Reflecting on 2011 and the Future: Nonprofit Town Hall

Last Thursday, 47 folks gathered in the classroom of the Museum at Central School to reflect. Going into 2011, nonprofit leaders held a cautious optimism for the year. While 2011 brought about many successes, it was also filled with instability. Instability in the political, cultural, societal and economic arenas. That instability challenged nonprofits in their delivery of services, retention of staff and volunteers, and pursuit of additional funding. To buffer that instability, more organizations and individuals looked for ways to communicate, partner and collaborate together.

That theme of collaboration continued into the reflection on 2012. Collaboration – both interpersonal and organizational – is seen as one way to build stronger organizations, to maintain quality services, and to communicate to the general public and legislators about the role of nonprofits in our community. These leaders are also looking for ways to diversify their funding, their Boards, their clients, their programs, and their volunteer pool. Finally, the past year of instability is forcing these nonprofit leaders to find ways to reduce stress and burn-out this year.

We have posted the notes from the Nonprofit Town Hall.

Bigfork Eagle attended the Town Hall and reported back.

Also, be sure to read the Flathead Beacon’s take on the Nonprofit Town Hall.

Nonprofit Town Hall

At last January’s Town Hall, several themes were mentioned such as increasing donor confidence and enduring economic uncertainty.

We want to hear from you again! This facilitated listening session will focus on successes and challenges ahead for the Flathead’s nonprofit community. How have you gotten through this last year? What is ahead for nonprofits in the Flathead, the state, and our nation? Bring your stories and ideas for raising revenue or trimming expenses. We encourage attendance by board members, executive directors, fundraising and program staff, and anyone who wants to learn from others and share ideas for surviving and thriving in hard economic times.

Thursday, January 12, 11:30 am – 1 pm
11:30 am – 11:45 am Networking, 11:45 am – 1 pm Program
The Museum at Central School
124 Second Avenue East, Kalispell
Free

Please RSVP here.

Free Flu Shot Clinic

The Flathead Food Bank will be hosting a FLU SHOT CLINIC on Wednesday November 30th from 9am to 4pm. Flu shots will be free to people who have no insurance. If you have clients that are in need of a flu shot, please have them call the Flathead Food Bank at 752-3663 to make an appointment. Space is limited, and space will be filled on a first call first serve basis.

How to Build Partnerships with Business

On Thursday, Jeremy Presta of Park Side Federal Credit Union discussed “Making the Ask: How to Build Partnerships with Business,” using the corporate giving experiences of Park Side as a model. Presta discussed ways to go beyond a one-time donation to an impactful partnership, benefiting both organizations.

Among the many insights, here are just three:

* Discover the funding interests of the business. Ask around. Research their past giving patterns.

* Consider the Return on Investment for the business. Define what the business can expect for the investment of a long-term partnership. Ask for a multiple year commitment, allowing for the business to budget year after year. Be specific with the amount and the project, setting reasonable expectations.

* Celebrate the success of the partnership, follow up with stories and statistics of the impact of the partnership, and look for ways to improve on the partnership. Thank everyone involved in the project, not just the business owner or CEO.

The discussion on Building Partnerships with Businesses will continue on November 3 from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm at the Conference Room Annex of the First Montana Bank. Please RSVP if you plan to attend.

Glacier Symphony and Chorale Job Opportunity

Do you have a passion for the Arts? Celebrating its 29th season, the Glacier Symphony and Chorale is comprised of 150 musicians who perform over 30 concerts annually in Northwest Montana. As the Patron Services Manager, you will play a vital role in organizing special events and managing the “front of the house” to help bring professional quality classical music to our community. If this is music to your ears, please visit our website more information about this exciting opportunity www.gscmusic.org.

Just One Thing: Managing Transitions

“We are good at change, but bad at the internal transition.”

On September 8, Ned Cooney, Program Director of NpDP, made that true statement as a part of his two-part presentation on Managing Transitions. Particularly in the nonprofit world, we are good at change. We adapt to the changing needs of the community. However, as we adapt to that external change – perhaps a new program – we often neglect to adapt internally; that is, we neglect how the transition will affect us and our colleagues and employees internally.

For example, this can be apparent when a change is announced by management. The leaders who have wrestled with the decision to make a change have had a chance to process how that transition will affect them. In the instance of a new program, they have already processed how that the new workload will affect them. But, when the change is announced to the staff, the staff have not had that same opportunity to process how that transition will affect them. The management is ready to move on; the staff is showing signs of resisting that transition. They are excited about the new program, the change; they just haven’t processed through the transition of how the workload will affect them yet.

Cooney offered up a framework to manage that transition better. He discussed paying attention to the endings, knowing that a neutral zone of processing the transition will occur and needs to occur, and, finally, looking at the new beginnings. He discussed creating an actual Transition Plan along with the operational plan – the nuts and bolts plan of how the change will be implemented. In that Transition Plan, he offered a outline to follow.

Part II of the Managing Transitions discussion will dive into the elements of that Transition Plan. If you didn’t have an opportunity to attend the September 8 Brown Bag, please make plans to attend the Managers Forum on September 22 from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm at the Conference Room at First Montana Bank in Kalispell. A brief overview and the full handouts will be given at the beginning of the Managers Forum. Please RSVP if you plan to attend.

Paint the Mansion

The Conrad Mansion Museum is hosting a “Paint the Mansion” event on Tuesday, August 23, 2011 for professional and amateur artists in the valley. From 10:00am to 4:00pm, artists are encouraged to bring their paints, brushes, canvases, drawing pads, and easels to the Mansion grounds and create their masterpieces. At 4:00pm, artists can participate in the judging in three categories: water based, oil category, and other. The winners will be chosen for both professional and amateur designations. The winners work will be professionally framed by Budget Framing and displayed at the Mansion throughout the month of September for our many guests to view.

There is no charge to participate. Artists will also have the option to sell their artwork to the public. The maximum size piece allowed is 18” x 24”.

Over the years, many artists have used the Mansion as their subject and we are very excited about this fun new event. The public is welcome and encouraged to watch the artists in action throughout the day and during the judging at 4:00pm. The rain date for the event is Tuesday, August 30, 2011.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011, 10 am – 4 pm
Conrad Mansion Museum
330 Woodland Avenue, Kalispell
Free

Glacier Institute on the Today Show

Not often is a local nonprofit featured on national television, let alone the Today Show. Congratulations to the Glacier Institute, and the youth experiencing Glacier National Park for the first time! If you missed the segment this summer, be sure to watch it here.

Flathead Land Trust

Flathead Land Trust has a part-time, temporary job opportunity for an Events and Outreach Assistant. We are looking for someone to help organize FLT events through the end of the year, as well as assist staff and the Board of Directors with member and donor outreach efforts. The position offers flexible hours (10-20 per week) and the potential for working some hours from home. The job will begin as soon as possible and is expected to continue through December, 2011. The wage is negotiable, depending on experience. For a full job description, and to learn more about FLT’s private land conservation work, visit our website. To apply, email your resume and a letter of interest to Flathead Land Trust. Deadline to apply is August 1st, 2011.

The 2011 Flathead Valley Project Homeless Connect

This June, over 30 agencies and businesses will be gathered at the Samaritan House Administration Building for the second annual Flathead Valley Project Homeless Connect (PHC). PHC is an international movement to end homelessness, which began in San Francisco in 2004. A PHC event typically gathers service providers that can assist the homeless or those at risk of homelessness in one location. However, PHC is not an information fair. We do our best to ensure that there will be immediate services at PHC, such as medical and dental services, haircuts, ID services, bicycle repair, pet services, employment assistance, housing counseling, and the opportunity to directly apply for public assistance.

Reaching out to the homeless population can be a challenge, which is why we would greatly appreciate it if you could spread the word. Anyone who is having trouble making ends meet, or are worried about losing their home would greatly benefit from this once a year opportunity. It is also a great chance for people who are new to poverty to learn about all the resources and services that are available to them.

Community Action Partnership is also accepting in-kind and monetary donations for PHC. We are looking for:

* Non-perishable food
* New socks and underwear
* Toiletries
* Books
* Blankets and Sleeping Bags

In-kind donations can be dropped off at 214 Main Street, Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Checks can be sent to and made payable to Community Action Partnership Attn Project Homeless Connect, PO Box 8300 Kalispell, MT 59904.

If you have any questions please call Sarah at 758-5445.

June 16, 11 am to 4 pm, and June 17, 9 am to 1 pm

Samaritan House Admin Building
1110 2nd Street West, Kalispell

Sponsored by Community Action Partnership of NW Montana and the Samaritan House