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| Network Notes - Featured Events from Around the State | October 2011 |
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Below are select offerings from each region. For the full listing of events and workshops go to our Searchable Calendar. |
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"A ship in a harbor is safe; but that's not what ships are built for."
~ William Shedd
Moby-Duck and what can you learn from a rubber duck?
A little mishap led to some intriguing discoveries recounted in Donovan Hohn's book, Moby-Duck: The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea and of the Beachcombers, Oceanographers, Environmentalists, and Fools, Including the Author, Who Went in Search of Them. In 1992, 28,800 rubber ducks and other bath toys left China in a shipping container and were dumped into the North Pacific Sea on their way to the U.S. Where did they go? News reports said that some reached Maine and other Atlantic shore locations. How fast did the currents transport them? Who found them? What happened next? Did the recipients talk to one another?
The author and journalist decided to track the toys taking him on an odyssey to Seattle, Alaska, Hawaii, China, and the Arctic. Here is where our story takes a nonprofit organization turn.
Your organization sends out messages every day. They float and they reach land. Some are formal, some informal or even casual. Some go via your web page, available to anyone who wanders by curious enough to click. Some are purposefully posted in high-interest partner-shared places. Some are sent by
e-newsletters, posted on Facebook or sent through short and sweet tweets. Some still go by hard-copy snail mail, through posters, brochures, telephone calls, and through light e-mail conversation. The rubber duck analogy prompts easy questions:
- Do all of your constituents receive the same rubber duck, I mean, newsletter?
- What communications do your board members receive?
- What about your recent volunteer service event? Did each volunteer receive the same bright yellow mass-produced thank-you?
- Do your best donors and partners receive specially-crafted messages? Why or why not?
- Do constituents with like-interests have a chance to gather, chat, create synergy with their collective ideas and interests? Are they captivated by a common message or targeted connecting point?
A strong foundation starts with a clear, consistent, party-line message that is shouted from the rooftops. Once that is done well, consider targeting your messages to connect to different players in your world. What do you hope to achieve with each message? Who helps you craft meaningful examples, jargon-less compelling stories that will connect with each of your constituent types? With limited staff and resources, consider inexpensive ways for each important player to find a place among your messages. Use newsletter corners, targeted emails, extra-special letters for top donors, and well-planned follow-up calls for priority purposes.
When all the rubber ducks found their new homes, you can be sure there were new stories to tell. Try the Rubber Duck Challenge: track your messages. Find out where they go, how they are received, who shares them, and how you might connect the recipients who care the most.
Drifting back on course,
Lisa Hanger
Statewide Director
Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network |
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Northern Region
Doing More With Less - Motivating Staff in an Age of Scarcity
Budgets are down while responsibilities are up. Everyone is being asked to accomplish more with fewer resources and people. How do you keep your people motivated in a climate of scarcity? Leaders who are successful know that it takes more than the occasional pep talk to keep people engaged and on task.
- Learn to utilize the latest research on core factors essential to motivation.
- Discover new approaches and strategies for engaging staff to manage with less.
- Apply leadership practices and initiatives that inspire and equip staff to work through challenges.
Date: Thursday, October 27, 9:00 AM - Noon EDT
Location: Honeywell Center, 275 W. Market, Wabash, IN
Cost: $35 ($25 for those agencies serving Wabash County)
Presenters: Ritch Hochstetler, President and CEO and Betsy Houser, Program Director, uLEAD (Unique Leadership Experiences for Asset Development), North Webster, IN
Advocating Your Mission: Gaining Support of Public Officials How does your nonprofit communicate with public officials without jeopardizing your nonprofit status? Do each of your lead staff and board members know what they are allowed to say or do? Are your clients affected by state and federal programs? Does your organization receive grants or contracts from the government? Do you or your board want to be able to help shape the outcomes of policies, as well as programs?
You will learn:
· Public policy 101 - what it is, and why it is important to your nonprofit
· Advocacy plan - how and why to develop a plan and guiding principles
· Lobbying - what it is, and how to stay out of trouble
· Successes/trials with public policy efforts
· Framing an argument
· Meeting with a public official
You will leave with:
· Concise list of dos and don'ts
· Tips for advocating - legally, safely, and on a shoestring
· List of resources
Date: Friday, October 28, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM EDT
Where: Dunebrook, 7541 West Johnson Road, Michigan City, IN
Presenter: Lucinda Nord, Vice President, Public Policy, IaUW. Lucinda monitors legislation and policies, educates members and partners, and represents members' views to state and federal lawmakers and other policy makers.
For more information contact Kim Johnson, Director, Northern Region |
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Southern Region
Recruiting an Effective Board of Directors
Learn how to determine who the best board members are for your organization. We will discuss how to find, recruit and keep those qualified board members. Whether you are a staff member, volunteer, or existing board member you will leave with knowledge and tools you can begin using immediately to sustain and grow your nonprofit.
When: Thursday, October 13, 11:15 AM - 1:30 PM EDT
Where: Old Town Hall, 309 N. Geiger Street, Huntingburg, IN
Presenter: June Miller, Regional Director, Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network
Cost: $15, includes lunch and materials
Sponsors: Old National Bank, Huntingburg Foundation, Inc., and INRN South
Registration: www.huntingburgfoundation.org
The New Work of Nonprofit Boards
Is your Board of Directors doing good work...how do you change that to great work? We will discuss how your Board can do its very best work based on today's challenges. We will also discuss the four most important elements of a high functioning Board of Directors and the tools and information you can use to achieve each of them. Following the presentation, a special guided tour of the Toyota manufacturing plant will be offered to interested attendees.
When: Wednesday, October 19, 11:15 AM to 1:00 PM CDT
Where: Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana Visitor Center, Princeton, IN
Special Option: Guided TMMI Plant Tour, 1:15 PM to 2:00 PM CDT
Presenter: June Miller, Regional Director, Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network
Cost: $15, includes lunch and materials
Sponsor: INRN South
Registration: Contact June Miller
For more information contact June Miller, Director, Southern Region. |
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Eastern Region
Grant Writing Workshop
Grant writing is both a skill and a talent. This workshop is designed to give participants an introduction to successful grant writing. Bring your ideas, funding application, or guidelines. You will learn a step-by-step process for proposal development leading to a positive result.
Date: Wednesday, November 2, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM EDT
Where: Ball State University Alumni Center, Meeting Room 1, 2800 Bethel Avenue, Muncie, IN (Parking is available behind the Alumni Center next to the football stadium)
Sponsors: United Way of Delaware County, Purdue Extension Huntington County, and Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network - Eastern Region
Presenter: Karen Hinshaw, Huntington County Purdue Extension Educator
Cost: $35, lunch is on your own
For registration or more information contact Lesley Devine, Director, Eastern Region. |
Western Region
Bridges Out of Poverty
The Bridges Out of Poverty workshop provides both the social service provider and the community member key lessons in dealing with individuals living in poverty. Topics include increasing awareness of the differences in economic cultures and how those differences affect opportunities for success. This workshop is designed for audiences of employers, community organizations, law enforcement, counselors, health care, and social service providers. Based on the book, Bridges Out of Poverty: Strategies for Professionals and Communities.
When: Thursday, October 6, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM EDT (Registration begins at
8:30 AM)
Where: New Location, Ivy Tech Community College, 3100 Ivy Tech Drive (directly across from United Way of Porter County), Valparaiso, IN
Presenter: Jodi Pfarr, Aha!Process, Minneapolis, MN
Cost: $35
Poverty Simulation and Bridges Out of Poverty Overview
The Poverty Simulation is designed to help people better understand the realities of poverty. This program helps people understand the complexities and frustrations of living in poverty day to day. With a greater awareness of its impact, we can more effectively address the poverty issues in our community.
Participants will role-play the lives of low-income families, including TANF recipients, the disabled, single parents, and senior citizens on Social Security. Participants must provide for basic necessities and shelter on a limited budget during the course of four 15-minute "weeks." You will interact with human service agencies, grocers, pawnbrokers, bill collectors, job interviewers, police officers, and others. The simulation will follow up with a debriefing session, and in the afternoon, participants will learn more about strategies for professionals and communities to address this issue in the Bridges Out of Poverty Day 1 Overview.
When: Wednesday, October 12, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM EDT (Registration begins at
8:30 AM)
Where: Ivy Tech Community College, 3101 South Creasy Lane, Ivy Hall - Lilly Rooms, Lafayette, IN
Presenters: Jillian Miller, Director, Indiana Nonproft Resource Network, Western Region, and Beth Pace Cost: $30.00, includes book and lunch
Financial Accountability - Avoiding Fraud in Your Nonprofit
In a tough economy and in the face of increased reports of fraud targeted toward nonprofit corporations, nonprofits are facing higher scrutiny for financial accountability to both the public and to funders (donors, granting organizations, and the government). Nonprofits must become comfortable with tighter accounting practices in order to make best use of shrinking income and to prevent fraud. This program presents a dual focus to address today's financial accountability concerns by:
- Conducting a discussion of the minimum requirements for understanding nonprofit finances in order to maximize mission delivery in a climate of increased costs and static (or declining) income and
- Providing information and tools for securing both cash and physical assets against loss and fraud.
When: Tuesday, October 18, 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM EDT
Where: Lafayette Country Club, 1500 S. 9th Street, Lafayette, IN
Presenters: Miriam Robeson - Attorney-at-Law, Flora, IN
Cost: $20
For more information, contact Jillian Miller, Director, Western Region. |
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Central Region
Best Practices in Board Development
Learn:
- Best practices for recruiting and sustaining a strong nonprofit governing board
- How to balance the responsibilities of the board and the staff
- How to keep the board from being bored
Tools and techniques that will help your nonprofit board be productive, active, and full of vitality will be provided.
When: Tuesday, October 11, 9 AM - Noon EDT
Where: United Way of Central Indiana, 3901 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN
Presenter: Kim Donahue, Director United Way of Central Indiana Nonprofit Training Center
Cost: $30, United Way agencies; $35, others
Registration: www.uwci.org/ntc
Volunteer Management (Two-Day Workshop)
Are you new to volunteer administration/coordination? Or are you looking for a refresher? This course is for those who are new to the field of volunteer services or for those who are experienced, but would like to get back to basics. Join us as we explore topics such as:
- Components of an internal volunteer program
- Recruitment and marketing
- Volunteer roles
- Skills-based volunteerism
- Evaluation of a volunteer program
When: Tuesday and Wednesday, November 1 and 2, 9 AM - Noon EDT each day
Where: United Way of Central Indiana, 3901 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN
Presenters: Alan Witchey, Director, Volunteer Center, United Way of Central Indiana, and Tiffany Dow, Manager, Volunteer Coordination and Placement, United Way of Central Indiana
Cost: $60, United Way agencies; $70, others
Registration: www.uwci.org/ntc
For more information contact Kim Donahue, Director, Central Region Nonprofit Training Center. |
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