October 2009 E-bulletin
FEATURE
ARTICLE
Contact Community Information
RELATED
RESOURCES
Resources on Non-Profit Communications
SPECIAL
EVENTS
Writing Email That Works
Sport Manitoba Workshop Series
Effective Community Fundraising Workshops
Motivating Your (Volunteer) Workforce
So You Want to Start a Not-For-Profit: Good Things to Know Before You do Good
Capacity Building/Job Design Theory
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Online Registration Ready for 2009 CCED Net Gathering: Stronger Together
Introducing Linda Horodecki and Noreen Mian
Follow Volunteer Manitoba on Facebook and Twitter
FEATURE
ARTICLE
Help Us Help You: Contact Community Information
Written by Edward Mah, Contact Community Information
CONTACT Community Information (CCI) has been operating as a program of Volunteer Manitoba for over 30 years. Since the first call was taken back in 1978, CONTACT has answered all kinds of questions. They have ranged from a simple request for the phone number of a specific social service organization to more complicated personal situations including homelessness, abusive relationships, addictions, etc, which require a more detailed referral.
Our Confidential Phone Service is available by calling either 287-8827 or 1-866-266-4636 on our province-wide toll free line, both available from 9:00 am – 4:30 pm Mon to Fri (closed on Statutory Holidays). We do not subscribe to caller ID.
What supports all of our services is CCI’s online Database. The majority of requests taken at our centre are searched using our central ‘data warehouse’. Staff and Volunteers work towards the ‘3 Rs’ of Community Information & Referral (I&R) – Relevancy, Reliability and Referral to ensure Manitobans know what services are out there to help them.
CONTACT Community Resource Guides are published to provide printed information for those who are mobile or do not have easy access to high-speed Internet. There are 8 guides available, which together cover the entire province of Manitoba. They include edited information on all the not-for-profit services, as well as certain federal, provincial and municipal programs that are found on our website.
We invite all Manitobans and all not for profit organizations to tell us about any services or groups in your community that should be included in our FREE online database. Check for existing listings here then let us know. You can email us detailed information at vmdata@mts.net.
Help us to help all Manitobans by adding information about programs and services that somebody, somewhere in your community might need.
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RELATED RESOURCES
Resources Dealing With Non-Profit Communications:
Communication power : energizing your nonprofit organization. By Larry D. Lauer. Gaithersburg, Maryland : Aspen Publishers, 1997. 208 p.
Call #: 658.4 LAU 1997
“This book is intended to be a resource that has broader application than the typical communications guide. It is about the communications dimensions of management and leadership in the fullest sense.”
Communications planning. Vancouver, B.C. : IMPACS, 2001. 13 p.
Call #: MVSI 09.61 IMP 2001
Discusses why and how nonprofits should implement a communications plan.
Developing effective media communications skills : how editors choose the news. Vancouver, B.C. : IMPACS, 2001. 10 p.
Call #: MVSI 09.61 IMP 2001
Tips and suggestions for agencies on dealing with the media, including preparing for and engaging in interviews.
IMPACS media communications toolkit. Vancouver, B.C. : IMPACS, 2001. 13 p.
Call #: MVSI 09.61 IMP 2001
“Here are a few ideas about some of the common media tools you can use to help increase the public profile of your non-profit organization.”
Making a name for yourself : branding for non-profits. New York : Fenton Communications, 2007.
Call #: 658.8 FEN 2007
Branding is especially valuable to non-profits that must compete, often with limited resources, in a crowded marketplace where ever-more appeals for support are directed to a limited pool of donors.
Nonprofit communications report. Sioux City, IA : Stevenson, Inc.
Call #: Display Shelves 3
“Monthly communications ideas for nonprofits.”
Strategic communications for nonprofit organizations : seven steps to creating a successful plan. By Janel M. Radtke. Toronto : John Wiley & Sons, 1998. 234 p.
Call #: 658.8 RAD 1998
“This book attempts to cover all the bases in a way that everyone – whether they consider themselves “communication professionals” or not – can understand and use.”
VIDEO
Communicating to reduce stress on the job. Jane Cole-Hamilton, Presenter. Alexandria, VA : Communication Briefings, 1994. 13 min.
“This video will show viewers how to reduce stress on the job by recognizing the stress triggers that impair communication.”
Call #: V60
INTERNET
Social Edge : Ten Steps to Stronger Nonprofit Communications
http://www.socialedge.org/discussions/marketing-communication/ten-steps-to-stronger-nonprofit-communications-march-2005/
Discussion about the steps to creating stronger nonprofit communications.
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SPECIAL EVENTS
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 7. The workshop runs from 12:00pm – 1:00pm. For more information and registration details click here.
Sport Manitoba Workshop Series
Sport Manitoba is pleased to announce two upcoming workshops; “Employee or Contractor?” and “Good Governance and Good Policies”. The two workshops will be facilitated by Steven Indig of the Centre for Sport and Law, and will be valuable for Executive Directors, Sport staff, and volunteers. The workshops take place Monday, October 26th in the evening and Tuesday, October 27th during the day. If you wish to attend the workshops please call Susan Stastook at 925-5612 or email Stastook@sport.mb.ca by October 20th to register.
Effective Community Fundraising Workshops
Volunteer Manitoba is pleased to announce the following workshops:
- Effective Community Fundraising in Altona, October 14th
(contact Lisa Gagne at 324-2352)
- Effective Community Fundraising in Birtle, October 14th
(contact Leanne Tibbats, 821-5384)
These two workshops are being put on by Manitoba Agriculture Food and Rural Initiatives with resources from Volunteer Manitoba. These resources were made possible through funding from Manitoba Community Services Council.
Motivating Your (Volunteer) Workforce
Manitoba Association of Volunteer Administration (MAVA) presents the workshop “Motivating Your (Volunteer) Workforce” on Thursday, October 8th from 11:30am to 1:30pm. The workshop will be facilitated by Lisa Lewis, president of Beyond Excellence Inc. The workshop takes place at Riverwood Square, 1778 Pembina Highway. The cost is $20 for MAVA members, $10 for guests. Lunch will be served. For more details, contact Barbara Brown at 477-5360 ext 242.
So You Want to Start a Not-For-Profit: Good Things to Know Before You Do Good
This workshop is an introduction to the not-for-profit sector and what you need to do before you start “doing good”. Work through an exercise to clarify your goals and explore what type of not-for-profit would be best. The workshop is free, takes place on November 23rd from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at the Canada Manitoba Business Service Centre, 250-240 Graham Avenue, and will be facilitated by Alana Palmer and Erik Butenschon from Volunteer Manitoba. To register click here
Capacity Building/Job Design Theory Workshop
Stop in on your way to work for coffee and cinnamon buns while we discuss volunteer job design theory online recruiting, and how to build capacity within your organizations. This will include an overview of Volunteer Manitoba’s workshops and services. The course is free and will include cinnamon buns. Pre-registration is mandatory. For registration and more information click here
Introducing Linda Horodecki and Noreen Mian
Volunteer Manitoba would like to introduce Linda Horodecki as our new Resource Coordinator, and Noreen Mian as our new Volunteer Referral Manager. Linda had worked in medical, legal and nonprofit organizations prior to 1997 when she became a librarian. As well as working at Volunteer Manitoba’s Resource Centre, she holds a part-time position at the Legislative Library of Manitoba. Linda has been involved in volunteer work as well, and has volunteered at the Winnipeg Public Library, the Manitoba Library Association and Fred Douglas Lodge, among other locations. Noreen is well versed in Volunteer Manitoba happenings, and many of you might already know her, as she is also the Manitoba Youth Volunteer Opportunities program manager.
Follow Volunteer Manitoba on Facebook and Twitter!
Now you can stay up to the minute with everything happening at Volunteer Manitoba by following our Facebook and Twitter accounts. Find out about upcoming workshops, see the latest volunteer opportunities, or read an interesting article about the non-profit sector just by following us! Sign up for our Facebook page by clicking here, and our Twitter page by clicking here.
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