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Leadership: a springboard to community action Hy Arm Hankinson Using leadership development as a starting point for organizational and community action is nothing new to women's groups around Ontario. In- deed, this was often the reason for their formation. But as we enter the 19905, the need for leadership development is even more critical. Rural Ontario and its communities are experiencing a time of unprece- dented change. Recent focus groups across the province identified issues such as farm profitability. land use planning, the environment and the need for community revitalization Of parâ€" ticular note were comments expressmg a desire for local control and flexibility in resolving community problems In this environment. strong local ileadership is a key to managing this complexity and assuring vital rural communities It is essential that our leaders have the capacity to deal with the complex issues facing rural society and be confident in their individual and community leadership skills. Two community leadership programs have surfaced as one means of addressing this situation. MOVE INC (Maximizing Our Volunteer Ener- gies forlndustry‘N Community), a pro» gram sponsored by local Industrial Training Councils, and OMAF’s [0 Steps to Community Action provide a framework for this leadership skill development. With an emphasis on local design. these programs are developed for emerging leaders who have demonstrated an interest in leadership and rural community issues. Through a series of workshop sessions and cite patiential loarning activities these com- munity leaders have an opportunity to: ' develop their individual, organiza» tional and community leadership skills; ' increase their awareness and un- derstanding of local issues; ' and. create a skilled network for community action. Program timing, session location and cun'iculum are tailored to participant needs and local issues. A weekend retreat and travel study experience can be an important component to the pro- gram. Each program has a major funder, but local community support and participant fees offset the costs of delivery. Since I989. this type of program- ming has been tested in 5 different areas - Victoria, Halton/Peel‘ Peterborough, Rainy River, and Frontenac/Leeds. Participants from these pilot projects are using words such as "dynamic." “excellent, the best program ever taken" to describe their feelings about this kind of leadership development. Already, other areas around the province are planning similar comâ€" munity leadership programs for this winter. Interested in becoming involved? Contact your local OMAF office or the Industrial Training Committee in your area Why not use this as your springboard to community action. Amt Hartkinson it a Rural Community Development Consultant with the On- tario Ministry Qngricul'tttre and Food. Guelph. History of Brant North recorded Dorothr Mch'nut'k, Tweedrmttir Cummrfor the Movie WI, and Warner Mueller. ChiefLibrart'an at the Paris Public Library, look over one oft/refine vulttruetuj'area history donated to I/tL’ Library by the Movie Branch. The books reg-0rd the htrmry of Brant North spanning the pl‘l‘lttdfrmn [946 10 the present. (Photo r‘ntlrterv of the Bramford Expositor). H&C July.August.3eplembet l99| 7