tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3250959827386429822024-03-05T21:33:13.580-05:00Idea HubBridget Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529008474260657674noreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-325095982738642982.post-7486681531601296122010-03-09T15:20:00.004-05:002010-03-09T18:38:14.061-05:00Ideas that Work (102)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMjIaR8lGZwjjBw6HfYg0_7P4BRt6JVpUIpiQMzvUxDk0fQctNrxCGAb8OYik-R86OAsLe-x3bV2NLP-Da0hvV2qvDMJZk6LQqFY0XbKLPkrbZm8xxVf67SixD8undXduEs8E51unEeQ/s1600-h/Ideas.png"><img alt="idea icon" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336134377676464770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMjIaR8lGZwjjBw6HfYg0_7P4BRt6JVpUIpiQMzvUxDk0fQctNrxCGAb8OYik-R86OAsLe-x3bV2NLP-Da0hvV2qvDMJZk6LQqFY0XbKLPkrbZm8xxVf67SixD8undXduEs8E51unEeQ/s320/Ideas.png" style="float: left; height: 97px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; width: 67px;" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">Keeping things simple</span><br />
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Thanks to all of you that contributed comments to the Century post and survey. On behalf of the the team at Scottish Rite Charities, I appreciate that you find this blog to be helpful to your efforts on behalf of your Learning Center. We will continue our work to support you. As requested, we will try to keep our postings to the point. We'll get a little more grant information up as well. As for today, however, I am going to give you the most useful information I have learned in my 27 years in the field:<br />
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Make your own gift first. Make a gift that is personally important and bespeaks your role as a board member of your Learning Center. And make it a straight out donation, not an event participation (the Learning Center shouldn't need to incur fundraising costs for your donation. Besides, the expectation on most dynamic boards is that you give and you participate as well as you can - one doesn't absolve you from the other).<br />
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The rationale for this statement isn't simply monetary. Most non-profits do not have a generous body like the Scottish Rite behind them. They need to have their closest allies ante up first to set a base of funds. The board is the closest set of allies. Second, the most important role of most boards is to ensure the financial stability of the program. Often that means asking others for support. If you aren't well committed to the LCs financially, how likely will you be to ask others to donate generously?<br />
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Do you want to get a leg up on your fundraising? Take the base you've gotten from Lexington, add to it personally generous commitments from the board. Have board members ask former board members to give as well. That is a good starting point that then defines the height of the remaining fundraising goal. I have found that the more you can acquire your reliable gifts and lower the net goal, the more easily attainable the ultimate goal is.<br />
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Good luck.Steve Pekockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579923369929879496noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-325095982738642982.post-76369399630550615782010-03-02T14:50:00.002-05:002010-03-03T08:37:11.076-05:00Ideas That Work (101)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMjIaR8lGZwjjBw6HfYg0_7P4BRt6JVpUIpiQMzvUxDk0fQctNrxCGAb8OYik-R86OAsLe-x3bV2NLP-Da0hvV2qvDMJZk6LQqFY0XbKLPkrbZm8xxVf67SixD8undXduEs8E51unEeQ/s1600-h/Ideas.png"><img alt="idea icon" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336134377676464770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMjIaR8lGZwjjBw6HfYg0_7P4BRt6JVpUIpiQMzvUxDk0fQctNrxCGAb8OYik-R86OAsLe-x3bV2NLP-Da0hvV2qvDMJZk6LQqFY0XbKLPkrbZm8xxVf67SixD8undXduEs8E51unEeQ/s320/Ideas.png" style="float: left; height: 97px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; width: 67px;" /></a><br />
The Canton Learning Center has found an Idea that Works. <br />
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Last month marked the Center’s 7th annual Teddy Bear Rock. The 1950s style sock hop is open to all ages and features dancing, ‘50s themed food, and even an Elvis impersonator. <br />
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“Everyone has a great time. We have kids from 3 years old and adults up to 80, and they’re all out there dancing and having a good time,” said Center Director Carol Jones. <br />
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Bad weather threatened this year’s event, forcing volunteers to reschedule it for the following week. Carol said she thought rescheduling would kill the event, but she was pleasantly surprised when it still raised over $6,500. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9no-VpcliUCAvKgnM5avu8cLam3YNnE0GtqVCKzp8zL9EphE0jSXm12FmrIL3TIgKvcugTcrE0sKcqEj-0JLDC8XlNq45pBZsN4W7C0X6qlLkPAGOel5-ppAIEsptNPsnURdgq97Lr4Y/s1600-h/sock+hop+dancing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9no-VpcliUCAvKgnM5avu8cLam3YNnE0GtqVCKzp8zL9EphE0jSXm12FmrIL3TIgKvcugTcrE0sKcqEj-0JLDC8XlNq45pBZsN4W7C0X6qlLkPAGOel5-ppAIEsptNPsnURdgq97Lr4Y/s320/sock+hop+dancing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">A planning committee made up of local Scottish Rite members, their spouses and board members, head up the event. They decorate the Masonic temple ballroom with crepe paper streamers and retro rock and roll posters to look like a ‘50s style gym. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The event raises money serveral ways. There’s a jail, where attendees are locked up and can only be released if someone pays to get them out. A used book sale and table sponsorships also add to the proceeds. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">A highlight of the night is the basket auction, which brings in about a third of the funds. Center supporters, including everyone from Eastern Star chapters to local businesses, donate themed baskets that are sold at a silent auction. The bid sheets include a starting bid and bid increments to ensure that the baskets go for a legitimate price. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYSiP8BCrQULx3VWIWQtm6SMqhLC5GXM6nDrpY0J6AYig9wXXfgPcLEW8h3QImWenS3OYpV_up5K7ieQ6YIeJpRACSrElkitSGt33Vg8KrunnpE1R035b59kfBNL8IsPV4hDhHR0EzrQ/s1600-h/baskets.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYSiP8BCrQULx3VWIWQtm6SMqhLC5GXM6nDrpY0J6AYig9wXXfgPcLEW8h3QImWenS3OYpV_up5K7ieQ6YIeJpRACSrElkitSGt33Vg8KrunnpE1R035b59kfBNL8IsPV4hDhHR0EzrQ/s320/baskets.png" /></a></div>The size and value of the baskets vary. A few of the basket themes over the years have included scrapbooking, fishing, art supplies, pasta, dinner for two, movie night, and even an exercise-themed basket, complete with a workout mat, weights and an exercise DVD. <br />
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“The baskets are always fun,” Carol said. “People come up with different themes, and we get some really neat ones.” <br />
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This year more than 40 baskets were donated, raising over $1,800 dollars. <br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJhMvfTDs7yyNKH8NLvplfKptz1tHPwRF9DlsP_FD3EBNgbA2DjkCTagjVjdumoBoq9yMhdl9N0X7aHQsSiAp28f6H9GHeOeDkDkO-xw93weIzYHkZ83AdVVMQjaDFwt0a5uYHLSvc0g/s1600-h/elvis+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJhMvfTDs7yyNKH8NLvplfKptz1tHPwRF9DlsP_FD3EBNgbA2DjkCTagjVjdumoBoq9yMhdl9N0X7aHQsSiAp28f6H9GHeOeDkDkO-xw93weIzYHkZ83AdVVMQjaDFwt0a5uYHLSvc0g/s320/elvis+pic.jpg" width="240" /></a>Almost everything at the event is donated, from food to services. Volunteers sign up to donate food items like hamburgers, hotdogs, buns, fries and nachos as well as beverages. </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">One couple owns an old fashioned milkshake machine that they bring every year and donate the ingredients for shakes and sundaes. The Elvis impersonator and disc jockey volunteer their time each year. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Committee members have discussed changing up the theme. But for now they’re going to stick with what works. </div>Bridget Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529008474260657674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-325095982738642982.post-34825659761482690232010-02-23T10:52:00.005-05:002010-02-23T14:48:23.886-05:00Post of the Century (100)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDh5I4XnPiQf690PibaNrWBJ5iItYhEvp4eTPyERk5QF1DwsYDlSVEFV6bEEVpNdVSTXHN2Q785yL_nuoq45uhbTcCURqLNaXpkzP8JQbXzq2H3_UcBaJqNU-vt9S0_p4FPe7-H7hyphenhyphenz3Zo/s1600-h/Announcement.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386943602892500642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDh5I4XnPiQf690PibaNrWBJ5iItYhEvp4eTPyERk5QF1DwsYDlSVEFV6bEEVpNdVSTXHN2Q785yL_nuoq45uhbTcCURqLNaXpkzP8JQbXzq2H3_UcBaJqNU-vt9S0_p4FPe7-H7hyphenhyphenz3Zo/s320/Announcement.png" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 68px; width: 89px;" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:100%;">What more would you like?<br /><br /></span></span>I have to say that our hundredth post seems too soon. It feels like its May again and we just started the Idea Hub. Yet the past 8 months or so have been dramatic ones for the Learning Centers. Over the weeks we've found some good dialogue, shared some useful ideas and highlighted a number of very gifted children.<br /><br />The participation you have demonstrated related to our rebranding discussions has been both substantive and important to our decision making. And while the more impatient among us chafe that no decision on that front has been made, I must admit that a hasty bad decision is far more difficult to overcome than a tardy good one. Your participation through the Idea Hub has slowed, yet improved our process.<br /><br />As we move on to our next hundred postings, your advice would be deeply appreciated. What would you like us to cover more of? Is there anything you want less of? Is this site supporting your efforts? Do you want to hear from us more or less?<br /><br />Please take a minute and complete our 6 question survey. You can find it <a href="http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e2r185yog60xnpbp/start">here</a>. It will help us make the future of the Idea Hub 100% better!Steve Pekockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579923369929879496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-325095982738642982.post-62658949701769313952010-02-16T13:34:00.003-05:002010-02-16T15:10:23.816-05:00Rebranding Update (99)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDh5I4XnPiQf690PibaNrWBJ5iItYhEvp4eTPyERk5QF1DwsYDlSVEFV6bEEVpNdVSTXHN2Q785yL_nuoq45uhbTcCURqLNaXpkzP8JQbXzq2H3_UcBaJqNU-vt9S0_p4FPe7-H7hyphenhyphenz3Zo/s1600-h/Announcement.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386943602892500642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDh5I4XnPiQf690PibaNrWBJ5iItYhEvp4eTPyERk5QF1DwsYDlSVEFV6bEEVpNdVSTXHN2Q785yL_nuoq45uhbTcCURqLNaXpkzP8JQbXzq2H3_UcBaJqNU-vt9S0_p4FPe7-H7hyphenhyphenz3Zo/s320/Announcement.png" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 68px; width: 89px;" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:100%;">One more time, your input, please<br /><br /></span></span>I thought that as we brush off the snow from the current storm hitting New England and the dust from a long weekend, you might want to use this forum as an opportunity to comment on the issue of the Learning Center branding. <br /><br />As reported in December, the process of rebranding has been brought to a subcommittee of the Learning Center corporate board of directors. A team led by Eric Ginette has been provided all the responses you have provided this office up until now as well as all the research put into the process to date. <br /><br />I understand that this subcommittee plans to make final recommendations that may include a formal motion that will determine the future brand of our charity. <br /><br />While no firm naming conventions are currently on the table, a few broad themes have been discussed - paradigms that might effect a final recommendation. If you have any thoughts on these issues, you might weigh in by commenting to this posting.<br /><br /><ul><li>Should the name primarily lead with a Masonic connection or not (perhaps followed by sponsored by...)?</li><li>Should the program be a "clinic", a "program", a "center" or something else?</li><li>Is keeping the "teddy bear" a good idea? If so, should it be changed in any way?</li></ul>Please share your thoughts, we appreciate your input.Steve Pekockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579923369929879496noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-325095982738642982.post-40980220426113540092010-02-09T11:09:00.004-05:002010-02-24T08:13:27.344-05:00Ideas That Work (98)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMjIaR8lGZwjjBw6HfYg0_7P4BRt6JVpUIpiQMzvUxDk0fQctNrxCGAb8OYik-R86OAsLe-x3bV2NLP-Da0hvV2qvDMJZk6LQqFY0XbKLPkrbZm8xxVf67SixD8undXduEs8E51unEeQ/s1600-h/Ideas.png"><img alt="idea icon" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336134377676464770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMjIaR8lGZwjjBw6HfYg0_7P4BRt6JVpUIpiQMzvUxDk0fQctNrxCGAb8OYik-R86OAsLe-x3bV2NLP-Da0hvV2qvDMJZk6LQqFY0XbKLPkrbZm8xxVf67SixD8undXduEs8E51unEeQ/s320/Ideas.png" style="float: left; height: 97px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; width: 67px;" /></a><br />
<em>Tutor Training: More Bang for Their Buck</em><br />
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We’re all looking for ways to stretch our dollars further. <br />
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A recent article from <em>Business Week</em> states that while the worst of the economic crisis seems to be over, 2010 isn’t going to bring a surge of corporate philanthropy. Corporations are more focused on giving strategically, finding causes that are in line with their purpose and that bring the greatest returns. You can check out the entire article <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/investor/content/jan2010/pi20100112_004063.htm">here</a>.<br />
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How does this affect our Learning Centers? <br />
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When looking for corporate donations, we need to be sure we're broadcasting the far-reaching benefits our Centers provide to their communities. Are you asking for a donation to help improve the quality of one life, or many?<br />
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I am not in any way downplaying the importance of helping a child. But in a tight economy, let's show potential funders know how far their dollars will go by highlighting a critical part of our Centers’ work – the tutor training program. <br />
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Consider what comes from providing free Orton-Gillingham training and certification for college graduates. To receive certification, scholars must tutor two students at the Center. This helps shrink the Center's wait list and reduces operating costs that come with paying tutors.<br />
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If you’re applying for a grant, consider highlighting the tutor training program in your request. When a foundation doesn't give to general operating support, a request for funds to train more tutors might be the way to go. Contact Grants Administrator Catherine Cox at <a href="mailto:ccox@scottishritecharities.org">ccox@scottishritecharities.org</a> for examples of tutor training proposals.<br />
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Once scholars receive OG certification at our Centers, they can take their training back to their classrooms to help more children, tutor privately in their own communities, or come on staff at the Centers. However they choose to use their training, educators certified at our Centers are equipped with tools to help many more children than our Center walls could contain.<br />
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Sounds like a pretty good return on investment.Bridget Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529008474260657674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-325095982738642982.post-52588172221546996142010-02-02T09:58:00.001-05:002010-02-02T15:05:28.998-05:00Ideas That Work (97)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMjIaR8lGZwjjBw6HfYg0_7P4BRt6JVpUIpiQMzvUxDk0fQctNrxCGAb8OYik-R86OAsLe-x3bV2NLP-Da0hvV2qvDMJZk6LQqFY0XbKLPkrbZm8xxVf67SixD8undXduEs8E51unEeQ/s1600-h/Ideas.png"><img alt="idea icon" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336134377676464770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMjIaR8lGZwjjBw6HfYg0_7P4BRt6JVpUIpiQMzvUxDk0fQctNrxCGAb8OYik-R86OAsLe-x3bV2NLP-Da0hvV2qvDMJZk6LQqFY0XbKLPkrbZm8xxVf67SixD8undXduEs8E51unEeQ/s320/Ideas.png" style="float: left; height: 97px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; width: 67px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">The "Write" Way to Fundraise</span><br />
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As the new year commenced I received a large package in the mail. No card was included, simply a gorgeous calendar of floral portraits and a pad of writing paper with the teddy bear logo of the Learning Centers. The Monroe Litho logo on the calendar and the address of the Rochester (NY) Learning Center told me all I needed to know - Stephen Whittaker's fundraising project for his LC was in motion.<br />
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Ill. Brother Whittaker, Active for the state of New York works at Monroe Litho (the calendar is their annual showpiece demonstrating the extraordinary quality of their work) and is a solid supporter of the Rochester Learning Center. Always looking for a creative solution to problems, Whittaker found and idea to support the LC that was literally under his nose. Looking at a promotional pad of note paper, he thought that this would be a great fundraising opportunity - one that could engage students and board alike.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAmHb0KI7MOlZDI5xbwcRfGiY5r8mEH8U5NJvIAcJ0Lvm86mHB8oXTp4IReb33GKP-79MNkCQ7DwUuEEIFPFCWI1SqiTe0zjitfkrnRg2gnfhWJnp0MCDUEF2WbkR1y2tn1vDk5JUVPT7/s1600-h/SHerman10012809580_scaled.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431813183499819922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAmHb0KI7MOlZDI5xbwcRfGiY5r8mEH8U5NJvIAcJ0Lvm86mHB8oXTp4IReb33GKP-79MNkCQ7DwUuEEIFPFCWI1SqiTe0zjitfkrnRg2gnfhWJnp0MCDUEF2WbkR1y2tn1vDk5JUVPT7/s320/SHerman10012809580_scaled.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 320px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 247px;" /></a>With help from his associates and friend in the business, Stephen produced 650 2-pad sets of paper. He set the donation price at $10/set and built a distribution network of families board members and Masonic friends. "Each board member took a case of the pads (14 sets)," said Wittaker. "Most of the kids in the program and their parents took sets to sell, also. This became a good way to get everyone involved."<br />
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The goal for this program is to net $5,000 without a lot of work.<br />
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While you may not have a printer on your board, the principles of this success in the making are worth considering.<br />
<ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">gather the resources you have.</span> What resources do your contacts have that can be translated into an efficient fundraising project?</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;">focus on your network.</span> Include the current and past families of students/ scholars.</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;">set a reasonable goal.</span> $5,000 is both reasonable and relevant. Avoid goals being too low to matter or too grandiose to achieve.</li>
</ul>Success might be right under <span style="font-style: italic;">your</span> nose.<br />
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ps: Happy Groundhog Day!! (unfortunately we're in for another 6 weeks of winter)Steve Pekockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579923369929879496noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-325095982738642982.post-57751256672691873202010-01-26T11:05:00.001-05:002010-01-26T11:12:09.527-05:00Ideas That Work (96)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDh5I4XnPiQf690PibaNrWBJ5iItYhEvp4eTPyERk5QF1DwsYDlSVEFV6bEEVpNdVSTXHN2Q785yL_nuoq45uhbTcCURqLNaXpkzP8JQbXzq2H3_UcBaJqNU-vt9S0_p4FPe7-H7hyphenhyphenz3Zo/s1600-h/Announcement.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386943602892500642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDh5I4XnPiQf690PibaNrWBJ5iItYhEvp4eTPyERk5QF1DwsYDlSVEFV6bEEVpNdVSTXHN2Q785yL_nuoq45uhbTcCURqLNaXpkzP8JQbXzq2H3_UcBaJqNU-vt9S0_p4FPe7-H7hyphenhyphenz3Zo/s320/Announcement.png" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 68px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 89px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Welcome to 2010!!</span><br />
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The tinsel is down. All the presents unwrapped and the party hats stowed away. Now, with only Groundhog Day to celebrate for the next month, the Learning Centers are chugging away.<br />
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You will notice a few changes in the Hub over the coming months. First and foremost we will be making the format of the blog a bit more loose. While we will remain committed to a posting of Ideas That Work on Tuesdays, we will play additional weekly postings by ear.<br />
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Over the next few months you can expect occasional surveys to better understand your circumstances. Additionally, we are encouraging a few people to provide "guest postings" to broaden out our topics.<br />
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This means that if you want to stay on top of things, it would be a good idea to subscribe to the blog and get each new posting in your email. You can <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/LlPd&loc=en_US">subscribe here </a>.<br />
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From the team in Scottish Rite Charities, we wish you a profitable 2010!<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Ideas That Work</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMjIaR8lGZwjjBw6HfYg0_7P4BRt6JVpUIpiQMzvUxDk0fQctNrxCGAb8OYik-R86OAsLe-x3bV2NLP-Da0hvV2qvDMJZk6LQqFY0XbKLPkrbZm8xxVf67SixD8undXduEs8E51unEeQ/s1600-h/Ideas.png"><img alt="idea icon" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336134377676464770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMjIaR8lGZwjjBw6HfYg0_7P4BRt6JVpUIpiQMzvUxDk0fQctNrxCGAb8OYik-R86OAsLe-x3bV2NLP-Da0hvV2qvDMJZk6LQqFY0XbKLPkrbZm8xxVf67SixD8undXduEs8E51unEeQ/s320/Ideas.png" style="float: left; height: 97px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; width: 67px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Success begins with the Board</span><br />
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As the playing field for our success changes (as it inevitably must), each board must look within itself and determine if it has the right people to drive the program forward. This is a hard self-assessment, but it is entirely essential if your Center is going to thrive in the years to come.<br />
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The following was sent to me earlier this month. It comes from Guidestar, a great resource for donors and non profits. You can read the whole article <a href="http://www2.guidestar.org/rxa/news/articles/2010/new-years-resolutions-for-board-members.aspx?source=jan10nwsltr">here</a>.<br />
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New Year's Resolutions for Board Members:<br />
<ol><li><strong>Get more engaged.</strong> Your nonprofit needs you to pay attention to your job as a nonprofit board member. Nonprofits don't need disengaged bosses. (And yes, you are the boss—you're the legal fiduciary guardian of your nonprofit. The staff—through the CEO—reports to you.) Your favorite nonprofit needs YOU to lead, to question, and to act!<br />
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<li><strong>Have a bias toward action.</strong> DO something. Your nonprofit needs more than talk out of you. Don't be one of those board members who thinks his or her only job is to come to meetings and pontificate a bit. Look for real actions you can take to help the cause. Ask the staff what they need you TO DO this month, this quarter, this year.<br />
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<li><strong>Think big.</strong> You're not going to change the world, save the environment, feed the hungry, change your community, by thinking small. And there is great power in a big, wildly exciting vision! You attract people—and resources—to your cause. Energy is everything when you are trying to create change.<br />
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<li><strong>Be optimistic, no matter what.</strong> Ban the handwringing and naysaying. Negativity is self-defeating and deadening. It wipes out energy and passion. It deadens momentum. Be the board member who has the point of view of abundance rather than scarcity. You'll influence the rest!<br />
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<li><strong>Go back to your vision over and over and over.</strong> It will keep you excited, focused, passionate, and results oriented. If you feel jaded or bored, ask yourself why you really care about this cause and this organization. You'll fan the flames of your passion and your energy. You'll feel deep personal satisfaction when you see the results your organization is creating in people's lives.<br />
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<li><strong>Be the catalyst; be the provocateur.</strong> Challenge, challenge, challenge the status quo. Remember Jack Welch's quote: "If the change is happening on the outside faster than it is on the inside, the end is near."<br />
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</ol>What great advice. Now let's get to work!Steve Pekockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579923369929879496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-325095982738642982.post-38154983324444006302009-12-17T10:47:00.003-05:002009-12-17T14:52:39.344-05:00Thoughts at the end of 2009<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDh5I4XnPiQf690PibaNrWBJ5iItYhEvp4eTPyERk5QF1DwsYDlSVEFV6bEEVpNdVSTXHN2Q785yL_nuoq45uhbTcCURqLNaXpkzP8JQbXzq2H3_UcBaJqNU-vt9S0_p4FPe7-H7hyphenhyphenz3Zo/s1600-h/Announcement.png"><img style="MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 89px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 68px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386943602892500642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDh5I4XnPiQf690PibaNrWBJ5iItYhEvp4eTPyERk5QF1DwsYDlSVEFV6bEEVpNdVSTXHN2Q785yL_nuoq45uhbTcCURqLNaXpkzP8JQbXzq2H3_UcBaJqNU-vt9S0_p4FPe7-H7hyphenhyphenz3Zo/s320/Announcement.png" /></a><br /><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="font-size:100%;">95 Postings and What do You Get?</span><br /></span><br />Today is our last posting in 2009. It has been a little over seven months since we began this blog. May 12 we started this communication as a way to offer more help to you and to solicit your insights and experiences which we could then offer to your peers throughout the network of Learning Centers.<br /><br />In some ways we feel the Idea Hub is working. When we solicited your advice in the rebranding process, you rewarded us with local perspectives that have truly defined our decisions. The business guru Malcolm Gladwell has described the power of harnessing groups like this for decision making. You proved his points in this respect.<br /><br />Further, I have found that by communicating to both boards and Center Directors we have gotten to better understand how our Learning Centers work. One of the things that I've come to appreciate is how well many of our Center Directors understand the reality of our current business model and how they are willing to do anything for their Center.<br /><br />My boss, Sovereign Grand Commander John William McNaughton, has a way of determining those who are fully invested in a project. He says that they are the folks with "skin in the game." Clearly most of our Center Directors have "skin in the game."True , they draw income from their involvement in the Learning Center, but I believe that their interest is far deeper. Everyday they see kids and their parents walk into our Centers. They saw these kids when they first arrived. They shake their hands was they "graduate" and leave. They viscerally know the power of our Centers. And they have risen up to fight to keep them.<br /><br />I am struck that the most consistent readers of this blog are the Center Directors. The most consistent respondents to surveys are Center Directors. It's all about skin in the game.<br /><br />Five Center Directors have sought our help in grant writing because they haven't seen their boards step up. Several Center Directors have called us, concerned for the future of their Center. They are desperate to do whatever they can to preserve their programs, even to level at times of cutting their own salaries.<br /><br />This is not to say that there is an absence of board effort. The boards in Milwaukee and Madison and Pittsburgh and Columbus, to name a few, are behind the success of their their Learning Center. Last week I was fortunately in the company of Joe Fennick of New Castle to meet people who have or could support his Learning Center. Joe is shining example of a board member who's fearless because of his belief in the good of his Learning Center. We all need to be like Joe if this program is to thrive in all our locations.<br /><br />As you might imagine, the activity in our office as of today is somewhat quiet. In my experience, many people spend the next two weeks catching their breathe, eating too much good food and taking stock of their past year so they can resolve to improve in the coming one.<br /><br />I hope your commitment in 2010 is to share our communal resolve to do anything in your capacity to sustain your Learning Center. The future of each Center hinges upon the local passion for this program. You can be assured that if you have the passion, we're ready to help.<br /><br />The next nine months will be pivotal for a number of Centers. With this in mind, perhaps 2010 is a time to assess your priorities and decide that now is the time and the Learning Center is the place for you to shine in your finest hours!<br /><br />The staff of Scottish Rite Charities wish you and yours a wonderful Holiday Season filled with love and good cheer!Steve Pekockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579923369929879496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-325095982738642982.post-35357179130238994732009-12-16T09:21:00.000-05:002009-12-16T09:22:49.810-05:00Inspiration<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YHRZ2gQJVjlFZLmGRAVVBQ498gZXmuinbeZwFvRGyctYAX2Lxhw4QF_fHQGDUTv0gQqDI-jR8ch7ILeO4RbZbOSL2ZNvrRdR6VvVS66QgBaZz3sH3_rbjdrxPgdnXhjb4q7IEoJbj5k/s1600-h/Inspiration.png"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 85px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 70px" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337995680156226802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YHRZ2gQJVjlFZLmGRAVVBQ498gZXmuinbeZwFvRGyctYAX2Lxhw4QF_fHQGDUTv0gQqDI-jR8ch7ILeO4RbZbOSL2ZNvrRdR6VvVS66QgBaZz3sH3_rbjdrxPgdnXhjb4q7IEoJbj5k/s320/Inspiration.png" /></a> </div><em>In the Spirit of Giving<br /></em><br />Eri Martin knows firsthand how important the work is that our Learning Centers are doing. The twelve year old is dyslexic and has experienced the struggles that so many dyslexic students face. Since he began attending the Portland Learning Center, Eri has made remarkable gains. In his own words, "I now ENJOY reading."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7fOJ0Sx63T1apptWDGgBWRrcMPwOGl45JlQ1q5RcoBrKibmFocG0OcKWqKYpm8UZ-krWkvdDPlZywXzHWUyfZBqGJWfo6z1Qi3I16v9BA3oWRElgUUqS9tzqNqhNf6TydBFybbljGIrI/s1600-h/hearts-desire-340.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 116px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 127px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415469732868963586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7fOJ0Sx63T1apptWDGgBWRrcMPwOGl45JlQ1q5RcoBrKibmFocG0OcKWqKYpm8UZ-krWkvdDPlZywXzHWUyfZBqGJWfo6z1Qi3I16v9BA3oWRElgUUqS9tzqNqhNf6TydBFybbljGIrI/s200/hearts-desire-340.jpg" /></a>Eri hasn't taken the gift our Centers provide for granted. When he learned last year that it costs $5,000 a year to tutor a child at the Learning Center, he wanted to start a service project to earn money for Portland. The student decided to raise money and community awareness for the Portland Learning Center by selling holiday ornaments.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9o1Q6ZnV18XzmJD71OEscmZMXewObIKfTbBcMvzyYLAC27T5gE06OG0RB2eQk0cwsAaabR_hj3Jj58bva38E0_Z7RHqj9_Q9l9TcGx_jb3NaHVE2AEwInmiV_XzVqrpdq55yPdEVhgI/s1600-h/eri+and+john+IMG_1002+cropped.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415469169441866642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9o1Q6ZnV18XzmJD71OEscmZMXewObIKfTbBcMvzyYLAC27T5gE06OG0RB2eQk0cwsAaabR_hj3Jj58bva38E0_Z7RHqj9_Q9l9TcGx_jb3NaHVE2AEwInmiV_XzVqrpdq55yPdEVhgI/s200/eri+and+john+IMG_1002+cropped.JPG" /></a>On November 30th, he proudly presented Portland Board Chair John Berrill with a $110 check. This season Eri, once again, will be raising money for the Center by selling silver toned heart ornaments.<br /><br />As Portland Director Barbara Labrecque noted, "How thankful we are for this wonderful effort from a remarkable young man!" </div>Bridget Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529008474260657674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-325095982738642982.post-56856208479039864642009-12-15T09:45:00.001-05:002009-12-15T09:46:27.300-05:00Ideas That Work - Holiday Edition<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMjIaR8lGZwjjBw6HfYg0_7P4BRt6JVpUIpiQMzvUxDk0fQctNrxCGAb8OYik-R86OAsLe-x3bV2NLP-Da0hvV2qvDMJZk6LQqFY0XbKLPkrbZm8xxVf67SixD8undXduEs8E51unEeQ/s1600-h/Ideas.png"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 67px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 97px" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336134377676464770" border="0" alt="idea icon" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMjIaR8lGZwjjBw6HfYg0_7P4BRt6JVpUIpiQMzvUxDk0fQctNrxCGAb8OYik-R86OAsLe-x3bV2NLP-Da0hvV2qvDMJZk6LQqFY0XbKLPkrbZm8xxVf67SixD8undXduEs8E51unEeQ/s320/Ideas.png" /></a> <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Dressing up the Tree with "Friends"</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfjoRdzbBJzAnsDcNHMeBY5A4qQYYkD7p-D6CI47hAu77p4mrScaNqeU_H4b9NABsK7deSWgWaqjZoASyKrCN0Dr1LF9NikPSecY-KJlTHDPwlgBc10MGRsQMf1-J9KLncsDTvvRrQj8Y/s1600-h/JPEW5216.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 275px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 275px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415463400983925218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfjoRdzbBJzAnsDcNHMeBY5A4qQYYkD7p-D6CI47hAu77p4mrScaNqeU_H4b9NABsK7deSWgWaqjZoASyKrCN0Dr1LF9NikPSecY-KJlTHDPwlgBc10MGRsQMf1-J9KLncsDTvvRrQj8Y/s320/JPEW5216.jpg" /></a>The Cleveland Learning Center began an effort last summer to organize a group to support the future of their Center. They named it "Friends of the Cleveland Learning Center." Creighton <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bradler</span>, of the the LC board reports that the group has about 15 founding members spanning all aspects of the LC community. "The 'Friends' has parents of our students, tutors, board members and other interested people," said <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bradler</span>.<br /><br />Creighton also mentions that the group has met about 4 times. They are interested in dyslexia and its treatment as well as ways to help our Cleveland Leaning Center.<br /><br />The first effort the group has made is by purchasing and selling special Holiday ornaments to benefit the Learning Center. Kathy <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Goebel</span> a member of the committee was one of the leaders in this effort. She found inspiration from Quantum Ornaments in nearby Kent, OH. "I had gone to Kent for a Grand Lodge (Masonic) event and found out about [the ornaments], <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Goebel</span> relates. " I thought, ' This would be a great idea for a fundraising project,' and tucked the thought away. When we were looking for a project, this seemed like the right idea." Four designs were selected including the one shown above.<br /><br />As the the Season of Giving nears, the group has nearly sold out their first year supply. As a result the Friends of the Cleveland Learning Center will raise $800 for the Center. Just as important, the group that has been formed are becoming an important component of the future strength of this LC.<br /><br />Good work, Friends! What a lovely idea to remind people of the children we help.Steve Pekockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579923369929879496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-325095982738642982.post-56730578710280924372009-12-10T15:58:00.005-05:002009-12-15T10:44:59.437-05:00Rebranding Update<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDh5I4XnPiQf690PibaNrWBJ5iItYhEvp4eTPyERk5QF1DwsYDlSVEFV6bEEVpNdVSTXHN2Q785yL_nuoq45uhbTcCURqLNaXpkzP8JQbXzq2H3_UcBaJqNU-vt9S0_p4FPe7-H7hyphenhyphenz3Zo/s1600-h/Announcement.png"><img style="MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 89px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 68px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386943602892500642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDh5I4XnPiQf690PibaNrWBJ5iItYhEvp4eTPyERk5QF1DwsYDlSVEFV6bEEVpNdVSTXHN2Q785yL_nuoq45uhbTcCURqLNaXpkzP8JQbXzq2H3_UcBaJqNU-vt9S0_p4FPe7-H7hyphenhyphenz3Zo/s320/Announcement.png" /></a><br /><br /><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="font-size:100%;">Rebranding...Notes from the Board Meeting</span><br /></span><br /><br />Today, December 10, 2009 the meeting of the parent board of the Learning Center Corporation was held. For those of you who might wonder, the board was in 100% attendance at this meeting. This demonstrates the commitment these members have to the program.<br /><br />One of the items covered was the progress of the rebranding research and next steps. I conveyed to the board the sometime intense opinions and observations many of you shared with me during the past 5 months. As a result, the board decided that the matter of naming and of logo design - and whether of what to change or not merits a subcommittee to make final recommendations to the board at its next meeting in June.<br /><br />I am sure they will seek additional input as we take our time in this process. Thank you for your candor and advice to this point. When we resolve this issue, your voices will have played a meaningful part of our final outcome.<br /><br />+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<br /><br />Next week will be the last week of postings in 2009. Please get any success stories you might want considered for the December contest to us by Friday, December 18.Steve Pekockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579923369929879496noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-325095982738642982.post-17379878471071229702009-12-09T08:45:00.001-05:002009-12-15T10:49:58.013-05:00Inspiration<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YHRZ2gQJVjlFZLmGRAVVBQ498gZXmuinbeZwFvRGyctYAX2Lxhw4QF_fHQGDUTv0gQqDI-jR8ch7ILeO4RbZbOSL2ZNvrRdR6VvVS66QgBaZz3sH3_rbjdrxPgdnXhjb4q7IEoJbj5k/s1600-h/Inspiration.png"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 85px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 70px" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337995680156226802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YHRZ2gQJVjlFZLmGRAVVBQ498gZXmuinbeZwFvRGyctYAX2Lxhw4QF_fHQGDUTv0gQqDI-jR8ch7ILeO4RbZbOSL2ZNvrRdR6VvVS66QgBaZz3sH3_rbjdrxPgdnXhjb4q7IEoJbj5k/s320/Inspiration.png" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="huge" style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">"</span></span><span class="body">Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone-we find it with another.</span> <span class="huge" style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />- Thomas Merton<br />American Theologian</span><br /><br /></span><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="huge" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div></div></div>Today marks the Episcopal Church (USA) Feast of Thomas Merton. This is the anniversary of Merton's death in 1968.<br /><br />Merton was a Trappist monk who lived in a Kentucky abbey. Over his life he wrote more than 70 books and is well remembered as a force of interfaith understanding worldwide.<br /><br />Love takes on many faces. We work alongside each other in love of our fellow person, in the hope that, as it is with dyslexia, we can improve a life and, perhaps, the world. In this season of love, let's all remember our reasons for supporting our Learning Centers.Steve Pekockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579923369929879496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-325095982738642982.post-92070116104333053572009-12-08T00:01:00.002-05:002009-12-08T00:01:03.565-05:00Ideas That Work<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMjIaR8lGZwjjBw6HfYg0_7P4BRt6JVpUIpiQMzvUxDk0fQctNrxCGAb8OYik-R86OAsLe-x3bV2NLP-Da0hvV2qvDMJZk6LQqFY0XbKLPkrbZm8xxVf67SixD8undXduEs8E51unEeQ/s1600-h/Ideas.png"><img style="margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; width: 67px; float: left; height: 97px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336134377676464770" alt="idea icon" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMjIaR8lGZwjjBw6HfYg0_7P4BRt6JVpUIpiQMzvUxDk0fQctNrxCGAb8OYik-R86OAsLe-x3bV2NLP-Da0hvV2qvDMJZk6LQqFY0XbKLPkrbZm8xxVf67SixD8undXduEs8E51unEeQ/s320/Ideas.png" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Keeping "Pace" with Fundraising</span><br /><br />Recently each board of governors received information from Joe Blanc, a volunteer from Cincinnati who is organizing a 2010 tour of Tony Pace, a Las Vegas entertainer who has wowed audiences from New Hampshire to Ohio. <br /><br />Tony began his relationship with the Learning Centers three years ago when he performed in benefits for the New Hampshire Centers. The events were sold out affairs. Bill McNaughton, the Sovereign Grand Commander of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, attended the 2008 concert and felt the event was tremendously entertaining. That year Joe Blanc heard about Tony and was inspired to attempt bringing a larger "tour" together in 2009. <br /><br />Those events, which occured in September, were largely successful. Akron/Canton, Cincinnati and Danville all had successful events. This is not without some risk, but I would say that for some communities this concert would be something worth considering. If you have a Valley that is active and tends to like coming out for an entertainment, if you can get the economical use of a performance space that will accommodate about 500 and if you have a body of people ready to promote (sell) tickets (remember, tickets don't sell themselves), this might be a good event for you. <br /><br />One thing that recommends the tour to me is the involvement of Joe Blanc. He has been a tireless volunteer fundraiser for the Cincinnati LC as the hole LC program. He is passionate about the program and very reliable. I'll post a memo he sent to LC's to reinforce the points I've outlined at the end of this post. <br /><br />The deadline for joining the tour is here, so if you are interested at all, contact Joe with questions at 513 677-2115 or 513 290-0483.<br />---------------------------------------------<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;"></span></span><blockquote><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">From Joe Blanc:</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">1) Why is it being called a Children’s Charity Tour and not a Learning Center Tour?</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">Fair question and the reasoning is that as we build tours with the synergy from multiple sites and this possibly lead to the point where we can get national sponsorships to assist in underwriting the cost of the tours. Calling it the “Children’s Charity Tour” also allows other Valleys and other Masonic Organizations (not in competition with Learning Centers) to join in. The long term goal is growth to maximize each of our profits. One example is that Wilmington DE. currently does not have a LC and yet they want to raise money for other children’s charities they have. So why not open it to others, it only helps each of us long term.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">2) Who is Joe Blanc and what is your involvement?</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;"> I love this question and yes it is a fair question. I am Scottish Rite Mason with a passion for this cause, I am dyslexic and grew up being called "crazy lazy and stupid." I make no money from this, I just have a passion for it. I am not a concert promoter nor an event planner by profession. I do not take offense for questioning who I am, you should question my motives. So my motive is passion for the cause. </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">3) How MUCH DOES IT COST? </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">VERY Important question, and at the same time difficult to answer. I tell each LC or site to budget $15,000 which is worst case scenario I believe. Also in the costs are many items which can be donations in kind as well. For instance at Akron/Canton, all hotel rooms were free for two nights and Akron/Canton arranged to have a wonderful meal provided for Tony and Chris at Canton’s best restaurant. The Cincinnati out of pocket costs was about $11,000. This included performer costs, printing, mailing… Our three highest cost were sound (our choice to use professional sound people), our wine and cheese meet and greet post concert (works great) and of course the performer. Our in kind donations were close to $8000. We started planning in January and by March we were at a profit and still 6 months until the concert. </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">4) Can we contact, Danville, Akron, Canton and Fort Wayne to get their input?</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">Sure you can, and they all have agreed to be ambassadors to assist where they can in answering your questions. </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">Akron – Jim Ohlinger @ 330.833.9930. H 330.327.7096 C</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">Canton- Bob Parker @ 330.305.1361</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">Danville IL. - Allison C. Enslein, Director @ 217.446.9377 (I request you please respect her time as she is the Director)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">Fort Wayne did not use it as a LC fundraise in 08. They used Tony as their fall kick off. They will expand that next year into a combo event from what I understand</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">Fort Wayne- Sheila Hubart 260.423.2593 ext 29</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">Nashua was not part of the tour but started it all with Tony and Roger agreed to be an ambassador for us as well</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">Nashua NH. – Roger Pellerin -603.883.7141(day) 603.883.2743 (eve)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">5) What if we do not have a facility to hold this event?</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">Akron/Canton and Danville did not have one. Each of your cities probably have schools or other venues for a reasonable price and many have all of the sound systems and lighting you need for this event. Akron/Canton was actually cheaper then Cincinnati due to the fact that their venue had all of the needed items that Cincy had to rent. Remember if this is your first year please do not get a 2000 seat venue. Focus on filling 500 seats and WATCH IT GROW NEXT YEAR. There are many options out there for venues.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;"><br /> </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">6) Why September?</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">September offers some advantages and disadvantages. In Cincinnati we combined the Scottish Rite Fall Kick Off (pre concert event) with the concert. During September many vacations are over, weather is still good and it comes before we get into the fall reunions. The biggest hurdles are, your boards will be active during the summer and of course many Lodges are dark. We believe we can overcome any hurdle September offers for it’s advantages. You can over come those hurdles by planning working the system January thru May. </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;"><br /> </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">7) Is it difficult to plan this event?</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">Very tough question to answer. I will say yes and no! We can make it easier. We have letters, planning outlines and artwork to assist. Tony is also putting together a promo package to assist us in our planning efforts. I have been to a number of board meetings in other cities and here is the advice I give each of them. “Stick with it,,,, you will pull your hair out one week before the concert wondering if it was worth it and the day after the concert you will call me wanting your next year date !” Here is the good part --- year two gets MUCH easier and the profits GROW! Which is why I now have the time to reach out and assist you through your worries, your joys and your ultimate success. </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">8) Why the December deadline?</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">First it is to respect Tony’s schedule so that he can work with his Las Vegas Venue. The second reason is so that we can start lining up tour stops. For instance doing Akron/Canton on a Friday or Saturday during High School Football would be nuts to do. They like their Tuesday night. We may be able to do back to back nights depending on travel. An example of that could be Fort Wayne to Indy to Danville. Here is what I request for the December deadline a commitment that you are about 80% sure you are going to do. Our target is to have a conference call with Tony and all sites in early December.</span></span></blockquote>Steve Pekockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579923369929879496noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-325095982738642982.post-17700944908259494152009-12-03T15:06:00.007-05:002009-12-03T15:39:46.250-05:00News You Can Use<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRN8DfVLywYZxXwTv4JFYS3_veYQDg_-LzberjaLnJAiCGMhCFjBpmIfshjcW3OesgLcz5DYxq_Zn7wnqZqfVF8rtf4LbvDXVtwiHLMxkDk86zSnaN1RDDCHi1MWksPOLZ-nHQjdI5wYc/s1600-h/News.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337891303132117730" style="margin: 0px 3px 0px 0px; float: left; width: 85px; height: 70px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRN8DfVLywYZxXwTv4JFYS3_veYQDg_-LzberjaLnJAiCGMhCFjBpmIfshjcW3OesgLcz5DYxq_Zn7wnqZqfVF8rtf4LbvDXVtwiHLMxkDk86zSnaN1RDDCHi1MWksPOLZ-nHQjdI5wYc/s320/News.png" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Maintaining Good Donations in Hard Times</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span></span><span><span>Well, with Thanksgiving just a calorie-filled memory, we are now truly in the Holiday Season. This is the time of year when many a person's thoughts turn to love for his or her neighbor. It is after all the season of giving.<br /><br />An article in the Wall Street Journal by one of "The Hub"'s favorite writers - Karen Blumenthal - suggests that the current year end may not be as generous as in years past because of the lingering economic malaise. Her piece <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703300504574568522353351500.html?mod=WSJ_hps_sections_personalfinance">"Tough Choice for Givers"</a> describes 2009 as a down year for giving. The American Red Cross found that 20% of donors were scaling back donations. Even the venerable American Cancer Society has seen an 11% decline in giving.<br /><br />The point of the article is to help the many people wrestling with perhaps giving less or confused as to how they might effectively give in 2009. Consider these points in your own giving. Also think how your LC could appear more donation-worthy.<br /><br /></span></span><ul><li><span><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Think like a foundation</span> - Foundations base giving decisions on the effectiveness of the charity. <i>What we can do:</i> describe more fully how cost effective our program is. 100% of each dollar donated to you now goes directly to local services.</span></span></li><li><span><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Make your list</span> - List the charities you support and prioritize them. Then break the charities into tiers and give gifts based on tier. <i>What we can do:</i> A note now to your past donors advising them that your need is greater than ever and explaining that a gift ant last year's level (or greater) would be so important this year.</span></span></li><li><span><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Look for a match</span> - a great leverage is a donor who will match funds. If one of your charities has this, it might help your decision-making. <i>What we can do:</i> Do you have a past donor who might be interested? This might convince him/her to step up this year.</span></span></li><li><span><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Be Selective</span> - There are lots of scammers out there as well tele-charities that call for donations and spend that money on fundraising. Give to charities you know. <i>What we can do:</i> Remind our Masonic donors of the Fraternity that founded and supports our Centers and of its solemn obligation to be "on the level." Then ask in the spitit of charity for support.</span></span></li></ul>Steve Pekockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579923369929879496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-325095982738642982.post-3019116222029312032009-12-02T11:26:00.000-05:002009-12-02T13:43:42.782-05:00Inspiration<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YHRZ2gQJVjlFZLmGRAVVBQ498gZXmuinbeZwFvRGyctYAX2Lxhw4QF_fHQGDUTv0gQqDI-jR8ch7ILeO4RbZbOSL2ZNvrRdR6VvVS66QgBaZz3sH3_rbjdrxPgdnXhjb4q7IEoJbj5k/s1600-h/Inspiration.png"><img style="margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; width: 85px; float: left; height: 70px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337995680156226802" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YHRZ2gQJVjlFZLmGRAVVBQ498gZXmuinbeZwFvRGyctYAX2Lxhw4QF_fHQGDUTv0gQqDI-jR8ch7ILeO4RbZbOSL2ZNvrRdR6VvVS66QgBaZz3sH3_rbjdrxPgdnXhjb4q7IEoJbj5k/s320/Inspiration.png" border="0" /></a></div>Congratulations to the Nashua Learning Center for winning November's inspiration contest. Nashua's submission was written by Marie Thibodeau, a parent whose 11 year old son Nate is currently enrolled at the Center.<br /><div><br />Center Director Aileen Cormier said she had misty eyes when she read Marie's story. "Hearing it from 'mom's' perspective just puts a different spin on things," she said.</div><br /><div>Since enrolling in the Center in 2007, Nate has made remarkable progress. He read his first chapter book this week without prodding.<br /></div><div> </div><br /><div>His mother was so thankful and impressed by the Orton-Gillingham methods Nate was learning that she decided to enroll in Nashua's tutor training program and become an OG certified tutor. She has almost completed her coursework in the certification process.<br /><br />Nate's story, and his mother's commitment to the Center program, is truly an inspiration. Marie wrote:<br /><br /></div><div>Today my son, Nate, is a confident 6th grader who enjoys learning many new things and using his vivid imagination to create stories about super heroes who must face many challenges on their mission to overcome some immense foes. I think the reason Nate is so fascinated by these epic battles is that, even though he is only 11 years old, he too has already endured tremendous struggles in his quest to learn to read and write. The good news is that because of the help he has received through our local learning center, Nate finally feels like he is the victor.</div><br /><div>Three years ago, Nate was a frustrated and hopeless student. He had hit an academic wall, and though he was an energetic and diligent child, for some mysterious reason he could not learn to read or write like his peers. Each day brought more upsets and a deepening realization that something was just not right. Nate understandably concluded, as he saw his friends begin to read chapter books and to take off educationally, that he must be a very dumb child and that there was really no point to working so hard.<br /><br />For a parent this was very painful to witness, and our child’s future seemed filled with trouble. My husband and I dearly wanted to help Nate, but we simply did not know where to turn. Thus began months of work on our part as we sought answers to questions like “Why couldn’t Nate, an intelligent child learn to read?" and "Who could help us teach our child before he completely gave up trying?”<br /><br />After Nate went through extensive testing we discovered that our child was dyslexic, but that without appropriate intervention he would never learn to read and write properly and consequently he would never reach his academic potential. Fortunately for us and for many others in our situation, there was an answer. We discovered the highly successful, scientifically proven Orton Gillingham method of remediation. But there was still one immense obstacle remaining in our path. How were we to afford this type of tutoring for the duration required to help Nate attain mastery? We knew it was going to take years of hard work, many times each week, and that unfortunately the cost of tutoring was prohibitive to everyone except the very wealthy.<br /><br />It would be difficult to adequately describe our tremendous relief when we discovered the Nashua Learning Center. This charitable organization had for years been using the Orton Gillingham method to not only help children like our son become competent readers and successful students but they had been doing it at no cost to the families they were assisting. This was nothing short of a miracle to our large family of 7 children.<br /><br />Nate has been fortunate enough to attend the Learning Center for more than two years. He started out far below grade level but now he is reading and writing almost as well as many of his peers. Nate knows that he will always struggle with his dyslexia, but he also knows that through the dedicated staff at the Center he has been given amazing tools for his journey and that he can attain victory in his quest to read and write successfully.<br /><br />One final note concerning the Nashua Learning Center and its effect in our community: over the years they have helped hundreds of families like ours, but their mission is even more amazing and far reaching than this; through an intensive training program offered at no charge to the teachers, the Center also trains teachers to use the Orton Gillingham method of remediation so that more and more children every year can be reached with the help they so desperately need. My family has seen first hand how powerful this help can be and because of this I am now in the process of becoming an Orton Gillingham tutor. Someday soon I too hope to make a difference in the lives of children like my son. </div>Bridget Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529008474260657674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-325095982738642982.post-61906207633108388992009-12-01T14:30:00.004-05:002009-12-01T16:04:40.805-05:00Ideas That Work<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMjIaR8lGZwjjBw6HfYg0_7P4BRt6JVpUIpiQMzvUxDk0fQctNrxCGAb8OYik-R86OAsLe-x3bV2NLP-Da0hvV2qvDMJZk6LQqFY0XbKLPkrbZm8xxVf67SixD8undXduEs8E51unEeQ/s1600-h/Ideas.png"><img style="margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; width: 67px; float: left; height: 97px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336134377676464770" alt="idea icon" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMjIaR8lGZwjjBw6HfYg0_7P4BRt6JVpUIpiQMzvUxDk0fQctNrxCGAb8OYik-R86OAsLe-x3bV2NLP-Da0hvV2qvDMJZk6LQqFY0XbKLPkrbZm8xxVf67SixD8undXduEs8E51unEeQ/s320/Ideas.png" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Giving Two Times During the Holidays</span><br /><br />As you know the New York Times is often a source of ideas for our Thursday "News you can Use" column. November 11th an article ran that was destined for the end of the week segment...until I spoke to Don Murphy, the Valley Secretary for Pittsburgh.<br /><br />The article, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/12/giving/12GIFT.html?scp=9&sq=charity&st=cse">"Dollars That Turn Into Bees, and Other Gifts Given Twice"</a>,was a very interesting piece about how both giving and Holiday shopping are expected to be down this year - and how some individuals and organizations have devised cool strategies to give in ways that honor or benefit someone on your gift list.<br /><br />Ideas described include donating bees to a developing community in honor of a loved one to giving a membership to the local art museum to an art lover.<br /><br />These are good and worthy ideas. In regards to our Learning Centers, I wrote in Northern Light a couple of years back about the Vaughtiers who gave a Builders Council membership to their daughter's grandfather. A 33rd degree Mason from Harrisburg, he suggested the Learning Center as a way to help his granddaughter's reading troubles. The daughter is now a successful college graduate.<br /><br />I had just read the Times article when I spoke to Murphy about his Valley's Hiram's Scottish Rite Riders Motorcycle Group. The Riders have been a tremendous advocate of the Pittsburgh Learning Center. We were discussing their 2009 Motorcycle Raffle, which raised a lot of money.<br /><br />"Steve," Don said, " the group is already working the next raffle for a new bike. They were promoting the raffle entries as great stocking stuffers!"<br /><br />I called Bill Roberts, a member of the club. Not only was this true, but apparently the idea has been pretty successful. "We sold a bunch of tickets at our last Valley event," relates Roberts. "We've also put our a number of order forms to get tickets around the bike. I've had to restock our supply of order forms. People keep taking them."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiET6DlcNXQ0RlYmx7NSD6dqYd-51mjfKB8KBaQ6ZhrZcPK17B78aSxT5Njr5pmDbb0n1vDbFVS-iBgjsMIpS_GP15VIcSw8CZIBctYQohUUNUYx2ZmQQt2E7NEx8pm3E05i0BtvJzHjCQ/s1600/pittraffle.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 164px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiET6DlcNXQ0RlYmx7NSD6dqYd-51mjfKB8KBaQ6ZhrZcPK17B78aSxT5Njr5pmDbb0n1vDbFVS-iBgjsMIpS_GP15VIcSw8CZIBctYQohUUNUYx2ZmQQt2E7NEx8pm3E05i0BtvJzHjCQ/s320/pittraffle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410376262673503058" border="0" /></a>This is a great way to promote our Learning Centers as show our loved ones we care. Can you promote something similarly to benefit your LC? It may be tight for this year but it is and inspired way to give twice!Steve Pekockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579923369929879496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-325095982738642982.post-86942199187617571512009-11-24T11:38:00.001-05:002009-11-25T11:34:43.039-05:00News You Can Use<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRN8DfVLywYZxXwTv4JFYS3_veYQDg_-LzberjaLnJAiCGMhCFjBpmIfshjcW3OesgLcz5DYxq_Zn7wnqZqfVF8rtf4LbvDXVtwiHLMxkDk86zSnaN1RDDCHi1MWksPOLZ-nHQjdI5wYc/s1600-h/News.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337891303132117730" style="margin: 0px 3px 0px 0px; float: left; width: 85px; height: 70px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRN8DfVLywYZxXwTv4JFYS3_veYQDg_-LzberjaLnJAiCGMhCFjBpmIfshjcW3OesgLcz5DYxq_Zn7wnqZqfVF8rtf4LbvDXVtwiHLMxkDk86zSnaN1RDDCHi1MWksPOLZ-nHQjdI5wYc/s320/News.png" border="0"></a><br /><font style="font-style: italic;">Bad Charity, Just in Time for the Holidays<font style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></font></font><font><font>'Tis the season when humanity's heart warms most toward the condition of one's neighbor. Unfortunately swindlers know this and seek to take advantage of our empathy of guilt.<br /><br />Take for example this case found in the <a href="http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/24/homeless-organization-called-fraud/?hp">New York Times</a>...<br /><br />The New York State Attorney General, Andrew Cuomo, has filed a complaint over the practices of the </font></font>United Homeless Organization, citing that among other things, the organization:<blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">"...does not operate a single shelter, soup kitchen or food pantry. It does not provide food or clothing to the homeless. It does not even donate money to other charities that do."</blockquote>Apparently the group's founders pocketed most of the money donated to the organization through cash gift tables set up on street corners throughout the boroughs of NYC. In other cases workers paid the founders daily usage fees for the tables, aprons and large donation jugs and they kept the remainder of donations.<br /><br />The organization was not a certified charity and maintained no financial records.<br /><br />While hearing this type of story is sad, it should not shake our charitable nature. Rather, we should be more aware of the places we donate. Are they good stewards of my generosity? ( We know the Learning Centers are.)<br /><br />Last year TimeOut New York fielded a question about UHO and ran an answer. At the end, Katie Martin, New York Philanthropic Advisory Service program manager for the Better Business Bureau was quoted and said," If you want to help [the] needy but find this whole thing fishy (it doesn’t help that UHO’s website is nonfunctional), consider donating to more-established organizations like Help USA <em>(<a href="http://helpusa.org/" target="new"> helpusa.org</a>)</em> and Project Renewal <em>(<a href="http://projectrenewal.org/" target="new"> projectrenewal.com </a>)</em>."<br /><br />I'll bet there are other locally vetted organizations in your town who also do great work. This is the season to give. Let your heart be joyous.<br /><br />Happy Thanksgiving from everyone at Scottish Rite Charities.<br /><br /><br /><br />Steve Pekockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579923369929879496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-325095982738642982.post-601236638090202502009-11-24T10:19:00.004-05:002009-11-25T11:34:16.494-05:00Inspiration<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YHRZ2gQJVjlFZLmGRAVVBQ498gZXmuinbeZwFvRGyctYAX2Lxhw4QF_fHQGDUTv0gQqDI-jR8ch7ILeO4RbZbOSL2ZNvrRdR6VvVS66QgBaZz3sH3_rbjdrxPgdnXhjb4q7IEoJbj5k/s1600-h/Inspiration.png"><img style="margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; width: 85px; float: left; height: 70px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337995680156226802" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YHRZ2gQJVjlFZLmGRAVVBQ498gZXmuinbeZwFvRGyctYAX2Lxhw4QF_fHQGDUTv0gQqDI-jR8ch7ILeO4RbZbOSL2ZNvrRdR6VvVS66QgBaZz3sH3_rbjdrxPgdnXhjb4q7IEoJbj5k/s320/Inspiration.png" border="0"></a> </div><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><font class="huge" size="4"><br /><font size="3">"</font></font><font size="3">For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill.<br />The eyes of all people are upon us.</font><font class="huge" size="4"><font size="3">"</font><br /><br /><font size="3"><br />- John Winthrop<br />1st Governor of the<br />Massachusetts Bay Colony, 1630</font><br /></font></div></div><br />This is perhaps the most famous quotation of any of the founders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, which, famously, was officially settled by the Pilgrims in 1620. That fateful and ultimately successful experiment began a wholesale settlement of the region by the English over the subsequent years. John Winthrop, who was a Puritan was commissioned by Oliver Cromwell's court to preside over the territory as governor. He served on and off in this post for nearly 2 decades.<br /><br />The importance of this quotation, part of a longer sermon to his shipmates upon the near conclusion of their voyage to theirs new home, was that it has become the primary citation of an idea known as American Exceptionalism. This idea promotes the view that America is uniquely enbued among nations with qualities and gifts that make it special. This is a notion later expanted by Alexis de Tocqueville and recently remembered in the words of President Ronald Reagan.<br /><br />In a way we can metaphorically look upon our Learning Centers as "institutions upon hills." We inside each Center occurs exceptional things - uniquely successful to children in need. And, as then, the eyes of our communities are upon us. Will we let our Centers fail? Indeed not.<br /><br />(For a great book about Winthrop and his contemporaries, you might look for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wordy-Shipmates-Sarah-Vowell/dp/1594489998">The Wordy Shipmates</a>, by Sarah Vowell.)<br /><div><br /></div>Steve Pekockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579923369929879496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-325095982738642982.post-47173711769240516792009-11-24T10:07:00.003-05:002009-11-24T12:00:52.598-05:00Ideas That Work<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMjIaR8lGZwjjBw6HfYg0_7P4BRt6JVpUIpiQMzvUxDk0fQctNrxCGAb8OYik-R86OAsLe-x3bV2NLP-Da0hvV2qvDMJZk6LQqFY0XbKLPkrbZm8xxVf67SixD8undXduEs8E51unEeQ/s1600-h/Ideas.png"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 67px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 97px" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336134377676464770" border="0" alt="idea icon" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMjIaR8lGZwjjBw6HfYg0_7P4BRt6JVpUIpiQMzvUxDk0fQctNrxCGAb8OYik-R86OAsLe-x3bV2NLP-Da0hvV2qvDMJZk6LQqFY0XbKLPkrbZm8xxVf67SixD8undXduEs8E51unEeQ/s320/Ideas.png" /></a><br /><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">A Post-event Fund Booster</span><br /><br />There are a lot of ways to boost the return on events. One way that is relatively inexpensive and is effective has been pioneered by Joe Fennick, supporting the Walk event they hold each October.<br /><br />Last year, Joe had a goal of exceeding the previous year's fundraising. By the end of the Walk however, that goal was not attained. Joe noticed that a number of people who supported the previous event, had not stepped forward. Undaunted, Joe sent a letter to those past donors as well as fellow 33rd Degree Masons. In the letter, he described the event and the enthusiasm of the day, described the fundraising goal and its importance and asked one last time for their support.<br /><br />The letter was very successfull, raising about $2,000 in additional donations. The event exceeded its goal!<br /><br />You could employ a similar strategy for nearly any fundraising event. Giving a picked group "one last chance" to join in supporting the event may be just what you need to meet your financial goals.Steve Pekockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579923369929879496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-325095982738642982.post-44628150959088673762009-11-19T11:42:00.006-05:002009-11-19T11:50:10.269-05:00News You Can Use<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRN8DfVLywYZxXwTv4JFYS3_veYQDg_-LzberjaLnJAiCGMhCFjBpmIfshjcW3OesgLcz5DYxq_Zn7wnqZqfVF8rtf4LbvDXVtwiHLMxkDk86zSnaN1RDDCHi1MWksPOLZ-nHQjdI5wYc/s1600-h/News.png"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 3px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 85px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 70px" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337891303132117730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRN8DfVLywYZxXwTv4JFYS3_veYQDg_-LzberjaLnJAiCGMhCFjBpmIfshjcW3OesgLcz5DYxq_Zn7wnqZqfVF8rtf4LbvDXVtwiHLMxkDk86zSnaN1RDDCHi1MWksPOLZ-nHQjdI5wYc/s320/News.png" /></a><em>Galas Dispense With Some of the Froth</em><br /><br />With America in the midst of a recession, charities are cutting back on opulent fundraisers in lieu of more casual events, according to a recent New York Times article.<br /><br />The article cites examples from several of New York’s upscale charity functions. (You can read the article <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/12/giving/12BENEFIT.html?_r=1&ref=giving">here</a>.)<br /><br />Some of these charities and their cost-cutting measures may be out of our league, like the charity that saved $25,000 by omitting the draping from its party tent ceiling. But there’s still plenty of useful information to be gleaned from the article.<br /><br />Replacing a multi-member band with a DJ, settling for simpler or artificial flower arrangements and reverting to a family style dinner instead of an elaborate three-course meal are all good ideas for cutting back. The article also mentioned looking for sponsorship donations from restaurants and wineries to reduce catering costs.<br /><br />“(The recession is) bringing us back, and forcing us to be more creative,” said Frank Alexander, who created the décor for the Central Park Conservancy’s Halloween Ball this year. “This whole thing has been a learning experience.”<br /><br />If you’re worried about drawing your usual numbers for your annual gala, or are looking for some guidence before throwing your first upscale event, check out the full article.Bridget Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529008474260657674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-325095982738642982.post-62684553795480576292009-11-18T15:03:00.012-05:002009-11-18T15:19:43.427-05:00Inspiration<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YHRZ2gQJVjlFZLmGRAVVBQ498gZXmuinbeZwFvRGyctYAX2Lxhw4QF_fHQGDUTv0gQqDI-jR8ch7ILeO4RbZbOSL2ZNvrRdR6VvVS66QgBaZz3sH3_rbjdrxPgdnXhjb4q7IEoJbj5k/s1600-h/Inspiration.png"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 85px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 70px" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337995680156226802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YHRZ2gQJVjlFZLmGRAVVBQ498gZXmuinbeZwFvRGyctYAX2Lxhw4QF_fHQGDUTv0gQqDI-jR8ch7ILeO4RbZbOSL2ZNvrRdR6VvVS66QgBaZz3sH3_rbjdrxPgdnXhjb4q7IEoJbj5k/s320/Inspiration.png" /></a>Happy birthday, Mickey!<br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><div align="left"><em></em></div><div align="left"><em>“I only hope that we don’t lose sight of one thing – that it was all started by a mouse.”</em> -Walt Disney<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fYmOT6ZBU73ov5lqHtflfbwbbts7rI8wJWhZ-iU8DYYOxv9-R6j9-cZABtaTYLE6_dHkoUMQj4woNmnvgSNgO0FDml5itb_CARiJGrP2zgaUav0hiNcMezvxMMrcyvb2S1kuRp3dwF4/s1600/steamboat-willie.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 131px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 102px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405539245791902130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fYmOT6ZBU73ov5lqHtflfbwbbts7rI8wJWhZ-iU8DYYOxv9-R6j9-cZABtaTYLE6_dHkoUMQj4woNmnvgSNgO0FDml5itb_CARiJGrP2zgaUav0hiNcMezvxMMrcyvb2S1kuRp3dwF4/s200/steamboat-willie.jpg" /></a>Today is the 81st anniversary of the release of Steamboat Willie, the first animated film featuring synchronized sound. The date is also recognized by the Walt Disney Company as the birth of Mickey Mouse.<br /><br />Few may realize that the beloved mouse and his famous creator have a Masonic connection. Disney was a member of the original Mother Chapter of DeMolay in Kansas City, and he later authorized Mickey to be named an honorary DeMolay. In 1986, 20 years after his death, Disney was inducted into the first class of the DeMolay Hall of Fame.<br /><br />Disney faced several setbacks before achieving success. Although bright, he was labeled slow by some of his teachers due to his lack of attention in class. In 1923, he was forced to file for bankruptcy after being cheated by a distributor. And it was actually the loss of the rights to an earlier character he had developed which led to the creation of Mickey Mouse.<br /><br />Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse have brought joy to millions. You can read more about Mickey’s career <a href="http://disney.go.com/vault/archives/characterstandard/mickey/mickey.html">here</a>. </div></div></div>Bridget Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529008474260657674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-325095982738642982.post-60148318095876266732009-11-17T11:43:00.005-05:002009-11-17T13:26:53.205-05:00Ideas That Work<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMjIaR8lGZwjjBw6HfYg0_7P4BRt6JVpUIpiQMzvUxDk0fQctNrxCGAb8OYik-R86OAsLe-x3bV2NLP-Da0hvV2qvDMJZk6LQqFY0XbKLPkrbZm8xxVf67SixD8undXduEs8E51unEeQ/s1600-h/Ideas.png"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 67px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 97px" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336134377676464770" border="0" alt="idea icon" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMjIaR8lGZwjjBw6HfYg0_7P4BRt6JVpUIpiQMzvUxDk0fQctNrxCGAb8OYik-R86OAsLe-x3bV2NLP-Da0hvV2qvDMJZk6LQqFY0XbKLPkrbZm8xxVf67SixD8undXduEs8E51unEeQ/s320/Ideas.png" /></a> <em>Making Connections</em><br /><br />West Michigan Center Director Nina Gorak is thinking outside the box when it comes to seeking support for her Center. Over the past few months, she has used connections to get thousands of dollars worth of services donated to West Michigan.<br /><br />"Wherever I go, whoever I talk to, I just talk about the Learning Center," Nina said. “Whenever someone mentions ‘Gee, maybe I can contribute through this or that’ I make a note, and I follow up on it.”<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH02DfbmhAVUIbgK-BmHCyrRlKQt-28uwkmB4FvBglkXVwD5ibCisZFYK4rbZudjgP9SrkQeWRsNCWg4diwMx4SCd7Ky-c4qndLw9lF6Pw50RPED2OHjZnJ9IqTt-UQ24tN4-pcWWqnz8/s1600/New+Picture.png"></a>For the Center’s recent Halloween Dinner and Dance fundraiser, she was <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrxSPKP74Un1-PNeNR9f1mldOCe6zJDnp-tzLSfr36J2ZNU3c0g4IMbSsusQ0J3H_qwLraE10cwOAmrjHSTPZDKrYFJf476we-pXNwJy9TyuUtrlfhw7YhypaAAWcHh3gW-iwYFwQzng/s1600/flyer+with+caption.png"><img style="MARGIN: 10px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 127px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405106645708130066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrxSPKP74Un1-PNeNR9f1mldOCe6zJDnp-tzLSfr36J2ZNU3c0g4IMbSsusQ0J3H_qwLraE10cwOAmrjHSTPZDKrYFJf476we-pXNwJy9TyuUtrlfhw7YhypaAAWcHh3gW-iwYFwQzng/s200/flyer+with+caption.png" /></a>able to get pro-bono work from several people and organizations in the community. Looking for help with designing the fundraiser’s print materials, she sent an email to one of her tutors who teaches art. Nina simply asked the tutor if she knew anyone willing to do some artwork for the event, and the tutor connected her to Deidre Wieszciecinski and Jennifer Maine, two recent graduates of Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University. The graphic artists agreed to donate their services, creating the flyers, save-the-date cards and programs at no charge. They also recruited members of Kendall's branch of the American Institute of Graphic Artists, a student organization, to create the ballroom decor.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnUusafmFtEAs7e1ZS4U2F5MHbzfFwrYlhaIcrM9tB6GQfdO4vtaDqLmW6C1A_WBSkovTiW7cPgd7j6mEgTCbTAZQiz8sFouSUtSFXxw7j2lCYrhSkIOzODUaw4_wbn5wzLM72TOtJhA/s1600/centerpiece+with+caption+use.png"><img style="MARGIN: 13px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 182px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 161px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405139989595616306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnUusafmFtEAs7e1ZS4U2F5MHbzfFwrYlhaIcrM9tB6GQfdO4vtaDqLmW6C1A_WBSkovTiW7cPgd7j6mEgTCbTAZQiz8sFouSUtSFXxw7j2lCYrhSkIOzODUaw4_wbn5wzLM72TOtJhA/s200/centerpiece+with+caption+use.png" /></a>"The students of that club took this on as a project," Nina said. "They created<br />folded book decorations, including hanging folded book ornaments around a lighted paper chandelier over the ballroom dance floor. We used large folded books as centerpieces. The decorations were perfect to create our Halloween ball atmosphere."<br /><br />The connections go on. Obtaining a liquor license for the event brought seemingly endless red tape, but Nina was able to enlist the help of a lawyer who serves on the Center’s Board of Governors. The photographer for the event, Heather Dixon, was a high school friend of a West Michigan tutor. The professional photographer offered her time and services for no charge.<br /><br />West Michigan’s donated services don’t end with the Halloween <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsOqFb5LWtbcmtKk8dx0VEbiWkfdJq6fy-eLwewhseaHsgt2bY9w48Hqjz_b-tQRJoO-JfnmfwVS-hUfQGPyx45TdZsvisg4I2N6V_UC9Sw0gIANvR84tY67lM53A_cR-nHgc5jAObG4/s1600/website+with+caption.png"><img style="MARGIN: 10px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 184px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405107272743758450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsOqFb5LWtbcmtKk8dx0VEbiWkfdJq6fy-eLwewhseaHsgt2bY9w48Hqjz_b-tQRJoO-JfnmfwVS-hUfQGPyx45TdZsvisg4I2N6V_UC9Sw0gIANvR84tY67lM53A_cR-nHgc5jAObG4/s200/website+with+caption.png" /></a>fundraiser. When she wanted to set up an online donation system for her Center, Nina checked with the vendor who repairs her computers. He put her in touch with Shelly Gies, an insurance company manager who does web design on the side. The designer agreed to create the site without charging for her services. She set up PayPal for online donations and even designed the site’s logo. The total cost for the finished site was $55, which included registering the domain name and purchasing the website template and stock photos of children and tutors. You can check out West Michigan’s website at <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEB84_bXwF8i2RZf__1SLDzcR24FSBsV1hVDPRyPz9GxtZCVB5Pw4gSGcXvUBIW4RIdq8eLnyIuD6dLs7GfdlgGM0lWXAxtkzH0TWmUZU16RwzUP1m7U76vrC0Yr6niuSd29eMrerOYM8/s1600/New+Picture+(4).png"></a><a title="http://www.dyslexiatutoring.org/" href="http://www.dyslexiatutoring.org/">http://www.dyslexiatutoring.org/</a>.<br /><br />Perhaps one of the most valuable connections has resulted in production of a promotional video for the Center. Larry Taunt, Chairman and CFO of Regal Financial Group, serves as Nina and her husband’s investment manager. In a conversation with him about her work, Nina learned that Larry’s partner at Regal has dyslexia. Although the business already supports a successful fundraising campaign for cystic fibrosis, he offered to see what he could do to help. The connection led to Regal offering to film and produce a promotional DVD for the Center using the business’s new production studio.<br /><br />“For someone to rent the facilities and staff would cost $15,000 per hour,” Nina said. “The staff there has put in days of work. I couldn’t even begin to estimate what the cost would have been.”<br /><br />Connections also came in handy when Nina needed qualified individuals to speak on the DVD. Several board members will be featured, including Board Chair Dr. James Resau, a microbiologist & geneticist at Van Andel Institute, Vice Chair Dr. Steven Pastyrnak, division chief of pediatric psychology at DeVos Children's Hospital, and board member Dr. Wendy Burdo Hartman, a pediatrician whose daughter has dyslexia. Anita Smith and her daughter Jennifer, a West Michigan graduate whose book Dyslexia Wonders was published this year, will also be speaking, along with Nina and former student Jeffrey Drake-Todd.<br /><br />The video will explain dyslexia, tell what the Center does to help and end with an appeal for donations to support the program. It should be completed by the end of this year.<br /><br />There’s no secret to seeing results like West Michigan.<br />“I just asked,” Nina said.Bridget Steelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529008474260657674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-325095982738642982.post-80213798964295020322009-11-12T13:48:00.000-05:002009-11-12T13:48:39.224-05:00News You Can Use<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRN8DfVLywYZxXwTv4JFYS3_veYQDg_-LzberjaLnJAiCGMhCFjBpmIfshjcW3OesgLcz5DYxq_Zn7wnqZqfVF8rtf4LbvDXVtwiHLMxkDk86zSnaN1RDDCHi1MWksPOLZ-nHQjdI5wYc/s1600-h/News.png"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 3px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 85px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 70px" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337891303132117730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRN8DfVLywYZxXwTv4JFYS3_veYQDg_-LzberjaLnJAiCGMhCFjBpmIfshjcW3OesgLcz5DYxq_Zn7wnqZqfVF8rtf4LbvDXVtwiHLMxkDk86zSnaN1RDDCHi1MWksPOLZ-nHQjdI5wYc/s320/News.png" /></a> The James Irvine Foundation in cooperation with the Chronicle of Philanthropy just released a new report entitled, <a href="http://www.irvine.org/images/stories/pdf/eval/convergencereport.pdf">Convergence: How Five Trends Will Reshape the Social Sector</a>. This report describes the coming years as being very challenging for organizations that try to maintain status quo in their approach to their market and their worlds. The trends as described in the study and summarized by the Chronicle are:<br /><p><strong>Shifting demographics.</strong> With new generations making up a growing share of the work force, charities must learn to share leadership with younger workers, the report says. </p><p><strong>Technological advances.</strong> Social-media technologies provide charities the opportunity to gain greater exposure, but they also require groups to be comfortable giving more people within their organization a chance to speak out. </p><p><strong>New ways to collaborate.</strong> With the advent of new technologies, organizations can just as easily work with an individual located across the world as they can through traditional coalitions and alliances, according to the report. </p><p><strong>Greater interest in service.</strong> Last year’s presidential election spurred interest in volunteerism, but nonprofit groups need to keep in mind that people have many different reasons for volunteering and ought to tailor their opportunities to individuals’ interests. </p><p><strong>Blurred lines between nonprofit and for-profit.</strong> Greater emphasis on corporate social responsibility and the emergence of businesses whose primary aim is to do good are challenging the nonprofit field’s traditional identity but are also creating opportunities for new partnerships and collaboration, says the report.<br /></p><p>This monograph is a must read for our boards and staff. When you read this, take an honest eye to your board and the way you do business. Are you integrating youth into your leadership? Is social-media technology (or even email) facilitating communication with in the board and to your universe of stakeholders? Are you operating from silos of one-person, one task or collaborating to maximize your strengths for the events or activities you do for your LC? Are you assertively seeking new volunteers on their terms? Are you willing to explore ways to build revenue in addition to charitable donations?</p><p>Please discuss among your boards.<br /></p>Steve Pekockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579923369929879496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-325095982738642982.post-82832735467485648072009-11-10T14:16:00.007-05:002009-11-11T08:29:16.404-05:00Inspiration<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YHRZ2gQJVjlFZLmGRAVVBQ498gZXmuinbeZwFvRGyctYAX2Lxhw4QF_fHQGDUTv0gQqDI-jR8ch7ILeO4RbZbOSL2ZNvrRdR6VvVS66QgBaZz3sH3_rbjdrxPgdnXhjb4q7IEoJbj5k/s1600-h/Inspiration.png"><img style="margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; width: 85px; float: left; height: 70px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337995680156226802" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YHRZ2gQJVjlFZLmGRAVVBQ498gZXmuinbeZwFvRGyctYAX2Lxhw4QF_fHQGDUTv0gQqDI-jR8ch7ILeO4RbZbOSL2ZNvrRdR6VvVS66QgBaZz3sH3_rbjdrxPgdnXhjb4q7IEoJbj5k/s320/Inspiration.png" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span class="huge" style="font-size:130%;">"</span><span class="indquote_link">A competent leader can get efficient service from poor troops, while on the contrary an incapable leader can demoralize the best of troops.</span><span class="huge" style="font-size:130%;">"<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">-General John J. Pershing<br /></div><br />Today is Veterans Day (or Armistice Day or Remembrance Day, depending upon your nationality or preference). It is a day made solemn by the sacrifices of millions of American sons and daughters, among the world's multitudes - a time to reflect and appreciate the freedoms and opportunities their measures of courage have protected for us to enjoy. This day of honor is especially poignant this year as we morn those soldiers massacred at Ft. Hood last week. To all our vets, Thank You!<br /><br />General John J. Pershing, a Mason, was the commander of American forces during World War I. His troops' victories in the Second Battle of the Marne and the Argonne have been marked as critical to the ultimate victory of Allied forces in the "War to End All Wars."<br /><br />I take from this quote Pershing's understanding that the quality of our leadership ability has a profound impact upon our outcomes. As leaders of our Learning Centers we must all ask ourselves,"Am I serving as a competent leader of my Center? Am I inspiring others to do all they can do? Or, am I showing ambivalence and disinterest that is leading my Learning Center nowhere?"<br /><br />Demonstrating leadership, event modest leadership, can work wonders. As board members and staff, it behooves us to remember that.Steve Pekockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579923369929879496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-325095982738642982.post-88859248129552374562009-11-10T08:04:00.013-05:002009-11-10T14:44:50.449-05:00Nuts and Bolts<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9Lrrj-bR6GgZfzIP5DJItOEGkrfF883-oxNl7AY2fbzG0vkzsrdMufnHE6JWqzVloNN-PVMo6sAu7a4o4uBYf2ffjRP13HtOSAq4aLohV8vbzzKsOQjLBI_DejOqgjAyAqxqNkfQ8LU/s1600-h/New+Picture+(3).png"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 69px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 78px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341307344424977186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9Lrrj-bR6GgZfzIP5DJItOEGkrfF883-oxNl7AY2fbzG0vkzsrdMufnHE6JWqzVloNN-PVMo6sAu7a4o4uBYf2ffjRP13HtOSAq4aLohV8vbzzKsOQjLBI_DejOqgjAyAqxqNkfQ8LU/s320/New+Picture+(3).png" /></a><em>Grant Update</em><br />In recent months we have noticed some of the same grant questions and issues coming up that we’d like to address. We have included an explanation of how to handle confusing budget questions, a GrantAID update and a reminder of time constraints when preparing a grant.<br />Please feel free to call or email anytime. We’re here to help.<br /><em></em><br /><em>The Corporate Umbrella</em><br />Operating under the corporation’s 501 (c) 3 can pose a challenge for individual Centers applying for grants. A yearly audit is done for the entire corporation (32nd Degree Masonic Learning Centers for Children, Inc.) but not for individual Centers. Many grant applications ask for budget information, revenue, etc. from the audited financial statements, but including these numbers can be confusing and seem inflated because they pertain to the entire corporation.<br />Our solution for this has been to contact the foundation directly and ask if they want the corporate numbers or data from the individual Center. If you need more explanation, please contact us.<br /><em></em><br /><em>LOI Changes</em><br />We have made another change to the GrantAID Kit. The last three paragraphs of the Letter of Intent have been updated to reflect funding changes. You can download the updated Letter of Intent (LOI 2009) from the Learning Center website <a href="http://www.childrenslearningcenters.org/help/fundraising.html">here</a> (scroll down the page to view the GrantAid documents).<br /><em></em><br /><em>Deadlines </em><br />Please be aware of the time frame if you need assistance with preparing a grant.We are always willing to help, but please respect the fact that we are supporting 55 Learning Centers. As a result, we may not be able to accommodate last minute calls for help. Starting to work with us 90 days before a proposal is due assures our ability to best help you. If you are caught in a last minute rush, consider whether waiting for the next funding cycle is possible. You may stand a better chance for success by waiting until the next grant cycle than by throwing together a rushed proposal.Catherine Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17408898261598871533noreply@blogger.com0