This year's flu season has started early and is expected to have a more severe impact than usual because of the addition of a new strain of flu (the H1N1 virus or "swine flu") that most people do not have immunity to. Although the Centers for Disease Control reminds us that H1N1 virus appears no more dangerous than the normal seasonal flu, communities already are feeling the impact of this flu strain. The World Health Organization (WHO) identified H1N1 as a pandemic in June 2009. While this is not cause for panic, all nonprofits should recognize and take steps to protect their own employees, as well as those they serve from the flu.
 
What should you do?
The best defense against an outbreak at your nonprofit is to:
     ·         Tell sick employees and volunteers to stay home
     ·         Educate everyone - clients included - about the flu and how to avoid it
     ·         Keep hands and surfaces in work areas clean
     ·         Review how your nonprofit's policies handle absences from work
     ·         Make a plan for the worst - what if many key employees are out sick at the same

               time?

Your nonprofit may be hit especially hard if you work with children, provide residential services, elder care or health services or work with populations that themselves are more susceptible to the flu.
 
Flu toolkit
One of the benefits of membership in NDANO is that through membership in your state association you are also a member of the national network of the National Council of Nonprofits. We are proud to share with you the National Council's Flu Toolkit that offers resources to help your nonprofit and your employees weather the flu.
 
The toolkit contains links to the latest updates, tips for preparedness, great ideas and tools for educating your employees, volunteers and clients about the flu, sample policies, helpful articles and resources, downloadable posters and fact sheets for employees and more. 

 

If you're like many nonprofit leaders, you may be wondering if corporate sponsorship revenue is the answer. After a year of market fluctuations and uncertainty drying up traditional sources of funding, it is time to dive into the corporate sponsorship pool?

 

Before you take the plunge, join the National Council of Nonprofits' Oct. 15 webinar from 2:30-3:45 p.m. Central featuring marketing and sponsorship specialist Gail Bower, author of How to Jump-start Your Sponsorship Strategy in Tough Times, to learn about best practices for success with corporate sponsorship.

 

As an added bonus, each registrant will receive a free copy of Bower's book.

 

Webinar Details:

The ND State Commission on National and Community Service (Commission) is developing a three-year State Service Plan, which will outline strategies for coordinating national service (AmeriCorps, Senior Corps and Learn and Serve) and volunteer service activities across all streams of service in the state. 

 
The Commission would appreciate your input on our state's needs by completing the survey. For questions, contact James Hirsch at 701-328-5345.  

 

The Nokota Horse Conservancy (NHC) is dedicated to preserving the native horse of the Northern Plains, descendants of horses that belonged to both Native Americans and early Northern Plains settlers before the end of the 19th century.

 

The NHC works to preserve the distinctive breed characteristics that made these horses an integral and essential part of life on the Northern Plains both before and after European settlement and also to educate the public about the living history that the horses represent. To these ends, NHC is seeking public and private support for sufficient land to support the demonstration herd of Nokota horses and to enable the organization to carry forward its mission of education, preservation and promotion of knowledge about a truly American horse.

 

The NHC's home base is in Linton, N.D., where the management of a small herd of Conservancy-owned horses and other horses necessary to maintaining the integrity of the breeding program is carried out. Every year, the NHC adds substantially to the local and state economy through tourism. Visitors come to Linton throughout the year for the opportunity to observe horses managed in a semi-wild, natural state. In the past year, NHC has welcomed visitors from across the United States, as well as France, Sweden and Ireland, whose sole purpose in traveling to North Dakota was to observe the Nokota horses.

 

The NHC promotes interest in the state and region by participating in expositions and special events across the country, including very large equine events in Massachusetts, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Minnesota.

 

As well, the NHC participates in the annual Horses on the Prairie camp, which brings Native American and non-Native children to Linton to learn about prairie ecology and the important historical role of horses in Native American culture.

 

Pasture rentals, hay purchases, equipment purchases and maintenance also have a significant local economic impact.

  
Learn more about the Nokota Horse Conservancy by contacting Shelly Hauge or Frank Kuntz at 701-254-4302 or visiting the website.