We are looking for volunteers to serve for Leadership Berks! Leadership Berks is a training program designed to broaden the base of effective future voluntary community leadership within Berks County by cultivating the interest, knowledge and skills of emerging leaders reflecting diverse backgrounds. Individuals will be prepared to contribute time and talents to effectively meet the rapidly changing needs of our community.

Description:
The objective of the Leadership Berks Program is to prepare participants for leadership positions with local nonprofit organizations to address community needs, enhance the operations of the nonprofit organization, and improve the quality of life for all Berks County Residents.

Leadership Berks is a nine month training program for new and emerging leaders in Berks County. The program consists of three components - monthly, full-day sessions, group field projects, and placement of the participants into the community.

MONTHLY SESSIONS
The monthly sessions feature an intense curricula of material integrating interpersonal and group skills for effective boardsmanship with community issues.

GROUP FIELD PROJECT
Community not-for-profit organizations submit proposals which describe the need for a marketing plan, fund raising drive or other project which the organization had been unable to develop. The participants review these proposals and are grouped according to their interests and expertise. Each group presents their results and accomplishments at the final session, demonstrating, in a concrete way, some of what Leadership Berks contributes to the community.

History:
Leadership Berks is a not-for-profit agency founded in 1985 by the United Way of Berks County, Berks County Chamber of Commerce, the Junior League of Reading, PA Inc., and the United Labor Council of Reading-Berks.

More than 500 individuals have graduated from the program and many of them are now working to improve the quality of life for residents of Berks County, through their participation on boards of directors, committees, and specific projects of local organizations.

Contact person: Toni Eckert, Executive Director, (610) 376-4112, (email)
Office fax number: 610-376-4135

Address:

601 Penn Street, Suite 101 Reading, PA 19601 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.leadershipberks.org

Directions:

Agency office is located at the Berks County Chamber of Commerce office in the Sovereign Bank Building on the corner of 6th & Penn Streets in downtown Reading. Program sessions will be scheduled at appropriate sites throughout Berks County.