Leadership Raleigh Alumni Association
​Board and Committees
The Leadership Raleigh Alumni Association is supported by a strong volunteer board of directors and committees.
Your participation on a committee or as a board member is welcomed and encouraged. There are 50 positions to fill each year, and with a growing LRAA, responsibilities and needs of the board will only increase. Please consider joining a committee or volunteering on the board in one of the following ways:
Committees
Programs
The programs committee provides support and planning of the educational and networking events held each year. These events have included:
Recruitment
This committee helps promote the Leadership Raleigh program to potential applicants. Recruitment efforts often include:
Communications
The Communications Committee has the responsibility of working with all of the other committees to promote programs, events, and other opportunities to the LRAA membership and to expand the awareness of LRAA across the Raleigh business community.
The committee provides support for the marketing messages included on the LRAA website, as well as the monthly newsletter for LR graduates.
Member Relations
The Member Relations Committee is designed to identify vacancies on area nonprofit boards, city/county commissions and other organizations. Members work to encourage graduates to serve as leaders within the community by connecting organizations who have needs with up and coming leaders.
The committee works to organize volunteer service projects in which Leadership Raleigh graduates can participate.
John Freehafer Scholarship Fund
Currently, Leadership Raleigh has limited scholarship funding available for candidates who have a demonstrated need. As the Leadership Raleigh program has grown to 52 participants a year, the Alumni Association’s goal is to endow scholarship assistance for the program.
The purpose of scholarship support is to add industry diversity to the program with participation of individuals who are employed by institutions that may be unable to provide financial support. These organizations include nonprofits or small business professionals.
To meet this goal, the Leadership Raleigh Alumni Board has created the John Freehafer Scholarship Fund. Once endowed, the board will grant scholarship assistance to a Leadership Raleigh participant(s) who demonstrates need and best exemplifies Freehafer’s commitment to the community and to volunteerism. Funding is underway for the endowed scholarship that will carry John Freehafer’s name.
About John Freehafer
John Freehafer was a graduate of LR 17 and met his wife, Deb, during the program. He was the proud father of Grayson, an alumnus of UNC, a loyal employee of RBC Centura, and a season ticket-holder for the Carolina Hurricanes. Freehafer was one of those special personalities that never failed to light up a room, and anyone who met him instantly warmed to his optimism and good humor. He was someone who cared deeply about the values that make our community one of the world’s best — faith, family and friendship. He led a purposeful life and was committed to many organizations including the American Diabetes Association's Leadership Council, Boys & Girls Club's Breakfast of Champions, Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce (chair of the Greater Raleigh Sports Council at the time of his death), Prison MATCH, and Hayes Barton Baptist Church. Freehafer passed away in December 2004. His absence is constantly felt in the Leadership Raleigh family and we continuously strive to achieve the level of excitement he held for the program. The scholarship fund was established to honor his memory and to remind all LR graduates of the value of service in all its forms—to community, family, faith, and friendship.
Questions?
Call 919.664.7036 or email Des Burton
Your participation on a committee or as a board member is welcomed and encouraged. There are 50 positions to fill each year, and with a growing LRAA, responsibilities and needs of the board will only increase. Please consider joining a committee or volunteering on the board in one of the following ways:
Committees
Programs
The programs committee provides support and planning of the educational and networking events held each year. These events have included:
- Fall Reunion: An annual event in October to connect all graduates of Leadership Raleigh. The event is held in conjunction with the first Leadership Raleigh session each year.
- Educational Seminars: Programs specifically designed to help graduates develop skills to improve their business knowledge.
- Leadership Raleigh Class Graduation: The annual graduation event of the current Leadership Raleigh class. Each Leadership Raleigh class selects a Distinguished Leader of the Year who serves as the commencement speaker for the graduation.
Recruitment
This committee helps promote the Leadership Raleigh program to potential applicants. Recruitment efforts often include:
- Hosting two informational sessions to provide a forum for potential applicants to learn more about the program from graduates
- Committee members attend other Chamber and community events to promote the Leadership Raleigh program
- Committee members assist Chamber staff with presentations to companies and representatives of specific organizations.
Communications
The Communications Committee has the responsibility of working with all of the other committees to promote programs, events, and other opportunities to the LRAA membership and to expand the awareness of LRAA across the Raleigh business community.
The committee provides support for the marketing messages included on the LRAA website, as well as the monthly newsletter for LR graduates.
Member Relations
The Member Relations Committee is designed to identify vacancies on area nonprofit boards, city/county commissions and other organizations. Members work to encourage graduates to serve as leaders within the community by connecting organizations who have needs with up and coming leaders.
The committee works to organize volunteer service projects in which Leadership Raleigh graduates can participate.
John Freehafer Scholarship Fund
Currently, Leadership Raleigh has limited scholarship funding available for candidates who have a demonstrated need. As the Leadership Raleigh program has grown to 52 participants a year, the Alumni Association’s goal is to endow scholarship assistance for the program.
The purpose of scholarship support is to add industry diversity to the program with participation of individuals who are employed by institutions that may be unable to provide financial support. These organizations include nonprofits or small business professionals.
To meet this goal, the Leadership Raleigh Alumni Board has created the John Freehafer Scholarship Fund. Once endowed, the board will grant scholarship assistance to a Leadership Raleigh participant(s) who demonstrates need and best exemplifies Freehafer’s commitment to the community and to volunteerism. Funding is underway for the endowed scholarship that will carry John Freehafer’s name.
About John Freehafer
John Freehafer was a graduate of LR 17 and met his wife, Deb, during the program. He was the proud father of Grayson, an alumnus of UNC, a loyal employee of RBC Centura, and a season ticket-holder for the Carolina Hurricanes. Freehafer was one of those special personalities that never failed to light up a room, and anyone who met him instantly warmed to his optimism and good humor. He was someone who cared deeply about the values that make our community one of the world’s best — faith, family and friendship. He led a purposeful life and was committed to many organizations including the American Diabetes Association's Leadership Council, Boys & Girls Club's Breakfast of Champions, Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce (chair of the Greater Raleigh Sports Council at the time of his death), Prison MATCH, and Hayes Barton Baptist Church. Freehafer passed away in December 2004. His absence is constantly felt in the Leadership Raleigh family and we continuously strive to achieve the level of excitement he held for the program. The scholarship fund was established to honor his memory and to remind all LR graduates of the value of service in all its forms—to community, family, faith, and friendship.
Questions?
Call 919.664.7036 or email Des Burton
