Photograph by Skye Dunlap
Jeanine Stanek , left, recipient of Leadership Sunnyvale's Citizen of the Year award. David Simons, president of the group and Jim Telfer, the group's executive director, recommend the leadership training to all interested parties.
Boot camp for the leaders
Leadership Sunnyvale provides the civic-minded with success
By Sam Scott
Conspiracy lovers take note--every member of the Sunnyvale City Council has either graduated from or been otherwise associated with a group called Leadership Sunnyvale.
This is also true for many of the city's business leaders. In fact most of the people honored with awards at the Mayor's State of the City address were graduates of said group.
Sunnyvale Vice Mayor Jack Walker, says there's nothing Skull & Bones about that fact. Leadership Sunnyvale is just a natural place for civic-minded people.
"It's a good way to get involved," he says, "and find out what you want to get involved in."
For 15 years, Leadership Sunnyvale has been teaching participants about the workings of a city; everything from boards and commissions work to how public safety to environmental works. David Simons, the group's president, says the city of Sunnyvale started the group based on Leadership Stockton. The Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce then took it over, and now it has become an independent nonprofit organization.
Jim Telford, executive director, has taken the helm. With more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Telford was onetime leader of Leadership Manteca. What separates the Sunnyvale program from its Manteca cousin, he said, is the tight alumni network. When an opening on a city board or commission arises, the word goes out through the network. Someone will often encourage another alum to apply. It also provides contacts in business.
"There's a tremendous support group out there," he says. "If I need to talk to someone at a business, there's usually a grad out there I can call. It really helps."
Telford recommends anyone with the slightest interest to consider taking the classes. "I can't think of a person who shouldn't take it," he said.
Sunnyvale resident Yolanda Brown joined the class four months after moving to Sunnyvale to get more involved the community. One month after joining the classes in 1998, Brown was asked to be Sunnyvale's representative on the county housing commission. She's since taken on myriad, from being a member of city's planning commission to chairing Sunnyvale's Census 2000 committee and to belonging to Celebrate Sunnyvale 2000. She is also on Leadership Sunnyvale's board of directors.
Of course, Brown had a preexisting love for being involved, but she says Leadership Sunnyvale allowed her to quickly find the activities she most wanted to join.
Classes, which are held on the third Thursday of each month and half the following Saturday, begin in September and continue until May. The cost is $1,200. Simons says financial help may be possible in some cases.
"We don't want to scare anyone away for lack of funds," he says.
Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
