8/3/2006 - The Board Leadership Institute to be Offered Again in the FallA Seton Hall University/VMC Partnership, Supported by The UPS FoundationSouth Orange, NJ - Following a very successful pilot of the Board Leadership Institute (BLI) last spring, Seton Hall University and Volunteer Management Centers (VMC) will again offer the program this fall. Made possible by a generous two-year grant from the UPS Foundation, one of its three new national grants under its Nonprofit Leadership Development Initiative, BLI is designed to maximize the enormous potential for corporate executives to be effective leaders when serving as board members of nonprofit organizations. A collaboration of Seton Hall University's Center for Public Service/Nonprofit Sector Resource Institute and VMC, BLI was begun in New Jersey, and is expected to be rolled out nationally thereafter. As home to numerous major corporations, and some 25,000 charitable organizations, New Jersey is an ideal setting for this model program. The BLI course covers such topics as: roles and responsibilities of board members, running effective board meetings, resource development, strategic planning, legal and fiduciary responsibilities, collaborations and marketing. Seton Hall has long been recognized for its programs for businesses and for nonprofits. As part of its commitment to enhancing the effectiveness of volunteers, VMC has a well-established program for board members that has provided the basic building block for the new BLI pilot. Participants in the pilot BLI program were enthusiastic. "Until I participated in BLI, I didn't know what I didn't know," said Phillip St. James of sanofi-aventis. "I decided that certain things I had learned in class needed to be implemented on a nonprofit board where I was serving; we are now becoming a true working board." "I loved the discussions around the different topics being presented," said Christina Guidice Duffy, a private banker with Bank of America. "It surfaced questions to ask potential boards that I wouldn't have known to ask." Barkley Calkins, the BLI Program Director from Seton Hall said "This kind of positive feedback from the participants is truly empowering for all us involved in the ongoing process of developing the program." Joanne Kobus, the BLI Program Director from VMC adds, "It's a credit to The UPS Foundation that it is providing vital funding to open this training opportunity to executives throughout the metropolitan area. The BLI staff will assist all interested participants in finding board service opportunities upon completion of the program." Established in 1951 and based in Atlanta, GA, The UPS Foundation identifies specific areas where its backing clearly impacts social issues. In support of this strategic approach, The UPS Foundation has identified literacy, hunger relief and volunteerism as its focus areas. In 2005, The UPS Foundation began its Nonprofit Leadership Development Initiative to support organizations' efforts to provide skill-building and renewal opportunities to nonprofit leaders; to create opportunities to prepare the next generation of nonprofit leaders, arming them with the skills they need to be successful; and to enable nonprofit boards of directors to exercise a sound leadership role through strategic governance. "Giving back to the communities is an important part of UPS's culture that's embraced by our employees through volunteerism, making donations and sharing their intellectual capital," said Evern Cooper Epps, president of The UPS Foundation and vice president of UPS Corporate Relations. "Together with nonprofit partners such as Seton Hall University and VMC, we work to make a positive impact on the lives of people in need." Applications are now being accepted for the fall '06 class. Sessions will run four consecutive Thursdays from September 21st to October 5th at the South Orange campus of Seton Hall University. To obtain an application or additional information regarding the Board Leadership Institute, call 973-761-9734 or e-mail For more information contact:
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