QR Codes for Non Profits
Posted by: Antoine Dupont on Monday, April 25, 2011 at 2:28:52 pm
Seen one of these codes? It's called a QR code. It's a kind of bar code -- so just like a grocery checkout bar code, a computer can scan it to automatically receive information. In this case, though, it's coding a website address, and it can be scanned by smart phones.
If you have a Droid, for instance, you can simply take a picture of this code with your camera, or use the bar code scanner app and it will automatically take you to the Admin eSolutions homepage on your phone. Nifty, huh? This will work with most smart phones, though for some of them you'll need to download an application to be able to read the code.
We're seeing more of these codes in public these days -- they're being used especially on billboards and in magazines, essentially taking the "click for more information" idea and turning it into "snap with your phone for more information."
For instance, I can potentially take a picture of a QR code on a movie poster in the subway in order to go to a website that has more intriguing information about the movie.
Nonprofits organizations are starting to use QR codes as well. There's some interesting possibilities -- not just in ads, but also for direct mail and to create virtual tours.
They're free to create-- do a google search on "QR codes" and you'll find half-a-dozen websites that will generate the code for you for free for a particular website address or piece of text. So the only cost associated is the printing, and if you're creating an ad or direct mail, you're likely printing anyway. I used Kaywa QR Code to create this one (http://qrcode.kaywa.com/)
So for instance, you could add the image of code to your newsletter that would allow people to easily get to a webpage to sign up for your eNewsletter instead. Or a direct mail piece code could provide easily access to your online donation functionality. A museum could put a QR code next to each displayed piece to allow people to view much more detailed online than could practically be displayed.
Of course, your members and constituents will need to have a smart phone to use it, and will need to have some idea what the QR code is and what to do with it. It's still not particularly mainstream for that reason -- it's only going to reach a particular segment of the population. But as the population becomes more likely to have a smart phone and be savvy with it, it's likely to grow in usage.
Friday, April 29, 2011
QR Codes for Non Profits | Admin eSolutions
Friday, April 22, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Jumpstart 2012: Plan now for next year! : Off Stage
Jumpstart 2012 is an annual leadership program designed specifically for local Realtor Associations by Judith Lindenau, RCE, CAE. Included in the Jumpstart experience:
· A pre-event planning call with your association staff executive and/or incoming president
· A one-day personally facilitated planning session with association staff and leadership
o A presentation on current trends and best practices in Realtor Associations throughout the US
o A discussion of your association’s strengths and weaknesses
o Development of strategies and action plans for your association in 2012
o Template Tools for Strategic Decision-Making and mini-Business Plans to help leaders and staff make better decisions
· A follow up telephone coaching session with the association executive and/or Board President
· A written report from the facilitator
What’s the cost? Costs are minimal: the Jumpstart 2012 complete package is direct travel expenses (coach airfare, food, and lodging) and a $1000 facilitator fee.
Judith Lindenau is a Realtor Association Executive with 30 years’ experience managing local boards. She has been awarded the William R. Magel award (the highest honor which can be given to a Realtor Association Executive, and she was named a charter member of the Almon R. Smith AE Leadership Award. She was a founder of the RCE Designation, holds the Certified Association Executive Designation, and a Certificate in Non-Profit Management from the University of Chicago. Lindenau has worked for NAR as a consultant in local association strategic planning. Currently she works for the International Real Property Foundation with assignments in East Africa and for the NorthSky Non-Profit Network.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Jumpstart 2012: A Planning Tool for AEs to Use : Off Stage
Apr. 12, 2011 - Jumpstart 2012: A Planning Tool for AEs to Use
One of the new projects I’m working on is a 1-day presentation for Realtor association leadership and staff: “Jumpstart 2012”. My goal for this program is to aim association leadership in the right direction to have a productive year—a year which concentrates on the priorities of each individual organization and strategizes on the highest and best use of that association’s resources.
Right now the real estate community is caught up in a tornado of transition, and the question is “How can we as professional organizations best serve our members? How can we most effectively organize and direct our association resources toward meaningful member service?
The answer lies in the ability to form a knowledgeable leadership team, a partnership between staff and volunteers in which both parties (a) understand the organizational changes taking place in the Realtor community, (b) have identified their own association’s priorities, (c) and are realistic about the obstacles to success. Jumpstart 2012 will create a leadership environment which is efficient, a direction in which decision makers aren’t side-tracked by unimportant issues and politics and in which leaders don’t micromanage the color of the paint on the bathroom walls as a way of escaping from the more significant topics of organizational policy and strategy.
Yeah, you say with a derisive snort, how you gonna do that, Lindenau? I’ve been trying to accomplish this for many moons. I’m getting nowhere, fast!
Well, I reply, I’ve got some useful tools I’ll share as a part of Jumpstart 2012. I’m not all talk: a part of Jumpstart 2012 is some tools that will help you take back your role as the Association Executive. You might have noticed (with some of your peers, of course) that the uncertain leadership tries to second-guess the staff in a lot of management decisions. (“You want to paint the men’s john WHAT color?”) One of the keys to managing micro-minded leadership is to have your AE management tools in place before the paint color questions get asked and the Directors expend valuable energy and brainpower on the reinvention of the organization’s wheel.
One of the first steps you need to take as an AE is to organize your association calendar, set the dates, and then share this with your leaders and members. Simply put, use the following chart as a basis for planning for 2012, and start now. Add the dates—be as specific as you can. Then, share this. Make sure the Directors know the shape of the year and their role in it, that the members can access this, and that you program the events into your staff work schedule.
By using this tool not only will you be better organized, but also your leaders and members will have confidence in your ability to manage the association and bring it continuity and consistency of operations. Feel free to adapt this calendar template to meet your association needs!
Organization Calendar
Name of Organization: ______________________
Evaluate Chief Executive (by referencing progress towards last fiscal year's goals and CEO job description)
Review and update board policies and personnel policies*
Conduct first board retreat (board self-evaluation results, annual strategic planning, )
Conduct annual planning to produce organizational goals and resources need to reach goals*
Establish chief executive's goals for next year (as produced from annual strategic planning) and write 2012 job description for CEO
Draft next year's budget (based on resources needed to reach new strategic goals)
Develop fundraising plan to get additional funds needed for budget
Conduct fundraising plan/RPAC collection
*JWL Consulting supplemental tool
Friday, April 8, 2011
Wild Apricot Blog : Engaging News & Views
Here are some blog posts, articles and buzz that we found on the web recently that we thought Association, Membership and Non-profit folks might find engaging and informative.
What’s New?
Optimizing Questions for Your Facebook Page
Facebook is rolling out an an update to Questions that they note will make it "easier to ask and respond to questions from people and Pages on Facebook. All Facebook Page owners can now opt-in to Facebook Questions to start using the product.”
The updated Questions product allows people and Page owners to ask structured, lightweight questions to friends and fans, similar to publishing a simple poll. Questions are now easier and faster to answer. People can agree with an existing answer with a single click, or they can add a different response. This makes it easy for many more people to respond to your questions so you can learn more from and engage with the people connected to your Page. Page admins can choose to ask or answer questions on the site. You also always have the option to remove the Questions tab from their Page at any time.
To learn more about the updated Facebook Questions visit: www.facebook.com/questions. There, you can opt-in to start using the product immediately by clicking the "Get Questions Now" button.
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