New leaders' organization in Dallas

Calling all Nonprofit CEOs/Executive Directors!

On behalf of the transitional team, you are invited to attend the final meeting of the Association of United Way Agency Executives (AUWAE) and inaugural meeting of the Chamber of  Human Service Nonprofits/
Friday, September 16, 2011
9:00 am-10:15 am
Communities Foundation of Texas
5500 Caruth Haven Lane
Dallas, Texas 75225

This meeting is open to all AUWAE members, CEO’s/Executive Directors of agencies newly funded by United Way and CEOs/Executive Directors of ALL health and human service providers. Please invite your friends.

AGENDA

Brent Christopher, President/CEO of the Communities Foundation will share his insights into our community impact and how the Communities Foundation has created its funding mechanisms and priorities.

Sandy Kress, Senior Counsel with Akin/Gump and a long time leader in our community and in the state as a proponent of public education will provide an update and offer insights into the future of public education and our opportunity to influence and support that critical process.
A third agenda item will be a quick piece of organizational business as we respectfully retire the Association of United Way Agency Executives and give form to our new organization – Chamber of Human Service Non Profits: aka CHSN.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

You have heard several times from AUWAE leadership about the work that has occurred over the past nine months to retire the organization now that we are no longer relevant to the United Way structure and to create a new future for our work together. We are ready to remove the “under construction” banner.

With credit to the entire Executive Committee, but especially Florencia Velasco-Fortner, The Concilio who served as the Chair of the organization last year, and to Larry James, CitySquare who will be nominated as the Chair of the new organization, we pondered the question “is there a reason for this organization to exist in the future?” We spent many hours in conversations with community leaders and with United Way volunteer and staff leadership. And we listened to you through personal conversations and a survey that was distributed last January.

The overwhelming response we received focused on two important issues:

• Leadership of north Texas nonprofit human service organizations are very interested in creating a forum for fellowship, discussion and focus on common issues.

• Leadership also expressed a keen interest in opening lines of communication with major funding sources that look to our sector for community-based solutions through collaborative programs.

With those two objectives defining our early planning, we are excited to report that our meeting next Friday at the Communities Foundation will feature two highly regarded community leaders.

We are excited for you to join us to learn more…see you Friday, September 16 at 9:00 am.

Rita K. De Young
Chief Executive Officer
4411 Skillman Street
Dallas, Texas 75206
214-824-1122 Ext. 101
214-824-1148 Fax
http://www.campfireusadallas.org/