Issue 44
January 18, 2006

NEWSNOTES is a monthly email newsletter published by NEW. It includes items of interest to the nonprofit community in Washtenaw County and the surrounding areas, as well as resources available at NEW. NEWSNOTES is proud to celebrate its fourth year of publication, with delivery to over 550 subscribers every month! We welcome your feedback and suggestions!

NEW would like to recognize the generous support of its Community Partners:

IN THIS ISSUE

LEAD STORY

How to Develop a Personal Vision

By Brian Ward*

Are you a visionary? Or do you prefer to spend your time in the here and now, solving problems and getting on with things? Achieving a balance between 'dreaming' about a desired future state and living in the current state is difficult. Many of us have a strong inclination towards one or the other...very few of us are able to achieve and sustain a balance between the two.

A Tug-of-War
There is a constant tug-of-war going on between dealing with 'current reality' and developing a lofty vision of who we want to be, what we want to do and what we want to have.

This short exercise affords you the opportunity to achieve such a balance.

Get Relaxed
Find a quiet spot where you will not be interrupted. Gather a pad of paper and a pencil. Get seated comfortably. Close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths and let go of all your tensions.

Choose a Starting Point
If you are the type that likes to live in current reality then start there. Ask yourself the question: What about my current reality do I have control over and would like to change? Keep asking this question about all aspects of your life:

a. Family
b. Career/Job
c. Health and Fitness
d. Home/Location
e. Financial
f. Possessions
g. Hobbies and Interests
h. Spiritual
i. Relationships
j. Life Purpose

To better understand yourself, try using a validated instrument or tool, such as the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) or True Colors.

If you prefer to take the visionary approach, project yourself forward five years from the current date, and picture a perfect day in your life where all of the above aspects are working in harmony. Picture as you arise in the morning, how all of these aspects come together gradually throughout the day, and as you retire for the night how grateful and at peace you feel for having all of these aspects work for you. Picture it as though you were living it right now, and use words in the present tense to describe it.

Now, without further ado start writing! If you prefer to draw, then do that as well, but try to capture your vision or current reality in words.

Prioritize
Whether you are dealing with current reality and trying to change it, or visioning a brand new future, you need to set priorities. For each aspect, compare it in turn with each of the other aspects and make a choice. Is A more important than B? C? D? etc. Go through all of these and come up with a list of prioritized areas. If an area is low on the priority list it does not mean that it gets tossed out. Instead it receives attention later rather than sooner.

Plan and Take Action
Take the first item on your list and develop a plan around it. If it is Financial, talk with a financial advisor. If it is a Career issue, talk with a trusted friend or someone who understands your career goals. In any case, talk it through with a coach, mentor or expert in the area. Search out books, educational programs etc and study them. Whatever you do, get started. As you develop and implement your plan, you will notice that the other aspects of your life will become involved. Don't worry about this. As you draw in these other aspects, you will continue to maintain a focus on your prioritized areas. This is as it should be.

Review and Revise
Review your plan regularly, gradually weaving in to it all of the other aspects of your life. Your plan and the actions taken as a result will become interwoven over time, reflecting the many faceted aspects of your life. At least once yearly, review your plan in its entirety and adjust your priorities. As you do this you will achieve a greater focus in your life, while at the same time acknowledging the complexities of this world.

Final Thoughts
Most dreams remain just that...dreams. Setting some tangible goals and getting going translates the dream into reality. It was once said that 'a goal is a dream taken seriously.' Realizing your personal vision takes uncommon persistence and determination to achieve your goals, and with that thought we leave you with the following quote by Calvin Coolidge:

"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; un-rewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent." --Calvin Coolidge

©Affinity Consulting. Reprinted with permission.

*Brian Ward is a Principal in Affinity Consulting and author of The FACET Leadership™ Online Workshop, a leadership development course for those who aspire to be visionary leaders. Subscribe to his monthly newsletter Leadership in Action at his website.

Nonprofit executive directors:

Join us for Leadership²Go, Making It Happen:Turning Vision Into Reality, on Friday, February 3, 8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m. at NEW

FEATURED ITEMS

NEW Welcomes Marianne Clauw as Director of Board Programs

Marianne directs the operation and expansion of the BoardConnect program, which strengthens nonprofit boards through recruitment, training, candidate matching, and consulting. NEW has initiated a three year pilot program to expand BoardConnect from Washtenaw County into southeast Michigan, and other selected areas throughout the state. Prior to joining NEW this month, Marianne was the founder of Project Partners, a project management consulting and education firm. She received her BS and MBA degrees from the University of Michigan. Contact Marianne (734-998-0160 x212)

Leadership²Go: Making It Happen: Turning Vision into Reality

Friday, February 3, 8:30 a.m. -10:30 a.m.
Ann Arbor, NEW Center, 1100 N Main St.

As a busy nonprofit executive, you know that dedicating time to develop a vision for the future of your organization is a difficult, yet vital part of your leadership. Join us on Friday, February 3 at the NEW Center to hear from innovative and successful leaders, including:

• Aaron Dworkin, founder and president of the Sphinx Organization and recently named MacArthur Fellow for 2005
• Bob Guenzel, Washtenaw County Administrator and the driving force for The Delonis Center, Ann Arbor’s new shelter for the homeless
• Amanda Edmonds, Founder and executive director of Growing Hope, a dynamic new nonprofit in Ypsilanti

These visionaries from our community will share the stories behind their creative ideas, as well as offer concrete suggestions about how to turn your vision into reality. Come and be inspired.

Register online. The $10 fee includes continental breakfast. Executive Directors only, please. See the lead story for tips on developing a personal vision.

Workshops at NEW

Hold on! Spring is coming -- and along with it, the spring workshop term. Technology classes through Washtenaw Community College get an early start February 24, but the main series of workshops will begin at the NEW Center on March 14. Look for your Managing for Nonprofit Excellence Spring 2006 catalog in the mail in late January. Keep your eyes on our website for updates as well.

Remember that all workshop scholarships grants for the academic year were awarded last fall. For those organizations that were given scholarships: don’t forget to put them toward workshops in the spring term. If funds are not used, your nonprofit will be ineligible for the next round of scholarships in August 2006.

Borders Group Nonprofit Resource Library

Visit the Resource Library at the NEW Center to gain new insights or brush up on old skills. The newest releases from BoardSource are here, as well as the best-selling book, Good to Great, by Jim Collins and his accompanying monograph Good to Great for the Social Sector. See the list of other recent acquisitions.

A new CD-ROM of FC Search was received in November. Update your profiles of potential funders by making an appointment with Ann Gladwin (734-998-0160 x218).

Michigan Nonprofit SuperConference

Tuesday, May 2 and Wednesday, May 3
Novi, Sheraton Detroit Novi

“New Directions in Nonprofit Excellence,” the Michigan Nonprofit Association’s annual conference, is set for early May. This annual gathering of nonprofit staff, volunteers, board members and service providers offers great opportunities for learning, meeting with foundation representatives, finding new resources, and networking.

The keynote speaker this year will be Paul Rusesabagina, the "real-life hero" portrayed in the movie Hotel Rwanda. Online registration is available now. Register by April 7 to get the early bird rate.

MNA and Npower Team Up

Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA) and NPower Michigan have teamed up to enrich Michigan’s nonprofit community. Through a strategic partnership, NPower Michigan will combine its resources and membership base with MNA’s 750 member organizations – resulting in a combined membership of more than 850 nonprofits eligible to benefit from NPower Michigan’s technology services.

The organizations will share office space in Downtown Detroit and publish a joint newsletter, providing a comprehensive outlet for news and tips to help Michigan nonprofits operate more efficiently. For more information on how this partnership will benefit your nonprofit, visit NPower’s website.

Corporate Sponsorship: Tapping Into New Revenue Sources

Tuesday, January 31, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Livonia, Laurel Manor, 39000 Schoolcraft Rd.

Learn how your nonprofit can tap into corporate dollars through sponsorships. This workshop will be taught by two experts from the Sponsorship Network, a national consulting firm specializing in sponsorship sales.

You will learn how to identify the benefits that potential sponsors seek; position your nonprofit to obtain more sponsors; find the sponsorship decision-makers, and articulate your case to them. Take-home materials include sample proposals, formulas for placing dollar value on sponsorship benefits, and case studies that clarify benefits attractive to corporations and small businesses.

The Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA) is sponsoring this event, which has merit for nonprofits of all sizes. Continental breakfast, lunch and all training materials are included in the cost: $115 for MNA members; $165 for not-yet members.

To register or for more information, visit MNA or contact Mike Corbin (517-492-2400).

Financial Literacy Workshop for Nonprofits

Thursday, February 2, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Dearborn, University of Michigan campus

Organizations that want to offer financial literacy training to their clientele are encouraged to take advantage of a comprehensive workshop offered by The Accounting Aid Society. This “Train the Trainer” session is open to nonprofits, government entities and faith-based organizations. The workshop includes an expanded version of "Money Smart" from the FDIC curriculum and a host of other valuable resources.

Lunch and materials are included in the $90 fee. Find a registration form online or call (313-647-9620). Space is limited; please register by January 31.

Free Raising More Money Session

Wednesday, February 15, 10 a.m. – noon
Madison Heights, MI, Japhet School, 31201 Dorchester

Cost: Free and open to all

This fast-moving, experiential, hands-on session, “Reigniting the Passion for Your Mission,” introduces board members, volunteers, and staff to the Raising More Money Model. The model trains nonprofit organizations to implement a system that will, over time, build committed lifelong donors. You will learn to use your passion to speak powerfully about the work of your organization.

Find more specific information about this session and register at this website. Contact Stacy McGraw (206-709-9400 x128) with questions.

Michigan Nonprofit Compensation and Benefit Survey

How does your nonprofit compensation and benefit plan compare to other plans in Michigan? The 2006 Michigan Nonprofit Compensation and Benefit Survey Report, available in May, will provide an accurate picture of salary information for 68 nonprofit job titles, a comparative analysis of nonprofit benefit packages, and a current look at executive compensation.

The deadline for answering the questionnaire has been extended to January 20. In exchange for sharing current fiscal year data about your organization's wages, salaries, and benefits, you will receive a free report on trends in Michigan and in your area of the state in pdf format. For those unable to participate or have no paid staff, the report will cost $45.

For more information visit the survey website. Contact Pat Nanzer (616-331-7593) with questions. Your participation and support is extremely valued; you may be assured of complete confidentiality.

Leadership Conference for Women

Monday, March 13, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
East Lansing, Kellogg Conference Center

The title of this one-day event is Thriving in Our Lives and Work: Helping Yourself and Your Organization Succeed. The conference is designed to help women working in nonprofits and labor organizations build their capabilities and achieve their goals and values at work. The venue will build community, foster networking opportunities, and allow sharing of stories, skills and experience.

Co-sponsors of the event are MSU’s School of Labor and Industrial Relations, Labor Education Program and the Michigan Nonprofit Association.

Download a brochure and application form here. Contact Kristi White (517-355-5071) (Toll free 877-241-7757) for more information.

Seminar: Tax-Exempt Organizations in Michigan

Wednesday, February 15, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m
Detroit, Holiday Inn Fairlane

This one-day seminar from Lorman Education Services is designed to provide practical information and how-to advice on current issues and future trends. It will address ethics, fraud detection, fundraising strategies, Sarbanes-Oxley, filing and reporting requirements. The session is designed for accountants, attorneys, CFOs, executive directors, officers, trustees, controllers, tax managers, enrolled agents, financial planners and social workers.

Offerings from the Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management

Some trainings at the Axelson Center may be worth the trip to North Park University in Chicago.

• Nonprofits & Innovation: Surviving and Thriving in an Age of Change
  May 16-17, 2006
• Executive Director / CEO Bootcamp
  June 21-23, 2006

Further question on either of these programs? Contact Kris Maldre (773-244-5747).

Reminders

• NEW’s President and CEO, Susan Katz Froning, will speak on Board/Staff Relationships & Transitions on three consecutive days February 7, 8, an d 9 in 3 locations (Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Petosky). The MasterMinds series is sponsored by the Michigan Association of Community Arts Agencies. Other speakers in the series are scheduled for March and May. More information.
• Take advantage of reduced-price membership in BoardSource. The offer of $49 for a year is good until March 31.
• Deadlines:
• January 20: nominations for the United Way for Southeastern Michigan’s volunteer recognition event.
• February 8: Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation general grantmaking program, Youth Council, African-American Endowment Fund, and Anna Botsford Bach Fund for Seniors.
• March 15: Pfizer Community Grants application.
  

REGULAR FEATURES

Nonprofit Bulletin Board

Visit NEW's Nonprofit Bulletin Board to post and view notices about free resources, fundraising opportunities, and other items relevant to the southeast Michigan nonprofit community.

Events Calendar

Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau calendar of events. E-mail Nick Miller to request a password to submit an event.