Chamber Graduates Leadership Mid Valley Class V

Leadership Mid Valley (LMV) graduated 15 students during a special ceremony on June 4th.

All of the students completed a nine-month program to further develop leadership skills and to become more knowledgeable about the Mid Valley and its challenges and opportunities. Monthly field trips were taken by the students in order for them to see firsthand how the Mid Valley businesses, agencies and government impact the community.  Agriculture, city and county government, healthcare, and local media are among the areas visited by the LMV class. The program began in October and ended in May.

The class and the steering committee selected Joel Vanderveer for his outstanding leadership in the class project for the 2010 Torch Award.  Class V, as a team, built a pergola for the Aurora House, a home for the terminally ill in Weslaco. The award was given at the graduation ceremony where Gloria Givilancz was selected by her peers to be the speaker for the class.  Her words of encouragement were an inspiration not only to the graduates, but to all attendees. 

Givilancz shared her thoughts with the class saying, “Leadership class has allowed us to become connected not only to our community but in a very personal way with each other. We asked questions, shared meals and had a little wine. I can honestly say this group was very close.  We have had an awesome education and now it is our responsibility to give back to our community.”

Leadership Mid Valley will be accepting applications for the 2010 - 2011 year in August. For more information, call the Weslaco Area Chamber of Commerce at 968-2102.