Some leaders seem born to it; others might grow into it. Still others have leadership capability that needs cultivating and encouraging. That last big bunch became the focus of the many community-organized leadership-development courses that blossomed nationwide during the past three or four decades.

More than 300 achievers and potential achievers have been through Leadership Santa Fe's six-weekend offerings in a 30-year tenure interrupted by, well, less-than-successful leadership - but resumed in recent years.

The group has just taken a couple of seven-league strides: It's now a program of the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce. The chamber's counterparts launched leadership courses in many American cities, so our community's business group can draw on plenty of experience. At the same time, the Santa Fe Community Foundation has agreed to provide leadership training for those interested in serving on boards of our area's many nonprofit organizations.