PURPOSE
The purpose of Leadership Lawton Fort Sill (LLFS) is to seek, prepare, involve and sustain leaders from diverse backgrounds who are committed and competent to address community challenges in the Lawton-Comanche County area.
HISTORY OF LEADERSHIP LAWTON/FORT SILL
A leadership roundtable discussion group was formed in 1984 and included a number of community leaders. Leadership Lawton/Fort Sill officially began in 1990 and graduated its first class in the summer of 1991. There were 13 people in the first class. Since the first class graduated, well over 290 people have gone through the program. We have had doctors, educators, businessmen and women, bankers, clergy, accountants and community volunteers who do not represent any one particular industry.
"The mission of Leadership Lawton/Fort Sill is to promote individual leadership growth that will better serve our community". Proof of that leadership growth can be seen by looking at where some of our alumni are today: Lawton city councilmen, chamber board members, civic club presidents, members of non-profit boards, many serve on our board and others have gone on to Leadership Oklahoma.
So often when it comes time to put together a board or a committee for something, we call on the same people over and over. While there is really nothing wrong with this, we tend to lose touch with reality because we get stuck with the same old tired ideas. By getting new people involved we will, hopefully, get fresh ideas and have greater success.
Our program runs from September to May. Each month we study a different aspect of our community, such as Health Services, State Government, and the Criminal Justice System. We tour the capitol, have lunch with our area senators and representatives, meet with the Governor and visit the State Supreme Court Chambers.
We get a briefing from commanders at Fort Sill, watch training of soldiers and tour the post. We tour an area hospital and learn about health care issues. We conduct role playing where we visit human service agencies such as the Lawton Food Bank and learn how people who are less fortunate than us receive help.
We learn about local government by meeting with our elected officials. We hear a presentation from the Lawton Economic Development team as if we were a major prospect looking to locate a manufacturing facility in Southwest Oklahoma.
Our primary topics include: Human Services, Health Services, Common Education, the Arts, the Criminal Justice System, Economic Development, State Government, Higher Education, Media, Fort Sill, National Security, and Local Government.
OUR FIVE OBJECTIVES
To see men and women from a broad range of graphic, ethnic, institutional, and economical backgrounds with interests in a leadership capacity for effectively addressing on-going and emerging community issues.
To prepare these men and women with information, training, activities, experience, and motivation to assume responsible and demanding roles in the solution of a changing spectrum of community problems.
To involve these current and emerging leaders through stimulation and placement in the application of their talents and resources to community problems.
To sustain involvement, interest, and association among current and emerging leaders.
To Direct, Oversee and Support Junior Leadership Lawton-Fort Sill program.