Meeting Minutes Now Available

We now have meeting minutes available from our November meeting on fundraising with Deborah Kaplan Polivy and our December holiday party where several of our chairs for 2009 were voted in and some plans were put together for future meetings.

minutes-nov-2008

minutes-dec-2008

Our next meeting will be on January 9th, 8:00 AM at Riley Rink in Manchester Center for a discussion on marketing your nonprofit. Our guests will be marketing and communications specialists Barbara Dooling, Rosalie Fox, and Margaret Donovan.

December 5th Meeting at American Museum of Fly Fishing

Our annual Holiday Networking Party is coming up on December 5th, starting at 8 AM. We have a fantastic event planned, including free breakfast sponsored by Chittenden Bank. This is a great time to become reacquainted with the work of the Northshire Nonprofit Network in both providing nonprofit education and networking opportunities.

Barbara Dooling of United Counseling has published the following release:

The Northshire Nonprofit Network will hold its Holiday Gathering and Annual Meeting on Friday, December 5, 2008 at 8 AM at the American Museum of Fly Fishing on Route 7A in Manchester Village,  Vermont. All NNN members and others interested in the nonprofit community in and around Bennington County are invited to attend. There will be a free breakfast sponsored by Chittenden Bank.  Please bring at least 20 business cards as there will be an informal networking time during the breakfast.  A brief business meeting will be held that will include a discussion of topics for 2009 and voting on the 2009 Committee Members. The meeting wraps up at 9:30 AM.

All members of the nonprofit community and members of the public are welcome. For additional information about this program or any other upcoming Northshire Nonprofit Network programs, call Ed Cyzewski at 802-375-2575

November 7th Meeting with Deborah Kaplan Polivy

The Northshire Nonprofit Network will be meeting on Friday, November 7, 8 AM, at the GNAT-TV offices, 116D Lincoln Avenue, located off Richeville Road, Manchester Center, Vermont.

The topic is Cultivating Donors in a Slow Economy. Guest speaker, Dr. Deborah Kaplan Polivy, is a fundraising consultant, who created two successful Jewish Federation foundations and served as the Director of Total Financial Resource Development for the New Haven Federation. Currently, Dr. Polivy advises organizations on their development programs and practices. She has participated in several successful solicitations and trained many fundraising professionals on how to succeed in their positions.

Don’t forget that our December 5th Holiday Party and networking time will be held at the American Museum of Fly Fishing. A light breakfast will be served at 8 AM.

October 3 Meeting Minutes

Location:  Burr and Burton Academy

Fostering Nonprofit and Business Partnerships

• Partnership – Must beneficial to both parties.
• Goal — What appeals to businesses.

Andy Holzman (Chittenden Bank)

• A tangible benefit is brand recognition which comes from press releases, program handouts,   banners, etc. 
• When approaching a business, come with a good written proposal (the “for profit” is making an investment in the nonprofit).
• Social Responsible Banking and local discretionary funds (at each location) are two programs in which Chittenden gives back to the community.

This year the bank’s focus is on food and fuel.

Jim Hand (Hand Motors)

Jim and John both make the decisions.  Hand Motors is less structured than Chittenden.  Their focus has evolved from their children’s activities – education, athletic programs, and in the last few years energy and the environment.

Cindy Gubb (Burr and Burton Academy)

At BBA both the Field Study Team (students work as interns) and the Service Learning Projects (students work for nonprofits) programs obtained corporate sponsorships.

For the Target program (at risk kids) contractors donated their time and materials to build the facility.

Recognize your sponsors and invite them to your organization.

Cindy also worked in the “for profit sector” and recommended approaching a business with a professional presentation (within the company’s guidelines).  Also, schedule a visit with a company representative.

Laurie Martin (The Vermont Country Store)

Giving is a culture at The Vermont Country Store.  The company supports communities where employees live and work.  They also provide a forum where employee can become involved. 
Currently, they are creating a corporate volunteer program whereby employees are on loan to a nonprofit for a period of time.  The Vermont Country Store would donate $10 to the nonprofit for every hour the employee volunteered. 

A partnership is constant communication and give and take between both parties.

Community Action Teams (employees) and the Corporate Team (executives) make decisions regarding donations. 

James Hathaway (The Orvis Company)

• Five percent of pretax profits are given to conservation programs. 
• Orvis also supports local non-conservation-based programs.
• Customers can become involved in giving.  Orvis places ads in their catalogs and asks customers to donate to a program.  Orvis then matches the customer’s donation.
• To approach Orvis, send a letter and if you know someone in the company, state that in the first sentence.  Also, indicate how your organization is unique and can involve the Orvis customer.

Seth Bongartz (Hildene)

• Think of ways to give back to your corporate sponsors.
• At Hildene facility space is given to companies to host their meetings as well as to nonprofits.  They also give out free passes.
• Hildene partners with the American Museum of Fly Fishing and the Southern Vermont Arts Center on a ticket program.  Passes are also given to lodging sponsors.

The next NNN meeting will be held on Friday, November 7, 8:00 a.m., at the GNAT-TV offices, 116D Lincoln Avenue, located off Richville Road in Manchester Center.  Guest speaker Deborah Kaplan Polivy, Ph.D., Fundraising Consultant, will discuss “Cultivating Donors in a Slow Economy.”

October 3rd: Nonprofit and Business Partnerships

Our next meeting is fast approaching! You’ll need to register at the CVent web site for our October 3rd meeting.

Here are the details:

AFP-NNE Education & Networking Breakfast Southern Vermont Fostering Nonprofit and Business Partnerships Nonprofit organizations and businesses have long partnered in many ways to achieve shared or community goals. In this session we will host a panel discussion to explore sponsorships, volunteer time, events and additional ways the nonprofit and business communities can partner together to reach mutually beneficial goals. The session will begin with a continental breakfast and networking session followed by the panel discussion. This event is appropriate for all levels of professional development. Moderator: Seth Bongartz Panel: Andy Holzman, Chittendem Bank Laurie Martin, Vermont Country Store Cynthia Gubb, Burr & Burton Academy Jim Hand, Hand Motors James Hathaway, The Orvis Company Directions: http://www.burrburton.org/directions/index.htm The Hunter Seminar Room is located on the first floor of the Smith Center for Science and Communications. When you turn into the upper entrance to BBA, the Smith Center is the first building on the upper circle. Walk into the entrance, and then into the library. The Hunter Seminar Room will be to the right once you enter the library. This Event has been approved for continuing education points (2 hrs) on your CFRE application for initial certification and/or recertification. Friday, October 3, 2008  8:30 AM  - 10:30 AM Burr & Burton Academy Hunter Seminar Room 57 Seminary Avenue Manchester,  VT 05254

Registration AFP or NNN Member $10.00 AFP Non-Member $20.00

View Event Summary

September 5 Meeting Minutes

Location:  Riley Rink

Introductions

Collaboration

Casting for Recovery

Contact Information – Seline Skoug – Executive Director — 362-9181; website www.castingforrecovery.org.

CFR is a national support and educational program with offices also in the UK, Ireland, and Canada.  Founded in 1996, CFR offers free weekend retreats for women who have or have had breast cancer.  CFR held 37 programs in 2008. 

Donations come from corporate, individuals, and grants.  Planning teams reach out to the community (grass roots based).  CFR has trained volunteers who direct patient to resources.

CFR has a Volunteer Leadership Council which holds monthly meetings.  Volunteers work on a retreat and some provide office assistance.

Participants are referred to CFR from the medical community.  Volunteers come to us either via word of mouth or they research the website.  CFR receives approximately 2-3 applications each day.  Volunteers must be a team player.  Also, volunteers have job titles and descriptions.

Challenges

•        Volunteer management and fundraising. 

•        CFR holds regional training programs.  A purpose of this program is to build teams of volunteers, so everything doesn’t fall on one person.  The training also provides assistance to help volunteers overcome the difficulties in asking for funds.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Joe Hurley – The Bart Center — The Metric Century Ride fundraiser will be held on September 13.  All proceeds go to the Bart Center.  The event will be held in Manchester.  The staging place is at the Rec Park in Manchester.  The cost is $30.00 per person which includes a cook out. 

Barbara Dooling — United Counseling Service – Hosting Flame the Band in concert on Friday, September 19, 7:00 p.m., at Mount Anthony Union High School.  The group is comprised of individuals who have overcome such challenges as autism and Down’s Syndrome.  Tickets are $7.00.

Susan Armstrong – Director of Development and Program Manager – Green Mountain RSVP & Volunteer Center

Volunteering makes everyone feel better.  This is a great point to get across to volunteers.  Also, volunteers live longer and have a purpose.

Volunteers come to RSVP via word of mouth or through newspaper articles.  Also, a solid volunteer often brings in another one. 

The faces of volunteers are changing.  The “gray hair” ladies still perform their duties at the hospital but baby boomers are now retiring and coming out of great jobs.  Baby boomers bring a whole new skill set (such as mentoring or building a website) to volunteering. 

To get a strong volunteer, talk to the person and find out what are their skills and build a job around them.  Be flexible with their schedule as many baby boomers still want to work part time or travel.

RSVP does not train volunteers nor do they perform background checks.  This is usually done by the nonprofit organization.  Volunteers work at 100 sites in Bennington County.

RSVP has offices in Bennington, Springfield, and Brattleboro.

Discussion then centered around local businesses giving their employees time off to volunteer for a nonprofit.

The next NNN meeting will be held on Friday, October 3, 8:00 a.m., at Burr & Burton Academy (Hunter Room), 57 Seminary Avenue, located off Route 7A in Manchester.  We will host a panel discussion in collaboration with the Association of Fundraising Professionals—Northern New England Chapter.  The topic is “Fostering Nonprofit and Business Partnerships.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September NNN Meeting

Our next meeting is coming up in September. Here are the details:

Connecting & Fostering Volunteers within Your Organization
Friday, September 5, 8:00-9:30 AM
Riley Rink, Manchester Center, VT

1. Introductions
2. Collaboration with Casting for Recovery
3. Discussion with Susan Armstrong, Director of Development and Program Manager at the Green Mountain RSVP & Volunteer Center, and Seline Skoug, Executive Director of Casting for Recovery

About Our Guest Speakers
Susan Armstrong, Director of Development and Program Manager at the Green Mountain RSVP & Volunteer Center. Ms. Armstrong worked as a Property and Casualty Insurance Underwriter and was involved in varied professional endeavors, which included writing, communicating, and public speaking. She joined the Green Mountain RSVP & Volunteer Center in August 2005.

Seline Skoug, Executive Director of Casting for Recovery, a national support and educational program for breast cancer survivors. Ms. Skoug is also an EMT for the Arlington Rescue Squad.

Meeting Preview
It’s one thing to recruit volunteers, but successfully partnering with them to be effective and fulfilled takes planning and creativity. Susan Armstrong has been successfully connecting volunteers with projects and has gained a wealth of experience in continuing to build up volunteers within an organization. Seline Skoug shares her unique blend of effectively working with national and local volunteers.

Future NNN Meeting (meetings are at 8 AM on the 1st Friday of the month)
October 3: Fostering Nonprofit and Business Partnerships (panel discussion in partnership with AFP-NNE) at BBA Hunter Room
Preview: Nonprofit organizations and businesses partner in many ways to achieve shared and community goals. The gifts of businesses provide one of the key ways nonprofit organizations raise funds for operating and program expenses. In our October meeting we will host a panel discussion regarding ways nonprofits and businesses can partner on sponsorships, volunteer time, and other areas that can be mutually beneficial.

August 1 Meeting — Minutes

Location:  Bart Center at Bromley Mountain

Introductions

Collaboration

 

Bennington Project Independence

 

Contact Information – Linda Wichlac – Phone 442-8136; E-mail bpiads@sover.net

 

BPI has been helping Bennington County residents by providing adult daycare for 30 years.  Most of the people receiving services live in the Town of Bennington; however, BPI serves about 15-20% of the Northshire community.  They are looking to expand further into this region.

 

Currently, BPI is in the process of building a new facility on Harwood Hill in Bennington. 

Most adults in the program are physically handicapped and benefit from the rehabilitative services; however, others come to the center to socialize.

 

BPI is available to everyone regardless of income (pay according to sliding scale).  Some of the healthcare provided is social worker and nursing services, transportation, and meals.  Also, BPI works other agencies such as United Counseling Service, Meals-on-Wheels, and Green Mountain RSVP.

Staffing consists of 12 people and the ratio is 1:3.  Volunteers lend assistance; however, liability issues arise in some areas.  The budget is approximately $800,000.  BPI receives funding from the state, Medicaid, veterans administration, and private donations.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Beth Meachem – Manchester and the Mountains Chamber of Commerce – The kiosks are being refurbished and a new program is in place.  Kiosks are free to members and provide a visual resource to visitors.

 

Joe Hurley – The Bart Center — The Metric Century Ride fundraiser will be held on September 13.  All proceeds go to the Bart Center.  The event will be held in Manchester.  The staging place is at the Rec Park in Manchester.  The cost is $30.00 per person which includes a cook out. 

Howie Wright – Employment Connections Manager – United Counseling Service of Bennington County, Inc.

Nonprofits and the Disabled Population

 

The disabled population wants a sense of self-worth and to be a part of the community.  They don’t want to be pushed aside as in the past.

 

Howie interviews clients and asks them what are their hopes and dreams; what do you want to do.  Take a negative and turn it into a positive (turn your disadvantages around).  He then maintains a client list consisting of what they want to do and the hours/days they are available. 

 

After client interviews, Howie tours local businesses, looks at their problem areas, and sees job potential.  Sometimes he can make a job fit the client.  Employers are now talking among themselves about the UCS job program.

 

In the Manchester area, jobs are on the upswing.  Some clients use Green Mountain Transport.

When a client goes on an interview, we advise them to be straightforward, talk about abilities not disabilities, and answer only what is asked.

 

Sometimes uses minimum wage as a tool to obtain jobs.

 

A client works with a financial counselor.  If they are on social security, their dollar amount is adjusted.

Advantages

1. Employer doesn’t have to pay for full-time benefits.
2. In some cases a 40-hour position can be split among a couple of clients. 
3. Job coaches support our clients.
4. Workers are on time and productive.
5. Clients have a wide variety of skills sets.
6. Vocational Rehabilitation at UCS assists with changes to adapt the work environment to the client.

Challenges

1. We put up our own barriers by saying, “We’ve never done that before.” – DO IT!
2. Apprehensive on part of the employer.

Remember everyone has value and can do something worthwhile.

 

The next NNN meeting will be held on Friday, September 5, 8:00 a.m., at Riley Rink at Hunter Park located off Route 7A in Manchester Center.  The guest speaker is Pat Palencsar from Green Mountain RSVP.  The topic is “Connecting and Fostering Volunteers within Your Organization.”

 

 

 

 

 

July 11 Meeting — Minutes

Location:  Hildene

Introductions

Lee Spivey—Engel Spivey Lemonik, PC – Sustainability in Uncertain Times

 Investing

 If you are a trustee or a member of an investment committee, you have a fiduciary responsibility to your organization.

 Uniform Code of Fiduciary Conduct – Five-Step Investment Management Process

1. Analyze Current Position – Where are we now?
2. Diversity-Allocate Portfolio – Determine risk tolerance, time line, returns to realize goals, and assets that will be used to construct the portfolio.
3. Formalize Investment Policy – Write an investment statement (where you are going with your money).  Can find examples on the internet.
4. Implement the Policy – Invest according to policy.
5. Monitor and Supervise – Look at investment results quarterly.

Fundraising and Gifting Policies

1. Coordinate Fundraising – Everyone knows what is going on
2. Naming Opportunities – Have a policy in place
3. Gift Acceptance Policies – Pledges
4. Define Types of Gifts Accepted – Cash, in-kind and personal property, securities, real estate, remainder interests in property, life insurance, charitable gift annuities, and charitable remainder trusts
5. Gift Acknowledgment and Donor Procedures – Follow IRS procedures
6. Minimum Gifts for Endowment – Pool funds instead of several specific accounts.  Boards cannot endow their own funds.

An organization should consist of an investment committee, trustee committee, and an advisory council.  Define board members’ roles.

Leslie Keefe – Director of Development – Long Trail School

Philanthropy has grown in the last 20 years.  Market your cause in an effective way and have good communication with your donors (build relationships). 

1. In tough times you need to be aggressive and communicate.  Don’t cut marketing dollars.
2. Sell quality not quantity.
3. Events – For businesses, create sponsorship levels.  “What’s in it for the business.”  Get employees involved.
4. Develop a plan
5. Send out articles throughout the year
6. If donors ask, present your budget.

Our next NNN meeting will be held on Friday, August 1, 8:00 a.m., at the Bart Center, located at Bromley Mountain.  The guest speaker is Howie Wright, Employee Connections Manager at United Counseling Service of Bennington County.  The topic is “Nonprofits and the Disabled Population.”

 

 

 

Mountains Festival Featuring the Bondville Bowl Skate Jam

Brett Morrison of the SCA is the founder and chair of a great Mountains Festival that includes the Bondville Bowl and Skate Festival.

The Mountains Festival
Featuring the Bondville Bowl Skate Jam ‘08
Saturday, August 16, 2008
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
(followed by Manchester Center’s Street Festival 5:00-9:00 p.m.

If you’re interested in helping make this event happen, below is additional information from Brett: