What Happens


Leadership Bedford County follows the schedule of a typical school year.  A two-day retreat helps participants get acquainted, learn about the program, even influence its content.


From here, the class meets for one full day each month, tackling one facet of Bedford County in each session.  Subjects include:


  • Government
  • Economic Development
  • Health & Human Services
  • Education
  • Judicial System
  • Culture & The Arts
  • History & Heritage
  • Tourism & Recreation
  • Agriculture
  • Regional Leadership

Panel discussions, group activities, on-site visits, role playing exercises, and dialogue, dialogue, dialogue all play a part in a typical class; boredom never does.


In late spring, your Leadership class will attend a graduation ceremony which dwells not on the past year, but on the beginning of your true Leadership Bedford County experience--when the discussion of leadership ends and its practice begins.


How to Participate

 

First, ask yourself a few questions.

 

Do I...

  • Have an interest in community affairs?
  • Desire to expand and enhance my personal voluntary commitment to the community?
  • Possess potential leadership skills?
  • Wish to invest the time required by the program?
  • Desire to expand my professional network?

 

Then, we'll ask you a few questions.

 

Participants will be selected on their own merits through an initial application process.  Each potential participant will be interviewed by the program's Selection Committee.

 

Next, we'll ask you to participate.

 

Tuition for Leadership Bedford County is $1,500, payable at the time of acceptance to the program.  Class size is limited to no more than 24 participants.

 

Applicants are usually sponsored by their employers.  If applicants are sponsored by an organization other than their employer, the applicant must secure permission for the necessary time off to attend ALL sessions.

 

Finally,

 

we ask that, after your Leadership Bedford County experience, you invest your time, resources and talents into strengthening our community.

 

 

 

For information on applying for Leadership Bedford County, call the Chamber office at (814) 623-2233
Click to download application