Chamber to honor Leadership Sandpoint grads

SANDPOINT — Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce will honor members of the 2011-’13 Leadership Sandpoint graduating class at next week’s general membership meeting.

The meeting will be held from noon-1 p.m. in the community room of the Panhandle State Bank building, 414 Church St.

Leadership Sandpoint has gone through a serious evolution over the last several years. After the economic downturn kept the program from happening in 2009, the 2010-2012 class was out to prove a point. They raised more than $10,000 and gave a $5,000 check to the Circles Initiative. The 2011-2013 class had the bar set and was encouraged to go above and beyond in their fundraising and community support than the years prior.

Through the annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta fundraiser at Trinity at City Beach, Jail and Bail fundraiser at the newly opened Bonner County Juvenile Detention Center and Wooden Boat Show concessions, more than $17,000 were raised. The class gave $2,500 to Future Leaders of America Today, which is the Junior Leadership program conducted by Leadership Sandpoint class members.

Also, $6,000 was given to Junior Achievement, $5,000 to Circles Initiative, $750 to Northside Elementary Garden Club and $594 to Sandpoint Area Recreation and Community to help start a combined programing for youth with YWCA. Another $1,000 was given to the Chamber to help fund this program in the future and $1,500 to the Leadership Sandpoint Alumni Association which is growing and has ambitions to provide grants in the future.

Accompanying the hard money fundraising efforts, this class helped to secure an estimated $18,000 in grants and in-kind donations by various organizations including Litehouse Foods, Walmart, The Home Depot, Scott Fertilizer, Ponderay Garden Center, Cedars of Idaho, AmericanWest Bank, Big R and Pizza Hut. These grants and in-kind contributions went to help build up Northside Elementary community garden, supporting their Backpack Program, as well as the Jail and Bail Fundraiser, and update and remodel an apartment at the Blue Haven House. The class gave a lot of sweat and labor in helping the Blue Haven House with the remodel.

“As the Leadership Sandpoint program continues to evolve under the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce, the need for continuity has arisen,” said chamber president Kate McAlister. “Our community is full of leaders and many Leadership Sandpoint alumni — most of which we have no records of and are in need of reconnecting with. It is our hope throughout the next year we have a full and accurate list of all of the alumni and the birth of a Leadership Sandpoint Alumni Association becomes more than just an idea.”

Reservations are required; space is limited and, occasionally, walk-ins have to be turned away. Please register online at www.sandpointchamber.com or call 263-2161 to reserve your spot. The cost is $15 for members and $20 for non-members.