Archive for September, 2008

OK Radio

OK Radio #6
Tim Daly, President of The New Teacher Project

Tim Daly

2.12.2008
Timothy Daly, President of the The New Teacher Project shares his experiences and insights on careers in teaching within our public schools. What character traits and skills make for a successful teacher? What are the biggest opportunities and greatest challenges for public school teachers today?

Download this program now to find out…

Listen Now Listen to the Podcast Now!

(8.1 MB)

Subscribe to OK Radio!

Interview Highlights
:48 Mission of The New Teacher Project
1:46 Character traits and skills of successful teachers
5:00 The impact of staffing rules on teachers and student
8:13 Tim’s experience as a Middle School teacher
11:10 Benefits of teaching within urban communities
12:58 Opportunities and challenges for public school teachers
15:36 OK If? What dazzling feats would Timothy perform in the circus…?



Tim Daly
 President, The New Teacher Project

As president of The New Teacher Project (TNTP), a national non-profit organization that partners with school districts and states to improve teacher quality in low-performing schools, Timothy Daly manages the organization’s efforts to engage the wider educational community in teacher quality reforms, including recruitment, selection, training, and staffing rules. Immediately prior to his appointment as President in 2007, Tim served as Vice President for Policy and Research, managing The New Teacher Project’s efforts to ensure that teacher hiring and staffing processes support student achievement. Tim was responsible for launching this business line in 2006 and presided over its rapid growth. He has been with TNTP since 2001 and previously served as TNTP’s managing partner for multiple contracts including the NYC Teaching Fellows program (NYCTF), the largest of The New Teacher Project’s alternate route to certification programs. In the past four years, NYCTF has attracted over 70,000 applications from individuals interested in teaching; today, there are nearly 8,600 Teaching Fellows active in more than 1,100 public schools across New York City. Tim began his career in education as a Teach For America corps member at Northeast Middle School in Baltimore, MD. He holds a BA in American Studies from Northwestern University and a MA in Teaching from Johns Hopkins University.

Website: The New Teacher Project

Related Articles:

OK Radio

OK Radio #5
Tom Darrow, Principal of Talent Connections and the 2006/2007 President of SHRM-Atlanta

Tom Darrow

1.14.2008
Tom Darrow, Principal of Talent Connections and the 2006/2007 President of SHRM-Atlanta, shares with OK Radio his insight on the trend of nonprofit “sector switchers.” What are the realities and common misconceptions of careers in nonprofit vs for-profit?

Download this program now to find out…

Listen Now Listen to the Podcast Now!

(6.6 MB)

Subscribe to OK Radio!

Interview Highlights
1:14 Services that Talent Connections provides to the nonprofit community
2:04 Common misconceptions about nonprofit jobs
3:16 Type of person likely to successfully move into the sector
4:32 Addressing for profit stereotypes and nonprofit employers preferences
6:47 Transferable skills and expertise from corporate
8:02 Cultural differences should a corporate to nonprofit
9:55 Reality of differences of salary and benefits nonprofit vs. corporate
11:38 OK If? If Tom could do any job in the world for one day, what would it be?



Tom Darrow
 Principal, Talent Connections
Immediate Past President, SHRM - Atlanta

Thomas M. Darrow is the Founder and Principal of Talent Connections, LLC, a recruiting solutions firm that was number 86 on the 2007 Inc. 500 list of America’s fastest growing private companies.

Tom has over 18 years experience in the Human Resources and Recruitment profession — including 9 years of combined experience with the global professional services firms of Price Waterhouse (now PricewaterhouseCoopers) and Andersen Consulting (now Accenture).

He was the 2006 and 2007 President of SHRM-Atlanta, the largest city Chapter in the country out of 577 Chapters, and also served on the Board of Directors. Under his leadership, the Chapter grew membership over 40% to over 2300 members and won a SHRM Pinnacle Award. Tom earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from the University of Notre Dame. He is a frequent and national speaker at conferences and workshops on topics related to improving corporate recruiting processes, and has been quoted in publications including Business Week, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, The Washington Post, and HR Magazine.

Websites: www.talentconnections.net
www.shrmatlanta.org/

Related Articles:

OK Radio #2 - Jack Gilson



OK Radio

OK Radio #2
Jack Gilson - Assistive Work Technology Supervisor at The Georgia Department of Labor’s Vocational Rehabilitation Program



12.2.2007
Jack GilsonJack Gilson, Supervisor Assistive Work Technology GA Department of Labor’s Vocational Rehabilitation Program, shares with OK Radio how VR services help to enable people with disabilities to reach their potential. What are the Benefits to employers utilizing workers with disabilities and how can even simple workplace adaptations foster success?

Download this program now to find out…

Listen to Podcast Listen to the Podcast Now!

Interview Highlights
:38 — Role of Rehabilitation Program and potential of VR clients
2:41 — Benefits to employers utilizing workers with disabilities
4:10 — Examples of workplace modifications and adaptive technologies
7:26 — Success story on VR client and workplace accommodation
8:33 — Case studies on companies using assistive technology
10:35 — How can organizations get started
12:50 — The sharing VR program practices between GA and other states
14:51 — OK If? What does Jack think is the most important invention in history…


Jack Gilson
Assistive Work Technologies Supervisor

Jack Gilson is the Assistive Work Technology Supervisor for the Georgia Department of Labor/Rehabilitation Services for Regions 3A and 3B (Metro Atlanta). He supervises eight AWT staff positions, including Rehabilitation Technologists, Rehabilitation Technicians, Occupational Therapists, and Rehabilitation Engineers.

Prior to coming to the Georgia VR Program in 1988, Jack worked for 12 years in the private sector, with companies that developed special technology for people who are blind and visually impaired.

He is originally from Ohio, and earned BA and MA degrees from Ohio University. In his spare time, Jack serves as a councilman for the small town of Woolsey, Georgia, runs marathons, and goes scuba diving with people who travel in wheelchairs.

Website: www.vocrehabga.org

Related Articles:

OK Radio

OK Radio #4
J.D. Hokoyama, President & CEO of the Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc. (LEAP)

Tom Darrow

1.14.2008
J.D. Hokoyama, President & CEO of the Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc. (LEAP), provides insight on the state of Asian American leadership and employment in the nonprofit sector. What are the benefits of leadership development programs and how can nonprofits looking to recruit and retain a diverse team? Download this program now to find out…

Listen Now Listen to the Podcast Now!

(8.8 MB)

Subscribe to OK Radio!

Interview Highlights
:53 Mission of Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc.
2:29 Changes and evolutions in Asian American nonprofit leadership
6:47 Role of the Asian Pacific American Public Policy Institute
9:28 The necessary skills gained through leadership development programs
13:55 Recruiting and retaining a diverse team
16:05 OK If? What one book would JD choose if he were stranded on a desert island…?



J.D. Hokoyama
 President & CEO of the Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc. (LEAP)

J.D. Hokoyama is the President & CEO and a founding board member of Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc. (LEAP). A former Peace Corps volunteer serving in Ethiopia, he has been a high school English teacher and department chair, a K-8 elementary school principal, an executive vice president for fund development and public affairs, the acting national director of the Japanese American Citizens League and the director of the Office of Asian Pacific American Students Services at the University of Southern California. He speaks and trains nationally in all sectors on topics such as becoming a 21st century leader, understanding cultural values, risk taking and breaking the glass ceiling. Mr. Hokoyama holds a BA in English, a secondary teaching credential and a M.Ed. in Educational Administration from Loyola Marymount University. He serves on the boards of both Asian American and Pacific Islander and mainstream organizations locally and nationally.

Websites: www.leap.org

Related Articles:

OK Radio

OK Radio #3
Bentley Marane, Vice President of Major Gifts - United Way

Bentley Marane

12.6.2007
Bentley Marane, Vice President of Major Gifts with the United Way of Metro Atlanta shares with OK Radio her perspective on careers in development and trends affecting fundraising professionals. How important is certification such as CFRE and what are the skills necessary for growing a successful career in development?

Download this program now to find out…

Listen Now Listen to the Podcast Now!

(5.4 MB)

Subscribe to OK Radio!

Interview Highlights
:45 United Way’s Mission
2:37 Donors keeping their gifts close to Home
4:00 Importance of certification – CFRE
5:41 Growth paths for Development professionals
8:07 Exploring organizations and skill set building
9:04 OK If? Where would Bentley transport herself to at this moment…



Bentley B. Marane, CFRE
 Vice President, Major Gifts

With more than 25 years of experience in fundraising for nonprofit social service agencies, Bentley Marane is acknowledged as a community leader whose talents lie in her ability to coordinate support from individuals and corporations totaling more than $25 million annually. Bentley has worked with local and national organizations in developing successful fundraising programs and campaigns, organizational redesigns, volunteer recruitment and management of diverse community interests.

Currently, Bentley leads fundraising efforts at United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta with the leadership giving societies including Tocqueville Society, Cole Society, African American Partnership and Women’s Legacy. Previously, she has worked at CHRIS Kids, Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta, AID Atlanta and Girl Scout Council of Northwest Georgia.

In addition to her extensive experience in fundraising, Bentley is heavily involved within the community. She has served on the Steering Committee for National Philanthropy Day, the Southeast Regional Interstate Conference and is past President of the Georgia Planned Giving Council. Bentley has served on numerous boards of directors and is a graduate of Leadership Atlanta.

Bentley holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and has taken continuing studies courses in management and fundraising. She resides in Atlanta with her husband of 17 years and is an avid swimmer.

Website: www.unitedwayatlanta.org

Related Articles:

OK Radio #13 - Secretary Karen Baker



OK Radio

OK Radio #13
Secretary Karen Baker, Secretary of Service and Volunteering for the state of California

Secretary Karen Baker

7.22.2008
Karen Baker, newly appointed Secretary of Service and Volunteering for the state of California, speaks to OK Radio host Joe Folan about California Governor Schwarzenegger’s first-in-the-nation action to encourage volunteerism in California and to improve coordination of volunteer efforts between the state’s departments and agencies. The Governor signed an executive order to establish the new position of secretary of service and volunteering and appointed Karen Baker who will be a member of the Governor’s Cabinet.

What is the importance of this role and how will affect nonprofits? How has CA organized resources to best mobilize volunteers? What’s on the horizon for the nation and other states to model this effort?

Download this program now to find out…

Listen Now Listen to the Podcast Now!

(10.3 MB)

Subscribe to OK Radio!

Interview Highlights
:50 Brief on executive order creating the position of Secretary of Service and Volunteering
1:49 Importance of Secretary’s role in the Cabinet on behalf of nonprofits
5:23 Secretary Baker hears from nonprofits on what help they need
7:10 Volunteers and other resources key to nonprofits
8:11 Central CA website for Volunteers to engage
9:27 Mobilization and the critical role of volunteers for disaster preparedness
15:44 National Conference upcoming on value CA model for other states
17:09 Goals for the next year and beyond
19:36 OK If? What object would Secretary Baker bring if stranded on an island…?




Karen Baker
 Secretary of Service and Volunteering

Karen Baker was appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger to serve as the Secretary of Service and Volunteering. Karen brings to the agency 20 years of innovative leadership in all facets of the service and volunteerism sector, including local and national nonprofits and federal agencies.

Prior to her arrival at CaliforniaVolunteers in January 2006, Karen served as the managing partner for Valley Vision, a Sacramento-based “action tank” that addresses regional economic, environmental and social issues. She also served as the director of innovation at Share Our Strength, a national anti-hunger nonprofit located in Washington, D.C. Karen served as director for program coordination and special projects for the Corporation for National Service, and was appointed by President Clinton as the deputy director for AmeriCorps*VISTA. Before serving in Washington D.C., Karen was the executive director of Chrysalis, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping economically disadvantaged and homeless individuals become self-sufficient through employment opportunities.

Karen holds her bachelor of arts in Sociology from the University of California at Los Angeles. After graduating from college, she served one year with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps where she worked with at-risk youth in Seattle.

Website: CaliforniaVolunteers

Related Articles:

Janis R. Hirohama



OK Radio

OK Radio #12
Janis R. Hirohama, President of The League of Women Voters of California

Janis Hirohama

6.16.2008
OK Radio host Lynne Norton speaks with Janis R. Hirohama, President of The League of Women Voters of California. Janis shares her expertise on voting rights and what it’s like to have a career in educating, empowering and encouraging citizens to participate in government.

What opportunities and benefits exist for people looking to join the league? How does the League of Women Voters assure citizens of various backgrounds that they do have the right to vote? And that their vote will be counted?

Download this program now to find out…

Listen Now Listen to the Podcast Now!

(11.4 MB)

Subscribe to OK Radio!

Interview Highlights
1:08 - The League of Women Voters’ mission
3:27 – Reasons to join the league
7:00 – Roles within the league
11:09 – Empowering citizens through voting
14:17 – Assuring and assisting voting for citizens of diverse communities
21:35 – OK If? What would Janis choose to have the world’s largest collection of…?




Janis Hirohama
 President of The League of Women Voters of California

Janis R. Hirohama of Manhattan Beach, is the first Japanese-American and first minority to be elected President of the League of Women Voters of California. Hirohama previously served as First Vice President of the League of Women Voters of the United States.

A New York University School of Law graduate, Hirohama is an attorney in public service whose areas of expertise include voting rights, criminal law, and fairness education. In her spare time she enjoys reading, travel, running, and genealogy research.

Website: League of Womens Voters of California

Related Articles:

OK Radio #1 - Hywel Sims



OK Radio

OK Radio #1
Hywel Sims, Executive Director - Los Angeles Gay Men’s Chorus


Hywel Sims 11.28.2007
Hywel W. Sims, Executive Director of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles, shares with OK Radio insight on the impact that the professionalization of the nonprofit has upon organizations and people that work in nonprofit. What are the cultural impacts upon nonprofit professionals and what issues are the incumbent leaders facing and need to address?

Download this program now to find out…

Listen to Podcast Listen to the Podcast Now!

Interview Highlights
:46 Mission of LA Gay Men’s Chorus
2:16 Changes on careers resulting from sector’s professionalization
3:48 Cultural impacts upon nonprofit professionals
5:48 Skill sets nonprofit leaders are strengthening
7:29 View of incumbent nonprofit leaders on the next generation
9:03 Best practices and recommendations from the corporation sector
11:31 OK If? What supernatural ability would Hywel wish to possess…


Hywel Sims
Executive Director

Originally from Wales, Hywel spent his early professional life in London. A successful career in retail was interrupted by cabaret, stage and choral performances, and volunteer work with lesbian and gay organizations. In the late eighties, volunteerism became Hywel’s major focus when he joined one of London’s many, young HIV agencies as a staff member.

Moving to Los Angeles in 1989, Hywel continued his work in HIV, becoming Director of Chris Brownlie Hospice, and moving to Common Ground, the Westside HIV/AIDS Community Center as its Executive Director in 1996. Hywel also served as a Board member and Co-Chair at Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles between 1995 and 1997. In 1999, Hywel returned to London, where he led a national alcohol and drug advocacy agency, working closely with governments in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Hywel also led the re-branding of several national non-profits.

Throughout his career, whether in retail, HIV, drugs and alcohol or in his private consultancy practice, Hywel’s work has centered around one belief; that we are gifted people who, together, can heal a broken world. As a facilitator, Hywel has led groups and organizations of many sizes through strategic planning and conflict resolution; he has also worked as a mentor with executives in the public, private and non-profit sectors.

Hywel’s publications include ‘Listening to the Experts’; a report on families affected by drugs and alcohol, and his short stories and memoirs have been broadcast on KUSC and NPR.

Website: www.gmcla.org

Related Articles:

2/20/2008 - How to Write a Job Description that Works


By Dalya F. Massachi

 When a key employee leaves your organization, who has time to write the perfect job description for a replacement? Chances are, you have a lot of other pressing tasks cluttering up your proverbial plate.

While only you can determine your exact needs, I can give you some advice on crafting your message to attract the types of candidates most likely to be a great fit. That is: hire the right person the first time around and you will reduce your personnel costs down the line.

The idea is to speak directly to the needs and interests of your readers.

Here is a quick list of 7 essentials to be sure to cover.

1) Position Objective: In general terms, what would the ideal candidate do for your organization? How will the person fit into your overall operations? This is the equivalent of the job’s “mission statement.” These days, jobseekers need to understand how crucial their role is in making a difference at your organization and on the issues you address.

2) Duties: What tasks will be expected of the new hire? The more specific you can be, the more your jobseekers will be able to find a good match with what they have done, can do, or are well-positioned to learn.

3) Qualifications Needed: This is not just about the “hard” skills, experience, education and other resources the person can bring to your organization. I also encourage you to think about the kind of “soft skills” and work habits you are looking for. This can begin to describe your organizational culture and the general type of person who would do well in that environment. Examples include:

  • Able to work with or without close supervision
  • Oriented toward both details and “big picture” thinking
  • Able to make quick decisions
  • Resourceful and well-connected
  • Flexible and able to handle changing priorities
  • Excellent at multi-tasking
  • Oriented toward customer service
  • Interested in collaboration styles


4) Benefits: I recommend including a section on how the successful candidate would benefit from the position (in addition to the traditional benefits of a paycheck, health insurance and paid time off). This is especially important for nonprofit organizations because financial resources are often not our strongest point (to say the least).

By offering a desirable work environment, you can cut your employee turnover costs, increase the level of productivity and professionalism in your organization, and “walk the talk” of your mission by improving the quality of life of your staff.

Benefits can also include things such as: experience with your slice of the nonprofit sector; generous opportunities for training, professional development and advancement; opportunity to work with well-known or experienced colleagues; academic credit; and family-friendly policies. No doubt you can think of many more.


5) Logistical Details: Here we’re talking location, hours, duration, etc. These things can make or break the deal because your employee has to see how the job can fit into his or her life. If you offer flexibility in any of these areas, be sure to say so.

6) Compensation: If you can give an approximate salary or wage range, that will be helpful to the jobseeker. You don’t want to waste anyone’s time.

7) How To Apply: Make it easy, but be specific! Give simple, detailed instructions that must be followed to proceed in the employment process. This, of course, is the first task you are asking your potential employee to complete. So it is an important test of competency, thoroughness, and accuracy.

Of course you will need to comply with all employment regulations of non-discrimination. If you are an Affirmative Action employer, go ahead and say that too!

—————————————————————————-


Got a question about writing in the nonprofit job market? Just want to check in about your experiences? I’d love to hear what you have to say. Submit a “comment” on this page and let’s get a dialogue going!


Dalya F. Massachi specializes in helping nonprofit professionals advance their missions through outstanding written materials. She has worked with community-minded organizations for more than 15 years: authoring countless successful marketing pieces, articles, and grant proposals; teaching popular writing workshops; and coaching professionals one-on-one.

Download her free tip sheets and subscribe to her free e-newsletter at:
http://www.dfmassachi.net
dalya@dfmassachi.net

NOTE:For many more writing tips, check out my forthcoming book, Writing to Make a Difference: 25 Powerful Techniques to Boost Your Community Impact. If you pre-order right now, you will get a pre-publication discount of 15% at:http://www.dfmassachi.net/wmd.html

Related Articles:

Focus on the Verbs!



By Dalya F. Massachi

As a jobseeker, you probably already know that you need to include plenty of strong verbs in your application materials.

After all, verbs drive the English language. They show action, movement, feeling, drama. They bring ordinary scenes or descriptions to life. If you hide or ignore them, you are likely to end up with a boring, lifeless snoozer of a piece. And that can spell disaster for your resume, cover letter, writing samples, etc. (And for that matter, once you land the job, you want your writing to continue to stand out.)

Here are my top three ways to highlight the verbs in your writing and make them work for you:

#1: Choose verbs in the active voice and avoid passive ones.

Passive verbs are just that: they indicate a passive state of affairs, with not much action or movement. They forget about the subject (who or what is performing the action) and only focus on the object (the recipient of the action). In essence, the actor or character is simply lying there passively–like a wet rag– receiving action but not doing a thing!

One easy way to spot passive verbs is to check for verbs that appear before the word “by.”

Original: “At my previous job, all of the project documentation was written by me.”

Notice how the object here – the project documentation - -steals the spotlight, while the person who did the writing (me) doesn’t even appear until the very end of the sentence.

On the other hand, active verbs indicate what is happening and WHO or WHAT is doing the action. They create a stronger sentence and allow you to describe the situation more powerfully.

In the example above, the active version would be:

Suggested Revision: “At my previous job, I wrote all of the project documentation.”

Here are some other examples of how you can change passive verbs into active verbs and boost your impact:

Original: “The issue will be voted on in California’s 2010 election.”

To highlight the actors in the situation, we would say:

Suggested Revision: “Californians will vote on the issue in the 2010 election.”

In your writing sample, you may be writing about an issue that your organization works on, such as:

Original: “Hundreds of women are abused every minute.”

We can add much more information about the responsible parties, and avoid classifying women as the passive victims, when the sentence becomes:

Suggested Revision: “Romantic partners, friends, relatives, and even strangers
abuse hundreds of women every minute.”

#2: Use vivid verbs.

Replace weak verbs or those that need adverbs with stronger verbs that convey your exact meaning. Try to paint a picture with your words so your readers can “see” the scene in their mind’s eye. If you replace everyday verbs with extraordinary ones, your sentences will sparkle.

Original: “I participated in several linter-departmental meetings per month.”

While the sentence may be accurate, it lacks detail. Your reader has no way of knowing what “participated” really means. Let’s try strengthening the verb a bit:

Suggested Revision: “I planned, facilitated, and reported on several inter-departmental meetings per month.”

Watch out for the many non-vivid conjugations of the verb “to be”: is, are, was, were, will be, etc. To help eliminate them, focus on a few specific, outstanding details. For example:

Original: The organization’s events were more popular than they were two years ago.

Let’s liven up that verb with some specifics:

Suggested Revision: The organization’s events attracted twice as many enthusiastic participants this year as they did two years ago.

#3: Tease out the main verb.

Often, a verb finds a comfy hiding place in a long phrase and ends up diluting the sentence. To avoid this fate, try using a single word as a verb instead of a wordy phrase that contains one or more verbs.

Prime suspects for offending words often follow forms of to give, have, make, do, provide, perform or take. Too often, we writers “give an explanation” instead of “explain,” and “make a choice” instead of “choose.” It’s a nasty habit that suffocates our good friends: healthy verbs.
——————————————-
Got a question about writing in the nonprofit job market? Just want to check in about your experiences? I would love to hear what you have to say! Submit a “comment” on the bottom of this page and let’s get a dialogue going…

PS: Check out the comments o my March 2008 Writer’s Block column. You will probably be interested in the information we exchanged.

Dalya F. Massachi specializes in helping nonprofit professionals advance their missions through outstanding written materials. She has worked with community-minded organizations for more than 15 years: authoring countless successful marketing pieces, articles, and grant proposals; teaching popular writing workshops; and coaching professionals one-on-one.

Download her free tip sheets and subscribe to her free e-newsletter at:
http://www.dfmassachi.net
dalya@dfmassachi.net

NOTE:For many more writing tips, check out my forthcoming book, Writing to Make a Difference: 25 Powerful Techniques to Boost Your Community Impact. If you pre-order right now, you will get a pre-publication discount of 15% at:http://www.dfmassachi.net/wmd.html

Related Articles:

« Prev - Next »


Error in my_thread_global_end(): 1 threads didn't exit