[Map News Wire] MAP News Wire -- March 2

[mapnewswire at communityforum.net]

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

 

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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 at mapfornonprofits.org <mailto:jalnes at mapfornonprofits.org>  or
Julie Dappen, MAP's Marketing Director, at jdappen at mapfornonprofits.org
<mailto:jdappen at mapfornonprofits.org> .

 

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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 at mapfornonprofits.org
<mailto:classes at mapfornonprofits.org>  or call 651-647-1216.

 

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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 at MAPfornonprofits.org
<mailto:bbuchanan at 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.

 

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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.

 

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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 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.

 

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