Administrative Director

Due to the growth of the community and the expansion of the program, members of the 2003 Board of Director’s acted on their vision in April, 2003 by hiring an Administrative Director, Vicky Clair.

The hiring of the first staff person gives the program an ongoing voice that reaches out to the community, businesses, and organizations. One of the key aspects of our expansion program is allowing for the increase in class size by approximately 40%. The increase was needed to address the growth of many of our non-profits and civic groups that are having trouble filling board positions with community minded individuals.

This position enables the AD to solicit potential leadership participants through businesses, involvement with the local Chamber of Commerce, community, religious and governmental organizations, along with nurturing and fostering existing community partnerships through education and leadership development. Our organization is now actively functioning as a clearinghouse for civic/community organizations in pursuit of board members and volunteers to work with their organizations.

It also relieves volunteers of the day-to-day administrative duties of the program along with communication with class participants, LF Board of Directors, LF Alumni, Chamber of Commerce and the community. Promotion, advertising and a continuous search for funding to keep the program strong and viable is a year round process not just when it is time to put a class together. Volunteers are still utilized to assist with classes as well as orientation, the retreat and graduation.

With our AD in place, we are more able to maintain the very successful Youth Leadership Forsyth Program. This high school program is in its seventh year. Our AD is one of the founding members of the Youth Leadership Forsyth Program and has committed herself to this project.

Alumni are in need of support, social functions, involvement and continuous education. By keeping the alumni active, educated and involved will help to ensure their participation and the future growth and development of community leaders within our community.

The AD is a central contact that brings continuity to the program. The Leadership Forsyth Program must continue and be strong because no one person or group possesses all of the necessary knowledge, skills, talents, and experience required of leadership today.

Role And Responsibilities Of Administrative Director

Title: Administrative Director of the Leadership Forsyth Program
Position: Part-time staff person, on a year-round as needed basis
Role: The Director’s role for the Leadership Forsyth Program will be to broaden the volunteer leadership base, identify and train future leaders, and promote a network of informed, motivated community leaders. The Director is responsible to the Board of Directors for the complete internal operation of the Leadership Forsyth Program and the Youth Leadership Forsyth Program, including but not limited to development and implementation of the programs.
Responsibilities:

Administrative Duties to include:

  1. All correspondence concerning Leadership Forsyth.
  2. All maintaining of records and purchasing all office supplies, stationary, promotional and marketing items, equipment, website maintenance, etc.
  3. Maintain professional office atmosphere which would include phone, fax, computer, printer, copier, email address, post office box and utilities.
  4. Facilitate monthly Board of Directors Meeting and present monthly financial reports.
  5. Update Board of Directors on status of program activities as needed

Coordinator of Yearly Class to include:

  1. Identifying and solicitation of class participants.
  2. Process applications and ongoing correspondence with class participants throughout class year.
  3. Coordinate Class Orientation with Board of Directors.
  4. Coordinate Class Retreat with Board of Directors.
  5. Coordinate with volunteers 8 one-day sessions.
  6. Correspond with class participants and volunteers.
  7. Coordinate Class Graduation with Board of Directors.

Financial Operations to include:

  1. Development of a Yearly Operational Budget.
  2. All Invoicing and Check Writing.
  3. All Accounts Receivable/Accounts Payable Transactions.
  4. Responsible for all bank transactions and reconciliations.
  5. Oversee yearly audit.
  6. Present monthly financial reports to Board of Directors.
  7. Keep up to date on all financial operation obligations.

Assist with solicitation of Funding for the Program through:

  1. Sponsors
  2. Fundraising
  3. Grants and Foundations
  4. Donations
  5. Alumni
  6. Tuition
  7. Administration Fee

Marketing and Promotion of Program:

  1. Involvement with businesses, organizations and community.
  2. Developing promotional materials, advertising and marketing the program.

Leadership Forsyth Alumni Association Coordinator Duties:

  1. Restructure Program.
  2. Reactivate alumni members.
  3. Develop social and educational opportunities.
  4. Keep Alumni involved with updated information and personal involvement with current class.
  5. Develop quarterly newsletter.
  6. Involvement in yearly fund-raiser.
  7. Facilitate Alumni Advisory Council meetings.

The Director represents the Leadership Forsyth Program in meetings of local, state and national organizations. He/she must present a professional, business-like image to these various groups. The  Director must strive constantly to develop and enhance the public understanding of the purpose and function of the Leadership Forsyth Program as well as the other associated organizations the Program represents.

In addition to the above outlined duties and responsibilities, the Director is also responsible for any other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Board of Directors.

Meet Vicky Clair

Leadership Forsyth Administrative Director

Vicky Clair came to Leadership Forsyth with many years of experience working with non-profit organizations. Vicky first became interested in working with non-profits in 1990 as the membership development representative in this area for the United States Chamber of Commerce. After a few years working with the U.S. Chamber in the surrounding area, she joined the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce.

On April 1, 1993, Vicky became 1 of 3 staff members for the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce. At that time, the Chamber had a membership of approximately 300 members in comparison to their membership of over 1400 today. As the county grew, so did the local Chamber of Commerce and Vicky had the opportunity to serve the Chamber in many, many different growth phases. In December, 2002, Vicky retired from the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce after 10 years of service.

Vicky is a 1999 graduate of the Leadership Forsyth Program and served on their Board of Directors for three years. She is also a 2000 graduate of the Institute of Organizational Management at the University of Georgia.

Vicky and her husband, Ron, have resided in the Polo Fields in Forsyth County since 1990 after many years of being a corporate moving family. Their son, Chad, 34, lives in the area with his 185 lb. Mastiff, Sugar. The other two “kids” still at home are Harley Davidson (5) and Mitzie Gaynor (6), their Yorkshire Terriers.

You may contact Vicky at 770-887-6421 or my emailing her vclair@leadershipforsyth.org.