LeadersNow International | Building Boys into Leaders | Special Programs & Camps

LeadersNow International

Training Young Women to Lead, Now and in the Future!

By Janice Lane Palko

It was Mark Twain who once quipped:  “Everyone talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.”  Like the weather, many people talk about helping girls to develop character and self-esteem, but nobody does anything about it.  That is until Annie Lang took up the cause, founding LeadersNow International, an organization that assists young women in their process of development as our next generation of leaders.

Lang, who is married and the mother of six, lives in Wexford and is a recognized image and fashion consultant with over 14 years’ experience working with corporations, women’s organizations and teens.  She has provided countless seminars and workshops to individuals and corporations about the importance of creating a positive and professional image.  Department stores, public relations firms, accounting firms, major industries, financial institutions, health care facilities, law firms, colleges and universities have utilized her expertise.

It was while she was acting in this capacity that many people complained to her about the state of today’s young women.  “People came up to me saying, ‘What is wrong with girls today?  They dress inappropriately, seem to lack character and are only concerned about superficial things like who has the latest designer handbag.  Why doesn’t someone do something?’” Lang said.  Never one to sit back and complain, Lang decided that perhaps she was the “someone” to take on this challenge. 

Lang’s response was to develop a comprehensive training program, called The LeadersNow Program, which emphasizes character.  “There are many programs that talk about leadership or fashion, but what is missing is character.  Everything is incumbent upon character.  It requires effort to discover it and work to develop it,” Lang said.  “A teenage girl needs to recognize her dignity as a human being first before she can be successful elsewhere.”

The LeadersNow Program is presented in LeadersNow International clubs.  The first club was established in 2003 with 33 members.  When the first year concluded, the girls wanted to continue.  To capitalize on what they learned in their inaugural year in the program, Lang felt the natural outgrowth would be to channel the leadership skills they had acquired into service.  “The best leaders I know have a strong character and recognize their unique talents, know how to work hard in whatever situation they find themselves and have an attitude of service. In my opinion, this is what makes the most effective kind of leader,” Lang said.

Word about the program spread quickly, and soon Lang received requests to teach the program to many other schools and organizations in the area. She realized she would only be able to reach a few girls each year, so she decided to publish the program so that young women everywhere could benefit from it.  Lang also decided that she wanted all of the girls in the club to be connected as part of a worldwide organization to provide them with continuing services and support.

She took a two-year sabbatical to write the course material, and in 2006 she established LeadersNow International and made the organization open to the public.  There are two phases of membership in the organization.  During the first phase, with the assistance of a Program Coordinator, girls join together with their friends and/or classmates to take part in The LeadersNow Program which contains approximately 20 lessons in character development, leadership, style and poise. Girls learn how to strengthen their character, develop the qualities of good leadership, polish their appearance and become young women who practice good manners.  Lang believes that learning these things will help them to be successful in whatever they do in life.

Lang has been amazed by how the girls have taken to the program.  “Honestly, I had one 7th grade girl join, who when she first came, I thought to myself, she’s never going to appreciate this program.  But as the girl went through the lessons, I began to see that the program was having a definite impact.  At the concluding award’s ceremony, the girl confessed that she had only come to the program because she was interested in learning about fashion and style; however, she realized after going through the entire program, that the character and leadership training were the skills that she was going to benefit most from her entire life,” Lang said.

Once a girl has successfully completed the first phase and has received a Certificate of Achievement, she is eligible to take part in the second phase of membership.  With the assistance of a Program Coordinator, girls use the skills they have learned to engage in service projects, career exploration activities and mentoring.

Members have volunteered in food banks and nursing homes.  Some are knitting hats for children with cancer who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy.  Others have raked leaves for the elderly, and a group has headed up a project of painting colorful decorations on the windows at Children’s Hospital.  The current members have accumulated over 3,500 hours of community service.  The phase two members also spend time visiting professional women to learn more about their careers and help to mentor younger girls by assisting at phase one meetings.

The organization accepts girls in grades 7 through 12.  To date there are 250 girls in clubs located in California, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.  A club has even been established in Australia.  Four new clubs are slated to convene this month alone, with one of them being kicked off at St. John Neumann Parish.  The organization has grown primarily by word of mouth, internet and by professional women touting the program.

All that is required to start a club is a qualified woman to serve as a Program Coordinator and to be approved by LeadersNow International.  The Program Coordinator needs to purchase a LeadersNow International Program Coordinator Manual and a suitable location for club meetings is to be secured.  Once a woman is approved to serve as a Program Coordinator, she is fully supported by LeadersNow International, which provides all necessary training to the Program Coordinators and assists them as they facilitate their clubs.  Clubs can meet during or after school, in a home, at a church or another appropriate facility.

There is a membership fee to join the organization that provides each member with “The LeadersNow Program” manual; a LeadersNow International embroidered polo shirt; a bi-monthly e-newsletter that includes tips on character, leadership, style and poise; an official record of membership with all hours of service recorded; and a Certificate of Achievement upon completion of the program.

Lang says this is a grass roots organization and would gladly welcome support, especially from women interested in leading clubs and funding for scholarships for girls who need assistance with the membership fee. 

“Our teens are receiving such negative messages in the media and in magazines today,” Lang said.  “We need to change this and be a support to them in their process of development.  LeadersNow International is an organization that gives young women the tools they need to become our next generation of leaders.”

For more information on LeadersNow International, visit the website at www.leadersnowinternational.com, call 724-935-0997 or e-mail Lang at annielang@comcast.net.

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Building Boys into Leaders for Nearly 100 Years

By Christine Bahr

What steps can a boy take to become a strong leader in society?  What training or background is essential in creating strong characteristics of professionalism, diligence, respect and dignity?  The young men in today’s world need look no further than the Boy Scouts of America for answers. 

Serving more than 110 million young people since its founding in 1910, Boy Scouts of America is the nation’s largest youth program for character development and values-based leadership training.  At present, more than 4.1 million youth and 1.2 million adult volunteers are active in Scouting through 303 councils.  Serving 50,551 youth and led by more than 8,000 adult volunteers, the Boy Scouts of America’s Greater Pittsburgh Council helps to instill strong values that benefit the Scout throughout his life while also developing ethical character as highlighted in the Scout Oath and Law.  “Scouting has brought families and communities together for nearly 100 years,” said Bob DeWitt, spokesman for the Greater Pittsburgh Council.  “It teaches young people about the value of character, leadership and citizenship, and prepares them to succeed in life,” he said.  There a several different scouting programs.

Cub Scouting is a family-centered program for boys in the first through fifth grade, or who are 7 through 10 years old. Emphasized are character development, citizenship training and personal fitness.

Boy Scouting is for boys age 11 through 17, or who have completed the fifth grade.  The program revolves around a boy-led troop.  The boys take on leadership positions to plan troop activities, run meetings and plan adventures while at the same time learning skills that will last a lifetime. 

Venturing is a high-adventure program for young men and women who have completed the eighth grade and who are 14-20 years of age.  Venturing is designed to provide positive experiences through youth-run activities that help them pursue their special interests, grow by teaching others and develop leadership skills.

Learning for Life, a subsidiary of the Boy Scouts of America, is a K-12 classroom-based program that helps youth learn social and life skills, assists in character development and promotes positive values.

The prestigious Eagle Scout Award is the highest award available to youth members of the Boy Scouts of America.  Very few earned this prestigious rank.  It is recognition from the National Court of Honor, presented through the local council and a local Court of Honor. It represents many years of dedicated effort on the part of the Scout and the successful completion of a long process which began when the young man became a Boy Scout.  Earning the Eagle Scout Award is a demonstration of how people, working cohesively, can help to mold a young man with a solid sense of leadership, citizenship and responsibility.

Eagle Scout Joseph Weinzierl, (see this month’s Movers & Shakers column) always had a burning desire to help the homeless and those less fortunate, and his Eagle Scout project helped to fulfill this dream.  The character traits developed through Scouting have impressed Weinzierl’s mother, Susan Weinzierl.  “The boys gather each week and recite the Scout Oath, Law and Motto and use them as a reminder of everyday guidelines for a good life.  This is the foundation of the Scouts in my opinion.  If we could all take these promises and live by them, the world would be a better place,” she said.

For additional information on Scouting or troops in your area, contact the Greater Pittsburgh Council at 412-471-2927 or visit www.gpc-bsa.org.

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Special Programs and Camps

The Young Writers Institute

The Young Writers Institute is an extended creative writing workshop designed to enable students who enjoy writing to learn more about the writing process and their own work. Students can focus intensely on writing in a supportive and stimulating environment where everyone writes.  Students explore multiple genres including poetry, fiction, non-fiction and memoir.

Teachers are fellows of the Western Pennsylvania Writing Project or instructors from the Creative Writing Program of the Department of English, University of Pittsburgh.  In a community of writers, students can challenge themselves, getting and giving feedback on new and revised writing.

Two locations: The University of Pittsburgh, Oakland Campus; Mellon Middle School, Mt. Lebanon. Serves students entering  grades 4-8 and 9-12 (University site only). Scholarships are available based on need.

Mt.Lebanon: June 23-July 2

University of Pittsburgh: July 7-18

Visit www.wpawritingproject.org for complete information.

Wee Teach U

David Perlmutter, M.D., F.A.C.N., in his book Raise a Smarter Child by Kindergarten, sites several ways to increase a child’s IQ by up to 30 points in the first six years. Some of those include: exposing your child to music classes by age four to make him a stronger math and science student, engaging the child in mentally stimulating activities within the first few weeks, and early computer training to improve cognitive function. Additionally, the most recent research suggests that the ability to learn a second language is highest up to age six. The many published benefits of learning a second language include: early reading, improved communication skills, advanced cognitive development, and higher scores on math and verbal sections of standardized tests. Wee Teach U offers quality educational enrichment classes to help parents expose their young children to all of these activities in fun, age-appropriate ways. Classes are available in our location and in a variety of facilities throughout the Pittsburgh area. Want to bring classes to your facility? Just give us a call! It is our goal to make a difference in the life of as many children as possible through quality educational opportunies.

Glade Run Adventures

Glade Run Adventures, a program of Glade Run Lutheran Services, is opening its specialty summer camps to the community. Camps are offered in our equestrian program, horticulture program and outdoor education program, as well as an Adventure Camp that incorporates all three program areas. Camps are located on the main campus in Zelienople, approximately 30 minutes north of Pittsburgh. Each camp is limited to 10 students per camp and an appropriate age range will be indicated with camp details. Camps run from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday and include lunch. Registration information and camp dates and details can be found on our website, www.gladerun.org/adventures.

The Clay Cottage

The Clay Cottage is back for our third year of mini-camps. We have some old favorites and some soon-to-be favorites.  We offer camps in two age groups, and this year we will have also offer an all-ages camp.

In our princess and pirate camp, your child can paint a mirror to reflect their sweet, inner princess or their rough and tumble pirate side. At the bird feeder camp, we will put a fun twist on an outdoor feeder for the birds. It’s all about the tea at our tea party camp, where lots of fun will be brewing.

Not born in the 60s? That’s OK.  Our tie-dye camp will take you back in time, and we‘ll learn a fun new painting technique too. It will be time to cowboy up (or girl) at the camp for our little cow folk.  Join us for some fun down on the farm. Go fish, with us at the aquarium camp. Didn’t get to the beach this year? No problem, come on in to our beach camp, and you’ll feel like you’re there...well, without the sand in your shorts. Then join us as we paint some cool clocks and pass the time until school starts.

The Clay Cottage mini-camps are a great way to keep your kids busy this summer and get some great works of art.  Call for more information and to sign your child up. Space is limited so call soon at 724-935-2530.

The Watson Institute

The Watson Institute, through its family of schools and services, helps children and youth with special needs to achieve their fullest potential in all aspects of their lives.  Watson offers a variety of summer camp programs to meet the needs of students.

Camp WISP (Watson Institute Summer Program) is an inclusive therapeutic camp that emphasizes teaching social skills within a typical summer camp environment using capable peers in naturalistic settings.  It is offered at various summer camp sites in Southwestern PA.

Camp STAT (Summer Therapeutic Activities for Teens) is a camp offered at The Watson Institute’s Sewickley and Sharpsburg Campuses for teens with Asperger’s or High-Functioning Autism.  Two sessions are offered throughout the summer.

For more information call The Watson Institute at 412-749-2895 or visit our website at www.thewatsoninstitute.org.

The Ellis School — Learning to Lead

“She’s a natural born leader!”

So often the phrase is used to describe an outgoing girl who is the club president or captain of a sports team. But at The Ellis School, leadership is more than a position; it’s a way of life. Leadership education isn’t about only heaping glory on the class presidents, sports stars and opinionated discussion leaders. It’s about empowering every girl by giving her the confidence, skills and tools of leadership. At Ellis, leaders aren’t just born, they are made.

Leadership can’t be learned the way French or Algebra can. Girls don’t sit through a forty-five minute class on leadership training. Instead, they see leadership skills modeled by administrators, teachers and other students. Leadership education weaves in and out the academic pursuits of the students from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade.

“Teaching leadership challenges girls to understand themselves — their values, personalities, skills, interests and dreams — and from these strengths each girl can develop an approach to life and leadership that is dependent on her own uniqueness,” explains Lauren Laschon, Ellis Middle School teacher and coordinator of the newly formed Ellis Leadership Academy.

The Ellis School is an independent PK-12 all girls school in Shadyside. For more information, check www.theellisschool.org  or call The Ellis School at 412-661-5992.

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