Leadership Jones
What is Leadership Jones?
Leadership Jones is a leadership development program designed to inform a corps of committed and qualified individuals about the community—it’s past, present, and future, as well as its problems, challenges and directions. Program participants are considered capable of fulfilling leadership positions in the Jones area, the region, and the state.
The Leadership Jones program seeks to: identify highly motivated leaders and potential leaders to participate, examine and challenge participants to respond to the needs of the community and the dynamics of social and economic change, develop an esprit de corps among the participants which will provide a common ground for working together on community needs, and create a dialogue and sense of teamwork between the participants and community leaders.
What is the program format?
Leadership Jones begins with a mandatory meet and greet. After the meet and greet, full day follow-up sessions are held once a month. 7 full-day sessions are held each subsequent month to focus on community sectors such as Area Economy, Education, State Government, Media, Arts & Culture, Civil & Criminal Justice and Quality of Life. During the sessions, class members have an opportunity to meet community leaders in each of the areas, hear from the experts on various topics and take trips throughout the county for a first-hand look at the organizations that relate to each topic. The program begins in August with an orientation and ends in November with a graduation celebration.
Who Should Apply?
Leadership Jones is appropriate for any of the following:
- A business person wanting to develop leadership skills for use in the workplace or the community
- A volunteer or board member of a community organization looking to lend greater support to the organization’s development
- A community member wanting to be involved and make a difference in Jones
How much does it cost?
Tuition for Leadership Jones is $300. The expense includes all costs associated with the Meet & Greet, follow-up sessions, meals, transportation, and graduation.
More Information:
- Program Summary
MISSION:
Leadership Jones is a countywide endeavor that encourages and facilitates a learning environment that evokes one’s inner passion to serve and lead in the Jones Area.GOALS:
- Enhance leadership skills and qualities in participants which lead to creative and insightful community solutions
- Develop awareness of community issues by examining the major systems or sectors of our community
- Challenge participants to respond to the social and economic needs of our community
- Develop a common spirit among participants which will provide common ground for working together on present and future community needs
- Ensure broad community future leadership by recruiting emerging leaders with diverse social, economic and professional backgrounds
PROGRAM FORMAT:
Leadership Jones begins with a mandatory meet and greet. After the meet and greet, full day follow-up sessions are held once a month. Five full-day sessions are held each subsequent month to focus on community sectors such as Area Economy, Education, State Government, Media, Arts & Culture, Civil & Criminal Justice and Quality of Life. At the end of the program, graduates will be honored in a graduation ceremony.In addition, each Leadership Jones class is required to develop a class project which will have current and lasting community impact for Jones.
- Class Overview
Session Dates and Topics:
Thursday, May 24 (9:00 am- 5:00 pm)
Thursday, June 28 (9:00 am- 5:00 pm)
Thursday, July 26 (9:00 am- 5:00 pm)
Thursday, August 23 (9:00 am- 5:00 pm)
Thursday, September 27 (9:00 am- 5:00 pm)
Thursday, October 25 (9:00 am-5:00 pm)
Thursday, November 29 (9:00 am - 7:00 pm) Graduation
Out of Class Activities:
In addition to the above full-day sessions, each class member is required to participate in at least (4) out of class activities. ** Three of the selections below are mandatory to include the County Commissioner, City Council, and Board of Education meetings. Activities may include such things as attending public meetings, participating in a police ride-along, volunteering for a local non-profit organization or observing a court trial. A list of activity options will be distributed at the Meet & Greet. Class members have seven (7) months to complete their three required activities.
Class Project:
In order to successfully develop and implement their class project, Leadership Jones participants will need to schedule meeting dates & times, which are normally outside the time frame of the scheduled follow-up sessions. The scope and timeline of the class project will determine the number and frequency of these extra meetings. The class members will collectively decide how to plan and manage these meetings. The class will also present their class project to the community and local officials during the graduation ceremony in November. - Out of Class Activities
In addition to the full-day sessions, each class member is required to participate in at least (4) out of class activities. Throughout your LEADERSHIP JONES experience, you will learn about many aspects of your community. These out-of-class activities are intended to offer added insight into the true “mechanics” of your community. It is our hope that these experiences will give you a greater appreciation of how the various sectors of the community work, as well as the important role that each of these functions plays in the overall success of Jones.
These activities can be selected from a list of options. Please be reminded that not fulfilling this requirement will result in failure to graduate. Class members will have the full program length to complete their three required activities. It is your responsibility to notify the Chamber staff of the activities you have completed by submitting an “Activity Completion Form”. ** 3 of the selections below are mandatory to include a County Commissioner, City Council, and Board of Education meeting; your 4th option is your choice. Activity options include:
Attend a County Commissioner Meeting
- Held on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6 pm
- County Commission meetings are held at the Government Center (166 Industrial Blvd. Gray, Ga)
- www.jonescountyga.org
Attend a City Council Meeting
- Held on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month at 6 pm
- City Council meetings are held at City Hall (109 James St. Gray, GA)
- www.grayga.us
Attend a Jones County Board of Education Meeting
- Held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6 pm
- BOE Meetings are held at the Professional Learning Center
- www.jones.schooldesk.net
Attend a Chamber Networking Night
- Held on the 4th Thursday every other month
- Contact the Chamber for more information 478-986-1123
- www.jonescounty.org
Volunteer at one of our community service non-profit agencies
- Jones County Animal Services, Food pantry, Sonrise Ministries, Toys for Tots, attend a Jones County Arts Performance
Participate in a “police ride-along” with Gray Police Department
- You will need to complete a couple of forms (Chandra Lowe will email the forms to you) Completed forms need to be returned to Chandra Lowe. Her phone number is (478) 986-5554.
- GPD offers day and night shifts. They ask that participants arrive at the beginning of a shift, which is 6 AM or 6 PM respectively.
- GPD requests that the participant ride a minimum of 1.5 hours.
- Class Project
One of the objectives of the Leadership Jones program is to identify opportunities for motivated individuals to get involved in making Jones a better place to live, work, and play. As your leadership classes progresses, class members to get to know each other’s interests, and the successes and needs of their respective organizations become known. In addition knowledge gained from the follow up sessions will present the community challenges and opportunities to make a difference, both individually and collectively. Through these discoveries, it is hoped your class will take a leadership role in improving Jones.
As part of this process, each Leadership Jones class is expected to complete a project directed at making something a little bit better. The Chamber Board may offer project suggestions. However, most project ideas come from within your class membership based on personal experiences. Your entire Leadership Jones class is encouraged to take an active role in this project. However, some may find it beneficial to seat a committee to take ideas from the class, lead the class in making a decision on the project, and coordinate the project implementation. Projects should be completed by the class graduation date or shortly after. The Chamber Board should review your class project idea to ensure the project is meaningful and feasible.
Good luck in selecting and completing your Leadership Jones class project. We are certain it will serve to make Gray/Jones a better place.
- Application
