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Reflections for Rosh Hashanah
(Several people have asked that I share again the Rosh Hashanah message that I wrote last year. So, here it is.)
Each morning, I like to take a walk to get my mind and body started for the day. This month, as we approach the High Holy Days, my walks have also been an opportunity for spiritual preparation - a time to reflect back and project forward.
On a recent morning, I was walking down one of our country's many "Rails to Trails," former train track beds that have been reclaimed for biking and hiking. The area was new to me, so I walked for a couple of miles and then returned by the same route to avoid getting lost. On each leg of the walk, I was physically on the same path, yet my perspective was dramatically different. The river first on my right was now on my left, providing me a view of the bend that made it even more beautiful. On the return, I saw trees and flowers that had been there on my trip out, but which had been unseen to me. And although the path was the same, I had new company as well - a rabbit scurrying across, a bluebird building a nest.
In a few days, we will begin the "calendar" again. We will celebrate the same holidays and revisit many of our routines. But, our perspectives have grown and changed, giving us an opportunity to do things differently, hopefully better, with greater wisdom. I look forward to enjoying my walk a little more and appreciating those things that accompany me along the way.
Wishing you and your family a Shanah Tovah U'Metukah!
Lee I. Sherman
President/CEO
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Facebook Updated Could Give Nonprofits Better Visibility
Facebook is making big changes in how it organizes and displays information about people who create profiles on the site. And nonprofits stand to benefit from the new format.
Until now, Facebook, by far the world's largest social network, has organized information on a person's profile pages in reverse chronological order. When a charity supporter posted a status update or a volunteer "liked" a posting or shared content from elsewhere online, that item was displayed at the top of the profiles. As soon as other items went up, though, the charity reference would get lost on the page.  Read the entire article here. Chronicle of Philanthropy · By Derek Lieu · September 23, 2011
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Provide MORE Program Dollars for Your Agency
As unemployment in America has climbed to record heights, what agencies pay for state unemployment tax has risen dramatically. Are you aware that there are two ways you can satisfy your state's unemployment obligation? You can either stay with a state managed system or reimburse on your own.
A movement away from the state system can many times save you 1% to 5% on your total payroll. Heidi Posada at 501(c) Agencies Trust will be hosting a webinar that will review the advantages and disadvantages of each option and help you determine if this may be a good option for your agency.
 FREE Webinar: Provide MORE Program Dollars for Your Agency
Wednesday, October 5th
2:00pm EDT
https://501c.webex.com
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| The Governance/Support Model for Nonprofit Boards
This article is reprinted with permission from Blue Avocado, a practical and readable online magazine for nonprofits. Subscribe free by contacting the Blue Avocado editor or visiting www.blueavocado.org.
Much of the confusion about board responsibilities is confusion between what the board does (as a body) and what individual board members should do. Most of the prescriptions for boards confuse the two, saying "The board should _____" without making the distinction. This straightforward model for boards has been embraced by thousands of boards across the United States:
There are two fundamentally different types of nonprofit board responsibility: governance and support. Depending on the responsibility, three types of switches occur:
- Who's the boss
- Whether the board is acting as a body or as individual board members
- Who the board is representing
Let's look at both types of responsibility, and the three types of switches.
Read the entire article here.
Board Cafe · By Jan Masaoka · September 19, 2011 |
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NCOA Collaborative Webinar Series: Balancing Incentive Payments Program
The Affordable Care Act provides $3 billion in new resources to assist states with transforming their long-term services and supports systems to improve access to home and community-based services. Effective Oct. 1, 2011, eligible states can submit applications for the Balancing Incentive Payments Program.
On this webinar, CMS staff will provide details about this exciting new opportunity and the application process. Leading researchers will share recent findings on state service systems that underscore opportunities for system change within the context of challenging state budgets.
FREE Webinar: Balancing Incentive Payments Program
Friday, October 7th
2:00-3:30pm EDT
Space is limited, so please register early and share lines when possible. The webinar will be recorded and posted online.
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 Jewish Family Service of Detroit has announced that Perry Ohren has been selected to succeed Norm Keane as CEO. Perry has been with JFS Detroit for eight years serving as NORC Director, Director of Older Adult Services, and Chief Program Officer. _________________________________________________________________________________________ Jewish Family & Children's Service of Boston has named Rimma Zelfand as CEO. Rimma has worked with JF&CS since 2003. She began as a member of the Board and Strategic Planning Committee, followed by serving as the Director of Senior Services and Senior Vice President of Programs. Congratulations and Mazel Tov to our two new CEOS! |
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