Issue #11 - May/June 2008

Mission: The Volunteer Centers of Michigan strengthens, develops and connects volunteer centers throughout the state.

Vision: The Volunteer Centers of Michigan ensures all volunteer centers have the capacity to positively impact every Michigan community and their citizens through volunteerism.

There is a lot of buzz in the nonprofit sector about leadership transition. “Who is going to take charge when the baby boomers all retire?” As with all things, there is no easy answer. There are a couple of good resources to lead the conversation, many of which are centered on how generational communication styles will influence what our organizations look like in the years to come.

Nonprofit 2020, supported by the Johnson Center at Grand Valley State University, allows emerging leaders to raise their voices on the future of leadership in the nonprofit sector. Open space technology & online communities are provided to help emerging leaders generate ideas and continue the conversation around these issues, visit http://np2020.wikispaces.com/.

The Building Movement Project has a series of Generational Monographs, which you can find here: http://www.buildingmovement.org/artman/uploads/up_next.pdf.

Peter Brinckerhoff, author of Generations: The Challenge of a Lifetime for Your Nonprofit, is an expert who speaks about generational differences within the nonprofit sector. You can find a link to his books as well as other great resources in Peter’s newsletter at http://www.missionbased.com/newsletters/currentnewsletter.htm.

This conversation will also be a key thread of the Michigan Nonprofit SuperConference, May 13-14, 2008. http://www.mnaonline.org/conf2008/.

Sustainability takes many shapes and forms, one we may want to consider is strategic alliances. 

When people talk about strategic alliances, questions arise concerning the strengths and attributes of the partners. Who is the strongest? What is the organization giving up? As a society we focus on winners and losers, so why should a partnership be any different? Whether there is a winner or a loser depends on the way the relationship is structured.

Partnerships are balancing acts, and unfortunately many organizations go into a relationship believing they are on the down side of the see-saw. The organizations have a multitude of needs that can be addressed through the partnership. Saving jobs, securing funding or retaining programs become important issues, while an emphasis is placed on the gains that will be realized from the relationship. This means the organization goes into the partnership assuming they will be the taker and the winner. So, what’s wrong with that? We all like to come out on top. In looking at your partnerships and moving forward with a new emphasis on sustainability - how can your Volunteer Centers better represent the assets they bring to the table? What is your targeted strategy for message/marketing/communication? What is the mutual benefit of association? What does the Volunteer Center get? What does the stakeholder get? How does all this time in the development and nurturing of relationships relate to sustainability? More questions than answers but as we work to make our Volunteer Centers more sustainable, continuing to ask ourselves these questions will promote, health, vitality and strength for years to come.

VCM Retreat Follow-up 
During the VCM retreat we also discussed two articles on generations: http://www.fdu.edu/newspubs/magazine/05ws/generations.htm
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1640395,00.html

Giving and Volunteering Repot
The latest edition of Michigan Giving and Volunteering highlights key findings from a 2007 survey to better understand Michigan residents’ 2006 charitable giving and volunteering and their perception of nonprofits.
http://www.mnaonline.org/pdf/GivingandVolunteering2007.pdf

The Michigan Nonprofit SuperConference
The Michigan Nonprofit SuperConference will be held May 13-14, 2008 at the Lansing Center in Lansing, Michigan.  This year's theme is "Teaming Up for Community Success," and we anticipate more than 900 participants, including nonprofit executives, program staff, fund development professionals, board members, researchers, consultants, advocates, national service members, managers and leaders from the government, corporate and faith communities, will be in attendance, bringing synergy and a board community context to our discussions.  This annual event will feature more than 50 workshops, an exhibit hall and bookstore, interspersed with several opportunities for networking.  To learn more about the Nonprofit SuperConference, please visit www.mnaonline.org/conf2008. 

National Conference: Learn… Connect… Get Inspired
Affiliates are encouraged to attend the 2008 National Conference on Volunteering and Service. A premier gathering of affiliates and leaders across the sector–attendees will share best practices, learn about innovative programs and initiatives that they can easily replicate in their own communities, understand new trends in the field of volunteer engagement, and be able to network with leaders and funders in the sector of service and civic engagement.Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, this year's conference theme is a call to action for a new generation of civic leaders. Now is the time to seize the growing momentum for service and unleash the power of citizens to make a better world.
http://www.volunteeringandservice.org/index.htm.

Michigan Nonprofit Association Trainings
http://www.mnaonline.org/workshops.asp

Application to Apply to Serve on Disaster Advisory Committee:
The Points of Light & Hands on Network are currently assessing the collective scope and impact of the network's role in all phases of disaster management (mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery) at the local level.  We would like to invite you to help us shape this strategic process by applying to serve as a member of the Disaster Task Force. www.handsonnetwork.org/static/dag_app08.doc.  

Funding Opportunity:  Hands On Schools:
We are excited to announce that Hands On Schools will bring on twenty additional Affiliate partners over the next twelve months to help revitalize and transform schools around the country.  Is there a school in your community that needs an active, engaged partner to help them reach their goals?  Is your organization ready to engage teachers, community members, and student leaders in re-establishing schools as the focal point of your community? See the Hands On Schools Request for Information to find out more about this unique funding opportunity. www.handsonnetwork.org/static/hos_rfi408.doc.

Affiliate Awards
Is your affiliate doing extraordinary work? Nominate your organization for an Affiliate Excellence, Innovation or Leadership Award to be presented at The National Conference on Volunteering and Service in Atlanta May 31st and June 3rd, 2008! Nominate your affiliate or the exceptional work of another peer affiliate by downloading the nomination form and criteria here: http://dyn.handsongulfcoast.org/affiliates/2008-Affiliate-Awards-Summary-Application.v3.doc.
Deadline for Awards Nominations - May 6th!!!

Points of Light & Hands on Network - DC office is moving locations!
POL&HON DC office                          
1875 K St NW, 5th Floor                   
Washington, DC 20006                    

Jennifer Fauss, Senior Director,jfauss@pointsoflight.org or 202.729.3234           
Khyati Desai, Manager, kdesai@pointsoflight.org or 202.729.8202
Zachary Brown, Interim Manager, zbrown@pointsoflight.org or 202.729.8135     

A webinar -- a seminar held via the web, hence the name! -- is a great way to get access to expert knowledge no matter where you live.  For example, you can attend webinars to improve your fundraising efforts. The Association of Fundraising Professionals, has about 20 webinars scheduled this year on topics ranging from donor retention to planned giving. See http://www.afpnet.org/education_and_career_development.

Groundspring.org
uses webinars to teach people effective online fundraising strategies, in addition to specific courses about Groundspring.org’s own tools. See http://www.groundspring.org/training/index.cfm.

Understand How Nonprofits are Using New Tools
NTEN.org, the nonprofit technology network, holds a series of webinars demonstrating how nonprofits are using technology in a variety of ways. See http://www.nten.org/events/webinar.

NPower Michigan
uses webinars to make technology related information accessible to more Michigan nonprofits. See http://www.mnaonline.org/workshops.asp for scheduled workshops.

Connect with colleagues
Michigan Nonprofit Association uses webinar software to facilitate discussion during virtual meetings with constituents across the state. For example, MNA is using webinars to communicate with nonprofits participating in Michigan NOW!, a Compassion Capital Fund grant. For more information on Michigan NOW! see http://www.mnaonline.org/michigan_now.asp.