Building Your Coalition

Why and How I Use LinkedIn

2010-01-02T01:43:00Z

Using any of the social networking tools can be overwhelming. Initial questions come to mind:
What am I doing here?
How come people say this is so great? What's so great about it?
There are so many people here - how do I get their attention?
Who is an expert? How have they achieved that status?
Why do some people have 21,000 - are you kidding me - 21,000 contacts?
How much time is enough time to spend on any of the sites?
Which one is the "right" one for me?

I could go on. Many of you know I am the Queen of Questions - a questioneer, if you will.

Let me share with you some of the things I have discovered about social networking. It is just like networking but it's done somewhere in outer space. By that I mean, that when you begin working in any of the platforms, you immediately alert and invite many more individuals into your space that you could ever do at a single networking event.

That means that when you enter twitter, you have more than 250 million, yes, million individuals that may choose to follow you. Facebook permits you to have more than 125 million enter into your space; LinkedIn, 80 million at the time of this writing.

So if you are remotely claustrophobic, this may not be the place for you. But if you want to open up new vistages, new places for you to seek out best practices among your peers, to see what similar professionals in your line of work are doing around the world, then you may choose LinkedIn as a modest place for you to start.

In a short period of time, my involvement has taken me into countries I have never ventured; into conversations with new colleagues with whom I share similar or discordant trains of thought, provided me with opportunities to explore new territory and find safe places to hold conversations.

I have been interviewed for radio shows, podcasts, contributed to books and articles for professional trade magazines and conducted research for my own writings.

I have, very simply, been learning how to increase my influence to enhance my affluence.

I have been fortunate and with that good fortune, found it beneficial to share what I have learned with others. For that reason, upon occasion, I provide webinars on "how to" use LinkedIn for those who are beyond the beginners stage. I am by no means an expert - I learn something new each time I teach a class.

But here's what some folks have said about the trainings:
"Kayte's LinkedIn 201 webinar was a very practical and useful training session on how to use LinkedIn for online networking, positioning myself as an expert, and for business development. Thank you Kayte!" Keiko Hsu, San Francisco, CA

"This was a great orientation on how to use LinkedIn for business development." Pam Concannon, Philadelphia, PA region

"You did a great job of sorting out the confusion of the Linkedin system!" Linda Napier, Charlotte, NC

"I enjoyed it and started trying to put it to work yesterday afternoon!" Sandy Clitter, Delaware County, PA

For more information on upcoming classes (usually every other month, 75 minutes, reasonably priced), go to https://www.bestprincipledsolutions.com/Webinar.html

Becoming More Productive through Online Collaboration

2009-10-15T20:50:00Z

No one seems to have enough time to get things done. Goals, programs, products, services, customers, relationship farming, tending the herd, goals and family. Every minute of every day brings new demands on what little time we have to pay attention to them.

As you begin to set your boundaries, say “no” to more opportunities because they have nothing, not one thing, to do with your big dream, you may find yourself appreciating technology in bits and pieces.

There are a plethora of tools available on-line for you to take advantage of to improve your efficiencies.

Google rolled out a suite of such amenities which may or may not make your life easier when providing your services. Their on-line platform, which can be found at http://www.google.com contains a fleet of tools that transcend incompatibilities of computer software that you, your team, or a committee may be facing.

From a free e-mail service that links a thread of e-mails into conversations around one particular topic; to a calendar that can be shared and linked to your mobile unit; to word processing, spreadsheets and presentation abilities where you can collaborate until your product is just the way you wanted it.

This may or may not be what your particular group needs. But if you know about it, and check it out, it may prove to be of benefit to you. In my presentations, I frequently refer to an unknown source, “you’ve got to step up to the foul-line to be able to take a shot. You’ve got to take a shot to know if you’ll miss or make it. You’ll miss it a few times before you make it. But at least you’ve tried.”

And while we’re on the topic of Google tools, don’t forget your ability to develop your profile, alerts , analytics and other SE optimization tools for you to increase your visibility. Finally, to determine what’s working for you, check out BING.com and search for you or your company/organization. I was pleasantly surprised to find 14 pages, yep that’s right pages, about me and Best Principled Solutions. Woo hoo! I must be doing something right.

http://www.google.com

How do you accommodate your solitary fantasy?

2009-10-15T20:44:00Z

What does it look like? What does it taste like? Sound like? Feel like?

Do you focus on your dream where everything falls into order and you take charge of transforming your fantasy into one million realities? Or do you let things fall to happenstance?

In frequent conversations with coaching clients, we have discovered the epiphany that we had to go through in our lives to start the process of truly appreciating it. It appears to be a generational thing, most of those who have found a new purpose to and for their lives and are actively taking steps toward attaining that fantasy after a life event of some consequence.

It could have been a birth, an illness, a death, a job change, a loss, an addition, but it was something of significance that made each of us take a step back, question ourselves “is that all there is?” and set a deliberate course of action that would bring us to a distinct purpose.

Not possible, some may say. I protest. As long as it’s legal, there is not much that you cannot do if you set your mind to it. You’ve read many stories about those that have achieved pinnacles in their lives, but they are empty shells because all of those combined achievements do not measure up to one moment of true happiness.

Yet, Katherine Hepburn encourages us to find one single fantasy that may bring you a million realities? How do you begin to fathom a million realities? Let’s focus on just one and take it from there.

Everyday, give yourself at least fifteen minutes for your dream. Give it a life. Draw a picture of exactly what it is or if you can’t draw, find a picture. Make copies of that picture and put them everywhere that you go. In your office, in your bedroom. By your phone, by your biggest distracters, put these pictures. Then, as you make choices during the day, choose consciously whether this particular activity has any bearing to how this has impact on your fantasy – your goal – your dream.

Everyday, during those fifteen minutes of “me” time, be still. Picture yourself inside of your picture. What will you be doing? How will you be dressed? What will you be saying? This is not easy – it is especially not easy for me. I can assure you that if you do this and make “me” time, you will eventually be able to make those priority choices easier.

Keep a journal. Write it down. There is something cathartic about putting your fantasy into words and bringing it to life. It is a commitment to hold yourself accountable and make things happen.

One fantasy may bring you one reality. But if you do nothing about it, you’ll never have tried, you’ll never have failed, you’ll never win.

Make some me time. Step up to the foul line. Put the pen in your hands. Bring it to life. Do something to make your life purposeful and stop permitting others to write your story for you.

On Tasting Adversity

2009-06-11T17:55:00Z

The taste of adversity to some is an unwelcome taste. It is viewed as bitter, harsh, distressful or just plain stressful. Think about the times in your life when you have been considered as an adversary, or a devil's advocate, or counterproductive because you sought clarity before coming to a resolution.

This could be particularly true if you are engaged in any type of activity that involves teamwork or civic work. You participate with a group of seemingly like-minded individuals who want to rush through some type of a proposal, or task, without due deliberation or a reasonable period of time for adequate input.

Let's take the State budgets for example. Right now (June, 2009), we have come to know and realize that the PA Senate has rushed through a bill that sorely destroys the cultural aspects of our Commonwealth, because it has stripped down any funding to the arts, cultural institutions, arts in education, impacted funding for libraries and other health and human service organizations and is tentatively wiping out the Earned Income Tax Credit.

As a citizen, we have the right to contact our legislators about said budget and why we are either in favor of it or are not. How we have been invited to participate may not be as blatant as a team meeting called for a work project. We are sometimes forced into our adversarial positions.

But the opportunity to dialogue about these types of issues is what benefits all of our civic society. The freedom that we have, as Americans, is something to be revered. And it is in that reverance, that adversity and lead itself to prosperity when and if the bitter, harsh and distressful conversations that we have bring benefit to our entire culture as a result.

I continue to flash back on an Americans for the Arts convention in the mid-1990's when playwright Tony Kushner remarked about the defunding of the National Endowment for the Arts individual artists programs. As a response to the outrage from the public funding of Maplethorpe and others like him at the time, there had been a severe restriction on continued arts programming funding.

Addressing the audience, Mr. Kuschner (Angels in America, author) stated:
"Ladies and gentlemen. The line has been drawn. You are either for the arts or you are a barbarian."

Hmmm...one has cause to ponder. Are we not harkening back to the times when such adversity by elected officials saying "No, culture is NOT important to us," that we have reason to become alarmed?

If prosperity should taste so sweet, it would be on the day that in this Commonwealth, the legislators "get it" and understand the importance of public funding - for a $8 return on investment to the economy for every $1 of tax payers money that goes into the coffers.

Would that the banking or auto industry be held to the same standard!

Harsh, bittersweet, I think not.

Genuine Listening

2009-05-08T15:08:00Z

"Genuine listening means suspending memory, desire, and judgment - and, for a moment at least, existing for the other person." Michael P. Nichols

Genuine listening comprises an intricate balance of art and skill. It is learned. It does not come naturally.

At our family gatherings, genuine listening means putting away all of the electronic devices and standing around the kitchen or sitting around the dining room table and not trying to one up the person who just spoke. It contains laughter, sadness, empathy and best wishes.

Genuine listening consists of turning off everything else in the immediate vicinity and giving all of your attention to whomever is speaking. One cannot be restless; one must be subdued. One can get excited by what they are hearing, but they are want to pass immediate judgement.

Genuine listening may be part reflective - simply stating back to the individual who has shared comments what you heard them say. This reflection is often a good idea. Particularly as one ages and words begin to have the same sound.

Reflective communication forgives misunderstandings and clarifies desired actions. It dismisses what may have happened at a former time and focuses on the now. The present is foremost.

Had genuine listening been used, how many predicaments could have been prevented? In your own lifetime, are there times, when you revisited conversations, weeks, months, or years later, only to find out one party was not fully present and did not hear what was being said?

Practice..practice..practice...and genuine listening will still require practice.

I raise this topic because of a recent hospital stay and other sterling episodes of "customer service."

Had someone paid attention to what I said, or read what had been written, perhaps, just perhaps, a repeat performance for a "pain" and the resulting trauma might not have occured.

As customers, vendors have an obligation to those who pay for services. How does this sound for some genuine listening?
"You think you got problems Lady. Get in line. You're one of 88 million customers." WOW. Was I put in my place! So glad to pay that bill - the problem lingers.

Every CEO, every professional, every customer service representative, let's make it every student, should spend time in a semester called, "Genuine listening." It would include etiquette, the art of conversation, time management and perhaps many, many word games.

I am hastened back to Father Bartel in Creative Writing at St. Francis University back a ways ago. Mr. Demetrius had us for English Composition and brought new meaning to the phrase "great teachers" but I heard this was to be a great class.

Father Bartel had us begin writing one word sentences for our homework assignments, gradually building up to 25 words. Each week as we read our assignments, do you believe that there was some genuine listening going on in the classroom? Absolutely. The shared respect fellow classmates had for each other to go through each report was heightened - rapport enhanced outside the classroom. But picking our words carefully, and with intention were foremost.

Could genuine listening benefit from exercises of this nature? Perhaps. I'd be curious to see research conducted that would measure improvement in customer processes and the impact of genuine listening had upon that delivery.

What do you think?

7 Websites to Support Your Year-Long Gift Giving

2008-12-03T14:07:00Z

There are approximately 1.7 million nonprofits registered with the IRS today. There are countless numbers of counterfeit nonprofits that have names just like them. It’s the end of the year.

As you prepare for your gift giving, how are you preparing for the onslaught of those hoping that you’ll throw a few gifts their way?

Do you know your style of giving?

Are you a planner; one who has their whole budget for charitable giving mapped out and spread evenly throughout the year?

Are you a joiner? Do you believe in joining an organization at a level where you receive certain social benefits? (special events, exhibitions)

Have you gathered your friends and become a giving circle, hoping to maximize your contributions?

Do you give on impulse? Do you let the fundraising propaganda tug at your heartstrings and permit that cause you may have never heard of collect your hard earned dollars because this plea was just too good to pass up?

Do you rely on inspiration and will you only write a check to the cause that provides a clear path on a journey to solving some social ill?

As year-end giving amps up for a tremendous close, you owe it to yourself to make donations to those organizations that are truly worthy. But, how do you decide which ones they are?

If you do nothing else, make sure the charity is legitimate. You could examine the IRS website at http://www.irs.gov/charities/charitable/index.html and see if the group has truly been given the nonprofit status. You must know the name under which the group organized, which can at times, be different than what’s on record.

The PA Bureau of Charitable Organizations maintains registration and financial information on over 9,500 charities soliciting in the Commonwealth. Is the organization you want to send your money to properly registered to legitimately solicit funds? http://web.dos.state.pa.us/cgi-bin/Charities/creport.cgi Those organizations prohibited from soliciting in PA are also noted.

Guidestar www.guidestar.org can also provide you with the last tax return from the organization (form 990). There, on page 2, you can see the ratios of how your money will be spent. Dollars are spread across general management, fundraising and program expenses.

You may also get a sense of the chief executive’s salary (if over $50,000) and the board members compensation, if any, should be readily available.

The Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy at the Urban Institute and the Center of Philanthropy at Indiana University found that ¼ of 220,000 nonprofits filing 990’s reported $0 fundraising expenses generating revenues of $1 million to $5 million; 13% listed $0 management and general expenses

Ratios do not necessarily tell the whole story. In the spring 2003, Nonprofit Quarterly, Jennifer A. Lammers states, "Choosing which charity to support based only on financial ratios is a little like choosing a restaurant based on how much it spends on advertising and marketing versus food."

The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University has spearheaded additional research. From 1994 through 2004, it produced the nonprofit cost study, to better understand how funds are raised, the means for evaluations and methods for developing reports for funders and others to improve standards in this arena.

The Nonprofit Cost Study http://www.coststudy.org gives a pretty hard look at why there are so many variances in reporting styles and what makes one organization seem more financially astute than another.

To support the many nonprofit organizations that are trying to do the right thing and become more accountable, the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations has created a "Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Program" that is being replicated by the PA Association of Nonprofit Organizations (www.pano.org) and nine other states.

Other nonprofits may choose to go through the approval process being offered by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance at www.give.org.

Bottom line: it’s your money and it’s your business decision. You want to give to an organization that shares your same values. Do some investigation on where you will place your hard earned money.

If you find that the charity that you want to give to does not meet your new found criteria, perhaps the best gift you could give them is a letter explaining why you have decided to dedicate your dollars towards them improving their administration.

Or send them a link to the former sites and ask them to sign the Nonprofit Constitution which will commit them to making necessary change to live up to the right to the public trust that was given to them when they were granted tax exemption status. http://www.nonprofitcongress.org/constitution Penalizing your cause may not help it to become more fiscally responsible. Directing your money towards a specific activity, like training for governance and financial reporting, may be a better way to go. Happy giving!

To receive timely tips such as this on a more regular basis, sign up at www.bestprincipledsolutions.com for my e-zine.

What is YOUR LEGACY FOR GIVING? Tired of giving band-aids, when a tornequet is needed? If you or your company could benefit from support in developing your giving plan, please contact me at kayte@bestprincipledsolutions.com.

Starting with a Fresh Attitude

2008-07-31T21:06:00Z

"Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm. " Winston Churchill

In former jobs, I have managed up to 50 staff and over 300 volunteers in different organizations. One of the beliefs I held, shared, and lived by was that mistakes were permitted; it meant you were trying. Sometimes mistakes would demand critical action - such as developing new procedures; hiring more staff; offering more training to lower the risks.

The premise was that I wanted individuals to try, to take risks and solve problems themselves and to encourage them to blossom and flourish. I gave them permission to fail and to learn from their mistakes.

So Mr. Churchill's words resonate with me because you have to keep plugging along to make things work, despite small setbacks. Managing your workload in a busy organization during tough times can be a difficult chore. No matter where you work, you often find yourself aligning your job, your department or your division's resources with that of the organization or corporation for which you are employed. You probably do that with regularity.

But, how often are you stepping back and looking at YOUR mission, YOUR vision, YOUR values and strategy for YOURSELF? When was the last time you took inventory of your dreams, your needs? Was their a first time that you took inventory of your dreams and your needs? Is it time for a fresh attitude, for a resurgence of enthusiasm?

Take a minute; get out a piece of paper and think about these things. Well actually, it may take a few minutes.

Who are you? Write down your values; your success stories; your stories that brought you humility or other lessons that you've learned in your life.

What are your overall objectives in life? When you are dead and gone, what do you want to have accomplished? How do you want to be remembered?

Okay, now make two columns. In one column, write down what you want in your life. Next to these items, put a checkmark next to the ones you need - the ones you absolutely must have to survive. How can you transpose these?

Now, think about where you are working. How does where you are working fit into any of your objectives or values?If it's a perfect fit, good for you!! If it's an acceptable fit, there are probably some things that you could do to make it better. If it's a nonfit, what are you doing there?

Beginning this fall, in addition to teleseminars that I'll be offering, I'm going to offer group coaching as a means of additional support. There, you will have an opportunity to be coached on specific issues that you bring to the table within the security and safety of a group.

If you are living a life that is not acceptable, you could hold yourself accountable for making change. You are the only one who can make that step. I wish you all of the successes to need to keep your enthusiasm for life high on your priority list. This fall, give yourself a fresh start with a reinvigorated attitude.

If you'd like more information about Group Coaching, contact me at groupcoaching@bestprincipledsolutions.com

"Kayte Connelly has been instrumental in coaching me to better organize and set priorities for my start-up business. I can say without equivocation, that she encouraged me to follow through and hold myself accountable." Celeste Walker, creator and President of Words and Actions a voice and speech coach/consultant.

Connecting YOUR Organization to More Money

2008-07-21T02:33:00Z

Promotions and Your Campaigns

You are in the business of raising funds for your mission. You should have a method of collecting names from every resource to encourage readers, visitors, event attendants, and members to go to their next level in their commitment to your organization. How you promote your organization is integrally tied in to your level of success.

How to re-think that campaign:
1. Assess your current promotional efforts. Is your website fluid? Is it current? Are you posting progress every month and celebrating your milestones?

2. What does your website look like? Is it vibrant, does it look inviting?

3. Are you cluttering up your message? People like stories, not the same old stuff. How focused is your website on people?

4. Are you thinking people, not necessarily patrons? Yes, you want people who visit your website to eventually become a believer and join. How are you leading them to water?

5. Do you have the means to potentially collect the names of the people who visit your website? What are you doing with those names?

6. Are you giving them emotional experiences, or flat ones?

7. Are you encouraging them at every possible venture, to participate somehow in your programming – either through a short news blast, a special promotion or an update?

8. If you stage events, are you inviting your reading public? How? What about those names you collected?

9. Do you have plans for external communications, your regular monthly media blasts to the general public through the media that celebrate your milestones?

10. Do you have an "official" spokesperson, or is it anyone’s game? Do volunteers have the authority to speak on behalf of your entire organization? How about dissenting committee or board members? Will they speak on your behalf to the press?

Take these questions and answer them to chart a new course to fundraising success. For a complimentary fundraising assessment write me at kayte@bestprincipledsolutions..

Another Board Guerilla Moment - July 2008

2008-07-14T15:24:00Z

When's the last time you took the pulse of your board of directors.? Are they sitting around the table nodding their heads in approval for the first half of the meeting when the perfunctories are presented?

Do they understand your vernacular? Are any of your board members glazing over when reports are given or fumbling with their PDA's and glancing at their watches?

Do you encourage your board to speak, or to come in, say "aye" and leave? Every organization has its own unique language -- for at least a few terms or phrases.

Dedicate at least 10 minutes a board meeting to refresh your board's vocabulary about your specific programs and outcomes. Familiarize them with new programs or community outreach programs.

Empower them with knowledge and then hold them accountable to achieving your mission.

It will gain you strength as your board can speak wisely on your behalf and do greater good in your community, wherever that may be. An empowered board is a healthy board, and healthy boards produce wellness, balance and sustenance.

For more information on developing your board governance, your individual board plans or your organization's guerilla board moments, contact me at Kayte@bestprincipledsolutions.com.

To receive additional tips for governance and other nonprofit philanthropy concerns, sign up for my e-zine at www.bestprincipledsolutions.com.

LinkedIn w/Chip Lambert; Making Social Networking work for Professionals

2008-07-14T15:09:00Z

Do you have questions about HOW-TO use LinkedIn? For example:

Does it matter if I have 10, 200 or 500 connections?

Why are recommendations important?

How would someone locate and then ask a celebrity guest for a special fundraising event?

How to gracefully reject a connection from someone you do not know

How to graciously step away from making a permanent recommendation to someone who has the potential to generate embarrassment through association

How to have your organization or business to develop a "cult" following ultimately raising your profile and making more money?

These are samples of the types of questions you can ask Chip during a teleseminar on August 6th. For registration, go to https://www.bestprincipledsolutions.com/LinkedIn_w_Chip_Lambert.html. Only 250 callers will be permitted.

For updates on additional teleseminar opportunities as they arise, sign up on my contact page while you are there.

Do You Know Where Your Dollars Are or How They May Impact Your "grands"

2008-07-10T20:28:00Z

In a recent interview on NPR’s Radio Times, author Jeremy Scahill ("Blackwater: The Rise of the Wrold’s Most Mercenary Army") interpreted the public debt in a very meaningful manner.

"One trillion dollars" he said, "is the equivalent to $100,000 per day for a period of 82 years." That’s just one trillion.

When you start putting things in perspective, and you talk with your boards or your corporate sponsors or your local government officials, how frequently are you thinking forward to the impact of your decisions on the seventh generation?

How are your actions or lack thereof, impacting seven generations down the line?

Donald Barnhouse, WFMZ commentator, recently criticized Michelle Obama for her statement that things are not better off that they were years ago. Demonstrating how much better off we are, was the fact that he boasted more Americans have air conditioners than we did 10 years ago.

He didn’t present any facts that we are more in debt to pay for those air conditioners; are using more energy and making greater demands on the environment; or that global warming is responsible for any of the tremendous weather divergences the world has experienced.

Take a few minutes, go the extra mile, and consider how to measure the impact of where your dollars are going. Your great-great-great-great-great-great grandchildren, who will probably be paying off the interest on our national debt, think about them. They will appreciate it.

Fundraising Tips from A Previous Newsletter

2008-06-27T17:46:00Z

Periodically, one of my e-zines is dedicated to fundraising efforts. Here are some excerpts from one of the March issues.

The next round of selected grant and other opportunities which have been gleaned from a variety of resources. There are many others which may be related to your personal or professional goals. This information can be used in conjunction with your Individual Fund development Plan (IFP). For assistance in developing your personal or organizational IFP contact Best Principled Solutions for more information or participate in the expanded complimentary teleseminars series listed below.

Finally, when is the last time you had a fundraising audit completed for your business development strategy and what have you done about those findings? Are you on target with your funding for this year?

In this month's issue, I am taking a different tack. Please take a minute to read through a critical article on Fundraising to put this Business Development Issue into perspective. Once you have completed reading it, you will find yourself or your organization among the tens of thousands of other very similar mission driven causes, and you may find yourself lacking in the obvious critical component the individual donor.

The purpose of this publication will somewhat morph into familiarizing you with grant opportunities as in previous issues. But it is more important that you become familiar with individuals and start focusing on your relationship development with individual donors, or individual corporations. When you are able to match the 75% individual donor statistic, you will know that you are well on your way.

Grants may seem like the catchall and I will continue to post this auxiliary tool. However, there are truly other areas where your energies should be focused.

Where do you begin prospecting for Individual Donors? One site could be Lamb Research Understand where the money is coming from. A variety of databases from political donations to those higher salaried professions may be researched here. This is time intensive; but if you are truly interested in finding more individuals, this may be a place for you to commence your efforts.

Let's look at some well respected Foundations. Where can you fit in to their giving strategies?

Remember to look at past recipients to determine how you may have a similar program but differentiate yourself enough to measure your objectives with a unique impact.

American Express has three major initiatives and funds some organizations for ongoing projects. If you fall under Cultural Heritage, Leadership or Community Services, you may have found a match. If you go to their website, you will find more information. For a complete listing of their 2006 grant list, go to http://home3.americanexpress.com/corp/gb/pdfs/2006grantslist.pdf

The Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation will seek and fund innovative projects which advance solutions to basic and enduring problems and will focus its grantmaking in the areas of art, the environment and learning disabilities. Their efforts will reflect the entrepreneurial spirit of their family forbears and the founder's distinction for foresight, imagination and risk taking. They will pursue their mission so that the Foundation will also engender family unity, equality, and mutual respect, and serve to educate family members in philanthropy, service and stewardship. http://www.tremainefoundation.org/

Here's a watchdog organization for donors:

American Institute of Philanthropy, a national charity watchdog service whose stated mission is to maximize the effectiveness money contributed to charity by providing donors with the information they need for making more informed giving decisions. The Institute published The Quarterly Rating Guide and Watchdog Report. http://www.charitywatch.org/

A Board Tip for Fundraising: Recruit board members who can provide pro bono services, especially design, printing, copywriting, etc. For artists, don't forget to call upon your own "board." Who have you surrounded yourself with, that may support your efforts by providing a discounted service or bartering?

Want more? Sign up now at www.bestprincipledsolutions.com/Contact for complimentary e-zine services.

Coaching Minute

2008-06-03T02:02:00Z

"If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then you are an excellent leader." Dolly Parton

Have you identified your legacy? Do you know how you want to be remembered? Are you too busy sweating the small stuff that you forget what it is your life is all about?

When is the last time you had a chance to think about your priorities? Have you checked your personal plan to see if you are steering your ship towards your dreams? Do you have so much total control, that you are missing out on life's simple pleasures? Are you inspiring others to work with you or are you entrapping them to work for you? Is your relationship with money exactly where you want it to be?

Take a minute. Sit back. Focus. Close your eyes. Breathe deeply. Focus. Catch up with yourself. Focus. If you are being the best that you can be, congratulations.

Can you state that you are the best boss, the best employee, the best board member, the best mom or dad or sister or brother? Are you surrounding yourself with the best support systems to realize your dreams? Who will be there to catch you if you fall, to carry on if you get ill, to support you when you have doubt? Do you have a mentor or a Master Mind group to whom you can turn for solutions with everyday life?

Are you accountable for your actions? How have you acknowledged and celebrated your successes? If you could sum up your life in a phrase, how would it read?

If you would like a free consultation on how you can master changes in your life that will bring you to a better place, inquire at freeconsultation@bestprincipledsolutions.com

Board Member Guerilla Moment

2008-06-03T01:59:00Z

Board Orientation - As a board member, you have a right to understand what your legal responsibilities are. If you have not received a board orientation by your third month of acceptance, you may need to re-think your appointment. Materials such as your organizational chart, annual budget, a copy of the last year's tax return (990), a copy of your by-laws, committee descriptions, any policies and program descriptions should be forthcoming.

Many organizations are now turning to creating a board report card and an Individual Board Plan (IBP). After receiving your appointment, and completing orientation, your board member skills would be assessed and supplemental information to enrich your board experience would be provided.

If you are in need of such services, there are many additional resources available to assist you in developing them. Check out the Resource Page at http://bestprincipledsolutions.com/resource/html at the Best Principled Solutions website for more support.

Board Member Guerilla Moments are listed frequently in my e-zine. In the future, I will post samplings of these here in my blog. Look around while you're here.

Do you have other aspects of board development that you could present to your board in 3 minute snippets at a board meeting?????? The best solutions come from you.

Grant Tips

2008-06-03T01:55:00Z

The process of writing grants can seem to be overwhelming. If you tackle it in pieces, you will be assured a better response for your particular cause.

Do your research before you begin.

1. Clearly identify grantmakers whose programs parallel with the goals of your program and you organizational mission.

2. Be descriptive but don't waste words; most times they are counted. Use action words wherever possible. Compel your grantmaker to fund your program/project. Invite them to your platform through words. Energize your sentences with exciting language.

3. Always do exactly what the guidelines tell you to do. If you are directed to submit 15 copies signed with fresh signatures by the chief elected officer in blue ink, have that individual sign 15 copies in blue ink.

4. Contact the organization to clarify any questions you may have. There is usually staff to assist with any concerns

These few tips will get you started. If grantwriting is not your area of expertise, explore research and writing options by contacting me at kayte@bestprincipledsolutions.com. Go to my website at www.bestprincipledsolutions.com and sign up for my newsletter to find out more information on teleseminars for how to write grants and receive funding.

It's My Pleasure to Serve You

2008-06-03T01:50:00Z

The Complicated One-Armed Bandit Routine

How many times have you enjoyed this scenario:
You are calling about a product or a service that you recently purchased and it is not living up to your expectations.

You push the 10 correct buttons for identifying yourself, and your product or service in question.

You are placed on hold, listening to music or a loop of the same company advertisements for what seems to be eternity.

When you finally receive a live person, they proceed to respond with a series of answers that are far from what your original question is and you are plunged into the abyss of inappropriate responses and more frustration. You are grateful that the service representative is reading their script. Yeah, they can read.

You are grateful that you finally got a live person to assist you.

But you are now engaged with what I refer to as the Complicated One-Armed Bandit Routine.

Here's how it goes.
You have presented your problem in what you perceive as clear, precise terms.

The service representative pulls down the one-armed bandit and up pops two oranges and a cherry. They regurgitate the response for two oranges and a cherry.

"That's not what I asked about," you indicate. You repeat the same information, and perhaps, you speak a little louder, in case they didn't hear you.

The service representative pulls down the one-armed bandit and this time, up pops two cherries and an orange. They now regurgitate the response scripted for two cherries and an orange.

You try again, maybe a little bit louder and a little bit faster or slower until you are either so frustrated that you give up and abort the mission, or finally, after a series of tries, the service representative hits upon the desired scripted response.

What happened to good old fashioned listening skills? Where did that very bais training go? Just like a chas register taking the place of anyone being able to calculate, have we now replaced the ability to think with scripted responses? With time being so very precious, you have now wasted more time with the service representative, that you spent on the product or service when purchased.

Has this ever happened to you?

Let's try another scenario.

You call into a service, receive immediate attention after pushing the 10 proper buttons of identification. Your question is answered on the first try AND BONUS, the customer service representative says to you at the conclusion of the call as you are heaping accolades for this atypical response, "It's MY pleasure."

Can you imagine? "It's my pleasure."

The FTC Top Consumer Fraud Complaints in 2007 reports that the top spots belong to identity theft, internet services, foreign lotteries, shop at home catalogs and a host of others which can be found at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2008/02/fraud.shtm.

Rounding out the top 20 are charitable solicitations. That's right, charitable solicitations is number 20.

What are you doing to assure, that any organization you are affiliated with is not prompting a fraud complaint? Are you guilty of customer unfriendly practices? Are your finances transparent? Do you have sound financial policies? Are there other steps you could be integrating into your daily routine that would leave your donors with the feeling of satisfaction. Do your staff and volunteers portray the "It's my pleasure to serve you" stance or the
"Pleasedon'tbothermerightnow, I'malreadyoverworkedandIcan'ttalktoyouletalonebreathe."

It is MY PLEASURE to serve you. You didn't interrupt me. I've been listening. I've created some additional complimentary teleseminars to support your efforts to do the best with what you have and enter the world of being rather than just doing.

When you are ready, take a look at my webpage and find out more about how to bring being back into your world. Doing is part of it. But I'm into abandoning the hamster wheel of doing, and doing, and doing and getting not much further than the endless loop of advertisements, that I'm forced to listen to when placed on hold.

How can I make/find/create

more

life/time/space/fun/money?

Go to www.bestprincipledsolutions.com and find out more about my services for individuals or organizations. Schedule a customer service audit by contacting me at kayte@bestprincipledsolutions.com .

Subsidizing the Imagine Nation

2008-04-11T15:17:00Z

How much are you willing to invest in education?

PA Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak has promised significant changes in competency based education that will affect our future workforce and our taxes. Almost nine in ten voters (89%) say that using the imagination is important to innovation and one’s success in a global knowledge-based economy and essential to success in the 21st Century. See where swing voters support candidates who foster this initiative at http://www.theimaginenation.net/ and learn more about where and how your tax dollars are being spent on alternative educational initiatives. Are you among those who would foster this type of change?

What do you think about the current "No Child Left Behind Standards?" Are they working for you? Do you believe teachers should bear the responsibility to teach to the answers on a test, rather than directing their students on the benefits of learning through a variety of processes?

Tell me a story about your favorite teacher. Are you one of the fortunate ones who has a fab five list? Can you name five teachers that made lasting impressions on you and whose instruction method resonates each day in your work space?

To learn more about services of Best Principled Solutions LLC or to sign up for a complimentary e-zine subscription, go to www.bestprincipledsolutions.com.

Inside the Booth

2008-04-11T15:06:00Z

Inside the Booth

Again, for those of you outside of the PA area, bear with me. There is a plethora of questions about the PA Delegates, who they are and how it all works.

I googled and searched and could not find my answers easily; rather I could not find my answers at all. So I started making calls. Here's what I found out. Hope it helps you.

I contacted the Chester County Board of Elections to find out if they had a sample ballot, so I could read up on who the candidates are for delegate. Yes, I was advised, there is a copy of the ballot. Right now, it would cost me $.25 to purchase one. If I waited until April 17, then they would be free. All County offices should have sample ballots.

When I began asking Fran, how it worked, he told me to contact the State Office because the County merely distributes the forms. It has nothing to do with process. Fran was helpful and he did have the number readily available for me.

Fran also answered questions about 2 strikes and you can't vote or if you miss two, can you vote in this election?
I was told that there is a five-year rule.

If you miss four years, including a Presidential election, then in the fifth year, you are purged if you do not respond to their inquiry. Inquiries are mailed to anyone who missed the former Federal Election (conducted once every four years). Otherwise, you should be eligible. If you have questions, contact your County Board of Elections.

I contacted the Bureau of Elections for the Commonwealth. There, Adam advised me that they have nothing to do with the delegate list, other than certifying the elections. Each party determines who the candidates for delegate are. The Burueau is governed by the rules for the Business of Elections and falls subject to election rules, not party rules. He could not provide the answers I was seeking. I should contact the PA Democratic Party.

I called Nick Jackal, Office Director for the PA Democratic Party http://www.padems.com/,
Nick walked me around their website (I had already spent a significant amount of time on it) and pointed out the 30 some odd page 2008 Primary Delegate Selection Plan. The way he summarized it for me, there were more than 700 individuals who obtained the proper documentation to be considered as a delegate. Then, each candidate selected a number that was somewhat nebulous in determining, but got the number down to 158.

He does have and sent me a copy of all of the delegates so I can determine who I want to vote for. This sheet is not posted, but he will send one to anyone of you who desires a list of delegates by contacting Nick at Nick@padems.com

Each Congressional district receives an allotment. You vote on however many is predetermined for that district. So get the list and find out who you are voting for so you know before you go into the booth.

After the election, follow any of the delegates, Republican or Democrat, and let them know how you stand on the issues. There is a full agenda for the National Convention and that is where the National Platform will be determined.

Stay informed for the fall election. Then, let's get on it to figure out this mess with the Super Delegates as well and let's get to the system, where one votes counts. That's it. One vote counts. That's what I think anyway.

This is excerpted from the Best Principled Solutions LLC e-zine a publication reflecting issues of importance, best practices and trends for the betterment of individuals and organizations. For more information on services offered or to sign up for a complimentary subscription, go to www.bestprincipledsolutions.com.

Making the Best Choice

2008-04-11T15:01:00Z

Are You READY?

The 2008 Presidential Primary is coming quickly to Pennsylvania. You would have to be almost dead not to realize how important a role Pennsylvania plays this year. I have asked many questions (those of you who know me will not find this a surprise) and I will not take it upon myself to sway you one way or the other.

But I will advise you on how to educate yourself so you may make the best choice while you are inside the voting booth.

Issue positions for all candidates can be found on the website. Print them off; place them one next to the other and read what's posted. Then, ask the hard questions.

The Nonprofit Primary Project is a Candidate Education Initiative of the Nonprofit Congress. They are recommending that you pose three basic questions to have answered by any of the candidates:

Give us a personal reflection on how you've interacted with a nonprofit or the role that a nonprofit organization has played in your life or career?
How would you strengthen the economic and social capacity of the sector?
How would you partner with us to achieve your vision for America?

Take it a step further. Take any and all issues that you are concerned about and insert it where nonprofit is placed. If you are concerned about the arts, ask about the arts? Education - insert the word education. Don't forget women's issues or small business initiatives. But don't forget to DO it. Don't just talk about it; DO IT!!

Then, don't be self-centered, look at the other issues - all of them: health care; foreign policy; workforce development; taxes, taxes, taxes; the economy and more. Find out who really is aligned with your heart and your spirit.

Go to: (in alphabetical order)
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/
http://www.johnmccain.com/issues/
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/

or http://www.ontheissues.org independent organization

This was taken from the Best Principled Solutions LLC e-zine, a publication that carries news of note and best practices and trends for individuals and organizations. To discover more about the types of services offered, go to www.bestprincipledsolutons.com or sign up for a complimentary subscription at www.bestprincipledsolutions.com/Contact.html

On Expectations

2008-02-23T15:58:00Z

Are you an individual who expects too much? Do you think that if you pay for a service, you anticipate you might receive some type of actual proposed service to your satisfaction? What happens when you question the "satisfaction guaranteed" claim process?

The approach for dissatisfaction with products can be somewhat different. You may actually have proof in the pudding that your product is malfunctioning or not living up to advertising statements. But, do you have the original box and packing? Is your attic a firebox because it has so many original boxes because you fear for your life that something is going to break?

Are you a complacent person, non-confrontational? If something breaks, or if you don't get the service you expect, do you just let it be? In the zen of things, do you dismiss any wrongdoing because you weren't supposed to have that service, that product, that "thing" that was to originally assist you in life's journey anyway?

I have been cautioned that my expectations may be set high. When someone indicates that they will do something, I figure that their word is their bond and that they will honor their word. As my father always told us, "Your word is all that you have."

Who stands behind their word?

Is it the clerk at the cash register, who would never guarantee the product she is ringing you up for? Is it the carpet cleaner who stains your floor? Is it the professional who you pay who does not return your phone calls?

How about the firm that has "expert" in their tag line? They are an expert in some particular field. Have you ever experienced during your course of service, that they are in fact, far from it?

Or the people who choose one name for their product or service and then, none of their offerings relate anything close to what their name states. Like the "Crab House" which doesn't have crabs today; but they'd gladly serve you shrimp or prime rib. How confusing is that?

I guess what I'm looking for, is some pulse on expectations. Should we expect people to honor their word? Should we expect people to spell "word?" Should we expect to expect the bare minimum and be satisfied with whatever we get? Is this what we can expect to compete in a global economy?

Let's talk about global for a minute. How many Americans know the capitols of their states? Can name the states at all? Could name the 7 continents?

Should we expect Americans to become engaged in geography lessons, the way Franklin Delano Roosevelt taught geography during WW II? During his fireside chats, he encouraged listeners to take out their maps so they could see where action was taking place.

What a concept? George W. Bush could have people following him around the world; into the Middle East; into Africa; how about into some of the heartland that has just been hit by the most recent series of tornadoes?

Would that improve service? Would my expectations remain as high, if I knew people could read a map? Maybe. But I might be just a little bit less frustrated.

What do you think? Where are your expectations in today's modern world? Post your comments.

If you like what you read, and are interested in exploring more questions about your expectations go to my website and view the Test Kitchen of Life page. http://www.bestprincipledsolutions.com

For additional services: https://www.bestprincipledsolutions.com/Best_Principled_Solutions_S.html

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