Lima Rotary Club hears about the benefits of Allen Lima Leadership program

LIMA, OH (WLIO) - The Lima Rotary Club heard more about the Allen Lima Leadership program on Monday.

Allen Lima Leadership celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. Since 1989, over 1000 people have graduated from the courses, and the program is continuously improving the curriculum and adding more interactive lessons with local business and government leaders. Students enrolled learn all about how the organizations and companies that make Lima run smoothly operate and how they can apply the skills used by their leaders to improve their own careers and communities. Many Rotarians are graduates themselves. 

"They're the ones that are always the folks that are doing for others. They're the ones that are getting involved. They're the ones that are leading the way in terms of charitable donations. You'd be hard-pressed not to find a person or an organization that has not participated in Allen Lima Leadership, and I think our community is better for it," said Matt Childers, executive director of Allen Lima Leadership.

During the month of July, the Lima Rotary Club welcomed a new president. One of her main goals for the club is to increase membership by showing more people what it's like to be a Rotarian.

"Club members, we are satisfied. We're doing projects, we're giving back to the community. But I think that people now, maybe more than ever, are searching for ways to contribute to make things better. Sometimes the world around us feels very dark and very depressing, and being in a group like this can really change your life," said Demi Burden, president of the Lima Rotary Club.

Burden has been a member for almost seven years and previously served on the Lima Rotary Club's board of directors.