Give and Take – Donate Now or Apply Now!

Courtesy of Mr. Barry J. Izsak CPO®, Arranging It All, Founder of the Barry Izsak/Glorya Schklair Conference Scholarship Fund

The first decision I made after I decided to become a professional organizer was to join NAPO and attend my first conference in 1996 in Santa Clara, California. This would prove to be one of the most fortuitous, pivotal and life changing professional decisions I would ever make. This conference confirmed for me that a skill set I already possessed and had always taken for granted, would become my ticket to re-energize and create the most fulfilling chapter of my life to date, both financially and personally.

Since then, I have attended 22 consecutive NAPO conferences without ever missing one. There is no doubt in my mind that finding NAPO helped me find myself. With the support of NAPO and my esteemed colleagues, I have not been afraid to embrace my passion and run with it. I learned how to be an association leader and a strong advocate for our industry.

I can honestly say that had I not found NAPO and attended that first conference, I don’t know where I would be today and might never have found “my calling”–and certainly not as soon as I did. I knew I wanted to give back in a meaningful way and help other NAPO members who for whatever reason might not be able to afford it, the opportunity to attend a NAPO conference and experience the same life-changing event as I did. It is in that spirit that I established and endowed the Barry Izsak/Glorya Schklair Conference Scholarship Fund. Since the first scholarships were awarded in 2013, I beam with pride when I hear scholarship recipients tell how much it meant to them to attend a NAPO conference and to know that I played a part in helping others achieve their professional potential.

If you have not been able to attend a NAPO conference because of financial constraints, I encourage you to apply for a scholarship to attend the 2018 NAPO Conference Retreat to be held outside Chicago, Illinois. You don’t know what you’re missing until you go! Nothing will make more of an impact on your professional success than what you will learn from spending a long weekend with your colleagues. Or maybe you have already attended and understand the value of the NAPO conference experience, but financial circumstances inhibit you from attending next year. I personally invite you to apply as well.

And, I’d like to remind all NAPO members that donating to the Barry Izsak/Glorya Schklair Conference Scholarship Fund is a great way to congratulate, recognize and honor milestones in the careers of your NAPO colleagues such as attaining CPO status or stepping up to leadership roles in NAPO and its chapters. It is also a fitting way to memorialize colleagues, clients, family and friends who are no longer with us.  Because NAPO is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational association, your contributions of any size are fully tax-deductible.

I encourage anyone who has not been able to attend NAPO Conference because of financial limitations to apply for this scholarship.  And, I encourage each NAPO member to contribute to this fund to help fellow members experience the spirit of NAPO and making NAPO the great association that it is. We are all better because of it!

To donate to or apply to the scholarship fund, please visit the NAPO Scholarship Page.