Leadership Chickasha Lends a Hand at Boys & Girls Club

CHICKASHA – Woven deep into the fabric of Chickasha is a quiet organization whose history reaches more than two decades. Members of various local outfits, they gather regularly, like an underground society, unified with one goal in mind. They are Leadership Chickasha, and their plans may come as a surprise: they’re here to help.

“Leadership Chickasha isn’t just a group of people from the community,” said Michael Bendure, director of the news bureau at the University of Science and Arts, “it’s a movement. And its members gather each month to make a point: we love Chickasha, and we want to take part in seeing it change for the better.”

For several months, this year’s Leadership Chickasha, a group of more than two dozen representatives from multiple Chickasha businesses and organizations, has been meeting monthly to learn about not only how Chickasha works, but how to better make a difference.

“That doesn’t mean picketing City Hall or writing griping letters to the editor of the newspaper,” Bendure said. “It means attending city government meetings and visiting local charities and civic organizations. It’s finding out who’s really making a difference and telling them that we support them and want to get involved.”

More than 20 members of Leadership Chickasha and their friends gathered Jan. 26 for a morning of cleaning, painting and organizing at the Boys & Girls Club of America in Chickasha.

“It was great to work together and make a difference in just a short time for the Boys & Girls Club,” said IBC Bank Branch Sales Manager Cindy Novotny. “We had a lot of fun and did a lot of good work.”

According to Paul Lewis, business development officer at First National Bank & Trust and 2005 graduate of Leadership Chickasha, the purpose of the team is to identify potential leaders, train leadership skills and engage them in the community and government affairs. Since 1986, more than 250 local residents have participated in the class, which is sponsored by the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce.

Participants are recommended by previous class members and business leaders and must not only apply for the program, but also pay to be a part of it.

This year, Lewis volunteered to serve as chairman of Leadership Chickasha XI.

“Our workday at the Boys & Girls Club was a great success,” Lewis said. “We far exceeded the expectations of Sonny Briggs, director of the Chickasha Boys & Girls Club. Twenty-one people came ready and willing to serve. These people recognize that one of the great qualities of a leader is the willingness to serve. They chose to be part of something greater than themselves and they stepped up and served.”

Members of this year’s Leadership Chickasha class decided they’d like to go public and select a class project that could help spread the word about effective and encouraging work happening in the city.

After a short visit to the Boys & Girls Club of America, located at the intersection of Tennessee and Henderson streets, team members made a unanimous decision.

“We realized the hard work and dedication that Sonny Briggs has poured into the Boys & Girls Club over the past two years,” said local funeral director Chris Ferguson, “and as Leadership Chickasha we wanted to help him out by painting and cleaning so he can continue his work for Chickasha’s future.”

For several hours, Leadership Chickasha members ignored a cold and damp morning in favor of sweeping, mopping and painting at the after school outreach program for neighborhood young people. Besides moving furniture, cleaning chairs and a bathroom, several members found a special project in reorganizing the small kitchen, citing a “While You Were Out” approach to the space.

Johanna Lewis, also a graduate of a previous Leadership Chickasha program, joined in the morning’s work.

“Helping at the Boys and Girls Club was a great experience for me and the Leadership Chickasha group,” she said. “It was really interesting watching each volunteer offer his or her special talents to this worthy cause. Who would have known that in this group of people we would find carpenters, painters, organizers and much more? Sonny and the kids got a big surprise to come back to, but we will take the experience with us as well.”

Cathy Groseclose, a registered nurse and emergency department director at Grady Memorial Hospital said she enjoyed the camaraderie the team displayed during the morning.

“It was a very rewarding experience to be involved with a team working to improve the Boys & Girls Club of Chickasha,” she said. “The camaraderie between the team members is wonderful. I would challenge members of the community who want to get involved in other projects to improve Chickasha to share their ideas with any of the Leadership team members. Who knows what positive things can be accomplished when we all have a common goal?”

Chickasha’s Boys & Girls Club of America is sponsored by the Chickasaw Nation. Though it serves dozens of local teenagers and pre-teens, it is run by Briggs and his administrative assistant in a small space on the east edge of Chickasha.

Briggs said he appreciated the work of Leadership Chickasha’s volunteers.

“As the director of the Boys & Girls Club, I see that we are in a society where so many find little time to give back to their communities,” Briggs said. “I would like to thank and recognize the Leadership Chickasha Class of 2008 for going above and beyond in service. Thank you for taking concern for the well-being of not only children, but the community of Chickasha. We at the Boys & Girls Club are fortunate to have the Leadership Class of 2008 working in our community.”

Briggs was a member of last year’s Leadership Chickasha. 

One Leadership Chickasha member said that when she gives, she also receives.

“Thanks to my participation in Leadership Chickasha, I have been able to make a difference in the lives of people in our community,” said Michele Pace, vice president and trust officer for First National Bank & Trust Company. “We are so blessed to have individuals who are willing to donate their time and money to
help make a difference.”

Though members of the group have now made a second trip to finish additional work at the youth center, those involved have recognized many other needs and are planning a third follow-up visit.

“One thing that I took from this experience is that there is so much more to be done,” said Johanna Lewis. “The Boys and Girls Club could use a new stovetop, oven, dishes, shelves and more food. I know a lot of people would give if they were aware of the need.”

Additional Leadership Chickasha members include Steven Browning of Southern Plains Medical Center, Kristi Davis of the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce, James Goins of the Holy Name Catholic Church, Tracy Goyne of Canadian Valley Technology Center (CVTC) and Brian Higdon of the Salvation Army.

Also, Sylvia Ho of Grady Memorial Hospital, Sherri Kell of Standley Systems, Jonathan Molder of First Star Insurance Agency, Michael Nealeigh of USAO, Gay Petit of CVTC, music teacher Ashley Posey, Ryan Posey of Hermetic Switch, Jerry Weber of Shelter Insurance, Mandi Tate of Autumn Brooke Apartment Homes and First National Bank & Trust employees Nick Elmore, Amie Jacques, Darlene Troup and Karen Zeiset.

Individuals interested in getting involved in future Leadership Chickasha classes should contact the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce. 

 

PHOTO CUTLINE 

Members of Leadership Chickasha and friends gathered last month for a morning of cleaning, painting and organizing at Chickasha’s branch of the Boys & Girls Club of America. From left are Paul Lewis, Karen Zeiset, Michele Pace, Darlene Troup, Cindy Novotny, Sonny Briggs, Sylvia Ho, Sherri Kell, Tracy Goyne, Mandi Tate, Chris Ferguson, Jeannene Farmer, Brian Higdon, Michael Nealeigh and Ryan Posey.

NEWS RELEASE February 15, 2008
UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND ARTS OF OKLAHOMA - CHICKASHA
CONTACT MICHAEL BENDURE, News Bureau, 405-574-1362, mbendure@usao.edu
RANDY TALLEY: Public Relations, 405-574-1337, rtalley@usao.edu
FAX: 405-574-1377