Indiana State University Newsroom

The Indiana State University Foundation announced today (Aug. 20) that Leadership Wabash Valley has moved under the umbrella of the Foundation.

"There has been a long association between ISU and Leadership Wabash Valley," Leadership Wabash Valley Executive Director Dixie Brown explained. "This move solidifies that connection and puts even more resources at our fingertips for leadership training."

"Leadership development is so important to a community," ISU Foundation President Gene Crume said. "By being part of the ISU Foundation, the LWV board and executive director will be able to spend more time working on programming rather than fund-raising."

Members of the new class of Leadership Wabash Valley, which is forming now, will be the first to take advantage of the new relationship. Their February class, for instance, will feature nationally renowned author and speaker Juana Bordas. The ISU Foundation has contracted for her to come to Terre Haute to present on campus and Leadership Wabash Valley will benefit as well.

Preparing to begin its 32nd year of leadership development, Leadership Wabash Valley has put many important programs into place. The National Road Heritage Trail, for one, shines as a public project that was born was advanced by leadership class projects. While it was eight years in the works, the diligence of many individuals paid off in the successful completion of the popular walking and biking trail. Other examples of class projects are as follows:

· Youth Leadership Terre Haute - provides training to high schoolers each year

· Valley Point of View - longest-running volunteer local television show in Terre Haute history

· Adopt-A-Spot - several spots have been identified and landscaped

· Terre Awards - created by Leadership Wabash Valley to recognize local contributors

· Christmas in April - began as an Adopt-A-House project

Leadership Wabash Valley has twice been named to the list of top 100 leadership development organizations in North America by Leadership Excellence magazine. More specifically, it was recognized in the top 20 in the nonprofit segment.

In addition to training members of the classes, Leadership Wabash Valley provides individualized training to corporations on an as-needed basis. It will also provide assistance to Indiana State University as it undertakes its own program for faculty and staff called Leadership ISU.

"Our vision is that Leadership Wabash Valley will be the go-to place for leadership development," Crume continued. "With an office in the new ISU Foundation building, Leadership Wabash Valley will have a more public presence and can grow in its programming and community development."

Applications are being accepted for Class XXXII. Call Dixie Brown at 237-3031 or e-mail her at dixie.brown@indstate.edu. Learn more at http://www.leadershipwabashvalley.org.