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In this issue:
Wanted: Food Service Entrepreneurs
Financial Projections & Break-Even Analysis
Verizon Tuition Assistance Program
Did You Know? Our Secrets for Better Computing
Center for Community Solutions: Helping the People Who Help People
The Federation for Community Planning is changing its name to The Center for Community Solutions. Board Chair David S. Goodman emphasized that the change does not signal any change in the 91-year-old organization’s mission. “Instead,” he stated, “we believe our new name acknowledges more clearly what we have already become. The change in our name will not bring with it any change in our commitment to provide the community with action-oriented research, policy analysis, advocacy, program planning, and communication to improve targeted health and social conditions in Northeast Ohio.”
Goodman commented, “We hope our new name will also clarify that we are a private, independent, nonprofit organization addressing human service issues, not a government or community development agency.”
Goodman added that the organization would continue to use the catchphrase, Helping the People Who Help People in Northeast Ohio. He said, “We believe that nine-word phrase helps individuals understand that we are not in the direct service business, but rather, in the vital business of enabling health and social agencies and government bodies to more effectively meet the vast needs of the community.”
Anyone interested in learning more about the organization’s current “targeted issues” or comprehensive work in public policy and advocacy, research, and communication is invited to visit www.CommunitySolutions.com.
W.O.M.E.N. Kitchen Incubator Looking for Entrepreneurs
March 31, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Maple Valley Branch Library
W.O.M.E.N. (Women’s Organization for Mentoring Entrepreneurship and Networking) is developing a Kitchen Incubator Project that will impact the economic development in Northeast Ohio. “Kitchen incubators,” or shared-use food processing facilities for start up companies, are being established throughout the nation, with increasing frequency over the past decade. These facilities allow new companies to be formed quickly by eliminating large capital start up costs. Many small companies have “graduated” from the incubator and are now thriving stand-alone operations.
A focus group will be held on March 31st. Please invite any of your clients who are interested in starting their own food service-related business. RSVP by March 30th: 330 379-9280 or .
CNE Offers Financial Projections/ Break-Even Analysis Workshop
April 1, 8:00 - 12:00
United Disability Services
The Center for Nonprofit Excellence workshop "Business Planning: Financial Projections/ Break Even Analysis" will be held on Thursday, April 1, 2004, from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon at United Disability Services, 701 S. Main Street, Akron, Ohio. Workshop presenters will be Joel A. Strom and Michael Klein, C& P Advisors.
You cannot adequately plan for your organization's future without knowing how much new or expanded programs and services will earn and when you might break even. Join us as two financial experts explain how the development of projections, including start-up costs, break-even analysis, profit & loss forecasts and cash flow can help you decide to plan for new or expanded programs or services.
Registration is limited and the fee is $49.00 per person. For more information call CNE at 330.762.9670 or visit the website, www.cfnpe.org for more information or to register on-line.
Women's Network presents "Developing Breakthrough Leadership"
April 9, 11:45, Peg's Catering
Co-presenters Sheri Schulte and Rita Chine, from the Roadway Express employee development staff, will address “Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace—Developing Breakthrough Leadership” on April 9 at Peg’s Catering, 440 Grant Street, Akron. Networking will begin promptly at 11:45 a.m.
This is part of the monthly luncheon series that Women’s Network is sponsoring to enhance the professional skills of women in the workplace. The luncheons are held the second Friday of each month. The cost is $12 for Women’s Network members and $15 for non-members.
Reservations are requested by Wednesday, April 7. For more information or to make a reservation, call the Women’s Network office at 330-253-6131 or send an e-mail to .
AFP presents "Planning, Marketing, and Managing Special Events"
April 12, 12:00 - 1:30
Guy's Party Center
AFP's April luncheon features a panel of 3 experts in planning special events:
- Bernett L. Williams, Executive Director, Akron Urban League
- Joyce Ferguson Spring, Vice President of the Women's Board, Aultman Hospital
- Carolyn Sentelik, Assistant Director of Development, Akron General Development Foundation
Reservations are required - $11 Members. $20 Non-Members. Luncheon includes entrée choice, salad, rolls, dessert and beverage. For more information, visit AFP's new website at www.acorn.net/afp and select the link to the April newsletter.
Strengthening the Sector: Accountability, Advocacy, and Alliances
May 12, 2004 in Columbus
This year's OANO conference, Strengthening the Sector: Accountability, Advocacy, and Alliances, will provide an outstanding opportunity for professional development and peer exchange. Don’t miss the chance to network with more than 400 nonprofit, corporate, and government leaders from across Ohio.
Political consultant James Carville will headline this year's conference with his perspective on American politics and the 2004 presidential election. Currently the co-host of CNN's Crossfire, Mr. Carville is known for his shoot-from-the-hip style, his enthusiasm for political debate, and his undeniable political savvy.
Legislative Reception on May 11: Join your friends and colleagues as we host a legislative reception for Ohio's elected officials the evening before the conference. The reception will be held in the Crypt at the Statehouse from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. The reception is free, but advance registration is required. To RSVP for the legislative reception, contact Beth Kohr, at 614-280-0233.
Registration Information: Early bird registration fees are only $100 for OANO members and $120 for non-members through March 1. To ensure you receive the early bird discount, visit www.oano.org to download a registration form, send an e-mail to to request a registration form, or call OANO at 614-280-0233. Early bird discounts are good for all registrations received by close of business on March 1, 2004.
For more information, including a complete conference schedule and a list of professional development sessions, visit our website at www.ohiononprofits.org.
Online Resource Spotlight:
New Mexico Media Literacy Project
www.nmmlp.org
The New Mexico Media Literacy Project is the largest and most successful independent, activist media literacy project in the United States. It was founded by veteran newscaster Hugh Downs and his daughter Diedre Downs in 1993.
NMMLP produces activist guides and educational materials, including CD-ROMs and videos, on a variety of media literacy topics. There are lots of good resources on this site. Samples include:
- Blowing Away Big Tobacco's Big Lies: Media Literacy for Tobacco Prevention
- Hands-On Media Literacy: Valuable Skills for Teens and Young Learners
- Medios y remedios: La alfabetización de los medios de comunicación para la salud
(A new Spanish-language media literacy CD-ROM examining media messages about tobacco, alcohol and other drugs, nutrition, physical activity, relationships and sexuality, and violence.) - Reversing Addiction in Our Compulsive Culture
Most internet search engines use a ranking system when returning search results. Ranking factors depend on whether or not your keywords are in the website title, the words are all connected or jumbled about the site, and the order in which the words appear on the site. In general, if you have to look beyond the second or third page of results to find what you are looking for, there is probably a better way to enter your keywords.
Every search engine has a different way of combing the web for results. If, after trying some of the following tips, you’re still getting poor results, try a different search engine and see if you get different selections. Once you find the one that seems to suit your thought processes best, add it to your Favorites for easy access ... or better yet, see if they have a toolbar you can add to your browser window.
PC TIP #20:
Introduction to the Internet
Tired of digging through page after page of search results on the internet, and still not getting the answers you seek? Here are a couple of pointers to maximize the capabilities of your favorite search engine.
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Try reversing the word order. Nonprofit funding will return slightly different results than funding nonprofit. Word spacing is also important – nonprofit is not the same as non profit. Nonprofits will also return different choices than nonprofit. (Remember, spelling counts too!)
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Too many choices? Be more specific. If you’re looking for pink elephants, specifically wearing tutus, try typing pink elephants tutus to narrow down your results. You can also exclude words using NOT: elephants tutus NOT pink.
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Could you rephrase the question? You can also get improved results by using different words or phrases that mean the same thing. Try substituting program for seminar, donor initiatives for fundraising, or vice versa.
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Feeling left out? Some search engines leave out common words like “of” or “with” to speed up your search. If these words are essential to your search, you can usually force the search engine to include them. To include them, add a + before the word (e.g. Dances +with Wolves). Most search engines will also accept quotation marks as the key to searching for exact phrases (e.g. “Dances with Wolves”).
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Use logical operators to search for alternatives. You can search for variations by using an uppercase OR between the words (e.g. nonprofit volunteers OR staff).
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Use categories. Today’s hottest search engines now allow you to choose a category to search in, such as Images or News. Look for radio buttons or tabs near the search box to take advantage of these.
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When in doubt, use Advanced Search. Most search engines have an Advanced Search page that allows you to search for exact phrases, include or exclude specific words, or use all of your words in any order. You can also filter by date, website, or other criteria.
Happy Searching!
Verizon Revises Tuition Assistance Program ... Get it While You Can!
Verizon is continuing to offer one eTraining grant per year to nonprofit organizations interested in technology training.
To apply for this tuition assistance, visit infolineinc.org/connect/verizon.htm. If you have any questions, please call us at 330-315-1335 or e-mail .
Are you getting the best deals for your technology dollar?
Don't buy anything technology-related until you've visited these three websites first!! They offer significant discounts for nonprofits with Microsoft, Dell, CDW, Adobe, and more!
Quickies ... for those with no time to waste!
We're starting something new in 2004: Quickies!! Unlike the regular half-day sessions, these one-to two-hour Quickies are down-and-dirty, learn-the-ropes-then-get-out-of-here-and-do-it-yourself courses.
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The Art of Google
April 7, 2:00-4:00 PM
Can't find what you're looking for on the internet? Feel like you've missed the wave when it comes to surfing? Join us for this Quickies session on improving your Internet search techniques. Includes using the Google toolbar, a handy add-on to your web browser that makes searching the web more convenient - and more effective!
- Demystifying Mail Merge
April 21, 2:00-4:00 PM
Got a direct mail campaign coming up? Don't send out another donation request that starts "Dear Potential Donor"… use Mail Merge to personalize your correspondence and improve your response rate. In this Quickie course, you will learn how to create customized form letters, envelopes and mailing labels, all from a single list of contacts.
Quickie courses are $20 for Project Connect Members, $35 for non-members.
Register for Upcoming Classes
Attend by applying to the Verizon Foundation:
infolineinc.org/connect/verizon.htm
Register for upcoming classes as soon as possible. Call 330-315-1335 or e-mail . Cost is $40 per person for staff and volunteers of member organizations;$60 per person for staff and volunteers of non-member organizations.
Don't know whether your organization is a member? Visit our members page to find out: Project Connect Members
Not a member? Join Project Connect today and save! Visit infolineinc.org/connect.htm for more info.
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Word 1: Document Basics 05/05/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon |
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Word 2: Tables, Merges & Macros 05/12/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon |
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Word 3: Forms & Advanced Tools 05/19/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon |
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Word 4: Graphics & Brochures 05/26/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon |
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Word 5: Newsletters 06/02/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon |
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PowerPoint 1: Slideshow Basics 05/27/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon |
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PowerPoint 2: Graphics & Animation 06/03/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon |
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Excel 1: Spreadsheet Basics 06/16/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon |
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Excel 2: Formulas 06/23/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon |
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Excel 3: Advanced Tools 04/01/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon |
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Excel 4: Data Analysis Tools 04/08/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon |
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Intro to Access: Data Entry & Other Basics 05/18/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon |
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The Database Developers Series 05/25/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon 06/01/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon 06/08/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon 06/15/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon 06/22/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon |
Visit infolineinc.org/connect/training.htm to see our latest training schedule. Or call us at 330-315-1335 and we'll fax you a copy.
If you would like us to mail you a newsletter with the most recent schedule and a list of all our services, please call us at 330-315-1335 or e-mail .
Enjoy!
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