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Upcoming Events
Telluride Photography Festival
The world's most renowned outdoor and adventure photographers will share their art and their passion at Telluride's 2nd annual Photography Festival September 26 - October 2, 2011. The core of the weeklong event is geared toward professional and experienced amateur photographers with photography workshops, seminars, symposiums, portfolio reviews and exhibits with an eye toward conservation photography. Learn more >
Bioneers 2011
October 14-16 2011, San Rafael, California. Since 1990, the Bioneers conference has acted as a fertile hub of leading social and scientific innovators with practical and visionary solutions for the world's most pressing environmental and social challenges. As a celebration of the genius of nature and human creativity, Bioneers connects people with solutions and each other. Learn more >
NextGen: Charity
Tribeca Performing Arts Center on November 17-18, 2011, New York City. Be part of the leading conference on nonprofit innovation. The audience is 1000+ executives, founders, and leaders of the worlds top non-profits and foundations, from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to UNICEF, as well as hundreds of other cutting-edge and well known and regarded non-profits. More info >
International Youth Expo 2011
Islamabad, Pakistan, 18-20 November 2011. The International Youth Expo 2011 is a three day event organized by UltraSpectra (Pvt.) Ltd. With this year's theme "Social Media for Change" we are planning to provide our International and National participants a platform which has never been witnessed in the history of Pakistan. More info >
Social Media for Social Good
Various locations, September 2011 through April 2012. A one-day intensive social media and mobile technology how-to training, ideal for nonprofit communications and development staff. Presented by Heather Mansfield of DIOSA Communications and Nonprofit Tech 2.0, attendees will gain practical knowledge about how to successfully launch and maintain social media and mobile marketing campaigns for your nonprofit. Details >
International Union for the Conservation of Nature, World Conservation Congress Every four years, the IUCN convenes the World Conservation Congress (WCC). The next WCC will be October 14-18 2012 in Jeju Korea. The theme "Nature +" will be prevalent throughout sessions, workshops and events. The call for contributions to the forum is now open. Read more > |
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New Youth Poll Reveals Frustration on Environmental Progress
The Nature Conservancy just released a new nationwide poll that reveals America's youth is unhappy with the condition of the environment, and lack faith in adults to address it. The findings also show strong evidence that more time spent in nature directly correlates with a commitment to protect it.
Nearly three-quarters (73 percent) agree that "previous generations have damaged our environment and left it to our generation to fix it." Only one-third of youth believe that government leaders are doing a "good job addressing major problems facing our country."
Read more >
Does this poll represent how you feel? Let me know -- Submit a response for October's digest!
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Making the most of a Conference
Reposted from BlueAvocado.org
Autumn is coming . . . which means we nonprofit folks will be either putting on a conference or going to a conference. Here are some unconventional tips on getting the most out of a conference:
1. Choose the sessions you know the least about. If you're a community organizer, you might feel you ought to go to the breakout sessions that focus on that. Instead, go to one on writing grant proposals. If you work with young people, go to the session on working with seniors. You'll learn something you can apply to your work -- you will. And you won't be bored and/or disgusted with the people speaking.
2. Instead of listening for good ideas (only), listen for things you can quote in your next grant proposal or monthly report. For instance, suppose you hear a speaker say something really stupid. Instead of ignoring it, write it down! In your next grant proposal you can say, "The extent to which this subject is misunderstood was demonstrated by a speaker's recent remark at a national conference . . . " Or somebody might say something obvious, like "it's really important to be flexible when it comes to public policy." Now you can quote: "As nationally recognized expert ___ said at a recent conference, 'It's really important to be . . . '" Get it?
3. Skip at least one session. Go outside. Take a taxi to the River Walk, or go shopping. From the inside of a hotel, you could be in Paris, Kansas City, or Jupiter. Go out and get a croissant or some barbecue. (Works best if you do this by yourself.)
4. Fail-proof way to meet someone: If you're an introvert or just sensitive, you might beat yourself up for not doing enough networking. Instead: get to a session early; other introverts will be sitting there playing solitaire on their cell phones. Sit near one of them, then lean over and say, "Would you mind if I introduced myself? I'm supposed to meet at least five new people at this conference and I haven't met any so far!" The other person will be so grateful that someone has made the first move he or she may even forget to move the six of diamonds up.
5. If you're bored or irritated by a session, walk out.
6. Put up a sign on the bulletin board: "If you want to go out for Thai food and talk about triple diagnosis approaches (or meet other Gen-Xers, or talk about trends in contemporary Native American art, or want to go to the XClub for dancing), meet here at 6:30! Worst case: no one shows up but you. But don't worry . . . no one will know!
Read more from BlueAvocado >
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| Opportunities
It's not too early to think about summer internships!
Ecology Project International
Ecology Project International combines travel to remarkable places, serious field science, conservation efforts and authentic cultural interaction. offer five programs in four vitally important conservation regions. Programs are scientifically based, field studies that bring U.S. students and their teachers together with students and teachers from project site areas. Learn more and apply >
The Great Basin Institute
International Conservation Volunteer Exchange, a program of the Great Basin Institute, is a volunteer and internship program for international participants who wish to collaborate with American professionals on natural resource projects on public lands throughout the American West. Learn more >
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TEDx on your Computer
TED: Ideas worth spreading. You've probably heard about TED (which stands for Technology, Entertainment and Design). Started in 1984, it seems like each year TED gets bigger and bigger.
In the past few years, the TEDx phenomenon has started. Created in the spirit of TED's mission, "ideas worth spreading," the TEDx program is designed to give communities, organizations and individuals the opportunity to stimulate dialogue through TED-like experiences at the local level. TEDx events are fully planned and coordinated independently, on a community-by-community basis. You can use this handy tool to find a TEDx near you >
Of interest, I know that Simon Jackson, founder of the Spirit Bear Youth Coalition, is speaking at TEDxHomer on 10 September, and you can live stream on your computer!
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