News & Press :: Leaders' Club Gets Business Advice 

Greenwich Family YMCA Leaders' Club Gets Business Advice from Chamber of Commerce President Mary Ann Morrison

March 14, 2007….Mary Ann Morrison, president of the Greenwich Chamber of Commerce, met with YMCA Leaders Club members to develop marketing strategy for the group's project. The middle school students are selling green Greenwich wristbands to benefit the YMCA's Strong Kids Campaign. The students have been selling the wristbands at the YMCA and Chillybear and will bring them to the town St. Patrick's Day parade on Sunday, March 25.

"Part of creating leaders is being able to approach people and ask them to support a project you're involved with," Morrison told the students. She recommended the students prepare their script and practice explaining their cause to potential customers.

In addition to marketing, Morrison discussed business basics such as making change and protecting your cash. "If you had your own business," Morrison said, "These are the exact same things you'd tell your employees." 

Leaders Club is designed to expose middle school students to a professional business setting and introduce them to successful leaders and community resources. The program teaches students to make informed decisions and work as a group. Participants develop a product or service that they then market. Community leaders like Morrison and others teach participants about marketing, customer service, public speaking and dressing for success. Next week, the group will take a field trip to Whole Foods Market to learn about product display. 

The Leaders Club will host attorney Alan Schlesinger, who recently ran for U.S. Senate, on Wednesday, April 11 as part of the Leaders Club Lecture Series. For more information, please contact Debra Marchese at 203-869-1630.

(left to right) Brittney Lew, 12; Hugh Rinaldi, 12; Chamber President Mary Ann Morrison; Nandita Makam, 11; and Christina Lamoureux, 12 discuss marketing the Greenwich wristbands.

Greenwich Family YMCA | 50 East Putnam Avenue | Greenwich, CT 06830

t: (203) 869-1630