At Harbor House, where Star
Barto serves as Grant Coordinator, women
and children who are victims of domestic violence find shelter,
counseling and a chance for a better life. It is a safe place where they can experience genuine
caring. It is also where Star applies her own caring for
others and her skills for marshalling resources to address critical needs.
Throughout her
professional and volunteer career, Star has seen how the
unanswered needs of people have limited their individual
potential as well as the vitality of the entire community.
She has also seen how cooperative, community-engaging efforts are
best suited for achieving real, lasting results.
In
1999 while serving as the Associate Director of the National
Center for Simulation here in Orlando, Star first became a
member of GPN. "The National Center, like GPN, is a
membership organization where success lies in offering real
benefits for members," says Star. It is an approach
she now brings to her new role as GPN president-elect.
After two years away
from Central Florida at the Maryland Department of Business and
Economic Development, Star returned home, working for the
Retired Senior Volunteer Program and then for WFTV Channel 9.
However, it was her support
for the 100 Women Strong Fund of the
Community Foundation of Central Florida that led Star to Harbor
House. In 2010, the Fund enabled Harbor House to launch
"Project Courage," a community engagement project
designed to provide information, training and programs to address the serious problem of domestic violence
and abuse. Star quickly recognized that she wanted to be
involved on a full-time basis.
For Star, GPN
is the place for dedicated people who want to make a
difference. It is also the place for supporting those
people in the work they do.
Together with GPN president, Julie Tindall, Star envisions a GPN
that provides real benefits to its members while
promoting the image of their profession.
Star also sees GPN as
an organization that serves as an "engine for bringing the
community together to address community needs." Star
concluded her vision for GPN by saying, " With our talent
for securing funds and a bold vision for community
engagement, GPN and its members can make a real difference
throughout our community."
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