Local woman starts teen leadership program

By ALEX STRICKLAND

Bigfork Eagle

Chris Stubbins knew she would be able to get the ball rolling for a leadership program in Bigfork, she just didn't know how quickly it would roll.

Stubbins, who worked as an events coordinator in Cincinatti has lived at least part time in Bigfork since 1999. She wanted to get involved with local teens and help them get a leg up on college applications and real-world leadership skills so she started her program with the blessings of school administrators and Bigfork developer Doug Averill.

Bigfork High School Principal Thom Peck got teachers to recommend students with leadership potential to Stubbins and Averill offered to let her use the newly-remodeled Saddlehorn building downtown as a meeting place.

The kids she got to sign up — 11 of them, all juniors in high school — now meet with Stubbins once a month, lured by the promise of free food and a wide selection of life skills that will come in handy long before they hit their careers.

"I just want to help kids to develop their potential leadership," Stubbins said. "They're very enthusiastic, great kids."

Last week their meeting was on the topic of communication and the media and after a one-hour seminar in Bigfork the students went to Kalispell to tour a television and radio station.

Sixteen year old Jerry Gaiser said the meeting was useful not just beacuse there were tips on how to handle the media later in life, but advice on things that could easily arise at any time like giving speeches.

Stubbins was concerned about being able to recruit kids at all, considering she was asking them to sign up for a new program with a woman they'd never met.

The kids who bit at the opportunity have a wide, if not totally unexpected, list fo reasons for doing so.

"It sounded interesting," said 16-year-old Kodie Kunsman.

"It looks good on college applications," Christina Thompson, 17, said.

"Free food," said Jerry Gaiser, 16.

And that's okay by Stubbins, who just wants a chance to share her expertise and help young people realize their potential.

Stubbins said she chose to work with only high school juniors because they're old enough to be self-aware and more comfortable with who they are, and they still have a year left in Bigfork to practice what they've learned and give back to the community.

As part of the program, each student agreed to nine hours of volunteer service in both their junior and senior years of high school.

"I wanted to train juniors so that during their senior year they can lead and make a difference," she said.

Stubbins hopes that word of mouth and a successful first year will neccessitate an application process in the future and allow her to take on up to two groups of about 20 kids each year.

The program is restricted to Bigfork High students and one day Stubbins said she hopes it will be part of a larger community center that could provide another meeting place for the community and a spot for volunteers to hook up with agencies looking for help.

Stubbins said she just wants to help contribute and build on the many active community organizations already in Bigfork.

"This is just icing on the cake," she said.