Group XI – Legacy of Leadership Celebration

by JoAnn Stormer, Leadership Wisconsin (formerly called WRLP-Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program) Executive Director

Group XI began their graduation celebration Friday, July 14, 2006, gathering for their last evening together, reminiscing and sharing stories of their last two years. They laughed, they remembered, they cried and roasted each other. They closed out the evening at Hereford & Hops in Wausau to share in their “last meal” sponsored in part by the Leadership Wisconsin (formerly called WRLP-Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program) Alumni Association.

On Saturday, July 15, the LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP CELEBRATION began at the Wausau Inn & Convention Center, attended by the graduating group, their families and friends, as well as the Leadership Wisconsin (formerly called WRLP-Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program) family of alumni, board members, donors and sponsors.

JoAnn Stormer, Executive Director reminded the graduates, “graduation isn’t a true end point where you can now climb into a hammock and relax. Rather it’s a new starting point for the next chapter in your leadership journey – in the book of your life. In a time when change is the only constant, leaders can’t remain fixed – our alumni can’t assume that they are done ‘cooking’ now that they have graduated from Leadership Wisconsin (formerly called WRLP-Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program) . Rather, leaders–today’s graduates and all our alumni–need to be willing to continue listening and learning.”

JoAnn closed by sharing these few lines from a Broadway musical:

It well may be that we will never meet again in this lifetime,
so let me say before we part:
So much of me is made of what I learned from you.
You’ll be with me like a handprint on my heart,
and now whatever way our stories end,
I know you have rewritten mine by being my friend.

Congratulations Group XI. We are proud to add your names to the Leadership Wisconsin (formerly called WRLP-Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program) Legacy of Leadership.