Six Navy civilian employees from naval facilities in Kitsap County have become part of the class of Leadership Kitsap 2008. This year’s
class of 32 total participants formally graduated in a ceremony in Poulsbo at Kiana Lodge, June 24.
Leadership Kitsap, a non-profit, volunteer organization, is a program that strives to promote the work of existing and emerging community
leaders who will potentially become instrumental in creating positive changes throughout Kitsap County.
The annual 10-month program includes educational seminars consisting of a series of day-long challenge days, one two-day retreat and a
leadership development day. The program begins in September and ends with a graduation ceremony in June of the following year.
With each graduating class, Leadership Kitsap prides itself on increasing the number of informed civic volunteers that understand the needs
of the community and who are committed to meeting its challenges.
“Each year, participants are formed into groups, bringing with them something they are passionate about to the table to focus on for the term.
Each group works on one project only,” said Kathy Nelson, Leadership Kitsap executive director.
This year’s class was made up of five groups and according to Nelson, group projects strongly emphasized youth concerns.
The 2008 group projects included: Smile Kitsap; Speak up for Education; Tenns4Teens; KKIDS (Kids involved in doing something); as well as
Project Homeless Resources.
“I feel changed in the way I think about a lot of the issues in Kitsap County,” said graduate Brandy Fend, Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Keyport
, and Smile Kitsap team member. Smile Kitsap focused on a children’s dental outreach campaign that distributed a variety of dental education materials
and resources with the help of Peninsula Community Health Services.
“At the beginning of the program I thought I knew the challenges facing the county, but soon realized I only knew about 10 percent of the issues,”
Fend added. “I feel a great sense of accomplishment and believe we exceeded our original goal.”
Fellow Smile Kitsap team member Patricia Hubler, Navy Region Northwest, agrees.
“When we delivered the “Treasure Your Teeth Boxes”, which included a toothbrush for every student, to the Bremerton Elementary Schools I felt a real
purpose in what we were doing. The reception of what we delivered was overwhelming and heart warming,” said Hubler.
Nelson said Leadership Kitsap always hopes the projects conceived by groups each year remain continuous throughout Kitsap County.
“Bringing in local organizations to partner in the projects each term often builds fruitful relationships,” she said.
For Hubler and Fend, the overall experience of participating in the Leadership Kitsap program will be long remembered, and both recommend those
experiences to anyone wishing to share in a sense of community with others.
“Leadership Kitsap provides an incredible venue of training through essential leadership discussions, exposure to community programs and opportunities
to become involved where you can make a difference,” said Hubler.
“If you can commit the time, have the energy and a passion for learning, the program is extremely worthwhile,” added Fend.
Other regional Navy employees graduating with the class of 2008 were Jessica White (KKIDS project), Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Keyport; Dave Rosenberg
(Speak up for Education project), Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility; Stormie Long (Teens4Teens project), PSNS-IMF; and Lucy
Leu (Speak up for Education); Fleet and Industrial Supply Center, Puget Sound. 
The candidates for the Leadership Kitsap class of 2009 have already been selected and recruiting for the class of 2010 will begin in January. For an overview of
the class and information on how to apply, go to: http://www.leadershipkitsap.org{{PERIOD}}

(Wes DeShano, CNRNW Public Affairs, contributed to this story.)