Create West Virginia

Strengthening Community
Faces of Leadership Conference: July 14-16, 2009

Join us July 14-16 at the Charleston Civic Center for the state’s annual gathering of people strengthening communities through volunteerism and service. This year’s state conference on volunteerism, community service and service-learning offers a variety of interesting and innovative presentations and workshop sessions.

Conference Highlights

Dynamic Keynotes - This year, you’ll not only find the great skill-building workshops that attract participants
time and again, but also hear from three inspirational keynote speakers. Becky Anderson, the founder of HandMade in America – a nationally recognized institution that makes known the hidden heritage and craftspeople of western North Carolina – will show participants how the lessons of yesterday can help us plan for tomorrow. Suzanne Morse, president of the Pew Partnership for Civic Change, will encourage us all to become Community Champions and set us on the path to being agents of change in our communities. And enthusiastic, nationally-known motivational speaker Jenny Nolen will teach us that humor is our single greatest asset and brings a valuable lesson on learning to laugh at ourselves.

Networking Opportunities - The nearly 400 people who attend the conference have the opportunity to catch up with old friends and make new ones from among the government officials, business and community leaders, nonprofit and national service staff/volunteers, and members of faith-based organizations who attend the conference.

Diverse Workshop Topics - Conference participants will get new ideas from more than 65 workshops that address everything from legal issues, to advocacy, to using GIS (Geographic Information Systems) to map service locations - just to name a few. Download the complete conference brochure for a full list of workshops for this year's conference.

Operation READ - As the Faces of Leadership service project and statewide book drive, Operation READ presented a variety of participation opportunities for West Virginians and conference attendees.

Exhibits - Take this opportunity to spotlight your organization, program or products with an exhibit table at this year’s conference. Tell other participants about new initiatives, innovative thinking or collaboration. Come share information about your program! Each display area will have a six-foot skirted table. There is a nominal fee of $25 per table for nonprofit organizations and $50 for private sector exhibitors. Call Moya Doneghy at 304-558-0111 or email moya.doneghy@wv.gov to register for an exhibit table.

Exciting Conference Closing - They’re back! Isaac Joseph will close this year’s conference - sending us on our way full of energy and spirit. This singing duo first performed at the 1997 conference at Snowshoe and has been a part of the motivating spirit of this event many times since then, most recently in 2007.

To download the conference brochure, click here.

To download the registration form only, click here.

For more information on the 2008 Faces of Leadership Conference, contact Moya Doneghy at (304) 558-0111 or (800) WV-HELPS.