1. 1 Leadership Chickasaw Class of 2006-2007 – Leadership in Chickasaw County Leading the way for a better Chickasaw County Nov. 14, 2006 Meeting

2. 2 You Can’t Fix What You Don’t Know Getting to Know Chickasaw County Our first overall objective for our monthly meetings will be getting to know our County. What looks good, what doesn’t. What works, what doesn’t. Who is doing what to make improvements. Ultimately, we will find an opportunity for us to help – THE PROJECTS.

3. 3 Chickasaw County Challenge Assignment for October 10 th meeting  Photo Challenge – Oct. 10 Assignment In your teams, use your cameras to take pictures of Chickasaw County. Specifically, look at Chickasaw County as a person who has never been there before. As a team, take pictures of things that (a) look good, and (b) don’t look so good. Idea – Your pictures were excellent! Can you imagine a calendar with those pictures – the courthouse against the blue sky; the lone fisherman at Davis Lake; the school at Houlka; the churches,? Leverage what you have to be proud of in Chickasaw County.

4. 4 Researching Chickasaw County  Tuesday, Nov. 14, 6:30-8:30 PM Meeting: In teams, present information on 4 key aspects of Chickasaw County: (1) Economic Well-Being, (2) Education/Training, (3) Social/Physical Welfare, and (4) Quality of Life, Leadership, Participation, & Citizenship.

5. 5 Researching Chickasaw County  Nov. 14 th meeting: Each team will prepare and deliver a 15 minute presentation about their assigned aspect of Chickasaw County. Make sure you prepare handouts, notes, lists, or any additional information that the group will need to fully understand your presentation.

6. 6 Evaluating Chickasaw County Use the following scale to rate each dimension of Chickasaw County: 4=Excellent; Community Strength 3=Good or satisfactory 2=Mediocre; needs improvement 1=Bad; Severe problem

7. 7 Evaluating Chickasaw Co. 1. Economic Well-Being (find economic data on Chickasaw County) (John Fred, Thomas, Christine, Lisa) Employment Rate_____ Per Capita Income_____ Dependence on transfer Payments_____ Sales and Production Trends_____ Expansions, Down-sizing, Closings_____ Business Start-ups/Failure_____ State, County, Local tax burden_____ County Govt. budget Situation_____

8. 8 Evaluating Chickasaw Co. 2. Education and Training (Mark, Kenny, Faye, Jean) List of all schools, enrollment, and school ratings. Funding of Education & Training_____ Student Performance_____ Breadth of Curriculum_____ Student completion rates_____ Adult education options_____

9. 9 Evaluating Chickasaw Co. 3. Social/ Physical Welfare (Wilma, Lassie, Jason, Vicky) Availability of Housing_____ Environmental Quality_____ Availability of Health Care_____ Availability of Child Care_____ Crime Rates_____ Teen Pregnancy_____ Drug/Alcohol Abuse_____ Availability of Social Services_____

10. 10 Evaluating Chickasaw Co. 4. Quality of Life, Leadership, Participation, & Citizenship (Angela, Gerald, Phillip, Brenda) Community involvement _____ Pride in Community/County_____ Overall Community Satisfaction_____ Weather & Seasons_____ Recreational Opportunities_____ Arts & Entertainment_____ List of EVERY Civic Organization, a contact person, and Current Projects. What are they working on?

11. 11 Nov. 14 th : Evaluating Chickasaw County Strengths and Weaknesses  Overall Strengths of Chickasaw County  Overall Weaknesses of Chickasaw County

12. 12 Evaluating Chickasaw Co.  How do we build on our strengths and work to improve our weakness?  What projects could we undertake to improve our weaknesses? What projects could we undertake to help grow the strengths of Chickasaw County – to help shine a light on who we are and what we are proud of in Chickasaw County.  Examples: “Swamp Gravy” http://www.swampgravy.com/ “To Kill a Mockingbird” http://www.monroecountyal.com/heritage.html

13. 13 Leadership Chickasaw – What’s next? How can we contribute?  Tuesday, Jan. 9 th Meeting, 6:30-8:30PM.  PROJECTS! – our chance to give back. * Work with team to create a Team Proposal to improve/develop Chickasaw County. * Prepare a one page overview of a project your team will investigate and be willing to work for that will benefit Chickasaw County. * Be prepared to present your proposal to the group in the Jan. 9 th meeting. * Feb. 13 th meeting – expand proposals.

14. 14 Projects!! Yikes! How do we begin……  How can we contribute to our county?  In the picture assignment, what was special to us?  What would we like to protect, grow, & improve in our county?  What are other communities doing that might work in our county? New Albany http://www.visitnewalbany.com/http://www.visitnewalbany.com/ Oxford http://www.oxfordms.net/http://www.oxfordms.net/  Look for ideas when you are out traveling over the holidays.  Meet with your team and TALK. Find your common passion. Find something to which you can all commit.

15. 15 Projects  The holiday season seems to be an apt time to think about giving back to our communities and county.  Give generously from your heart…..what project can your team undertake that will make a positive difference in Chickasaw County?  Happy Holidays!! – see you in January. As always, feel free to contact me any time with questions, thoughts, ideas, etc.: Allison Pearson Allison.pearson@msstate.edu 662-325-7015 (office) 662-324-7806 (home)