The Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce officially welcomed 14 local community members into the Leadership Atmore class of 2012 Tuesday and Wednesday during the program’s annual retreat to Camp Beckwith in south Baldwin County.
Chamber Director Sheryl Vickery said the new class bonded quickly during the two-day trip.

“It went very good. It was very exciting,” Vickery said. “As the day went on they were working as a group and not as an individual.”

As has been the case in the past, Vickery said the 20th leadership class began the retreat a bit reserved but came out of the experience much closer and with more enthusiasm.

“Everybody had a great time,” she said. “They were very open. You get to know so much about each other because of the interacting. When you go off like that and you’re asked to do these kinds of projects, you begin to become a part of the plan. It teaches you how to work with each other.”

And work with each other they certainly did. Only minutes after emptying off the bus the 2012 leadership class got to work getting warmed up for a day of challenging group activities capped off by team building exercises on Beckwith’s high and low ropes courses.

Vickery said it was during the classes’ time on the camp’s ropes courses, which are comprised of a variety of levels including a zip line and a climbing wall, that the individuals chosen for this year’s class really came together in order to solve the differing problems presented by each new activity.

“It was fun to see how many people stepped up to the plate,” she said. “They began to work together and they began to understand each other.”

Following a day of bonding while problem solving and facing fears, the class got a chance to take it easy for a bit and enjoy some of the amenities offered by the camp, including outdoor activities along the banks of Weeks Bay.
The class finished the day with a meal courtesy of David’s Catfish House and some advice from members of the Leadership Atmore class of 2011.
Jennifer Chism, president of the leadership class of 2011, said the new class is full of energy and potential.

“Their group seems extremely dynamic,” Chism said. “They were very energetic and very cohesive. It was awesome to see.”

Just as classes before them, the 2012 group spent their second morning at Camp Beckwith taking the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator assessment, a test designed to identify personally traits and tendencies.
Vickery said she is especially excited to see her new classes’ results.

“What I’d like to see is who is and extrovert and who is an introvert,” she said. “I like to study these people and last year we had a lot of extroverts.”

Vickery added this year’s group is also diverse in other ways.

“This class is lot different than last year,” she said. “Last year we had a very young class. This year we have more of a wide spread of ages.”

Vickery and the 2012 class will get a clearer vision of their group soon enough as results of the tests are being analyzed and will be shared at the group’s first official session on Oct. 20.

In the mean time Vickery said she is simply excited about the new class and the year ahead.

“What I like about the program and being with them is seeing how they grow throughout the year. This group will be different than last year. They are always unique.”

Members of the Leadership Atmore class of 2012 are: Alex Alvarez, Poarch Band of Creek Indians; Crystal Daughtry PCI Gaming; Billy Harrison, Pepsi Cola Bottling Co.; Brenda Helton, Creek Indian Enterprises; Kathy Holland, First National Bank and Trust; Irvin Martin, We Care; Terri Metts, United Bank; Audrey Moon, State Farm Insurance; Jessica Pipkin, Alto Products Corp.; Crystal Sanchez, PCI Gaming; Susan Smith, Escambia County Board of Education; Brian Stallworth, Escambia County Board of Education (Rachel Patterson Elementary School); Yolanda Webster, Atmore Area YMCA; Carolyn Woods, Jefferson Davis Community College.