Breakout Session B

Tuesday, April 27
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM

B1: Updates from the LCMS

Join the executive Director of LCMS world Relief for updates from the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Learn about the priorities for World Relief and Human Care, about current initiatives within the LCMS, about changes and challenges within the LCMS including recognition processes, economic realities, and structure change proposals, and the implications for social ministry.

The Rev. Matthew Harrison is the Executive Director, LCMS World Relief and Human Care.

B2: Goldilocks and the Three Boards

Some CEOs over-manage the board, others abdicate responsibility, other CEOs figure out how to do it just right. This session will focus on the practical ways CEOs, CFOs and other staff members can equip boards as high-functioning leadership partners. Explore how things like board packet materials, agenda construction, staff support for board committees, strategic and straightforward communications, and board orientation and education can make all the difference in helping the board make its best contribution to the organization.

Jill Schumann, President & CEO, Lutheran Services in America serves on several national boards and consults regularly with organizations on governance matters.

B3: A New Administration – A New Approach to Faith-Based Partnerships?

The Bush Administration’s work with faith-based groups received significant attention and stirred some controversies. The Obama Administration has also established a White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. What are the similarities and differences in the two approaches? What are emerging as the significant opportunities and issues? What might they mean for Lutheran social ministry organizations?

Robert Tuttle is a Professor of Law and David R. and Sherry Kirschner Berz Research Professor of Law and Religion at the George Washington University Law School. He is the co-director of the Legal Tracking Project of the Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy and a foremost national expert on church/state intersections and social service/ healthcare delivery.

B4: What Does Your Organization's Website Really Say?

Join this interactive session to explore websites and discover and discuss the do's and don'ts of good websites. You will walk away from this session with ideas for improving your organization's website.

Ted Hart, CEO Hart Philanthropic Services Group, is considered one of the foremost experts in ePhilanthropy, having founded the ePhilanthropy Foundation and served as its President/CEO for seven years. He is also CEO of the international nonprofit environmental movement GreenNonprofits.

B5: Trends in IT for Non-Tech Nonprofit Leaders

Mobility. Security. Cloud Computing. Social Networks. IT processes. What's a nonprofit leader to do? Come learn from one of the world's most respected nonprofit CIOs in this session that will help equip non-tech leaders to understand today's and tomorrow's trends in technology and explore the governance and business processes related to information technology to position you to provide better leadership for your organization.

John Sullivan, CIO, American Chemical Society was named one of the Premier 100 IT Leaders by Computerworld and previously served as CIO at AARP.

B6: LSA Linking Lives: Caregiver Suite. Enterprising Solutions for Caregiver Support

Is your organization looking for new ways to support caregivers and new opportunities for engaging congregations in meaningful partnerships? Does your organization have a quality program that might be replicable through Growth Ready: A Center for Enterprise, LSA's new platform for spreading what works? Come learn more about Caregiver Suite - LSA's new portfolio of caregiver support models - and its first two product offerings that will be available for purchase in summer 2010. In this session, you will hear from program staff at Lutheran Community Services Northwest and Lyngblomsten, who developed the two new Caregiver Suite models and who are deeply immersed in caregiver support programming as a strategic organizational priority. Tell us what you're doing in caregiver support programming and what innovations you think are needed if we are to succeed in meeting the escalating market demand for models that enable people to age safely and meaningfully in the place they call home.  

Pat Witt, Caregiver University Coordinator, Lutheran Community Services Northwest; Carolyn Klaver, The Gathering Coordinator, Lyngblomsten; Dawn Thomsen, Venture Director, Criterion Ventures; Cynthia Osborne, VP Strategic Initiatives and Program Development, LSA