Non-Profits, Leadership, and other musings

[Guest guest]

Like B, I am catching up on posts from the last week...

As someone whose career circulates in the non-profit sector(back to

volunteering in junior high) and who is as proud of her Masters in

PUBLIC Administration as those with Masters in Business Administration.

I am somewhat offended by the insinuation that LPA must be run by like a

private sector business in order to be effective. There is a huge

distinction between LPA, which has previously been run as a membership

driven " mom and pop " as some have referred to it, and the private

sector. I can think of no other non-profit that is trying to serve the

entire needs of a certain population. Other groups might serve a

specific need- education, counseling, advocacy, adoption but not all of

them as well as provide social support. But LPA has tried to do it all,

with insufficient staffing. We have not even tried to manage ourselves

as a goal orientated non-profit. Instead we are in this odd position of

going from that extreme to another- with all sorts of " growing pains " or

however you would define it being taken care of later rather than

proactively addressed.

Non profit organizations do have President/CEO types or Executive

Directors but they report to a Board of Directors and in turn to the

membership. Board of Directors also have Presidents. These are two

distinct roles but in LPA right now they are muddied.

Before I stop rambling... I would caution against the continued

discussion on how to improve LPA by making it more like business like

since we receive many benefits as an identified tax exempt, 5013c

organization.

Lourash

A.lourash@...

[Guest guest]

Pardon me, but I think my ignorance is showing. What about March of Dimes, the

Heart Association, MDA, and those sorts of things?

Which ties into my next question~ if LPA is a non profit organization, couldn't

we do commercials on TV as a PSA? (Public Service Announcement)

Just asking~

I don't know much about this issue, but I have to respectfully disagree with

. I think we DO have to run as a business. We run our own homes as a

business. Homemakers are much like office managers~ and so much more, but you

see my point.

If we don't present ourselves in a professional manner, how will we expect to

receive financial backing from other professional groups? Networking is a huge

part of the plan. Please consider this~

Don't flame me personally, I am still licking my wounds from the last go around!

Patty

Non-Profits, Leadership, and other musings

Like B, I am catching up on posts from the last week...

As someone whose career circulates in the non-profit sector(back to

volunteering in junior high) and who is as proud of her Masters in

PUBLIC Administration as those with Masters in Business Administration.

I am somewhat offended by the insinuation that LPA must be run by like a

private sector business in order to be effective. There is a huge

distinction between LPA, which has previously been run as a membership

driven " mom and pop " as some have referred to it, and the private

sector. I can think of no other non-profit that is trying to serve the

entire needs of a certain population. Other groups might serve a

specific need- education, counseling, advocacy, adoption but not all of

them as well as provide social support. But LPA has tried to do it all,

with insufficient staffing. We have not even tried to manage ourselves

as a goal orientated non-profit. Instead we are in this odd position of

going from that extreme to another- with all sorts of " growing pains " or

however you would define it being taken care of later rather than

proactively addressed.

Non profit organizations do have President/CEO types or Executive

Directors but they report to a Board of Directors and in turn to the

membership. Board of Directors also have Presidents. These are two

distinct roles but in LPA right now they are muddied.

Before I stop rambling... I would caution against the continued

discussion on how to improve LPA by making it more like business like

since we receive many benefits as an identified tax exempt, 5013c

organization.

Lourash

A.lourash@...

===

[Guest guest]

Add the NAACP and The United Way plus many more.

I think that some of the problem lies in the fact that some people equate

" business " to " for profit " .

As an independent business man for over thirty years and having owned many

different business ventures I can assure you that some business can be very

profitable and others very non-profitable. The difference being I did not

receive the benefits of a 501 3c status.

The " business " of LPA simply refers to taking care of the day-to-day tasks

necessary to continue operation.

Bruce, Proud Grandpa of Brenden

Non-Profits, Leadership, and other musings

>

>

> Like B, I am catching up on posts from the last week...

>

> As someone whose career circulates in the non-profit sector(back to

> volunteering in junior high) and who is as proud of her Masters in

> PUBLIC Administration as those with Masters in Business Administration.

> I am somewhat offended by the insinuation that LPA must be run by like a

> private sector business in order to be effective. There is a huge

> distinction between LPA, which has previously been run as a membership

> driven " mom and pop " as some have referred to it, and the private

> sector. I can think of no other non-profit that is trying to serve the

> entire needs of a certain population. Other groups might serve a

> specific need- education, counseling, advocacy, adoption but not all of

> them as well as provide social support. But LPA has tried to do it all,

> with insufficient staffing. We have not even tried to manage ourselves

> as a goal orientated non-profit. Instead we are in this odd position of

> going from that extreme to another- with all sorts of " growing pains " or

> however you would define it being taken care of later rather than

> proactively addressed.

>

> Non profit organizations do have President/CEO types or Executive

> Directors but they report to a Board of Directors and in turn to the

> membership. Board of Directors also have Presidents. These are two

> distinct roles but in LPA right now they are muddied.

>

> Before I stop rambling... I would caution against the continued

> discussion on how to improve LPA by making it more like business like

> since we receive many benefits as an identified tax exempt, 5013c

> organization.

>

> Lourash

> A.lourash@...

>

>

>

>

> ===

>

[Guest guest]

My disappointment is not the need to " run it as a business " , that

goes without saying, but I don't mean " as a profit making sweatshop " .

More so that it functions, grows, and provides necessary services.

I still believe we as an Organization needed a professional look, a

clear vehicle to deliver our message, updated software to deal with

our ever growing database and a clear pathway to development.

But, it cannot be run to the detriment of those who want to

participate and should be allowed to. Individuals and especially

women do not need to be disrespected in order for LPA to flourish.

This is and needs to continue to be an Organization that provides

opportunities for LPs and those who surround us to participate, not

just the 'chosen few'.

And in an Organization with such diversity it is important that all

voices be heard, not one voice act as its dictator.

I know what it's like to be surrounded by the smoke while all the

bells and whistles are going off, it's the same feeling I get in a

casino. And I understand the psychology of sensory overload and

overwhelming people so that they walk away dumbfounded, even if in a

few hours they realize they were left wanting. Sort of like the old

joke about chinese food.

M.........

> Add the NAACP and The United Way plus many more.

> I think that some of the problem lies in the fact that some people

equate

> " business " to " for profit " .

> As an independent business man for over thirty years and having

owned many

> different business ventures I can assure you that some business can

be very

> profitable and others very non-profitable. The difference being I

did not

> receive the benefits of a 501 3c status.

> The " business " of LPA simply refers to taking care of the day-to-

day tasks

> necessary to continue operation.

> Bruce, Proud Grandpa of Brenden

>

> Non-Profits, Leadership, and other musings

> >

> >

> > Like B, I am catching up on posts from the last week...

> >

> > As someone whose career circulates in the non-profit sector

(back to

> > volunteering in junior high) and who is as proud of her Masters

in

> > PUBLIC Administration as those with Masters in Business

Administration.

> > I am somewhat offended by the insinuation that LPA must be run

by like a

> > private sector business in order to be effective. There is a

huge

> > distinction between LPA, which has previously been run as a

membership

> > driven " mom and pop " as some have referred to it, and the

private

> > sector. I can think of no other non-profit that is trying to

serve the

> > entire needs of a certain population. Other groups might serve

a

> > specific need- education, counseling, advocacy, adoption but

not all of

> > them as well as provide social support. But LPA has tried to

do it all,

> > with insufficient staffing. We have not even tried to manage

ourselves

> > as a goal orientated non-profit. Instead we are in this odd

position of

> > going from that extreme to another- with all sorts of " growing

pains " or

> > however you would define it being taken care of later rather

than

> > proactively addressed.

> >

> > Non profit organizations do have President/CEO types or

Executive

> > Directors but they report to a Board of Directors and in turn

to the

> > membership. Board of Directors also have Presidents. These are

two

> > distinct roles but in LPA right now they are muddied.

> >

> > Before I stop rambling... I would caution against the continued

> > discussion on how to improve LPA by making it more like

business like

> > since we receive many benefits as an identified tax exempt,

5013c

> > organization.

> >

> > Lourash

> > A.lourash@m...

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > ===

> >

[Guest guest]

How are presenting ourselves in a professional manner and networking not

critical aspects of good non-profits? They are- they are not limited to

the private sector. Hence, my point- LPA can be effective while not

staying ultra focused on the bottom line but rather services and people.

Thanks,

Re: Non-Profits, Leadership, and other musings

Pardon me, but I think my ignorance is showing. What about March of

Dimes, the Heart Association, MDA, and those sorts of things?

Which ties into my next question~ if LPA is a non profit organization,

couldn't we do commercials on TV as a PSA? (Public Service Announcement)

Just asking~

I don't know much about this issue, but I have to respectfully disagree

with . I think we DO have to run as a business. We run our own

homes as a business. Homemakers are much like office managers~ and so

much more, but you see my point.

If we don't present ourselves in a professional manner, how will we

expect to receive financial backing from other professional groups?

Networking is a huge part of the plan. Please consider this~

Don't flame me personally, I am still licking my wounds from the last go

around!

Patty

Non-Profits, Leadership, and other musings

Like B, I am catching up on posts from the last week...

As someone whose career circulates in the non-profit sector(back to

volunteering in junior high) and who is as proud of her Masters in

PUBLIC Administration as those with Masters in Business Administration.

I am somewhat offended by the insinuation that LPA must be run by like a

private sector business in order to be effective. There is a huge

distinction between LPA, which has previously been run as a membership

driven " mom and pop " as some have referred to it, and the private

sector. I can think of no other non-profit that is trying to serve the

entire needs of a certain population. Other groups might serve a

specific need- education, counseling, advocacy, adoption but not all of

them as well as provide social support. But LPA has tried to do it all,

with insufficient staffing. We have not even tried to manage ourselves

as a goal orientated non-profit. Instead we are in this odd position of

going from that extreme to another- with all sorts of " growing pains " or

however you would define it being taken care of later rather than

proactively addressed.

Non profit organizations do have President/CEO types or Executive

Directors but they report to a Board of Directors and in turn to the

membership. Board of Directors also have Presidents. These are two

distinct roles but in LPA right now they are muddied.

Before I stop rambling... I would caution against the continued

discussion on how to improve LPA by making it more like business like

since we receive many benefits as an identified tax exempt, 5013c

organization.

Lourash

A.lourash@...

===