Pebble Club: 2015 Campaign, Part 4

The final post in our Pebble Club series introduces you to three more donors. Meet Ted, Hope, and Viancca:

Ted Grossnickle
Connection to LeaderShape: 
Cluster Facilitator at Campus Session, Summer 2011
On-Site Coordinator at National Session, Summer 2011

Why I support LeaderShape through the Pebble Club:
I believe in supporting organizations that align with my core values and make a positive change in society.  At one point in my life, I was able to dedicate time to LeaderShape, and hope to again in the future.  Currently not having the schedule flexibility to be directly involved with LeaderShape sessions, I embrace the opportunity to stay connected via monetary support as a member of the Pebble Club.  I am proud to know that I am part of the support group that contributes to the advancement of this wonderful organization.

One piece of advice I would share with someone participating in a LeaderShape program is:
Embrace the opportunity.  Fully embrace it.  Diving in head first to this experience will be a decision you never regret when reflecting on how positively such a short amount of time could be so impactful on your life.

I live the lessons and mission of LeaderShape in my own life by/through:
Currently, I am the Director of the Michigan Creativity Association - an organization charged with creating the next generation of innovative thinkers and leaders.  I have the opportunity to live the lessons of LeaderShape by creating opportunities for K-12 students to live, lead, and learn with integrity in a creative exploration context.  Embracing a healthy disregard for the impossible, I have taken on the monumental task of providing international learning experiences for students, which have included trips to Beijing, China and Wrocław, Poland for global celebrations of student creativity.

Hope Miller Miles
Connection to LeaderShape: 
Our institution hosted the Catalyst program and has also sent students to the annual Leadershape Institute hosted by Baltimore Collegetown organization. I am also a close personal friend of Leadershape staff member Kristen Bendon Hyman.

Why I support LeaderShape through the Pebble Club:
I believe that everyone should have the opportunity to take part in this life-changing program and I fully believe in the mission of Leadershape.

One piece of advice I would share with someone participating in a LeaderShape program is: Go in with an open mind, open heart, and be open to learning something you might not have recognized in yourself and in others.

I live the lessons and mission of LeaderShape in my own life by/through:
Living with passion and remembering to make each day an opportunity to impact the world around me.


Viancca Williams

Connection to LeaderShape:

Co-Lead Facilitator

Why I support LeaderShape through the Pebble Club: 

I believe LeaderShape is the preeminent leadership and personal development program in the nation for college students. The focus on leading with integrity and having a healthy disregard for the impossible lines up with my values set and gives me hope for a better world.

One piece of advice I would share with someone participating in a LeaderShape program is: Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable! This allows you to reflect in a deeper manner on who you are and allows others to see that you’re human. 

I live the lessons and mission of LeaderShape in my own life by/through: 

Reflecting on my values daily and making sure that my decisions and actions match those values

If you are ready to join the Pebble Club, you can do so by visiting the Donate page on our website. Don't forget to click the "Pebble Club" box. 

Pebble Club: 2015 Campaign, Part 3

Here it is! The third post (here are the first and second) in our Pebble Club series. We are excited for you to meet donors Maddie, Randy, and Maureen:

Maddie Brink

Connection to LeaderShape:

I graduated from the Institute in May of 2013. 

Why I support LeaderShape through the Pebble Club:

I support Leadershape through the Pebble Club because I genuinely believe in the ideals of Leadershape. I wish everyone could experience Leadershape because it has made my life so much fuller. I hope Leadershape becomes a huge community.

One piece of advice I would share with someone participating in a LeaderShape program is:

Be aware of how large the Leadershape community already is before you became a part of it. Be humble because you are not the first person to experience something so life-changing. Reach out to the broader community and pay attention to stories. This way, you will be okay existentially as you ponder on whether or not Leadershape is something different from the "real" world.

I live the lessons and mission of LeaderShape in my own life by/through: 

The way I embody Leadershape is by repeating it like a mantra in my mind. There are some situations where I feel anxious or unsure of how my own behavior is going to affect other people. Whenever I say Leadershape in my mind for myself, I feel more comfortable just being me. Whenever I do so, my heart feels calmer and I can better serve myself and the people near me.

Randy Lewis

Connection to LeaderShape:

Co-Lead Faciliator

Why I support LeaderShape through the Pebble Club:

It is another way that I can try to make a difference in someone's life. I love the teachings

and learnings of LeaderShape's Institute program and all it stands for!  

One piece of advice I would share with someone participating in a LeaderShape program is:  Hold On! It's a bit of a wild ride, and at times it starts to seem like another class or workshop you have taken, but believe me it's not. 

I live the lessons and mission of LeaderShape in my own life by/through:

Being the highest level of integrity I can at work and within my personal life! The value of my word is huge for me so I will always follow through what I promise in doing!  

Maureen Metcalf

Connection to LeaderShape: 

Former leader in residence for LeaderShape and also author who collaborates with

LeaderShape and donates portion of books

Why I support LeaderShape through the Pebble Club: 

I believe that developing solid young leaders is directly tied to the quality of future for our country. The work LeaderShape does is highly significant in accomplishing the goal of building strong young leaders

One piece of advice I would share with someone participating in a LeaderShape program is: Take it seriously – get as much out of it as you can. What you learn now will shape the rest of your life!

I live the lessons and mission of LeaderShape in my own life by/through: 

My clarity about my own mission /vision and living those every day. My life is dedicated to living my dream to make the world a better place.

If you are ready to join the Pebble Club, you can do so by visiting the Donate page on our website. Don't forget to click the "Pebble Club" box. 

Pebble Club: 2015 Campaign, Part 2

As we mentioned in our previous blog post, the Pebble Club is up and running and accepting new members. We are using this campaign as an opportunity to introduce some of the great people who make up the Pebble Club. 

Meet Lindsay, Ally, and Zauyah:

Lindsay Carpenter

Connection to LeaderShape: 

In 1999, I was Director of Training for Nordstrom on the West Coast. My counterpart for the Midwest Region had attended the Institute as an undergrad at KU, then years later volunteered to be a Cluster Facilitator at a national session. He returned from that experience and called to tell me he'd signed me up to be a Cluster Facilitator! I protested - no time - but ended up doing it anyway and the rest is history - I was hooked!

Why I support LeaderShape through the Pebble Club:

The question should be why not support Pebble Club? Why miss the opportunity to show support for an organization I work for and totally believe in and represent when I facilitate? For a very nominal fee you also get a T-shirt - how cool is that!!!

One piece of advice I would share with someone participating in a LeaderShape program is:

When participating in a LeaderShape experience, approach with an open mind and just let it happen. No two experiences will ever be the same. Facilitating the Institute reaffirms my value system and solidifies my passions. Plus the conversations that ensue during that week are far more profound than those I normally have with life-long friends.  It is a special time, savor every minute.

I live the lessons and mission of LeaderShape in my own life by/through: 

I look at my prioritized values all the time and strive to live life according to those values. In retirement, I am giving back to my community on a daily basis through volunteer work. By being the best authentic me, I make my immediate surroundings a more just, thriving, caring space.

Ally Vertigan​
Connection to LeaderShape: 

​2009 Elmhurst College Institute participant, 2010 Elmhurst College Institute On-Site Coordinator​.

Why I support LeaderShape through the Pebble Club: 

​LeaderShape instilled in me a belief that one person can make a difference, in any cause and in any circumstance. It also taught me that being idle in the pursuit of justice is not an option; it will take all of us to create a just, caring, and thriving world.

One piece of advice I would share with someone participating in a LeaderShape program is:
Trust the process! Give yourself fully to it and allow yourself to experience each activity as if it were the first time.​

I live the lessons and mission of LeaderShape in my own life by/through: 

​Thinking deeply and critically about my decisions, particularly how they match up with my values of integrity, authenticity, and relationship.

Zauyah Waite

Connection to LeaderShape: 

I was recommended and applied to be a Cluster Facilitator for the Institute. I participated in the June 2000 Institute held at Allerton Park in Illinois.

Why I support LeaderShape through the Pebble Club:

After I  participated in the Institute in 2000, I was sold for life. I have sponsored students from the universities I served since then and supporting LeaderShape through the Pebble Club is just one more natural progressive move.

One piece of advice I would share with someone participating in a LeaderShape program is:

Keep an open mind take in everything to gain lessons that will last a life time.

I live the lessons and mission of LeaderShape in my own life by/through: 

Although it has been 15 years since I was a facilitator at a session of the Institute, the experience affirmed for me that the best way to live and lead is with integrity. I have also strived to connect and serve alongside others who want to improve and reach their highest potential while contributing positively to their communities.

If you are ready to join the Pebble Club, you can do so by visiting the Donate page on our website. Don't forget to click the "Pebble Club" box. 

Pebble Club: 2015 Campaign, Part 1

Not too long ago we started the Pebble Club, a giving campaign for LeaderShape. 3 years and almost 300 members later, the Pebble Club is going strong. And now it's time to kick off this year's campaign! 

The Pebble Club is filled with wonderful LeaderShape community members and advocates - and we want to introduce you to some of them! We hope you enjoy learning about our donors and why they are a part of the Pebble Club. Maybe you'll even be inspired to think about your own responses to the questions we posed to them. 

And now, the first post in our series. Meet Anne and Zak.

Anne Arseneau

Connection to LeaderShape: 

Devoted Fan and Supporter! Current Co-Lead Facilitator, former staff member, Cluster Facilitator, and my favorite role…On-Site Coordinator.

Why I support LeaderShape through the Pebble Club:

I’m privileged to be able to give my time and talent to groups that I care about. The Pebble Club is one small way to support LeaderShape. And on a deeply personal note related to the pebble used on Day 6 at the Institute, I actually played a part in adding that into the curriculum way back in the mid-90’s. While I was on staff at LeaderShape, I attended a workshop that closed out their activities using the metaphor of the ripple effect and each participant was given a pebble as a reminder. I thought it was a great metaphor and way to remember and would be a perfect thing to enhance how we close out a session of The LeaderShape Institute. It’s been a part of the curriculum ever since – so I feel a special personal connection to the Pebble Club!

One piece of advice I would share with someone participating in a LeaderShape program is:

Come prepared for introspection, connection, relationship building, and some fun!

I live the lessons and mission of LeaderShape in my own life by/through:

It’s helped me stay in the practice of being committed to being a person of integrity.  I try to work hard every day to be someone who can be trusted and respected by the people I am in relationship with. And when I mess up, I try to admit, apologize, and attend as quickly as possible.

Zak Bittinger
Connection to LeaderShape: 
Ohio State - 2010 Institute Participant, 2011 Steering Committee Member, 2012 On-Site Coordinator

Why I support LeaderShape through the Pebble Club: 

LeaderShape is a constant inspiration for why I'm in medical school. If the program can drive me to believe in myself and my vision, I know it can inspire students (and everyone else!) to achieve amazing things. And I want to help that happen in any way I can.

One piece of advice I would share with someone participating in a LeaderShape program is:

Live the program every day. Everyone gets swept up in the beauty of LeaderShape while they're participating because it's so enlightening and uniting. But it takes real strength, courage, and conviction to continue living your vision each and every Day 7.

I live the lessons and mission of LeaderShape in my own life by/through: 

Being a patient advocate. As a medical student I'm in a position where I can spend more time with patients--I can sit with them, talk with them, and listen to them and it doesn't even necessarily have to be about their conditions. I try to build my own little just, caring, thriving world inside those rooms by letting patients express themselves even while they may be suffering.

If you are ready to join the Pebble Club, you can do so by visiting the Donate page on our website. Don't forget to click the "Pebble Club" box. 

Community and the LeaderShape Website

Along with a brand new, beautiful website, we have a new area on the LeaderShape website. Its focus is on the LeaderShape community.

If you click on the menu bar to the left of the HOME button, which can be found on the upper left of the main page, you will see that there is now a COMMUNITY area. From here you can subscribe to our Daily Inspiration email as well as to our weekly Live It! e-newsletter. You can also join the Pebble Club, learn about our partnerships, and get latest media and press information.

We are pretty excited to have an area on the website that is dedicated to community. There’s more to see though!

If you go back to the main page and scroll to fourth section down (it’s orange), you’ll find more community-oriented information.

The first thing you’ll probably notice is that there are a lot of numbers there! We see possibility in these numbers. The possibility of each member of the LeaderShape community finding their purpose, their path, their place. The possibility of making the world a more just, caring, and thriving place. We are hopeful (and perhaps even expectant) that as these numbers increase that, as more people become a part of the LeaderShape community, the problems in our world will decrease.

You’ll also find a “Connect With” section among all these awesome numbers. This is where you can interact with and get content from LeaderShape’s Facebook, Twitter feed, and Instagram on a daily basis. A little LeaderShape every day, folks!  In addition to posting articles, videos, and LeaderShape updates, we see social media as yet another way to connect with each other. Consider yourself invited to interact with us on these platforms!

We’re eager for you to check out this section of the new website and let us know what you think. Drop a note in the comments after you check it out.

About LeaderShape

We recently launched our new website. It’s been pretty thought provoking, busy, interesting, busy, and all the other things that a project of this size brings. But mostly it has been exciting.

When you are clicking around on the new site, we hope you’ll take some time to visit the ABOUT page. You can find it by clicking on the menu bar to the left of the HOME button, which can be found on the upper left of the main page.

It on this page that people can connect with the reason behind the organization’s work and programs: our Mission and Vision.

You’ll also be able to learn a little more about Who We Are, our Board of Trustees, and how to contact us.

We’ve included the Donate area in the ABOUT section as well. As we considered how we wanted to demonstrate who we are and what we do online, we were again reminded how significant our donors are to LeaderShape. It is through the gifts from these generous folks (maybe you are one of them!) that participants are able to attend national sessions of the Institute at a discounted cost. Our donors are about LeaderShape. And now people have the opportunity to join this meaningful group through the Donate section of the ABOUT page. As a not-for-profit, it is also something we are about.

Thanks for walking through the ABOUT section of the website with us. Let us know what you think in the comments section. 

LeaderShape Video Launch

What is LeaderShape?

Who is LeaderShape?

What happens during a LeaderShape program?

We get a lot of questions about LeaderShape the organization and about the programs we offer. Folks can learn about us by reading our mission and vision, read about how our programs impact participants, and by checking out our web-presence on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

We love when we have the opportunity to speak with someone about LeaderShape, and we also realize that much of what people learn about us comes from words on a screen. That is helpful in a lot of ways, for sure! But now we have something to share that more actively captures the energy and essence of LeaderShape.

We are so excited to reveal our new video re-introducing you to LeaderShape, our programs, and our new brand. We hope you enjoy watching it!  Listen to the message, check out our new logos, and pass it along.

A shout out to the amazing staff at Surface51! They have worked diligently to come to know our organization and have done an outstanding job capturing the essence of LeaderShape and our programs in this video. Be sure to check out more of their work at www.surface51.com.