New and outgoing board members lend valued skill sets to Sioux Falls CASA

This piece is sponsored by Sioux Falls CASA.

As soon as Meghan Roche settled into her roles as both lawyer and mother, she knew she wanted to serve on a board of directors where she could make an impact.

She found it thanks to a friend and law school classmate who served on the board of Sioux Falls Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASA.

“Service is motivating and contagious,” she said. “I couldn’t think of a more deserving mission to which to devote my time and talents.”

As a lawyer, Roche knew CASA was an entity that helped kids but still didn’t fully understand the role the organization plays in abuse and neglect proceedings.

“I also had no understanding of the depth of the problem in Sioux Falls and in South Dakota,” she said.

“What started out in my mind of CASA volunteers being something between mentors and cheerleaders for kids quickly became grounded in understanding the abuse and neglect petitions we were reading and understanding the hurt and pain in this community. I soon learned CASA volunteers and staff are the critical stabilizing force in the lives of CASA families.”

She also was struck by how young so many kids are when they come into care and are supported by Sioux Falls CASA.

“It is very difficult to read stories about infants who are helpless. To be honest, each petition has been hard to read and hear. Those kids and their stories are what motivates our volunteers and staff.”

Minnehaha County deputy state’s attorney Colleen Moran is the second generation of her family to serve Sioux Falls CASA, following her father who was a volunteer advocate years ago. She just completed her second full term of service on the board.

‘This is such a great organization. I feel truly blessed to have served on the board,” Moran said.

“I learned from my dad the way in which CASA can make a difference in a child’s life. I was impressed then, as I am now, with the organization and its commitment to the most vulnerable members of our community. “

Since joining the CASA board, “I have learned there is an ever-present need for advocates for children, and that our community is blessed with volunteers who are willing to meet that need,” Moran said. “The CASA volunteers’ work not only helps children but also helps communities. They touch lives every day with the work they do. And CASA will always welcome new volunteers.”

Roche and Moran both bring “enthusiasm, knowledge, vision and a willingness to help anywhere and at any time,” Sioux Falls CASA CEO Stacey Tieszen said.

“Both of these fabulous ladies are attorneys so have been guiding lights in ensuring we are doing all we can to be a stellar nonprofit in communities located in Minnehaha and Lincoln counties. Truly, we have been blessed to have them both.”

Roche and Moran recently transitioned off the board after eight and six years of service, respectively, along with board members Marcia Zephier and Kimberly Enebo who shared their expertise, insight and humor with CASA as well.

The full board now includes:

• Pamela Kreber, chair
• Lisa Gerner, vice chair
• Balinda Zwak, secretary/treasurer
• Anne Thimsen, past chair
• Kate Bartell Nowak
• Chad Erickson
• Mike Larson
• Darren Lee
• Eric Oetken
• Melissa Phillips
• Kristi Saxlund
• Jodi Siemers
• Stacie Suedkamp
• Melanie Unzen
• Michelle Walter

“Each member brings something unique to the table, which helps keep the board engaged and mission-driven,” Moran said. “Because I love CASA’s mission, I have tried to help raise awareness in the community about CASA and its work.”

Roche said she has tried “to bring energy and levity to serious work.”

“I am legally trained, so I would use those skills, but so much of volunteering is being selfless and just being the hands and feet, doing the work and having a servant heart. The volunteers and staff are the main event, but us board members always tried to show up and be visible whenever we could to fundraise and to increase CASA’s brand awareness in the community.”

Board members are nominated through a committee based on the organization’s needs and how their skill sets meet them, Tieszen said.

“We then reach out to people who have expressed an interest in serving our mission — people who believe in what we do, who have a heart for abused and neglected children and then, ultimately, are good connectors.”

Fundraising is at the heart of every nonprofit organization, “so having people who can promote us out in the community as a lighthouse brand is vitally important,” she added.

“We are always recruiting new volunteers and looking for new board members. People who can connect us to one or the other — or both! — are wonderful candidates.”

 Board members serve three years per term for a total of two terms. Terms are staggered, so each January new members join.

“The nominating committee is willing to meet with anyone and is always delighted when we have people who reach out to express their interest,” Tieszen said.

“We love to have names to bring forward to the full board. Being a board member is unique to every organization, and we ask much of our members because we rely on donations and local business support to fulfill our mission. It is all about connections and passion for the work our volunteers do daily. “

In her eight years of board service, Roche has been part of significant growth for the organization.

“We have a new building and a robust staff. We have been aggressive in our financial planning and our strategic planning. I am so proud of this amazing organization and its growth,” she said.

“CASA growth means more volunteers and our ultimate goal that every petition and every kid has an assigned volunteer. My other hope is that CASA works with our community partners to get to the root of these problems to ultimately decrease the number of abuse and neglect petitions in our community.”

As they transition off the board, Roche and Moran said they believe the organization is in a strong place.

“CASA’s leadership is strong, and its staff is dedicated. Everyone works well together to meet the organization’s goals,” Moran said.

“I am hopeful and confident that will continue. I also truly hope more community members will look at becoming part of CASA in some way, whether it is as an event volunteer, an advocate or a donor. Our community needs CASA, and CASA needs the community to help it grow and continue to thrive.”

If you’re considering board service, “I would say to do it,” Moran said.

“You will enjoy serving with like-minded people,” she said. “Board members have the opportunity to support an organization that makes a tremendous impact in the communities where each of us lives or works. And, most importantly, CASA helps kids – there’s nothing better than that.”

Last year, 573 children were assigned to CASA’s program.

“We anticipate this will grow, unfortunately,” Tieszen said. “We will need more volunteers and then also need to increase our staffing capacity to support that increase in volunteers as well as to retain our amazing, existing volunteers.”

That’s the next step for Roche, who plans to continue her work with Sioux Falls CASA by becoming a volunteer.

“I won’t be a stranger,” she said. “Stacey, the CASA staff, CASA volunteers and my fellow board members have given me some of the most valuable service lessons of my life.”

CASA has a 30-year history in Sioux Falls, “and we could not be more grateful to everyone who has given of their time since the very beginning to serve on our board,” Tieszen said.

“From a tiny little program with one part-time staff and incredible, visionary board to a program with 10 staff, 15 board members and 85 active volunteers, it is truly a story for the ages! Every single one of these folks has had a hand in shaping the future of Sioux Falls by changing the life of a child who has experienced abuse or neglect. We are grateful.”

To learn more

If you’re interested in serving on the CASA board of directors or learning more about volunteering, reach out to any board member or contact Stacey Tieszen at [email protected] or 605-339-9492.