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  • Leadership Upson Programs

    The Thomaston-Upson Chamber offers two different leadership programs geared towards the Upson County community; Youth and Adult Leadership Upson.

    Youth Leadership Upson

    The mission of YOUTH LEADERSHIP UPSON is to expose selected high school students exhibiting leadership traits to the business, political and civic working of our community.

    This group is made up of seniors, juniors and sophomores that are residents of Upson County and who have demonstrated outstanding leadership skills in their school, church and community.  Each student is selected for a one-year school term and to successfully complete the program, a student must attend each scheduled class.

    Youth Leadership Upson is sponsored by: Thomaston-Upson Chamber of Commerce, Upson EMC, Upson-Lee High School & Adult Leadership Upson.

  • Youth Leadership Upson Graduation 2022

    Chapman named Hubert Hancock Award Winner, Roberts Runner-Up

  • The Thomaston-Upson Chamber of Commerce and Upson EMC are pleased to announce that a Graduation Ceremony was held March 15 at the Upson EMC annex, for the Chamber’s Youth Leadership Upson Class of 2021-2022 School Year.

    Peyton Chapman, daughter of Adrian and Jina Chapman, and a 12th grader at ULHS, was named Upson EMC’s Hubert Hancock Leadership Award Winner. Along with the recognition, Peyton will experience an all-expense paid trip to Washington, DC June 16 – June 23 while participating in the Washington Youth Tour. Since 1964, the nation’s electric cooperatives have sent student delegates to Washington, D.C. for the annual Youth Tour, organized by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), to gain a personal understanding of American history and their role as a citizen.

    Highland Roberts, son of Scott and Jinger Roberts, and a 12th grader at ULHS, was named the 2022 runner up and alternate for the Washington Youth Tour. Highland will receive an all-expense paid trip to the Georgia Cooperative Council Youth Conference in Covington, GA July 18 -July 22. Other students who were finalist for the award and were interviewed for the Washington tour were: Damani Kenan, Abi Pettis and Maran Shales.

    Congratulations to the entire 2021-2022 Youth Leadership Upson Class, sanctioned by the Thomaston-Upson Chamber of Commerce: Madison Brundidge, Andrew Caldwell, Peyton Chapman, Ellie English, Kate Kelly, Damani Kenan, Janie Kilby, Carlie Murphy, Shiv Patel, Abi Pettis, Susannah Renz, Highland Roberts, Maran Shales, Annie Sheppard, Grayson Sheppard, Macey South, Mallory South, Lileigh Spraggins, Jacob Stewart and Austin Wall.

    Coordinators and Chaperones for the 2022 YLU Class: Lori Smith, TU Chamber; Brooke Parrott, Upson EMC; Chief Michael Richardson, City of Thomaston; Katie Heinrich, Upson OB/GYN; Brad Adams, Adams Insurance Agency and Marcus South, SSS Farm.

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      Peyton Chapman, Hubert Hancock Award Winner, Phil Hancock, Highland Roberts, Runner-Up
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      Lori Smith, Peyton Chapman, Highland Roberts, Brooke Parrott
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      2021-2022 Youth Leadership Upson Class
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      Seniors in YLU
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      10th & 11th Grades YLU
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      Lori Smith, Madison Brudidge, Shiv Patel, Katie Heinrich, Andrew Caldwell, Brooke Parrott
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      Smith, Peyton, Annie Grace Sheppard, Jacob Stewart, Grayson Sheppard, Brooke Parrott
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      Smith, Heinrich, Kate Kelly, Maran Shales, Ellie English, Parrott
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      Smith, Lileigh Spraggins, Parrott
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      Smith, Jacob Stewart, Grayson Sheppard, Parrott
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      Funny Folks!
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  • 2021-2022 Youth Leadership Upson Class: Madison Brundidge, Andrew Caldwell, Peyton Chapman, Ellie English, Kate Kelly, Damani Kenan, Janie Kilby, Carlie Murphy, Shiv Patel, Abi Pettis, Susannah Renz, Highland Roberts, Maran Shales, Annie Sheppard, Grayson Sheppard, Macey South, Mallory South, Lileigh Spraggins, Jacob Stewart and Austin Wall

    CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE YOUTH LEADERSHIP UPSON FACEBOOK PAGE.

  • Upcoming Events

  • Thomaston-Upson Chamber of Commerce

  • Adult Leadership Upson Class Snapshot of tours in 2021 

    The Adult Leadership Upson Class, sanctioned by the T-U Chamber of Commerce typically is a nine month program that is held every other year. Of course 2020, was a huge exception. The class, which began in March 2020 with a team building tour at The Ridge, abruptly ended a few days later when schools, businesses and really the world began closing up because of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The class originally had 17 adults signed up. We have lost a few of our classmates along the way, with some changing jobs and others just not being able to find the time to do the program. From January to May 2021, the adults kept in contact with webinars that were held with the JW Fanning Leadership Institute. The class has finally been able to take in-person tours of the community during the months of August, September and October. Their final tour will be held on November 11.

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      Dropping off pills that have expired so that they do not get into the wrong hands!
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      Finished up tour with the Sheriff Dan Kilgore
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      Listening in with Magistrate Judge Jan Streetman
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      Met with Upson County Commissioner Jason Tinsley, Judge Streetman, Coroner James George & Sprewell Bluff Park Manager Sarah
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      Met with IDA Director Kyle Fletcher
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      Had to take a break at The Gathering Grounds in Thomaston
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      Flying in the air at the Airport
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      Thanks to Mitch Ellerbee at the T-U County Airport for driving us around the airport on Aug 19.
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      Just for giggles! It had been a long day!
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      Auchumpkee Creek Covered Bridge
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      Auchumpkee Creek Covered Bridge
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      Thomaston-Upson Archives
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      Thomaston-Upson Archives
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      Pettigrew White-Stamps House
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      Andrews Chapel One Room School House
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      Sprewell Bluff Park Fun
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      Skipping Rocks at Sprewell Bluff Park
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      Johnston's Pecan Orchard
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      Pecan Orchard
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      Upson County Livestock
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      Upson County Livestock
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      SSS Farms with Marcus South
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      His faithful dog child Bella
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      SSS Farms
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      Turkey Creek
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      Interfor
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      Chief Manufacturing
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      DART

  • Adult Leadership Upson Class of 2021 Members are: Adrienne Shales (Be In Health), Vanetta Moss (Upson County Family Connections), Luke Haney (The Upson Beacon), Kyle Stonecipher (West Central Georgia Bank), Brock Barfield (Georgia Power Company), Mary Hefton (Be In Health), Shannon Lawson (Council on Alcohol & Drugs Incorporated); David Banks (Georgia Power Company), Nathan Gaskin (The Peoples Bank of Georgia) and Kristie Pitts (DPH District 4).  

  • Adult Leadership Upson

  • Adult Leadership Upson is a comprehensive, results-oriented leadership development program administered by the Thomaston-Upson Chamber of Commerce.

    The program is designed to inspire and prepare graduates to be active and effective leaders in the Upson County community through the following:

    Education - Stimulating monthly programs held in locations throughout Upson County provide participants with insight on, and understanding of, a variety of important community issues.

    Networks - Strong networks of valuable relationships are developed as participants who are selected to represent a variety of occupations and professional interests interact regularly during a retreat and other social activities.

    Involvement - In-depth community-oriented projects provide a unique opportunity to increase community awareness, develop interpersonal skills and contribute to the community's progress.

    Personal Enrichment - Special skills sessions result in increased self-esteem and self-confidence. Participants also earn leadership credentials upon completion of the program. Successful completion requires an investment of time and energy. A sincere commitment will prove beneficial to the participant and the community.