North American Bureau

The North American Liaison Bureau (NALB) was established in 2000 to initially assist UPC in its relationship with US and Canadian church groups and focused on fund-raising activities. The role has expanded to include coordination and support of awareness and fund-raising projects that enhance the image and presence of the university.

In addition, efforts are underway to create funding relationships among corporate donors, not affiliated with any particular church group.

The NALB is an IRS recognized 501(c) (3) corporation, incorporated in the state of Florida. The Federal Tax ID # is EIN 59-3541955. Gifts to the NALB are fully tax-deductible as allowed by law. All NALB donations go directly to the programs they support with all administration expense covered by the board members.

The mailing address is:
Dr. Ben C. Hobgood, Executive Director (pro-bono)
North American Liaison Bureau (NALB)
P. O. Box 545
Penney Farms, Florida 32079 USA
904.284.6843
b.hobgood@juno.com

North American Liaison Bureau Officers

Chairman — Jimmy Shafe
Vice Chair — Dr. Margaret Loewen
Secretary — Phil Kliewer
New Board Member — Betsy Brill

North American Liaison Bureau Members

Dr. E. Georges Bokamba, Professor, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL
Dr. Newell S. Booth, Jr., Professor (ret)
Ms. Betsy Brill, former Editor, San Francisco Business magazine
Dr. Douglas Cardwell, Professor (ret)
Ms. Sondra D. Fruzzetti, Psychological Therapist, St Paul, MN
Dr. Ben C. Hobgood, Director (ret) UPC, Penney Farms, FL
Louis T. Kanda, MD, Cardiologist, Washington, DC
Mr. Phil Kliewer, FedEx Executive, Memphis, TN
Mrs. Cleda J. Locey, Moderator (church-wide) of Presbyterian Women, Teacher (ret)
Margaret J. Loewen, MD, Physician, Grand Rapids, MI
Dr. Melvin J. Loewen, Director (ret) UPC, Goshen, IN
Dr. Elsie McKee, Professor, Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ
Mr. Ernest E. Ross, Consultant, Mechanical Engineering, San Diego, CA
Mr. James Shafe, CEO, Career Training Concepts, Atlanta, GA
Dr. Charles H. Stuart, Professor (ret), UPC, Penney Farms, FL
Ms. Anne H. Zolnor, Consultant, Accenture, Ponte Vedra, FL

Council of Advisors:

Dr. Robert J. Decker, Director (ret) UPC, Las Cruces, NM
Rev. Chris Hobgood, former President Disciples of Christ, Seattle, WA
Dr. W. Taylor Reveley III, President, The College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA
Neal Testerman, MD, former Congo missionary, Hartford, CT
Dr. Lamar Williamson, Professor (ret) UPC and Sheppard & Lapsley University, Montreat, NC

Australian Supporters:

In addition, the NALB liaises with Australian supporters on a range of projects, from raising funds for medical school scholarships to facilitating donations of resources, such as textbooks, computers and microscopes. Lucy Hobgood-Brown, UPC’s Australia Representative, can be reached on hobgood-brown@msn.com.au or Skype lucyhb.

European Supporters:

The purpose of the European Liaison Bureau (ELB) is to stay in contact and to represent UPC with European donors and partners and also to support students from UPC who are in Europe to pursue their Ph.D. The primary differences between the ELB and NALB is in fundraising. The ELB has institutional partners, like EED (Evangelische Entwicklungsdienst in Germany) and Kerk in Actie (www.kerkinactie.nl/projects.aspx, organization of the Dutch Protestant churches) which as an organization collects donations in churches and provides to UPC. The point of contact for the ELB is: Frank Tas, Directeur Bureau de liaison en Europe de l'UPC; upc-bl@franktas.nl

2009 Board Meeting – Atlanta, September 2009

Board members and guests present included (L-R):
Charles Stuart, Betsy Hobgood, Marilyn Cardwell, Anne Zolnor, Doug Cardwell, Dr. Ngoy Boliya - UPC President, Mel Loewen, Jimmy Shafe, Ruthmary Williamson, Nick Jaffer, Margaret Loewen, Cleda Locey, Lamar Williamson, vErnie Ross, Newell Booth, Ben Hobgood, Phil Kliewer, Neal Testerman, Edwin Booth, Eyenga Bokamba. (Board Members - bold, Council of Advisors members – italics)

Nick Jaffer of Global Philanthropic, Sydney, Australia leads a workshop for NALB board members on fundraising strategies and donor relations.

Sep 2009, Nick, Jaffer, Eyenga Bokamba, and Charlie Stuart examine a UPC brochure.

North American Liaison Bureau at 2008 meeting

Kneeling: Margaret Loewen, Elsie McKee, Anne Zolnor, Jimmy Shafe
Standing: Phil Kliewer, Ernie Ross, Luis Kanda, Mel Loewen, Sondra Fruzzetti, Doug Cardwell, Georges Bokamba, Cleda Locey, Charles Stuart, Newell Booth, Ben Hobgood