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National Advisory Board meets in San Diego.
By Marlene Klotz-Collins
Sunny San Diego was the ideal winter backdrop for the January meeting of The Salvation Army’s National Advisory Board (NAB), hosted by the Western Territory and Sierra del Mar Division, under the leadership of Majors Lee and Michele Lescano, divisional leaders.
Meetings of the NAB rotate among territories and are always scheduled on a Thursday and Friday in January, April and September. The host division works closely with territorial and national headquarters throughout the process. NAB member Joyce Glazer, also a member of the San Diego Metro Advisory Board, was actively involved with the meeting, as NAB members often are when the meeting is held in their city.
At the opening CEO breakfast meeting, attendees learned of a $1 million matching pledge by the Joan Waitt Family Foundation for San Diego’s Door of Hope Transitional Living Center.
San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders lauded the work of the Army while NAB Advisory Board Chair Charlotte Jones Anderson reflected on the joy of serving the organization. “They respond to the everyday disasters, they feed empty stomachs and hungry souls, they help meet the needs of the most destitute in our communities, providing help to those no one else wants to help,” she said. Jones Anderson is executive vice-president of the Dallas Cowboys, extraordinary supporters of the Army.
The format for NAB meetings is standard. Following the CEO breakfast, the morning plenary session begins with a board member presenting a five-minute devotion.
New member installations occur during this session. On this occasion, five newcomers were introduced: Pam Abdalla, founder of the first Army Advisory Board in the United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi); Michael Ducker, COO for FedEx Express and president of its International Division; Michael Flaherty, president and co-founder of Walden Media (family films and literature); Eric Holm, owner of Metro Corral Partners (a 27-unit Golden Corral franchisee); Joel Manby, chairman of the board, president and CEO of Herschend Family Entertainment (privately owned themed-entertainment company including Dollywood and Stone Mountain Park).
This morning session always includes a presentation on relevant issues within the Army. The focus this time was on the Army’s role in disaster and community recovery.
Board members enjoy Thursday dinner at an Army venue. San Diego’s Kroc Center provided the site for a meal from Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza followed by an evening of theater in the performing arts center.
NAB members work year-round on one of four committees (community relations, advisory board development, finance, business), which meet on Thursday afternoon. Chairs of each committee have 30 minutes during Friday’s full board meeting to present reports and recommendations, which are sent to the Commissioners’ Conference for further discussion, review and action.
Western Territorial Commissioner James Knaggs reported to the board on Friday that the territory is “indelibly marked and motivated toward innovative consistency, imaginative confidence, unpredictable clarity and unconditional compassion.”
Following the morning meeting, National Commander Commissioner William Roberts gave the closing remarks. He left the board membership inspired and grateful with this blessed opportunity to serve.
Learn more about Salvation Army advisory organizations at mysaboard.org.
