Friday, August 27, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Testimonials: We Can Show Off A Bit
Our [Pro Bono] Clients Tell Us
Two recent clients tell us what they think of our services:
And, this came in just a couple of months ago:
It's good to be appreciated.
Two recent clients tell us what they think of our services:
Startup Non-Profits struggle with similar issues as for-profits:"Your work [George] has been SO stimulating to us and pushed us off our comfort zone."--- Ellen B., M.D., Medical Clinic, Northern California. Strategic Planning.
"Thanks for the great work you have been doing with the group! I am sure it has saved us a substantial amount of time."--- Arthur W., Professor, University setting
"We are thrilled with the direction ATFC (Actors' Theatre for Children) is moving now, and with the new energy and commitment that has been generated. Jerry Green and Jed Coffin have done an outstanding job empowering all of us in ATFC. We look forward to working with them as often as they are willing to put up with us."
It's good to be appreciated.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
MP Makes CSU Rollout Debut in Hayward, Ca.
Hayward, California: July 26, 2010
Merith Weisman, Director of the Sonoma State University's (SSU) Center for Community Engagement (CCE) opened a presentation on the mechanisms for help that Pro Bono Consultants have provided through the Minerva Project.
This event was the result of an invitation by Mary D'Alleva, Director of Service Learning at CSU East Bay. She's mentioned in the University's Blog for this event.
CSU East Bay is the first of three new California State University Campuses that Minerva Project is partnering with. The other two CSU campuses are San Francisco State University and CSU Domingues Hills.
MP Founder Moskoff says, "We're going to replicate the success we've enjoyed over the past year with SSU and Sonoma County Non-Profits [with these other campuses."
It promises to be a "big year" for the Minerva Project in 2010.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Micro Volunteerism: 74% of Adults Don't Volunteer in U.S.
Startup Companies in SF Bay Area Uses High Tech to Facilitating Doing....Better
Seventy four (74%) of adults so they don't volunteer because...they don't have time or...they don't know how to "plug in." Given that there is a "kindness" gene (see Adam Phillips, On Kindness), volunteering more would make us feel better.
Are there lessons here -- from "The Extraordinaries" and "Aardvark.com" -- for the rest of us? Can we really use technology to be of more help to each other, the world?
Extraordinaries uses the brief moments of "spare" time -- waiting for a bus, standing in the grocery line --when they can present something, on a digital hand-held, for the volunteer to do, to help with.
Aardvark uses volunteers to help answer others' questions -- gardening, parenting, using the Web, etc. -- in a short time frame. In February, they joined behemoth Google.
This leads me to more questions:
One of the most compelling aspects of their work is their continual, daily even, experimentation with methods and, like scientists, continual measurement. Kudos.
Right now, neither The Extraordinaries or Aardvark is hitting the "nail on the head" when it comes to solving nagging social problems -- like poverty, employablity, health, literacy, etc. But they're pushing the envelope enough and measuring enough -- that they might just, a la Thomas A Edison and others, stumble upon a code, of sorts.
Below are the slides used by Ben Rigby, Chief Technology Officer of The Extraordinaries, in a presentation he gave on July 26th to a crowded room at TechSoup in San Francisco.
Seventy four (74%) of adults so they don't volunteer because...they don't have time or...they don't know how to "plug in." Given that there is a "kindness" gene (see Adam Phillips, On Kindness), volunteering more would make us feel better.Are there lessons here -- from "The Extraordinaries" and "Aardvark.com" -- for the rest of us? Can we really use technology to be of more help to each other, the world?
Extraordinaries uses the brief moments of "spare" time -- waiting for a bus, standing in the grocery line --when they can present something, on a digital hand-held, for the volunteer to do, to help with.
Aardvark uses volunteers to help answer others' questions -- gardening, parenting, using the Web, etc. -- in a short time frame. In February, they joined behemoth Google.
This leads me to more questions:
- Does / can technology facilitate access to situations that provide a chance for meaningful opportunities to be of help? (they're working on that and finding some formulae that work)
- How can we use technology and systems to exploit the "kindness gene" in humans?
One of the most compelling aspects of their work is their continual, daily even, experimentation with methods and, like scientists, continual measurement. Kudos.
Right now, neither The Extraordinaries or Aardvark is hitting the "nail on the head" when it comes to solving nagging social problems -- like poverty, employablity, health, literacy, etc. But they're pushing the envelope enough and measuring enough -- that they might just, a la Thomas A Edison and others, stumble upon a code, of sorts.
Below are the slides used by Ben Rigby, Chief Technology Officer of The Extraordinaries, in a presentation he gave on July 26th to a crowded room at TechSoup in San Francisco.
Monday, July 12, 2010
KRCB Re-Broadcasts Minerva Project Interview
Local PBS Affiliate Re-Broadcasts December 2009 Interview
The local PBS Affiliate cites The Minerva Project, once again, for its breakthrough collaborative. The initial interview is set to air the week of July 12.
Citing progress that the collaborative has made, the North Bay Report's News Director, Bruce Robinson, said that it was time to give it another dose of publicity.
The Minerva Project has completed more than fifteen discrete projects for twelve non-profit clients -- serving mental health needs; at-risk youth; environmental initiatives; volunteer management; education -- in Sonoma County. It is expanding its reach to Alameda County with an affiliation with the CSU East Bay during August 2010.
Click here KRCB Interview for the audio version of the interview.
The local PBS Affiliate cites The Minerva Project, once again, for its breakthrough collaborative. The initial interview is set to air the week of July 12.
Citing progress that the collaborative has made, the North Bay Report's News Director, Bruce Robinson, said that it was time to give it another dose of publicity.
The Minerva Project has completed more than fifteen discrete projects for twelve non-profit clients -- serving mental health needs; at-risk youth; environmental initiatives; volunteer management; education -- in Sonoma County. It is expanding its reach to Alameda County with an affiliation with the CSU East Bay during August 2010.
Click here KRCB Interview for the audio version of the interview.
Friday, June 18, 2010
ED for Actors' Theatre for Children Chimes in on Minerva Consultants
Jim Plaisted, ED of ATFC, Chimes in on Coffin and Green
Jed Coffin, IV and Jerry Green are two representatives of the Minerva Project Consultants: talented; giving; tenacious; skilled. And, yes, of course, modest: better for others to sing their praises than for them to "blow their own horn" (like some of us, myself included, ahem, feel the need to do!).
Nice work Jerry and Jed: thank you for being such productive ambassadors for our Minerva Project Consultant Collaborative.
"We are thrilled with the direction ATFC (Actors' Theatre for Children) is moving now, and with the new energy and commitment that has been generated. Jerry Green and Jed Coffin have done an outstanding job empowering all of us in ATFC. We look forward to working with them as often as they are willing to put up with us."
Jed Coffin, IV and Jerry Green are two representatives of the Minerva Project Consultants: talented; giving; tenacious; skilled. And, yes, of course, modest: better for others to sing their praises than for them to "blow their own horn" (like some of us, myself included, ahem, feel the need to do!).
Thursday, June 10, 2010
One Client Testimonial: It Might Be Enough
When It's This Good....
....maybe one is enough. Kate Jenkins' comments reflect the same passion and trust I have for the consultants in the Minerva Project Collaborative. We have recruited a unique cadre of good people who are more than competent in their craft and compassionate in their dealings. I feel fortunate to be part of the group.
Hello, Julie ~
Allow me to reiterate and add just a bit more about what a boon Jed Coffin and Doug McCorkle are being for Friends Outside In Sonoma County—and yes, I’ll be happy to tout (to any who’ll listen) their talents which are gifts to us!
Doug and Jed have continued their consultation with us, taking hours of their time to share their expertise during lots of meetings with my Board Treasurer and me—as well as exchanging e-mails, attending two Board Meetings, and attending a meeting with the CPA who’s going to do our audit.
Speaking of Board Meetings—at the first Board Meeting he attended Jed was able to take finance-speak and turn it into a listener-friendly description of our status and what the options might be to improve our status. The Board fully understood his description and was able to take actions accordingly.
Our agency is feeling quite accomplished and satisfied now—we’re ready to send all our financial materials to our tax person, PLUS we’ll be ready for our audit the first of next year which will put us in a more advantageous position to apply for certain grants. There’s no way we would be in the positive position we are in now if it weren’t for Jed’s and Doug’s assistance.
Honestly? I do not have a clue what we would do without Doug’s and Jed’s assistance!
Thank you Goddess Minerva—known as the virgin goddess of poetry, medicine, wisdom, commerce, weaving, crafts, magic, and the inventor of music!
~ Kate
Kate Jenkins
Executive Director
Friends Outside In Sonoma County
POB 3905, Santa Rosa , CA 95402
PH. 707.526.7318
FX. 707.526.5648
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
