A division of the Roswell Chamber of Commerce
 

 "A city cannot rise any higher than the level of its leaders. Leadership Roswell is committed to developing and raising up leaders to make the Roswell community the best that it can be."
 

WHAT IS LEADERSHIP ROSWELL?

The Leadership Roswell program is about equipping current and future leaders to make a positive impact on the Roswell community in the years and generations ahead. A visionary Board of Directors of the Roswell Chamber of Commerce created the program in 1983 and the first Leadership Roswell class graduated in 1984. Today, Roswell’s program is the oldest continuous leadership program of its kind in the state of New Mexico. Sponsored by the Roswell Chamber of Commerce, the program continues to be committed to providing future leadership to meet the demands of tomorrow for the Roswell community. The program has graduated over 700 students over the almost three decades it has been in existence. The classes prepare and motivate participants by providing exposure and perspective in diversified areas of interest and concern. Class members have the opportunity to meet and ask questions of community leaders and other qualified speakers. Field trips are conducted to locations pertinent to the subject matter of the day. Each class day has a theme that focuses on some aspect that touches the lives of Roswell citizens. Themes include days learning about the City, County, and State as well as days covering law enforcement, the youth of our community, education, agribusiness, manufacturing, and health and human services. The program also spends a day with team building exercises including a ropes course and travels to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center to learn about FLETC and the U.S. Border Patrol. Students select a class project each year designed to benefit the Roswell community that has given so much to each of us. Each project is designed to promote our community.

IT IS ALL ABOUT LEADERSHIP…

A community rises and falls on its leadership. No community will rise any higher than its leaders. For the Roswell community to reach its potential, it must have strong leadership. The quality of leadership in any community is not to be taken for granted. Current and future leaders must be trained, educated, and informed. Each class day features instruction on some aspect of developing students’ leadership skills. Topics include goal setting, attitude, overcoming failure, personality profiles, creating margin in your life, communication skills, and making a positive difference each day.

WHEN DOES THE CLASS MEET?

Classes meet one Friday a month, September through May as well as a tenth class in late January in which the students travel on an overnight trip to Santa Fe (usually a Monday/Tuesday trip). Each class is a day-long program, from 7:45 AM to 5:00 PM. Additionally there is a Welcome Reception a week or two before the first class, a Christmas party, and a dinner/graduation in May.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM?

Leadership Roswell participants must be at least 22 years old, reside in Chaves County, and either have demonstrated an interest in the community by his/her involvement in organization activities related to the betterment of the area or have a desire to become more informed about the community. A representative group of up to 30 students is selected each year.

WHAT IS THE METHOD OF NOMINATION AND SELECTION?

Candidates may be recommended by their employer, their organization, a graduate of the Leadership Roswell program, or they may nominate themselves. The program seeks people at or near the top of their organization who have demonstrated leadership and a commitment to helping the community. A Selection Committee, composed of alumni, reviews and evaluates each application, to determine the new class each year. Each year there are more applicants than positions available.

TUITION

Tuition covers snacks, meals, supplies, bus transportation, and the overnight trip to Santa Fe.

Some scholarships are available up to a maximum of half of the tuition. Participants should indicate their need for a scholarship when applying to the program. Each request will be handled on an individual basis. In special instances, some students have been allowed to pay their tuition in payments.

ALUMNI

The Leadership Roswell experience is intended to extend beyond the graduation of each class. Upon graduation, participants may join the Leadership Roswell Alumni Association. The Association provides service projects that benefit the community such as the Teen Leadership Roswell Program for local high school students, candidate forums to educate the public about candidates running for elected positions, and an awards banquet each summer recognizing effective leaders who have made an impact on the Roswell community.

Applications are available at the

Roswell Chamber of Commerce

at 131 West 2nd Street.