2008 Conference Workshops

Breakout 1:    9:30 - 10:45 a.m.
Breakout 2:    1 - 2:15 p.m.
Breakout 3:    2:30 - 3:45 p.m.

Breakout Session I 9:30 – 10:45 a.m.

The Board: Deciding the Future of the Nonprofit Sector

Presenter: Jamie Levy, President, JD Levy & Associates
Who should attend: Nonprofit leaders, board members
Skill level: Intermediate – Advanced
Room: Brule

Board of Directors. Regents. Trustees. Overseers. Governors. The Board. No matter the name, the board is the single most important body of any nonprofit organization. Participants in the workshop will delve into the all-important question: What is the real purpose of the board of directors? This workshop will dovetail nicely with The Board as a Body of Leadership workshop in session three, but is not a prerequisite.

After this session, participants will be able to:
• Better understand topics of philanthropy and fundraising sustainability and how they relate to the board
• Understand the outcome of organizational vision and how to plan around that vision
Understand how the board can elevate organizational potential or diminish it.

Hallmarks of Risk Savvy Organizations: Everyday Strategies for Long-Term Success

Presenter: Mitzy Sharp Futro, Co-Director, Capacity Building Services, Michigan Nonprofit Association
Who should attend: Nonprofit leaders, board members
Skill level: Novice – Intermediate
Room: Cadillac

This session will introduce participants to “Hallmarks of Risk-Savvy Nonprofits” – guiding principles to encourage active risk management in everyday operations. It will introduce the principles, as well as strategies and action steps that can be taken by organizations of various sizes that recognize the importance of proactive risk-management.
After this session, participants will be able to:
• Identify the hallmarks of risk-savvy organizations
• Identify specific strategies and action steps that can be implemented to demonstrate sound risk-management practices
• Identify appropriate risk-management roles for individuals at varying levels of the organization

Working Together Online (NPower)

Presenter: Adam King, Consultant NPower Michigan
Who should attend: Nonprofit leaders, staff, board members, volunteers
Skill level: Novice
Room: Nicolet

Remember when working together on a document required emailing an attachment back and forth? No longer! There are faster and better ways of working together online. Learn how to collaborate on projects, share calendars and documents and make communication within your organization simpler … no matter where you are working from.

After this session, participants will be able to:
• Use free and low cost web tools to meet and collaborate on projects
• Easily share calendars, documents and media with staff and baord
• Work differently use new tools

The Basics of Nonprofit Advocacy

Presenter: Tiffany Aurora, Public Policy Manager, Michigan Nonprofit Association
Who should attend: Nonprofit leaders, staff, board members, volunteers
Skill level: Novice
Room: Marquette

Nonprofit advocacy and lobbying are legal and responsible ways to serve your constituencies. Lobbying laws, planning for advocacy, and basic advocacy skills will be introduced in this session. Definitions of public policy, advocacy, lobbying and the arenas of influence will be discussed as well as basic description of the legislative process and how bills become laws.

After this session, participants will be able to:
• Understand the distinction between advocacy and lobbying, as well as corresponding IRS guidelines for 501(c)3 nonprofits
• Increase capacity to engage in policy work at the state level
• Serve constituencies more fully by taking on advocacy work on their behalf

Fundamentals of Effective Volunteer Management

Presenter: Cynthia Chilcote, Planning and Communications Consultant, Volunteer Centers of Michigan
Who should attend: Nonprofit leaders, staff, board members
Skill level: Novice
Room: Pioneer A

Volunteers can be a great asset to your organization. Are you making the most of them? Make the commitment to audit your volunteer program - learn what is going well and what could be improved. Then review the 3 R’s of volunteer management, recruitment, retention and recognition, and learn how to find and develop effective, committed volunteers for your association.

After this session, participants will be able to:
• Conduct a volunteer management audit and develop an action plan to improve and streamline the program
• Use a recruitment worksheet to identify the best volunteers for the job and contract with a volunteer for superior performance
• Develop specific techniques to retain valuable volunteers for the long-run

Managing Conflict in the Workplace

Presenter: Jennifer Frazier, Executive Director, Marquette Alger Resolution Service
Who should attend: Nonprofit leaders, staff, board members, volunteers
Skill level: Novice
Room: Pioneer B

In the life cycle of every conflict, there is a point when it’s large enough to be recognized, but small enough to be resolved. The workplace is filled with people who have differences of wants, needs and expectations. Conflicts will occur and it is crucial to learn to deal with disagreement in proactive and productive ways. This workshop will provide a blueprint for the strategic management of organizational conflicts that involve, staff, leaders and colleagues.

After this session, participants will be able to:
• Understand how to think strategically about conflict
• Learn how to resolve conflicts with others
• Use a variety of communication tools in dealing with conflict in the workplace

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Breakout Session II 1 – 2:15 p.m.

Revealing the Enterprise

Presenter: Dione Alexander, Midwest Site Director, Nonprofit Finance Fund
Who should attend: Nonprofit leaders, staff, board members
Skill level: Intermediate – Advanced
Room: Brule

Why do so many nonprofit organizations run into financial difficulties despite their excellent programs? And what can we do about it? Learn how to balance your organization’s mission with its financial realities. Plan for an in-depth and dynamic discussion of your organization’s capital situation, its plans for the future and the best path to achieve your long-term goals. Participants will engage in conversation about the challenges and opportunities posed by growth, endowments, property ownership and much more.

After this session, participants will be able to:
• Interpret financial statements to reveal the financial reality underpinning programs
• Understand how business and choices affect organizational fanatical health and ultimately the viability of mission and program
• Use strategies and tools for communicating financial challenges and needs both internally and to funders

Blogs, Wikis, and Web 2.0 – A Plain-English Explanation of the New Collaborative Media

Presenter: Dana L. Cadman, President, Cadman Communications Corporation
Who should attend: Nonprofit leaders, staff, board members, volunteers
Skill level: Novice – Intermediate
Room: Cadillac

Web 1.0 is dead. Or it soon will be. Static Web sites will be a thing of the past within five years. This non-technical presentation will explain each Web 2.0 component and how your organization can leverage the new collaborative media.

After this session, participants will be able to:
• Better understand Web 2.0 technologies
• Begin developing a Web 2.0 strategy that supports funding raising and marketing
• Use Web 2.0 strategy to support intra- and inter-agency collaboration

1-800-Volunteer.org: Spend Less Time and Get More Volunteers

Presenters: Linda Remsburg, Youth Development Associate, GLCYD; Terry Thomma, Administrative Services Manager, UPCAP/UP 2-1-1 Call Center
Who should attend: Nonprofit leaders, staff, board members, volunteers
Skill level: Novice – Advanced
Room: Nicolet

This workshop is a must for organizations that want to strengthen their volunteer base. It will introduce participants to 1-800-Volunteer.org, an online volunteer management service made free to nonprofits throughout the Upper Peninsula by the U.P. Volunteer Network. Participants will learn how to use the system to post their organization’s volunteer opportunities, streamline communication with volunteers using automated tools and run reports that reflect their volunteer recruiting success.

After this session, participants will be able to:
• Create a 1-800-Volunteer.org account for a nonprofit organization
• Post and edit an organization’s volunteer opportunities, activities and events on 1-800-Volunteer.org
• Manage volunteers online including accepting or declining volunteers for opportunities and tracking volunteer hours

Understanding QuickBooks Premier Nonprofit Specific Bookkeeping Software

Presenters: Jacqueline Miaso, C.B., President; Reva Kleiman, QuickBooks Specialist, Delta Business Solutions
Who should attend: Nonprofit leaders, staff, board members
Skill level: Intermediate
Room: Marquette

QuickBooks software is designed specifically for nonprofits needs and requirements. Delve into the topics such as tracking income and expenses for individual projects or programs, and managing restricted and unrestricted funds. Participants will also have opportunity to view reports available with the software and how to perform tasks like generating letters and identifying key donors.

After this session, participants will be able to:
• Decide if specialized QuickBooks software is a right fit
• Determine need for single versus multi-user systems
• Consider the pros and cons of outsourcing bookkeeping tasks

Up to Speed and Working Together

Presenter: Susan Roll, Professional Trainer, M-TEC at Bay College
Who should attend: Nonprofit leaders, staff, board members
Skill level: Novice – Advanced
Room: Pioneer A

New board and team members don’t always hit the ground running. Existing members can e off track as well. Getting everyone up to speed and on the same page is crucial. Helping new and existing team members work together productively takes an integration process that is focused on the organization’s culture, team building and shared mission. Take the time to consider, plan and improve that process in this workshop.

After this session, participants will be able to:
• Identify the key elements of an integration process for their organization that will get a new team member contributing quickly
• Learn that focusing on shared goals encourages people to work productively together
• Create an integration plan for their organization that will work given the resources they have

Committees that Work!

Presenter: Donna Huntsman, Program Associate, Nonprofit Enterprise at Work
Who should attend: Nonprofit leaders, board members
Skill level: Intermediate
Room: Pioneer B

Take advantage of practical guidance and tools designed to help you make committees productive, efficient and creative. Learn about the lasted trends, best practices and controversies in nonprofit committee structure. Participants will explore topics such as governance evolving from nominating, audit versus finance and how to consider whether an executive committee should be dissolved.

After this session, participants will be able to:
• Determine committees based on organizational lifecycle
• Define committee work versus staff work
• Create structures for accountability and high functioning committees

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Breakout Session III 2:30 – 3:45 p.m.

The Board as a Body of Leadership … Not a Group of Individuals

Presenter: Jamie Levy, President, JD Levy & Associates
Who should attend: Nonprofit leaders, board members
Skill level: Intermediate – Advanced
Room: Brule

Designed to follow (but not required to follow) The Board: Deciding the Future of the Nonprofit Sector in session one, attendees of this workshop will explore cultures of governance and leadership and how board culture can ultimately determine the success or demise of an organization.

After this session, participants will be able to:
• Create a board environment of continuous improvement and evaluation
• Understand how to mold the board toward higher levels of effectiveness and leadership
• Foster exploration of how board meetings can stagnate or empower the board

Working with Today’s Media to Get Attention for Your Organization

Presenter: Lisa Sommer, Media Relations Manager, Michigan Nonprofit Association
Who should attend: Nonprofit leaders, staff,
Skill level: Novice – Intermediate
Room: Cadillac

With the constant evolution of media, it’s hard to keep up with tactics to reach the newsroom desk or blogger computer screen. In this session, we will discuss the different types of media outlets and learn techniques for pitching local and statewide media that will help gain increased coverage for your organization and position you as an expert for your organization’s issue.

After this session, participants will be able to:
• Develop effective written materials such as press releases, media advisories and letters to the editor
• Build relationships with members of the media (reporters, journalist, bloggers, etc.) and know who to contact, when to contact them, how to keep the relationship
• Prepare a pitch for each appropriate media outlet (TV, radio, print, blogs, etc.)

Planned Giving and Endowments as Part of the Nonprofit Fundraising Strategy

Presenters: Carole Touchinski, Executive Director, Marquette Community Foundation; Gary LaPlant, Executive Director, Delta County Community Foundation
Who should attend: Nonprofit leaders, staff, board members,
Skill level: Novice – Intermediate
Room: Nicolet

Participants will explore planned giving as part of their overall fund development strategy. Several planned giving vehicles will be discussed and participants will have the opportunity to study their own donor base, identify prospects for planned gifts and create solicitation plans. Participants will also learn about the menu of services available through community foundations.

After this session, participants will be able to:
• Explain the importance of endowed funds for their organizatio
• Evaluate their donor base
• Build a plan for identifying and cultivating prospects for planned gifts

Marketing Principles to Win Government Funding

Presenter: William Martin, President, Jericho Resources, Inc.
Who should attend: Nonprofit leaders, board members
Skill level: Novice – Advanced
Room: Marquette

Competition for government funding through requests for proposals (RFPs) is increasingly intense every year. In this hands-on session, participants will learn how to apply proven marketing principles that will make their organization’s RFP responses stand out from the competition. This workshop will blend presentation of concrete tips and techniques, including examples of RFP “do’s” and “definitely do not’s,” with interactive exercises to work through actual RFP samples as well as the opportunity to discuss the material.

After this session, participants will be able to:
• Develop a response strategy based on government evaluation criteria and response scoring
• Identify potential partnerships that would increase the likelihood of success in responding to the RFP and implementing the programming
• Use visuals that convey organization’s effectiveness and complement the narrative response

Advocating for Healthy Kids – School and Community Initiatives to Promote Child Well-Being

Presenter: Lynn Krahn, Extenstion Educator, MSU Extension – Marquette County
Who should attend: Nonprofit leaders, board members, volunteers
Skill level: Novice – Advanced
Room: Pioneer A

Learn about school and community initiatives designed to promote nutrition, physical activity and safety to school-aged youth. Participants will learn about the Healthy School Action Tool, Jump Into Fun and Fitness and Safe Route 2 School initiatives, and gain tools to help advocate launching these initiatives in youth-serving and nonprofit programs and activities.

After this session, participants will be able to:
• Learn how to help advocate for community-wide child well-being
• Understand the importance of the Healthy School Action Tool to school funding and child nutrition
• Take away ideas for immediate implementation in existing programs and activities

Engaging Native American and Rural Youth

Panelists: April Lindala, NMU Center for Native American Studies; Jennifer Anziano, Bay Mills Charter School; Jim St. Arnold, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission
Who should attend: Nonprofit leaders, staff, board members
Skill level: Novice – Advanced
Room: Pioneer B

Attend this panel discussion to learn more about how to engage Native American and rural youth in your organization’s efforts. Whether you are looking for young people to serve as volunteers, provide feedback or participate in programming, this discussion will provide information and tools specifically for reaching out to youth in regions like the Upper Peninsula.

After this session, participants will be able to:
• More efficiently engage Native American and rural youth in organization’s efforts
• Understand challenges to participation regional youths may encounter
• Explain the importance of making the effort to reach out to these population

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