By SABRINA BERNDT

Washington Daily News

 

Looking to inspire new community leaders, one local program promises to provide an in-depth look at Beaufort County.

The Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce has opened registration for its annual Leadership Beaufort program starting Sept. 10. Launched in 2008, the program is now an eight-month-long course.

“They meet once a month, and it’s basically a way for people to learn about our community fully,” said Catherine Glover, the Chamber’s executive director. “The goal, obviously, for the Chamber is to educate people on all of Beaufort County, of how everything runs, and also encourage and foster future leadership and leaders in our community.”

The Leadership Beaufort program is an opportunity for community members, new or native, to learn about the county through service projects, group outings to local locations and council meetings, guest speakers and more. For only $400, participants meet once a month from September 2019 to April 2020 for an eight-hour day of activities.

“On a typical day, if you talk about city government, it’s hearing from the city manager and traveling out to the airport … coming back and hearing from your police chief, going to the senior center and learning about it,” Glover said. “It’s a lot of going to tour places, but it’s also hearing from the people that run and are a part of those positions.”

According to Glover, the Chamber started the program in 2008 to ensure that local leaders were educated about the county and county resources, and it has evolved over the years based on participants’ feedback.

The Chamber has witnessed several success stories from program veterans, such as those going on to serve on various boards and using their new county knowledge at their business or for their employer.

“We’re always wanting to make sure that we have great leaders in the community that are in higher positions, but also that serve our boards and help nonprofits and are part of our community,” Glover said. “This is a great way for them to truly learn the ins and outs of everything in our county.”

According to Glover, the program does have openings left, but it is filling up fast. For more information and a link to the application, visit www.wbcchamber.com/our-events/leadership-beaufort.