My Dogs Are Too Smart....

So...

I love my dogs, but sometimes they can be a pain in the butt. Ginger, the long-haired, Prima donna dachshund, and Rocco, the 3.5-lb terror chihuahua, make quite the couple.

They like to bark at everything, every noise, everyone. Demand attention, and treats at 8:00PM every night. I like to call them "donkeys," just because I think its funny.

Well, they are no jackasses. I put them outside for the morning while our cleaning person went to work on the house. They barked at the door consistently, which annoyed me, and I repeatedly said in my strongest, deepest voice said "NO."

Finally, they were quiet. All was good, I went into my office to work. Suddenly, Patricia came into my office and stated "I think your dogs are at the front door."

"Huh? How can that be?"

"I don't know, but they are out there."

And sure enough, there were Ginger and Rocco. Apparently, they decided that the back yard wasn't good enough, and wanted in. They squeezed beneath the front gate, and tried the front door.

I have to say, I caved. They are hanging in the house, barking at the vacuum cleaner.

I'm a Reader, You're a Reader, Wouldn't You Like to be a Rockstar, too?

I'm a pretty passionate person. Love great causes, root for triumph over stereotypes, and hug puppies. You'd say "of course you bleeding heart, you would support early childhood and family literacy programs."

But there is where you are wrong. I'm incredibly uncomfortable around children, and self-diagnosed as "baby-phob." They all freak me out. And no, I'm not an only child and have about 18 first cousins.

But I believe that children, starting before birth, should be read to so strongly that I've dedicated my time for the past 5 years on the board of an amazing organization called BookSpring.

Why am I so passionate about BookSpring? Because I'm living proof that the greatest, long-lasting gift a parent can give to their child is the love of reading. And thanks to Mom - I'm an avid reader, and some would argue or see me as successful.

If you're a reader - can you be a rockstar too? Sponsor a child in our upcoming Read-A-Thon. And if you don't think your contribution is enough to make a difference your wrong. Just listen to these kids.


Our future will be in there hands....


PS - Note to you parents - read to your kids. This isn't an economic problem, this is a priority problem. Take time. It makes the world of difference.

H

Doing What's Right

I've had something that I could have swept into a box, put on a shelf, pretend I didn't have, and let it go.

I was a picture of my ex, with his brother and grandfather, when they were young. It's a nice picture, and in fact, maybe not one he remembered having at all.

My grandfather passed away on Dec 2, 2010 unexpectedly. Part of our grieving and celebration was to gather and look through photos that we all had of Bob, and share memories, moments, and stories of this man who we hold so dear to our hearts.

I won't say it was an easy call, even though it would seem such. It was a hard call, to dial the number and wonder how the conversation would go - Argue? Cordial? Real? All that I really wanted was to do what was right.

And it was fine. That picture is worth more than the arguments, differences, and how the relationship (or lack thereof) came to be years later. It's about stepping into the uncomfortable and doing what is right.

Regardless...

Places I Don't Pee

Recently I've had surgery to my sinuses. While all is healing well, it's not without its inconveniences, one of which having to take baths.

While I love a good relaxing, candle-lit, soft-music, wine-in-hand bubble bath, it's just not the same. I've been thrown back to being a kid.

Clean water to start. Scrub the face, move onto the hair. Shampoo using the back-of-head-in-water technique (head-down-over-the-the-sink/tub makes my nose bleed), rinse, repeat, and condition. Only then can the body wash begin, which still leaves a soapy residue since the water is already filled with face wash, shampoo, conditioner, and now, body wash.

I miss the shower. Plus, you just can't pee in the tub.

2011: My "Merging"

Wow. Another year bites the dust. 2010 had its share of highs and lows - just like every year does. And like every new year, I look to emerge from the prior, dust myself off, and step onto the tantalizing green grass of the next.

Part of my journey is trying to figure out how I want to engage with the world, particularly now that information is only a few keystrokes away, and social media has continued to merge the circles by which we navigate.

On one hand, I rebel like mad, not wanting to segment who I am. On the other hand, I segment like mad to keep some sort of separation between these circles.

Why?

My minor in psychology tells me that I fear rejection (well, no shit), and that I fear people won't like "all" of me. So I think separation will keep me "safe."

The reality is that I'm as transparent as they come. And if you know a little of me - you probably know a lot about me. There is really nothing to hide.

So, this year I'm taking the plunge. Accept my Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and blogs for what they will be. Sometimes they'll be serious, sometimes funny, sometimes downright silly.

But they all will be me. Happy 2011.

Attention Board Presidents! You might get this call...

After a week of traveling on business (for Sage), I returned to the office Friday to a somewhat confusing voicemail. It was a lovely woman from the City of Austin Health Services department, inquiring about an audit report, and if I could give her a call back.

I thought "hmmm....an audit report? I wonder if they are a fund accounting customer, and somehow got transferred to me instead of support."

So, I picked up the phone, and gave her a call. I introduced myself as calling from Sage, and she, too was equally confused.

Then the light bulb moment hit. She was calling on BookSpring - the nonprofit I'm president of, not Sage. Ahhhh...starting to make sense.

This group had received our audit report, and wanted to know if the board had reviewed the audit. Additionally, she wanted to know if we had an audit committee, if the board meets with the auditor, and if they could have the minutes for the meeting in which we discussed the audit.

Of course my responses were "yes, yes, yes, and sure - let me get them to you Monday since my documents are on my home PC."

If you've been following Austin at all, you might of heard of a well-respected nonprofit called Family Connections. This organization, the board, funders, and supporters were duped by a very smart, very clever executive director who basically took them for all their worth - and fled to another country where she has duality. (http://www.statesman.com/news/local/family-connections-shuts-down-561391.html)

There are three points to this post:

1. Board Presidents: expect to recieve more and more calls like this, particularly from funders and program supporters.
2. All board members: it IS your responsibility to understand the controls your organization has in place. Question, question, question - not everyone brings a strong financial background to a board, but we ALL are financially responsible for it's performance. Contact your local nonprofit membership organization if you need a starting place to ensure proper board governance!
3. Prospective board members: while this level of transparency is expected, does it make you nervous to join a board? If not join, take a leadership role?

I have lots of thoughts and predictions, but I'll save them for another post when they are a bit more formalized (and before I make an ass out of myself).

Until then....

Unemployment Rates Key Indicator for Nonprofit Revenue Futures

Of all the economic indicators, I believe unemployment is the most important one for nonprofits to watch. More important than consumer confidence, stock market, housing market, etc.

Why?

High unemployment rates:

1. Increases in demand for services. A larger population struggles to meet the basic needs for themselves and their family. This puts additional strain on the nonprofits that already serve and underserved population with limited capacity for expansion.
2. Decreases in individual donations. This comes in two forms. First, a smaller donor pool, and second, pressure from the remaining employed to increase gifts to cover the funding short-falls.
3. Finally, Decreases in corporate giving. If employers had to resort to workforce reductions, and employees are their most valuable asset, this means that there is fewer dollars available for charities. Now, not all corporations may operate this way, but in general, I bet this is very, very true.

Let's take this a step further. Unemployment also affects tax bases, particularly for the states. The tax-revenue gaps create budget shortfalls, some very severe.

Because of the short-falls, some states are looking to revoke some tax-exemptions for charities such as state tax, property, etc and/or institute deals to cover fire/water services with nonprofits (such as large educational institutions and hospitals). There is no word if any of this will actually go through, but it certainly may "tax" already cash-strapped service providers.

Tell me I'm wrong....