Program Requirements

Candidate Qualifications

Each year the Board selects from the pool of applicants a diverse class with respect to occupation, race/ethnicity, gender and geography. Priority consideration is given to those aged 28 through 42. All applicants should:

• have demonstrated a capacity for leadership in their chosen careers and have a likelihood of achieving positions of substantial responsibility;
• have achieved a record of civic activity and/or show a genuine interest in becoming more involved in the Greater Chicago civic arena;
• have shown a willingness and ability to commit the time and energy required to participate fully in the Leadership Greater Chicago program;
• reside currently in Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry or Will counties; and
• possess a clear ability to function well in a group such as this.

Financial Requirements – Fellows

Each Fellow is expected to personally contribute a minimum of $1,000. Each Fellow is also encouraged, depending on his or her circumstances, to contribute an additional $500.

Financial Requirements – Employer/Sponsor

The Employer/Sponsors are expected to contribute $17,500 to support the Leadership Greater Chicago program. This is a fellowship program and all applicants are eligible regardless of their own or their employer’s ability to support their participation. To ensure that a quality program is maintained, however, involvement in Leadership Greater Chicago’s Fellows Program carries the expectation that all Employers/Sponsors will contribute, or help generate support, to the best of their ability.

Meetings

To complete the Leadership Greater Chicago Fellows Program a Fellow is required to attend the following sessions during the course of a year:

• a 1 ½ day retreat in September (5th & 6th, 2008) and a 1 ½ day retreat in June (5th & 6th, 2009).
• from October to May, a full-day seminar, usually on the first Friday of each month, and two or three additional monthly meetings. The Friday sessions will be held on October 3, November 7, December 5 in 2008, and January 9, February 6, March 6, April 3, and May 1 in 2009.

Attendance Policy

Attendance at all the program events is expected. Fellows benefit from the program only if they are present to hear from the different leaders, visit the various communities and engage their colleagues in class discussion. Class members – and our speakers – expect the Fellow to be present. If, in the opinion of the Executive Director in consultation with the Fellow and officers of the Board, a Fellow is not receiving the full value of the program due to absences, the Fellow may be removed from the program. Since circumstances do arise which prevent attendance, Fellows are expected to notify the Executive Director in advance of the session.