Questions and Answers
about the
Waccamaw Region Chapter
of the American Leadership Forum
 

Why is the Waccamaw Community Foundation developing the American Leadership Forum Chapter? We are experiencing dramatic change in Horry and Georgetown Counties and there currently exists an acknowledged lack of collaboration and cooperation across a number of boundaries and divisions.  Figuring out how to work more effectively together is worthy of an investment.   The focus of the program is not just the one-year experience, but the building of a network of leaders from throughout the region who can work collaboratively together.  For example, in other cities the American Leadership Forum Senior Fellows, or graduates, have been asked to provide leadership on critical regional issues. 

Why choose the American Leadership Forum instead of some other leadership program or develop its own?
The American Leadership Forum is thirty years old and has a proven track record.  It emphasizes training very diverse people to work collaboratively for the public good. ALF provides access to a the Senior Fellows nationally.  It is a life changing experience.  Also, by choosing a tried and true model instead of investing a great deal of capital in developing its own regional leadership development program, the Waccamaw Community Foundation is making best use of its resources.
 
How does the nominating process work?
Names of established leaders from throughout the region are being collected.  This is a proactive process.  Staff members and committee members are speaking to people in each of the two counties and actively recruiting names and input.  After the names are collected, selections will be made to ensure diversity on many different levels: racial, gender, region, and sector representation.  Up to twenty-five leaders will be selected from the public, corporate, nonprofit and community sectors.  

How is it different from other leadership programs?
The American Leadership Forum complements rather than competes with current local leadership programs.  The significant differences are: ALF is targeted towards established leaders rather than emerging leaders; local programs are designed to create awareness about the community and issues.
ALF is not oriented towards specific issues but instead focuses on developing the capacities of the leaders in the program. ALF is regional – local leadership programs are county-focused.  

How is it going to be diverse?  The participants in the class will be selected with an emphasis on many types of diversity.  In addition to racial and gender considerations, the class will also represent different sectors of influence – private, public, nonprofit and community.  Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the class will come from throughout Horry and Georgetown Counties.  

How are you going to guarantee the highest quality of the experience and participants?
The classes offer facilitated dialogue with some of the leading experts on the issues of leadership.  They will come from all over the country as well as the two Carolinas.  The instant credibility of the instructors is very important to ensure immediate buy-in from the participants.  The highest level of participant will be set in the first class.  After the first year, the Senior Fellows will help maintain that high level by advocating and recruiting people to the nominating pool.  
 
How are you going to create a positive team relationship with people who are so different?
The participants will complete a self-assessment tool prior to the class.  Results and insights from this tool will be the focus of an early class session and will be used to help members understand and appreciate their differences.  The five-day Wilderness Experience will accelerate the development of deep, trusting relationships necessary for future collaborative projects and effective regional leadership. 

What is the schedule of classes? What are all the classes about? Will all the classes be in Myrtle Beach? 
Class II will begin in July, 2010 and end in June, 2011.  Except for the five day Wilderness Experience, the classes average about one day per month.  The classes focus on issues and learnings about leadership such as: Having Difficult Conversations, Ethics in Community Leadership, Diversity and Collaborative Leadership.  The classes will be hosted throughout the region.