McDuffie urges Leadership Delray grads to get involved

The Leadership Delray Class of 2010, from left: Luis Correa; Evelyn Dobson; Kirsten Stanley; Stacy Beaulieu; David James; Joyce Chen; Dave Eberhart; Christina Morrison Pearce; name deleted; Shirley O'Neal McKennon; Suzette Franklin; Jennifer Siesel; Marcia Arseneault; and Lori Hayward. Not shown: Stephanie DeCou; Dr. Stefani Martin; Scott Privitera; Steve Shelby; and Victor Williams.

By Palm Beach Business.com

DELRAY BEACH — Get involved. Lead. It’s the American way. And there’s plenty of opportunity within Delray Beach to do so.

That was the message delivered to Leadership Delray’s 2010 class Tuesday morning at a graduation breakfast held at the Delray Golf Club and Restaurant. Members of the class received an inside look inside city and county government and the community at large through a seven-month course that began in October.

“Good leaders are made and not born,” Delray Beach Mayor Woodie McDuffie told 14 members of the graduating class present at the breakfast. “It’s a never-ending process. You may carry a title but that does not make you a leader.”

McDuffie made a pitch to the class to work on behalf of the city. He noted the 21 advisory boards and committees Delray Beach maintains and, three major nonprofit groups, including the Milagro Center, the Boys and Girls Club and the Knights of Pythagoras, where their leadership skills can be put to use. Delray also relies on volunteers — 438 at last count — to do jobs that otherwise would cost the city millions of dollars.

McDuffie told the graduates that leadership is not necessarily a permanent thing, that to be a leader means earning and maintaining the respect of those they lead.

“Never take it for granted, because it can be gone in one egotistical moment,” McDuffie said.

Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce President Mike Malone said getting involved in the community is an obligation that all must bear, that it’s part of the American system.

“Get involved and make it work,” Malone said.

Members of the Leadership Delray Class of 2010 are: Marcia Arseneault; Stacy Beaulieu; Joyce Chen; Luis Correa; Stephanie DeCou; Evelyn Dobson; Dave Everhart; Suzette Franklin; Lori Hayward; Dr. Stefani Martin; Christina Morrison Pearce; Shirley O’Neal McKennon; Scott Privitera; Candice Rojas; Steve Shelby Jennifer Siesel; Ryan Smart; Kirsten Stanley; and Victor Williams.

The 2010-11 session begins in October; the Delray Beach Chamber is accepting applications for the class through September 1.