MULLINS - Francis Marion University President Dr. Fred Carter delivered an address Tuesday for the establishment of the Emerging Leaders Institute-Developing Tomorrow’s Leaders, Today, where it pairs about 14 individuals in their mid-20s to 40s with community members of business, government, education and nonprofit organizations in Marion County.

Carter has served as Francis Marion president since 1999 and spoke on the topic “Four Decades of Gubernatorial Leadership in South Carolina,” mentioning Gov. Mark Sanford, former Gov. Jim Hodges and others.

Carter said South Carolina has a weak government system but these men have a strong will and compassion.

“It’s all about people, and if you take your eye off people you’ll lose your heart and soul,” Carter said.

Marion County and Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service sponsors the Emerging Leaders Institute and the initiative is apart of Marion County’s Palmetto Leadership.

For the past 15 years, through a grant from the W. R. Kellog Foundation, the leadership program has graduated more than 2,000 leaders in economic, governmental, and social and community development.

These leaders will attend classes on Thursdays from 1 to 5:30 p.m. at a cost of $350 and will be in a variety of formats such as guest lecturers, attendance at council and school board meetings, community visits and retreats.

Classes begin with a two-day mandatory retreat in October followed by five half-day classes in Marion County, one full day in Columbia, another full day in the Pee Dee and ends with a retreat in May or June 2006. The class will participate in a community service project upon completion and an optional tour to Washington, D.C.

These leaders will be able to act as counselors or advisers to other youth leaders and have been trained to address critical local and regional issues related to human and economic capacity development, according to the Palmetto Leadership’s program description.

The goals of the program are to develop core leadership competencies, explore the community, mentor, serve and connect and network.

William McMillan of the Palmetto Leadership Alumni Association Advisory Board is a 1996 graduate of the program and credits the Palmetto Leadership program for making him more aware and involved in his community.

“I didn’t have a feel for the community, but through this program I’m better,” McMillan said. “I am a very proud member of this program, and it’s done wonders for me.”

McMillan said if people don’t join, they are selling themselves short because it is a great opportunity to network with community members.

“Everything in life is about people,” McMillan said. “If you go through life without thinking of people, you made a big mistake.”

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