2009 Maryland Leadership Conference: Seeds for Change
November 7th-8th
Camp Letts, Edgewater, MD

Connect with other students!
Learn about leadership at Maryland!
Take action on a social issue!

The Maryland Leadership Conference (MLC) is one of the oldest and most popular leadership programs at Maryland. Join your peers for a weekend retreat away from campus and learn more about yourself, working with others, and creating change. Large group seminars, small group discussions, and plenty of hands-on leadership development work will keep you busy. You'll also be supported to put what you've learned at MLC into practice by working on a social issue over the coming year.

*Who Can Benefit from MLC?*
EVERYONE! Leadership development helps you gain a greater understanding of your own talents, values and interests, and empowers you to facilitate positive change as a member or leader of a group. MLC recognizes that leadership is a skill that can be developed by all people, and can open doors for the future. Whether you've been to many leadership development programs, or this is your first, MLC is right for you.

*What Is the Format of MLC?*
The Maryland Leadership Conference is facilitated by the Peer Leadership Council, a group of trained student leadership educators at the University of Maryland. The sessions are interactive and designed so that participants not only get to know one another throughout the weekend but also have a chance to practice what they are learning in the workshops. There will also be opportunities to connect with staff members from campus as a means to continue exploring your involvement and leadership interests.
The Maryland Leadership Conference begins on Saturday, November 7th at 9:00 am with check-in. Once everyone is checked in, buses will depart from campus to the retreat site. Students can expect to be back on campus by 5:00pm on Sunday, November 8th.

*Seeds For Change Project*
For the second year in a row, participants of the Maryland Leadership Conference will have an opportunity to consider a social issue, identify how it affects the campus or local community, and work collaboratively with other conference participants and a community organization to work on the social issue. As a group, you will have an opportunity to apply for SEED money from the Peer Leadership Council Seeds for Change Project, work closely with others who work on the issue, and begin to see real change on the social issue. You'll have the opportunity to rank the top two social issues you are most interested in on the application.

*Conference Location*
Camp Letts, located on a beautiful inlet off the sparkling Chesapeake Bay, overlooks three islands and a 2,600-acre preserve that has served as the backdrop for 100 summers of land-based and aquatic adventures. Camp Letts operates as a year-round conference and retreat center with heated lodges, hearty meals, and superb programs.

*How Do I Register?*
The registration fee for MLC is $30, which is nominal compared to the actual cost of attendance. Many students in the past have found sponsorship from several campus departments (e.g., College Park Scholars, The Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, CIVICUS, Inventis, Campus Recreation, Multicultural Involvement and Community Advocacy, The Stamp). Students who have relationships with offices or departments such as these are encouraged to seek out sponsorships from them directly.
Students not sponsored in full by a campus department or program may apply for partial sponsorship through the Adele H. Stamp Student Union- Center for Campus Life by emailing Matt Johnson at mrj@umd.edu. To register for MLC, simply fill out the form below and drop off your fee in the form of a check made out to "University of Maryland" by Friday, October 30th at the Campus Programs Suite, 0110 Stamp Student Union.