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Leadership Sunnyvale continues to thrive
Program has maintained success in difficult times
By Gretchen Knaup
"When do you need leaders the most? When the economy is doing great or when times are tough? It is at times like these when leadership is most important," said Jim Tefler, Leadership's Executive Director.
According to Tefter, Leadership Sunnyvale is a recent addition to the nonprofit circuit and the only program of its kind, in that the city's Chamber of Commerce currently runs all other city leadership programs. About two years ago, the Chamber cut Leadership loose.
"The Chamber had too much on its plate and therefore, didn't have the time for the growing organization," Tefler said. "The Chamber has its own mission, and the mission of Leadership was straying from that."
"The Chamber couldn't do Leadership the justice that it deserved any more," said Dave Simmons, the president on the board of directors for Leadership. He added, "The main mission of Leadership Sunnyvale is to achieve success in diversity. The socio-economic range of students is one of the qualities of the program that Leadership is most proud of."
Both Tefler and Simmons stress that this organization brings people of the community together who would have normally never met, and, therefore, would never have known what the other could have offered.
"It's an incredible program. It has truly changed my life," said alumna Yolanda Brown. "Before Leadership, I didn't know anybody. The month I graduated, I applied for the planning commission, and I don't think I would have done that if I didn't have Leadership Sunnyvale. I was also appointed to the Census Committee of the city of Sunnyvale. I wouldn't have applied for that either. It's given me the confidence to do what I do in the city. If not for Leadership, I probably wouldn't have continued to go to the city council meetings, where I was introduced to other alumni, including now council member Tim Rische. Leadership was the conversation starter." Rische and Brown are now engaged.
"Incredible friendships were developed along the way, and that, I think, still exist," Brown added.
"This opportunity helps the community because it helps people be aware of their city," said sales marketing board member Cheryl Claunce, "Sunnyvale is unique. It's very diverse and it has a lot to offer the community. Leadership helps the people in the community be aware of what their city has to offer."
Because of the recent decision to make the program nonprofit, it was in danger of being a slave to outside funding. Instead, Simmons and Tefler have found outside funding advantageous to the program. Although it is still partly funded by the city, Leadership Sunnyvale's main source for funding comes from the businesses of Sunnyvale.
Large corporations sometimes fund in return for student preferences, but the board makes sure that this does not disable independent applicants from entering the program. Tefler and Simmons say that, although the program does get these kinds of requests, they are relatively rare and most companies provide funds without prior dispositions.
"They give money for the greater good of the community, because they know it will benefit them directly," Simmons said.
Thanks to the volunteer board of directors, the program still has the ability to serve the community on an individual basis. "All the companies have been so supportive. It is very diverse sponsorship," Claunce said. Not all students require sponsorship. Some pay out of their own pockets while others are on scholarship money raised by Tefler and Simmons.
The application process is done on a first-come, first-serve basis. According to Simmons, qualification is based on the student's intent to be a leader in any environment. The program is not designed strictly for leadership in city or business positions, but for any life circumstance that might require leadership skills," he added.
Tefler and Simmons, as well as the rest of the board, say that Leadership Sunnyvale is on the way up, and the fact that it's a nonprofit only benefits the program. They say it's not because the program has access to more money, but, rather, better access to the community through businesses.
Leadership Sunnyvale is currently taking applications for the next class beginning in September. The graduation of Leadership Sunnyvale Class 2000-2001 will be held on May 31.
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Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
