Leadership program comes to Slayton area

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SLAYTON — For the first time since 1988, the Blandin Foundation is accepting applications for its Blandin Community Leadership Program (BCLP) for the Slayton/Fulda/Currie area.

Twenty-four people from the region will be chosen from a pool of applicants to attend a five-day retreat, where the participants will be trained to be more effective at framing community issues, building and sustaining social capital and mobilizing for community action.

At a meeting Thursday night in Slayton, a representative of the foundation said those who attend the program never regret it. There is serious work involved, she said, but the training is offered in a welcoming environment that promotes team building.

The retreat will take place in Grand Rapids April 16-20, with a two-day workshop July 17 and 18 and a one-day workshop Oct. 23. Participants must be able to attend all dates.

Applications for the program are due Feb. 13. The application includes questions such as why the participant would like to be involved, how they will use the training to benefit the community and what is their community involvement.

An application committee will go through and select the 24 people to be included in the program. Participants are responsible for the cost of transportation to and from the retreat.

Participants are chosen in a way that encourages diversity of age and community relationship to provide a cross-section of representation. Those in positions to represent community leadership, economics, learning, environmental stewardship, spiritual, recreation and artistic opportunity, infrastructure and safety are encouraged to apply. BCLP seeks emerging or established community leaders who are, or want to be, actively involved in community life, credible and open-minded, open to risk-taking, passionate about their community’s future and willing to work collaboratively to promote a healthy community.

Since 1985, the nationally-recognized BCLP has provided intensive leadership training to almost 6,000 rural community leaders in Minnesota. The Blandin Foundation underwrites the entire cost of the program — tuition, training, materials, room and board — for all participants. That commitment adds up to slightly less than $100,000 per community.

A link for the application can be found on the Murray County website at www.murray-countymn.com.

Daily Globe Reporter Justine Wettschreck can be reached at 376-7322

Tags: news, slayton, fulda, currie