Message from the
2010-2011 Leadership Tomorrow Chair, Jana Ransom
(February 8, 2011)

Leadership Tomorrow (LT) is not a big organization.

In fact, one could even say that LT is a small organization: small, but vibrant! Its members are vigorous and engaged. In addition to fulfilling jobs, several alumni have been elected or appointed to local City Councils, Boards and Commissions. Since 1988 there have been three mayors, five council members, three water district officials, one school board member, one sanitation district official, six planning commissioners, one school district trustee, four parks and recreation commissioners and one arts commissioner. Dozens of our alumni have served on the Leadership Tomorrow Board of Directors and/or on Chamber Boards. 

Providing opportunities for community leaders to learn more about the needs and inner workings of the community is what happens during the course of the nine-month program, but what happens after one graduates, that community involvement, is what Leadership Tomorrow is all about. Especially during difficult times, which I believe most people would agree that these times are, the need for people to take on leadership roles in the community to help navigate us through, to make informed decisions based upon a knowledge of what and who is out there to help resolve the critical challenges our communities face, is one of the most important steps an LT alum can take.

It is with great pride that I return this year as chairman of the LT Board of Directors. The collective involvement of the Costa Mesa, Irvine and Newport Beach Chambers of Commerce and cities, the special districts, and our incredible non-profits help to keep this region at the forefront of many new trends. Like many non-profit organizations, Leadership Tomorrow is evaluating how to cope with less revenue coming in while maintaining service excellence. One of the changes we'll be making this year is our "Celebrating Leadership" event usually held in February will be held in June, in concert with the 2011 class graduation. 

Combining these two events allows us to introduce our new graduates to alumni and community leaders and at the same time bring a workshop speaker selected by the class who most impressed them with their leadership to this event celebrating the best our region has to offer. It should be an exciting evening.

We hope that you'll continue to stay connected to your LT classmates and friends through our website, LinkedIn page, Facebook and good old email. Let us know what you've been up to, update your information or send us a note at: info@leadershiptomorrow.org.

Sincerely, 

Jana Ransom, Class of ‘05
Leadership Tomorrow Chair, 2010-11