We’re breaking records
2007 has been a very successful year for United Way’s Speakers Bureau. We’ve already scheduled more than 250 campaign meetings with agency speakers. That’s a five-year record! Thank you for your hard work and dedication in getting the message out to so many donors.

Tip of the week: Pack for emergencies
Here’s a tip from our busiest speakers: Set up a speaking engagement folder that can be your lifeline in case you get lost or can’t remember where to park. Print out each confirmation email as soon as you receive it, and highlight the ECC’s contact information. Pull up the Mapquest directions (even if you think you know where you’re going) and print them out. Staple everything together and slip the bundle into your folder.  Add a map of Onondaga County and any notes for your speech that you may have prepared. Write Kelly’s phone number, 315-428-2210, inside the front cover, and you’re ready to go. Then, just make sure to bring that folder with you!

Hero of the week—the “Pinch Hitter” Award
Lenny Harris may hold the record for the most pinch hits in major league baseball, but some members of Speakers Bureau are not too far behind! This week we had a team of pinch hitters, with John McCullough of New Justice Conflict Resolution Services as MVP. John took two meetings at Lockheed Martin on less than 24 hours notice.

Special thanks to other pinch hitters last week:

1. Mary Beth Frey from the Samaritan Center
2. Bill Lansley from the Boys and Girls Clubs
3. Elizabeth Payne from AIDS Community Resources
4. Dave Palen from New Justice Conflict Resolution Services
5. Dotti Hetnar from Vera House, Inc.,
6. Judi Torres from Syracuse Jewish Family Service
7. Beth Slater from the Food Bank of Central New York,
8. Barbara Benedict from the Center for Community Alternatives, and
9. Kathy Pierson from Exceptional Family Resources.

Thanks to everyone who did a presentation this week:

Tom Slater – Food Bank of Central New York
Rick Fowler – Interfaith Works of CNY
Margaret Gere-Planer – Syracuse Northeast Community Center                
Hal Clapper – Aurora of Central New York, Inc.
Frances Howard – Dunbar Association
John McCullough – New Justice Conflict Resolution Services
Barbara Benedict – Center for Community Alternatives
Liz Nolan – Liberty Resources, Inc.
Mary Beth Frey – Samaritan Center
Oscar Vergara – P.E.A.C.E., Inc.
Sue Stewart – Girl Scouts of CNY
Hope Wallis – Interfaith Works of CNY
Sharon Jack Williams – Dunbar Association
Kathy Pierson – Exceptional Family Resources
Barbara Benedict – Center for Community Alternatives
Tom Roshau – The Salvation Army
Dotti Hetnar – Vera House
Ellen Schwartz – YWCA of Syracuse and Onondaga County
Sue Stewart – Girls Scouts of CNY
Elizabeth Payne – AIDS Community Resources
Michelle Haas – Catholic Charities of Onondaga County
Tracy Walker – Liberty Resources, Inc.
Judi Torres – Syracuse Jewish Family Services
Ginny Donohue – On Point for College
Beth Slater – Food Bank of Central New York
John McCullough – New Justice Conflict Resolution Services