Cooperative Extension Service Communications and Technology Department 3354 1000 E. University Ave. Laramie, WY 82071 (307) 766-6342 • fax (307) 766-3998 • www.uwyo.edu

 

For Immediate Release

 

 

Contact: Steven L. Miller, Senior Editor

Phone: (307) 766-6342

E-mail: slmiller@uwyo.edu

Archived News Site www.uwyo.edu/agadmin/news/news.htm

 

Date: May 30, 2006

UW leadership class produces Park County recreation guide

 

            A leadership development class may have hit the ball out of the park – Park County, that is – with publication of a recreation guide to free sites and activities.

            More than 23,000 copies of Frugal Fun will probably find their way around Wyoming. Meanwhile, leadership skills learned during the Park County Leadership Institute (PCLI) class, which produced the guide, will probably find their way around the group members’ places of work.

            Frugal Fun is the project of the sixth class of PCLI, which is a leadership development program sponsored by the University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service (UW CES).

            The 36-page guide highlights 29 sites or activities. “The reaction has been phenomenal,” said Rhonda Shipp, UW CES educator for Park, Big Horn, Hot Springs and Washakie counties. The institutes are part of her extension educator program, and she is program coordinator. “Other projects have all been fantastic, but this one, because of the public nature, has received the most publicity.”

            Members learn skills in class then apply them in real-life situations.

             “The class gives you different ideas and techniques you can use in managing and creating and building relationships with people,” said Perry Rockvam, chief of police in Cody. “What’s neat about it is I can take from the class and immediately apply in the department some of the things I learned.”

            Leadership courses are offered every other year to help prevent burnout of businesses whose employees participate and for those who sponsor the classes.  The previous year’s members serve as a steering committee to make suggestions or changes for the next class.

            Members meet all day once a month for eight months. “It’s a huge time commitment for students and a sacrifice for businesses which have students in PCLI because that person is away from his/her job,” said Shipp. “The bar is set high for what the expectation is of the institute and of our students.”

            PCLI graduation was May 17, and Shipp said more than 130 businesses, individuals and organizations supported the class of 23.

            “The 130 supporting 23 speaks volumes of the kind of people who live here,” she commented. “There is a fundamental belief we invest in our people.”

            Rockvam, seeing so many other department managers attend PCLI, jumped at the chance to take the course.

            He took a leadership role. “My role overseeing the project was to make sure everybody was heard, to make sure everyone participated,” he said. Rockvam ensured timelines were developed, goals met and everyone stayed in communication with one another.

             “We just tapped into everybody’s expertise,” he said. “Having the opportunity to work with them was amazing. It was the people who made it a success. It’s really a great class. It opens your eyes to a lot of different ways of leadership.”

            Classes work within parameters, said Shipp. The steering committee found a common thread during a community assessment of Cody, Meeteetse and Powell. “One thing we thought was doable was increasing the recreational opportunity for families and individuals in Park County,” said Shipp.

            Free sites or activities were chosen to avoid conflicts with businesses that produce tour guides for profit.

            “We wanted to encourage families and other people who might not be from the area to take advantage of what is in Park County and maybe stay a couple more days,” said Rockvam.

            Community-based experiences are part of the class. Members visit different businesses in the community and learn about their structure and philosophy. “It’s a great way to get connected with businesses county-wide,” he said. “As police chief, it gave me an opportunity to connect or get to know people I probably wouldn’t have otherwise. In return, they got to meet me and to know me better.”

            On the Web: http://www.parkcounty.us/extension/pcli.htm