LMB Class of 2012 Graduates; Sustainable Garden Project A Hit

The 20th Leadership Manhattan Beach class delivered its project, a sustainable garden, to the public last weekend. Tonight, during a dinner ceremony at the Neptunian Woman's Club, they graduate.

The 28-member Class of 2012 generated nearly $40,000 in direct-dollar and in-kind sponsorships to cover the cost of creating a new sustainable garden on city property at the corner of 15th Street and Valley drive.

"It was an opportunity to step outside myself to learn new skill sets," said 2012 LMB class member Cynthia McMaster. "I changed a lot with how I deal with people," she said of being a member of an LMB class.

LMB, which held its first class in 1992, writes on its website, "For us, leadership is not holding an organizational position, it is taking action to benefit the community."

LMB class members brainstorm project ideas and then select one project to focus on, raising funds and completing it. 

On Thursday, before graduation, McMaster reflected on her experience, mentioning that early on each class member was asked to write what they wanted to gain from the LMB experience. Her desire to "become more entrenched in the community" and its "government, civic, charity" groups, among others, was met, she told Manhattan Beach Patch. 

The LMB Class of 2013 has a few openings left; visit www.leadershipmb.org.