Welcome
to the August 2009 edition
of the LeadAmerica
Alumni Newsletter!
A
MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDER
by Chris M. Salamone,
Esq., Founder and Chairman of LeadAmerica
Well, the summer
is rapidly winding to a close and school,
for many of you, is back in full swing. It’s been
a great summer with thousands of young
leaders taking part in the life-changing
events and activities that comprise the
LeadAmerica conference experience. Congratulations
and welcome to our newest members of the LeadAmerica
Alumni Association!
Whether you
are a new alum or have been a member
for many years, I encourage each of you
to renew your commitment to personal
leadership development, service and making
a difference in your schools, neighborhoods
and communities. If you are returning
to school, seek opportunities for growth
by challenging yourself with a leadership
position or service commitment in one of
the many clubs, athletic teams, or organizations
available to you. Look outside of
your school setting for opportunities to
make a difference in the lives of others.
Check out our Volunteer in Your Community
article in the newsletter for ideas. Be
observant and identify needs or challenges
faced by others in your community and look
for ways to help resolve or alleviate them
by providing a service or creating your
own project or organization.
Remember that
the Alumni Rewards Program offered through
the Alumni Association is a great way
to receive rewards for your continued
leadership endeavors. You
can earn full or partial tuition to a future
LeadAmerica conference or a scholarship
for college simply by participating and
watching the points add up as a result
of your efforts. By recommending
friends and classmates who would benefit
from the LeadAmerica experience
and creating or participating in approved
programs or activities, you can join the
ranks of the many Program participants
who have already benefitted from.
Additionally,
don’t forget to visit
our Alumni Association and Facebook pages
regularly for updates, to share photos
or to keep in touch with your friends.
Look for future Newsletters to come,
and as you embark upon another academic
year, don’t forget to keep us posted
on your many accomplishments and endeavors.
We’d
like to highlight you on our web page or
in a future newsletter article so that
you may be an inspiration to others.
We wish you well on your journey of leadership
development and service and look forward
to hearing from you and seeing you at future
conferences!

FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK
by Jan Sikorsky
Dr.
Sikorsky holds his PhD in Biomedical Sciences
and M.S. in Forensic Science from Marshall
University as well as a B.S. in Medical
Technology from Michigan State University.
Dr. Sikorsky has published papers in both
forensic and basic science peer-reviewed
journals. He
has taught undergraduate and graduate level
courses on topics such as laboratory skills,
forensic investigation techniques, DNA
analysis, and molecular cloning. Throughout
his academic career, Dr. Sikorsky has been
recognized, through multiple awards, for
his research presentations and academic
achievements.
Dr. Sikorsky
has generously volunteered his time
on various occasions. Currently
he serves as a consultant to the Palm
Beach County Sheriff's Office Crime Lab
assisting with their advancements in
DNA identification. Previously
Dr. Sikorsky has spent time judging state
science fair competitions and has worked
with the West Virginia Office of the
Chief Medical Examiner on proper processing
of clandestine burials.
‘We’ll Never Get
Where We Want to Go If We Forget Where
We’ve Been’
The summer
is coming to a close and our programs
have ended – like a mother
bird who takes pride in seeing her fledgling
fly, all of us at the LeadAmerica
home office are smiling ear to ear knowing
our collective program birds took flight
and succeeded. We are extremely fortunate
in these uncertain times to work toward
a collective goal of improving the world
by educating our next generation of leaders
and providing them the tools necessary
to be successful in their chosen profession
- very few can say their mission is as
lofty as ours. A wise many once told
me that great leaders don’t simply
influence, they inspire. Like those
of you reading this short message, others
have now taken their first steps toward
being inspired to greatness.
Because
the fires of inspiration and the seeds
of leadership do not simply develop in
a day, rather they are grown/developed/nurtured
daily (thank you John Maxwell), please
take a moment and remember back to your
own LeadAmerica experience. What
about that experience inspired you? Reflect
on this moment and ask yourself the question: have
I remained true to that inspiration? Am
I planning to stay true to the inspiration? If
your answer to this question is not a resounding
yes, it looks as if you need a refresher. Self
reflection is an important part of staying
true to your personal vision. Dedication
and drive are important but equate to wasted
energy if you’ve forgotten where
you’re going or why you’re
going there. Before getting carried
away with post-summer plans, spend some
time this week thinking about your personal
vision and then create a mental picture
of your ‘LeadAmerica Experience’ – I
hope this will inspire you to rededicate
yourself to your own personal leadership
growth.
Have a happy and safe summer,
Jan Sikorsky
Director of Academics, LeadAmerica

STUDENT
OF THE MONTH
Michael Baczewski
Adjusting to college
is complicated as hard lessons in time
management and self-discipline are taught
to cooperate with work and play. A great
way to adjust to college life being your “home
away from home”, however, is by
getting involved on campus and making
a difference. Michael Baczewski did this
his first year at University of Connecticut’s
Greater Hartford campus. He made his
mark his first year not only by becoming
a member of his town’s Board of
Education ( being the youngest member
to currently hold public office),
but also becoming President of the undergraduate
student government at the University
of Connecticut, Greater Hartford campus.
“Circumstances led me to run for
the positions I ran for this past year,
but my experience at the 2008 LeadAmerica
International Security Conference in
DC left a resounding impression on me.
One quote from Mr. Andrew Potter’s
speech at the conference effects me today- ‘If
not you, who? If not now, when?’ LeadAmerica
prepared me to be a leader by reinforcing
leadership not as theory but as a lifestyle
of what you aspire to be in the future.” Michael
is a firm believer of being an example not only to
ones self but to others while never staying content
with past accomplishments.
Since leaving
the LeadAmerica conference and stepping
onto one of University of Connecticut’s satellite campus, Michael
strived to live the LeadAmerica way and
make a point of being involved on campus
by becoming a member of the school’s
Student Senate, which led him to chair
the student affairs committee. Michael
became an advocate for student safety on
campus when a piece of a campus building’s
ceiling fell on him. The realization of
a present issue literally came to him,
and he worked diligently to network with
campus administration in finding ways to
allocate money given to UConn into the
satellite campus’ budget for safety
awareness.
As a freshman
senator before presidency, Michael met
with Massachusetts’s
legal counsel along with the other two
freshman senators to discuss concerns for
the Greater Hartford campus. “(Our
meeting) wasn’t to diminish UConn’s
reputation, but we can’t say ‘One
UConn’ and have it focus on one campus,” Michael
said. “We really have to focus on
building a reputation for the regional
campuses as well as the main campus.” Facilities
improvement has occurred since ASG began
campaigning for an improved campus, including
building a new roof for the Library, improving
campus walkways and ramps, and adding emergency
blue lights on campus.
Michael spent his time on the committee
considering the safety of not only the
campus but also the community resides within.
Michael saw the community’s need
for help, reaching out to the Mayor of
Hartford and recruiting the university
to assist in community projects to better
those affected the community’s disarray.
Joining the
county’s board of education
was the other accomplishment made this
year. He wanted to provide inspiration
to the next generation of leaders attempting
to give them a strong education. He loves
being on the board since he’s able
to give a distinct view on matters from
other board members since he recently graduated
from the school system they were working
for. His involvement on the county board
is paying off in many ways, particularly
giving him opportunities to enhance his
leadership and diplomacy skills with access
to leadership workshops given to board
members. “Both leadership positions
have been a challenge,” Michael says. “I
think I’ve grown so much as a student
and as a person. I learned a lot
about myself, about my weaknesses and my
strengths. I really embrace the challenge
of becoming the best I can be.”
Michael considers himself a public servant
although it may appear he is a young politician.
In the county election last fall, his name
appeared on the same ballot with Presidential
candidates Obama and McCain.
After seizing
opportunities of high achievement this
year, what are Michael’s future
plans? “I’m honestly doing
the best I can where I am right now, but
I’d like to work for the state department
in the future. I could be selected to work
in the department my junior year, so I
hope that’s a possibility when the
time comes.”
*****
Would you like your
leadership and service activities profiled
in the LeadAmerica Alumni Newsletter? Send
us your news! LeadAmerica wants to build
on the belief that teenagers are capable
contributors to society with valuable ideas
and the energy to become involved in their
community. Each month, one student will
be spotlighted for his or her outstanding
achievements in school and community. Become
a LeadAmerica Student of the Month! Send
your story to alumni@lead-america.org.
IN
THE NEWS: TAKE THIS MONTH’S
POLL
Your
Personality’s
Strengths and Weaknesses
by Tracy Kimball
We want to
know what you think! What is the weakness
of your personality type? What do you
struggle with the most, and how do you
try to fight it? Read on to learn more…
What personality type do you identify
with the most?
- Lion (dynamic,
goal-oriented, independent)
- Owl (thoughtful,
reserved, cautious)
- Koala (patient,
agreeable, quiet)
- Peacock (creative,
curious, outgoing)
When you attended a LeadAmerica conference,
you were introduced to your personality
type in our Valuing Diversity activity.
The animal(s) you relate to says a lot
about who you are.
Owls are meticulous
and analyze all possible decisions before
committing to an answer. For instance,
if an owl is deciding what to do on Saturday,
movies or a sports event, they probably
ask questions like “What
are the weather predictions?” and “When
did the movie open and how packed will
the theater be?” before making a
final decision. Owls - How often do you
make a decision without analyzing it beforehand?
When you make a snap decision without weighing
your options, did you feel uncomfortable
afterwards?
Lions love
to be in charge. They could not know
a lick about chess and still think they
could lead the high school chess team
to victory as the team captain. Fearless
and competitive, lions are constantly on
the prowl to prove that their purpose in
life is to stand at the top of any mountain,
regardless of the challenge. Lions – How
many clubs are you president for at school?
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by your responsibilities?
The colorful
peacocks, unlike the owls, can make decisions
by the seat of their pants as long as
it leads them in the general direction
of their goals. As long as their not
alone, most peacocks can take chances
due to their personal reservoir of optimism.
Peacocks are confident that no matter what
direction they are headed, they’ll
eventually get where they need to go. Peacocks – What
is it that makes you so confident and outgoing?
Koalas are
friendly to everyone. They are accommodating,
reasonable, and patient. Koalas are willing
to lend you an ear if you need to vent
about a stressful day. Koalas – How often do you put the
needs of others in front of your own? How
do you stand up for yourself when you need
to – or do you?
We
want to know what you think!
Each personality type has different strengths,
but sometimes strengths can become weaknesses
when taken too far. What is the weakness
of your personality type? What do you
struggle with the most, and how do you
try to fight it?
To cast your
vote on the LeadAmerica online
poll and view previous poll results,
visit www.lead-america.org/alumni.

BOOKS IN REVIEW
Looking for a good book to read? As
part of our commitment to providing you with
exciting ways to learn and grow, LeadAmerica’s
Associate Director of Academics, Mr. Andrew
Potter, will provide a monthly review of
a recent publication. If you like what you
see, visit your local bookstore or Amazon.com
to read more. In addition, take some time
to visit the Alumni Reading Room at www.lead-america.org/alumni.
We have several reading lists to pique your
interest: Leadership, Government, Military & Foreign
Policy, and Bestsellers. Take a look! And
keep checking back – there’s
more to come!
Letters from Leaders
Reviewed by Andrew H. Potter, MA; Director
of Academics (Humanities)
Title: Letters
from Leaders
Author: Henry
O. Dormann, ed. (The Lyons Press, 2009)
Theme: Advise
to future ambitious leaders from the
leaders of today
Subject(s): Leadership
Level: Middle
School and High School
Review:
In what represents
a truly ambitious project, Henry O. Dormann, the
Chairman and Editor in Chief of LEADERS magazine,
has collected letters from nearly eighty
of the most prominent leaders of the latter
half of the Twentieth Century. What
makes the volume extremely valuable is
that the letters are addressed directly
to the current rising generation of young
leaders. This small tome is replete
with advice from American Presidents, Royalty,
Fortune 500 CEO’s, Nobel Prize Winners,
Foreign Dignitaries and Media Moguls
with the stated purpose of facilitating
the transfer of collective wisdom on leadership
from the current generation to the next.
Over the course
of about 250 pages, the current generation
of leaders identifies the beacons of
leadership that can provide light for
the rising leaders of the 21rst Century. These beacons include the
necessary attributes or attitudes of “Optimism”, “Passion”, “Commitment”, “Values”, “Integrity” and “Work
Ethic”. For the Former President
and current Prime Minister of Russia, “Diligence
is the mother of success”. Renown
journalist, Walter Cronkite expounds, “There
are no short cuts to perfection” while
Donald Trump reminds the future that “Adversity
is very often an opportunity in disguise”. The
diversity of voices, professions and perspectives
provides a validity to the arguments that
is nearly absent from any other work on
leadership available to readers today.
If there is
one repeated theme throughout the book,
it is this: “Leadership
is hard work. It is not to be approached
lightly; its practice will demand everything.” For
a generation that must confront economic
risk, global terrorism, weapons of mass
destruction, climate change and civil unrest
throughout large portions of the globe,
this book will prove to be both encouragement
and motivation. Perhaps the sage
advice from the former President of the
USSR, Mikhail Gorbachev, summarizes the
concern of each writer as they ponder the
challenges that await the leaders of the
21rst Century: “Do not be afraid
of life”. Courage, conviction
and the values that must lie at the heart
of principled leadership will empower the
rising generation just as they provided
the sustenance for the generation that
is soon exit. This book exists as
a simple testament to this timeless truth
and is highly recommended.
LEADING IN YOUR COMMUNITY
by Jennafer
Vondal
Are you looking for
better ways to serve your community? We
have a few ideas for monthly service projects.
Try some of the following for the months
of September/October; send us your group’s
photos or the story of your success and
you may be featured in the LeadAmerica
Alumni Newsletter.
School Success
Month – September
How can you
improve in school for the 2009 – 2010
year? When you begin school in the fall
find ways in which you and your classmates
can make this year successful. Involve
the whole student body in a project that
promotes doing well in school. Some ideas
may include a book drive, donating your
time to tutor other students, or recruit
parents to volunteer in classrooms to
assist teachers Others ideas include
setting a tutor based program at your
school that offers students the chance
to get help with homework or designing
a incentive based program with the help
your teacher that encourages students
to become involved and do well. Get together
with other students, clubs, or educators
to create ideas that advocate achievements
in school.
For more information about National School
Success Month, visit http://www.parentingwithoutpressure.com/holidays/nssm.htm.
Breast
Cancer Awareness Month - October
In 2009, Breast Cancer Awareness Month
is celebrating 25 years of educating and
promoting awareness to women about breast
cancer. BCAM takes place annually and is
organized by numerous charities to help
raise funds for prevention, care, and research.
The Race for the Cure was established in
1983 as a charity event to raise money
for breast cancer. Today, there are a variety
of different ways charities or organizations
that help people become more knowledgeable
about breast cancer.
Gather some
friends or classmates to organize a fundraiser
or an event at school to gather donations.
Get involved in what your local community
is doing to raise funds toward the cause
or organize a team to participate in
the Race for the Cure. The team could
get sponsored from a local business or
organization. You may even be able
organize an event in your community.
For more information on Breast Cancer
Awareness Month, visit http://www.nbcam.org/.
A
Safety Reminder…
Before beginning any service project, there
are a few requirements you should follow:
- Whether
it is club-related or a school-wide
event, you should receive approval from
a school administrator for your activity.
- Find a sponsor! Ask
an educator to provide guidance for
the duration of you activity.
- Are you
covered? Depending on
the complexity of the service project,
you may need a parent/participant waiver
to protect everyone involved. Ask
your school administrator if a waiver
is necessary for the activity.
- Goal! Every project needs to
have a purpose, an objective…a
goal! What’s yours?
- Extra! Extra!
Read all about it! Get
your community involved! Ask the
local paper or radio station to highlight
your efforts; post information on the
school bulletin board and speak out during
assembly. The more people who know
and are willing to help, the better the
event.
- Remember: Safety first in your
volunteer activities! Look ahead
and determine if any danger exists and
how you can minimize or eliminate this
danger. Make your events memorable
for all individuals involved.

THE PROGRAM PLACE
What a successful
summer we had here at LeadAmerica with our
many conferences! Check out some of the highlights
we had in our various programs…
 |
 |
| (M & S) Students
attending Discover Medicine & Science
at Johns Hopkins University get
hands on training in the
practices of first aid from various
emergency responders from the Hopkins
Emergency Response Organization (HERO). |
(MED) “Frank”,
a robotic patient simulator at Rosalind Franklin University of
Medicine & Science, challenges
students attending the Chicago Medicine & Healthcare
program to think on their feet in
a critical care situation. |
 |
 |
| (Leadership) Students
at Leadership University cultivate
gardens at a therapeutic horticultural
center and did MUCH more! |
(JWC) Junior
War College students working through
a High Ropes Course challenge at
Pine Valley in Dahlonega, GA. |
 |
 |
| (AVI) Aviation
and Aeronautics students at Lanier
Flight Center in Gainesville, GA
take a photo opportunity prior to
individually piloting a flight. |
(GLS) Global
Leadership Summit students attend
a briefing at the Embassy of Saudi
Arabia and have the opportunity to
try on traditional garments. |
 |
 |
| (GBE) Students
at Global Business & Entrepreneurship
at Stanford University visit the
HQ of Facebook, Inc and Yahoo! |
(Law) An
attorney questions a witness in the
Law Trial & Advocacy mock trial
at Stanford University. |
 |
 |
| (EGT) The
European Grande Tour group got a
taste of eastern Europe in Prague's
historical city center. |
(NLS) Kitty
from Louisiana, met with US Senator,
David Vitter (R Louisiana), for a
brief discussion and individual photo
on the front steps of the United
States Senate. Quote: "It was
really great to meet someone so influential
from my state. It really was a once
in a lifetime opportunity!" |
 |
 |
| (MEJ) Media & Journalism
in New York went to the CBS morning
show, filming on the USS Intrepid.
Some students take a picture with
Maggie Rodriguez |
(ENG) At
the Engineering & Science conference
at Franklin W. Olin College, teams
design a robot using a Lego Mindstorm
Kit with the intention of winning
a tug-of-war match against other
student teams. This activity focuses
on design aspects such as planning,
forces, friction, and torque. |
 |
|
| (NSC) National
Security and Counterintelligence
students visit Quantico Marine Corp
Base and board a Marine aircraft. |
|

2009
ALUMNI REWARDS PROGRAM
The 2009 LeadAmerica Alumni Rewards
Program is now available on the Alumni Website!
LeadAmerica has tailored the Alumni Rewards
Program to offer MORE opportunities to
our Alumni Scholars and provide resources
that will enhance the LeadAmerica Alumni
Program experience. To view the revised
program guidelines, visit www.lead-america.org/alumni.
The 2009 Alumni Rewards Program will go
into effect on April 15th, 2009. All claims
under the 2008 Alumni Rewards Program must
be redeemed by April 14th, 2009. Points
not redeemed by April 14th, 2009 will be
carried over into the 2009 Alumni Rewards
Program and subject to the revised program
criteria.

NOMINATE
A FRIEND!
Share the excitement of leadership with
your classmates, friends, and family members
by nominating them to a LeadAmerica
Conference! You will even earn 3
Rewards points when you nominate! Just
go to the alumni website at www.lead-america.org/alumni and
click Nominate Classmates.
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