Laura Avitt - Indianola

Brett Cermak – Norwalk

Jo Eckert – West Des Moines

Nicola Endriss – Indianola

Kirk Fulton – Indianola

Polly Glascock – Indianola

Jason Huntley – Indianola

Myles Kappelman – Indianola

Emily Keller – Indianola

Seth Lampman – Indianola

Ryan Meierotto – Carlisle

Amy Oliver – Milo

Scott Ourth – Indianola

Kathryn Stravers – Lacona

Mary Susan Van Ryswyk – Carlisle

Adam Voigts - Indianola

This year's class participated in seven class sessions that occurred every other week starting in January.  The class learned about different personality traits, how to effectively deal with controversy, and how to improve their leadership skills.  They discussed Warren County government, education, emergency management and economic development.  Near the end of the program, the class took a day trip around Warren County.  The excursion featured tours of La Quercia in Norwalk, the Carlisle Area Historical Society and Balloons Over Iowa in Carlisle, Rudy's Rendezvous in Lacona, Simpson College and La Vida Loca Winery in Indianola.  The class also organized and carried out a project for the betterment of Warren County.  This year's class raised over $10,000 to purchase and install twenty-four benches at the Warren County Fairgrounds.    

The Warren County Leadership Institute Board of Directors congratulates the Class of 2008, and would like to thank the sponsors of the WCLI Class of 2008 for their generosity and community spirit.

2008 Leadership Institute Sponsors:

Peoples Bank

Community State Bank

Drees Family and Sports Chiropractic

Indianola Masonic Lodge

Medicap Pharmacy

McCoy TrueValue

Scott's Foods

Grant funds will help to ensure the implementation of the WCEDC Roadmap to Success Marketing-Sales Plan and more specifically to supplement the costs of the 2007-2008 WCEDC Advertising Campaign which included advertisements in the Des Moines Business Record and Des Moines Register in the Business section as well as billboards located throughout the Des Moines metro area.

The Prairie Meadows Grants Advisory Committee, comprised of education, religious and business leaders from the greater metro area, review all grant requests and recommends funding levels.  This year, more than 190 projects shared in the funding allocations from Prairie Meadows.

“We are thrilled and grateful to have received funding from Prairie Meadows this year,” said Drew Bracken, WCEDC Board President, “These monies will help ensure the Roadmap to Success Marketing & Sales Plan is fully implemented, all to the benefit of Warren County and the communities of Warren County.”

Prairie Meadows Community Betterment Grants are located in four categories:  arts & culture, economic development, education, and human services.

Since 1995 Prairie Meadows has contributed more than $362 million to promote education, economic development, agriculture, jobs and tourism in Iowa.

For additional information about the implementation of the Roadmap to Success Marketing-Sales Plan or the organization visit WCEDC's website at www.wcedc.com, contact the office at 515-961-1067 or email wcedc@mchsi.com.

We are looking for a candidate who displays exemplary qualities of leadership and strives for a better Warren County through their career, volunteerism, organizational participation, or their everyday life.

Please complete your nomination for this award by submitting a one-to-two page letter including the following:

1. An introduction of the nominee,

2. A description of the nominee's leadership abilities and qualities, and

3. A description of how the nominee uses those abilities for the benefit of Warren County.

Please include your name, address, email address, and telephone number along with your nominee's name, address, and telephone number.  Nominations must be received by Thursday, March 20, 2008.

Please submit your nomination letter, to:

Warren County Leadership Institute

515 N. Jefferson Way, Suite C

Indianola, IA 50125

Or via email to: wcedc@mchsi.com

The nomination form is also available on-line at http://www.wcedc.com/WCLI/award.asp

]]> The Warren County Leadership Institute, a program that trains and informs leaders in our communities, presents the Kent Britten Memorial Leadership Award each year to the nominated individual who best exemplifies leadership in Warren County. 

We are looking for a candidate who displays exemplary qualities of leadership and strives for a better Warren County through their career, volunteerism, organizational participation, or their everyday life.

Please complete your nomination for this award by submitting a one-to-two page letter including the following:

1. An introduction of the nominee,

2. A description of the nominee's leadership abilities and qualities, and

3. A description of how the nominee uses those abilities for the benefit of Warren County.

Please include your name, address, email address, and telephone number along with your nominee's name, address, and telephone number.  Nominations must be received by Thursday, March 20, 2008.

Please submit your nomination letter, to:

Warren County Leadership Institute

515 N. Jefferson Way, Suite C

Indianola, IA 50125

Or via email to: wcedc@mchsi.com

The nomination form is also available on-line at http://www.wcedc.com/WCLI/award.asp

]]> http://www.wcedc.com/news/?ID=57 Fri, 8 Feb 2008 00:00:00 CST http://www.wcedc.com/news/?ID=57 The Warren County Philanthropic Partnership (WCPP), which was organized to promote and enhance community based philanthropy in Warren County, is accepting grant applications for Warren County improvement projects. Nonprofit organizations serving Warren County are encouraged to submit applications.  In 2007, the Warren County Philanthropic Partnership awarded 18 grants totaling $59,500.  The grants helped leverage $1,270,887 for Warren County projects.

January marks the beginning of a new grant round.  Grant applications are due by March 10, 2008.  All 501(c)(3) organizations, 107b units of government, and other potentially qualifying charitable organizations operating in or for the benefit of Warren County can obtain applications, guidelines and additional information at www.wcedc.com/WCPP/ or by contacting the Warren County Philanthropic Partnership at 515-961-1067.

A workshop is being offered Thursday, February 14, 2008 to review the application process. The workshop will be held at noon in the Indianola Wells Fargo Bank Gallery Room (515 N. Jefferson Way, 2^nd Floor).  Please RSVP the number of persons planning to attend, to Warren County Philanthropic Partnership, 515-961-1067 or at wcedc@mchsi.com.

In 2004 the Iowa legislature passed several bills to encourage foundation building and community based philanthropy.  Among these measures was H. F. 2032 which provided that non-gambling counties, initiating a county-wide community foundation would be eligible to receive one half of one percent of the state's gross gambling tax receipts.  Under terms of the legislation, 75 percent of these funds shall be awarded through grants to charitable organizations for educational, civic and public purposes in Warren County.

All inquiries pertaining to the Warren County Philanthropic Partnership, Spring 2008 grant application opportunities, and other foundation information should be directed to:

Warren County Philanthropic Partnership

Phone:  515.961.1067

Email:  wcedc@mchsi.com

Mailing Address:  515 N. Jefferson Way, Suite C

The Warren County Leadership Institute (WCLI) recently announced its Class of 2008 participants.  The Leadership Institute, formed in 1993, is affiliated with the Warren County Economic Development Corporation (WCEDC), and has a primary objective to train and inform leaders throughout Warren County.  WCLI's Class of 2008 will consist of 17 members, and will be the 15^th class in WCLI history.

The Warren County Leadership Institute facilitates interactive classroom programs and networking opportunities designed specifically to assist emerging leaders.  This year's schedule consists of eight sessions followed by a graduation ceremony.  Students will learn about different personality traits and effective communication, how to deal with controversy, and emergency management in Iowa.   WCLI class participants will also hear from educators in Warren County and will learn about local government.  A bus tour will follow the class sessions and will encompass spots in Warren County that were not visited during the regular class sessions.

The 2008 class participants are as follows:

• Laura Avitt – Indianola
• Heather Barglof – Indianola
• Brett Cermak – Norwalk
• Jo Eckert – West Des Moines
• Nicola Endriss – Indianola
• Kirk Fulton – Indianola
• Polly Glascock – Indianola
• Jason Huntley – Indianola
• Myles Kappelman – Indianola
• Emily Keller – Indianola
• Seth Lampman – Indianola
• Ryan Meierotto - Carlisle
• Amy Oliver – Milo
• Scott Ourth – Indianola
• Kathryn Stravers – Lacona
• Mary Susan Van Ryswyk – Carlisle
• Adam Voigts – Indianola

For more information about WCLI, please visit the website at www.wcedc.com/wcli, call 515-961-1067 or email wcedc@mchsi.com.  Visit the WCEDC website at www.wcedc.com for additional information on Warren County.