Anderson County, Tennessee Chamber of Commerce

	Click on the program(s) below to learn more: Leadership Anderson County 2008 Youth Leadership Anderson County 2007-2008 Anderson County Chamber Education Foundation Anderson County Exemplary Student Program Anderson County Business Connection Leadership Anderson County, sponsored by the Chamber, is accepting applications for the 2008 Program. The Leadership program originated in 1990 and since its inception has graduated over 250 participants. This program is a true “Community Connection” for Anderson County. If you are interested in joining, please download the application (36Kb Microsoft Word document), fill it out, and then fax it to our office at (865) 463-7480. What is Leadership Anderson County? The program is designed to introduce existing and emerging leaders to their community - or - their community to them. The program offers participants an opportunity to better understand community dynamics, build their community connection to local business and industry, refine their knowledge of local and state government, and stimulate future participation and commitment to their community. What does the Leadership program include? - Reception / Orientation/Leadership Skills Training with Leadership Board and Leadership Alumni - Team Building Course - Focus on local / regional economy and lifestyle - Agriculture, Community Services, Education, Economic Development (Industrial, Retail and Technology), Government, City (Clinton, Lake City, Norris, Oak Ridge and Oliver Springs), County, and State, Health Services, Leadership Skills Training, Media and Tourism - Two day trip to Nashville - Graduation Ceremony - Class Project (each class selects a project designed to benefit the community) What is the time commitment and cost? One half-day session for reception and orientation. Eight Tuesday full-day sessions begin in February and continue through September. There will be a two-day state government trip to Nashville. Participants attend one county commission meeting. Tuition is $600 per participant and covers all expenses. Participants completing the program will be considered a graduate of Leadership Anderson County and will be honored at a special dinner. What is the selection process? Businesses, organizations or individuals can nominate and sponsor candidates for the program. Businesses and organizations are encouraged to sponsor a candidate from the community through our scholarship fund. Twenty participants are selected based on the following criteria: Demonstrated commitment to serve the Anderson County community, current or potential leadership role within their organization or business, interest in pursuing a community leadership role, and commitment to attend 90% of the scheduled sessions. Applications are available at the Chamber. Leadership Anderson County alumni are available for questions about the program. For more information please call the Chamber office at (865) 457-2559 or email accc@andersoncountychamber.org. ( back to top ) Essential Elements of Youth Leadership Anderson County Project Mission: To provide an overview of Anderson County that shows a broad perspective of the community, while developing the leadership and communications skills of participants; to reduce achievement gap; to increase graduation rates; and to increase volunteerism and community involvement. Goals: To present in-depth programs that acquaints participants with community needs, opportunities, problems, resources, and infrastructure. To encourage understanding and acceptance of civic responsibilities and leadership roles. For student participants to share all they learn with schoolmates. To foster leadership skills and to teach youth of about the community in which they live. To encourage students to become more involved and remain or return to Anderson County following their education. To familiarize the students with leadership roles available to them and to assist in assuming leadership roles. Participants: 20 high school juniors and seniors attending Clinton and Anderson County High Schools as well as private schools and home school students. Participation – scheduled times and commitments Participation includes Leadership Skills Training Class taken one block Participation – the program will require one day per month away from the classroom during the school year. The student will make arrangements for each month’s activities. 100% attendance is expected of each participant and all schoolwork missed during each of the days must be made up in a timely fashion. Session hours are 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM. A field trip to the State Capitol in Nashville will require two days. (Overnight) Selection Process and Criteria A selection committee, affiliated with Youth Leadership Anderson County Board of Directors, and the Anderson Chamber of Commerce, will review applications and select participants using confidential application forms. Participants will be selected through responses to the application questionnaire. The selected candidates will be notified (by mail) of acceptance into the program. Funding *Participant charge is $50. Scholarships will be available for students who cannot easily pay the fee. Business and organization sponsors: Local civic organizations, prominent citizens, County & City departments and businesses in the area are asked to provide $500 each. Sponsorships could be for money or services. Participant charge is $50. Participants should have a monetary commitment to the program as well as a personal commitment. Participant Qualifications:* Applicants must be in academic standing and have no attendance or disciplinary problems in school. Students with good character who exhibit a potential for leadership and interest in the growth and improvement of our community are encouraged to apply. School counselors, teachers, principals and parents must approve of application before it reaches selection committee. Must submit application for participation before deadline. How to Apply: Public school students obtain applications from school counselors at each high school. Applications must be submitted to School Counselor. Home school students may obtain applications from the Chamber of Commerce office. or the Anderson County Home School Association President. Applications must be submitted to Chamber of Commerce “Youth Leadership Anderson County” Coordinator. Program Dates: Applications due: Last Friday in May before Memorial Day Program begins August and concludes in May. The first session (orientation) will occur in August during school hours. There are nine monthly sessions beginning in August, and ending in April. The last sessions (graduation) will be held in May during the evening hours after school. For a Youth Leadership Anderson County Program Schedule, please click h ere. (Adobe® PDF document, File Size is approximately 62 kilobytes) Advisory Board – Board of Directors The Youth Leadership Anderson County Project is controlled by a board of directors consisting of one representative from the Leadership Anderson County Board. Board membership consists of 11 former Leadership alumni and two alumni from the Youth Leadership Anderson County each year. The board will serve in two and three year terms. Each member will serve on a rotation as Board member at large, Board Chair Elect, Board Chair and Past Board Chair. The Youth Leadership Board will meet once a month. Meetings will be open to sponsors, parents of participants and past and present Leadership participants in Adult and Future Leadership alumni. Individual and Corporate Sponsors will provide the needed funds for each scheduled activity during the year. Sponsors will receive recognition in following ways: All media coverage - area newspapers - local radio, etc. Youth Leadership publications and activities (Organization w/logo), ie, brochures and applications, monthly program schedule, enrollment activities, graduation ceremony Chamber Communications, ie, monthly articles in The Chamber News (distributed in 5,500 copies of The Courier News), Chamber website calendar of events, article in Chamber's Membership Directory and Guidebook Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge is the proud sponsor of the Youth Leadership Anderson County 2007-2008 “Some say education is expensive. We say it is priceless.” In 2005, the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation was formed to provide funding to the Clinton City and Anderson County School Systems. The members of the Chamber recognized public funding is unable to fulfill all the school systems' needs. The Chamber established the Education Foundation to create and sustain a superior educational system for the students and teachers. Since it's inception, The Education Foundation has presented Mini-Grants to Clinton City and Anderson County System teachers, presented the first ACES (Anderson County Exemplary Students Program) Scholarships in 2007, and presented Mary Kate Kegley with the Valerie Brown Scholarship in 2007. For more information about the program or to make a donation, contact the chamber at 865-457-2559. The Anderson County Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the Anderson County School System to sponsor the new Anderson County Exemplary Student Program. The concept was introduced March 13, 2003 at the Annual Banquet of the Chamber and was unanimously endorsed by the Anderson County School Board at its meeting the same night. The Chamber will solicit scholarship donations through their 501(c)3 Education Foundation for the program. The Chamber is aiming for a $500,000.00 goal over the next four years. The first scholarships were presented to the graduating seniors in the Anderson County classes of 2007. Beginning in the Fall of 2003, ninth graders in Anderson County schools will be encouraged to meet higher academic standards during their high school careers - and will have the “carrot” of this new scholarship program. Kelly Lenz, co-owner of Clinton Physical Therapy Center and Larry Foster, Director of Vocational Education are the co-chairs of the education committee for the chamber. Guidance Counselors Linda Rauch from Clinton High School and Mary Tuscan from Anderson County High School along with Roane State’s Admissions Counselor Jim McDaniel, Anderson County Schools Director David Robinson, Carlise Tire and Wheel Plant Manager Jack Ready, Community Bank of East Tennessee’s Branch Manager Nancy Jordan and Dr. Curtis Sexton made up the committee. This group of school representatives and business people met throughout the year to develop and establish the program. ACES seeks to promote the following goals: • Encourage students to reach for higher academic standards by taking more rigorous classes during high school. • Develop well-trained, reliable, and responsible employees for area businesses. • Enhance economic development in the area. • Provide scholarship opportunities for students who might not otherwise attend college. • Promote community-minded individuals. The program will provide scholarships for college and vocational education. Students who meet the ACES standards all four years of high school will be eligible for the scholarships. Among the standards for the program will be: • Score 19 or higher on the A.C.T. for English, Math, and Reading. • Earn 18 credits in high school for English (4), Math (4), Science (4), Social Studies (3), Technical or Foreign Language (2), and Computer-Related Courses (1). • Students also must meet specific academic standards in those classes. The standards are a 2.75 grade point avaerage in English, Math, Science, and Social Studies if any are Honors or AP classes and a 3.0 average if they are not; a B or higher for the technical classes and C or higher for foreign language; and a C or better for computer-related courses. In addition to the academic standards, students must also: • Maintain an attendance of 95 percent or better for each year. • Perform 20 hours of community service per year. • Participate in one career planning assessment before graduation. • Be in good standing throughout the high school career (suspension from school results in removal from the program for that year). In addition to being eligible for scholarships, the ACES program students will receive a personal identification certificate, recognition in the news media, annual recognition at graduation, and a picnic celebration. Also area employers will receive a directory of ACES students. The chamber is sending letters and pamphlets about the program to its membership seeking donations for the scholarship funds. Several levels of donations have been established. Sponsors thus far are: • Platinum — $6000.00 or $1500.00 annually for four years. (Anderson County Chamber of Commerce, Clinton Physical Therapy Center, and Clinton Utilities Board.) • Gold — $3000.00 or $750.00 annually for four years. (Ron and Karen Bridgeman, and BWXT Y-12.) • Silver — $1,000.00 or $250.00 annually for four years. (AmSouth Bank and Community Bank of East Tennessee, DH Compounding, H&R Block of Clinton, ORNL Federal Credit Union, and Sellers Realty, LLC.) • Bronze — $500.00 or $125.00 annually for four years. (Stephenson Realty and Auction, Comfort Inn of Clinton, Hoskins Drug Store & Hoskins Medical Supply, Enrichment Federal Credit Union and Wackenhut Services, Inc.-Oak Ridge Team.) • Friends of ACE’s — $100.00 or less. (Citizens for McNally) For more information please contact the chamber office at 457-2559. ( back to top ) New Program to be introduced January 2008 Also the Chamber’s Anderson County Business Connection (ACBC) is another resource opportunity to stimulate economic activity and growth for participating businesses. Chamber business representatives meet twice a month to present their products/services to other Chamber members in a structured meeting environment. For prospective and new businesses we supply county maps, statistical data, an industrial directory and access to long-term businesses that can support new commerce. Both large and small businesses from virtually every profession are represented and influence the direction of the Chamber’s goals and objectives. The Chamber represents its members in the business community and can accomplish collectively what no one business can do alone. “This is a great opportunity for chamber members to present their products/services to other Chamber members in a structured meeting environment” said Membership Chairman Bobbie Sellers. “The ACBC group provides member businesses the opportunity to gain a detailed understanding of other member businesses, thus offering the opportunity for referral of sales leads within the group”, said Chamber member Chris Potter of TBC Video who initiated the program. The mission is to increase sales, which will stimulate economic activity and growth for participating businesses. The ACBC group guidelines are summarized as follows: • Membership in the ACBC is open to all members of the Chamber. Non-Chamber members will be invited to attend two (2) ACBC meetings as guests. • ACBC holds meetings twice a month. The meetings are scheduled for the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at a designated location. • ACBC members register their company with the ACBC Facilitator. Meeting reminder notices are sent. • The basic structure of the meeting allows each company representative to give a one-minute summary of their products/services and scheduled seven-minute detailed presentations by two group members. • ACBC Facilitators are elected by majority vote to serve for a term of six (6) months. • ACBC group members will be asked to serve as “greeters” for each ACBC meeting. The ACBC Facilitator will assign greeters. No additional dues or fees are required from Chamber members electing to join and participate in the ACBC. For more information contact the Chamber Office at 457-2559. ( back to top )