Opening Retreat Winning Poem

During the Opening Retreat earlier this month, five teams participated in a Scavenger Hunt. One of the tasks was to draft a poem about the Jefferson County Courthouse. The poem is impressive when read by someone with a radio voice:

The first court house was built in 1803

It was really something, a marvel to see.

The first, of a sort, for labor and coal

For a town in Jefferson, it's really the soul.

First used for bondage, then for salvation

After John Brown took a stand for the Nation.

His was not the last treason trial it would see

Two in the end that made history

The Court house will change soon, as the area grows

And how will that change us? Only history knows.

Revised Class V Dates

Here are the revised dates for the 2010-11 class of Leadership Jefferson:

September 8-9 Opening Retreat

October 13 Agriculture

November 10 Local Government

December 8 Economic Development

January 11 Poverty in the Panhandle

February 20-22 State Government trip to Charleston

March 9 History and Culture

April 13 Education

May 11 Tourism and Recreation

June 8 Closing Retreat

There is a potential that the Closing Retreat might shift a week later, so be flexible.

New LJ Participants

Here are the 26 participants in this year's Leadership Jefferson class:
Chris Atkins
Lisa Bowers
Teresa Warnick
Ashley Flanigan
Robert Sell
Joan Timmerman
Martha Mumaw
Paul Taylor
Tim Boyde
Gary Rawlings
Todd Fagan
Todd McKinney
Jeremy Williams
Dee Mara
Lane Donnelly
Nicole Saunders-Meske
Melissa Mallamas
David White
Hans Fogel
Amy McCormick
Leslie Cooper
Debra Mendes
Josh Householder
Jackie Geigel
Amber Kraft
Dale Nisbet

Closing Opening Retreat

The fifth class of Leadership Jefferson is getting ready to wrap up its Opening Retreat. Many thanks to the folks at FLOC, For Love Of Children, which has its Outdoor Education Center located in the extreme southern tip of Jefferson County. Todd McKinney, Rob Stull and crew were very hospitable -- but it's hard not to be when the setting is as beautiful as FLOC. LJ spent yesterday afternoon and night and this morning staying in the Lodge, exploring the high ropes course, and pondering leadership. The website for the organization where the class stayed is www.flocoutdoors.org. The crew of 26 new LJ participants ate well from various restaurants in the county, including Hannah's Train Depot BBQ in Harpers Ferry, Mediterranean Cafe in Charles Town, and Brother's Pizza in Charles Town. They went rafting with the fine folks at River and Trail Outfitters. It's fair to say that fun was had by all.