2011 Leadership Retreat a Resounding Success

“The NCBW Woman: Fit to Serve and Ready to Lead” was the theme of the 2011 Leadership Retreat at the Hilton Hotel on historic Galveston Island, Texas. The retreat held June 9-11, 2011, was attended by NCBW chapter and leadership teams from across the country.

National President Dee Dee Strum opened the retreat with a session highlighting the new NCBW Roadshow focusing on building capacity to further our mission and fulfill our advocacy agenda. 

The women’s empowerment breakfast featured Attorney Fay H. Williams speaking on Making Friends with the Establishment in Your Community.   Decreasing teen and unplanned pregnancy in our communities and NCBW’s partnership with The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy was the topic presented by Paula Parker-Sawyers of The National Campaign. 

Mary O’Malley of Prudential Companies of America presented an excellent workshop on The Mission Driven Volunteer and National Vice President Michele McNeill-Emery led a session on Outcomes and Impact: Measuring Mission Fulfillment. Other topics included continuing our HIV/AIDS community messaging, chapter best practices, My Sister’s Keeper financial literacy boot camp, and ensuring chapter standards compliance.

NCBW national organizing members Fay Williams and Jatrice Gaiter sponsored a welcome to Galveston reception which included a trip to Old Central High School, the first African American high school in the state of Texas, island food, history and local entertainment.