21 leaders in your community every coalition should know

Looking for hard working folks dedicated to keeping your community safe and drug free?

Well here they are - leaders, mavens, movers and shakers. They face the same stuff everyone faces when stepping into a new challenge and trying to find ways to collaborate with each other for the good of the whole community. They have fears, they get overwhelmed, they are blocked around issues related to stepping into a leadership position. Sound familiar? The truth is: leaders are people too and need your support in helping them see what they can do and how they can contribute in a very real way to your coalition's mission and goals.

Here is a list of 21 leaders in your community every coalition and community member should know, and be known by, in order for your coalition to be included in the forefront of leadership and change in the community.

David Buck at Coachville.com says: "Remember the old adage: It's not what you know, It's who you know? Well it's not accurate!! It's not what you know, It's not who you know, It's who knows what you know!" ( think about that one for a moment )

Here are 21 leaders in your town that need to know you and your coalition!

 1. The Mayor
 2. The Mayor's chief of staff
 3. Chairperson of City Councel
 4. Head of the School Board
 5.  Head of the PTA/PTSA
 6. High School Principal
 7. The coach of the High School Football team
 8. Business School Dean of nearest university
 9. Business School leader for nearest community college
10. Chief of police
11. Chief of Fire Department
12.  Owner of the local newspaper
13.  Chief Editor of the local newspaper
14.  General Manager of nearest local TV station
15.  President of the local Chamber of Commerce
16. Head of the local Rotary
17.  General Manager of the closest hospital or health center
18.  The president of the local BNI chapter
19.  The Branch manager of the largest local bank
20   The HR manager for the largest employer in town
21.  The Minister(s) of the largest faith-based organizations

These folks may not be ready to serve on your coalition's board, , but they will definitely be interested and wanting to jump on board in knowing hat there is a group of dedicated citizens with broad representation in the community working tirelessly to reduce substance abuse and delay the onset of first use by youth to a later age. Community members want to know what this coalitions work is all about and are more than happy to support it in all ways they can. So if they can't come around the table for meetings, then go out and meet with them, listen to their take on the needs of the community and see them in partnership with the coalitions mission and goals.

Here are just a few reasons why they are interested in sustance abuse prevention initiatives.

• They are overwhelmed with facing daily problems caused by substance use and abuse which places tremendous stress on the community as a whole
  
  
• They can only do their part and need the collective community focus and intention to change attitudes and norms around substance abuse.
  
  
• They are responsibile for so many people but they are feeling isolated at times, misunderstood, and encounter communication challenges.
  
  
• They have limited resources to address the issues themselves.
  
  
• They need support and accountability to do their part in creating a community that is safe and drug free.
  
  
• Any coalition effort will reduce their workload, freeing them up to attend to other challenges.

These leaders can't be everything to everyone. The key thing to remember is that they are just regular folks like you and me but they have particular challenges because of the positions they hold. At the same time, they have incredible energy for the vision of what a healthy community is all about. They have passion for it or they wouldn't be where they are Find out what they understand about substance use and abuse and how you can support them in making the change they want to see. Find a way to be of value to each of these leaders. Your Coalition will gradually be known as a "go-to" place for helping people to come together and initiate steps to keep our kids and neighborhoods safe from use of drugs.

The key to having your Coalition be regarded as a leading force in the community is to make yourself and it's members available and add value. Don't be shy about who you are and what your Coaliton can offer.; Substance Abuse Prevention is here to stay and your Coalition has all that it takes to attract the community to get on board with it's mission and goals.Keep playing!
Coach Dave Buck