History

The first effort to network Kansas leadership educators came in May of 1991 in Salina at the Local Community Leadership Workshop sponsored by Leadership Kansas. A year later, Fort Hays State University began the process of researching and inventorying Kansas leadership programs. This led to a series of leadership meetings bringing together key leadership educators from all areas of the state.

A second state workshop for local community leadership programs, co-sponsored by Leadership Kansas and the Kansas Chamber of Commerce Executives, was held in Lawrence in May of 1993 and provided yet another opportunity for networking.

An ad hoc committee met that same month to assess interest and to discuss the process for formulating a formal network. A steering committee was established to plan a conference for Kansas providers of leadership programming.

In July of 1993, The Kansas Directory of Leadership Education 1993-1994 was published by Fort Hays State University and The Kansas Rural Development Council. In October of 1993, the Executive Committee was formed and adopted the Kansas Leadership Forum Constitution and Bylaws. The first state conference entitled "The Kansas Leadership Forum ‘94: Building Leadership Capacity" was held in May 1994 in Salina.

Subsequent annual conferences have been held in Manhattan, Hutchinson, Olathe, Wichita, Topeka, Great Bend, McPherson, Colby, and El Dorado.

Click to read remarks of First Lady Linda Graves

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