Connect4Good

Is there a difference between coaching and mentoring? Yes, according to a study by Matt M. Starcevich, Ph.D., CEO Center For Coaching & Mentoring, Inc., there is definitely a difference. His results were: Table 1: Differences between Mentoring and Coaching   Mentor Coach Focus Individual Performance Role Facilitator with no agenda Specific agenda Relationship SelfRead the Rest…

What has your life experience taught you? If you spent your childhood being physically or emotionally abused, you have a different self-image than if you grew up in a well-adjusted loving family. However you were treated, you probably believe that you deserve it. If it’s love, it’s wonderful. If you think you deserve abuse, youRead the Rest…

When you look into the mirror, what do you see? Best-selling author, Bridget Cook saw love. Like many of us Bridget struggled to please others, overachieving without regard to the gifts she had to offer the world. On the brink of life or death, Bridget experienced the miracle of self-love and understood how discovering herRead the Rest…

Tara Starling is a Hollywood make-up artist, who is called “the make-up architect” by those who admire her work. Tara admits that she is talented at make-up, but she cannot make anyone beautiful. She says only God can do that and she is using her skill in architecture to empower women and build a newRead the Rest…

It’s always deeply satisfying to come together with other souls who actively choose to use discipline and courage in dissolving the ego’s voice and its goals, and who practice replacing the ego’s demands with gentle stillness. My conversation with Dr. Nancy and her staff was a delightful exploration and celebration pointing to the ever presentRead the Rest…

This week Dr.Nancy and Raylene Appleby accepted a $450 check on behalf of Female Leaders in Philanthropy to support FLiP programs. Francine Pratt, currently Executive Director of Isabel’s House and past president of the Springfield NAACP chapter, received their thanks for the donation to the United Way. What Does FLiP’s Program Include? Formally Yours, whichRead the Rest…

I started this New Year by attending the Genshai Mastery Retreat in Coronado, California. This wonderful program took place in a local community theatre building, a setting that highlighted every speaker as a uniquely special person. At the same time, we all relished the cozy friendly atmosphere in which we could share as sisters andRead the Rest…

I confess: I’ve become so disgusted with the current level of political (nonsense) discourse in Congress that I’ve largely tuned out. But I’m changing my ways. In this election year the stakes are high. Author Nancy Poling writes eloquently about Why Young Women Need to Pay Attention. Well, 65 is not young any more byRead the Rest…

Kathleen Mullens is working to make the United States a world leader in promoting women to leadership positions. She founded Female Equality Matters (FEM) to recognize companies and organizations that have a large number in leadership positions. When you see the FEM logo, you can support that company with your dollars: buy their products, donateRead the Rest…

Thank you so much for helping my gals with appropriate clothing for interviewing and “on the job” clothing. You are a complete inspiration to me in all that you give and do to help women have confidence in themselves. With the fact that they know they look “the part,” they are able to feel lessRead the Rest…

A major challenge any leader faces is keeping members connected. It’s hard to keep them involved with the general workings and mission of their association. Regardless of your group’s purpose and goals, there are a lot of activities out there competing for your members attention, so you must continually strengthen their bond with the group.Read the Rest…

We hear it all the time: the key to fundraising and membership success is communications. But just what does that mean? And how on earth do you do it? This wonderful toolkit from the United Way Women’s Leadership Council sets out best practices for running a solid and coordinated communications campaign. Even better, it offersRead the Rest…

As everyone who has ever led a fundraising campaign knows, it’s hard to get everyone on the committee to take responsibility and truly embrace the goal. 6 Tips on How To Get Your Committee to Take Responsibility Communicate. In fact, OVER-communicate. You’re familiar with all the details — and you remember them –  because youRead the Rest…

A recent article by contributor Kerry Hannon in forbes.com reported a LinkedIn survey of nearly 1,000 female professionals in the U.S. They found that most American women feel that it’s important to have a mentor. Unfortunately, one woman in five lacks a mentor, and the deck is stacked against women over 44. Nearly two-thirds ofRead the Rest…

86% of the purchasing power in the U.S. is in the pockets of women! Two weeks ago MissRepresentation launched a campaign to get our help in calling out sexist and degrading advertisements and products during this holiday shopping season. Use hashtag #NotBuyingIt on Twitter, Facebook, and e-mail With the hashtag #NotBuyingIt on Twitter, Facebook, andRead the Rest…

Looking for examples of a promotional brochure, welcome letter and new member packet for your fundraising initiative? Look no farther. Other successful women are eager to share. If you haven’t already joined, check out the United Way Women’s Leadership Council on Linked In. After you join you’ll find the group very welcoming. Glenda Abbot ofRead the Rest…

I wish everyone was happy and safe this holiday season, but sadly many are not. Our associate Shirley Osborne asks us to send positive energy and thoughts to one group of women. ~Dr. Nancy Native American Women – Highest Rates of Abuse and Sexual Violence Native American women suffer the highest rates of domestic abuseRead the Rest…

Girls need to see women in power in order to believe they themselves can have power. The problem is, our film industry isn’t cooperating! Learn how you can help change the equation. According to SeeJane.org, research shows that: What is the Ratio of Males to Females in Family Films? Males outnumber females 3 to 1Read the Rest…

Just returned from a screening of the indie documentary MissRepresentation and Oh boy, what wonderful discussions and conversations followed as the audience mingled after the film. Think how women are portrayed in the media these days.   Tired of the heavily made-up stereotypes displaying their DD bust lines on emaciated bodies. Tired of the bimboRead the Rest…

War Redefined is the capstone of a 5-part series on public television. Many interviews are available on the PBS website as transcripts or podcasts. Interviews with female Secretaries of State and others “reveal how the post-Cold War proliferation of small arms has changed the landscape of war, with women becoming primary targets and suffering unprecedentedRead the Rest…

Go Red for Women Luncheon, Springfield, MO The American Heart Association presented its 2011 Go Red For Women Luncheon with the them, “Cooking from the Heart.”  The program featured a heart-healthy cooking demonstration led by well-known local chef, James Clary, and registered dietitian, Adam Pruett. The heart-healthy recipe prepared during the demonstration was also theRead the Rest…

How to Recruit New Board Members Before you begin some bizarre recruitment ritual, realize you are facing a common problem. You’re having trouble filling your board positions, a few people are doing most of the work, and the steady workers are in danger of burning out. We often hear this statement in organization meetings, usuallyRead the Rest…

I would  like to  get members excited about my chapter or organization Cynthia D’Amour, founder of the Chapter Leaders Playground, posted a webinar 10-7-2011. During the webinar she polled listeners and found that 93% wanted some help increasing enthusiasm for their group. Only 7% said that all their members are totally excited about their group.Read the Rest…

OSLO, Norway (AP) — The 2011 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded  today to three women: Africa’s first democratically elected female president, a Liberian campaigner against rape and a woman who stood up to Yemen’s autocratic regime. The award recognizes the importance of women’s rights in the spread of global peace. The Nobel website says theRead the Rest…

Dr. Nancy: My own volunteer efforts lead me recently to hear a truly amazing woman speak about how each of us can help. Kathy LeMay uses her gifts to raise, not just money, but a global community to make the world a better place. She founded an organization called, Raising Change in 2005 to helpRead the Rest…

Why do volunteer leaders struggle to create a strong chapter? Lazy Leader Guru Cynthia D’Amour  surveyed 650 volunteer leaders to learn their views about their leadership experiences and more. She found three major themes. 1. ‘No Time’ is the cover-all smoke screen. People don’t have time to join. Members don’t have time to volunteer. VolunteersRead the Rest…

All Individuals Have The Right To A Life Free From Abuse Please join Harmony House for the following events in October 2011 Night of Unity Date: Monday, October 3rd Time: 7 pm Location: The Gillioz Theatre, 325 Park Central East Speaker, Survivor Stories & Roundtable  6:30 pm Reception & book signing with Rebecca Adams(Board MembersRead the Rest…

Learn from association expert Cynthia D’Amour how to succeed as a lazy leader. Invite others in Make it fun Accept new ideas Don’t try to do it all yourself Dump the martyr tiara Toot horn for others N: We are fortunate indeed when our careers intertwine with our passion and our purpose and our needRead the Rest…

Social-profit organizations always operate with small staffs and people who can feel maxed out. Social media opportunities today stretch staff resources to the breaking point and have created three major problems. This excellent article explores three negative consequences and what to do about them.   The 24/7 news cycle creates compassion fatigue. People feel overloadedRead the Rest…

How do I keep cliques from damaging my group? You know the bad things about cliques. Workplace expert and blogger Marlene Chism tells us that Cliques can represent exclusion Cliques contribute to jealousy Cliques create a tribal mentality or blind spots But despite the problems they can create for your fundraising, volunteer, community, school orRead the Rest…

Fundraising is essential to success for social-profit groups, and it takes a lot of work to achieve success. Use these 11 tips to increase your bottom line while avoiding frustration in your volunteers. 1) Handling the money It’s like banking. Split responsibility for money handling between two people who are not related. Always employ checkRead the Rest…

In its first annual Evening in Paris event, Female Leaders in Philanthropy netted more than $26,000 to fund the group’s three service projects in Springfield, Missouri. FLiP is a United Way Women’s Initiative. The funds will go to support: Formally Yours, which provides prom dresses for needy teens Suit Yourself Boutique, which outfits women inRead the Rest…

Social-profit organization guru Cynthia D’Amour offers specific tips for recruiting new members, which is essential if you want to boost volunteers and fundraising power. In a recent podcast she urges us to have EAGER Fall Meetings. 1. Everyone in the group buys into the idea of growth. 2. All are inviting guests to your meetings.Read the Rest…

Speaking of helping women advance in the world of science and technology, blogger Mary Hodder offers a fascinating discussion of male-female differences and how they play out in the workplace. Men as risk takers, women as the ones who think ahead to prevent problems they KNOW they will be left to clean up……..hmmmm, that soundsRead the Rest…

These ten amazing women have all been appointed to their United Nations’ posts since 2006. They’re working on the status of women, peace building, management of the whole operation, legal counsel, children’s welfare, and more. Never heard of them?  Get ready — you will! Things really are getting better (of course there’s still a longRead the Rest…

Have you ever noticed how hard women are on other women? They don’t only dis other women in high school or at cocktail parties. Non-feminists hate feminists; some women columnists hate women’s websites. Forbes’ blogger Meghan Casserly writes: “It simply doesn’t sit well with me. “Yes, yes, I get it: it’s a shame that “women’s”Read the Rest…

Let’s Stop Calling Them Not-for-Profit Organizations The term “not-for-profit” suggests financial gain is the only worthwhile value. I much prefer to describe our important community groups as “social-profit organizations.” I believe these vital groups provide our path to changing the world. Think about the many social profit organizations that help our communities each day: TheRead the Rest…

Unnecessary Meetings Waste Time and Erode Support You’ve heard the dreaded: “Let’s meet.” If you are like me, you are one busy woman! More than anything, you want to use your limited time and energy effectively. I appreciate the consideration others show me when: The meeting is well organized. The agenda is clearly stated andRead the Rest…

Calling Women’s Initiatives: Let’s Share What We’ve Learned We often hear, “Do not reinvent the wheel.” I agree: there’s no time for that. It’s better to share what we have learned with other women so we can make positive changes more quickly. That has always been the mission of the WomenSpeak Project. It continues toRead the Rest…

Successful fundraising is always a group effort, usually involving lots of people. You know you can’t do it alone, so follow these nine excellent tips for maximizing your volunteer resources and keeping people engaged in your process. 1. Swap Out Leadership Prepare well ahead of time and assign co-chairs, especially for key positions. This willRead the Rest…

By learning from each other, women can become more effective working for good in their communities. Read the Toledo Women’s Initiative Survey Report here. The Women’s Initiative (WI) Membership Survey was developed in October and November,2010, via the Executive Committee of Women’s Initiative of United Way, Lisa Fink, Women’sInitiative Coordinator, and Sara Best of AlyRead the Rest…

FLiP Mentoring Program Introduction:            <your committee person> & <your committee person> Overview:             What to expect from the Mentoring program Defining the “mentor’s role” – the goal is to help the mentees find a job, but the mentor’s role is to share experiences, suggestions, and provide support to assist mentee and help them gain moreRead the Rest…

Greetings Mentors! Yes, it does ‘take a village’ and FLiP’s first mentoring project is no different. You as mentors are the infrastructure in this evolving process, facilitating another woman’s work and life skills preparation. We thank you for attending a training session last week. Your commitment to share with, listen to and support our mentees,Read the Rest…

Initial Organizing Meeting for FLiP’s Mentoring Program Dr. Nancy shares the preliminary information here. This is a work in progress that we hope may assist others in setting up their own programs. Springfield’s Female leaders in Philanthropy, a group that Dr. Nancy chairs, has started a mentoring program for women who have been referred toRead the Rest…

Success doesn’t just happen. You need a plan, motivated volunteers and great implementation. Work through these 15 tips from fundraising experts. Female Leaders in Philanthropy Raised $25,000 for United Way. 1. Learn from your history What has worked before? How can you improve upon the past? Repeat the successful campaigns and jazz up the fadingRead the Rest…

You won’t raise much if no one knows about your fundraiser, so get smart about spreading the word. Persistence and determination are crucial. It takes a lot of repetitions to break through communication clutter, so try them all. 1. Maximize your website Use it to share your goals, recruit volunteers, thank sponsors, feature new offerings,Read the Rest…

It’s not brain surgery, but if it is to succeed, fundraising requires special attention to certain basics. Review these top 10 tips to give your fundraiser better results. 1. Provide as much value as possible More value means more prospects, more buyers or donors, and more money for your cause. 2. Articulate your value propositionRead the Rest…

A recent blog post by attorney and nonprofit fundraising expert Ilona Bray reviewed the tips offered by two seminars presented in the Bay Area. One was presented by Kivi Leroux Miller, an expert on nonprofit communications; and one by Ted Hart, ACFRE, an expert in online as well as traditional fundraising. Great ideas to helpRead the Rest…

Volunteers rarely get thanked enough for what they do. Read these 5 quick tips on how to encourage them. 1. Say Yes When They Ask for Your Help. We have all been taught that a key to time management is learning how to say NO. However, when it comes to serving our volunteers, we needRead the Rest…