The latest news from Leadership Montana…

“Leadership is helping others achieve more than they ever thought they could.”

-J.W. Fanning

Welcome to Leadership Montana!

To those of you who heard the panel presentation about Leadership Montana at Montana’s Economic Summit last May, you will be pleased to know that this important initiative is proceeding on schedule.

Beginning in September, The Organizing Committee and Steering Committee of Leadership Montana began the hard work of developing the Leadership Montana program. There have been two formal meetings of the Organizing Committee, and the third scheduled for mid January. The first Organizing Committee meeting was held at First Interstate Bank in Billings on September 29-30. The following meeting was held November 10-11 in Helena and the third meeting will be held at the University of Montana in Missoula on January 12-13. At our September meeting of the Organizing Committee, Joanna Murray and Sallie Suby-Long with Trustee Leadership Development, Inc. provided insight, experience, and guidance for the inaugural gathering.

After formal introductions of participants, the topics of discussion for the first meeting included background on the mission and vision of Leadership Montana, an explanation of the principles of “Trusteeship,” (see “What is Trusteeship?” at http://www.leadershipmontana.org) and an outline of the responsibilities of four sub-committees. Carroll College in Helena was the venue for Leadership Montana’s second Organizing Committee in November.

The entire Leadership Montana team would like to thank and recognize these supporters for their role in making these meetings a success.

First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. for hosting our first meeting and providing breakfast and lunch for the group

Qwest of Montana for providing dinner at the Silver Star Steakhouse for our group while in Helena.

The Helena Independent Record for arranging for meeting rooms and hosting lunches and breakfasts.

Carroll College for hosting our group in the impressive Rodgers Board Room.

Thanks for all your support!!

Please visit htto://www.leadershipmontana.org and review the list of distinguished members of the Organizing and Steering Committees.

“Leadership is a matter of how to be, not how to do it.”

-Frances Hesselbein

Communications and Logistics Sub-committee

The role of this committee is to work with Leadership Montana staff to provide consistent, timely progress reports to Leadership Montana stakeholders, utilizing media, speakers bureau and pubic relations. The Communications sub-committee is working on developing a communications plan that the entire Organizing Committee can administer in their home communities.

Development Sub-Committee

** Please take a look at the “Leadership Team” at http://www.leadershipmontana.org. These businesses organizations and individuals each contributed $5,000. to support the launch of the Leadership Montana initiative.

The Development Sub-committee has been charged with the task of assisting Leadership Montana staff efforts to develop funding for Leadership Montana programs and operations. In the next 60 days, this committee has set a goal to contact 30-50 potential sponsors who may consider a investment of $5,000 in Leadership Montana to be worthwhile. In addition, the Development Sub-committee believes that tuition scholarships are important and have made it a priority to establish 4-8 scholarships per year.

Participant Selection and Recruitment

The purpose of establishing a Participant Selection Sub-committee is to determine the criteria for the selection of the 40 participants in each class of Leadership Montana. This Sub-committee has been given the responsibility of establishing a criteria and process for selection, generating a roster of prospective candidates, and making recommendations on prospective Leadership Montana participants. The Participant Selection Sub-committee has recommended that participants in the Leadership Montana program must be chosen to ensure that the diversity of Montana is represented in our class participants. The Leadership Montana Participant Selection Application will be available in February with the selection process beginning in March. The 2004-2005 class of Leadership Montana will be announced in May, 2004.

“You cannot lead others until you have lead yourself through a struggle of opposing values.”
-James Kouzes, The Leadership Challenge

Curriculum Sub-Committee

The Curriculum Sub-Committee is working in conjunction with the Organizing Committee on key issues, to develop program agendas and locations, including speakers, materials and “unique Montana experiences” for Leadership Montana. Each program will include a strong component of personal leadership development with a focus on the concept of “community trusteeship.” At the November meeting, the Curriculum Sub-committee proposed an outline of the first years programming—including locations, relevant issues and discussion topics. In addition, the Curriculum Sub-committee will recommend the role of a Service Learning Component for Leadership Montana.

The 2004-2005 Leadership Montana program will launch in September, 2004 with a Retreat for all participants. Subsequent sessions will be held in various locations around Montana, to provide participants with a wide variety of unique perspectives on this great state, our issues, our history, our land and our people. The inaugural class of Leadership Montana will graduate in May, 2005.

Please watch the Leadership Montana website, http://www.leadershipmontana.org for updates, and information about application for the Class of 2004-2005.

For more information, drop us a note at