Listen and You Will Learn
It's amazing how much you can learn by listening to others. I recently had a wonderful experience at a luncheon meeting. I invited a philanthropist to join me for lunch, and all I did was ask questions and listen. I didn't have an agenda or end game in mind. I just wanted to ask questions to someone special and learn how someone with such rich experiences has been promoting philanthropy for so many years.
Lorene Burkhart is a noted author who often speaks throughout the state of Indiana. Her business career spans more than 40 years, and along the way she broke not only the glass ceiling but also traditional barriers for women as the first female executive in all her jobs.
Her background includes being a teacher, broadcaster, writer/publisher, and marketing and public relations executive. She has written seven books — three for children and four for adults.
My reason for asking Lorene to lunch was to talk to her about writing a book. I quickly realized that it was more important to use our time together as a springboard to understanding how she had had a successful business career and is also a passionate philanthropist.
Lorene grew up on a farm in southern Indiana where each family member was a part of the family business of farming. Lorene's responsibilities included being her mother's assistant for cooking, canning and other household chores. She also fed the chickens and gathered the eggs. Her three brothers drove the tractors, planted, and learned to manage a farm. Lorene's father was often away working in agriculture organizations both statewide and nationally. His last position was under the Secretary of Agriculture during the Truman administration.
Life on the farm would have been lonely during the summer if not for 4-H. Beginning at age 10, girls learned skills such as sewing, cooking, etc., while the boys had their animal projects. During her eight years as a 4-H member, Lorene also learned a variety of leadership skills as well as public speaking — and most importantly, how to win and lose.
Duke Haddad, Ed.D., CFRE, is currently associate director of development, director of capital campaigns and director of corporate development for The Salvation Army Indiana Division in Indianapolis. He also serves as president of Duke Haddad and Associates LLC and is a freelance instructor for Nonprofit Web Advisor.
He has been a contributing author to NonProfit PRO since 2008.
He received his doctorate degree from West Virginia University with an emphasis on education administration plus a dissertation on donor characteristics. He received a master’s degree from Marshall University with an emphasis on public administration plus a thesis on annual fund analysis. He secured a bachelor’s degree (cum laude) with an emphasis on marketing/management. He has done post graduate work at the University of Louisville.
Duke has received the Fundraising Executive of the Year Award, from the Association of Fundraising Professionals Indiana Chapter. He also was given the Outstanding West Virginian Award, Kentucky Colonel Award and Sagamore of the Wabash Award from the governors of West Virginia, Kentucky and Indiana, respectively, for his many career contributions in the field of philanthropy. He has maintained a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation for three decades.
