Rotary Program: 11/09/05

Program Chairperson: Juanita Lowe

Speaker: Julie Schmidt, President of Leadership Kentucky

Before coming to Kentucky in 1995, Julie Schmidt lived in Atlanta, Georgia for nine years and worked as the Senior Vice President of the Business Council of Georgia. Also, while in Atlanta, she led the volunteer and community service efforts to support the Atlanta Children’s Hospital. In Kentucky, she served as the Director of Marketing and Community Relations for the Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital and led the fund-raising efforts for the Foundation. Julie is a graduate of the University of Kentucky School of Journalism and resides in Anchorage, Ky., with her husband and three children. She says that she was very impressed with the positive changes that she sees in Pikeville since her last visit here in 2001, when she presented the leadership program to this area. She thanked us for allowing her to come today to present an opportunity for many of us to make a difference in our communities by joining Leadership Kentucky.

Leadership Kentucky is a non-profit educational organization, dedicated to advancing the Commonwealth through forums that address issues that impact the lives of all Kentuckians. The organization was created in 1984 to bring together a selected group of people who possess a broad variety of leadership abilities, career accomplishments, and volunteer activities to gain insights into complex issues and challenges facing the state. Through a series of seven monthly, two-day sessions, held in various locations in the state, participants are educated about the history of Kentucky, its needs, opportunities, and resources. Some examples of these issues include the state’s cultural heritage, economy, educational systems, health and human services, law enforcement and systems of justice, and the ecological and geological environment in which we live. Most importantly, the curriculum provides a thought provoking experience focusing on the attributes of leadership and what it means to be a leader. By having the sessions in various regions of the Commonwealth, the participants develop an enhanced view and a new meaning to the word community. The goal is to move toward the idea that we as Kentuckians are one entity and to move away from the fragmentation that used to exist in the minds of county and city leaders.

Each year, 50 to 55 participants are selected from different geographical areas, occupations, ethnicity, age, and gender so that a balanced group is formed. The criteria for the selection of the participants includes their proven and potential leadership abilities, civic action, concern for the community, volunteer activities, and the potential to help build a better Kentucky. At the end of the program, graduates of Leadership Kentucky will have forged alliances with a circle of many contacts, broadened their perspectives about critical issues, and created relationships with other corporations, organizations, and fellow Kentuckians. Applicants may be nominated by the Leadership Kentucky alumni, Board of Directors, civic organizations such as Rotary, or interested persons may apply directly. The applications must be received by February 15th, but the program itself begins in May and ends in December.

After a brief question and answer session, Julie encouraged all Rotarians and guests to pick up the literature for more information about the program and to consider applying for this year’s class of leaders. Thanks Julie, for the informative program. - JMC