowatomi Inn in Pokagon State Park.  See you then…