Every Now and Then You Have to Make a List...
1. Nonprofit, no matter what Microsoft Word spell check says, does NOT have a hyphen in it. You may want to check with Yale University, Program on NONPROFIT Organizations, or University of San Francisco, Masters in Nonprofit Organizational Management, or on the hundreds of textbooks that spell it correctly--without the hy-phen. When I read a newsletter or an article from a nonprofit organization, and they spell nonprofit with the dreaded hyphen, it immediately tells me that the leader most likely does not possess a formal education in nonprofit organizational management. Elitist? Yes. Ab-so-lute-ly.
2. When an organization (or a church) has done it's work, and the brightest spots are in the rear-view mirror, then, that organization should say a graceful goodbye. There are far too many organizations (particularly faith-based) who try to recreate their glory days with some romantic notion that they can again do great things. They can't. Have a going-away party, and allow those with fresh ideas, clear vision, and sustainable plans and intelligent management to take your place in the nonprofit landscape of the community. It does a disservice to all nonprofits and churches for one ineffective (formerly semi-effective) organization to zap the good will, philanthropy and creative energy from the other organizations that are striving to do the right thing. Close shop, let your programs find new homes with healthy organizations (or go on their own) and find work in one of the other sectors. You're not bad people, you are just trying to lead a poorly executed idea without widespread community support. IF the community wants you, the community will find a way to keep you alive and healthy (i.e., Community Food Bank, Girl Scouts, Red Cross, Children's Hospitals, Habitat for Humanity, Volunteer Center) if not, please leave the playground.
3. A good idea is not enough to get philanthropic funding. A GREAT idea with measurable impact and sustainable prospects is what it takes, and those are few and far between.
4. If you are going to make your living talking about being a civic-minded, neighborly, transformational agent, you have to stay at home more often.
Your neighbors will be the first to tell you--you travel too much, and if you are not present, you can't really do much good. The first step to community transformation is NOT good ideas, it's actual physical presence. (Especially if you're going to be a relocator--you really have to LOCATE and shine locally.)
5. Racism can rear it's ugly head in the most unlikely places.
6. There really isn't a great candidate for Mayor of Fresno who will bring real change to this city--even the female candidate has a list of the "old boy's club" that makes me shutter. If I wanted Alan Autry in a pantsuit, he may have probably done it himself.
7. There are parts of Fresno that people who work for the City would rather forget, and they do.
8. Screaming and being shrill will get you noticed, but it may not bring about significant change.
9. The 9 year old boy next door will always tell you the truth about your life. He watches it more carefully than you do.
10. If the church was really the CHURCH, would be need as many?
11. The greenest buildings are the ones already built. Preserving and restoring old buildings is not just good sense economically, it's morally necessary.
12. Days of Service and big splashy days of service can sometimes do more damage than help--it's like the circus comes to town, and the poor people don't have the good tickets, so they watch from the sidelines while the middle-class white people "help."
13. Most nonprofits and churches undervalue and underestimate volunteers.
14. If I was ever held responsible for what my childhood pastor said, I would be in serious do-do.
15. My mother gets smarter as we both grow older, and both of our stories get longer.
16. Living alone for most of my life has left some serious marks on me.
17. Mexican women are beautiful when they are angry.
18. I have enough.
19. Maintaining a loving relationship is the hardest work in the world.
20. There is no such thing as "too many flowers in your yard."
21. Never underestimate the power of the porch swing.
22. 22 items on a list is plenty. Stop.
2. When an organization (or a church) has done it's work, and the brightest spots are in the rear-view mirror, then, that organization should say a graceful goodbye. There are far too many organizations (particularly faith-based) who try to recreate their glory days with some romantic notion that they can again do great things. They can't. Have a going-away party, and allow those with fresh ideas, clear vision, and sustainable plans and intelligent management to take your place in the nonprofit landscape of the community. It does a disservice to all nonprofits and churches for one ineffective (formerly semi-effective) organization to zap the good will, philanthropy and creative energy from the other organizations that are striving to do the right thing. Close shop, let your programs find new homes with healthy organizations (or go on their own) and find work in one of the other sectors. You're not bad people, you are just trying to lead a poorly executed idea without widespread community support. IF the community wants you, the community will find a way to keep you alive and healthy (i.e., Community Food Bank, Girl Scouts, Red Cross, Children's Hospitals, Habitat for Humanity, Volunteer Center) if not, please leave the playground.
3. A good idea is not enough to get philanthropic funding. A GREAT idea with measurable impact and sustainable prospects is what it takes, and those are few and far between.
4. If you are going to make your living talking about being a civic-minded, neighborly, transformational agent, you have to stay at home more often.
Your neighbors will be the first to tell you--you travel too much, and if you are not present, you can't really do much good. The first step to community transformation is NOT good ideas, it's actual physical presence. (Especially if you're going to be a relocator--you really have to LOCATE and shine locally.)
5. Racism can rear it's ugly head in the most unlikely places.
6. There really isn't a great candidate for Mayor of Fresno who will bring real change to this city--even the female candidate has a list of the "old boy's club" that makes me shutter. If I wanted Alan Autry in a pantsuit, he may have probably done it himself.
7. There are parts of Fresno that people who work for the City would rather forget, and they do.
8. Screaming and being shrill will get you noticed, but it may not bring about significant change.
9. The 9 year old boy next door will always tell you the truth about your life. He watches it more carefully than you do.
10. If the church was really the CHURCH, would be need as many?
11. The greenest buildings are the ones already built. Preserving and restoring old buildings is not just good sense economically, it's morally necessary.
12. Days of Service and big splashy days of service can sometimes do more damage than help--it's like the circus comes to town, and the poor people don't have the good tickets, so they watch from the sidelines while the middle-class white people "help."
13. Most nonprofits and churches undervalue and underestimate volunteers.
14. If I was ever held responsible for what my childhood pastor said, I would be in serious do-do.
15. My mother gets smarter as we both grow older, and both of our stories get longer.
16. Living alone for most of my life has left some serious marks on me.
17. Mexican women are beautiful when they are angry.
18. I have enough.
19. Maintaining a loving relationship is the hardest work in the world.
20. There is no such thing as "too many flowers in your yard."
21. Never underestimate the power of the porch swing.
22. 22 items on a list is plenty. Stop.
posted by Downtown Don Simmons at
8:31 PM
1 Comments:
#1?
Hi-lar-i-ous.
I probably resonate the most with #12... whenever we hang out with some homeless friends we've made in Nashville, we never go "as a group." Its not a field trip. Sincerity and good intentions can really blind people to the way their actions are viewed by others.
By
JD, At
8:20 AM
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