By Betsy Finklea
Palmetto Leadership is a program that focuses on developing leaders and helping them become effective contributors in their communities. Dillon County has had eight sessions of Palmetto Leadership in recent years and now several of its alumni are putting their skills to use in the community through forming a working alumni association.
The Palmetto Leadership Dillon County Alumni Association was formed in August 2015. One of the first orders of business was to elect officers. Officers elected include Chairman- Earl Gleason, Vice-Chairman- Jackie McKenzie, Secretary- Carmen A. Bethea, Treasurer- Cindy Phillips, Chaplain- Tommy Moody, and Sergeant-At-Arms- Grady Sampson.
They have adopted the following mission statement: “Palmetto Leadership Dillon County Alumni Association is a charitable, non-profit corporation whose objective is to promote and enhance the quality of Dillon County.”
Chairman Earl Gleason said there are about 100 alumni from the Dillon County Palmetto Leadership classes. The group got their certificate of incorporation in August 2015. In January 2016, they established bylaws and formed a board. They are in the process of obtaining their 501(c)3 status and expect this to come through in the next two months. Gleason said each class identifies a need in the community and does a class project. He said the alumni association chose getting a cabin at the state park as a project. They are working with local elected leaders to make that happen.
Gleason said they plan to make an annual trip to Washington, D.C. to visit with elected officials such as Congressman Tom Rice, Senator Tim Scott, and Senator Lindsey Graham. He said the Palmetto Leadership alumni group would be a broad spectrum group that would meet with these leaders.
Gleason said the alumni group will be “a-political” in that they will not endorse local political candidates. He said their mission is to make Dillon County a better place to work and live. Some of the goals will be to recruit future leaders of Dillon County, identify needed projects, provide scholarships, and to promote Dillon County in a positive way.
If you are interested in honing leadership skills and making the community a better place, then you may want to apply for the next Palmetto Leadership Class. Recent classes have participated in various activities such as trips to Columbia, local tours, events, etc. Johnnie Luehrs, Executive Director of the Dillon County Chamber of Commerce and an advisor for the Palmetto Leadership class, said they try to have something special for every class. She said many great people have excelled in discovering their leadership skills. There is a cost for the class, but Gleason and Luehrs feel that it is money well-spent. Ernie Adams, Dillon County Chamber Chairman and a Palmetto Leadership alumnus, said that each year the class has gotten better and better, and every year, they have stepped it up. “It’s a great program,” Adams said.
Applications for the next Palmetto Leadership class are due by July 1st. Call the Dillon County Chamber of Commerce at 843-774-8551 for an application. The next event for the Palmetto Leadership Dillon County Alumni Association is a cookout at Little Pee Dee State Park tonight (June 9th).
