In an effort to continually learn more about the Southern Maryland Region and state, representatives from the Leadership Southern Maryland Board of Directors and alumni from the LSM class of 2009 spent August 4, touring Smith Island, learning about the impact and influence of the Chesapeake Bay on the history, economy and people.

Jennings Evans – longtime Smith Island native – served as tour guide and educator by explaining the historical significance of the Island, beginning with its discovery by English settlers in the early 1600s through the American Revolution and War of 1812. Evans provided a personal account of how the Island has changed in the past 80 years and how the decline of the seafood industry, changing ecosystems, and health of the Chesapeake has influenced these changes.

Participants enjoyed a family style meal at the Bayside restaurant followed up with a slice of infamous Smith Island 10-Layer Cake – designated the official dessert of the State of Maryland on April 24, 2008 –  met with residents, and toured the Smith Island Center, cemeteries and Methodist tabernacle to learn more about the Island’s culture. “There is no better classroom than that of experiential learning where you can see, feel and touch the effects of a changing environment,” said Tom Jarboe, past president, LSM. “Where else could you get the same experience on the importance of the health of the Chesapeake Bay than from Smith Island and its inhabitants?”

Smith Island is Maryland's only inhabited off-shore Island in the Chesapeake Bay with an estimated population of 180. In the last 150 years, Smith Island has lost over 3,300 acres of wetlands due to erosion into the Chesapeake Bay. Smith Island is accessible by boat only, and passenger-only ferries connect Smith Island at Ewell to Point Lookout to the west and Crisfield to the east.

The trip was made possible through a grant from Wyle Laboratories, an avid supporter of LSM and a Southern MD regional business partner supporting our community. 

Leadership Southern Maryland is a nine-month tuition-based program specially designed to develop leaders from the Southern Maryland area for regional collaboration. The LSM program is dedicated to building a cadre of informed regional leaders, prepared to address common issues and bring long-term benefit to their neighbors and communities and incorporates a cross-section of the region to include diversity of geographic location, profession, ethnicity and gender.

Leadership Southern Maryland is an independent, educational leadership development organization designed to broaden the knowledge base of mid to senior level public and private sector executives about the critical issues, challenges, and opportunities facing the region. Leadership Southern Maryland is a not-for-profit organization.

For more information, please contact the Karen Holcomb, Executive Director Leadership Southern Maryland, 301.481.2727 via e-mail LeadSOMD@verizon.net or visit www.leadsomd.org.