Lead Culpeper Finishes With Success

Culpeper Chamber of Commerce

Culpeper Star Exponent

December 22, 2014

Debbie Stohlman, President/CEO

debbies@culpeperchamber.com

Lead Culpeper 2014 is beginning to wrap up its 10 month program.  An engaging class of 15 business and community leaders began their journey earlier this year. In mid-April they gathered at Verdun Adventure Bound for a 2-day program introduction where they were presented various challenges, obstacles and problem solving situations.  Each task was designed to improve awareness of their individual leadership style.

The December session looked at the role of volunteerism, non-profit organizations and how they contribute to the overall health of a community.  Non-profit groups working in the social sector provide lifelines to our most needy residents by providing food, shelter, and various services with resources typically not available to local governments.

In the spirit of the season, Lead Culpeper 2014 participants volunteered a few hours at the Culpeper Senior Center and Manna Ministry. They seemed to be moved by the experience of seeing so many appreciative faces that were happy for a warm meal, companionship, and sanctuary.  Most of us take for granted the food in our pantries and fellowship at our dinner tables but for many residents in our little community, this isn’t the norm - loneliness and hunger are frequently at their doorstep.  We continued our session with a visit to the Culpeper Food Closet, where Dick and Barb Rosica gave us a history of this long standing mission.  Rooted in faith-based outreach, the food closet began as just that - a broom closet that held stores of food to feed the hungry.  As the need grew so did the ‘closet’.  

The day concluded with a panel discussion with Cheryl Carter, of Culpeper Housing and Shelter Services, Chris Miller, from Aging Together, and Karen Brown, representing Services to Abused Families (SAFE).  By sharing their agency's mission and vision with the group, the Lead Culpeper 2014 class gained keen insight into the challenges confronting non-profit organizations.  Funding shortfalls and right-sized volunteer pools were common concerns to these social needs organizations.  Because of the broad experience base of Lead Culpeper 2014 participants, several ideas to improve the visibility and resourcing of Culpeper's non-profits quickly surfaced.

The Lead Culpeper 2014 program is really about "self-actualization" that strives to help, albeit in a small way, business and community leaders reach their fullest potential.  This year's convening may have commenced with personal leadership awareness but is ending with clear examples of how individual effort and talent combine to contribute to the overall quality of life and business climate in Culpeper.  The Culpeper Chamber of Commerce's investment in this program is not simply an investment in our leaders. In addition to personal growth of the participants, I am convinced the region will see a continuing return on this investment as well.