County Chamber Makes $8,000 Available in Scholarship Program

Livingston County Chamber of Commerce/LCEA (Livingston County Education Alliance) will award up to four $2,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors attending college in 2008. The Chamber’s scholarship program is now accepting applications. Application forms are available at the Chamber office, 4635 Millennium Drive, Geneseo, 243-2222, at all high school guidance departments, and on this website:

• 2008 High School Scholarship Award Application
• 2008 High School Scholarship Award Guidelines

Helen Zamboni, lawyer with Underberg & Kessler, is chairing the Scholarship Committee. The committee has determined contest criteria and will judge all applications. Sponsors, New York State Department of Labor JSEC (Job Services Employer Committee), Genesee Valley Motors and the Livingston County Chamber Agriculture Committee fund two of the awards.

The awards are categorized in two areas: an essay competition for students living in Livingston County, applications are available at all Livingston County high school guidance offices and at the Chamber website, www.livingstoncountychamber.com and a project presentation competition for Genesee Valley BOCES C.G. May Center students, with at least one scholarship going to a student with an interest in agriculture. Vocational students should contact the C.G. May Center office at 658-7900 for information.

"Once again, LCEA and the Chamber are proud to be part of this long standing community initiative," says Chamber President and Executive Director of LCEA, Cynthia Oswald. "The scholarship program is one of the ways business supports education in Livingston County."

Applications must be postmarked by Friday, May 2, 2008. Recipients will receive a cash award to be used for their college or technical career training expenses. In addition, recipients will be guests of the Chamber at the annual Business & Industry Day Awards Luncheon on Friday, June 20, 2008 to be held at the Genesee River Restaurant in Mount Morris.

Livingston County Education Alliance Leadership Institute - "Building a Leadership Legacy"

Programs and Events:

"Facing the Future through Collaboration, Action and Reflection"

Leadership Livingston - Implemented in 2001 a ten-month certificate program presenting the issues facing our towns, villages, businesses and not-for-profit organizations through hands-on experiences on site around Livingston County. This program utilizes key county leaders as guest speakers to send the message of collaboration to enhance the quality of life for our community. Community Service is a prerequisite to completion.

Leadership II - Implementation, January 2008. An "overnight" experience to renew friendships and increase knowledge of the newest trends in leadership training. Certificate program consists of, Afternoon seminar, networking, dinner with speaker, breakfast with speaker. Included with completion certificate, the book, "Do the Right Things Right" by Dick Palermo.

Leadership for Living - Implementation, September 2007. Ongoing group to address the leadership needs of young professionals and create a "think tank" addressing the out-migration of youth from the county and area. Involvement in community service/volunteerism will be part of the mission of this group.

Discovery Leadership - Projected implementation 2009. Program to help retirees identify their strengths and interests to address the needs of organizations and businesses in Livingston County for support, advice and leadership from experienced retired community members through volunteerism.

Leadership Roundtable - Projected implementation, end of 2008. A program to encourage CEO's, Business owners, Organization directors and community leaders to share with each other valuable leadership skills and tools. A series of working lunches with a facilitator and follow up using state of the art technology.

Leadership Reunion - implemented in 2006 this every five years event celebrates and renews the connections of leadership graduates.

Livingston County Education Alliance (LCEA), a not-for-profit corporation that is tax-exempt under Internal Revenue code section 501(c) and recognized as a public charity by the IRS, is pleased to announce that Cynthia Oswald, President of the Livingston County Chamber of Commerce and Deborah Cisco, Financial Administrator for the Livingston County Chamber of Commerce have been named LCEA's first employees. Cynthia and Deborah will serve in dual roles for both LCEA and its affiliate the Chamber of Commerce.

The Board of Directors, under the guidance of Chairman, Jim Coniglio, is looking at LCEA to become a resource for various educational initiatives of other local organizations. "This is an exciting opportunity for Livingston County. Creating LCEA gives us the capacity to grow educational and philanthropic programs in the appropriate venue," said Cynthia Oswald.

For information about LCEA programs and initiatives, please call 585-243-2222.