Key Notes
The Open Door Education Foundation's News Bulletin

The Open Door's Public Debut in DC on Lobby Day

The Open Door Education Foundation made its public debut in Washington, DC, during NACCB's Lobby Day 1999.  The Open Door hosted a reception attended by Senator Howard McKeon (R/CA) to offer support and a challenge to all NACCB Members to become Founders! The Senator remarked, "The only thing I can't understand is, why aren't you all standing up here as Founders?" Over one third of our 146 founders were on hand for this event.   Grace Gentry introduced the Open Door saying, "We saw the opportunity to give back to the communities that have helped us be successful and to help our clients, our industry and our own businesses by providing a larger pool of trained technicians."

Founder's Drive Concluded...A Great Success

The open Door's first fundraising drive, the "Founder's Drive", ended March 31; and we are happy to report that your hard work has enabled us to achieve some remarkable results.  We established an initial endowment of $800,000, with nearly half of that amount currently available!

Our First Named Scholarship from Leo Gordon of Consultis, Inc.

We are also excited to report that Leo Gordon, Consultis Inc. has generously pledged $50,000 for a "named" scholarship.  A $50,000 pledge will allow the donor to specify the chapter through which the scholarship is to be awarded, and to have the awards given in their company's name.  Please encourage your chapter members to sponsor a named scholarship.  Special thanks to all of you who have worked so hard.   Now we can truly begin to open some doors!

New Fund Raising Drive To Be Announced

We are currently developing a second fundraising drive to launch at the NACCB 1999 Conference the November in Las Vegas.  Look for details in the future bulletins regarding this drive.

Pins and Plaques Shipped

Many Founders received their Founder's plaques and 14kt gold pins during NACCB Lobby Day.   Founders who did not receive theirs in the mail.  Please instruct any of your chapter members who are but have not yet received theirs, or would like to order additional pins and plaques, to call Mary Steiner at The open Door.

Founder's Logo and Press Releases Have Been Sent

We have now sent Founder's logos via email.  A recent request via email was sent to all founders requesting alternate publications for press releases to announce The Open Door's introduction and recognition of their generosity.  Press releases have been issued to the publications whose names were provided by the founders.  Thank you for your assistance in helping us to complete this very important task of recognizing our Founders and spreading the word about The Open Door Education Foundation.

Ted Becker to Join Open Door Board of Directors

Ted Becker has agreed to join The Open Door Board as Director of Grant Applications and Large Contributions.  Ted was founder and president of Energetix, Inc., and has been an active member of NACCB for 12 years, serving as President of the Chicago Chapter, Midwest Chapter Representative for the National Board and Program Chairman for the NACCB National Conference in 1998.  He will be joining Grace Gentry, President; Alan Waksman, Treasurer and Director of Finance; and David Cassell, Secretary and Director of Fundraising.

Open Door Operations Have Moved to Massachusetts

The Open Door initially established operations at NACCB, NC, employing Myra Shird. Regretfully, Myra resigned from the Open Door in March 1999.  Our administrative operations are now located in Westford, WA, at the office of Brevity Communications.   Mary Steiner is responsible for coordinating all aspects of The Open Door Operations.  Our current contact information appears below.  Please inform your chapter members of this change and explain that they should contact The Open Door directly, not through NACCB.

Open Door Website Under Construction

The Open Door website is currently under construction.  Information about the foundation, its officers and staff, scholarship applications, events, programs, financial documentation, a chat area, a password-protected area for internal resources and documentation will all be available.  We will notify you as soon as you can access it.  Bruce Grant at Resource Solutions International, NACCB DC Chapter, has volunteered to develop the site and host it for the time being.  We appreciate Bruce's contribution to our efforts.

Our Scholarship Award Process Will Begin in June

Enclosed with this bulletin, you will find the "How-to-do-it" Scholarship Award manual.  Now is the time to begin the process so we can issue checks to the recipients' schools by mid-August, when tuition payments are due at most schools.   This manual has also been sent (as text only) to all NACCB Chapter Presidents, Board of Directors and Open Door Chapter Representatives.

Open Door Chapter Representatives Needed

We need Open Door Chapter Representatives in NACCB's New England, Mid-Atlantic, Mid-West and Mountain Chapters.  As NACCB chapters start to award scholarships to students within their area, we need local involvement.  As the foundation grows, so will our need for volunteers.  We need your help in recruiting Chapter Representatives for these chapters.  Please have anyone who is interested call Mary Steiner at The Open Door.

Last, But Not Least...Thank You!

Thanks to all of our Open Door supporters.  We experienced some unanticipated delays in our start-up phase, but non of you have been forgotten.  We at The Open Door look forward to working with all of you, and believe that opening doors will be a truly rewarding experience for all of us!

Contact Information:

The Open Door Education Foundation
PO Box 2414
Westford, MN 01886

Phone:
978-392-9644
Fax: 978-589-9712
Email: opendoor@brevcomm.com

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