From mapnewswire at communityforum.net Wed Mar 2 15:57:25 2005 From: mapnewswire at communityforum.net (mapnewswire@communityforum.net) Date: Wed Mar 2 16:05:50 2005 Subject: [Map News Wire] MAP News Wire -- March 2 Message-ID: March 2, 2005 MAP FOR NONPROFITS Celebrating 25 Years of Navigating for Nonprofit Excellence 1. MAP's New Strategic Services Team 2. Due to Popular Demand - Extra Board Sessions 3. Interim Finance Officer Services 4. MAP 2004 Client Evaluations 5. Employers: Prevent Discrimination Lawsuits ***************************************************** 1. MAP's New Strategic Services MAP's new Strategic Services group can help guide your organization in a new direction or through significant change. Team members work with executive directors of nonprofit organizations and boards of directors to develop or update Strategic and Business Plans, Financial Operation Improvement Plans and Marketing Plans. Results have created community-endorsed visions, led to new grants, increased earned income, attracted growth, demonstrated significant progress toward objectives and invigorated board and staff support. If you face a challenging goal or initiative, let's discuss whether MAP for Nonprofits can help. Email Judy Alnes, MAP's executive director, at jalnes@mapfornonprofits.org or Julie Dappen, MAP's Marketing Director, at jdappen@mapfornonprofits.org . **************************************************** 2. Due to Popular Demand -- Special Board Sessions Scheduled --Board Chairs. We have scheduled another Board Chair Training Session. The evaluations on these sessions are excellent. As a board chair, commit to excellence by attending Board Chair Training March 16, from 4-8:30 p.m. at MAP. The $75 per person cost includes dinner and materials. --Board Boot Camp. March is sold out - so we are holding two sessions in April. Join one of MAP's lively Board Boot Camps, April 6, April 27, May 25, June 22, from 8:30-10:30 a.m., at MAP, $35 per participant. For more information or to sign up, email classes@mapfornonprofits.org or call 651-647-1216. **************************************************** 3. Interim Finance Officer Services Did you known MAP now provides Interim Finance Officer services. The fee for this service is $75 an hour. Contact Bernell Buchanan at 651-393-2161 or bbuchanan@MAPfornonprofits.org . MAP's Accounting and Financial Services area also provides routine scheduled accounting visits, audit preparation, accounting software set-up or conversion, and annual reviews. **************************************************** 4. MAP 2004 Client Satisfaction MAP for Nonprofits measures quality in a number of ways, including client evaluations. Our 2004 evaluations are tallied and show: * 91 percent of the clients who responded to the survey question said their ability to operate more effectively has clearly increased since working with MAP; * 96 percent said MAP staff and consultants were sensitive to the organization's culture; * 94 percent said goals for the consultation were largely achieved; * 97 percent said MAP has proven itself as a resource; * 90 percent said they would describe MAP's work with them as excellent, very good or good. **************************************************** 5. Employers Encouraged to Get Releases 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 final 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. Often employers hesitate before requesting a release from a departing employee, fearing that the request will be seen as an indication that the employer is concerned about some legal issue. This fear is compounded by the fact that many employers do not request releases in exchange for severance in all cases. Employers should adopt a practice of always requiring a release in exchange for any special severance given to employees. The established policy will provide a ready response if an employee or his attorney ever attempts to argue that requesting a release was in some way an admission that the employer knew the decision was illegal. The ability to say, "We always do it" is a comforting safe harbor. And a properly drafted release is the best way to ensure that no lawsuit will follow the employee's departure. The advent of Title VII was a truly monumental development in employment law. The landscape of employment law will undoubtedly continue to change over the next 40 years, but it is certain that employment litigation will continue, and employers will be required to defend their policies, practices and decisions. (See "Properly Documenting Employee Disciplinary Actions" at www.faegre.com.) MAP's Legal Services MAP provides a full range of legal services to nonprofit organizations, through the work of Charley Ravine, J.D., 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@mapfornonprofits.org. **************************************************** 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@mapfornonprofits.org. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mapnp.Geeks.ORG/pipermail/mapnewswire/attachments/20050302/c7f89dfb/attachment-0001.html