March 1st STNED Meeting Focuses on Social Media

The Southern Tier Nonprofit Directors Group (STNED) 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.

2012 STNED Meetings

(STNED Meetings are free of charge unless otherwise noted.)

March 1st, 9 am - 11 am

Food Bank of the Southern Tier, 388 Upper Oakwood Ave, Elmira

Presentation Topic: As the Internet and social media continue to provide new opportunities for marketing, there are additional questions and challenges that arise. With the right techniques, nonprofits can compete for attention and donations on a much larger scale. Sean Lukasik will describe these techniques and how they integrate into a larger marketing campaign.

June 7th, 9 am - 11 am, Corning YMCA

September 6th, 9 am - 11 am, Location: TBD

December 6th, Holiday Network Event, 5pm - 7pm, Three Birds, Corning. First person from each organization is free, $10 for every person thereafter.

For more information regarding the STNED meetings or to pre-register, please call 607-776-9467 x-226.

STNED 3rd Quarter Meeting: "Behind the Scenes of Foundations- Purpose, Priority, and Process”

Posted on Provider Online from the Institute of Human Services:

STNED 3rd Quarter Meeting Overviewposted 9/16/2010

The Southern Tier Nonprofit Executive Directors (STNED) would like to thank all colleagues who attended the 3rd quarter 2010 meeting "Behind the Scenes of Foundations- Purpose, Priority, and Process” on September 16th at 171 Cedar Arts Center in Corning, NY. The meeting included an informative discussion on funding sources for nonprofits in our region, led by four panelists who shared their knowledge of the grant making procedure in detail. The panelists included Liz Wilder, Director of Grantmakers Forum of New York, Christine Sproule, Director of The Triangle Fund, Sara Palmer, Program Officer at The Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes, and Karen Martin, Associate Director of Corning Incorporated Foundation. Each panelist gave an overview of the background of their organizations and the strategies used by each when evaluating the distribution of funds within the Southern Tier. All panelists engaged in similar topics, such as current trends in grantmaking, different approaches of addressing social issues in our community, the various types of funds available to agencies depending on specific needs, and the in-depth explanation of what happens to a grant application from start to finish. The most common theme discussed and strongly expressed by each panelist was the importance of organizations engaging funders as partners, and the encouragement of invitation for site visits as a vital step towards building and maintaining a relationship. Following the meeting, those in attendance were given the opportunity to tour the 171 Cedar Arts Center facility.

The next STNED meeting and social will be held on December 2, 2010 at Three Birds Restaurant in Corning, NY. More details regarding this event will be sent closer to the event date.

STNED Steering Committee Minutes

Notes, coffee-fueled random thoughts, etc. from the 1/28 meeting at Wegmans
2010 Meeting Dates and potential places
• March 17th, Radisson Corning Hotel 12:00 – 1:30pm
• June 17th, potentially Bath. Arc of Steuben new building 9:00 – 10:30am
• September 16th, Elmira TBD 9:00 – 10:30 am
• December 2nd, Corning, potentially 171 Cedar Arts ~ 5:00 – 7:00pm

March Meeting Topic – Civic Engagement/Volunteerism
15 minute Introduction: “What Kind of Citizen”, Pat (from MLK Day presentation)
45 minute Demo/tour of new 211 Helpline Give Help website Carol Wood, Director 2-1-1 Helpline
30 minute – discussion, table exercise and reporting out, etc. IHS will provide refreshments.

We (IHS) were planning to demonstrate the new Volunteer Solutions software that is part of the venture grant project we are doing with the United Way of the Southern Tier immediately following our conference. With this software, agencies will be able to post volunteer positions, potential volunteers can seek and connect with opportunities, and lots of other neat stuff I don’t yet understand (I know, not surprising).

We decided volunteerism would be a good topic for 1st STNED meeting. We will encourage our usual target audience, agency Executive Directors and senior management, as well as volunteer coordinators, etc. We have already discussed at VATT, UWST, etc.

We would like to get a pre-meeting online survey to agencies with some of the following questions:
1. How do you recruit volunteers?
2. What is a major concern with volunteer recruitment?
3. What duties to volunteers do in your organizations?
4. What training do you provide volunteers?
5. How do you show volunteers appreciation?
6. Do you dedicated staff time for managing/coordinating volunteers?
7. How do you track volunteer time and effort?
8. What do you do to retain volunteers, how long? __ 1 day __1 week ___6 months __long term
We won’t use all, and will modify to meet online questionnaire needs. This will give us a good start to the meeting.

July Meeting Topic: Succession Planning, Possibly NYCON as presenter, I will check
September Meeting: Fund Development, Panel discussion with Foundations, Sara (Community
Foundation) to chair, check with Chris/Triangle Fund, Corning Foundation, Bethesda Foundation, Anderson Foundation, Tiger Foundation, etc.

December Meeting: Networking Social, (for Nancy’s sake, she missed last year’s), possibly at 171 Cedar Arts.

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.

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

Southern Tier ED Group Steering Committee Meets

The Southern Tier Nonprofit Executive Directors Group's Steering Committee had its first meeting on January 25th.

The meeting was attended by:
Joyce Hyatt, CVRHN
Elaine Farwell, Tanglewood Nature Center
Chris Sproule, Triangle Foundation
Denise Townley, Rape Crisis
Nancy Blake, Career Development Council
Dave Hill, Pro Action
Dick Russell, FIA
Patrick Rogers, IHS

1. Statement of Purpose:
a. Discussed what we wanted to accomplish with group,
i. Interactive group, Practical, HR, Fiscal, Functional
ii. Sharing best practices
iii. What will distinguish this from other groups, what do we want each quarter
iv. Development/Networking/Presentations/Books/Tools/like agencies (affinity groups)

2. Small agency needs differ than large agencies. Large agencies often have state or national organizations for online networking. This group can be local networking resource for all agencies

3. Sharing Resources: overcoming territorial barriers and boundaries

4. Surviving Tough Times – general theme
a. Come together for trainings
b. Breakthrough to sharing
c. Newsletter, but use brief summary with links to articles (Dave)
i. Format: electronic, monthly
ii. Possible content: staff changes, quarterly meeting topics, link to blog, classified for excess equipment, supplies, volunteer opportunities, organization of the month, make 2-1-1 your homepage, link 2-1-1 to your website/website links

5. What do you want from networking (what is networking)?
a. Keeping up with program director changes
b. Finding out what’s going on in other agencies
c. Find opportunities to collaborate
d. Find opportunities for training
e. Meet people face to face (socializing)

6. Companies encouraging volunteerism
a. Nurturing a board of directors

7. Board Development: must bring training to them, use regular meeting time, won’t come in separate

8. Moving to electronic communications – difficult for volunteers
a. E-Seniors to train intro to computers, etc. (Joyce)
b. People coming out of workforce into retirement
c. Most agencies need board members/volunteers

9. IHS tools that we can use:
a. Provider Online: news, categories, including events, staffing changes, training, etc.
b. Input directly from member agencies – stakeholder involvement
c. Ihsnet: classifieds, resources, demographics and data
d. 211HL: comprehensive agency information

10. Strategic Planning
Next Steps (February Meeting Goals)
a. Develop mission- Joyce will forward mission statement format, we can begin work prep for next meeting
Mission Statement (rough): The Southern Tier Executive Director’s Group is a collaboration of not-for profit professionals whose purpose is to promote education, peer support, sharing of ideas and networking through quarterly meetings, internet presence and social activities.
b. Schedule meetings- when/where
c. Develop an organizational format
d. Put a list of members/possible members together
e. Plan the March 18th meeting

Next meeting: Friday, 2/13/09, 9:00 – 10:30, Corning Library

2009 Planning Survey

The Steering Committee has set a planning meeting for January 23 at the Corning Library. In preparation for this meeting, the following survey is being implemented. Complete the survey and share your feedback on possible meeting dates for 2009.

Steering Committee Update

The Southern Tier ED Group Steering Committee held a conference call on Friday, November 21st. The participants included: Pat Rogers, IHS; Sara Palmer, Community Foundation of Elimira-Corning and the Finger Lakes; Elaine Farwell, Tanglewood Nature Center and Museum; and Andrew Marietta, CCSNYS.

This conference call was held to start the conversation on next steps for the Group and questions that need to be addressed. The following ideas were suggested for the Group's first program meeting. First, Institute for Human Services' ED Pat Rogers offered to host the first ED Group program meeting at his upcoming IHS conference (most likely set for March 18th in Painted Post). The meeting would feature lunch and a program. Program ideas discussed included online technologies or an overview of www.nyned.org as an online resource. Other ideas to be discussed. After lunch, a "graffiti" exercise would be used to address 5 or 6 priority questions for the ED Group. Participants would be split into groups of 5 or 6, and cycle around the room answering each question. The feedback collected would be used for program ideas and Group focus and structure. Possible questions are: What do you want out of this Group? or How can the Group help you on a regular basis? Questions will be collected and discussed at face-to-face meeting.

There are plans to hold a face-to-face Steering Committee meeting in January. The location will most likely be Corning (checking on Corning Library). The suggested time is 9am on one of the following dates: Jan 13, 16, 23, or 28. This meeting will focus on creating a statement of purpose for the Group. An e-mail will go out to help pick the best possible date for everyone.

In the mean time, a survey will be sent out to interested EDs getting feedback on possible meeting dates for 2009 (with idea that meetings would be quarterly).

ED Group Survey Results and Steering Committee

Following up on Pat Roger's post, the Southern Tier ED meeting featured a review of a survey that gauged interest in a possible ED Group. The survey is available for your review here. Some highlights from the survey are below. After the survey discussion, the participants affirmed that an Executive Directors Group should be formed. Volunteers for a Steering Committee were recruited, and a planning meeting will be set to discuss how the Group should move forward. The meeting will address structure and meeting format. Interested in being on the Steering Committee? Contact us.

Southern Tier ED Group Steering Committee:

• Kelly Morgan, Allegany County Red Cross
• Nancy Blake, Career Development Council, Inc.
• Sara Palmer, Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes
• Dick Russell, Faith in Action Steuben County
• Elaine Farwell, Tanglewood Nature Center & Museum
• Denise Townley, Rape Crisis
• Joyce Hyatt, Chemung Valley Rural Health Network
• David Hill, Pro Action of Stebuen and Yates, Inc.
• Amy Christensen, Southern Tier Legal Services
• Patrick Rogers, IHS

Majority believe there is a need for an ED Group

• High 35.3% 18
• Moderate 35.3% 18
• Would be helpful, but not essential 27.5% 14
• No need 2.0% 1

Priority areas for a Group are:

• Networking
• Policy and Local Government Issues
• Board Membership and Recruitment Issues
• Fund Development and Grantseeking Issues
• Trainings and Workshops for Staff Development
• Skill Development for Executive Leadership
• Economic and Community Impact of Nonprofits in Region
  Other ideas
• Collaboration on programs
• Partnerships and/or Merger opportunities/benefits
• How to use area resources to our best advantage
• Classes to prepare new directors for the up-coming retirement of baby boomers currently in management positions
• United Way already has an ED group of agencies they fund that meet on a regular basis so trying to combine or tie in with that so there is not another meeting. Also travel is increasingly becoming an issue for agency budgets so the more on-line and list serve communications is better
• staff retention and recruitment of healthcare workers to rural areas
• I would be interested in having key community leaders provide presentations on pertinent budgetary and legislative matters. These could include Congressman, State Senator, Assemblyman and County Administrator.
• Partnerships for emergency preparedness
• Exploring sharing of administrative costs and staff like accounting and infrastructure.

EDs prefer the following structure for a Group:

• Face-to-face meetings
• Presentation by outside speaker on topic of interest
• Quarterly meetings
• Participation from Five county region (Steuben, Allegany, Chemung, Schuyler and Yates)