Six days spent in the woods this past May were not the typical marshmallows-by-the-fire campout.
For more than 70 Circle K'ers and a few facilitators, the time spent at Bradford Woods, Indiana, meant learning about themselves, each other, and how to deal with change.
Circle K'ers partnered with LeaderShape, an institute located in Illinois, for the conference. Photos of the conference can be seen by clicking here.
"LeaderShape provided a fantastic opportunity for members within the organization to join together as we dedicated ourselves to lead with integrity," says CKI Vice President Wess Robotham. "There were no boundaries between those attending, and the focus was on growing in leadership and stretching outside the comfort zone individually as well as in a group setting."
Circle K International President Brian Egger said the experience offered participants a chance to develop a "healthy disregard for the impossible."
"CKI members and officers were able to participate in exercises that prompted life-changing discussions," Brian says.
The Kiwanis International Foundation awarded a US$25,000 grant to help fund the conference, and Circle K International also pitched in $10,000. The grants cover conference costs-minus transportation to Indiana. The LeaderShape workshop was designed for the 2005-06 International Board and the 2006-07 governors.
Michelle "Chelle" Hatmaker, the K-T Circle K Governor, was unable to attend since she was an exchange student in Sweden at the time of the LeaderShape Workshop. The K-T Circle K District provided transportation expenses for Marty Pendleton , Lt. Gov. West for 2006-2007, a Vanderbilt University student. Marty is fourth from the left in the back row of the above photo.
Heidi Moldenhauer, a Circle K International Trustee, also represented the Kentucky-Tennessee Circle K District at LeaderShape. Heidi was a governor of the Minnesota-Dakotas District prior to attending the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga as a masters degree student.
