The Observer, September 15, 2006
Volume XXXIX, Issue 3
Leadership Conference provides opportunities for growth
Tomorrow, hundreds of students will gather in Thwing to attend seminars on effective leadership and communication during the Fall Leadership Conference.
The program, sponsored by Office of Student Activities & Leadership and Office of Greek Life and co-sponsored by UPB, IFC, Panhel, USG, RHA, and STPS, has grown in popularity from year to year, last semester attracting 350 students.
"It's evolved into a tradition in the leadership community," said Ryan McKinney, graduate assistant for leadership in the Office of Student Activities & Leadership and Greek Life, the main coordinator for the event.
The conference consists of three sessions during which members of small groups run workshops on topics related to the general session description. The first session focuses on personal development, with break-out groups on topics from money management to how to say no to the requests of others. The second session focuses on organizational development, and the third session highlights leadership in action.
McKinney says that the sessions were arranged this way to provide a student who wishes to attend all three sessions the most benefit. They will learn the personal development skills early in the day, and then learn how to apply them in the later sessions.
Between the second and third session, there will be a keynote speaker followed by a discussion over lunch. The speaker is Michael Poll, presenting his popular program "Straight A's Won't Get You the Job." He was chosen by Student Activities & Leadership and Greek Life professionals and students. Some Greek students had seen him at a conference and were impressed with the quality of his presentation.
The Leadership Conference brings new topics each year, but there are always the featured basics, like goal setting and motivating,. The sessions are run by upperclass leaders, providing a learning opportunity for the facilitators as well as the participants.
During the first session, senior Elyse Moretti is presenting a session about Teach for America along with Amber Taylor and Maya Brown. They are this year's campus campaign managers at Case for Teach For America.
"The Fall Leadership Conference is a way for students to learn about leadership and learn about campus groups," Moretti said. "Besides useful skills, it also gives them a glimpse of what the organization is like. There are so many interesting sessions that there is definitely something for everyone."
The conference is open to college students across northeast Ohio, and so far students from Tri-C, Ursuline College, Baldwin-Wallace, Walsh, and Hiram have registered. The conference is free to all Case students, and is $10 for non-Case students. If a student attends all three sessions and the speach given by the keynote speaker, they get a free T-shirt.
Students are encouraged to register before the event, but all students will be welcomed.
For more information or to register, visit http://studentaffairs.case.edu/programs/leadership/.
