Delta Force Leadership Program

The purpose of Delta Force is to introduce and orient new leaders to our community, identify individuals who have displayed strong tendency toward civic involvement and assist them in increasing their potential to become community leaders.

The opening session begins in February and a series of nine full-day programs will follow covering such areas as education, social needs, personal skills, and key segments of our community.

Delta Force – The Strategy

As we enter the 16th year of our leadership development program, we want to take you along on the journey and give you a glimpse into the world of Delta Force. There are probably hundreds of ways to describe leadership qualities, ideas about the process skills, or the role of leadership, those that are helpful to the community and those that are harmful. The Delta Force leadership team has formulated five views, based on their experience, to introduce students to leadership knowledge and experience. As our students form a learning team each year, they will find themselves discovering the need and interest to focus on specific leadership understandings.

The five important elements identified in 2003 continue to be our focus a decade later

Online registration for 2023 Class of Delta Force is closed. For more information about the Class of 2023 please call 906-786-2192.

Delta Force Application-Fillable PDF

Core Values

Character

Character traits of good leaders which are meaningful include: honesty, wisdom in vision, problem solving, trustworthiness, helpfulness, courage that extends to bravery …. They move you to become the one people will follow, especially in rough times, raising the ability of the whole to positive results and excellence.

Accountability

Leadership is about being accountable and responsible to those following you and those you affect. Effective leaders interact, listen, connect, discern, repair and respond with their actions without avoiding accountability.

Culture

The cultural values of the place you are in and the profession you are experienced in, that which you accept as dominant in your life, will define how you behave as a leader and where the lines are that you won’t cross. Leadership that stands the test of time holds high the values related to trust and truth.

Ethics

Moral and principle-centered leadership in our community must be defined by the core values we hold in common, all of which are anchored in the law and a high standard of ethical behavior. The followers of this leadership are justified by their trust. In this setting, leaders that do the right things for the common good are respected, not threatened by retribution.

Leadership Process

Managers manage things, leaders lead people, and good leaders understand the management strengths and good communications needed for the situation. Good leaders are good listeners and connect positively to those they affect. Leaders can see the map. They instinctively learn and apply the big picture. Leaders need to know how to build trust for the common good. Leaders make sound and timely decisions. They empower those involved to do their tasks and carry out their roles successfully. Leaders aren’t necessarily the ones that run the meeting.

Program Schedule

Media & Communications

Participants meet with multiple media to learn how to get their story heard. The day includes mock interviews at Radio Results network, and a journey through the writing process at the Daily Press.

Health & Human Services

Participants discover the resources available to help guide this community to good physical and mental health. The day begins with a tour of St. Vincent de Paul, then progressing to OSF St. Francis where students are taken on a tour of the facilities to learn about the issues/ challenges/ and opportunities affecting healthcare, understanding hospital bills, and information about advanced directive planning and factors affecting healthcare costs.

Law & Order

Participants explored the fabric of the Delta County Justice system and the relationships woven among its members. A ride along with a local law enforcement officer is scheduled before by participants for the purpose of observing and journaling the daily operation of the department.

Community Leadership and DiSC

The day will includes motivational morning session with BDD and Associates emphasizing the importance of the Five Essential Elements of Leadership. The BDD session is followed by discussion of the DISC profiling system and how the information may be used to build a description of students’ leadership styles and typical behaviors.

History & Culture

The day will identify some of the historical bits and pieces that have helped make us who we are. A trip to the Hannahville Community followed with a tour to include the Casino, Health Clinic, School, Community Center and Administrative Offices. Following the tours, representatives share some background about the community, their 2020 vision for the future and 2% fund distribution.

Government

Government Day is filled with the opportunity to meet and interact with leaders at several levels of local and state government. Participants learn about the various levels of responsibilities and services as well as the challenges that each faces as they try to serve the public. They will also become more aware of the vast number of opportunities that are open to serve in leadership positions in local government.

Environmental Awareness

Participants learn more about the continued relationship between our natural environment and the Delta County of today. They also visit a logging operation and take a cruise on the Bays de Noc on the Inland Seas Schooner – floating classroom, and tour a world class paper making facility, located right in our own backyard.”

Education

This session will explore the issues impacting education in Delta County. Participants will leave with a broader perspective and a deeper understanding of the complexities facing educators today.

Economic Development

An overview of Delta County’s economic development efforts and resources, including a look at key elements of our economy, entrepreneurship, and workforce development; visits to representative businesses; and, observation of a board at work.

Graduation @ Chamber Annual Dinner

The program comes to an end with a Graduation ceremony at the Chamber Annual Dinner. Participants reflect on what they have learned in the program with a commencement address from one of the program participants.