Our First Social!

Can you tell by all the smiling faces that our first social was an enjoyable experience? On Tuesday night, representatives from nine local nonprofits had table displays, but more than that came to represent their organization or just to see what the cooperative is all about. They had the opportunity to meet with volunteers and the general public to speak about their organizations and share their enthusiasm for their projects.

The first part of the evening was just socializing, and then Scott Clapson drew everyone into a large circle so everyone could introduce themselves and talk about about their organization, or their personal involvements and interests in local nonprofits.

People put a lot of time and effort into their work for nonprofit organizations, and having the opportunity to talk about it, and have fun at the same time, makes for a great evening.

At the end of the evening, the official deadline was reached for the polls for naming the new cooperative newsletter. Ballots were available, with a range of suggested names plus a write-in option. When the ballots were counted at the end of the evening, including write-in options, each got only one vote. The deadline is being extended one week. 

The idea is spreading, and others have expressed interest in coming to future events, so everyone is looking forward to November's Social. 

Poll Deadline Extended to October 27th.

One of the topics of discussion last night at our first social was choosing a name for the cooperative newsletter. Voters chose from five entries, and also had a write-in option. We are extending the deadline because out of six ballots, we have six names. No one got more than one vote!

The deadline now is October 27th at 7:00 pm. The newsletter should be ready to go to press at that time.

Newsletter Encourages Mentoring Topic: Media Kits

How many local nonprofits have created a media kit? Getting started on filling the newsletter template with stories has shown the need for a more professional approach is connecting with the various media.

Media kits have information about the organization in a concise form so that the journalists and public relations people can write stories about you. The time they spend on any one story is probably very limited, so they need everything at their fingertips. Playing email tag for usable photos or information is a definite put-off. My recommendation is to put yourself in their shoes for a little while and go from there.

Each segment of the population focuses on something different, so when you put together a kit, consider why you are doing and what you have that will interest the recipient of the kit. Donors and foundations where you are applying for grants have different interest than a reporter looking for a story about your rummage sale.

Each organization has exempt purposes, fund raisers and the projects that rely on the funds, so consider these when you come up with brochures, news releases and handouts.

Backgrounders have the information that enables a reporter to tell the story.

Biographies and portrait photos of key people of the organization.

White papers that are scholarly information by you, the experts on the subject and problem-solvers.

The need arose within the coop for a more professional approach to media relations, and this issue allows us to consider what local nonprofits may want or need, and a great idea for a story about how we solved the problem.

Karen Holmes,
Principal
The World Peace Organization for the One World Government
http://www.oneworldgov.org

Flyer for our first social

Invitation to our October 2015 Social

Have you seen our flyers up around town?

I think Scott did a terrific job on it.