YLNI’s Outgoing President Reflects on the Year

Thursday, June 30, 2011

To the Members of YLNI and Network:

Tomorrow, July 1st marks the beginning of YLNI’s fiscal year for 2011-2012. At that time, YLNI also turns another important chapter in its history. The Fort Wayne Chamber has agreed to be YLNI’s fiscal agent. Since its inception YLNI has been the fiscal agent of Leadership Fort Wayne’s 501©(3). LFW was instrumental in the growth of YLNI and will forever be a part of YLNI’s history. We are indebted to them for their support during YLNI’s growth as an organization.

The relationship with the Chamber, while significant, will not affect YLNI’s autonomy. However, the new agreement is made with a 501©(6) which allow YLNI the opportunity to advocate/lobby for the demographic. Moreover, the relationship will allow both entities to explore the synergies of combining YLNI’s passion and manpower with the operational support and resources available to the Chamber.

As we begin the next chapter in YLNI’s history, I would like to take the opportunity to reflect on YLNI’s accomplishments of this past fiscal year.

YLNI the Vote was again successful in connecting the YLNI demographic to area legislators. The fall election included a mixer with local candidates and the creation and distribution of 1,000 comprehensive candidate brochures. YLNI also hosted its first mayoral debate in the spring primary. Melissa Beber chaired this initiative along with 7 volunteers under the guidance of Community Impact VP, Sam Graves.

Barr Street Market completed another successful year, including its first with Riverfest in 2010 and again in 2011. Approximately 36 vendors realized the impact of providing their products to over 20,000 patrons over the course of the summer. Chairs Dan Douglas and Dana Barrett along with 30 volunteers make this volunteer business a reality.

Katy Silliman and Andy Welfle helped lead yet another successful Leadership Institute in collaboration with IPFW. Leadership Institute continues to impact the emerging leaders of the community through skill development and networking opportunities. Since 2006 the institute has trained 155 participants. This year’s committee, comprised of 9 volunteers, also continued to personally develop real world, professional skills.

Masquerade Ball continues to be YLNI’s flagship social program, providing a unique, higher class, yet edgy venue for young leaders to connect for New Years Eve. This year’s event surpassed all projections for attendance and revenue – and provided fireworks for the downtown community. A leadership team of Ryan Hart, Justin Clupper, Emily McCabe and 9 volunteers made this year’s event a success.

Through the dedication of Amy Johnson and her 6 person team, the Membership committee shattered its previous membership numbers. Dues paying membership nearly doubled from 2010 AND added free memberships for this year’s 40 Under 40 Award winners. Membership continues to develop opportunities for members like the successful General Membership Meeting in the fall and highlighting volunteers in the weekly emails.

Hot Spots continue to provide a consistent offering for social networking. In 2010 the Hot Spots introduced exclusive benefits for dues paying members in attendance. Meredith Palmison and Justin Shurley lead this initiative for 2010.
A committee of nine brought back View from the Top by popular demand. The program provides YLNI’s emerging leaders with the opportunity to learn from and interact with CEO’s, business owners and other established community leaders and inspire them to become engaged in our community.

Get on Board connects emerging leaders with nonprofit boards and other public boards and commissions. In conjunction with the Paul Clarke Nonprofit Resource Center, YLNI has retooled the program and is currently using strategic planning specialist, Mike Stone, to conduct focus groups to help implement the revised Get on Board programming. Wendy Stein and Lettie Haver lead the way.

In an effort to help integrate the YLNI demographic in philanthropic activities the Foellinger Foundation and Community Foundation have committed to a foundations panel in the fall to assist with programs to help connect the foundations with YLNI members. Planning for these programs is well underway. Kelly Pautler and Beth Bobay help with this initiative.

The Community Impact committee continues to engage members on issues like Legacy, Discover Fort Wayne, permitting, and other community efforts. Comprised of a dozen members, the committee has implemented Project Oversight to help ensure that the YLNI demographic is included in the important decisions of the community. Issues regarding diversity, quality of life, advocacy and economic development drive these efforts.

Relationships with our community’s chambers offer individuals the opportunity to influence legislation. As a member of the Regional Chamber, the YLNI demographic adds a unique perspective to their policy meetings. Several YLNI members also took advantage of the opportunity meet with elected officials like Governor Daniels and Superintendant Bennett during the Chamber Day at the Statehouse because of these relationships.

Economic development agencies such as the Partnership, chambers, Alliance and Vision 2020 continue to use YLNI to connect to our community’s emerging leaders. YLNI members actively participate on important community projects such as Vision 2020.
Monica Freeman and John Hudson led a dozen volunteers in connecting YLNI to area human resource professionals in an effort to help businesses recruit and retain our region’s emerging business professionals. With the assistance of Kelly Lynch, YLNI’s 2020 Vision committee filmed a pilot HR video to show how existing area venues can be showcased in a light different from the norm. The video can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0nFea-9-C0&feature=youtu.be&hd=1

With assistance from the Olive B. Cole Foundation, Noble County will kick-off a young leaders event sponsored by YLNI on July 7th in Kendallville. Mayor Handshoe and the Regional Chamber’s Matt Bell have already sent in their RSVPs.

In this digital age, YLNI’s Communications Committee continues to update the 1,000 person network with weekly emails, tweets and Facebook posts to nearly 500 followers. Thanks to Heather Schoegler, Chelsea Meyers and Jon Palmer for helping lead Communications efforts.

When YLNI celebrated its 6th birthday on May 20th, it was a party with a purpose. Sure there was beer and wine tasting; however, attendees also had the opportunity to film Discover Fort Wayne videos, win lunch with the Mayor and share ideas on how to improve the community. Meanwhile YLNI also distributed en masse the Knight Foundation’s Soul of the Community survey, discussing community attachment in the Greater Fort Wayne community – courtesy of the Greater Fort Wayne Community Foundation.

This spring the YLNI Board refined its mission to reflect its goals to: “attract, develop and retain emerging leaders through community, professional and social engagement.” This change is not a departure from the core values of YLNI; rather, it simply helps explain what YLNI is all about. We raise awareness of the intergenerational barriers in our community to facilitate attachment of the demographic and the community. Our committees continue to develop new and interesting ways to connect with each other such as with the Mad Anthony home brewers event, Tin Caps games and the “I Will Stay” event last summer. Our connections are made in order to make Northeast Indiana a more vibrant and viable place to live, work and play.

While I’ve highlighted some of the individuals leading our committee efforts, there are so many others that help YLNI on a daily basis. Scores of committee members make YLNI programming possible. Lisa Updike, Ryan Hart, Beth Bobay and Tamesha Fikes served on the Executive Board, helping lead the strategic direction, while Mike King, Courtney Tritch and Luke Squires wore several hats for YLNI. Andrew Thomas, always the vocal champion for YLNI, leaves the Board after six years of dedicated service.

Lisa Updike takes the reigns as President next year. In the upcoming weeks you will have the opportunity to hear from her regarding the next Chapter for YLNI. Meanwhile, as my tenure on the Board and as President comes to an end, I would like to say that it has been a privilege and honor representing YLNI and its demographic. I hope that I gave to the organization as much as it gave to me.

Michael Barranda
2010-2011 President
Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana

Posted in General