PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
The VALU Program is a comprehensive, indepth, hands-on education about the many
facets of Auglaize County. Monthly sessions
are filled with tours of businesses, farms,
schools, museums, television stations and
more. They also include panel discussions
with local experts and leaders, networking
opportunities, and just plain fun! (See inside
panel for details.)
Program Benefits: The VALU Program offers
many benefits. Here are the top five:
1) Fast-track education on local issues and
resources
2) Direct access to local leadership
3) Easy networking opportunities
4) Leadership development
5) A strong countywide community
Schedule: The program is held one day a
month (8:00 am -4:30 pm) for ten months
(starting in September and ending in June).
Commitment: Participants are required to
attend all ten sessions. It is also strongly
suggested that participants give a minimum of
10 hours of volunteer service.. (See inside panel
on “Volunteer Activities.”)
Cost: $395 Covers leadership assessment tests,
plus all meals, supplies, and most transport costs.
Applications: Information and applications are
available at: www.valuauglaize.blogspot.com
You may also call 419-300-4611 or write
info@auglaize.org.
Application Deadline – September 1st
What Program Graduates Say…
“An outstanding learning opportunity about
Auglaize County that every business person
should experience.”
Karen Brown, Wapakoneta Daily News
“What an interesting 10 months… I have lived in
Auglaize County all my life, but learned so
much more thanks to the VALU Class.”
Missy Homan, Staffmark
“A great networking experience… and a fast
paced approach to getting to the heart of
Auglaize County.”
Pamela Sophiajohn, SOPHIAJOHN Writes
Auglaize County
Leadership Development Program
“By visiting so many places that I didn’t even
know existed, I learned a great deal about the
communities and people of Auglaize County.”
Melissa Bertke, Minster Bank
“The class had so much to offer and I would be
honored if I could help with future classes.”
Ann Larger, JTDMH
VALU is a leadership program collaboratively
conducted by the Southwest Auglaize,
St. Marys Area, and Wapakoneta Area
CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE.
Your questions and comments are welcome!
Saint Marys Area
419-300-4611
SW Auglaize County
419-629-0313
Wapakoneta Area
419-738-2911
Developing Leadership
Educating on Local Resources & Issues
Building Countywide Community
COMMUNICATIONS DAY
Tours: Lima News, WLIO TV Lima, Telephone
Service Company, ComNet, Inc., Wapakoneta
Daily News
Panel Discussion: Newspaper Publishers and
Editors, Television News Director, Radio News
Director
The VALU program is held one day a month
for ten months with each monthly session
dedicated to a specific topic for the day. Here
are examples of program topics and activities.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT DAY
Tours: County Recycling Center, Waste Water
Plant, Water Treatment Plant, County Courthouse
& Administration, Neil Armstrong Airport, County
Engineer’s Office
Panel Discussion: County Mayors, County
Treasurer, County Auditor, Township Clerk,
Village Administrator
EDUCATION DAY
Tours: Tri-Star Career Compact, Elementary
Schools, High Schools, Public Library
Panel Discussion: School Superintendents, WSULake Campus, Rhodes State College, University of
NW Ohio, Apollo Career Center
LOCAL HISTORY AND TOURISM DAY
Tours: Daniel Mooney Museum, New Knoxville
Heritage Center, Bicycle Museum of America,
New Bremen Historic Museum, Armstrong Air &
Space Museum, Wapakoneta Historical Museum
Panel Discussion: Auglaize-Mercer Convention and
Visitor’s Bureau Director, Regional Hotel
Managers, Retail Association Members
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES DAY
Tours: Joint Township District Memorial Hospital,
County Health Department, A.C. Council on Aging
Center, A. C. Jobs & Family Services, OtterbeinCridersville Funeral Home and Crematory
Panel Discussion: Nursing Home Administrators
INDUSTRY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DAY
Tours: Minster Machine Co., Crown Equipment,
AAP-St. Marys, General Aluminum Co., Goodyear
Tire and Rubber Co.
Panel Discussion: Ohio Department of
Development Regional Representative, and
Economic Development Directors from New
Bremen, Minster, St. Marys, and Wapakoneta
AGRICULTURE DAY
Tours: Grain Farm, Round Barn, Dairy Farm, Hog
Operation, TruPointe Cooperative
Presentation / Panel Discussion: Auglaize County
OSU Co-Extension Service Office, President of
Brookside Labs, TruPointe Cooperative Executive,
Local Agricultural producer
JUSTICE AND SAFETY FORCES DAY
Tours: Auglaize County Law Enforcement Center,
Homeland Security Offices, County Courthouse,
Fire Department
Panel Discussion / Presentations: Fire Chief, EMS
Squad Director, Police Chief, Highway Patrol
Officers, Common Pleas Court Judge, Juvenile
Court Judge, County Prosecutor, Public Defender
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Orientation Day includes a professional
presentation on leadership styles. Participants will
also be given an opportunity to learn about their
own leadership style through an individualized
leadership assessment tool. Leadership will remain a
discussion theme throughout the program.
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT /
VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES
For leadership development, the VALU Program
strongly encourages participants to give at least 10
hours of volunteer service in one of three ways:
1. Auglaize County Community Organizations –
Program participants may sign up to give their
volunteer hours to a community organization
providing services throughout the county. (The
VALU application includes a suggested list; or you
may also choose one of your own as long as it
serves all of Auglaize County.)
2. VALU Alumni Association’s Project Committee
– Program participants may also give their
volunteer hours to the VALU Alumni Association
as either a member of the Alumni Steering
Committee or as a volunteer with the
association’s annual service project.
3. VALU Mentoring / Shadow Program With
Auglaize County Commissioners – The Auglaize
County Commissioners have agreed to a oneyear trial of a “mentoring” (or shadow) program.
This opportunity is limited to only six (6) people.
(Please see VALU Application for more details.)
For questions, please call 419-300-4611
or write info@auglaize.org.