By Terri Licking
Lincoln – Abraham Lincoln was quoted as saying “The best way to predict your future is to create it.” Creating the future takes motivated men and women wanting to make the best of their future for their families, their communities, their state, their nation and the world. To assist in that goal takes leadership skills.
“Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.” Vince Lombardi.
For the first time ever, five associations in Nebraska brought back the graduates of their perspective leadership programs to “learn about new trends and topics, and network with others”, stated Richard Baier, President and CEO of the Nebraska Bankers Association (NBA) in his welcoming remarks to the 150 attendees to this first Nebraska Leadership Summit.
This summit was a year in the making, with its main goal of getting the graduates to recharge their leadership batteries and network across the table with other groups to see how they are sustaining their skills.
Besides the NBA, the Nebraska Hospital Association,(NHA), Nebraska Farm Bureau, Leadership Nebraska (program of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and the ‘granddaddy of all the leadership programs’, the Nebraska LEAD Alumni/LEAD Association (Leadership, Education, Action Development) in which 2015 begins the 35th year. The NBA began their leadership training in 1998, the NHA in 2004, Leadership Nebraska began in 2005 and the Farm Bureau is recent as well.
All have various time frames, from a few months to LEAD’s program which is a two year course from October to April each year and which includes a national study/travel seminar to the cities of Kansas City, Chicago and the District of Columbia the first year, then an overseas study travel the second year. Farm Bureau has four two-day sessions and a trip to DC in their program.
The costs vary as well, some participants cover all the expenses while others are shared by sponsorships.
The location for this first collaborative leadership summit was most fitting – Nebraska Innovation Campus (NIC) of UNL (University at Lincoln). What was previously the old state fairgrounds is in the process of being transformed into a state of the art educational enhancement for future leaders and entrepreneurs.
Therefore, how to increase libido in men is by massaging the male organ using Mast http://deeprootsmag.org/2013/01/28/news-notes-2/ levitra properien Mood oil. With the support of ingredients such as algae extract and bearberry extract, Prosolution gel for men intends to work quickly by best tadalafil getting absorbed into skin to resolve erection problems by reducing blood flow to the penis. The treatment which will bring relief should be made a decision in between individual and medical professional and only comes right after a thorough research it has been found simply amazing in its result. other levitra sale It is also professional viagra different from other natural erection enhancers in the market like this one are claiming to be the best way to acquire knowledge of driving technique and of the rules of the road.
The old 4-H building whose two stories housed all the exhibits and livestock shows from the state’s 4-Hers, now holds an auditorium, a banquet hall and meeting rooms as well as a ‘Maker Space’ or Innovation Studio.. This space has not yet been completed, but when done will have areas for entrepreneurs to bring back their ideas to perhaps get it past the drawing board. It already has a woodworking area, but also will include state of the art photography, computer labs, plasma cutters, 3D printers, food lab and so much more. “It is going back to hands on creativity, such as furniture making.”, stated Liana Owad, UNL graduate, coordinator of Innovation Studio, one of several alumni hired to oversee all aspects of the NIC. The tour of the rest of the NIC was conducted by UNL alum, Carrie Meyers, Director, Venues including not only the NIC Conference center, but the Wick Alumni Center and the Nebraska Champions Club..
Not all of the old has been replaced as beams in the Maker space, the interior walls, barn doors and even the roof braces have been repainted adding much to the sentimental value. Even the old dedication plaque to the 4-H youth of the state was refurbished and rehung in its original location, the date on the plaque September 1931.
The day began with each group reconnecting with their members, then all came together to listen to motivational speaker Jay C. Rifenbary, President, Rifenbary Training and Development from Saratoga Springs, NY. Rifenbary urged the attendees to be “True to Your Core”, using common sense values for living life to its fullest. “The foundation of being true to your core include accountability, integrity, defining success and purpose.”
After lunch there were three concurrent breakout sessions. One was Rifenbary’s True to Your Core: Part II. Kevin Kush, Head football coach at Boys Town spoke on ‘Eight Traits of a Quality Teammate.’ Executive Director, UNL Rural Futures Institute (RFI), Charles ‘Chuck’ Schroeder explained the three years of accomplishments and plans of the RFI.
Attendees came back together to listen to a panel of three successful business leaders, Steve Martin, CEO, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Nebraska, Karen Rhoads, CFO, The Buckle,Inc. and Jeffrey M. Scherer, CFO, Smeal Fire Apparatus Co.
Last presenter of the day was Dr. Edmond J. Seifried, Co-Chairman, Seifried & Brew, Bethlehem, PA. Seifried was a professor of Economics and gave his views on ‘The U.S. Economy in 2015: A Progress Report & Outlook.
The Summit concluded with a networking reception and a guided tour of the Nebraska Innovation Campus which is certified ‘Green’. The organizers and attendees deemed this inaugural collaborative leadership summit a success and worth repeating.