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Project Blueprint, developing and training series

Volunteer Services Agency, Inc., a United Way agency and with support from the Home Savings Charitable Foundation and the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley, seeks interested individuals to participate in Project Blueprint, a comprehensive board training.  Applications from interested individuals will be accepted through Wednesday, Jan. 23.
Volunteer Services Agency, Inc. in partnership with leaders from both the business and non-profit community will be offering Project Blueprint - a training series designed to promote diversity on non-profit boards and committees throughout the Mahoning Valley.  Project Blueprint provides comprehensive training for people who have an interest in serving on a non-profit board or those individuals currently sitting on boards who feel the need to refresh their skills.  Communities need strong social service agencies and those agencies are only as strong as their administrators and boards.  Project Blueprint opens the door for people who believe in our community and want to volunteer their time to make a difference in a local non-profit organization.  Project Blueprint board training empowers individuals by providing comprehensive knowledge and the opportunity to test their skills through interaction with community professionals.  Topics of interest include:
- Structuring the work of the board (e.g., committees) in a way that will optimize effectiveness within their current capabilities
- Developing the appropriate working relationship with professional staff (if one exists)
- Understanding and accepting their role of fiduciary oversight
- Understanding and accepting their responsibility for fundraising and resource development
Board training is a critical component of an organization's ability to fulfill its mission and successfully serve its constituents.

Project Blueprint benefits participants and the community by helping define the future of our community, connecting a network of talented and resourceful professionals and developing and sharing expertise.  To date, over 75 participants have been trained and placed in the Mahoning Valley.  Participants complete the six session training and tuition is $100.  Corporations, non-profit organizations, communities of faith and interested persons from the community are encouraged to recommend applicants and assume the cost for tuition.       
The sessions will on Saturday mornings from 9:00 a.m. until 12 noon beginning January 26, 2008 and continuing on February 9, February 23, March 8 and 29 and April 12, 2008.  All sessions will be held in the Gathering Room at the Park Vista Retirement Community.  Topics include:  Non-Profit Governance, Teamwork, Strategic Planning, Marketing and Human Resources issues.  Graduation will be held on April 28 at the All Community Volunteer Recognition which kicks off National Volunteer Week.   

Standard Treatment

A story is told years ago, about a prominent obstetrician who had a unique approach to caring for under nourished infants. When he made his nursery rounds and he came to a baby who had failed to gain weight, he would note the following instructions to the attending nurse in the baby's chart: "This baby is to be loved every three hours."  You see, this wise doctor considered that these babies needed something much more than formulas or mere nutrients to survive; they first needed to experience the warmth of another's life giving affection!
If this principle is true, how many people are there in the world today that are sickly and ailing simply because they have not been cared for and loved?
Every follower of Christ has been called, commissioned, and sent into the world to reach out with the compassion and power of Jesus! Romans 12:9, 10 says: "Let your love be free from hypocrisy. Detest what is evil, adhere to the good. Love one another with brotherly affection, competing with one another in showing mutual regard.
This scripture teaches us that our love for one another has to be genuine and real. Our affection must never become like the makeup and the costumes that actors wear in a Broadway show. When will we realize that hurting people aren't at all impressed by our religious piety?  Don't foolishly thing that they can't readily see through even the cleverest masquerade of our insincerity!
People the world over; thrive on being in competition with one another. Sadly enough, some folks aren't aware that oftentimes their true motives stem from a low self esteem and/or the distorted need to prove themselves!  Often, they have a great need to feel in control, or simply the desire to "be on top"!    However, this is not the same kind of competitive spirit that the Apostle Paul is urging us to yield to. The work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Believer empowers us to help enable others to "get over" or to "be on top"! Could you imagine what could happen in our homes and communities when each of us were in "competition" in showing our "brotherly affection"? This kind of competition would create unlimited opportunities in which we could invest our time, talents, and treasures into helping those in need.
Friend, You won't have to go to the hospital, an inner city rescue mission, or even a foreign mission's field to find someone physically, emotionally, or spiritually malnourished. Those in need reside as close as your arms can reach and your hands can touch. Every hungry soul has at least one thing in common; Doctor Jesus has seen their condition and has noted the following instruction on their charts: "This person is to be loved, at least three zillion times at day". Be blessed! Be free!
Dan Cesene is a motivational writer and speaker with a heart to bless and encourage others. He is available to speak to your group. For more information, please call 330-307-0200 or email ynotgod156@yahoo.com.