StNed Meeting Minutes 3-18-09

Attendees: Sara Palmer, Andrea Haradon, David Hill, Laura Opelt, Gary Pruyn, Meghan Parsons, Natasha Thompson, Debbie MacDonald, Paula Smetanka, Chris Sproule, Susan Hooker, Christine Morris, AJ Kircher, Darlene Ike, Nancy Blake, Elaine Farwell, Patrick Rogers, Dick Russell, Tammy Schoonover, Susan O’Leary, Denise Townley, Kathy Disbrow, Judy Celelli, Jeff Eaton, Jim Waight, Mike Gehl

1. Introduction to NYNED: Andrew Marietta, NYCON (see above post)

2. StNed Steering Committee overview: Patrick Rogers, IHS- gave us a little history of the StNed meetings held thus far, including the ones with the steering committee and what was talked about, worked on, etc.

3. Patrick also reviewed our mission statement and we took a vote on the following Future Meeting Format items:

a. Quarterly meetings? Yes, the majority thought quarterly meetings were good
b. What time to meet? The majority voted for breakfast-time meetings with brown/bag or light refreshments served by host
c. Months to meet? Feb/March (likely after IHS meeting as was this time), May, September and November
d. Week? 3rd week of the month, although the vote was close with the 1st week being second choice.
e. Consistent location or roaming? Most agreed a moving location would be preferable
f. Annual theme or Alternating topics? People voted for alternating topics with a time at the end of each meeting for some type of networking. And people would like speakers at some of the meetings.

4. General Questions/Input from Attendees: Some things that people want from the StNed group long-term:
· Longevity/commitment
· No redundancy, keep things fresh, up-to-date
· Non-profit management issues only, including sharing difficulties, solutions, etc.
· Make it focused
· Share best practices
· HR rules, policies, procedures for smaller non-profits
· Synergies/collaborations esp. because of rough economic times
· Explore new/emerging trends, technologies, marketing, using the Web, etc.

5. Graffiti exercise: 4 charts with Key Topics were put up on the walls for participants to go to and add their input.

Key Topics (from survey completed in November) included:
1 Economic & Community Impact of Nonprofits/Policy and Local Government Issues
2 Networking
3 Fund Development and Grantsmanship
4 Skill Development for Executive Leadership/Board Membership and Recruitment Issues


The results will be collated and then reviewed at the next StNed Steering Committee meeting on Thursday, April 2nd at 12pm at Wegman’s in Corning. The Steering Committee will also set the date/location/topic for the May St. Ned meeting.

Southern Tier ED Meeting Recap

The Southen Tier Nonprofit Executive Directors Group (nicknamed "Saint NED") held its first official meeting, which was hosted by IHS after their annual conference. The meeting, attended by 32 nonprofit directors, began with an introduction to the New York Nonprofit Executive Directors Network or NYNED by the NY Council of Nonprofit's Andrew Marietta. Highlights included the other ED groups involved in NYNED and outcomes from their past programs. One example was a board expectations document (click here) that was shared at the South Central NY Nonprofit ED Group's March 10th program.

The Group discussion, facilitated by IHS ED Pat Rogers, covered the Group's mission statement, meeting timeframe and format, regional focus, and program approach (more details will be available from the Steering Committee shortly). The EDs also shared feedback about the general focus and ideas for the Group:

• Want committment and longevity
• Avoid redundency- keep unique
• Focus on management concerns, solutions, and ideas
• Venue to present best practices and discuss challenges (such as human resources policies/procedures, synergies/collaborations, or new trends/technology use)

The meeting ended with an input exercise asking EDs to address four topic areas (1. Economic & Community Impact of Nonprofits/Policy and Local Government Issues; 2. Networking; 3. Fund Development and Grantsmanship; and 4. Skill Development for Executive Leadership/Board Membership and Recruitment Issues) and answering:

• What does this topic mean to you/your organization?
• What would you like to see STNED do, provide or support in this area?

The input summary will be posted shortly. The Steering Committee will be meeting to discuss next steps for the Group, including setting the next meeting. Interested in more info, e-mail us.

Live from Jumping Into Social Media

The New York Council of Nonprofits (NYCON) is posting live from the IHS conference in Corning today. NYCON VP of Membership and Marketing Valerie Venezia is speaking right now about social media and networking tools. She is talking about the culture shift that nonprofits have to consider when integrating these new tools. You want to give consideration to these efforts, and how they fit within your mission. But, don't be afraid to "jump in." Nonprofits have to engage and immerse themselves in social media. This is the future.

Want to share your own feedback on this topic or how your nonprofit is using these tools? Post here or visit our wiki.

Agenda for Upcoming ED Group Meeting

1. Introduction to NYNED: Andrew Marietta, NYCON

2. STNED Steering Committee overview: Patrick Rogers, IHS
a. Formation/survey results
b. Mission statement
c. Group organization/communication (Provider Online, etc.)
d. Quarterly meetings/proposed schedule (suggestions & confirm)
i. Brown bag lunch meetings/Breakfast meetings w/ $ charge
ii. 1st or 3rd week of the month, in Feb/March, May, September and November
iii. Roaming locations/Consistent locations

3. Mission
“The Southern Tier Nonprofit Executive Directors group is a network of nonprofit executive and management professionals in the Southern Tier/Finger Lakes Region of New York State that provides education, peer support and the sharing of ideas to strengthen leadership and promote the collaborative utilization of resources.”

4. Graffiti exercise
Each chart will have a steering committee member facilitate participants flesh out more detail on each topic. General questions are:
“What does this topic mean to you/your organization?”
“What would you like to see STNED do, provide or support in this area?”

Key topics (top 6 from survey completed in November) will include:

• Economic & Community Impact of Nonprofits/Policy and Local Government Issues
• Networking
• Fund Development and Grantsmanship
• Skill Development for Executive Leadership/Board Membership and Recruitment Issues

5. Next Steps

STNED Ad hoc Steering Committee
Nancy Blake, Career Development Council
Elaine Farwell, Tanglewood Nature Center
Dave Hill, Pro Action
Joyce Hyatt, CVRHN
Sara Palmer, Community Foundation
Patrick Rogers, Institute for Human Services
Dick Russell, Faith In Action
Chris Sproule, Triangle Foundation
Denise Townley, Rape Crisis of the ST

Special Reports on Economic Stimulus and Recovery

The National Council of Nonprofits, a partner association of the New York Council of Nonprofits (formerly CCSNYS), continues to post their Special Reports on Economic Stimulus & Recovery. The National Council of Nonprofits is proud to openly share this evolving series of Special Reports about our nation’s economic recovery, including analysis of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 (commonly referred to as the economic stimulus bill) that President Obama signed into law on February 17, 2009.

The newest report, Sources of Information Regarding Stimulus Funds, is available now: Special Report #4

This report identifies national and state sources of information about the federal stimulus funds, including official recovery websites that states have established.

Tompkins County Human Services Coalition Workshop Series 2008-09

Staff Recruitment from A - Z with Kim Swartwout and Shari Constantino from the Society for Human Resource Management of Tompkins County, Wed. March 18 and Wed. March 25 from 9:00 am to 11:30 am at Cornell Cooperative Extension, 615 Willow Ave, Ithaca. $80 for both sessions.

Staff Recruitment from A – Z's target audience is staff in non-profit and governmental agencies with recruitment and hiring responsibilities. The workshops will cover the following examples: Laying the Ground Work; Determine what you need; What outcome are you after; SHRM’s 10 Best Practices for Non-Profit Hiring; Writing the job description; Position summary; Essential functions; Job specifications; Recruitment Alternatives to paper postings; and much more.

For more information or to register, call 607-273-8686 or e-mail.

Coalition Workshop Series Schedule through June 2009

• Evaluating the Agency Chief Executive, Kirby Edmonds Tue, Mar 10, 9:00-10:30 am, Cornell Cooperative Ext. Room B, $25
• Staff Recruitment from A-Z, Part 1, Shari Constantino and Kim Swartwout Wed, Mar 18, 9:00-11:30 am, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Room B, $80 for both sessions
• Conflict: From Crisis to Opportunity, Judy Saul Mon, Mar 23, 9:00-11:30 am, Chamber of Commerce, $40
• Recruitment from A-Z, Part 2, Shari Constantino, Kim Swartwout Wed, Mar 25, 9:00-11:30 am, Cornell Cooperative Ext., Room A, $80 for both sessions
• Recruiting for Board Diversity: Why Organizations Fail and What to Do About It, Part 2 (A three-session workshop, limited to 12), Kirby Edmonds Tue, Mar 31, 9:00-10:30 am, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Room A, $75 for all three
• Making Your Working Board Work, Part 1: Managing Stress and Avoiding Burnout, Kirby Edmonds Thu, Apr 23, 10:30-12:00pm, Chamber of Commerce, $25
• Making Meetings Work, Judy Saul Mon, Apr 29, 9:00-10:30 am, Chamber of Commerce, $40
• Making Your Working Board Work, Part 2: Managing Conflict, Kirby Edmonds Wed, Apr 29, 9:00-10:30am, Chamber of Commerce, $25
• Making Your Working Board Work, Part 3: Strategic Planning, Kirby Edmonds Tue, May 5, 9:00-10:30am, Cornell Cooperative Ext., Room A, $25
• Recruiting for Board Diversity, Why Organizations Fail and What to Do About It, Part 3, Kirby Edmonds Thu, May 7, 9-10:30am, Cornell Cooperative Ext., Room A, $75 for all three
• Developmental Leadership: Releasing Initiative, Finding All the Leaders in Your Organization, Margo Hittleman Tue, May 12, 8:30 am-1:30pm, Cornell Cooperative Ext, Room A, $85
• Strategic Human Resource Planning, Part 1, Joanne Conley Mon, May 19, 9:00-11:30 am, Cornell Cooperative Ext., Room A, $40
• Leading with Impact: Your Ripple Effect, Roxana Bahar Hewertson Thu, May 21, 8:30am-4:30pm, Highland Lodge, 5176 Indian Fort Rd, Trumansburg, $135
• Managing for Growth/Reduction, David Campbell Tue, May 26, 9-11:30am, Cornell Cooperative Ext., Room A, $40
• Strategic Human Resource Planning, Part 2, Joanne Conley Fri, May 29, 9:00-11:30 am, Cornell Cooperative Ext., Room A, $40
• Strategic Planning, Session 1: Myths and Realities (2-session workshop), Judy Saul, Ann Martin Tue, June 2, 9:00-11:30 am, Cornell Cooperative Ext., Room A, $80 for two sessions
• Strategic Planning, Session 2: Planning to Plan (2-session workshop), Judy Saul, Ann Martin Tue, June 9, 9:00-11:30 am, Cornell Cooperative Ext., Room A, $80 for two sessions
• Financial Management and Planning in Small/Startup Nonprofits, David Campbell Wed, Feb 25, 9:00-10:30 am, Cornell Cooperative Ext., Room A, $25
• Partners in Leadership, Part 1, (3-session workshop), Burke Keegan Thu, June 18, 9:00-11:00 am, Cornell Cooperative Ext., Room B, $105 for three sessions
• Partners in Leadership, Part 2 (3-session workshop), Burke Keegan Tue, June 23, 9:00-11:00 am, Cornell Cooperative Ext., Room A, $105 for three sessions
• Partners in Leadership, Part 3 (3-session workshop), Burke Keegan Tue, June 30, 9:00-11:00 am, Cornell Cooperative Ext., Room A, $105 for three sessions

For more information or to register, call 607-273-8686 or e-mail.

Action Steps Offered by the Arts Sector

Miss the New York State Council on the Arts Cultural Blueprints session held last fall? Visit their blog and learn about this statewide series of public forums initiated by the New York State Council on the Arts to identify regional and statewide strategies and opportunities for the arts to serve as a catalyst for cultural, economic and community development. A session was held in the Southern Tier, and the notes available here, outline the discussions that took place. Participants explored five themes: Infrastructure, Intellectual Capital and Workforce Development, International and Global Thinking, Investment and Financial Models, and Image and Identity. Explore the key themes of these breakout sessions as well as some of the potential action steps proposed by participants.