What We Do
The Leadership Golden program is a series of seminars spanning a nine month period. These seminars facilitate opportunities for participants to increase their knowledge of the relationships between government, education, business, and the community of Golden. Participants have the opportunity to explore options and methods of problem solving with city staff and community leaders in the fields of education, arts, recreation, public finance, city and county government, justice, community responsibility and economic development.
Mission
Leadership Golden shall serve the Golden Community as an educational and networking organization, which provides a foundation for volunteerism, leadership, community understanding and participation in all types of community service.
Leadership Golden (LG) educates and promotes participants to be leaders, volunteers and supporters of the Golden community. LG offers an overview and introduction to the operations of the city, the organizations and the people who make Golden our home, workplace and community. The program is tuition free, unaffiliated and endorsed by Greater Golden. Over 600 participants have graduated since 1984 offering back to the community as volunteers and leaders, becoming the backbone of what makes Golden, Colorado unique. Graduates range from city councilperson, organization members, neighborhood leaders, and grass roots activists to simply interested and informed citizens. Graduates become part of a community network of citizens committed to Golden’s continued success.
Ornament fundraiser
The Leadership Golden ornament fundraiser was born in 1986, with an idea from Bill Robie, one of the early leaders of LG. Each year, the Board of Directors works with a local artist to decide a scene to be featured. The original artwork is donated to the Golden Civic Foundation for their annual auction, in thanks for the Foundation’s early support of LG.
The ornaments are offered for sale at The Red Wagon and The Visitor’s Center in downtown Golden. Current class members also participate in ornament sales.
The “Collector Series,” now a total of 36 ornaments, has become extremely popular. Many citizens are the proud owners of a complete set!
Results
Over 90% of our graduates are or have been active in the community. Their involvement includes activities in arts and recreation organizations, Buffalo Bill Days, Chamber of Commerce, charitable organizations, Golden Civic Foundation, government boards, councils and committees, historic organizations, religious organizations, schools, senior citizen activities, service organizations, and youth organizations.
Our goal for future classes is to sustain this level of involvement. This volunteer effort can be directed to any of the areas in which the graduate is interested. The opportunity to commit one's talent, time, and energy to making the Golden area a better place to live, work, and play is real. Individuals can and do make a difference in our society.
“Leadership Golden has helped me feel connected to this community, and helps me give back to the community.”
History
The Leadership Golden program was introduced to Golden in the spring of 1984 by the Greater Golden Area Chamber of Commerce and the Golden Civic Foundation. The program was funded for the first two years through contributions from Golden area businesses, private citizens, and the Golden Civic Foundation. Responsibility for the Leadership Golden program was transferred from the Chamber of Commerce and the Civic Foundation to the Leadership Golden Alumni Association, Inc. (LGAA) in the spring of 1986. Funding the program since then has been accomplished solely through the fund-raising efforts of the LGAA. LGAA is a nonprofit organization granted Internal Revenue 501(c)3 status in 1986.
Participation
Leadership Golden is one of very few leadership programs in the nation that is tuition free. Graduates are encouraged to participate in the continuation and betterment of the organization as committee members, project volunteers, and/or to assist in fund raising activities to fund future sessions of the Leadership Golden program. Participants for each class of Leadership Golden are selected from the applications received by that year's deadline. Each applicant is considered for his/her interests, sincere commitment to the greater Golden area, genuine interest in being an integral part of the Golden community, and his/her background.
Leadership Golden strives to balance each class by selecting participants from all neighborhoods of the Golden area as well as a cross section of adult age groups, areas of interest, and variety of professions. Occasionally, in order to prevent an overabundance of class members who live in one area or share a particular interest, applicants are encouraged to re-apply the following year.
An application may be submitted or printed from this web site between June 1st and July 31st of each year. Additional applications are available from any Leadership Golden alumni, any Steering Committee member, or any Board of Directors member.