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History - How It All Began The late Alan Rankin, president emeritus
of Indiana State University, initiated the discussion of forming Leadership Terre Haute
after becoming aware of a similar program in Evansville. Rankin took his suggestion
to Richard Landini, who was the president of Indiana State University at that time, as
well as a number of community leaders, including Max Miller, Connie Ratcliff and others.
They formed a committee to begin Leadership Terre Haute.
The Deming Hotel was the site of the first of many breakfast meetings. The group discussed the need to identify potential young leaders in the community and to help these individuals recognize and fully develop their leadership potential. The planning group recognized the need for diversity in leadership and sought to include representatives from the labor unions, rural areas and minorities. Yes, some thought the program would not work because leaders were born and not trained. However, over the past 25 years, Leadership Terre Haute has helped hundreds of individuals recognize their potential and the need to serve the community to make it a better place for everyone. A Lilly Endowment Foundation grant of $5,000 helped the group, under the supervision of Rankin, to initiate a formal leadership program. The office for the leadership organization was located in the Alumni Building on the ISU campus. Rankin and others did not draw salaries, but committed their time and energies as community volunteers. In refining the mission of the organization, discussions centered around such issues as: Should we emphasize leadership training or community issues and challenges? How do we put the programs together? How do we pay for the expenses of such a program? Business, educational institutions and individuals worked together to provide the necessary funding for activities and workshops, as well as scholarships for potential participants with limited access to tuition funding. Initially, it was difficult to get people involved because no one had heard of the organization, and it wasn't making the news headlines. Some were even concerned the organization could not fill a second class. A board of directors was formed which issued a three-year challenge to develop a full-fledged leadership program. The board drafted a constitution and helped to guide the future of the organization. Programs were organized around topics of community interest such as education, government, business and industry, and cultural and recreational challenges. Leadership Terre Haute has made and continues to make a difference in the community.
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Leadership Wabash Valley |
Last
Updated:
August 16, 2005 04:24 PM -0400 |
