Leadership Haywood, offered by UNC Asheville's Community Leadership Program, kicked off its 13th year with a two-day retreat for its newest class January 18-19 at Lake Junaluska.

Participants will meet every other week through May to learn first-hand about education, politics, local government, the arts, health and the environment, and the economics of the region.  The program includes a two-day trip to Raleigh designed to facilitate communication between Haywood County residents and elected state officials.

“It’s important that Haywood participants know how the state legislature really works, so they can make an impact,” said Dr. Carol Schramm, Leadership Program director.  “By the time the trip is over, participants feel they know how to get a bill that is important to Western North Carolina through this very complex process.”

Some 250 people have graduated from the program.  Many graduates are helping to strengthen the Leadership Haywood Alumni Association, which encourages members to run for county office.

Members of Leadership Haywood 13 are: Greg Boothroyd, Smoky Mountain News; Scott Buffkin, Town Manager, Maggie Valley; Shannon Clark, Haywood Regional Medical Center; Bill Cole, Retired Colonel, U.S. Air Force; Debbie Davis, Haywood Community College; Ira Dove, Haywood County Department of Social Services; Joyce Golden, Joe Sam Queen, Architect AIA; Alice Gralak, Southern Exposure Realty; Ellis Morris, Sunburst Realty; Beth Osbahr, Haywood Pediatrics; LaNeah Parton, Haywood County Government; Theresa Phillips, Haywood County Department of Social Services; Sherri Rogers, Haywood County Government; Wallace Simmons, NC Cooperative Extension; Claire Stewart, Haywood County Government; Kent Stewart, Sloan's Book Shop; Cynthia Webb, Haywood Community College; Bob Wood, Haywood County Government.

For more information, call UNCA’s Leadership Programs at 828/251-6125.