Archive for November, 2009

Komen CEO Leaves, 3 Days After New Federal Cancer Guidelines





Hala Moddelmog, president and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a leading national breast cancer awareness organization, has resigned. The departure was announced just three days after the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued its controversial updated mammogram guidelines.

The organization did not announce plans for selecting Moddelmog’s long-term replacement. Komen Founder and Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker will take a more active leadership role in conjunction with the board of directors and senior leadership, according to a statement from the organization.

Komen spokesperson Emily Callahan said that Brinker has already taken a very active role, especially handling media requests to comment on the revised guidelines, as has Eric P. Winer, M.D., Komen’s chief scientific advisor.

Callahan said that Moddelmog decided to resign for personal reasons and to spend more time with family, especially since Komen is based in Dallas and Moddelmog’s home is in Atlanta. Callahan said the resignation did not have anything to do with the new guidelines.

Sources told The NonProfit Times that Moddelmog had a few months left on a three-year contract. There was a regularly scheduled board meeting on Tuesday (12/17) and she was gone by the end of that meeting, according to sources. Staff was told at 4:30 p.m. that day that she had resigned.

The sources said that the departure was not about the new mammogram guidelines but overall direction of the organization. Messages to Moddelmog have been unanswered.

USPSTF released its modified guidelines regarding mammograms on Monday to update its prior guidelines made in 2002. The newest guidelines include advising against routine screening mammography in women 40 to 49 years old, partially due to the increased number of false positives in that age demographic, but said the “decision to start regular, biennial screening mammography before the age of 50 years should be an individual one and take patient context into account.” Prior guidelines recommended routine screening for women 40 years and older.

The USPSTF also recommended biennial screening for women ages 50 to 74 instead of the prior position for annual screenings. USPSTF also advised against teaching breast self-examination.

The Komen Scientific Advisory Board posted its perspective about the USPSTF recommendations on Komen’s Web site, which acknowledged “a longstanding debate” about age and frequency of examinations, but recommended that “as with all screening tests, the decision to perform a mammogram must include an evaluation of the benefits and the risks of the screening tool, as well as a consideration of patient preference.”

The perspective also included, “We want to eliminate any impediments to regular mammography screening for women age 40 and older. It is our view, however, that the exact timing of assessments is less important than guaranteeing access to screening. New screening approaches and more individualized recommendations for breast cancer screening are urgently needed. Susan G. Komen for the Cure supports research initiatives designed to improve screening, and we believe that it is imperative that this research move forward rapidly.”

Atlanta, Ga-based American Cancer Society (ACS) has taken a stronger stance against the USPSTF guidelines. ACS Chief Medical Officer Otis W. Brawley, M.D., said in a statement that the organization continues to recommend annual screening mammography and clinical breast examination for all women beginning at age 40.

“Hala deserves tremendous praise for the work she has done in elevating the organization and the cause, especially the strengthening of our affiliate grassroots efforts – the backbone of Susan G. Komen for the Cure,” said Alexine Clement Jackson, chairperson of organization’s board of directors, in a statement. “The organization is incredibly strong financially and operationally and is poised for tremendous growth.”



In a statement released by the organization, Moddelmog said: “As a breast cancer survivor myself, I have said since the day I joined Komen that I consider this job as a gift…to give back to the breast cancer movement that has saved so many lives. … I feel the same today and remain committed to doing all I can to help end breast cancer forever.”

Moddelmog succeeded Susan Braun as president and CEO in September 2006. During Moddelmog’s tenure, Komen For the Cure has continued to grow and be among the largest nonprofits in the nation. Total revenue among its 125 affiliates was $242 million for the Fiscal Year Ending March 2006 compared to $305 million for the Fiscal Year Ending March 2008, according to the most recent available tax forms. Last year, she earned almost $482,000 in total compensation as president and CEO.

A former Fortune 500 executive, Moddelmog also is a breast cancer survivor. During her time at Komen, the organization established the Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s Scientific Advisory Board and the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Global Promise Fund.

A pioneer in cause marketing and event fundraising, the organization was known as the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation since its inception in 1982 until a rebranding and renaming effort in conjunction with its 25th anniversary.

Prior to joining the Komen, Moddelmog was founder and CEO of Catalytic Ventures, a private equity firm that consulted and invested in the food service industry. She was the first woman in corporate America to lead an international Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) brand in 1995 when she was appointed president of Church’s Chicken, a division of Atlanta-based AFC Enterprises. She subsequently led Church’s to record sales and profit performance. She also held executive management and marketing positions at Church’s Chicken, Arby’s Franchise Association and BellSouth.

Moddelmog served on the boards of Leadership Atlanta, the Atlanta Police Foundation, B.B. King Museum Foundation and Women Looking Ahead magazine. She is a recipient of the Women’s Foodservice Forum Emerging Leader Award, the International Franchise Association Bonny LeVine Award, the Restaurant Hospitality Rising Star Award and the Roundtable for Women in Foodservice Pacesetter Award. She received the Women of Achievement Award in 2003 from the YMCA of Greater Atlanta.


Source: NonProfit Times - By Michele Donohue and Mark Hrywna


Nonprofits find cost-conscious home in United Way Silicon Valley building





United Way Silicon Valley is helping nonprofits and its own bottom line by making office space available in its San Jose building.

Gary Rummelhoff, United Way’s CFO and vice president of operations, said there’s been “an increase in new tenant activity this year because nonprofits are looking for affordable options, prefer to associate with other community organizations and enjoy the benefits of the building’s central location and large meeting rooms.”

The four-story building at 1922 The Alameda has 12 tenants currently, Rummelhoff said. The primary tenant, the YMCA, takes up the entire third floor but will soon move out because of its merger with Mid-Peninsula YMCA.

Rummelhoff said the agency is in talks with four prospective tenants at the moment. While rates can vary, a standard package — a 42-month deal — includes six months’ free rent to entice potential tenants. From that point on, rentals can range from about $1.55 per square foot to $1.60. Comparable spaces in the area can go for as much as $2 per square foot, he said.

Source: Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal - by Elizabeth Kim

State wins green jobs training grant





The Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation was awarded $1.25 million by the U.S. Department of Labor to be used to support job training for expanding green industries and related occupations.

Florida’s training grant was part of $55 million in green job grants announced today by U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis. The grant funds were authorized as part of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Two types of grants were awarded Wednesday:

  • Green capacity building grants totaling $5.8 million that are designed to increase the training capacity of 62 current Labor Department grant recipients. Targeted groups include American Indians, women, at-risk youth and farm workers.

  • State labor market information improvement grants totaling $48.8 million that will help connect job seekers with clean industry industries after completing job training.

    Other Florida groups that received grants include the Urban League of Broward County in Fort Lauderdale, $100,000; and the Florida Institute for Workforce Innovation Inc. in Melrose, $100,000.

    Meanwhile, in Central Florida, green industry has been a hot topic lately. A study released in October by Orange County showed the four-county metro region could grow its economy and become the nation’s “cleantech hub” by funding its own green grants and launching a new business incubator aimed at growing green companies.

    “When it comes to cleantech, I think we’re talking about the next big thing,” said Orange County Mayor Richard Crotty.

    Source: Orlando Business Chronicle

    • Holiday Job Hunting Can Reap Rewards





    Job hunters who persevere over the holidays have a unique opportunity to stand out from others who put off their job hunts until the New Year, according to job search portal CareerCast.com. Rather than take time off while company recruiters (like everyone else) slow down their hiring efforts from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, job seekers should ramp up their search, the site reports.

    To stay motivated, job seekers should realize that the common perception that hiring falls off during the holidays is a myth. Candidates who buy into that belief remove themselves from the job market needlessly. And if a large number of candidates make that assumption, it actually opens up more opportunities for those who don’t.

    “In today’s poor economy, job seekers should not take the holiday season off,” says Tony Lee, publisher, CareerCast.com. “By doubling your efforts over the holidays, at a time when many other job hunters are focusing on activities other than job hunting, you increase your odds of finding a new position.”

    To keep yourself motivated from now to January, CareerCast.com offers five reasons to focus on an active holiday search:

    1) Less competition.
    Not only do many candidates withdraw from the job market over the holidays, but those who are considering a job change usually stay put into the New Year to make sure they receive bonuses and vacation time they’ve accrued through the year.

    2) Hiring managers are easier to reach.
    Hiring decision makers are less likely to be traveling as the holidays approach. Instead, they’re focused on finishing projects, cleaning out files, meeting with colleagues and attending holiday gatherings.

    3) The holiday spirit pervades.
    Everyone is a little happier at the holidays, so leverage that good will to your advantage when trying to schedule interviews. Keep your networking up – contacts are often more available and willing to meet as work demands slow down, helping turn short discussions into long-term opportunities.

    4) Get a jump on January.
    People who start work early in the New Year had to interview for that job in November or December, not in January. And for companies that review their staffing needs in January each year, you’ll have a head start in case a need arises quickly.

    5) Avoid the rush.
    The New Year is full of reminders to start fresh, turn over a new leaf and set new career goals. Beat all of those to the punch by maintaining your job search through the holidays, and you’ll be on board by the time others are making their first calls.

    Source: Onrec.com

    Six Tips for Reducing or Managing Job Stress





    There’s no getting around it. If you have a job, more than likely you have experienced some job stress. If you haven’t, chances are you will at some point in the future. Still, how individuals handle stress often involves such characteristics as personality type and their individual coping style. What is Job Stress? According to The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH, job stress is defined as harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when the requirements of the job do not match the capabilities, resources, or needs of the worker. Stress also occurs when workers feel little or no control over a particular situation.

    Granted, job stress is not limited to any one particular job or industry, although some jobs tend to generate more than others. Fire fighters, policemen and healthcare workers spring to mind, as does those individuals who work with demanding customers on a daily basis. Still, the first step to reducing job stress is to first identify what factors may be causing it.

    There are many causes of job stress. Layoffs, a downside to a trouble economy generates job stress not only for those affected, but creating excessive workloads that require those remaining employees to work longer hours or to frequently take work home. Lack of opportunities for promotion or other advancement opportunities is another. Likewise, conflicts with supervisors or co-workers can create stress.

    More than impacting performance, continued or chronic job stress can lead to serious health problems that include, but are not limited to emotional health issues, cardiovascular disease, musculosketal disorders (a “catch-all” phrase for a variety of soft-tissue ailments in the upper limbs such as tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome, and are not specific medical diagnoses). While the symptoms below frequently may be something other than job stress, some early warning signs of job stress include:

    • Low morale
    • Depression
    • Anger/irritability
    • Physical problems (headaches, stomach problems)
    • High Absenteeism
    • Problems with relationships


    There are things that individuals can do to reduce or manage job stress.

  • Prioritize tasks and tackle them in order of importance.
    Instead of putting off an unpleasant task, why not do it first and get it out of the way? That way you can focus the rest of your day on those less stressful tasks or more pleasant ones.
  • Strive to become better organized.
    Sounds too simplistic? Before you scoff, think back to the number of times that you have lost important files or papers that you knew were somewhere on your desk. How about riding your desk of clutter and files that you aren’t currently working on? Knowing where things are saves time and reduces stress. As does stocking your desk with Post-its or other items that you use on a daily basis.
  • Managing your time wisely can reduce stress.
    It may also decrease how often you work overtime or take work home. If you must take work home, try to limit the number of times of week that you do this. Likewise, if you must stay late, try to limit staying late to no more than once or twice a week, if possible.
  • Take a break during the day or whenever you start to feel stressful.
    If the weather allows, why not take a short walk outside? Walk around your building if unable to walk outside. Using the stairs instead of the elevator offers excellent cardio benefits as well.
  • Get enough rest or sleep.
    Not getting enough rest sets the stage for stress on the job.
  • Take regular vacations.
    And refrain from taking work with you. Use vacations to reconnect with friends and to strengthen family ties.

    Beware of the stressors that you create yourself. For example, if you always seem to be running late in the morning try setting your clock ahead, giving you extra time. Nothing jumpstarts your morning stress level like arriving late to the office. Lastly, while interacting with bosses or co-workers can sometimes prove daunting, by practicing good communication skills you can improve your daily interactions. By keeping the above tips in mind you may soon notice a reduction in your stress level.



    Carol Gee

    About the Author
    Carol Gee, M.A. has worked in education for 26 years in positions ranging from teaching to administration. Currently she is an editor and business writer at Goizueta Business School at Emory University. She is also the author of books, The Venus Chronicles and Diary of a ‘Flygirl’ Wannabe (Life Lessons of a Cool Girl in Training,) and a contributor to the baby boomer book, Age Smart-Discovering the Fountain of Youth at Midlife and Beyond. Carol is a recipient of the Center for Women’s 2009 Unsung Heroine Award for recognition of her dedication to issues that affect women at Emory or in the larger community.
    www.venuschronicles.net
    venuschronicles@aol.com


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    Government Moves to Seize Assets of U.S.-Based Iranian Foundation






    Federal prosecutors in Manhattan have initiated legal actions to seize properties across the country where several mosques are located in order to limit the activities of the Alavi Foundation, a New York City-based organization accused of illegally providing money and services to Iran, the New York Times reports.

    The foundation, which owns the land on which the mosques sit as well as a majority interest in an office tower on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, is accused of spending millions of dollars to obtain and develop the properties in violation of federal laws that ban trade with Iran. Prosecutors did not specify how much money they were seeking from the foundation but indicated that the foundation had tried for years to hide its relationship with the government of Iran. In the government’s complaint, filed in federal district court, no allegations were made against the mosques or other tenants of the properties owned by the foundation.

    “There are no allegations of any wrongdoing on the part of any of these tenants or occupants,” said Yusill Scribner, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney’s office. “No action has been taken against any tenants or occupants of those properties.”

    The prosecutors’ action came on the same day that the White House announced the president had renewed longstanding economic sanctions against Iran. “The Alavi Foundation is disappointed that the government decided to bring this civil forfeiture action,” said attorney Daniel Ruzumna. “The foundation has been cooperating fully with the government since the investigation began. The foundation intends to litigate the government’s claims and expects to prevail when the litigation is over.”

    Weiser, Benjamin. “U.S. Moves to Seize Properties Tied to Iran.” New York Times 11/12/09.

    Source: PND

    Society for the Blind lands stimulus funds




    By Kelly Johnson Staff writer

    Society for the Blind has been awarded $499,701 in federal stimulus dollars for a program that provides intensive training to seniors experiencing vision loss.

    With the money, the local service agency that serves Northern California will be able to reinstate its Senior Impact Program that it discontinued three years ago because of lack of funding, a news release said. The program provides a week of intensive training in a residential setting for seniors experiencing vision loss.

    “This will allow the Society to bring back and restructure the residential portion of the project and re-introduce the element of peer support and leadership to our senior program. It will have a huge impact on community development,” Heather Frank, the nonprofit’s director, said in the release.

    Society for the Blind also will be able to hire between four and eight full- or part-time new workers to staff the program.

    The week-long intensive training includes daily living skills, cane travel, Braille and computer skills — abilities that enable seniors to maintain their independence. The residential experience also allows seniors to meet other seniors experiencing vision loss and participate in seminars on blindness and activities in the community, the release said.

    Society for the Blind is moving in February to new headquarters at 13th and S streets in Sacramento, where the nonprofit will quadruple its space.

    Source: Sacramento Business Journal

    United Way merger talks dead for now




    The four United Way agencies in the Cincinnati-Dayton area won’t be negotiating a merger this year, the Hamilton Journal-News reported Wednesday.
    vThe United Way of Greater Cincinnati, Butler County United Way and Warren County United Way canceled a meeting scheduled for Nov. 23, according to the story. Warren County had already said it would pull out of merger talks, and the United Way of Greater Dayton had dropped out in August.

    Butler County Common Pleas Judge Michael Sage, who had served as a spokesman for the agencies, told the Journal-News that he didn’t think a merger would occur “in the immediate future.” There is a possibility the agencies could meet again in early 2010, however.

    The United Way of Greater Cincinnati and the United Fund of Dearborn and Ohio counties, in Southeast Indiana, merged in April. The Cincinnati United Way also has area centers in Northern Kentucky, Middletown, and Clermont and Brown counties.


    Huffington Post Reports Half Of Nonprofits Made Cutbacks In 2009





    According to a new survey by online nonprofit database Opportunity Knocks, more than half of all U.S. nonprofit organizations let go of workers or froze salaries.

    From Philanthropy.com:

    Ten percent of organizations said their workers’ pay decreased this year by anywhere from 1 to 50 percent. Only 37 percent of organizations said they had increased salaries this year and that the average raise offered was 3.2 percent.

    Though the majority of nonprofit employees receive comprehensive health insurance, only one third receive contributions from their employer to a retirement plan, and only one quarter receive benefits for domestic partners.

    The survey is one more example of the trouble facing nonprofits in the face of the economic recession.

    More Than Half of Charities Made Staff Cutbacks, Survey Finds





    By Heather Joslyn

    More than half of nonprofit organizations say they froze workers’ salaries or furloughed employees this year, according to a new survey of nonprofit wages and benefits.

    The survey by Opportunity Knocks, in Atlanta, which runs an online database of nonprofit job listings, compared that finding to a happier statistic: Three-quarters of organizations the previous year reported a jump in their workers’ salaries, with an average pay raise of 5.6 percent among those groups.

    Ten percent of organizations said their workers’ pay decreased this year by anywhere from 1 to 50 percent. Only 37 percent of organizations said they had increased salaries this year and that the average raise offered was 3.2 percent.

    The survey of more than 2,100 nonprofit organizations nationwide was conducted by Opportunity Knocks in August, September, and early October

    Employee benefits were also examined by the survey. Among the findings:

  • Eighty percent of all organizations said they offer their workers health insurance in 2009 (down from 88 percent the previous year). Among all groups, 35 percent said they pay 100 percent of their employees’ premiums (down from 40 percent in 2008), and 72 percent of employers said they offer health insurance to workers’ dependents this year (up from 66 percent in 2008).

  • One quarter of nonprofit employers surveyed offer benefits to their workers’ domestic partners.

  • Only one in three organizations offer any kind of contribution to their employees’ retirement plans.

  • Among non-insurance-related benefits, professional development opportunities are the most prevalent, offered by 49 percent of organizations this year, down from 57 percent in 2008.

    Copies of “Opportunity Knocks: 2010 Wage and Benefits Report” are available for $49.95 each through the organization’s Web site or by calling (888) 656-6257.

    Source: Chronicle of Philanthropy

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