Faculty and staff members will lecture to minorities on special leadership skills including goal setting, leadership enhancement and development of motivational techniques.

Donna Simpson, University Programming and Activities acting program coordinator, said the UP&A and NIU’s Special Projects will co-sponsor the “Minority Leadership Conference” Saturday.

Simpson said, “The leadership conference is looking for minority leaders, not just those who are leaders now but anyone interested in becoming a leader, even when out of school.”

UP&A Activities Adviser Jeff Cufaude said the minority conference has been in existence longer than the general “Student Leadership Conference” which began this year. He said the skills being lectured about at the minority conference are the same as those skills lectured about at the general conference.

The difference between the two conferences is the minority conference deals with the special problems minorities face, Cufaude said.

Simpson said the minority conference mainly is aiming to attract more minorities than those who attended the general conference.

Cufaude said a minority student who attended the general conference still can benefit from the leadership training at the minority conference.

NIU President John LaTourette said, “Frequently these conferences have brought back people who have gone on. It is important for minorities to see these people that are successful.”

Simpson said the conference in the Holmes Student Center’s Capitol Room will run from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with Continental Breakfast at 8:30 a.m., and LaTourette will present a welcoming address at 9 a.m.

“They need to see the importance of education and how education can benefit them,” he said.

“One need of minority groups is to have more faculty and staff to serve as more effective role models,” LaTourette said.

Future leaders who attend the conference can become better leaders of their own organizations, he said.

Cufaude said it also gives students the opportunity to “network” with other student leaders who share common ideas.

He said students might become familiar with the faculty members at the conference and refer to them for advising in the future.

Simpson said the topics covered will include enhancing leadership skills, motivating committee members and fraternity/sorority leadership.

She said the lectures will be presented by faculty and staff, including University Judicial Director Larry Bolles and Activities Adviser Steve Duchrow.

The fraternity and sorority lecture will help students to understand “they are the beginning of leadership skills, and they are also there to serve the community,” Simpson said.

Cufaude plans to present a session on goal setting including how to evaluate achievements, he said.