Local Education Foundation Outreach

Regional Meetings Offered for LEF Leaders

Elaine Free

In response to suggestions from local education foundation (LEF) leaders, the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence LEF Outreach Program is taking its training and networking sessions on the road this fall.
LEF Outreach and Fall Forum committees decided to offer regional meetings this year in lieu of the annual Fall Forum for Local Education Foundations. The free regional meetings will provide quality training and networking opportunities for LEF volunteers, without having to travel long distances or miss a full day’s work, said Karen Rose, director of LEF Outreach.

“Regional meetings are an excellent way for local education foundation volunteers to learn from each other and share their experiences in a more personal environment,” Rose said.

The free, public meetings are scheduled as follows:

Sept. 8, McAlester – 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., Lucy Smith Activity Center, 1 Buffalo Dr.

Sept. 22, Woodward – 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., Ranger Room, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, 2007 34th St.

Oct. 13, Stillwater – 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., Stillwater High School, 1224 N. Husband St.

Oct. 20, Miami – 3 to 6 p.m. Miami Activity Center Auditorium, 2000 E. Central.

March 2, Claremore - 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Rogers State University Centennial Center, 1701 W. Will Rogers Blvd., Building #22

Please RSVP at least one week in advance by contacting Karen Rose at (918) 743-5533 or email krose@ofe.org.

Dr. Elaine Free, a nationally recognized consultant to public school foundations, will be the featured speaker at each of the regional meetings. She will discuss best practices for operating successful public school foundations.

Free is the founder of Successful Ways Inc. (www.successfulwaysinc.com), which is devoted to education foundation enhancements. A sought-after speaker with appearances at national education conferences, Free draws from a 31-year career in public education as a teacher, an administrator and public information director.

In more than a decade of consulting with school districts and foundations, Free continues to guide districts as they create foundations and counsels foundation boards through policy and procedure construction. She also facilitates foundation leaders in developing five-year plans. A Dallas resident, Free has been instrumental in establishing an annual state conference for education foundations in Texas.