Leadership Carson graduates study community

Graduation is planned Thursday for 10 Carson-area residents who have completed a 10-month course to help them learn more about compelling issues and become involved in their community.

The Carson City Area Chamber of Commerce has sponsored the Leadership Carson City program since 1989. Up to 20 residents have taken the class each year.

This year's graduation ceremony is planned for 6 p.m. Nov. 21 at the Pi-on Plaza Resort, 2111 Highway 50 East. Retired Navy Capt. Ray Alcorn, a Vietnam prisoner of war, is the keynote speaker.

Leadership program graduates this year are: Darlene Bardsley, National Best Sellers; Jed Block, State Agent and Transfer Syndicate, Inc.; Gwen Currie, Fountainhead Associates Inc.; class President David Harrison, Carson City PC and network support; Martin Jones, business consultant; Mary McAlister, Carson City Human Resources; Sandee Stolt, Elliot Ames Nevada; Uno "Swede" Stolt, Millard Realty & Construction; Mike Riggs, Monarch Direct LLC; and class Vice President Lisa Sheppard, Nevada Parole and Probation.

Harrison, who works with city computer systems, said the two most interesting topics the class discussed were the tourism and gaming industry and the use of methamphetamine.

"We learned how much we are going to be affected by the Indian casinos" that will open soon in California, he said.

He said class members learned most of the Carson City Jail inmates have used methamphetamine or other drugs. "The cost of that is staggering," Harrison said.

"We try to get the foremost authority on the subject that the class discusses," said Karen Coleman, who works with the chamber to help organize Leadership Carson City.

For example, she said, classes included discussions of public safety and government structure. "So, we got the mayor and the city manager to speak," she said.

The class also heard speakers discuss leadership skills, gaming and tourism, health and human services, education, economic development, communications, the judicial system and arts and leisure.

To learn more about these topics, program participants toured sites such as plants and school campuses to get firsthand information about them.

Chamber officials said applications are being accepted for 2003 Leadership Carson City, which begins in March. Call 882-1565.