Windsor Resident and Loomis Chaffee Dean Gives Back by Serving on Arts for Learning Connecticut Board

Leadership Greater Hartford’s award-winning Leaders on Board program has successfully matched more than 360 individuals with 95 nonprofit organizations. Patricia Sasser, Dean of Students at Loomis Chaffee in Windsor, recently participated in Leaders on Board and now serves on the Board of Directors for Arts for Learning Connecticut.

According to Sasser, “I had been considering pursuing board membership for a few years when The Junior League of Hartford offered its members a chance to participate in Leaders on Board. For me, serving on a local board is an opportunity to contribute and impact the direction and future of a local nonprofit organization. The Leaders on Board orientation provided great information on what a prospective board member needs to know about board service; it definitely set me up for success. I felt prepared and excited when I attend my first Leaders on Board express match (like speed dating) Having a chance to speak with different organizations about their mission and purpose opened my eyes to all the different types of organizations I could support. I found several that really spoke to my heart and was excited when I was matched with an arts organization.

In the seven months that I have served on the Arts For Learning Connecticut board, I have worked with the other directors to advance the organization’s mission of providing access to art education and programming throughout Connecticut for all ages. In addition to serving on the board, it is a requirement that each director serve on at least one board committee. I serve on the Governance Committee, which is responsible for the recruitment and orientation of new board members, the ongoing education of the board members, board succession planning, and the assessment of board effectiveness. I love the fact that we are a small hands on board, for it allows me to truly see the impact we are making.”

Leaders on Board is a program created by Leadership Greater Hartford with support from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. The program began in 2009 and strengthens nonprofit organizations by training and connecting participants with boards of directors seeking new members. It attracts individuals who want to serve on a board, develop their leadership skills and serve the community. The program also attracts nonprofit organizations who are looking for board members who have been trained in the basics of board membership. In addition, corporations and businesses participate in the program by offering board governance training to prepare their employees who are interested in serving the community.

Leaders on Board is actively looking to for more civic-minded individuals who would like to make a difference by serving on a nonprofit board. For more information about how you can get involved, email Mae Ryan at mae.ryan@leadershipgh.org or call 860.951.6161, x1900.

Leadership Greater Hartford (LGH) is the most comprehensive nonprofit community leadership organization in the country. It provides leadership training to individuals ranging from high school age to retirees, with community service projects featured in most programs. These projects and the program graduates continue to have lasting impact in the Hartford region. For more information about how to be a participant or sponsor, or to inquire about customized training with Leadership Greater Hartford, call 860-951-6161 (x1800), email info@leadershipgh.org, visit www.leadershipgh.org, or like LGH on Facebook.