23 August 2007

Quotation

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"If we all did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves."
-- Thomas Edison

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11 August 2007

Pro Bono Legal help for Nonprofit Organizations

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Lots of questions at our workshop on Friday. That is good. Some of the questions were related to legal issues that I declined to answer, even though I may have expressed my opinions or told you what I had heard attorneys say to others. For real legal help you can contact Public Counsel.

Nonprofit organizations in Los Angeles County can access pro bono (free) legal help for your organization through Public Counsel.

For organizations working in the area of community development, you can go directly to this. Other areas of specialty areas are listed here and include immigrant rights, consumer law, child care law, children's rights, and homelessness prevention.

You may want to get legal counsel before entering into a contract, incorporating, developing a partnership where two parties will have responsibilities and benefits. Realize that it may take some time to get your legal counsel. But if you are not in a hurry, this is the place to go. Public Counsel may choose not to help with issues that are already or going to litigation.

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"See you in Court . . ."

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. . . promises to answer these questions:
  • What is conflict of interest?
  • Can nonprofits hold a raffle?
  • What constitutes wrongful termination?
  • Are the independent consultants you use really employees?
  • Do you know what the penalties are for these and other management mistakes?
You can find more information here.

Speakers such as Kafi Blumenfield, President/CEO of Liberty Hill; and James Cordi, representative from California's Attorney General's Office will answer your your questions and more in "See You In Court" on Wednesday, September 26, 2007 from 9 AM to 12 Noon at the Center a Cathedral Plaza.

When we talked Friday about training programs and sessions we noted that not all are as good as they should be. One of the ways that I try to determine the potential quality of a workshop is to look at the person who is presenting it. In this case, I would want to hear what these people have to say about these topics.

I found this information in Nonprofit Directions (Vol. 14, Issue 31), a publication of Southern California Center for Nonprofit Management.

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California Nonprofit Integrity Act

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There is a variety of information for charities and nonprofit organizations on the website of the California Attorney General's office here. You can find important information on the California Nonprofit Integrity Act of 2005 as a pdf:

http://caag.state.ca.us/charities/publications/nonprofit_integrity_act_nov04.pdf

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07 August 2007

Value of Volunteer Time 2005 and 2006

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The estimated dollar value of volunteer time in the US is $18.77 per hour for 2006. For California it was $20.36 in 2005.

The estimate helps acknowledge the millions of individuals who dedicate their time, talents, and energy to making a difference. Charitable organizations can use this estimate to quantify the enormous value volunteers provide.

Learn more about these figures, including how they are calculated and how nonprofit organizations often use them, at the Independent Sector website.

The dollar value of volunteer time for 2006 is estimated at $18.77.

More information about this value and how to use it can be found at Independent Sector's Research on Volunteer Value page here.

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CAPACITY BUILDING: Financial Systems

Welcome back! I am teaching a one-day seminar on Financial Systems for Nonprofits for:

EXECUTIVE SUPPORT NETWORK
Management Training Series
Friday August 10, 2007
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Location: Washington Mutual, First Floor Training Room
4401 Crenshaw Blvd,. Los Angeles, CA


WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Executive Director, COO, Bookkeeper, Board members

Make Check Payable to: "SCPIP"
Facilitator: Glen Peterson.
Mail to: 4401 Crenshaw Blvd., Suite 315
Los Angeles, CA 90043

REGISTRATION DEADLINE August 8, 2007
Fee: $70.00 ESN Members
$85.00 Non - members
$95.00 On Site Registration

OBJECTIVE: Participants will learn requirements and regulations of nonprofits finance and budgets.

Continental breakfast & Lunch Served
SPACE IS LIMITED TO THE FIRST 30 TO REGISTER

For additional information contact: Eddie Mae Williams (323) 290-3593

SOUTHEAST COMMUNITIES PREVENTION & INTERVENTION PROGRAMS, INC.
4401 CRENSHAW BLVD, SUITE 315 (323) 290-3593 Phone (323) 290-3594 Fax

I plan to cover how to understand various financial statements, audits, governance role and staff role, certain legal issues such as the California Nonprofit Accountability Act, how to demonstrate accountability and generate confidence among donors and other constituents.

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