Nonprofit organizations interested in strengthening their boards are encouraged to apply for a spot in the 2010 class of Cenla Boardbuilders. Cenla Boardbuilders is a CDW training program for professionals interested in improving their communities by serving on boards of nonprofit organizations. After a few short months, the participating nonprofits will gain a new board member with the knowledge of what it takes to be an effective board member. Nearly 100 individuals have graduated from Cenla Boardbuilders since its 2004 creation, and they are now serving on boards of nonprofit organizations throughout Central Louisiana. The nonprofit organizations that participate in this free six-week program will gain a knowledgeable board member who also has a desire to be involved in the nonprofit and the community. This is achieved through intensive leadership and board governance training. The program begins in August with an orientation session. From September to October, participants attend four bi-weekly training sessions on board governance topics. Sessions last about four hours. Participants then attend a matching session where they meet with representatives of nonprofit organizations. Participants make their selections, and then CDW will match them with a nonprofit, according to the participants’ choice and the organizations’ needs. Graduation takes place in late November, and most graduates start serving on boards after the start of the new year. The annual Alumni Meeting is held each spring. Graduates say Cenla Boardbuilders gives them the skills they need to become productive board members. One graduate said the training “gave me the insight I needed to decide what a nonprofit really means.” Another said, “I learned about ways to maintain cohesiveness in the board and how to bring members together.” If you are a professional looking to join Cenla Buildbuilders, a nonprofit looking to strengthen your board or an employer wanting to build leadership skills in your employees, please call CDW at 318-443-7880 or 800-803-8075 or visit www.communitydevelopmentworks.org to fill out an application.