student leadership
THE STUDENT LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM
Leaders walk their talk.

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Making a Difference

People and especially organizations are measured not simply by the words they choose, but mostly by the words they live by. Every page at this web site is emblazoned at the very top with the words we choose to live by – Leaders walk their talk.

Making a difference by providing a service to others is the heart of leadership. It cannot be like a uniform that is put on and taken off when the leader goes to work. Leadership is choice and a life style.

Decorating bags

Too many regard service as a “calling,” as if it were work only fit for saints. We see service as part of the response-ability of leadership. Those who have the ability should respond. Service is not an extra – it is part of the package. Effective leaders realize that the value of providing service to others extends externally AND internally. Obviously the service benefits those being served. Not so obvious are the benefits to the team derived from the enrichment and joy gained from the experience.

Since 1990 the Student Leadership Training Program has been identified with the phrase “making a difference.” Every summer during each of the sessions as well as at every day conference we stage, students and staff join to make differences with each other so that they may make differences for their schools and communities when they return. These have never been simple “make-work” projects; we always seek to provide real differencemaking opportunities.

One of the unique ingredients of the SLTP experience has always been the commitment to make a difference while “at camp.”
Since 1990, SLTP has:

Collected over 10 TONS of food
Collected over 20,000 articles of clothing
Made over 8,000 ornaments resulting in that many toys for needy kids
Made videos each year for children residing in battered women’s shelters
Made thousands of holiday cards for service men and women overseas
Plus — provided and decorated 4 holiday trees for area shelters; 30,000 Peace Angels; dozens of Baby quilts; Games books; coloring books; pencil boxes; placemats and thank you letters to servicemen.

Our founder, Jim Fitzgerald refers to the “have to” vs. “get to” in many of his presentations. For a leaders service should never be a “have to.” It should always be a “get to.” “Have to” is a phrase for chores and obligations like taking out the trash or cleaning one’s room. “Get to” is a phrase used to describe those things we enjoy doing.

Service projects can be genuine teambuilders, if the leader and the group see the service as a “get to” and not as a “have to.” Leadership is making a difference. Leadership is service. Leadership is not power. Leadership does not mean controlling others. Leaders serve others.

Learn more about finding the right service projects for you.

For more information: