Leadership Greater Hartford to Host International Community Leadership Conference in 2006.

HARTFORD, Conn. -- 1,000 Attendees from Around the World Expected to Experience the Art of Leadership At One of the First Conventions Planned for Hartford's New Center

Leadership Greater Hartford used the artistic venue of the historic Wadsworth Atheneum to publicly announce that Hartford has been selected as the host site for the worldwide annual leadership conference in April 2006.

Making the announcement at the nation's oldest public art museum played up the theme developed by conference organizers, "Experience the Art of Leadership." Leadership Greater Hartford (LGH) is one of the largest, oldest and most diverse community leadership organizations in the world. "Greater Hartford is considered a leader in the community leadership development movement," explained David P. Mills, executive director of the Community Leadership Association (CLA), an international umbrella organization for community leadership programs around the world. A testament to that statement is the fact that LGH President Ted Carroll was elected CLA chairman of the board this year.

According to Carroll, "Greater Hartford can expect about 1,000 attendees from leadership programs around the world to attend our 2006 conference. As we celebrate our differences, we come together with a common purpose to fulfill the promise of democracy through leadership in our communities."

The accompanying conference logo that was unveiled at the announcement illustrates how the art of leadership involves interaction. Ira Yellen, LGH board member and president of First Experience marketing communications firm, explained, "the logo shows diversity, movement and synergy in the pieces that symbolically represent people coming together to create dynamic interaction. People who experience the art of leadership understand that even though a leader is an individual, leadership is a group activity; and there is an art in working together."

According to Mills, "The Hartford area has a rich history of leadership, arts and culture in this country. It is an appropriate setting for our 2006 annual leadership conference and our board was unanimous in the selection of Hartford."

"Our staff met with the new Connecticut Convention Center folks, the Greater Hartford Convention and Visitors Bureau, the hotel, and representatives from Leadership Greater Hartford's host committee," Mills said. "They really rolled out the red carpet for us; and if that is an indication of what we can expect when we come to Hartford in 2006, we believe it will take our conference to new heights. We are really excited about being there."