[Map News Wire] Nonprofit Fundamentals - MAP NewsWire

[mapnewswire at communityforum.net]

January 6, 2005

Happy New Year
FROM MAP FOR NONPROFITS
Celebrating 25 Years of Navigating for Nonprofit Excellence

1. New! Nonprofit Fundamentals Package 
2. Board Chair Training, Coaching & Board Boot Camp
3. Change in MAP's Role with Computer Classes
4. MAP Welcomes New People
5. Scholarships Continue into New Year
6. Diversify Your Board
7. Employers: Prevent Discrimination Lawsuits

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1. New! Nonprofit Fundamentals Package

MAP is offering a new package of core services which a young nonprofit
organization needs to build a strong base.

The package includes Legal Hotline, MAP's Customized Financial
Management Workshop, Board Recruitment or a Mini Board Boot Camp added
to the Financial Workshop, Board Chair Training or two hours of Board
Chair Coaching, and Technology Essentials.

The package features a discount of up to $250 off "a la carte" prices,
plus a MAP account manager to assure smooth services, and access to
Technology Essentials, which is not offered "a la carte."
 
For more information, contact Amy Wagner at 651-632-7237 or
awagner at mapfornonprofits.org.

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2. Board Chair Training, Coaching & Board Boot Camps

--Board Chairs. Call soon; this class is nearly full. Commit to
excellence as a board chair by beginning the year at a Board Chair
Training Session Jan. 25, from 4-8:30 p.m. at MAP. The $75 per person
cost includes dinner and materials.

--If not training, coaching... Board chairs who want to be as effective
as possible are invited to consult with our expert board chair coach,
Doris Pagelkopf, for as few as two hours or as many hours as are
helpful. The fee is $75 an hour.

--Join one of MAP's lively Board Boot Camp sessions Jan. 26, Feb. 16 or
March 23, from 8:30-10:30 a.m. at MAP. $35 per participant.

For more information, visit www.mapfornonprofits.org; select Nonprofit
Services, Board Development. Or call 651-647-1216.

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3. Register for Computer Classes Directly with the Science Museum 

After many years of managing the registration of nonprofits for
technology training at the Science Museum of Minnesota's Computer
Education Center, MAP for Nonprofits will no longer perform this
administrative function.  As of January 8, 2005, the MAP rate for
Science Museum classes will be discontinued.  However, registrations
confirmed before January 8, 2005 will be honored.  We are thankful to
the Science Museum for this partnership and the wonderful training
opportunities it provided.  And we are happy to report that nonprofits
will still have the ability to access high quality, reasonably priced
technology training through working directly with the Science Museum
and/or the Greater Twin Cities United Way.  Please visit
www.mapfornonprofits.org, "Classes" for more information.  

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4. MAP Welcomes Three New People

MAP recently welcomed three new people. Priya Srinivasan, an accountant,
has joined our accounting team and is hard at work helping some of our
nonprofit accounting clients. Previously, Priya worked for Jungle
Theater and as a CPA at a local accounting firm.

Ber Yang has joined MAP as a part-time technology consultant. Ber
recently served as manager of Information Systems at Reuben Lindh Family
Services. He is already hard at work delivering scheduled technology
support services and technology planning to MAP clients.

Vicki McKenna has accepted the position of MAP's Leadership Registry
Coordinator. For the last year and a half, Vicki has been a volunteer
management associate, helping volunteers find placements on nonprofit
boards. For more information on the Leadership Registry see 6. Diversify
Your Board, below.

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5. Scholarships Continue Into New Year

MAP continues to be able to offer a variety of scholarships to
qualifying nonprofit organizations -- while funds last. The scholarships
help pay for MAP consulting and management services. See our website at
www.mapfornonprofits.org, Nonprofit Services, Scholarships for more
information.

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6. Diversify Your Board

MAP is working with the YWCA Leadership Registry to increase the number
of people of color and women serving on local nonprofit and government
boards, so that the boards reflect the diversity of the populations they
serve. To participate or for more information, contact Mercy Olson Ward,
YWCA of Minneapolis, 612-215-4123, MOlsonWard at YWCA-Minneapolis.org

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7. Prevent Employment Discrimination Lawsuits

The Civil Rights Act is 40-years-old, but employers continue to make the
same mistakes - drawing claims or leading to liability. This is the
third of four articles based on information from Faegre and Benson, one
of several Twin Cities legal firms that provide pro bono legal services
through MAP for Nonprofits.

Third in a Series: Require Proper Documentation. 
Support every employment discharge decision with appropriate
documentation. Judges and juries expect to see it and are suspicious
when they don't. 

For example, if the decision is based on poor performance or a course of
conduct, the documentation should record earlier counseling, review of
standards and expectations, the provision of a reasonable period to
correct the deficiency, and express warning of the consequences of
failing to meet the standard. The documentation needs to show that the
employer followed a fair process, gave the employee a chance to succeed,
and was deliberate in its decision. 

If documentation is lacking, the decision normally should be delayed.
Proceeding with the decision in the absence of strong documentation
invites dispute, places the employer's credibility at risk, and has the
negative effect of training supervisors to make important employment
decisions without documentation. Patience is a virtue in avoiding
employment litigation. Too often it is absent. (See "Properly
Documenting Employee Disciplinary Actions" at www.faegre.com.)

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MAP provides a full range of legal services to nonprofit
organizations, through the work of Charley Ravine, and pro bono services
from community attorneys. For assistance with incorporation, legal
projects or advice through MAP's Legal Hotline, see
www.mapfornonprofits.org, Nonprofit Services, Legal; or email Charley at
cravine at mapfornonprofits.org.

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MAP for Nonprofits 
25 years of Navigating for Nonprofit Excellence

MAP provides management and board recruitment services to large, medium
and
small nonprofit organizations in the Greater Twin Cities area. We
complement the management expertise and resources of our clients with
the right combination of paid staff, consultants and volunteers to
achieve our clients' strategic objectives. 

If you would like to discuss how MAP services can help your nonprofit
achieve its objectives, contact Julie Dappen at
jdappen at mapfornonprofits.org