The word leadership has four different meanings. It can be defined as the action of leading a group, the state of being a leader, the leaders of an organization and the ability to lead skillfully.

All four definitions encompass what the Natchez-Adams Chamber of Commerce set out to achieve more than 20 years ago, when the concept of Leadership Natchez was developed. Since that time, nearly 300 Natchez community and business leaders have taken part in the Leadership Natchez program.

Leadership Natchez is a group of select up-and-coming business professionals who, in a year of service, learn about our community, and work together on a project. The mission of Leadership Natchez is to identify, educate and inspire leaders to serve our community with the vision of being the premier organization designed to identify, orient, develop and network existing and emerging leaders to enhance the future growth and prosperity of Natchez and Adams County. To meet the objectives of the program, the group has monthly retreats focusing on different components of leadership and service in the community, such as health care, education, social services, tourism and economic development, law enforcement, justice, government, preservation and quality of life. In addition, the group meets to discuss particular needs of the community and develops a project to be completed by the end of the year of service.

Leadership Natchez’s Class of 2010, in which I was associated, worked on the recreation referendum in the November 2009 special election as one of our projects. We campaigned and educated the community on the importance of voting “yes” to the referendum, and succeeded with nearly 80 percent of the vote.

In the time since the election, we have worked to maintain a presence in the process of bringing the recreation complex to fruition. We also organized a kickball tournament in March of 2010, which raised more than $2,500 for The Guardian Shelter of Natchez.

Our next project is the first Leadership Natchez Alumni Reunion, which will take place from 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 16, at Monmouth Plantation. This is open to anyone in the community who has ever been a member of the Leadership Natchez class.

Our goal is to welcome the newest class of Leadership Natchez as well as to motivate the graduates of past classes to keep the mission of the organization a priority.

Natchez is a place to be proud of — and through education and determination, we can make our community thrive through our efforts, no matter how large or small.

Ryan Dixon Richardson is a graduate of the Leadership Natchez Class of 2010.