Change Leader Institute in Idaho---Lessons from Geese             < home

Michelle Coleman-Community Development Director

The first day I began working at the Idaho Commission on the Arts, I had a surprising and somewhat alarming visit from a goose that happened to smash into my office window.  The sound of the bird crashing into my old window pane was so loud that it brought my new colleagues out of their offices to see what, in fact, the new gal was doing to create such a racket.  I sat stunned as the goose and I were nose to nose, separated by a thin pane of glass and both of us trying to assess any possible damage as a result of the abrupt, awkward landing.  The flock that accompanied the seemingly misdirected bird, sat on the rooftop of the house next door, apparently waiting for us both to collect ourselves.   Little did I know at the time, that the symbolism of that moment would eventually play out as a significant theme in my work in community development with the Idaho Commission on the Arts. 

Last spring I attended a workshop presented by the Utah Division of Arts and Museums called the Change Leader Institute.  This program, developed by Utah’s community development director Anna Boulton and business executive Don Wilhem, is a three-day intensive that is designed to bring together artists and arts administrators for a very unique, professional development intensive.  This fall, along with my fellow Change Leaders, I certified in the Change Leader Program and was witness to the culminating community art projects all developed as a result of this program.

The Change Leader Institute is based on the premise that geese, yes, the very variety that are in abundance around the Commission building, have an inherent sense of leadership and teamwork that is worthy of human admiration.  The first lesson in the Change Leader Program uses the example that…”As each bird flaps its wings in a flock, it creates “uplift” for the bird following.  By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if the bird flew alone.”  When it comes to working together as a team, geese rock, and geese as an analogy is used throughout the process of the Change Leader Programs.

Those who attend the three-day Change Leader Institute go on to certify in the program by conducting an arts project in their own community.  The follow-up components for the Change Leader Program include, Leadership Circles, Change Leader conferences, participation in a social networking site and further professional development training.  The goal of the program is to both better equip arts and cultural leaders to deal with environmental and organizational change, but also to create a statewide mentoring network in the arts and cultural community.

This March (2011) the ICA invited representatives from the all the regions of Idaho to participate in the first Change Leader Institute in Idaho.  The Institute was hosted in part by the ICA and UDAM and was lead by Anna Boulton and Don Wilhelm who have been presenting the workshops in Utah for the past several years. 
In Idaho, in the months following the three day institute, there will be another training scheduled to “train the trainers”.  Arts administrators from Idaho will train with ICA staff and Anna and Don, in order to host future Change Leader Institutes, in their own regions.

Change Leader Institute Objectives
*Develop leadership and professionalism in the arts community
*Provide in -depth arts administrative training
*Prepare cultural leaders to recognize and be a catalyst for needed change in their organization and community
*Create a support and mentoring network
*Establish a committed training delivery system
*Develop a creative leadership infrastructure in the state and across borders.

List of Participants for Change Leader Pilot Program in Idaho---March 14-16, 2011

Southwest Region           
1. Terri Schorzman   Boise City Arts and History Department   Phone: 208- 433-5672  TSchhorzman@cityofboise.org
2.  Sally Cruser, Mountain Home Arts Council, Phone: (208) 587-3706
 mh-arts@qwestoffice.net

East Region
3.  Jill Barnes, Idaho Falls Arts Council, Phone: 208-522-0471 (ext 3, then ext 110) jbarnes@idahofallsarts.org

Central
4. Mary Hogue-Cerise, Salmon Arts Council, Phone 208-756-2987 cell 208-940-2268   salmonartscouncil@gmail.com
5. Mark Johnstone   POB 4350 Hailey   83333, 208-720-5578 cell     208-788-3788 w. markjohnstone@cox-internet.com

South Central
6. Robin Baumgartner, Magic Valley Arts Counci, Phone: 208-734-ARTS (2787) robin@twinfallscenter.org

South East
7. Paul Zmolek (choreographer), 155 Spence Place, 208-233-2494 Pocatello ID 83201, zmolpaul@isu.edu

North Central
8. Kathleen Burns, Moscow Arts Commission, Phone:  208- 883-7036  kburns@ci.moscow.id.us

North
9. Kim Queen, Pend Oreille Arts Council, Phone: 208 263-6139           
kim@artsinsandpoint.org

10. Cheryl Zainfeld, Coeur d'Alene Arts and Culture Alliance, Phone: 208-292-1629 or cheryl@cdachamber.com

Guest Participants:
11. Rick Sline-Utah Arts Council rsline@weber.edu
12. Karen Hanan-Arts Northwest   khanan@artsnw.org

Staff Support:
Michael Faison-ED Idaho Commission on the Arts michael.faison@arts.idaho.gov
Michelle Coleman    michelle.coleman@arts.idaho.gov

top