Last week, I was listening to NPR and I heard an Washington politician talk about the old days. He said that elected officials would hang out at night in some of DC's famous watering holes, have dinner together and on the weekends, they would go to parties together.
Not now! They leave town every weekend and, during the week, they stay in their own camps. The result? A very polarized Senate and House. Our representatives do not get to know each other on a personal, casual basis. Without that relationship, they can't cross party and policy lines to work together.
A similar story was told to me recently by a Board member. She said her Board members rarely saw each other or the staff outside the board meetings. In addition, the meetings were so tightly organized that people didn't even have much of an exchange at the meeting!
I suggested that they have a potluck barbecue at someone's house so they could all get to know each other better, as people. That would make working together smoother and a lot more fun!
Anyone for a big barbecue in DC?
Monday, January 11, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
MH&A and COMMUNITY ACTION
It was one of the moments of "kismet." For years, Tim Reese, a very forward-thinking association executive, head of California/Nevada Community Action Partnership /The State CAA Association and I have been friends. We visit each other and talk about the world and personal issues in general and tried to work together a few times.
Nothing seemed to click until he was watching a wecast about the recovery funds and said, "I'd like to do something like this to tell the world what we are doing."
Say no more. . . our agency joined him to outline how we could use the power of the web to tell emotionally engaging stories.
As I travel the country, I find most nonprofits do not know about their local Community Action agency. These are very dynamic agencies and great partners with other nonprofits in their town.
Here's a recent news bulletin about this project:
FULFILLING THE PROMISE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROJECT GAINS MOMENTUM – 25 AGENCIES PARTICIPATING
Thanks to the leadership of Tim Reese and Biz Steinberg, Cal/Neva’s “first of its kind” education and outreach campaign, to show how Community Action Agencies are fulfilling the promise of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), is flourishing.
Tim saw the importance of telling the American public how Community Action is using ARRA funds to help people back to work, help those low-income and vulnerable people, and help families and children cope with and survive during our economic downturn. Cal/Neva, in partnership with colleagues at Marshall Howard and Associates, specifically Mike James MHA’s Vice President of Program Development, has produced numerous video spots showing ARRA dollars at work, providing jobs, training, and essential services. See the Fulfilling The Promise work to date by visiting www.fulfillingthepromise-us.org
More than 20 Cal/Neva agencies currently participate in the exciting Fulfilling the Promise Educational and Outreach Project. As part of the participation package, at all three levels, the logo, depicting a butterfly representing hope, transformation and renewal, created under the direction of Trever Barker of T-Dogg Studios, www.tdoggstudios.com is available for use.
Last September, Tim Reese, Mike James, Marshall Howard, and Richard Lemire presented an overview of the “Fulfilling The Promise” project at the Philadelphia National CAP Conference, garnering significant interest and enthusiasm at a national level.
Nothing seemed to click until he was watching a wecast about the recovery funds and said, "I'd like to do something like this to tell the world what we are doing."
Say no more. . . our agency joined him to outline how we could use the power of the web to tell emotionally engaging stories.
As I travel the country, I find most nonprofits do not know about their local Community Action agency. These are very dynamic agencies and great partners with other nonprofits in their town.
Here's a recent news bulletin about this project:
FULFILLING THE PROMISE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROJECT GAINS MOMENTUM – 25 AGENCIES PARTICIPATING
Thanks to the leadership of Tim Reese and Biz Steinberg, Cal/Neva’s “first of its kind” education and outreach campaign, to show how Community Action Agencies are fulfilling the promise of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), is flourishing.
Tim saw the importance of telling the American public how Community Action is using ARRA funds to help people back to work, help those low-income and vulnerable people, and help families and children cope with and survive during our economic downturn. Cal/Neva, in partnership with colleagues at Marshall Howard and Associates, specifically Mike James MHA’s Vice President of Program Development, has produced numerous video spots showing ARRA dollars at work, providing jobs, training, and essential services. See the Fulfilling The Promise work to date by visiting www.fulfillingthepromise-us.org
More than 20 Cal/Neva agencies currently participate in the exciting Fulfilling the Promise Educational and Outreach Project. As part of the participation package, at all three levels, the logo, depicting a butterfly representing hope, transformation and renewal, created under the direction of Trever Barker of T-Dogg Studios, www.tdoggstudios.com is available for use.
Last September, Tim Reese, Mike James, Marshall Howard, and Richard Lemire presented an overview of the “Fulfilling The Promise” project at the Philadelphia National CAP Conference, garnering significant interest and enthusiasm at a national level.
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