Do you lead or participate in a coalition to reduce underage drinking and think there may be ways to be more effective?  Do you have a vision for a community project and need to get others more involved?  At this year’s historic 10th anniversary National Leadership Conference, the UDETC is kicking off an exciting new opportunity for developing and refining your leadership skills for community action. We are pleased to offer our first national Leadership Institute for a select class of 25 participants who will work for meaningful change and commit to a yearlong guided leadership process.

Leadership is a group process; therefore, our first-class Leadership Institute’s training is for Community Action Leadership Teams of four or five people from diverse segments of your community, including a youth. Team members will develop a well-defined goal and construct a strategic project community involving key stakeholders, such as law enforcement, community leaders, coalition builders, and youth—then translate it into action. Your training consultants will help ensure that every success and challenge posed by your project provides a potential for growing in individual and collective leadership. Envision you and your teammates graduating at the 2009 Conference with a year of measurable accomplishment behind you.  If you don’t already have teammates in mind, please confer with your State Coordinator for suggestions about other interested parties from your State.

The application for the Leadership Institute along with more information about the Institute benefits and requirements are available for you to download.  Completing the application is a group process and applications must be received at the UDETC by June 25th for consideration. Mailed or faxed (301-755-2799) applications are recommended as signatures of all team members are required.