Archive for February, 2009

February 20th Meeting Notes

February 24, 2009 at 3:28 pm · Filed under About NeXtGen Digest ·Tagged ,

NeXtGen @ CANI with Jennifer Renner

I. Introductions- Handout: 10 Tips for Getting Your Work/Life in Balance

II. Tour- We toured CANI’s historic building, which use to be where the News-Sentinel resided and learned about the many different programs CANI provides.

III. Discussion: Work/Life Balance

Jennifer Renner invited CANI’s executive director of  33 years, Joseph (Joe) Conrad to join our discussion and provide a ‘wiser’ perspective on work and life in the nonprofit sector.  Joe preluded the discussion with the statement that he has no children, but his wife also works in a nonprofit and they are very supportive of each other.  Joe emphasized that it’s important to recognize what’s going on and what you’re getting into when heading a nonprofit because there really is no life balance.  You can’t leave the organization when you get home; it’s always on your mind.

Joe learned as a new C.E.O. that his relationship to everyone at CANI changed and there was a feeling of seclusion associated with that.  Therefore, Joe and a few other area executive directors formed the Not for Profit Association.  He emphasized the importance of networking, especially supportive networking, i.e. talking with peers, as we do in NeXtGen.  He also said one of the most important things you can do as an executive director is hire good people.

Joe also stressed the significance of recreation in our lives. He pointed out that the word recreate is essentially “re-CREATE,” or to create anew (There was a bit of a collective sigh at this point). For Joe, this has involved exploring new recreational activities like kayaking and doing so with the intention of renewal.

Ebony Young, Branch Director of two YMCA locations, talked about a program she learned of through Indiana Youth Institute, the Journey Executive Fellowship Program facilitated by the Leadership and Renewal Outfitters. The fellowship program empowers youth workers who are in the higher levels of their nonprofit.  (See the website for more details!)  This came as we discussed the quick burnout associated with working in a nonprofit organization and the need to step back and refresh oneself.

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Work/Life Balance? Huh?

February 18, 2009 at 5:50 pm · Filed under Uncategorized

Has the thought crossed your mind lately? You’re not alone.

A quick look at this 2008 report, Ready to Lead, will give you some background on the issue in a broader sense. The partners for the work, CompassPoint Nonprofit Services, The Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Meyer Foundation, and Idealist.org, deliver a tightly written piece that will likely resonate with you.

Check out the graphics: lots of charts and graphs and offset quotes.

Report topics covered include: Student loan debt, development of next generation leaders and job satisfaction.

Join us to discuss practical techniques for keeping your balance between a beginning or growing career and a full time life outside of that.

We’re meeting this Friday from 12:30 to 2:00 pm at CANI, where Jennifer Renner will host our monthly ThinkTank. Our topic this month will be Work/Life Balance.

We’d love to have you join us.

REGISTER HERE

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Personal Growth

February 12, 2009 at 3:49 pm · Filed under About NeXtGen Digest, Mentoring Program ·Tagged , ,

We started meeting in May 2008 and have held monthly, informal networking lunch groups. We meet at each others organizations, learn new faces and places and talk about our roles at work.

On occasion, we have talked about the direction of the group.  In November, we presented some possibilities. See the powerpoint here: November ‘08 Powerpoint

That prior August, Lettie planted a seed with NINA, Northeast Indiana Nonprofit Alliance, a newly formed arm of Leadership Fort Wayne about the potential to collaborate on a Mentoring Program. Carolyn Brody, adviser to NINA, took to the notion of personal growth through her own experience with mentoring.

The seed has rooted, and now, with NeXtGener Hilary Andersen’s cultivation is beginning to sprout:

We are planning a Mentoring Program for Northeast Indiana Nonprofit Professionals.

Look for our sector-wide survey soon*.  The responses we get to the questionnaire will in part guide the program’s development. Please respond for your own good.

Wondering what a mentoring program could offer you? Think of it as a chance to:

  • Broaden knowledge in different NonProfit fields (social services, literacy, arts, etc.)

  • Learn different skills (financial, management, etc.)

  • Interact with professionals outside of your agency

  • Discuss relevant and current topics

  • Speak privately with experienced leaders

We owe a big thanks to Stephanie O’Shaughnessy, PCNRC Intern, for her work on the project. And another big thank you to everyone who has lent a hand in NeXtGen thus far. It is a wonderful row to hoe with you.

If you’d like to help the program grow, contact Lettie at the Center: 421-1238 or nrc@acpl.info

We look forward to hearing from you!

*Sign up here to receive the survey and more NeXtGen info by submitting your email address, enlarging the screen and checking the box: NeXtGen Digest.

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