Volume One Number Three

Commentary

Lester Salamon in Seattle

“We’ve done a pretty lousy job of helping the public understand nonprofits and their role in American life,” said Johns Hopkins professor Lester Salamon at a Forum sponsored by Executive Alliance at NewHolly in Seattle on October 31. Among the many strategies to address this challenge was this: Every organization should develop a second message at their board meetings; not only discuss what our own organization has accomplished, but affirmatively link it to the accomplishments of the field as a whole. Everyone -- board, staff, service volunteers, clients and donors -- can become an ambassador for the importance of nonprofits.

[[[Read a longer account of Salamon’s talk by Putnam Barber...click here]]]

Follow-up

More about Sarbanes-Oxley

BoardSource and Independent Sector have published a guide for nonprofits discussing the implications of Sarbanes-Oxley. See http://www.boardsource.org/clientfiles/Sarbanes-Oxley.pdf

News about Nonprofits and Their Work

Washington Attorneys Assisting Community Organizations (WAACO) incorporated October 15. New curriculum at Antioch’s Center for Creative Change. Seattleite Marilyn Smith selected by Ford Foundation for a Leadership for a Changing World Award. New organization for Jim McClurg; new ED for Seattle Symphony.

[[[More about these and other stories…. click here]]]

News about TESS

• Our website -- http://www.tess.org -- continues to evolve. Sarah Park has just finished creating links to columns and commentaries published online and in print over the past several years. There are also links to short summaries of many of our recent programs, including Carol Walter and Rosanna Bellotti on “Special Events” and Ed Medeiros talking about the Phinney Neighborhood Center in October. Announcements and details for upcoming programs are always at the website. If you need to check a room, address or time, check it out at http://www.tess.org
• When something new is posted in the Nonprofit Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) file at http://www.nonprofits.org, the title and a brief description of the contents are added to the top of the list at http://www.nonprofits.org/npofaq/chrono/. This list shows big changes to existing items as well.
• One interesting discussion that’s had extensive new additions in the last few weeks is “Stereotypes of Philanthropy in Popular (?) Culture” listing a wide variety of appropriate books and videos. It’s a good source of suggestions for stocking stuffers for your favorite nonprofit enthusiast (or to add to your own wish list for the upcoming holiday season).
• Speaking of the Internet Nonprofit Center, it’s a pleasure to report that this resource is cited as especially valuable by the Milano Graduate School at the New School University in New York city and the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership of Grand Valley State University in Michigan. See http://www.milanoknowledgehub.org/ and http://www.nonprofitbasics.org/
• To get ready for Idealist’s Career Fair October 31, we created a new one-page flyer for The Evergreen State Society. “Helping You Stay Connected” outlines our programs; it’s online at http://www.tess.org/images/flyer.pdf

Coming Soon

• Brewster Denny, founding dean of the Graduate School of Public Affairs at UW will be the guest for the Civil Society discussion from 8 to 9:30 am November 18 in room 130 of the Student Center at Seattle University.
•  Deborah Swets of CityClub plus Urban Rest Stop represented by Ronni Gilboa are the guest and featured nonprofit for the NonprofitSchmoozefest at the Good Shepherd Center in Wallingford on November 19 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.
• Bobbi Stevens will speak on improving success in the selection of employees at the BrownBag introductory seminar at Antioch University Seattle from noon to 1:30 pm on November 20.
• And mark calendars for the 10th Annual Nonprofit Leadership conference featuring Jan Masaoka from San Francisco’s CompassPoint on April 1, 2004, at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue.

Details about these and other events are online at http://www.tess.org

Observing Nonprofits

Observing Nonprofits is an occasional publication of The Evergreen State Society, sent by email to members and supporters. A few days after publication, it is also emailed to a wider audience of people interested in nonprofits in Washington state and simultaneously posted on the Society’s website at http://www.tess.org

Managing Editor: Marie Sauter, MNPL

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Observing Nonprofits is a benefit of membership in The Evergreen State Society. To learn more about membership options, visit http:://www.tess.org/pages/join.html.

Observing Nonprofits is also circulated on a delayed schedule to readers of NonprofitNetworking (a free email service of The Evergreen State Society). To add your address to the NonprofitNetworking list, send email to nonprofitnetworking-request@tess.org.