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Carolina Wildlife Center | Volunter Hours and Civic Event Submission | Google Drive

March 6, 2025 - Sweat Equity Opportunity March 8

Good morning! Apologies for the additional communications, but I want to ensure everyone is up-to-date.

Our superhero projects and logistics team caught an error in the owl enclosure plan and lumber delivery will be delayed, likely until next week. I have made some changes to the signup as everything is moving to Saturday. In the AM, 5 people are needed to assist with tree felling, and in the afternoon, 15 people will begin disassembling the owl enclosure. If you are planning to go on Saturday, please go sign up again as I had to restructure the slots due to the amount of people we'll need for each task. Per Bobby, if you have any tools at home that may be helpful for disassembly, go ahead and bring them just in case (for example, crowbars, sledgehammers, saws, sawzall).

Sometimes plans shift despite our best efforts, and I appreciate your flexibility as we adapt. Thanks for rolling with us! Here is the link to the signup with updated slots: 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A44A4A72BA3F8C34-55548120-move

-Lindsey

March 5, 2025 - Call for Donations - Prize Packs for March Madness Bracket Sale

Heyyy LLC 2025,

I will be the point person for our Leadership Lexington County donation drive to build prize packs for our March Madness Bracket Challenge! 

Our goal is to keep 100% of the proceeds from bracket sales (priced at $20 each), and the best way to do that is securing donated items for prize packs. This is an incredible opportunity for each of us showcase the companies we work for while helping our class make the biggest impact for Carolina Wildlife Center. 

How can you help?

I'm asking each of you to reach out to your company or personal network for donated items that can go into themed prize packs. Think:

• ‎Gift Cards (entertainment, retail, local business)

• ‎Branded Swag (coolers, tumblers, golf gear, apparel, etc.)

• ‎Products & Services (vouchers for services, fitness passes, wine/beer baskets, etc.)

• Experiences (tickets, memberships, day passes, etc.)

I'll be tracking all donations, including who contributes what and the value of each item, to ensure proper recognition and price out the prize packs accordingly.

Why does this matter?

• 100% of bracket sales go directly to our class funds, helping bring CWC vision to life

• Your company gets visibility through our promotions

• The stronger our prize packs are, the more brackets we'll sell!

The sooner we secure items, the faster we can finalize the prize packs and add marketing materials to maximize sales before tip-off. 

Next steps

1. Confirm what you can contribute and shoot me a text or email with your donation details.

2. I'll track all donations and keep the group updated on the prize pack themes (ideally 3 packs total, allowing space for the themes to emerge based on feedback)

3. Let's build excitement! The bigger and better our prizes, the easier it will be to sell brackets and knock a chunk out of our fundraising goal!

I'm here to coordinate and make this seamless for everyone! For any questions or donation logistics, you can reach me at 803-493-4494 (text/call), email, or groupme. 

Let's make this a slam dunk for Carolina Wildlife Center! Looking forward to seeing what we can pull together.

-Ashley

March 2, 2025 - Leadership Link

Leadership Lexington County: Leading with WHY

Great leadership isn’t just about checking off tasks—it’s about driving purpose and impact. That’s what connects Leadership Lexington and Carolina Wildlife Center—both are rooted in mission-driven work that goes beyond the surface.True leadership starts with WHY—a clear purpose that fuels impact beyond tasks and checklists.

• WHY: Leadership Lexington County and Carolina Wildlife Center share a commitment to civic engagement and service—whether it's developing leaders or protecting wildlife, both aim to strengthen our community.

• HOW: By fostering collaboration and hands-on engagement, we create meaningful change, whether through leadership initiatives or wildlife conservation efforts.

• WHAT: We take action—empowering leaders, supporting conservation, and driving efforts that leave a lasting impact.

"If we only focus on what we are doing, we’ll accomplish a task. If we focus on why we do what we do, we’ll create a movement."

Leadership on the Move: Updates from our Committee Chairs (Bobby, Kelli, Gabriel)

Projects:

The projects team is collaborating with CWC to plan our first sweat equity day. As part of our preparations, 2 trees need to be cleared in advance of the material delivery for the owl enclosure. Once the delivery date is finalized, we’ll be ready to schedule demolition and material prep. There will be plenty of opportunities for cohort members to actively participate, whether it’s removing the old structure, moving materials, or assisting with cutting and assembly. Our goal is to have the new enclosure completed by April, and we look forward to your involvement in this hands-on project! 

Fundraising:

The fundraising team has finalized the details for the March Madness event, now officially named March for Wildlife. Currently, participants can submit up to 10 entries per person, with the possibility of increasing the limit to 15 if demand grows. To streamline the registration process, we are also considering adding password protection for added security. Stay tuned for more details as we finalize the logistics! 

Marketing:

The marketing team is hard at work creating materials for the March Madness brackets, along with personalized sponsorship materials and an invoice document to support the event. Additionally, Kelli will be collaborating with Ashton (CWC's Director of Development) on a proposal for CWC’s promotional video, aimed at boosting visibility and awareness for our upcoming initiatives. We look forward to sharing these exciting developments soon! 

CWC Wish List Update

Several members have inquired about the Carolina Wildlife Center's (CWC) wish list, and we’d like to share the following items as part of our ongoing efforts. Please note, this list is dynamic and not exhaustive. We are prioritizing these based on our 8-month timeline, and it’s important that we focus on what we can accomplish in this timeframe:

• Large owl enclosure – tear down existing structures and rebuild a larger enclosure

• Large storage area by the flight enclosure

• Revamp of gardening beds around CWC's sign at the road

• Extensive organization support in the outdoor areas around the center

• Replacing our aviaries

• Pressure washing the exterior of our building

• Installing a new permanent sign on the outside of our building

• Miscellaneous repairs to the inside of our building

• Overhaul of our marketing and social media presence

• Expansion of our building and addition of an additional structure

While this list highlights the major projects, there are other smaller tasks that will be addressed as well. Bobby and the projects team will keep us updated on progress and what can be tackled in the coming months. Your support and involvement in bringing these initiatives to life is deeply appreciated!

Navigating the Leadership Journey: from Storming to Performing

As we continue our journey through Leadership Lexington County, it’s helpful to recognize the natural phases of team development—something psychologist Bruce Tuckman outlined in his model of Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning. Whether you’re working on a service project, collaborating with our cohort, or leading in the community, these stages play a role in how we grow and succeed together.

• Forming: At the start, we’re excited but still figuring out roles, strengths, and goals.

• Storming: Differences emerge—ideas, leadership styles, and opinions—but this is where growth happens.

• Norming: We learn to collaborate, communicate effectively, and work as a team.

• Performing: This is where the magic happens! Confidence, trust, and shared vision drive real impact.

Unpacking the Storming Stage:

During the Storming Stage, initial politeness fades, and differences in goals or approaches can lead to tension and conflict​. This stage is normal – it’s a critical time to practice communication and conflict-resolution skills as the committee figures out how to work together through friction.

Committee Collaboration & Dynamics Questions:

• Open Discussion of Issues: What are the main points of tension in our team right now, and have we created a safe space to openly discuss these issues together?

• Communication & Respect: How can we improve our team communication during this stage? Are we listening to each other and respecting differing viewpoints, and what ground rules do we need so that debates stay productive, not personal?

• Aligning on Goals: Do we have a clear, shared understanding of our goals and project plans, or do we need to revisit and clarify our objectives so that everyone is on the same page despite earlier disagreements?

Unpacking the Norming Stage:

During the Norming Stage, the team starts to resolve conflicts and develop a stronger cohesion. Members make a conscious effort to solve problems and achieve group harmony with more open and meaningful communication​.

Committee Collaboration & Dynamics Questions:

• Effective Norms: What positive team norms have we established that are helping us work well together (for instance, regular check-ins, dividing tasks based on strengths)? How can we ensure we maintain these practices?

• Collaboration & Trust: In what ways has our collaboration improved since the storming phase? Are team members trusting each other more and openly asking for or offering help as needed?

• Maintaining Momentum: What can we do to maintain our team’s morale and momentum? For example, should we celebrate small wins or periodically evaluate how our team process could be even better?

Unpacking the Performing Stage:

During the Performing Stage, the team is functioning at a high level. Members feel confident in the team and satisfied with its progress, leveraging each other’s strengths effectively. The group makes significant progress toward its goals with strong commitment, and roles become more flexible as needed​. In this stage, the team runs like a well-oiled machine, though continuous improvement and vigilance against complacency remain important.

Committee Collaboration & Dynamics Questions:

• Sustaining Success: What are the key factors behind our team’s success, and how can we ensure we continue to practice those habits? (For example, do we have excellent communication, clear delegation, mutual support, etc., and how do we keep it up?)

• Even Better If…: Even as a high-performing team, is there anything we can do even better? Are there any minor issues or potential improvements we should address now to avoid future problems or stagnation?

• New Goals & Challenges: Having achieved many of our initial goals, what’s next for our team? Should we set new goals or stretch targets to keep us motivated and growing, or find ways to share our success with the broader community or organization?

Navigating the Storm (Stage): Further Clarification of Committee Roles

As we continue to strengthen our planning, it's important to recognize that our evolving committee roles are a natural part of the "storming" phase. This stage reflects our collaborative process of defining individual responsibilities and expectations. While the adjustments may present challenges, they are essential in helping us clarify roles, streamline our efforts, and build stronger partnerships moving forward. Your contributions during this time are invaluable as we work together to refine our structure for greater impact.  (Committee responsibilities venn diagram is below.)

Parking Lot Feedback Update

During our Leadership Lexington day, we used a parking lot system with posters displaying committee names to gather feedback from our members. The cohort shared thoughtful comments and questions via sticky notes, and we have addressed most of them through our committee updates, CWC's wish list and further clarification of committee roles in this newsletter.

The only outstanding question was regarding how sweat equity opportunities would be communicated to the cohort. After discussions between Lindsey and Bobby, they’ve decided that Bobby and his team will coordinate the scheduling of these opportunities, while Lindsey will handle the sign-up process to ensure consistency and clear communication.

If we have overlooked any questions or you have new questions please direct questions to Bobby (projects), Kelli (marketing), Gabriel (fundraising), and general inquiries beyond this to Matt (leadership team).

We appreciate everyone’s input, and as always, we encourage continued feedback as we work together to strengthen our efforts. Thank you for your contributions and engagement!

Closing Thought

Thank you for your continued dedication and hard work. Each committee's efforts are truly moving us forward, and it's exciting to see our shared vision come to life. Stay engaged and keep an eye out for upcoming opportunities to contribute! Together, we are making a lasting impact. Looking forward to another month of progress and collaboration!

-J. Scott

February 23, 2025 - Leadership Link

Leadership in Motion: The Relentless Pursuit of Impact

Our Leadership Lexington County 2025 cohort is making strides! This week:

• Committee chairs connected with their teams, setting the stage for a strong year ahead.

• Cohort members signed up and visited Carolina Wildlife, gaining firsthand insight into this year’s project impact.

• Momentum is building as teams align on strategies for marketing, fundraising, and project execution.

Excited for the collaboration and the difference we’re set to make!

Carolina Wildlife Center

Carolina Wildlife Center's Mission:

• Rescues, rehabilitates, and releases injured and orphaned animals.

• Educate the public on conservation and environmental stewardship.

Leadership Lexington County 2025 Immediate Priorities (not all of our priorities):

• Demolish 2 outdated owl enclosures

• Construct a new, improved owl enclosure

• Raise awareness and building support for Carolina Wildlife Center

• Fundraise

Reviving the Wild: Collaborative Journey of Release Stories from Carolina Wildlife Center (CWC)

At CWC, every rescued creature tells a story of hope—a testament to the power of teamwork, compassion, and timely intervention. Their mission is clear: to rescue, rehabilitate, and release wildlife so they can once again thrive in their natural habitats. In their daily work, they witness countless lives being transformed, and while every story is unique, they all underscore one vital truth: without our help, many of these animals would never receive a second chance.

Consider the tale of two owlets that touched their hearts years ago. When a call came in about the vulnerable young birds, Julie, one of CWC's directors, immediately sprang into action. Visiting the home where the owlets had been found, she crafted a makeshift nest and advised the family on minimal intervention. As days passed, photos sent by the family revealed a touching scene: the owlets’ parents were carefully reclaiming their home. This gentle balance of intervention and non-interference demonstrated that sometimes, the best care is knowing when to step back and let nature lead its course.

Then there’s the remarkable story of a Great Blue Heron whose future was uncertain when he arrived with a broken leg. Through relentless care and rehabilitation, the CWC team helped him regain his strength. Today, he soars freely—a living symbol of nature’s resilience and the life-changing impact of dedicated wildlife care.

In another striking example, they are currently nurturing over 85 baby turtles—ranging from Snapping Turtles to Florida Cooters—that would have otherwise been lost. With their mothers gone, either due to fatal injuries or the heartbreaking necessity of humane euthanasia, these tiny lives were on the brink. The CWC team rescued their eggs, incubated them with expert care, and has now been tending to the hatchlings for months. Come spring 2025, these young turtles will be ready to return to the wild, ensuring the survival of their species and reinforcing the critical importance of our work.

These stories are more than just accounts of rescue and recovery—they are a call to action. As humans continue to encroach on wild spaces, it’s our duty to step in and help maintain the balance of our native ecosystems. LLC 2025 has been invited to join in this vital work. Our support is crucial in ensuring that these animals, and many others like them, receive the care and respect they deserve. Together, we can keep the spirit of the wild alive and give every creature a genuine second chance.

A Message from Carolina Wildlife Center's Director of Development

Ashton Blume, our primary contact at CWC, shares her heartfelt appreciation that was worth making public. She says, “I cannot tell you how much I have enjoyed the individuals I've already met and how heartwarming it is to really see how excited everyone is to work with us on these needs. What y'all are doing is incredible and will be life-changing for the center!”

Her words are a powerful reminder that every contribution—big or small—fuels our shared vision of rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing wildlife. Join us in celebrating this commitment and help us continue to transform lives together.

Project Check-In with Carolina Wildlife Center

On February 25 the Carolina Wildlife Center's Director of Development, Ashton Blume, will meet with our project leadership team and committee chairs for a check-in. This session will:

• Provide key updates on project scope and needs.

• Align our teams on next steps and potential challenges.

• Ensure our marketing, fundraising, and project strategies support the mission effectively.

Looking Ahead: February 27 Meeting

As we continue building momentum, our next in-person meeting on February 27 will be an important opportunity to solidify where we stand and where we’re headed. The LLC board has thoughtfully planned the day, and we’ll have dedicated time at the conclusion to discuss our project and next steps.

Looking forward to our time together and the progress we’ll make!

In our dedicated time, we’ll:

• Connect with WHY – the purpose driving LLC 2025 efforts.

• Align on HOW – the strategies shaping our impact.

• Clarify WHAT – committee chair updates on progress and next steps.

Looking forward to a focused and productive session as we move forward together!

This week, we extend our heartfelt thanks to our entire cohort for their unwavering commitment and outstanding efforts. Your actions have directly contributed to our mission of rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing wildlife, making a significant impact on the lives of the animals we care for. Every contribution, no matter how small, propels us further toward a future where wild creatures thrive. Thank you for your passion, teamwork, and dedication. 

-J. Scott

February 16, 2025 - Leadership Link

Leadership in Motion: The Relentless Pursuit of Impact

Leadership isn’t about titles—it’s about motion. The best leaders don’t just think about change; they actively pursue it, even when obstacles arise. I am reminded that true leadership is about persistence, adaptability and unwavering commitment to a vision.

This past week exemplified leadership in motion. We had the opportunity to:

• Meet with Carolina Wildlife Center Directors (Wednesday, Feb 12) to explore alignment and collaboration opportunities.

• Meet with LLC 2025 committee chairs (Wednesday, Feb 12) to ensure strategic direction and momentum in key initiatives.

• Visit the Carolina Wildlife Center site to witness firsthand the impact of their work and discuss ways to strengthen our partnership.

Every engagement reinforced the power of relationships in driving real impact. Leadership is not a solo journey—it’s about linking arms, sharing perspectives, and finding ways to move forward together.

Carolina Wildlife Center

Carolina Wildlife Center's Mission:

• Rescues, rehabilitates, and releases injured and orphaned animals.

• Educate the public on conservation and environmental stewardship.

Leadership Lexington County 2025 Immediate Priorities (not all of our priorities):

• demolishing 2 outdated owl enclosures

• constructing a new, improved owl enclosure

• raising awareness and building support for Carolina Wildlife Center

• fundraising

Upcoming Timeline

• February 17 - February 20: Invitation for cohort visits to Carolina Wildlife Center - Sign up to visit and learn more about the project site (max 10 people )

• By February 25: Committee chairs will have meet with their respective teams to discuss planning, action items and timelines.

• February 25: Carolina Wildlife Center and project leadership team meeting check-in.

• February 27: Leadership Lexington County meeting day.

Invitation to explore Carolina Wildlife Center before by February 27

LLC Cohort,

As we prepare for our next session on February 27, we invite you to visit Carolina Wildlife Center (CWC) beforehand to experience their mission firsthand! CWC plays a vital role in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, offering a unique perspective on environmental stewardship and community impact.

To ensure a quality visit, CWC welcomes groups of up to 10 people at a time. We have created a schedule and sign up for those interested and have time this week.

Streamlining Communication - GroupMe Committee Groups

To improve communication and keep messages focused, we’ve created GroupMe committee groups for Projects, Fundraising, and Marketing. This ensures that committee chairs can communicate directly with their respective teams without sending messages to the entire LLC GroupMe platform.

Benefits of this update:

• Clearer Communication – Messages go only to those involved, reducing clutter.

• Efficient Collaboration – Committees can coordinate quickly and effectively.

• Stronger Engagement – Focused discussions keep everyone aligned on goals.

This will help us all stay organized and maximize our impact!

Celebrating Civic Engagement

A huge thank you to our LLC peers who have taken the time to attend local civic events! Your engagement is a testament to the power of leadership in action, and we appreciate your commitment to making a difference in our community.

We encourage everyone to continue showing up, sharing insights, and inspiring others. Let’s keep leading with purpose!

Final Thought: Leading with Purpose

As we continue our LLC journey, let’s stay intentional about the impact we make—both within this program and beyond. Leadership is more than a title; it’s about showing up, engaging, and lifting others along the way. Whether through civic involvement, committee work, or supporting each other, every step we take strengthens our collective impact.

Let’s keep pushing forward, embracing opportunities, and shaping the future of our community—together.

Looking forward to what’s ahead!

-J. Scott

February 15, 2025 - CWC Visit Signup

All, please follow this link to sign up for a time to visit Carolina Wildlife Center to get to know the location and staff. 

Thanks!

-Lindsey

February 13, 2025 - GroupMe

Good morning friends!  I hope everyone has had a great week so far. 

The committee chairs and leadership team met yesterday to discuss where we stand and next steps. Our superstar Secretary Lindsey has created 2 new GroupMe groups for Fundraising and Construction and added the respective members. We will add Marketing soon. Please keep an eye out for messages from the chairs to schedule initial planning meetings.

I know everyone is chomping at the bit to get started raising funds and building things and I promise we are so very close to that so please make yourselves available to meet and strategize amongst your respective groups. Please keep in mind that just because you are in one group does not mean that is your only responsibility. We will need all hands on deck and everyone will have a hand in each group at some point.

We have a small group going to CWC on Friday for a tour and to take some pictures so we can share with the entire group and get an idea of scope and where CWC stands presently. We want everyone to take a trip out there at some point but we must be respectful of the animals and their healing journey.

Thank you all for your commitment to Leadership Lexington and CWC, I am excited to work with you all. 

-Matt

February 9, 2025 - Leadership Link

Leadership In Motion

Since voting for Carolina Wildlife Center (CWC) as our class project 9 days ago, we've made incredible strides in turning vision into action. We've established leadership roles, built strategic connections, and outlined a clear path forward—all in a short time. The momentum is real.

This week, we take the next step: aligning our committees, solidifying responsibilities, and ensuring seamless communication. Our Monday meeting with CWC and Wednesday committee chairs meeting are pivotal moments to strengthen our foundation and accelerate progress.

Leadership is about commitment, collaboration, and consistency. Let’s keep pushing forward, staying engaged, and making an impact that lasts. Stay connected. Stay inspired. Stay leading.

Meeting with Carolina WildLife Center*

Proposed outcomes for the project leadership team meeting with CWC:

• Clarify Carolina Wildlife’s most urgent needs

• Define partnership expectations between Carolina Wildlife and LLC 2025

• Determine key priorities and next steps for launching our efforts.

• Establishing a 9 month timeline for planning and execution.

*This meeting was initially set for Monday, February 10th, but CWC needed to reschedule due to a staffing emergency. 

Committee Restructuring Update

Traditionally, LLC has operated with three core committees: Construction, Marketing, and Fundraising. We decided to follow suit to ensure clarity and efficiency in executing our project.

As part of our strategic restructuring, Community Engagement will now fall under Marketing to create a more streamlined approach to outreach, branding, and public relations. Those impacted were notified prior to any annoucements being made.

What this means:

• Stronger alignement between community events and marketing strategies.

• Clearer communication of our mission and project goals

• More efficient collaboration with external partners and stakeholders.

These updates will be discussed in our Wednesday committee chairs meeting. If you have any questions or feedback, pleae feel free to direct message me via GroupMe.

Project Leadership Team and Committee Chair Meeting

Purpose of this meeting:

• Roles/responsibilities clarification

• Unpack priorities from CWC

• Identify committee goals and next steps

• Chairs will share responsibilities with members of their committees moving forward

When?

Wednesday, Feb 12, 2025, 06:30 PM

How We Stay Connected

Group Me

• Real-time updates and quick communication. Make sure notifications are turned on!

Sunday Email

• The Leadership Link Newsletter – Your go-to for weekly highlights, reflections, and important updates each Sunday.

LLC 2025 Google Site

• Central hub for resources and shared documents. Bookmark it for easy access! Kudos to Lindsey Wooley for the design and content.

Let's Keep Leading

We are in this together, and our success is built on our collective engagement. Looking forward to another week of learning, growing, and making an impact!

-J. Scott

February 9, 2025 - GroupMe

The first edition of The Leadership Link newsletter is out. Check your email for key updates.

Please take a moment to read through it to stay informed. If you didn’t receive the email let me know ASAP!

Stay Connected. Stay Inspired. Stay Leading.

-J. Scott 

February 2, 2025 - GroupMe

Greetings LLC 30. I have drafted committee roles and responsibilities and that of each committee chair.

The draft has been shared with the project leadership team for review and a timeline for feedback.

By next weekend that information will be shared with committee chairs for their review.

A meeting will be scheduled with the leadership team and committee chairs to discuss plans and timelines. 

Best on the week ahead and stay tuned for more information.

-J. Scott