The West Michigan Character Council's mission is to create awareness and initiate character development in all areas of community life by:

• Monthly character interviews on WHTC about the character quality of the month.
  
  
• Monthly Character Leadership Breakfasts, open to the public:
  
  2nd Thursday of each month
  7:29 am
  
  Eagle Building, corner of 10th and Central
  Downtown Holland
  
  Meetings include: Awarding of community member for good character and informal discussion of the character quality of the month as it applies to business, education, government, law enforcement, media, and non-profits.
  
  
• Monthly PSA's for the character quality of the month on WTHS (Hope College radio station), WHTC, WJQ, and their sister stations.
  
  
• Assistance for area organizations who wish to encourage good character by training management with one-day Character First Seminars, led by Charlie Nunez, Character Development Group, LLC.
  
  
• Assistance for student and/or faculty groups to create character awareness in area schools.
  
  
• Help develop Character Cartoons by Wade Gugino, featured at Holland Area Chamber of Commerce Early Bird Breakfasts.

A Community of Character works to maintain an emphasis on good character throughout its public and private organizations. It is a broad-based effort to integrate character into the culture of the community. In a Community of Character, elected officials, community leaders, and citizens-at-large recognize the critical importance of good character in building a safe, productive, and caring community. Emphasis is placed upon an individual’s responsibility for his or her words, actions, and attitudes, and undisciplined living is considered socially unacceptable. A Community of Character must include leaders who live by the character standards they advocate for all individuals.

Good character is the inward motivation to do what is right according to the highest standards of behavior, in every situation, whatever the cost. Good character enables one to see the wise decision in every situation and provides the courage to act upon that decision. For example, people will be able to see problems and provide solutions if they have strong character qualities of diligence, determination, and decisiveness. A higher standard of living will naturally result if people are resourceful and thrifty. Greater economic success is the overflow of creativity, initiative, and endurance. A safer community results when citizens exercise the character qualities of alertness, orderliness, and self-control.

There are several facets of involvement, such as:

Making resolutions to become a family of character, a school of character, a business of character, a department of character, etc.

Training supervisory employees to incorporate the character emphasis into your leadership culture.

Initiating character development activities, where needed.

Changing the culture in your family, department, school, or business to one in which character is emphasized, required, and praised.

Creating a culture where, not only is achievement rewarded, but also, good character.

Supplying employees with Character First Bulletins, which provide historical perspective and action items for the development of a particular character quality.

Developing creative ways to provide families with character development resources.

See contact page for asking further questions about how to become involved with the West Michigan Character Council.

Everyone is invited to attend the monthly Character Leadership Breakfasts on the second Thursday of each month at 7:29 am at the Eagle Building, corner of 10th and Central, downtown Holland. Also, you are welcome to contact any of the council members, listed on the Contact page. They would be happy to answer your questions or direct you to someone who can.