Feb. 23, 2010 - Simplify
“You're adding THIS project into the work plan for next year? And how much money were you thinking of allocating to make this happen? “
Answers: Yes. None.
“That's it,” you think. “I quit. I think I will get a job in the private sector where they will understand me.” Sigh. And then: deeper sigh.
You look at the stacks of papers on your desk: web page redesign, dues collection, vendor contract renewal, political action committee fund raiser—all waiting to be completed, all important projects. Why, you think, can I never get anything accomplished? If only I had (a) more staff, (b) more money, (c)more hours in the day, (d) a more understanding and supportive board? Can't I just finish ONE project?
It's not easy, managing multiple projects. Especially in an organization, projects tend to get more and more complicated: committee members add ideas and ideas become new tasks. New tasks become more work—the manager as to oversee the volunteers or staff performing the tasks, or (sigh) do it herself. Soon what started as a simple idea (let's have an education program) snowballs into registration forms, news releases, fliers, speakers andd refreshments.
Here are some thoughts about project management which may help you be more successful at getting things done.
Keep it simple. I am currently working with an organization which is planning a public relations project which will assist military veterans. It's a great project, and has attracted lots of support. The problem is focusing on the mission of the project, because everyone has enthusiastic, exciting ideas to add. My client is overwhelmed with ideas about the work that could be done. No, I tell them, if it's getting to complicated, narrow the scope. That's what will help you complete your goal.
Don't try to be perfect. Perfectionism is the enemy of completion. Sometimes, “good enough” will do. Another association manager I know is fond of project planning software. She'll spend absolutely hours devising Ghantt charts and workflow diagrams. Each planning detail must be elaborate and each result executed without flaws. In music, we tune our instruments and say, “Good enough for bluegrass”: practice being 'good enough'. Not everything has to be perfect.
Eliminate extras. Again, keeping your mission in mind, think about what you DON'T need. When time and resources grow short, start throwing some items overboard. Understand theC difference between what is necessary for survival of the project, and what would 'be nice'. If you're stuck on an island in the ocean, you'll need drinking water. But you can do away with stemmed glassware.
Go public quickly. Remember, you are working with a simple mission, core features, and 'good enough'. Going public early in the project will motivate you to complete the work, and to make the enhancements to it quickly.
Simplification—that's what this is all about. Understand that you have a finite supply of resources for any project, and the trick is to use those resources in the most productive and efficient means possible.
Value your own time and energy and that of those around you, and eliminate what drains it away.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Simplify : Off Stage
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Friday Night Out « Gertiecranker’s Weblog
Friday Night Out
Now I’ve said this before: if you want a hot time with bright lights, Eleuthera is not for you. You don’t come here for gambling, drinks with umbrellas, and pole dancers.
Heck, Lynn can’t even find bridge players, though we do have a couple of gaudy green and gold whist trophies that she won at the annual Rock Sound Homecoming.They’re on our windowsill, proud symbols of our community support. But whist tournaments aren’t a common event around here. So come Friday night, we have to make our own fun.
Our big plan this week was to go to Governor’s Harbour, the capitol of Eleuthera, do a little shopping, and to hear a Bahamian writer who was doing a book signing at the fancy new Tapas Bar.
First, though, we stopped at the Rose Manor gift shop where our young friend Chris works. Chris is a student at the Rock Sound Community College studying business: he wants to own a men’s fashion store someday. Probably he’ll have to leave the island to realize that dream—men’s high fashion on Eleuthera consists of ‘pants-on-the-ground’ shorts and oversize t-shirts with sparkles.
At any rate, Chris’ current employer has a quaint little shop tucked away in Governor’s, and it’s filled with jewelry made with fish scales and and paintings of Kalik beer bottles on driftwood. Perhaps the most amazing thing was a massive Victorian chandelier coated in cement, sand and shells (you could hang that sucker in your entryway for a cool thousand bucks). Lots of beads and beachglass, too—and straw bags, floaty scarves, and sun hats. Lynn bought a $10 watch and a gold colored bracelet, Chris’s first (and probably only) sale of the day.
Then, on to the bar. Tapas Bar is on a beautiful stretch of beach, the one where a Club Med used to be before it was destroyed by Hurricane Floyd. The reading was well underway when we arrived, the deck filled with white folks dressed in pastel plaids and deck shoes. I’d read the book, “Life on a Rock”–but I think no one else had. The author, V A Albury, is an interesting woman: she and her husband spent 5 years as managers of a primitive private island. Life with no electricity, no water, and a monthly visit from the supply boat made Eleuthera sound very modern and civilized.
Cocktail hour after the reading consisted of wine and various snacks: conch fritters, fish pate, and vegetables. Conversations among those present didn’t include Lynn and I, however: it never does. We are not a part of the Gated Glitterati whose conversation consists of the latest tennis scores and social gossip. We didn’t stick around the Tapas Bar for very long.
Instead, we went to Kervin’s favorite Governor’s Harbour restaurant. It’s a little (2 tables) cafe on the docks—scrupulously clean and very, very, pink: the menus are pink, the walls are pink, and even the television set in the corner is the color of Pepto bismol. The food’s pretty good though.
Lynn: What don’t you have?
Cook/Waitress: ?
Lynn: What are you out of?
Cook/Waitress: ?
Lynn: Anything on the menu that you haven’t got?
C/W: No mum. We got it all.
Lynn: Fine, then. I’ll have a salmon salad.
C/W: We’s out of salmon.
Lynn: Oh. (pause) I’ll have a pizza then. With crab.
C/W: Pizza will take 40 minutes. And no crab.
Lynn: How about a hamburger?
It was delicious. But it took 40 minutes.
Meantime, a beautiful young Bahamian mother came in with her 8-month old baby. “What’s his name?” we asked.
“Chalice.”
Lynn held Chalice, resplendent in his sweatshirt and red knitted cap pulled tight around his ears, while his mother placed her order. Other local young people soon crowded into the small place, laughing and surprised to see two women Of a Certain Age in their hangout.
“Hi,” said one man, older than the rest and clearly under the influence of too many Friday night Kalik beers. “You must be from Nassau. I hate Nassau. Too much crime and drunkenness.” (Takes one to know one, I think to myself.)
“Not us. We’re from Tarpum Bay.”
“Say WHAT??? I hate people from Nassau.” He was weaving over our table, friendly but very drunk. Then, muttering something about needing more beer, he stumbled out the front door.
“C’mon,” I say to Lynn. “Let’s head for home.”
Driving on the left side of a one and one-half lane highway in the dark is nerve-wracking at best. And I sure don’t want to try it if Nassau-hating Ned is on the same road at the same time.
What I really want is Miss Barbie’s guava duff, a cup of good coffee, and the serenity of our own snug cottage in Tarpum Bay.
TGIF.
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Friday, February 5, 2010
Public Relations Disaster Plans : Off Stage
Feb. 5, 2010 - Public Relations Disaster Plans
It' 6 AM, and Alice the AE's telephone is ringing. She rolls over, groping blindly in the direction of the offending noise.
“Lo,” she mutters.
“Alice, this is your President speaking! Have you seen the morning news? Have you SEEN what they're saying?”
“It's terrible,” she screeches. “They've arrested John. JOHN!! The vice president! OUR vice president! He's being accused of fraud. FRAUD! Misrepresenting listings! Buying distressed properties. Bilking sellers of bazillions of dollars! He's in JAIL!”
And so Alice's day begins.
***
John's arrest quickly becomes known to everyone in town: John is a prominent civic leader as well as incoming president of the Realtor association. And in a community which is experiencing economic hardship,job loss, and falling property values, the rumor that a well-known businessman is being accused of theft and unethical business practices is soon the subject of discussion in every coffee shop and service club meeting.
Worse yet, people are pointing angry fingers...and not just at John. One reason our home values have fallen, they accuse, is because Realtors are using their knowledge for personal gain. They're unscrupulously making personal profit from all of this.
Alice and the Board of Directors convene in closed session: it's crisis management time.
Here's the question: How can a crisis management plan be implemented in an age of social media? In a time when Susan Boyle can be an overnight hit, and “Pants on the Ground” a worldwide refrain in 24 hours, the opposite can also be true—as Toyota has just discovered with the world-wide recall of its defective gas pedals and obstructive floor mats.
A self-serving media release just won't cut it, quite frankly. As Newsweek journalist Matthew Phillips points out, “Managing a public relations disaster isn't what it used to be. Back in 1982, even as Chicago people were dying of cyanide poisoning from tampered Tylenol bottles, ...Johnson & Johnson didn't have to worry about Internet message boards inciting panic or fueling rumors and fear mongering. The strategy of corporate crisis management hasn't necessarily changed, but in the Google, Twitter, and Facebook, era the execution has.”
So what's the answer? How can associations prepare a public relations crisis management plan that for our current social media environment? Here are some thoughts:
Plan an immediate response plan. Not just fast, but instantaneous. If you need to have cooperation from your board or executive committee, you must be able to reach them at a moment's notice. Don't wait for a meeting, or even to set up a conference call. Don't trip over your association's clumsy governance structures. Establish an emergency response protocol that everyone on your team understands.
Send a uniform response message to everyone involved, not just the media. In an association, you'll need to give the members your position and talking points: make sure they understand the association's public statements and can respond to important questions. Members will voice their opinions, so help them give a consistent message.
Keep your media statements simple and direct, and don't send mixed messages. We live in a world of 30 second sound bites and 140-character tweets. Be quotable.
Monitor negative rumors. Know what is being said, and don't fool yourself by glossing over it. Toyota had to perform Google searches on phrases like “Toyota sucks”: people aren't going to be saying nice things about you. Look for your critics and understand their concerns.
Set up a public response, probably on your website, and aggressively direct the public to your association position. Don't depend on the media to make your statements for you—they are not always known for being fair. As I watched the Toyota situation unfold on Miami news, I noticed that the source for most stories were the frail little old ladies who had been waiting fearfully at the dealership for hours, afraid to drive home in their monstrous cars with treacherous sticking gas pedals and attack floor mats. Imagine a TV special of a reporter interviewing one of John's past clients who lost the family home and are now living in a cardboard box in the town park. Same idea.
Once you've established your public position, aggressively direct people to your website. Respond with your own Twitter campaign, or a Facebook fan website, or an online forum where people can ask your organization direct questions and get straight answers. Use this opportunity to position your association in a positive light. Alice the AE might, for instance, set up a consumer assistance website for folks who need housing help.
That's it: an association public relations crisis plan must be structured to be fast, to have a simple but consistent message, and to be proactive. To do that requires careful planning and an ongoing familiarity with the technology available to your critics—and to your organization.
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JetBlue To Most Loyal Customers: We're Too Busy To Help You, Sorry | Techdirt
Apparently JetBlue has decided that helping its most loyal customers is too much trouble. Sorry. Too busy. From the airline that pioneered friendly airline customer service to this... in just a few years time is really quite a travesty.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Real estate dodges tech bullet | Real Estate and Technology News for Agents, Brokers and Investors | Inman News
We have a little compatibility issue, and after a year of committee meetings and product evaluations, our MLS has cast its vote yet again for the status quo.
Anyone who is managing and MLS or a Realtor association needs to read this article by Realtor Kris Berg..
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Wild Apricot Blog : 24+ Free Webinars for Nonprofits - February 2010
For the shortest month of the year, February is shaping up with a pretty good selection of free online training opportunities for folks working in nonprofits and associations! More dates are usually added to these monthly lists of ourss, as last-minute events are scheduled or Wild Apricot readers find webinars we've missed — so do bookmark this page and keep your eye on the comments thread for updates.
Free Webinars for Nonprofits: February 2010
Behind the Scenes: Scheduling in Performing Arts
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
11:00 a.m. (Mountain)
This free webinar from Dean Evans & Associates is intended to inform Performing Arts and Ballet facilities on what to look for when trying to find a scheduling solution to help with maximizing Public Facility Efficiencies. Topics include reporting, capacity control, charging for space and resource scheduling. 60 minutes.What is Wild Apricot?
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
1:00 p.m. (Eastern)
This free webinar, led by Giuliano Valentino, introduces the Wild Apricot software for associations, nonprofits and other member-driven organizations, demonstrating its major features: membership management, web editing, event management, and fundraising. 60 minutes.Raising More Money Online with Independent Fundraising Events
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
2:00 p.m. (Eastern)
What are the common denominators of a successful programmatic approach to independent fundraising? Attend Blackbaud’s free webinar to learn more about this approach to fundraising and to hear from the Canadian Cancer Society about their successful independent fundraising event program.Integrating Social Media into Your Website
Thursday, 4 February 2010
11:00 a.m. (Pacific)
This free webinar from TechSoup.org will focus on best practices for integrating social media into organizational websites, including basic nuts-and-bolts changes to web page templates and enhancements to contact, staff, and email sign-up pages. Hosted by Kami Griffiths; presented by Allen Gunn, Executive Director of Aspiration. 60 minutes.The Simple Success Fundraising Plan
Thursday, 4 February 2010
3:00 p.m. (Eastern)
Got your fundraising plans in place for 2010? In this free call, nonprofit fundraising coach Sandy Rees (Get Fully Funded) will tell you how to create her “Simple Success” Fundraising Plan and share her “proven tool to keep you on track each month.”Ensuring Your E-Newsletters are Read - Not Dead - On Arrival This Year
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
1:00 p.m. (Eastern)
Kivi Leroux Miller of NonprofitMarketingGuide.com provides practical advice for putting together a winning email strategy and plan for 2010 in this free Nonprofit 911® teleconference from Network for Good. Can’t make it on the 9th? Register to receive a free MP3 audio and text transcript.What is a brand (and why does it matter to nonprofit organizations)?
Wednesday, 10 February 10
2:00 p.m. (Eastern)
Wednesday Webinars, from Synthesis Partnership, is a series of free educational offerings by experts in nonprofit management. This “brand 101” session, presented by Michele Levy, is designed to help nonprofit leadership and board members understand the basic concepts around developing and maintaining a strong brand. 60 minutes.Getting to Great Leadership and Influence
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
3:00 p.m. (Eastern)
If you want to advance your career, work more effectively with your teams, and better serve your clients, you need to develop the ability to truly lead and influence — not just manage and direct. Presented by the Public Relations Society of America and led by David Grossman, ABC, APR, Fellow PRSA. 60 minutes.Introduction to Fundraising Planning
Thursday, 11 February 2010
1:00 p.m. (Eastern)
If your organization has never developed a fundraising plan or calendar, this free session from the Foundation Center is for you. You’ll learn how to conduct an assets inventory, develop a case statement, identify potential funding partners, and prepare a fundraising plan and calendar. 60 minutes.Single Days of Service: Make It Work
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
11:00 a.m. (Pacific)
More and more volunteers are looking to get involved and make a difference in a single day of service: how do your create meaningful work that can be done in such a short time by a diverse group volunteers? This free webinar from VolunteerMatch.org will walk you through the first steps to incorporating single days of service into your programs and help you begin to think more creatively about volunteer engagement. 60 minutes.Nonprofit Boards and Effective Governance
Wednesday, 17 February 10
1:00 p.m. (Eastern)
This free webinar will offer a range of concepts and tools for effective recruitment, orientation, stewardship, guidance and leadership development. Presented by Sam Frank, Principal, Synthesis Partnership as part of the Wednesday Webinars series by experts in nonprofit management. 60 minutes.Corporate Relations from Cultivation to Partnerships
Wednesday, 17 February 2010
2:00 p.m. (Eastern)
Talisman Associates is pleased to partner with National Safe Place to present free webcasts that empower nonprofit staff, donors and volunteers. In this session, Barbara Talisman will discuss how to research, cultivate and solicit support from corporate donors. Emphasis will be on creating a partnership with corporate donors, not just asking them for money. 60 minutes.Proposal Budgeting Basics
Wednesday, 17 February 2010
3:00 p.m. (Eastern)
This free webinar from the Foundation Center is geared towards the novice grantseeker and will answer your budgeting questions. It is recommended that participants take the Proposal Writing Basics webinar before this one. 60 minutes.Grantseeking Basics
Thursday, 18 February 2010
2:00 p.m. (Eastern)
This free introductory course from the Foundation Center provides an overview of the funding research process for those seeking grants from foundations, corporations, and grantmaking public charities. Also available in Spanish. 60 minutes.Managing Difficult Volunteer Transitions
Thursday, 18 February 2010
11:00 a.m. (Pacific)
What do you do when it’s time to ask a volunteer to leave your organization? This free webinar from VolunteerMatch.org will give you the tools to address challenges around difficult volunteers, volunteers aging in place, and suggestions to minimize these situations in the future. 60 minutes.Making a Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
1:00 p.m. (Eastern)
Why is it so hard to make lasting changes in our organizations, in our communities, and in our own lives? As part of Network for Good’s free Nonprofit 911® teleconference series, Dan Heath, Senior Fellow at Duke University’s CASE Center, will discuss findings from his new book, Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard, which shed new light on how we can effect transformative change.How are Nonprofits Responding to Scrutiny of Executive Compensation by the IRS, Public and Media? Part II Strategies and Responses
Wednesday, 24 February 2010
1:00 p.m. (Eastern)
This free webinar is another in Synthesis Partnership’s Wednesday Webinars series by experts in nonprofit management. Through case studies and discussion, gain a solid understanding of the IRS regulations on nonprofit executive compensation and learn how to assure compliance while fulfilling ongoing good governance responsibilities. Presenters are Lindalee A. Lawrence and Richard M. Lucash of Lawrence Associates. 60 minutes.Developing Alumni and Supporters Into Donors
Wednesday, 24 February 2010
2:00 p.m. (Eastern)
From new prospect identification to cultivation and solicitation activities, you’ll learn the basics of prospect development strategies for turning your alumni and supporters into donors in this free webinar from Blackbaud. Presented by Lawrence Henze, managing director of Target Analytics. 60 minutes.Community Special Events
Wednesday, 24 February 2010
2:00 p.m. (Eastern)
Special events can be a point of entry for many individual donors and corporate partners. In this free webcast presented by Talisman Associates in partnership with National Safe Place, Barbara Talisman will present the key elements to creating and implementing a special event, and how you can “turn diners into donors.” 60 minutes.Proposal Writing Basics
Wednesday, 24 February 2010
3:00 p.m. (Eastern)
In this free webinar from the Foundation Center, an introductory overview of the process for new proposal writers, you will learn the basics of writing a proposal for your nonprofit organization. This course is also offered in Spanish. 60 minutes.11 Myths of Fundraising Registration: Correcting Mis-Information Concerning State Registration Requirements for Nonprofit Fundraising Solicitation
Thursday, 25 February, 2010
1:00 p.m. (Eastern)
This free live Affinity seminar is led by Gary Curtis Cannon, Attorney; and Marc Lee, CFRE. Every registrant receives free access to download the PowerPoint handout and MP3 recording of the seminar. Approximately 45 minutes, including Q & A session.Your Board and Fundraising: An Introductory Class
Thursday, 25 February 2010
3:00 p.m. (Eastern)
The purpose of this free webinar from the Foundation Center is to help you think systematically through the process of getting your board actively involved with your nonprofit’s fundraising efforts. 60 minutesImproving Facility Rentals within Non-Profit Organizations
Thursday, 25 February 2010
2:00 p.m. (Mountain)
Non-Profit organizations under pressure to improve their bottom line revenue are taking another look at the idea of renting out their facility. This free webinar from Dean Evans & Associates Inc. will discuss how renting out your facility will help address those never ending revenue challenges. 30 minutes.The New Volunteer Manager’s Toolkit
Thursday, 25 February 2010
11:00 a.m. (Pacific)
New to volunteer management? Looking for a refresher on the basics? This free webinar from VolunteerMatch.org will walk you through the three primary Rs - recruitment, retention and recognition. Alll attendees will receive a sample packet with examples and program assessment checklists to help you evaluate your existing program. 60 minutes.
Some good resources at an exceptional price! Thanks, Rebeccaaa
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Wonderful, as always!