November 12, 2004

Hoosier conference focuses on community leadership

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service will co-sponsor a conference Dec. 9-10 on the importance of community leadership.

Leadership with a Purpose: Building Strong Communities and Growing Local Economics, will take place at the Ramada Inn & Conference Center in Lebanon, Ind. The conference is open to the public and targets appointed and elected officials, community volunteers, industry leaders, and anyone interested in leadership practices for Indiana communities.

Purdue Extension is partnering with the Indiana Leadership Association and the Indiana Rural Development Council to provide the conference.

Judy O'Bannon, wife of the late Gov. Frank O'Bannon, will be the event's kickoff speaker. She will discuss the importance of team and community leadership.

"A lot of the conference content is connected to the publication "Leadership in the 21st Century," which is a paper from the Kellogg Leadership Studies Project," said Sarah Yeager, program manager for Indiana Rural Development Council. "Two of the publication's authors, Larraine Matusak and Juana Bordas, will talk about their publication and why leadership is essential for Indiana communities."

Stephen Weiler, assistant vice president and economist for the Center for the Study of Rural America at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, will discuss how community leadership ties into economic benefits. Also during the conference, the Indiana Leadership Association and Indiana Rural Development Council will conduct annual business meetings to elect new officers and conduct official business.

Conference registration will begin at 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 9, and the conference will conclude at 4 p.m. Dec. 10. The cost for early registration (by Nov. 18) is $60 for adults or $30 for students under 21. After Nov. 18, the cost is $75 for adults and $45 for students. This cost includes lunch, dinner and program materials, including a copy of "Leadership in the 21st Century."

To register for the conference, send a check made payable to Ron Richard, Indiana Leadership Association, 2742 Bellview Lane, Rising Sun, IN 47040.

Conference attendees will receive a special conference hotel rate at the Ramada Inn & Conference Center of $59 per night when reserved by Nov. 20. To reserve a room, contact the Ramada Inn & Conference Center at (800) 499-3339.

For more information about the conference, contact Yeager at (317) 234-3418, syeager@commerce.IN.gov.

Writer: Meggie Issler, (765) 494-8402, missler@purdue.edu

Sources: Sarah Yeager, (317) 234-3418, syeager@commerce.IN.gov

Mary Durkin, leadership consultant, Indiana Leadership Association, medurkin@ameritech.net

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722; Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
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