Cottonwood and Jerome mayors selected for state-wide leadership academy

Cottonwood and Jerome mayors, Diane Joens and Nikki Check, are Fall 2012 class members of the Flinn-Brown Civic Leadership Academy. An initiative of the Flinn Foundation in Phoenix and co-sponsored by the Thomas R. Brown Foundations in Tucson, the mayors were accepted into the fourth class of the Academy.

“I am pleased to have Mayors Check and Joens participate in this Academy session. Strong and continued representation from the Verde Valley, Yavapai County, and all of northern Arizona is essential to the dialogue our classes have on pressing state-level issues. We have been fortunate to have had such leaders as Clarkdale Mayor Doug Von Gausig and Yavapai County Supervisor Chip Davis participate in past Academy sessions, and we look forward to growing the cadre,” said Nancy Welch, vice president of the Arizona Center for Civic Leadership, which administers the Flinn-Brown Academy.

Flinn-Brown Civic Leadership Academy is an intensive program to help expand the cadre of future state-level leaders with the skills, knowledge, and commitment to address Arizona’s long-term issues. The fourth class was selected in a highly-competitive process that involved a formal application and an in-person interview. The Leadership Council of the Arizona Center for Civic Leadership made the final selection of Fellows. The group began the Flinn-Brown Civic Leadership Academy on Sept. 7.

The Flinn-Brown Academy was created in 2010 to help prepare and support Arizona's future state-level civic leaders who wish to serve--whether full-time or part-time, paid or unpaid--as a member of a state board, commission, or advisory council; an elected official; a state government executive; or a policy advisor.

More than 100 Flinn-Brown Fellows can be found throughout the state, in cities and towns including Kykotsmovi, Flagstaff, Jerome, Cottonwood, Globe, Goodyear, Mesa, Tempe, Phoenix, Vail, Tucson, Safford, and others in between. Fellows represent a wide array of perspectives, walks of life, and employment backgrounds. The newest class includes leaders from Arizona's business, industry, nonprofit, education, government sectors--including current ad former elected officials.

The Academy is comprised of a 12-session seminar series that helps participants develop a better understanding of Arizona's most pressing public-policy issues, as well as the skills required to take the next steps into state-level civic leadership. Beyond the seminars, the Academy includes advising from a private- or public-sector leader, an         individual plan for civic leadership in Arizona, an alumni network, and continued learning opportunities.

The nonpartisan Academy's content is based on the critical issues facing Arizona.  Public-policy experts, scholars, current and former agency heads, elected officials, and other leaders--drawn from the public and private sectors--share with Fellows not only facts and figures, but also a wide variety of perspectives and leadership skills.

For a complete list of the Fall 2012 Flinn-Brown Civic Leadership Academy Fellows, click on http://azcivicleadership.org/blog/2012/09/03/announcing-the-fourth-class-of-flinn-brown-fellows-2/.

Interested in participating in the Academy? The Academy seminar series is presented in the fall and spring each year. Applications are now being accepted for the Spring 2013 cohort. See azcivicleadership.org for information about upcoming classes and subscribe to the free e-newsletter.

 

Mary Eichman Recipient of NACOG Accomplished Elder Award

 

 

 

It was my great honor to nominate Cottonwood volunteer Mary Eichman for the Northern Arizona Council of Governments Accomplished Elder Award. Mary received the recognition in Flagstaff on Oct. 4.

 

Now in her third term as Chairman of Cottonwood Bookmarks/Friends of the Library, Mary has guided the group pricing donated used books and keeping the book sale boutique stocked.  She can be found at the library at least twice a week.  Last year, during March and November, Mary worked almost daily at the month-long half price sales.  Writing publicity items and the Bookmarks portion of Library Lines are part of her service.  Mary is an avid reader who believes in the mission of the Bookmarks to encourage the use of the public library and to raise funds for it.  Shelving and patron computers were purchased with proceeds.  This was important due to lack of funds in the library budget.  Mary was appointed to complete the term of Dr. Jay Fleishman on the Library Board of Directors.

Mary's retirement role is as a volunteer in several areas that improve local quality of life.  For more than seven years she has volunteered her time and vehicle through Verde Valley Caregivers.  Mary has done friendly visiting, friendly phoning and business help.  She now specializes in transporting “neighbors” to medical appointments and shopping with or for them because the number of elderly and disabled needing assistance is growing.  Most of her time is spent with people living in Christian Care Apartments and Verde Manor.  In 2010, even though out of town for six weeks on vacation, she logged more than 100 days providing over 250 hours of service.  Totals were larger for 2011.

Mary especially appreciates the services provided by Old Town Mission.  In addition to monetary donations, she shops at Fry's during special sales and transports cases or bags of canned goods directly to the mission.   

Other local areas of interest are Verde Voices, Verde Valley Sinfonietta and Yavapai College Foundation.  Mary supports the Mayor's Walk-a -Mile event for the Senior Center, Relay for Life, Mingus Union High Interact Club, Zeke Taylor Barbecue and other fund-raisers for Clemenceau Museum. 

Mary donated a used sofa in good condition to Verde Valley Sanctuary with the intent that it would be given to an abused woman to help furnish her new apartment to start a better  life.   Mary is also the proud owner of a Stoney Harby original from the Mannheim gallery fund-raiser. 

Mary can be seen advocating on behalf of the citizens by making suggestions at city council meetings, and supporting local businesses around town during many events. 

Mary is willing and able to listen to all points of view and make informed decisions. She cares about sustaining a good quality of life in the city of Cottonwood and Verde Valley. She has a good sense of humor and loves dogs. She retired from the City of Mesa where she was a Police Records Shift Supervisor. She has lived in Cottonwood since 1999. She was born in Baraboo, Wisconsin at the St. Mary's Ringling Hospital which was one of the homes of the Ringling Brothers, of circus fame. In addition to working full-time, she raised three children who are productive adults with their own children and grandchildren. 

Mary is a dynamic bundle of energy who spends a good part of every day helping other people in the Verde Valley community.