Leadership can be assigned or achieved; overt or inconspicuous. In whatever form or fashion, leadership is more than a trait - it is an action and belief system. Eighteen years ago, I participated in the very first class of the Gilbert Leadership program. Now, with more than 300 alumni, the program is preparing for its 19th class!
 
The program's alumni touts well-known community leaders including former superintendent of Gilbert Public Schools Wally Delecki, former Gilbert mayor Cynthia Dunham, Gilbert Police Chief Tim Dorn and many of the Town Council commissioners and School Board members. Although not every student has a recognizable name, you can be sure Gilbert Leadership alumni are leaders in their  community and professional organizations.
 
It is not uncommon to hear alumni introduce themselves as Class Two or Class Eight. Many even include their class number on business cards or after e-mail signatures. Past students continue to meet each year at regular alumni socials. So, what is it about this program that has such a lasting effect?
 
Each Gilbert Leadership class is a nine-month journey into the heart of our community with issue days and interactive activities. Together, class members identify Gilbert's needs and select a class project.  Last year, class XVII raised more than $35,000 to provide an energy renovation for the Gilbert  Historical Museum which will result in the Museum saving more than $700 each year.

I continue to stay in touch and even work with many of my fellow Gilbert Leadership Class I classmates - Vice Mayor Linda  Abbott, Councilman Dave Crozier and others. We shared an experience that shaped our personal and professional paths and I still draw on that experience to this day.
 
I hope you will consider your role in our community. To learn more about Gilbert Leadership, please attend the Gilbert Leadership Recruitment Breakfast on May 6th from 7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. at the Town of Gilbert, Room 300. For more information, visit www.gilbertleadership.com or contact Adrianne at (480) 570-0600. 
 

 

The Gilbert Chamber of Commerce has organized Shades of Ireland, a 10-day packaged tour of Ireland in October 2010, including site tours of Dublin, Kilkenny, Limerick, and more.
 
The package, coordinated by Collette Vacations, is offered at a rate of $2,799 per person and includes round-trip airfare from Phoenix, hotel accommodations, 13 meals, site tours and more.

An informational meeting will be held on Thursday, April 22nd from Noon to 1:00 PM at the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce, 119 N. Gilbert Rd., Ste. 101, in Gilbert. 
 
Travel is open to the community and no commitment to travel is required to attend the informational meeting. Please RSVP your meeting attendance by calling (480) 892-0056 or click here to register now.
 
For more information regarding the 2010 Shades of Ireland group travel excursion or to request a complete itinerary, contact Sarah at (480) 892-0056, ext. 104 or send an e-mail to sarah@gilbertchamber.com. 

 

Mayor John Lewis delivered news from the Town at the Annual Mayor's Address, a luncheon sponsored last month by The Arizona Republic. 
 
"I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak to the Chamber and provide an update on Town progress," said Mayor Lewis. "Gilbert continues to be a clean, safe, and vibrant community that supports our local businesses, families, and individuals."
 
The event is a Chamber tradition to bring together members of Gilbert's business community to hear from the Town's leadership, according to Kathy Tilque, president/CEO of the Chamber.
 
"Our members really enjoyed hearing Mayor Lewis' address," Tilque said. "Our mayor has a genuine interest in the business community."
 
"The efforts of the Chamber to serve the community and enhance our 'open to business' culture is appreciated," said Mayor Lewis.
 
The luncheon also served as a tribute to retiring town manager George Pettit. Mayor Lewis recognized Pettit and his team and Pettit was presented a gift by Susan Brechbill, the Chamber's Chairwoman of the Board.
 
"I want to thank George for all that he has done over the years in support of the Town of Gilbert, its businesses and the Chamber of Commerce," Brechbill said. "He will surely be missed."

  

Print Smarter!
 
The average office worker goes through 10,000 sheets of copy paper per year. Make it a habit to print on both sides or use back sides of old documents for faxes, scrap paper or drafts as much as possible. Ask yourself, "Could this be read or stored online instead?"
 
Source: 10 ways to go green at work

 

While we wait for someone to make a decision on whether we really need healthcare reform or not, the business owners we have insured have their own ideas on what needs to be done. We all seem to agree on one thing, it's not healthcare that needs to be reformed, it's the cost of healthcare that "needs fixing".
 
Who can continue to receive double digit increases and try to offset the cost with increased sales? Who wants to keep making the decision of which plan to change to or how much to offset to the employees to keep the costs in line this year? I know I don't.
 
As a small business owner who also pays for employer sponsored group medical premiums, I also receive the same coverages and premiums that our clients do. We not only wait to see how Congress and the President interpret "Reform", but we still have to plan for profitability and overhead costs as well. One thing we all know, but politicians do not have to deal with, is that we cannot continue to do business as usual and HOPE the cost of medical insurance goes down. None of us really believe that we can have an "any doctor" medical plan, rich benefits, no or very low doctor visit copays, guaranteed issue with no pre-existing waiting periods, and have the cost of this insurance coverage go down.
 
Reality is that we have been raising deductibles and offsetting costs these deductible costs to our employees. Other cost shifting measures have been;
a) Higher Rx Co-pays
b) Higher Dr. Office Co-pays
c) Higher Urgent Care Visit Co-pays
d) A deductible applied to preventive care and lab costs.
 
We have been able to keep medical premiums trending around 10% to 12% by doing these things, but we have been ignoring the most obvious. That is wellness at work and at home. Understanding wellness programs and wellness awareness programs will be the key to reduced premium costs no matter what the "reform" outcome is. This is because 80% of chronic illnesses are preventable with the implementation of wellness programs. Programs that can be used at work and at home.
 
Every insurance carrier that has a web site presence has a wellness program that can be accessed via enrollment on their web site. Members can log on and join chats, monitoring programs, watch videos, listen to lectures, have a nurse line availability and many more things. Weight loss programs, diabetic information programs, consulting, and physician referral programs help employees to educate themselves and can alter their lives and promote a longer healthier lifestyle.

The Gilbert Chamber of Commerce recognizes the following businesses for their contribution of door prizes or catering last month: