LEADERSHIP GILROY
DUCKIE DERBY & GETTING DUCKED
On October 9, 2019 Leadership Gilroy graduated its 21 st class. Leadership
Gilroy is a dynamic ten-month program in which participants develop vital
leadership and team-building skills, gain a deeper understanding of the local
community, and design a service project. Since 1998 over 400 people have
graduated from the Leadership Gilroy program.
One of the fundraisers for Leadership Gilroy is the community event, the
Duckie Derby. The Derby is a series of paddle boat races at Gilroy Gardens.
The Duckie Derby ticket includes a day pass to the Gardens. The Derby
consists of a paddle boat race around the lake by various local businesses or
organizations sponsored boats. October 20, 2019 was the 10 th annual Duckie
Derby. Typically there are 16-20 participating teams in 4-5 heats. The 2019
winner was a team from the Gilroy Police Department!
Connected with the Duckie Derby is an unusual series of night happen-
ings…“You've Been Ducked!” Members of the Leadership Gilroy Board of
Directors in 2019 “ducked” about 40 individuals and another 40 Businesses.
Getting “Ducked” means that overnight a group of rubber duckies on stilts
shows up on your property, along with a folder that gives the “Ducked” indi-
vidual or business an opportunity to nominate someone else to be “ducked”
and/or make a donation. The next night the “Ducked” location is cleared and
moved on to another location. A great, fun tradition!
In 2019
TODAY participated in the Derby but did not win! Then
we got “Ducked” under the not-so-vigilant eye of our watch dog, Charlie!
gmh
GMHTODAY
Leadership Gilroy Class of 2019 (Left
to Right): Amanda Rudeen, Jorge Duran,
Jenny Arellano Morales, Mike McMahon,
Kanani Pratt, Andrew Habing, Melanie
Davis, Roya Wallace, Lillian Silva, Lisa
Blagof, Jennifer Hererra Sanchez, Kelly
Chavez, Jessica Ewing, Sarah Rosso-
Bent, Josh Korbel, Paco Rodriquez.
Not Pictured: Faranak Mahdavi,
Dasyi Quijada
38
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
WINTER 2020
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