Evening Session #1 – Pizza, Wine, and New Friendships

Wednesday, January 23, 2008 – 6:00PM to 8:00PM EDT

Reigl Home 

The evening was chilly, but incredibly clear tonight.  We gathered at the gorgeous home of the Ed and Nicole Reigl, members of the LML Steering Committee and graduates of the program.

 

Over pizza, wine, and amazing cookies we started to learn more about each other.  Around 7pm, Jeanne introduced us to Stan Schuck, the new president of the Chamber.  He gave us a wonderful toast and off to work we went.

 

Our charge was to brainstorm ideas for a project that we were to perform over the course of the remaining four months.

 

We discussed having a Volunteer directory to put those who were interested in volunteering in touch with those who needed volunteers – connecting the elderly or frail with those who wanted to help.

 

Paul brought up an idea for Restorative Justice, a program that helped those who were affected by crime to gain closure by meeting with their offender.  Not many of us had heard of this and thought it was a great idea.

 

With ideas swirling in our heads, and cookies in our hands, we left that moonlit evening with new friends in our hearts.

We Meet at Last!

In an effort to develop future community leaders in the region, the Chamber established the Leadership Main Line program in 2002.

Leadership Main Line provides an intensive six-month curriculum that involves the participants in learning experiences designed to enhance the infrastructure of the Main Line. Graduates benefit personally and professionally, but the big winner is the community as more qualified leaders are developed. 

We all met on a cold day at West Chester University. I think for many of us, it brought back memories.  Jammed into those little, rigid seats that squalked when you shifted, we all met Jeanne McClennan, our facilitator, and the ever fabulous, Kristen DiLuillo, from the Main Line Chamber. 

 

Quickly we were divided up by twos and had the task of introducing our partners.  As I listened to each person present their partner, I was blown away at the amazing people I that I had in my class.  My partner was Jason, an incredibly nice lawyer.  Some were bankers, some worked for amazing non-profits that had exceptional causes, one of the nicest cops I ever met, and even the co-owner of the place that all my patients rave about for their dog supplies!   We were truly from all walks of life, and here were in our jeans and sweatshirts meeting each other as classmates.  It was truly cool.

Prior to the class, we filled out a test called The Meyers-Briggs test.  It was a series of questions that helped you identify certain personality traits.  For each of the four categories, we did exercises to show why we do the things we do.  The biggest thing I finally found a reason for – is why I write 8 page emails explaining everything, as opposed to my husband, who might answer a word.  It was awesome to finally have an excuse!  We learned that even though we have these personality traits, we can harness what works for us, and use it to be a leader in different situations.

For the rest of the day, we were led through introspective team-building exercises that helped us meet each other.   In the introduction from the fabulous Jeanne, our facilitator, we learned that our mission, if we chose to accept it was to develop and execute a project that would impact the lives of those on the Main Line for the better.  

We left exhausted after the day’s activities, excited about the people we met, and what was to come.