July/August 2009 E-bulletin
FEATURE
ARTICLE
Miss Teen Manitoba-World: Supporting Her Community
RELATED
RESOURCES
New Board and Legal Resources at the Volunteer Manitoba Resource Centre
Tips and Tools
Ten Basic Responsibilities of Non-Profit Boards
SPECIAL
EVENTS
5th Annual Volunteer Manitoba Funders Forum
The Art of Collaboration: Success through Synergy
Writing Email that Works
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Leadership Winnipeg Now Taking Registrations
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Winnipeg Needs Volunteers
FEATURE
ARTICLE
Miss Teen Manitoba-World: Supporting Her Community
Written by Donna Wills
In April 2009, Kyla Wills was thrilled to be crowned Miss Teen Manitoba-World at the pageant held in Winnipeg. The Miss Teen Canada-World pageant seeks to enhance the confidence, poise and leadership skills of young Canadian women, aged 13-19. The finalists are encouraged to use their title to the benefit of their community and that is just what Kyla has set out to do. Since her crowning, she has volunteered for the MS Walk, Winnipeg International Children’s Festival, Red River Ex, Fireman’s Burn Fund Picnic, Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival and the Challenge for Life walk, just to name a few.
Kyla is a 17 year old, grade 12 student at Glenlawn Collegiate in Winnipeg. She maintains an average of 96% in her studies and is very active on Student Council and many committees at her school. Kyla is also an accomplished actress with stage and film experience. She believes in being a positive influence and good role model to others.
Kyla is extending her help to the Winnipeg and Manitoba communities. Create excitement and draw attendees by having Miss Teen Manitoba at your event. For example, she can MC a stage or an event, give an inspirational speech, be in a parade, greet visitors or volunteers or be a face painter. Building self esteem in pre-teen and young teenage girls is a focus for Kyla. As such, she developed a workshop to offer youth groups and schools in which she encourages participants to “Be your own kind of beautiful”.
Kyla invites charitable and community organizations to contact her at missteenmb@hotmail.com to explore how she can play a role that benefits your organization. Kyla does not charge an appearance fee, but organizations outside of Winnipeg are encouraged to offer her an honorarium to cover her transportation expenses. Self-Esteem Workshops currently have a $2/person fee to cover the cost of supplies, but Kyla is actively seeking workshop sponsors to reduce or eliminate this fee.
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RELATED RESOURCES
New Resources at the Volunteer Manitoba Resource Centre
New Resources Dealing with Non-Profit Board and Legal Issues Available at the Volunteer Manitoba Resource Centre
Financial and Strategic Management for Nonprofit Organizations: A Comprehensive Reference to Legal, Financial, Management, and Operations Rules and Guidelines for Nonprofits, 3rd ed.
by Herrington J. Bryce, San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2000
This comprehensive, 776-page book, is aimed toward senior officers and trustees of nonprofit organizations. The author, a business professor, also uses his book as a teaching tool. The in-depth information is divided into topic-focused chapters such as “the fundamental pillars of nonprofit management” and “protecting the tax-exempt status”.
Financial Leadership for Nonprofit Executives: Guiding Your Organization to Long-term Success
by Jeanne Bell and Elizabeth Schaffer, Saint Paul, Minn.: Fieldstone Alliance, 2005.
Contains clear, well-written steps on how to collect, use and communicate financial data. Filled with sample statements and formats that can be adapted and used to improve financial reporting.
Legal Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards, Second Edition
by Bruce R. Hopkins, Washington, DC: BoardSource, 2009.
Provides information on board members’ responsibilities, board structures, protective strategies, nonprofit governance principles and tax exemption. Contains an appendix of sample policies on ethical conduct, conflict-of-interest, whistleblower protection and document retention and destruction.
Managing Conflicts of Interest: A Primer for Nonprofit Boards
by Daniel L. Kurtz and Sarah E. Paul, Washington, DC: BoardSource, 2006.
Discusses how conflicts of interest arise and the legalities and ethical considerations involved. Gives guidance on creating and developing policies to help deal with conflicts before (and after) problems arise. Contains sample conflict-of-interest, disclosure and ethical conduct policies.
Navigating the Organizational Lifecycle (CD-ROM included)
by Paul M. Connolly, Washington, DC: BoardSource, 2006.
Illustrates how boards develop and change throughout the nonprofit organizational lifecycle. Gives guidance on organizational management and self-assessment. CD-ROM included that contains a customizable assessment grid.
The Nonprofit Board's Guide to Bylaws (CD-ROM included)
by D.Benson Tesdahl, Washington, DC: BoardSource, 2003.
Helps organizations understand the rights and roles of board members. Provides information on what should be included in organizational bylaws. CD-ROM contains customizable bylaw templates and sample conflicts-of-interest policies.
Ten Basic Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards, 2nd ed.
by Richard T. Ingram, Washington, DC: BoardSource, 2009
This manual discusses the 10 primary responsibilities of a non-profit board.
For further information: Contact our Resource Centre Coordinator, at (204) 477-5180 (ext. 223), toll free: 1-888-922-4545, email: vmresource@mts.net.
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TIPS AND TOOLS
An excerpt from the book “Ten Basic Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards” by Richard T. Ingram, available at the Volunteer Manitoba Resource Library
- Determine mission and purposes
- Select the chief executive
- Support and evaluate the chief executive
- Ensure effective planning
- Monitor and strengthen programs and services
- Ensure adequate financial resources
- Protect assets and provide financial oversight
- Build a competent board
- Ensure legal and ethical integrity
- Enhance the organization’s public standing
This book is available in our resource library. To borrow any of our resources, contact our Resource Coordinator at 477-5180 ext. 223, or Toll-free at 1-888-922-4545 ext. 223, or via e-mail vmresource@mts.net
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SPECIAL EVENTS
5th Annual Volunteer Manitoba Funders Forum
Volunteer Manitoba will be hosting the 5th Annual Funders Forum on Friday, September 18th, 2009. The event will take place between 8:30am and 12:00pm at the Delta Hotel Winnipeg, 350 St. Mary Avenue. This forum focuses on how non-profit organizations can maximize their fundraising capacity, and features succinct presentations from funders and a full breakfast. Funders represented will be from different sectors such as government, corporate, and foundation. Attendees will have the opportunity in the morning to network directly with the funders. The morning will also feature a keynote address from Rolande Kirouac of Spadrole Communications. For more information and registration details click here.
The Art of Collaboration: Success through Synergy
Volunteer Manitoba, together with course creator Sue Hemphill and Arts and Cultural Industries Manitoba, will be hosting a partnerships and collaborations course titled “The Art of Collaboration: Success Through Synergy.” We are excited to offer this new three day course intended to increase the arts and cultural sector’s individual and organizational capacity to proactively build and maintain collaborative projects and relationships. The course has been developed by Sue Hemphill, with additional funding from the Manitoba Arts Council (MAC) and the Winnipeg Foundation. The course runs over three Thursdays, October 22nd, 29th, and November 5th, and goes from 9:00am – 3:30pm. To register, and for more information, click here.
Writing Email that Works
Email is the workhorse of communication in today's world of business. In spite of its importance, email is frequently dashed off with little thought given to clarity, tone, or the needs of the reader. The result? The image of the writer and the organization are undermined. Learn strategies to avoid these pitfalls at Volunteer Manitoba’s brown-bag series workshop titled “Writing Email that Works” on October 7th. The workshop runs from 12:00pm – 1:00pm. For more information and registration details click here.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
Leadership Winnipeg Now Taking Registrations
Someone once said “To become a leader, one must first be led.” Leadership Winnipeg wants to reinvest in our community, bringing new energy, new ideas, and a new pool of leaders to help guide our city’s future. Together, Volunteer Manitoba Inc. and the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, founding partners of Leadership Winnipeg, are looking for some of Winnipeg’s brightest and best – those with the drive to learn and lead, to inspire, to work together, and to be visionary. Leadership Winnipeg hopes to provide the tools, knowledge and connections to enhance the skills of those who want to serve their community.
wstephenson@winnipeg-chamber.com .
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Winnipeg Needs Volunteers
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Winnipeg is currently in need of mentors to volunteer for two of their programs. There are currently 60 children on their wait list who want a mentor who will be their friend. It only takes a few hours a week, twice a month to make a BIG difference in the life of a child. There are two programs available; “Empowering Our Little Sisters Program – Aboriginal Women Mentoring Aboriginal Girls”; and “Ototema II Program – Mentoring Youth in Conflict with the Law.”
For more information visit www.bigwinnipeg.com or call (204) 988-9200
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