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OFE News Release

Oct. 23 Fall Forum Offers Training, Networking For School Foundation Volunteers, Educators

September 25, 2007
OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence is now accepting registrations for its largest and most comprehensive training and networking event yet for local education foundation (LEF) volunteers, school administrators and educators.

The 19th annual Fall Forum for Local Education Foundations will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23, at the Oklahoma Memorial Union, 900 Asp Ave., on the University of Oklahoma’s Norman campus. The Fall Forum is the centerpiece of the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence LEF Outreach Program and is the state’s premier event for school foundation leaders and others seeking ways to improve the quality of public education in their communities. Registration fees are $50 per person if received by Oct. 8 and $60 for late registration. The Fall Forum schedule and registration form are available online at www.ofe.org.

Organizers of the Fall Forum have planned a unique conference for 2007 designed to strengthen the day-to-day operations of public school foundations while challenging foundation leaders to “think outside the box” and explore new ways of serving their school districts. Fall Forum co-chair Caroline Gist said this year’s forum is unlike any that the Foundation for Excellence has hosted in the past.

“We are providing a wider variety of topics that LEF volunteers have requested, such as “back-to-basics” information on writing successful grant proposals, how to choose donor management software and low-cost strategies for marketing your foundation,” Gist said. “We will also offer a session for those interested in learning how to start a public school foundation in their community.”

Karen Rose, director of LEF Outreach for the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence, said, “This year’s forum will also challenge school foundation leaders to think beyond traditional foundation programs and find really innovative ways to partner with their school districts.”

During a new opening general session, representatives from the Oklahoma Afterschool Network, the Payne Education Center, the Oklahoma School Performance Review and DonorsChoose will discuss ways that LEFs can collaborate with their organizations to better serve students. Each of these programs will also offer longer breakout sessions for those who want more information.

Glen Johnson Jr., chancellor for the State Regents for Higher Education, will be the keynote speaker for the Fall Forum luncheon, speaking on the challenges facing public education in Oklahoma and the need for all levels of education to be accountable. During the luncheon, three public school foundation programs will be honored as recipients of the Outstanding Program Awards for Local Education Foundations sponsored by the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence.

The programs include the Century Club Campaign sponsored by the Bixby Educational Endowment Foundation; the Principal for a Day Program sponsored by the Edmond Public Schools Foundation and the Academic Quest/Leadership Training Program sponsored by the Poteau Schools Education Foundation.

Forum organizers have invited Dallas-based nonprofit consultant and development officer Kathy Friend to present sessions on LEF board recruitment and board policies and procedures. Jim Collogan, program director for the National School Foundation Association, will share successful fundraising ideas garnered from foundations around the country and will offer a second session on strategic planning.

Cheri Cartwright, executive director of the Sarkeys Foundation, will share tips on how to write foundation grant proposals; and nonprofit accounting consultant Monica Swink will update participants on IRS changes affecting nonprofits, including the new Form 990. As part of the David and Molly Boren Mentoring Initiative, this year’s Fall Forum will also offer a panel of mentoring experts focusing on best practices in administering youth mentoring programs.

Several sessions will be offered for elementary and secondary educators. In “Winning Grant Ideas,” successful teacher grant recipients will share their award-winning ideas and tips for writing successful proposals to public school foundations. In addition, a panel of Oklahoma Medal for Excellence-winning educators will lead “Put the Learner First,” an interactive session on current trends in education and ways the school, community and state can join in the quest for academic excellence.

For more information, visit the foundation’s Web site at www.ofe.org or call Karen Rose, director of LEF Outreach, at (918) 743-5533.