"Polishing the Diamond of Leadership!" is the theme for the second annual Southern Illinois Leadership Convention sponsored by University of Illinois Extension. The exciting convention is set for October 11-13 at the Touch of Nature Environmental Center in beautiful Southern Illinois, just south of Carbondale. The convention is open to ANY Illinois high school student or teen not yet 19 by September 1, 2008.To better prepare for modern leadership in today's world, attendees will participate in workshops on time and stress management, mentoring younger youth, working with people with special needs, communicating and speaking in public, personality traits, appreciating diversity, making meetings fun, and sacrifices and rewards of leadership. Participants will also experience team building activities, dances, trivia night, a dutch auction, and great speakers!High school students need to prepare themselves for their futures, and learning leadership and citizenship skills is one way for them to do that, reports Roger Greten and Amanda Tongate, with U of I Extension in Washington County. Cost is $140 if registered by August 29 and $160 by September 6, which includes lodging, meals and all program activities.The Southern Illinois Leadership Convention is for all Illinois high school students or teens not 19 by September 1, 2008, says Greten and Tongate. Youth do not have to be 4-H members to attend the convention. The convention is staffed by Extension professionals, adult volunteers, and trained planning committee members.

Questions? Contact Amanda Tongate, Family Nutrition Program Coordinator at tongate@uiuc.edu