Kudos to National Philanthropy Day Co-Chairs Damon King and Johnna R. Walker as well as to their fabulous committee for a wonderful centennial event!  It was a memorable occasion.

The Oklahoma Chapter Board of Directors is excited to launch a new AFP membership scholarship program!

AFP Oklahoma Chapter scholarships are available to assist with AFP membership fees to help fundraising professionals increase their knowledge and skills even if their resources are limited.  Scholarships will be awarded to individuals with the most compelling need, and preference will be given to those who are not currently members of AFP.  Preference also will be given to those applicants who are employed in organizations with operating budgets of $500,000 or less or has more than one AFP member on staff.  The membership committee of the AFP Oklahoma Chapter Board of Directors will review all applications and make recommendations to the full Board for approval.

The scholarship application can be found at the www.afpoklahoma.org website (click on the Membership link).  For more information, please contact Deborah McAuliffe Senner at 405-278-8944 or by email at dsenner@alliedartsokc.com.

Also, remember that scholarships are annually awarded for the National Philanthropy Day.  Both AFP members and non-members are encouraged to apply for the NPD scholarships next year!

We appreciate your membership!

Brenda

NOVEMBER LUNCHEON - RSVPs REQUIRED

The next AFP Oklahoma luncheon will be held on Wednesday November 7^th at the Sportsman’s Club in Oklahoma City.  Attendees will benefit from a timely topic:  end-of-year goals and tasks in the development shop!  RSVP to Martha Stone, AFP Oklahoma Chapter Administrator, at afpoklahoma@gmail.com.  We would appreciate your RSVP by Monday, November 5^th. 

There will not be a luncheon scheduled for December 2007.  Our first luncheon of 2008 will be on January 2nd.

NATIONAL PHILANTHROPY DAY A SUCCESS!

Nearly 250 fundraising professionals, volunteers and nonprofit leaders joined AFP Oklahoma at the Skirvin Hotel on October 19^th for the 26^th annual National Philanthropy Day conference and awards luncheon.  Participants began the day with a lively presentation by Carol Weisman on developing the next generation of donors.  Luncheon guests were treated to a special presentation by J. Blake Wade on the history and great achievements of the Oklahoma Centennial Commission. 

Also during the luncheon, AFP Oklahoma honored local individuals and organizations for their remarkable philanthropic efforts throughout the state.  The honorees were:

• Outstanding Philanthropic Organization: Devon Energy Corporation

• Outstanding Fundraising Organization: Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, Inc.  

• Outstanding Youth Making a Difference: Jonathan Crider, Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma 

• Mike McDonald Outstanding Professional Fundraiser:  John Martin, Southern Nazarene University 

• Outstanding Volunteer Fundraisers: Randy Laffoon, Norman Regional Health Foundation & Michael C. Turpen, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma

• Outstanding Philanthropist: Sarah Caton Hogan, Metropolitan Library System's Library Endowment Trust

Throughout the day, a myriad of concurrent sessions were available to help sharpen development skills and learn from the country’s top fundraising practitioners.  Sessions ranged from learning how to become a better speaker to Board development to public relations for nonprofits.  Attendees can visit the AFP Oklahoma website to download handouts from the day’s sessions.  You will need the direct link and password information that was emailed to you from Martha Stone on October 23^rd.  You can always email Martha at afpoklahoma@gmail.com to receive the password again.

Thanks to Damon King and Johnna R. Walker for making National Philanthropy Day a wonderful success!

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

If you could not attend AFP Oklahoma’s National Philanthropy Day, there are a number of other AFP chapters in our region holding their own conferences. 

On Thursday, November 29^th, the AFP Eastern Oklahoma Chapter will present The Power of Giving, an educational conference and National Philanthropy Day Celebration at the Doubletree Downtown in Tulsa.  Simone Joyaux, AFCRE, will serve as the feature speaker.  She specializes in fund development, board and organizational development, management and strategic planning for all types and sizes of nonprofits.  For more information, visit www.afpeastok.org. 

The Greater Wichita Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals will celebrate National Philanthropy Day on November 30^th at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Wichita.  Featured guests include Betty Johnson, CFRE, and Chris Keeshan, President, Chris Keeshan Associates.  For more information, visit http://wichita.bizjournals.com/wichita/event/3590.

CFRE REVIEW COURSE IN OKLAHOMA CITY

In an effort to encourage certification for Central Oklahoma fundraisers, your Oklahoma Chapter of AFP will be hosting the CFRE Review Course on July 10^th and 11^th, 2008 at the YMCA Association Offices at 4th and Broadway in Oklahoma City. The cost for the two-day course for AFP members is $370 and for non-members, the cost is $410.  In order to take the CFRE exam from August 22 through September 13, 2008, you must submit your application to CFRE International no later than July 22, 2008.  If you wish to take the exam in October or November, materials must be submitted by September 24, 2008.

Details about the application process can be found online at www.cfre.org.  The CFRE exam is now given electronically at the Thomson Prometric Test Center located on NW 50th in Oklahoma City.  There are also test sites in Tulsa, McAlester and Woodward.  See the CFRE website for testing dates.

For more information about the CFRE exam review course or to join a CFRE study/support group, contact Sally Ray, AFP-Oklahoma President-Elect, at 405-297-7753 or by e-mail at sray@ymcaokc.org.

GIVING BACK: A CENTURY OF GIVING IN OKLAHOMA

AFP Oklahoma is spearheading the effort to chronicle 100 years of philanthropy throughout our great state.  Giving Back: A Century of Giving in Oklahoma, to be written by Oklahoma historian Bob Burke, is expected to be released in Spring 2008.  AFP is seeking financial partnerships to support the development and publication of the book.

In collaboration with the Oklahoma Heritage Association, we are requesting stories and information about those philanthropists who have supported Oklahoma's cultural, historical, educational, health and human service charities for the last century.  Visit www.afpoklahoma.org (click on GIVING BACK: The Book) to submit your stories.  Due to space limitations, not all stories can be included in the book.

We are now accepting pre-orders for the book.  You can visit www.afpoklahoma.org to download a pre-order form.

For more information on the project, contact Laura Lang at 405-271-8137.