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 Diamonds to You  
       Helping you get the best out of yourself and others.                    

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Vol 10, Issue #3, March. 2015
Publisher - Author
Donor and Fund Raising Events
ProMatch Workshops
University Courses Taught
Books Published
Shameless Self-Promotion
Free Sanokes
Board Training Survery
So, How can I help you?
Publisher, Editor, Author-
 ArLyne Diamond, Ph.D.
For YouTube:   

ArLyne Diamond

 

 

 


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 HI:


 

Spring is here - and the weather is gorgeous.  


 

I spent last weekend in Santa Barbara at a convention and thought I was in Camelot.


 

Everything about it, including the weather, the view of the ocean and the sunsets was spectacular. 

Most spectacular of all was the quality of the event that brought me to Santa Barbara - which once again reminds me of the difference between excellence and mediocre.


P. S.  I'm blogging again - so check it out:  ArLyne's Diamonds.


 

Donor and Fund-Raising Events:  Spectacular or Mediocre?


 

Before I start let me inform you that the goals of each of the three events I am about to discuss were similar.  They were both fund-raising and donor thank you events.  They each wanted to grow their constituency. 


 

The event in Santa Barbara was a donor "thank you" event by Reason Foundation.  They hold similar events annually and whenever I can, I do attend.  They do everything right - from the venue, to the food, to the speakers and the social time built in.    


 

When I wrote my fund-raising book (The "Please" and Thank You" of Fund-Raising) ten years ago, I wrote about an earlier experience at a Reason Foundation event.  I want to quote myself here:


 

Every once in a while you attend an event that is so perfectly executed, you can't wait to attend again the following year.  I just came back from my third weekend with a group that knows how to say "Please" and "Thank You" to its donors. 


 

During each of the three years I've attended, everything that could go right did.

The place selected was lovely, the food marvelous, the speakers diverse and interesting, housekeeping details handled effectively, and opportunities for socializing with the other donors was marvelous.  This is fund-raising at its best. 


 

Years later, my sentiments are the same.  Volunteers and staff are all dedicated to making sure that every tiny detail is handled in the best way possible.  No corners are cut.  Those of us who attend talk for weeks - if not months - about it to others  - thus growing their audience and donors each time.


 

A few months ago I attended another event that was spectacular.  This was the Valentine Day's dinner for the Santa Clara Rotary.  It was held at Justin's Restaurant in Santa Clara with an outside caterer that served a fabulous gourmet seven course meal with all the accompanying wines.  


 

The cost to each of us:  $125.00.   I mention the cost because I am about to compare it to another donor/fund-raising event that I go to each year that is just OK - ordinary - nothing special - nothing to want to invite others to attend.


 

Each year one of the organizations I support (and I won't mention their name so as not to embarrass anyone involved) holds two fund-raising and donor appreciation events.  Although the venues selected are nice, they are hardly spectacular.  The catering gets worse each year - last year for example,  the dinner rolls were still frozen - and even the table-settings are the cheapest imaginable (I know I just washed and sorted the "silverware".)  The entertainment is usually just one or two political speakers and thus there is no desire on the part of the attendees to invite their friends to participate the following year.


 

The event coordinator seems more concerned with saving money (although we are charged $100.00 each for the dinner) than in making sure the quality is so outstanding that people talk about it and invite others.


 

I've been told that the $100.00 price tag doesn't even pay for the cost of the event.  This is surprising - and why I mentioned the cost of the Valentine Day's dinner.  Also, at these events there are sponsors who pay a minimum of $1,000.00 to attend - so why couldn't the quality be improved?  I don't understand.


 

The major point I made in my fund-raising book was the importance of creating events that entice people to want to come back for more and to bring others with them. 


 

Mediocre doesn't get free advertising.  Spectacular does.

 


 

ProMatch Workshops I've Offered.

 

  • Every Tuesday morning, from 10 - noon,  I am leading a drop-in for anyone interested in refining their job search skills.  We talk about your next goals, transitions, fears, resume writing, interviewing,"psrs", negotiating and keeping yourself and your family up during down times.  Any Promatcher is welcome to come and join this drop-in.
     
  • Jump Start Your Job Search:       
  • Marketing (Branding) Yourself:   
  • Strategies and Tactics for your Job Hunt
  • Self-Assessment Seminar 
  • Who are You?  Part I & Part II  
  • Negotiation Skills for Women:     
  • Getting Your Mojo Back 
  • Enhancing Your Professional Image:  Your Unique Brand
  • Enhancing Your Professional Image:  Your Unique Brand - again
  • Business Planning Seminar
  • Negotiation Strategies and Tactics

 

University Courses Taught


DeVry University, Keller Graduate School of Management
 
Career DecisionsConsumer Behavior

Leadership & Organizational Behavior

Quality and Performance Excellence  

International Business

Business Planning (Capstone MBA class) 

Psychology 110

Employment Law  (Compliance Issues )

The Legal, Political and Ethical Dimensions of Business

Change Management

Human Resource Planning (Capstone MBA class)

Negotiation Skills

 

Lincoln Law School:  The Psychology of Practicing Law
  

Stanford University, Continuing Education: Conflict in the Workplace

 Books - Published  

Leading and Managing in a Global Economy -                   Super Star Press 

Conflict in the Workplace:  Causes and Cures                  Robertson Publishing Co.

 

The following books can be ordered directly: www.ProductivePublications.com  


Training Your Board of Directors:  A Manual for the CEOs, Board Members, Administrators and Executives of Corporations, Associations, Non-Profit and Religious Organizations.  

 

The "Please" and "Thank You" of  Fundraising for Non-Profits:  Fifteen Essential Ingredients for Success.

 

Shameless Self-Promotion:

 

My videographer and friend Carlos Cruz has started a series of programs he is calling Titanslaws.  He interviewed me as part of his series - and this is the link.

http://titanslaws.com/webcast/episode-1-Interpersonal-Relationships-in-a-Global-Environment.php   We are also creating a series of audio books - the first of which is my fund-raising book.

   

Free Samples


 
I know there is an on-going discussion in one of the LinkedIn groups about whether consultants should or should not give free samples.  I'm a firm believer in giving them.  We are selling intangible services and the very best way to convince someone of our competence and our style is for them to see us in action.

 

Those afraid or unwilling to do give a small sample state that it takes away from their value - I don't think that's true.  I think they are afraid that they will be forced to give away too much, or perhaps some are even concerned that they will be seen as less than competent if they do expose themselves in that manner.

 

So, what do you think?

 

Board Training Survey


 

Thank you so much to the almost 100 members of boards who responded to my survey last month.   We will be following up with those of you who gave us permission and shared your contact information with us.  But, for now - here's a quick summary of the priorities you reported:

  • What are the most critical issues new board members should be taught?
    • o   Learning the specific by-laws and rules
    • o   Team work
    • o   Communication
    • o   Willingness to listen
  • What are the issues that make for a highly successful board?
      • o   Problem-solving ability
      • o   Willingness to change one's mind based on new information
      • o   Ability to disagree without making it personal or taking it personally
  • How effective was your last board meeting?
    • o   Moderately effective
  • How often should a board have a planning and team building retreat?
    • o   Once or twice a year

It's clear from these responses - and the details you offered that the "soft skills" are critically important to the success of a board.  Does your training include communication and interpersonal relationship training?  We emphasize those elements in our board training workshops.

 

 

So, How Can I help you?

 Testimonial

 

A compass in the storm for facilitators and trainers.

 

I attended one of Dr. Diamond's workshops and had to go out and get the book. (Training Your Board of Directors)  Of course, the information was clear and concise.  Highly recommended for facilitators and trainers.  I make presentations to boards for major projects and I've found this practical advice to be very relevant.  Its principal value, of course, likes int he great insights condensed into a quick and easy read.  Christopher Edington.
 


 

  Let me be your Aufin-your advisor to Kings. 

ArLyne Diamond, Ph.D  ArLyne@DiamondAssociates.net   

Diamond Associates     3567 Benton St., #315, Santa Clara, CA 95051    

408-554-0110