2007 was the best class. No, 2004 was. Wait, maybe it was 2010? I’m confused. Is this going to be on the final exam?
If one thing is clear, it’s that there’s a whole bunch of class pride going around amongst the alumni of Leadership Clark County. The LCC community reception that followed my Class of 2012 orientation last month taught me that.
Yes, I am one of 33 community members enrolled in this year’s class. For those not familiar with the course, Leadership Clark County was founded in 1993 to provide an opportunity for citizens to gain community knowledge and leadership skills that will enable them to be more effective in their community involvement. More than 500 participants have graduated from LCC, supported by more than 100 local employers and community organizations.
So what has my experience been like so far?
While this year’s course is still in its infancy, I can tell you that my LCC education started with a topic we have all experienced in school: history. But what made this class so fascinating was the type of history being shared. This wasn’t about the history of the United States, or even of the state of Washington. This was about the history of Clark County; the history of the landmarks, buildings and streets that I drive on every day I go to work. This was the history of my community.
Paired with this crash-course of local history was an audio driving tour of historic Vancouver. Accompanied by my two golden retrievers, I drove through some of the oldest parts of the city, discovering ghost stories I’d never known and hearing the tales that shaped our local monuments. All in all, this certainly wasn’t your typical homework assignment. It was both rewarding and fun.
Our history lesson also included a trip inside Fort Vancouver. If you haven’t been there yet, do yourself a favor and go take a look. It is one thing to know the history of the region, but Fort Vancouver offers guests the rare opportunity to actually see it.
In the months ahead, look for an update from me on how the school year has progressed (you might even call it a progress report). When all is said and done, I hope the experience of Leadership Clark County gives me an improved understanding of the key issues our community faces. And I’m looking to share that understanding with you along the way.
Oh, and I finally figured it out. Clearly, 2012 is the best class.
