As its ambitious community project, Leadership Ottawa County’s Class of 2019 raised funds and provided manpower to turn a small Port Clinton church into the much-needed Ottawa County Family Advocacy Center to house local social agencies. (Photo by D’Arcy Patrick Egan)

Ottawa County has become known for its wealth of community movers and shakers, the leaders who make a difference in helping their city, villages and townships grow and excel. Instrumental in making that happen over the last two decades has been the Leadership Ottawa County (LOC) program, which is now recruiting women and men for its Class of 2021.

LOC is an annual community leadership development program that brings community members and business leaders together to learn about Ottawa County from an insider’s perspective, as well as to share their own unique experiences and backgrounds with one another. Classes usually have a dozen or more members.

Class members are provided distinctive growth opportunities. They can learn more about their community through LOC’s intense, nine-month program that includes activities, field trips and a class project designed to broaden their perspectives and enhance their leadership skills.

Class discussion and experiences help students discover opportunities, and to apply their new leadership skills to address community need.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic and its restrictions, this year’s LOC Class of 2021 will attend the inaugural LOC Virtual Leadership Institute for both new and returning class members. Because in-person classes are not the norm right now, the Class of 2021 will have the chance to invest themselves in the class from their own homes on Tuesday evenings.

All class materials will be mailed to members of the Class of 2021 before the first class is held on Tuesday, Jan. 26. The Tuesday classes are generally held at 7 p.m. and run through March 30.

Class registration, however, is only open until Friday, Jan. 15, according to Program Director Carrie Sanchez, who can answer questions at 419-732-0339 or carrie.j.sanchez@gmail.com.

The course tuition is $179, with group rates of $129 per person for 3-5 people, $99 per person for 6 or more, and $49 for LOC alumni.

The link to register is: bit.ly/LOCApplication.

The goals for each class is to provide a meaningful Learning for Leadership experience; develop a strong network for collaboration in the community and throughout Ottawa County; and continue the mission of Leadership Ottawa County. For more information visit leadershipottawacounty.com

Class members also invest time and expertise to raise funding for a class project, and some projects have been surprisingly substantial. Two recent projects have been the creation of the Ottawa County Family Advocacy Center by remodeling an elderly church that had closed, in order to house a variety of social agencies; and establishing the Light House Sober Living House for Women in a local home. Both successful projects are in Port Clinton.