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ACROSS THE BOARD
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Big Brothers
Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri
Think “Big”
By Pam Droog
There’s more than one way to be a “Big” at Big Brothers Big Sisters
of Eastern Missouri. Traditionally, the program pairs an adult and
a child in a one-to-one, friendship-based relationship. But recently,
flexible options have made it easier than ever to become a positive
role model for a child. These non-typical opportunities are the
result of the non-typical approaches and attitudes of Big Brothers
Big Sisters’ hardworking board of directors.
“Our board is made up of leaders of corporations, small businesses,
government, religion and education,” says Becky James, president
and chief executive officer. “They’re action-oriented and strategic
thinkers.”
Adds Greg Keller, Big Brothers Big Sisters board chairman and president,
and chief executive officer of Renaissance Financial, “It’s a fantastic
group of people, all very committed and focused on kids’ best interests.”
Currently those kids number around 1,000, including children in
Greater St. Louis and St. Charles and Cape Girardeau counties—therefore,
the name Eastern Missouri. However, the St. Louis chapter was founded
in 1914, making it one of the oldest in the nation.
Above:
(Seated left to right): Melanie DiLeo, corporate contributions manager,
Citimortgage; Constance Rockingham, Ph. D, president and CEO, The
PYR Group; Greg Keller, president, Renaissance Financial; Becky
James, president and CEO, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Greater
St. Louis; Brian Liberman, principle, Jaffe Lighting and Supply,
Inc.; Timothy Jordan, M.D., development & behavioral pediatrician,
Children and Families, Inc.; (Standing left to right): Sara Foster,
vice president, Human Relations Commerce Bank; Vincent Bennett,
senior vice president, McCormack Barron & Associates; Patti Harty,
sales & training associate, Stark & Associates; Michael Burton,
judge, St. Louis County Court; Scott Zajac, managing director, Advantage
Capital Partners; Michael Kilker, president, Corporate Benefits
Strategies, LLC; Linda Locke, vice president, MasterCard International;
Johnny Furr, vice president corporate affairs, Anheuser-Busch CO’s;
Dave Courvoisier, news anchor, KFVS-TV; M. Weldon “Sandy” Rogers,
vice president, Business Development, Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
With 24 members, the board is the largest ever. It grew in the past
two years to add representation from particular industries and organizations.
“I’m very comfortable with around 25 high-producing board members,”
James says. “I like a manageable board I can really work with to
get things accomplished. But,” she notes, “I have a real distaste
for meetings!”
She explains, “I only get board members x amount of time, and I
have to make the best use of that time. Say I have an issue, so
I call four of them and say let’s meet for breakfast and discuss
it. Or I’ll e-mail one of them or they’ll call from Europe and I’ll
say can you help me with this and they’ll get right on it. I need
their information, not their bodies around the table!”
The entire board comes together quarterly. In between, the executive,
finance, planning and other committees meet as needed. Each board
member serves on at least one committee.
Officially, members serve three-year terms, “but I’ve been here
eight years and have not lost one board member,” James says. “We
can nominate you forever.” For example, Chairman Emeritus Todd Epsten
has served 12 years. “He’s got another good 12 in him,” James notes.
The board recently wrapped up its new strategic plan, and set some
very challenging goals—in particular, an initiative to move from
1,000 to 10,000 matches by 2008.
“Studies have shown there’s a need for 100,000 Big Brothers and
Sisters in our service areas, so we’re doing our part to help mentor
kids,” Keller says.
To reach the 10,000-matches goal, James says Big Brothers Big Sisters
will build a “power brand,” meaning, “every time you engage this
organization, even though we deal with very serious issues, it gives
you a great feeling and brings joy into your life,” she explains.
Also, the organization will build partnerships in new ways.
“We’re going to stop asking for help with our money and volunteer
problems, which are fairly common in nonprofits, and start asking,
what can WE do for YOU?” James says.
Hopefully, this approach will help Big Brothers Big Sisters supplement
its $2 million budget, of which about $350,000 comes from United
Way and the rest from corporations, individuals, trusts and foundations,
fundraisers and government. The organization employs 40, including
five at its subsidiary, the Mentoring Institute, which designs and
markets mentoring products and programs nationwide.
Pam Droog is a frequent contributor to St. Louis Commerce Magazine.
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