Issue 57
March 29, 2007

NEWSNOTES is a monthly email newsletter published by NEW. It covers resources available at NEW in Ann Arbor as well as items of interest to the nonprofit community in southeastern Michigan. NEWSNOTES is proud to celebrate its fifth year of publication, with delivery to over 865 subscribers every month! We welcome your feedback and suggestions!

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

IN THIS ISSUE

LETTER FROM NEW

Coping with Cutbacks

Okay, I admit – all the news coverage of our strained economy and its impact on our nonprofit community is starting to get under my skin. It’s good to know of a few resources we can turn to – whether we are sitting on a healthy reserve (and wondering if we will finally dip in) or are raising money to pay last month’s bills. I’d like to share some valuable resources that all of us can use to ease our organizations through stressful situations. Even if the local economy is not under our control, the way we respond to it is.

You may not be one to “hit the books” when you’re feeling uneasy, but this one is worth it. The book – Coping with Cutbacks, The Nonprofit Guide to Success When Times are Tight – is authored by Emil Angelica and Vincent Hyman of the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation.

I love this book (and keep a copy on my desk at NEW) because it offers:

• The message that "Mission rules the day." The authors look at cost cutting with mission as the priority.
• Easy to follow, six-step process. You get the “recipe” right in the book so you don’t have to invent a way to use what you learn.
• A checklist and easy-to-use worksheets. Again, you don’t have to invent how to use what you learn.
• Lots of examples. You may even be able to “borrow” some ideas!
• Strategies that work for nonprofits of all sizes and missions.
• Tasks that engage both board and staff.

A few years back, NEW brought Emil Angelica to Ann Arbor to share the concepts from this book. Participants in the workshop were overwhelmingly positive. His approach influences me and NEW to this day – we continue to use a strategic set of filters to analyze many of the decisions we make.

We have some copies of the book for review at the Borders Nonprofit Resource Center, Room 103, in the NEW Center. You can order a copy online through ResourceConnect® .

Feel free to let me know what your thoughts are on this resource or share other ideas (734-998-0160).

Respectfully,

Susan Katz Froning,
President and CEO, NEW

FEATURED ITEMS

Technology Advantages — Let npServ™ Help You

NEW’s newest program is npServ™ — an exciting service that can help your nonprofit increase efficiency and focus on mission delivery. It offers shared administrative office technology and staffing and management solutions for common nonprofit operational office functions (e.g., technology, accounting, human resources, and fundraising administration).

The technology program introduces lower-cost server and web-based computing, providing a comprehensive technology solution that results in increased functionality. What does that mean exactly? It means increased productivity for your organization. Advantages include

• Ability to access office documents and emails from any computer with an internet connection.
• Ability to share files and calendars with your team and update records in real time.
• Ability to get increased performance from your older computers.
• On / off site system maintenance (including software updates and backup).
• Friendly npServ™ staff to set up the system and train you on its use.
• No worries and no hassles; professional help is just a phone call away!
• Cost savings

What’s not to like? The future is now. Don’t be left behind. Learn more by contacting Francis Glorie, (734-998-0160 x 212) Meet Francis at the MNA SuperConference in Lansing May 15 or 16 where he will be presenting a workshop entitled Analyzing Your Technology Needs: Explore the Thin Client/Open Source Alternative.

Upcoming BoardConnect® Trainings

An unexamined life is not worth living; an unexamined board is not as effective as it could be. Learn about the benefits and strategies of board assessment, and different approaches for assessing the current and desired effectiveness of your board. Special focus will be directed to an economical self-assessment program, culminating in a consolidated report and action plan.

• Results Through Assessment
  Thursday, April 5, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
  NEW Center, 1100 N Main St, Ann Arbor

Individuals new to the world of nonprofit boards as well as experienced trustees wanting to brush up on their governance skills will find this workshop useful. Concepts, methods, and case studies address what defines a nonprofit, how nonprofits are governed, developmental stages of nonprofit boards, and the five major roles and responsibilities of board members.

• Achieving Excellence as a Nonprofit Board
  Wednesday, April 25, 9:00 a.m. - noon
  Michigan Nonprofit Association Detroit Office
  7375 Woodward Avenue (Youthville)

Learn the ins and outs of recruiting new members, such as planning, identifying candidates, then cultivating and electing them.

• Building Your Board
  Tuesday, April 18, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  NEW Center, 1100 N Main St, Ann Arbor

Find online registration information on all workshop offerings on the BoardConnect® website.

Help Us Help You: ResourceConnect® Survey of Nonprofit Needs

You may have received an email request recently to respond to a short online survey. ResourceConnect® is asking you to tell us what kind of professional services you need most and how we can best assist. By taking less than 10 minutes to respond to the survey, you can help us design some exciting new ResourceConnect® offerings that will harness the power of the marketplace and keep you focused on your core mission. If you have not completed the survey yet, please do so by following this link. Many thanks!

MNA Superconference

The Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA) encourages all nonprofit staff, volunteers, and board members to take advantage of workshops, networking opportunities and exhibitors at this year’s Superconference Surviving and Thriving through Seasons of Change. Get re-energized for your role of improving life in your community. Lou Gossett, Jr. is the keynote speaker and we’ll hear from Rip Rapson, President & CEO of the Kresge Foundation as well as Dr. Susan Kenny Stevens, author of Nonprofit Lifecycles: Stage-based Wisdom for Nonprofit Capacity.

NEW’s Director of npServ™, Francis Glorie, will present a workshop Analyzing Your Technology Needs: Explore the Thin Client/Open Source Alternative. Information technology at nonprofits often lags behind the business world due to lack of funds and dedicated expertise. This session will explore solutions to IT issues that also reduce costs. (See first featured item above.)

Marianne Clauw of NEW will provide tips for Rejuvenating Your Board. Nonprofits continue to ask how they can keep their boards vital. This interactive workshop offers strategies for keeping engaged members enthusiastic, rejuvenating those with potential, and transitioning those who have reached their limit of service into different roles in support of your organization.

See all the workshop offerings, schedule, information on registration, accommodations, etc. at the MNA website. Early bird rates apply for registrations until April 20.

Nonprofit Conference in Troy

Tuesday, April 24, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Walsh College, 3838 Livernois, Troy

The Troy Chamber of Commerce and its Non-Profit Network are presenting the 2nd annual Non-Profit Management Conference, sponsored by National City Bank and Walsh College. The keynote speaker will be former Detroit Tiger great Willie Horton.

Four breakout seminars during the day will provide training in a wide variety of topics of benefit to staff, board members and volunteers. View the seminar schedule. The affordable fee of $50 for Troy Chamber members ($90 non-members) includes a continental breakfast and buffet lunch.

Download a registration form to fax or email theteam@troychamber.com or register by calling the Troy Chamber 248-641-8151.

Public Policy Forum: Beyond the Budget

Friday, March 30, 2007, 10 a.m. - noon
Lansing Center

Governor Jennifer Granholm will be a featured speaker at this panel discussion subtitled “Putting Our Fiscal House in Order.” The Michigan League for Human Services invites everyone to attend to learn more about the potential restructuring of Michigan’s taxes to meet the state’s fiscal crisis.

A representative from Virginia will report on how that state successfully addressed a similar budget crunch in 2004. The registration fee for members of MiLHS is $45; others pay $70. Learn more and register at the MiLHS website.

Immigration Forum

Friday, April 20, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Madonna University, 36600 Schoolcraft Rd., Livonia, Room 1301

Detroit’s Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA), in conjunction with a number of community based agencies and policy makers, is hosting a free Immigration Forum on April 20.

The featured speaker will be Cecilia Munoz, from the National Council of La Raza, who is a nationally recognized Immigration legislative advocate. After the discussion, stay to view the film Milagro In Mexico, produced by an alumna of OMA. The film views the effects of industrialization and immigration between Mexico and the United States through the lives of women in a village in Mexico. Space is limited. Please register by contacting Osvaldo Rivera (734-432-5541).

Women’s Leadership Day

Saturday, May 12, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Holiday Inn, 3600 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor

The Maia Chapter of American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) invites you to attend Women’s Leadership Day to get educated, network, and have fun! Keynote speaker will be Diane Nixon, local businesswoman and Secretary-Treasurer of the National ABWA. Mary Jean Raab, former Sr. Vice President of Borders and new board member of Bearclaw Coffee Company of Chelsea, will be the luncheon speaker.

Find a reservation form and brochure detailing the breakout sessions on the ABWA website. For more information contact Karen Klever (734-417-0311).

ArtServe Michigan Survey Request

ArtServe Michigan is developing a new strategic plan with the overall objective of fundamentally improving the level of support for arts and culture throughout Michigan. Your opinions about ArtServe, the cultural climate in Michigan, and future priorities would be extremely helpful as they plan their future. Follow this link to begin the survey.

Reminders

• Ann Arbor Thrift Shop Proposals due April 2
• NEW's Susan Katz Froning will teach Governance for Board Members as part of ArtServe Michigan's Mastermind Series. April 24 at Wayne County Community College.
• April 26 class to cover Online Fundraising (ePhilanthropy)
  

REGULAR FEATURES

Philanthropy Today is a free, daily e-mail roundup of news about the nonprofit world from The Chronicle of Philanthropy. A recent issue introduced us to Give and Take, another service of The Chronicle that rounds up the best postings that appear on blogs about the nonprofit world.

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.