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From Martin J:
False economy
Last year, I was invited to a meeting in a regional city where we were invited to read a report.
We were told that we were not to take it with us, copy it or repeat what was in it. I was bemused. I was not at a briefing of a spy service.
The document was a piece of research commissioned by a nonprofit agency regarding significant community issues. The report was so badly prepared, the sponsoring agency was not releasing it.
Reading it, I could see why. There was some useful data, along with fundamental reserach flaws including inappropriate questions "borrowed" from another research project. The language used showed that the consultants did not understand the issues or the community.
As we filed out, I felt dismayed. Here was a potential solution to a community's needs lost and valuable community money squandered. In their desire to get the most for their money, the commissioning agency had chosen the cheapest quote with disastrous results.
Sadly, this is not the only time I have seen this. In a desire to be economical, the community sector sometimes wastes money. One CEO lamented to me last year that the training she had been providing her staff was woeful. I asked why she continued to use the trainers she so clearly knew were not delivering the goods. She said, "because they're cheap".
In trying to squeeze the most from valuable community dollars, I would caution that we need to be wise. Many years ago, one of my staff identified that because an agency had banned the use of couriers, staff drove across town to pick up parcels. The cost to the agency was two hours of staff time plus petrol and wear and tear, all to save six dollars and 25 cents. Hardly economical!
At People First -Total Solutions, we are determined to provide value for money. Having a team of perfectionists means we don't rest until the job is done properly and I am proud that 100 per cent of our clients have stated in evaluations that they're satisfied with our work and would use us again.
We're excited that we have been involved in work which has meant people's lives are impacted positively. We look forward to assisting organisations like yours in 2008 with strategic plans, research, volunteer programs, client service and community support.
Have a great year.
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Gidday Martin!
Welcome to new and ongoing readers of the People First -Total Solutions newsletter: published regularly in support of the community sector. Check out our news! Make sure you tell us your 2008 wish at the end of the newsletter.
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Effective People: How nonprofit managers rate
 Are managers of not-for-profit organisations second-class citizens when compared to their high-flying corporate cousins? Less skilled? Naive? Incompetent?
NO! Nonprofit managers are often more effective than those in corporate world.
They deal daily with all kinds of complex situations, give advice to and accept advice from a range of people in the community, and generally keep the machinery running on the smell of an oily rag.
A recent survey published by The Nonprofit Quarterly showed that in 14 of 17 leadership dimensions, not-for-profit managers outscored their corporate counterparts!
Capitalise on your skills to demonstrate to donors, government and the community that you are a first-rate manager. People First -Total Solutions coaches can help you hone and develop your skills.
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Better Organisations: Using email wisely
 Email, a powerful tool, has pitfalls. For instance, the lack of non-verbal cues means emails can be misinterpreted.
A general rule-of-thumb is to use email for facts, not opinions. For example: "Attached is the proposed agenda for Monday's management meeting".
Syracuse University professor Kristin Byron has identified that
people's perceptions of non-verbal cues in email are consistently inconsistent.
This means that many email recievers think that the emails are more negative than
was intended by the sender. Even very positive emails are perceived
to be neutral.
The study suggests that recognising when an email contains material that may be misinterpreted is easy. If you type the words "I think", "I feel" or "We should", delete the email. Telephoning or personal discussion will get a better reaction.
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Stronger Society: Who is my neighbour?
 Building on the book Bowling Alone, the largest-ever survey on the civic engagement of Americans was conducted with 30,000 people being asked to consider how connected they are to family, friends,
neighbors and civic institutions on a local and national level. The questions were along the following lines:
- How
often family is visited? Know your neighbours?
- Do
you volunteer?
- Do
you attend religious services?
- Do
you sign petitions? Or attend neighborhood meetings?
Key findings:
- religious
involvement is an important dimension of US civic life and is positively associated with most other
forms of civic involvement
- 18 to 34-year-olds' religious involvement lower than older
- the US is becoming a more racially tolerant nation
- in disadvantaged neighbourhoods, trust levels are much lower than in more prospersous communities
- people in ethnically diverse communities are less likely to trust others, participate in politics, connect with other people informally
- personal happiness is more closely tied to the level
of community social connectedness and trust than to income
The findings of this survey, while USA-focused, provide a useful snapshot of what can be done to creatively increase a community's social capital. Key areas of focus are identified in faith-based efforts, schools and youth, the workplace, politics and the arts.
People First -Total Solutions assists organisations with the strategic development and volunteer mobilisation for their communities. Building effective strategies makes significant difference to lives and will change societies as demonstrated in the Harvard survey.
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Company News
Martin J Cowling presenting training in USA and UK February, May/June and September/October/November. Recent workshop participants have reported that Martin is an "engaging, energetic, knowledgeable presenter... [of] helpful information I will use in my work"; "always get good information from this very good presenter". It is easy and economical to add a session for you. Call us!
Three Exciting New Products coming!!!!
In
March, we launch three exciting new packages to build effective
volunteer programs. Like to be among the first to know
about these packages before we launch? Email us: pfts@pfts.com.au. One
organisation will go in the draw for a free volunteer program audit
worth $3000 (€1500).
Global Volunteer Management Survey
600+ managers of vounteers have contributed their views in the first worldwide survey of volunteer managers. The survey runs until March 1 and all are invited to submit their opinions.
People First -Total Solutions in 2008
- the number of training events booked triple what we delivered in 2007
- We more than doubled the number of comsultancy projects we delivered in the last 12 months
- New upgraded website on the way
What projects can we assist you with?
Client, Employee and Volunteer Survey Completed
Travellers Aid Society of Victoria has been offering travel and support
services to Australian and International travellers for over 90 years. In 2007, People First -Total Solutions undertook a comprehensive Volunteer, Employee and Client Survey across the organisation, interviewing three times the number of clients originally targeted for the project. Jodie Willmer, CEO, said "we are delighted by the quality of the data, and Martin's management of the project, working in conjunction with Travellers Aid staff, and a team of volunteers".
Turn Your Organisation Into a Volunteer Magnet e dition 2, with 50 information-packed chapters (including two by Martin J Cowling) was launched in November 2007. Pictured left are contributors Andy Fryar, Erin Tierney and Fraser Dyer at launch. Download the free e-book, or order print copies through OzVPM.
Volunteering England National Convention 2008
Transforming Passion into Power: Volunteering at the heart of social change. 23-25 April, 2008
Highlights of the convention will include:
- Volunteering and 2012: lasting legacy or publicity stunt?
- 71 tailored workshops
- Sabotage: how volunteer managers undermine their programmes - presented by Martin J Cowling, People First -Total Solutions
- Risk: dispelling the myths
- Phil Hope MP, Minister for Third Sector and MPs with Volunteer portfolio from the two other major political parties
For registration and information, click here.
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The 2008 Wish List
 Add your wishes for your organisation to our 2008 wish list. Come back any time and add more - see what others in the sector are wishing for! We want to see how wishes can become reality and will tally at the end of the year how many are fulfilled. Add your wishes here!
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