Cindy Jenkins, Executive Director of Clermont 20/20, Inc. advises that although the organization has been peripherally discussing the need for this type of leadership and development program in the county for more than a year, it was the attention that the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Clermont Fund staff brought to Clermont 20/20 that drove the discussion forward.

In moving the project into further research and development, a LEAD Clermont Class of 2008 class member, Jenny Matthews, an Account Executive of Group Benefits for Schiff, Kreidler-Shell, is leading a project team in the upcoming class in this effort. LEAD Clermont brings together a diverse group of emerging and existing leaders for a one-year leadership skill building experience. Part of the class commitment is that class members engage in a project designed to improve the quality of life in Clermont County.

According to Jenkins, "Young professionals are eager to learn and to grow their leadership skills, as well become a vital force in the community. This program will promote and encourage that development. Citing the success of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Legacy Young Professionals Program, Clermont 20/20 was encouraged to develop an avenue for professional growth and development, as well as meaningful community involvement. Further, the need to provide opportunities in our diverse community is becoming even more important. Foreign national professionals, now contributing to the workforce and economy of our community, are seeking opportunities to know the community and region better. This program opportunity would do just that!"

If you are interested in more information about this project, or would like to be involved in the development process, please contact Wayne Baughman, Director of Leadership Development for Clermont 20/20, Inc. at 513-753-9222 or leadership@clermont2020.org.

Owner/Partner of 1000 Ohio Pike, Robert L. White of Robert L. White and Associates, CPA is thrilled to have Clermont 20/20, Inc. as a prominent presence in the building, "I am pleased that Clermont 20/20 will be in this building and look forward to a strong partnering relationship in the future."

Clermont 20/20, Inc. has enjoyed the friendship and partnership of the owner of the "home" that it has occupied over the past ten years and is grateful to Jesse Smith and his son, Steve, for all of their support. "It has been a great friendship that started with a genuine friendship between Jesse and our founding executive director, Bill Over. We have been able to develop and grow as a strong organization with their support," shared Cindy Jenkins, Executive Director.

Jenkins adds that the organization phone number, 513-753-9222, as well as the website and all email addresses, will remain the same. Watch for a fall open house invitation!

Please plan to attend this opportunity to lunch and learn with your Congresswoman at the Holiday Inn Eastgate, 11:15 AM - 1:00 PM. The community is welcome at the same Chamber member price of $35. For further information or to register contact 513-576-5000 or use the web site.

Mark your calendar for Friday, August 24, 6:00 PM. Call your classmates and carpool up. If you join us for dinner, we need to know by Friday, August 17, and the cost of dinner is $20. Join us for the campfire, and it's as our guest! Please RSVP your intentions to attend, so we can plan accordingly for the refreshments! RSVP at 513-753-9222 or by e-mail at leadership@clermont2020.org.

"The partnership was formed as a result of a planning grant that OCAN previously awarded Clermont 20/20 and its college access program, Clermont Educational Opportunities," advises Cindy Jenkins, Executive Director of Clermont 20/20, Inc. "At that time, a collaborative was formed with core partners including the University of Cincinnati, TRIO, Upward Bound, Southwest Ohio Educational Opportunities Center, Tech Prep of Southwest Ohio, Great Oaks Institute of Technology and Career Development, Clermont County Educational Service Center and the Williamsburg School District. The group carefully reviewed data and framed a plan that would allow them to more efficiently provide college access services and programs to area school districts. This new grant awarded through OCAN's Invest in Success grant initiative, will allow the collaborative to begin to create tailored plans for participating districts that directly responds to the data for that specific community and focuses on bringing existing and emerging services closer to the community."

The mission of Clermont 20/20, Inc. is to act as a catalyst to bring people and organizations together to improve the quality of life in Clermont County. The college access program, Clermont Educational Opportunities, specifically addresses the needs of students in our county in providing them with one-on- one on-campus advisory access, financial aid assistance workshops, completing financial aid forms, scholarship access and Last Dollar Scholarship Grant opportunities. College access advisors are on-campus in the Williamsburg, Clermont Northeastern, Amelia, Glen Este, and Live Oaks campuses in Clermont County, as well as at the Diamond and Scarlet Oaks campuses.

For more information on Clermont 20/20, Inc.'s college access program, please contact Nancy Hall, Program Manager at 513-753-9525 or email at ceop@clermont2020.org.

Originally from Chicago, Carrie has raised five children in the Mount Washington area where she has resided since 1988. She has been and remains very active in her community.

Shortly after high school she entered the United States Air Force Academy where she graduated and became a pilot. She both flew and trained other pilots for seven years and continues to maintain her license.

Carrie has used her engineering talents as a consultant for several development projects. Her business background makes her a perfect fit for this position where she will initially focus on small retailers and businesses located along the major corridors of Lila Avenue and State Route 28, including Milford's historic Main Street.

The City has committed $20,000 seed money and the Chamber will administer the position; providing space and overhead. Clermont 20/20 has offered administrative support. Additional fund raising will be necessary and has already begun to maintain and grow the effort to become an independent non-profit entity. Wal-Mart provided $5,000 at the opening of their Milford store.

Carrie can be reached at the Milford-Miami Chamber office at 513-831-2411 between the hours of 8:00 AM and noon most weekdays.

The MRC Program is an 8 week program that meets for one evening a week and for two Saturday field trips. The program will be offered again starting in September 2007. A wide variety of topics including Solid Waste, Waste Reduction, Recycling, Hazardous Waste, Natural Gardening, Home Composting, and Vermicomposting will be taught by instructors from our region. Cost for the program is $50 for Clermont County residents and $60 for participants outside of Clermont County.

The MRC Program is funded through the Adams- Clermont Solid Waste District and EPA's Ohio Environmental Education Fund.

To register for the fall 2007 Master Recycler Composter Program or to receive additional information, please contact Becky Ploucha at cleanandgreen@clermont2020.org or 513-753- 9222.

Another new and exciting program that began this summer is the Summer Food Program that is being administered by Bridget Sharp, a Title 1 teacher in the Felicity/Franklin School District. Bridget saw the need to provide free breakfast and lunch to the children of the community and decided to take action. With the blessing of Superintendent Bill Shepherd, Bridget wrote for and received a grant from the State of Ohio to provide these much needed meals. The program has steadily grown in the past month and is currently feeding 40 children a day. As the summer school program gets into full swing, it is anticipated that they will feed well over that number on a daily basis. This new program was underwritten by the FINE community group.

The FINE community group is preparing for the annual Cool Tools for School event scheduled to take place August 9, 2007 in the high school gym. This FINE program provides fully stocked pack backs for all children, grades K-12, in the Felicity Franklin School District.

The Felicity United Methodist Church youth group, under the direction of Pastor Jane Beattie, have planted several vegetable gardens that they will grow and harvest and distribute to the elderly and needy in the community and the Village of Felicity will begin "spending" the $450,000 associated with the Community Development Distress Grant they were awarded by the State of Ohio by summers end. This money will be used to complete the water lines to the edge of the village, install fire hydrants, erect playground equipment at South Park, build a handicap ramp at the town building and complete the curbing and sidewalks on Market Street that were begun last year.

Earlier this spring, the school's FFA chapter, under the guidance of Jason Snively, and in partnership with the Garden Club, planted and is maintaining flower boxes throughout the village.

And finally, Clermont 20/20, Inc.'s Community Development department is moving ahead with the affordable housing project that will be constructed on St. Rte. 222 on the north edge of the village. It is anticipated that the first homes will be erected in early 2008. For more information on this project, please visit our website at www.clermont2002.org.

As you can tell, the citizens of this rural farming community have taken immense pride in the wonderful assets they have and are building upon those to continue to make positive changes in the lives of those who live there.

For more information visit their web site.

For further information, call 513-732-2561 or visit their website.

Respecting All Persons

Courageous leaders do three things and do them well. The first is respecting all persons; the other leadership acts - giving encouragement and support and challenging wrongs - build on it. So when we have a relationship crash, respect is the first performance behavior we check. To respect is to value - to be concerned for the other. It means not violating or disregarding the person. It is not friendship; it's a strict discipline of leadership, regardless of feelings; it's unconditional positive respect. Even if you are talking with a rival, you are wholly present. You use respectful body language and good eye contact. You listen carefully, and thoughtfully. You do this for all persons. Reference: Lee, G. (2006, p. 153). Courage: the backbone of leadership. San Francisco: Jossey- Bass.