A New Year, A New Communications Director, a New Blog Direction?

Welcome to 2010! The year's already a month old and time's flying so fast this blog hasn't been updated at all since early December!

It's not that there's a lack of content or a lack of ideas, but more that I'm not sure what people would like to see on here. I've written blogs before, so I know that reacting to the readers and what information they want (especially when it's an organizational blog) is crucial if you want there to be a readership.

So, although I might not be new to blogging, I am new to my audience (hello! Is anyone out there?) and I'd like to get a feel for what you'd like to see on here.

Blogging is a great tool in this regard - through comments it moves from 1-way communication to a 2-way conversation, and lets the author make real connections with the readers. A good blog builds a virtual community and since ECVO is here to serve the nonprofit community, the least I can do is ask what it wants to hear, and to accommodate as many suggestions as possible!

ECVO, like most of the nonprofit community, is made up of a hodge-podge of different people with different perspectives (and interests), which has come across in past blogs. We've talked about Social Media, the value of volunteering, important events on the nonprofit calendar, resources of interest. But is this what you're enjoying and feeling connected to us through?

Should we be including more information about what ECVO itself is doing? Showcasing our members? Getting outside contributors? Becoming more cohesive as one distinct organizational voice, or let each individual around here (and their sense of humor) have free reign when they blog? Do you come here looking for information, or for conversation?

I'd love to hear from you all in the comments section - who you are and what you'd like to hear from us!

Enjoy the weekend & I'll 'see' you again in February!

Joanna 

ECVO Communications Director

Purposeful Purchasing: Let Your Money Do the Talking

Posted by ECVO Associate Director, Shawna Gnutel

We've all heard the expression

money talks.

Last month, the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce hosted its first Annual Nonprofit Week (Nov 17-20). I was particularly attracted to a seminar ad entitled "Purposeful Purchasing" which read, "Let your money speak for you and watch businesses buy into your mission."

Guest Speaker Maggie Vilvang from (2010 Legacies NOW) is part of a consortium of disability missioned organizations in Vancouver BC known as accessWORKS. Maggie began her talk by explaining what Purposeful Purchasing was NOT.

1. It was not bulk buying.
2. It was not asking you to change where you buy stuff.
3. It was not about asking you to act more like a business.


Instead, Purposeful Purchasing is about moving away from a conventional charity model and moving toward 


acting more like a nonprofit
with spending power.


The Purposeful Purchasing Initiative is about disability missioned organizations in British Columbia "recognizing that every dollar spent, if spent with purpose, will advance the economic inclusion of people with disabilities." (Please read the background paper. )

According to StatsCan, social service agencies in Canada spend over 3.6 billion dollars annually. These organizations buy houses, cars, office supplies, groceries, janitor services, computers. YOU NAME IT!

So then doesn’t it make sense to position yourself as a consumer with a mission? To get started, organizations need to conduct a spend/supplier analysis- how much is being spent and where. Once that's completed you can send the supplier a letter and ask them to do a questionnaire/self assessment to rate themselves and their commitment to becoming a disability confident business.  

According to Maggie, building disability confidence in the supply chain is one of the main goals. And THINK ABOUT IT... there's no better time than during an economic downturn. Why wouldn't businesses be motivated to keep their customers satisfied and happy?

REALLY REALLY HAPPY :)

At its heart, Purposeful Purchasing uses spending as a strategy to advance mission and social change. The main inspiration for Purposeful Purchasing is based on the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games (VANOC)
Buy Smart Program. The ultimate priority in VANOCs "sustainability purchasing" procurement policy, is to buy smarter, greener and with more social consciousness. So far, benefits to local communities has been substantial. Between 2003 and summer 2008, VANOC spent $1.8 million with inner-city businesses and organizations.

So whether you are an organization or a supplier, Purposeful Purchasing makes good business sense. 

And on that happy economic note, it's time to take action and usher in 2010 as an engaging year of empowerment, opportunity and positive change for you and your community.

For more information about Purposeful Purchasing, feel free to contact Maggie Vilvang: mvilvang@2010LegaciesNow.com.

 

Happy International Volunteers Day (Dec. 5)

Posted by Lynn Ferguson, Programs Director


Thanks to my parents, volunteering has always played a significant role in my life.

When I was a young girl, my father coached both our track and field and baseball team.  He also volunteered on the board for the Kinsmen Club of Edmonton and posthumously, was recognized by the Minister of Sport and Fitness for his contribution to the development of amateur football referees in Alberta.


My mother was and still is, equally involved with volunteering. When I was growing up, she was an Assistant Coach in baseball and helped the Mother's Day Annual Tennis Tournament for our community league. Today she teaches ESL in Canmore, Alberta.


As I reflect today on National Volunteer Day, it raises the question,


"isn't everyday a volunteer day for somebody?"


The answer of course is yes!

I have been an active volunteer for several years, especially when my two boys were involved. There are endless volunteer opportunities when you are a parent!

For example, I've chaired the Parent Association and worked as Children's Program Director with our community league. I've been the parent rep for our playschool and I've coached and managed many sports.  I've volunteered for special events and activities. I would add that even if you are not a parent, there are many excellent reasons to volunteer:


-meet new people and connect in a meaningful way to your neighborhood.
-give back to the community. 
-share skills to make life better for yourself and others.

What has really kept me volunteering for the past 25 years is that I have enjoyed it tremendously!  I remember a former school principal saying, "if you have a job you love to do, you will never work a day in your life." For me, volunteering has been much the same experience.


My children are also learning the important value of the gift of time as they carry on our family tradition of volunteering.  Every summer they work as camp counsellors and help out in the community, sports and school. In conversations with others who donate their time and talents it is often said that they usually get back far more than they give.

I stand by that thought.

Years later, I am working at the ECVO and see on a daily basis the extraordinary work accomplished by the nonprofit/voluntary sector in Edmonton. Often nonprofits have few paid staff, so volunteers (who wear many hats) are essential to ensure the success of the organization. Not only are volunteers out on the front lines where they are visible but there are countless others working behind the scenes. 


So, please celebrate National Volunteer Day (Saturday December 5) and take a moment to express your gratitude and say thank you to an outstanding volunteer! Please check out http://www.getinvolved.ca/ a national campaign that asks for Canadians' time, not money to make a difference in 2010.

  

More Helpful Social Media Sites from ECVO Digital Immigrant Workshop!

Posted by ECVO Associate Director, Shawna Gnutel


Tim Osborne's (United Way) Social Media Sites to visit. (Thanks Tim! You're awesome!)

Presenters


www.twitter.com/michaeljanz

www.twitter.com/Tamara_Stecyk


www.twitter.com/micajobe

www.twitter.com/tim_osborne

Others to follow

www.twitter.com/nonprofitorgs

www.twitter.com/mastermaq



Helpful Sites


http://nonprofitorgs.wordpress.com/


http://www.ning.com/


http://socialmediagovernance.com/policies.php


http://www.tweetdeck.com/

http://briansolis.com/2009/03/conversation-prism-v20/


My yeg-nonprofit Twitter List


http://twitter.com/tim_osborne/yeg-nonprofit




Tamara Stecyk (Edmonton's Foodbank Social Media List)
(Thanks Tamara! You're awesome!)


http://wefollow.com/


http://friendfeed.com/


http://filesocial.com/


http://greeter.com/


http://tweetmondo.com/


http://mashable.com/2009/05/14/social-media-routine


http://smashingmagazine.com/2009/07/16/a-guide-to-google-analytics-and-useful-tools


http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/2009/11/social-media-analytics-twitter-quantitative-qualitative-analysis.html


http://google.com/analytics


http://linkedin.com/


http://flickr.com/

http://google.com/alerts

http://twitpic.com/


http://youtube.com/

ECVO Top 21+ Social Media Resource List!

Posted by ECVO Associate Director,
Shawna Gnutel

websites/blogs/webinars

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits can use Social Media

Beth Kanter: Using Social Media for Good Causes

50 Social Media Tactics for Nonprofits

MyCharityConnects: What would Harvey do? An Introduction to Social Media. (Don't miss upcoming free CanadaHelps Webinar Dec 2: Top Ten Social Media Mistakes to Avoid Register Here! )

Case Foundation Social Media Tutorials

Social Media Seminar for Nonprofit Executives

How the National Wildlife Federation Uses Social Media

Social Media Strategy: A Small Nonprofit's Experience

Creating a Social Networking Strategy

Social Media Strategy: National Association of Dental Plans

twistimage.com/blog

http://www.nten.org/

http://www.webness.biz/

http://www.webworkerdaily.com/

http://www.associationjam.org/

books

Six Pixels of Separation by Mitch Joel.

The New Influencers by Paul Gillin.

Twitterville by Shel Israel.

Twitter Power by Joel Comm.


The Complete Guide to Twitter

Twitter Best Practices for Nonprofits

Happy National Child Day!

posted by ECVO Associate Director,
Shawna Gnutel

Children are the world's most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.


~John F. Kennedy


November 20 marks the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. (UNCRC) which outlines the basic human rights to which children and youth everywhere are entitled. Adopted on Nov. 20, 1989, the UNCRC has two optional protocols: the optional protocol on the involvement of Children in Armed Conflict and the optional protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and child Pornography.


ECVO wishes to mark this important day and extends a special thank you and acknowledgement to all the extraordinary nonprofits and charities who protect and promote the well-being of our children.


Read City of Edmonton Celebration of Children and Youth!

Happy National Philanthropy Day!

Posted by Shawna Gnutel, Associate Director, ECVO


"Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?"

~Martin Luther King Jr.

National Philanthropy Day was first recognized in 1986 and this year, the Minister of Canadian Heritage, has officially declared November 15, 2009 as National Philanthropy Day in Canada. This special day is marked to celebrate the extraordinary work of charities and to recognize the involvement of donors and volunteers, and their tremendous contribution to the quality of life in our communities.

As I was googling away, I came across Albertan author
Robert Urbanowski's book, Kickback. Last year, he donated copies of his book as gifts for a National Philanthropy Day luncheon.

His story goes like this...

After five years of researching the dynamics of successful business, Robert discovered the "Law of Contribution". In his book, he discusses the key ingredients to acheiving a fulfilling, rich, happy life. There's even a quote from Brad Pitt, (the guy who everyone thinks has it all), which will pleasantly surprise you!


When I logged onto his website, I discovered the book and audio available as a FREE Download. I emailed Robert to see if there was a "catch." Here's his reply:


Hello Shawna:

There are a number of reasons why I chose to make the book available for free. Primarily, it is because this book represents a lot of work and a message that has become a passion of mine. It took me five years to write this book, and another year to get it published and into stores. The motive has never been to make money with this, but to get the message out into the world.

What I found was, when people read this book, they would contact me with very positive feedback about what the book meant to them, often asking for additional copies that they could share with friends and family.

While the book is available in stores, and on Chapters.ca and Amazon, I felt that the very best way to promote the idea and the message would be to make it available in a downloadable format, for free. It's a small action that illustrates the principle of contribution. I believe that the message is better in the hands of people, than sitting on store shelves :)

Who can argue with that?

In his book he writes that "many of the problems we experience stem from an incorrect focus."


"We focus inward when we should focus outward. Rather than "focusing inward and asking "what's in it for me" we should be focusing outward and asking "How can I give?" and "what can I contribute?"

And on that philanthopic note, Happy National Philanthropy Day everyone! ECVO offers a warm, heartfelt thank you to ECVO members and all nonprofits and charities for improving the quality of life of Canadians.
Feel free to download Robert's awesome book Kickback in PDF or audio format. It's a thoughtful, excellent read! Enjoy.