November 2007 Partner Meeting

YES Meetings

Y.E.S. PROJECT MEETING
MEETING NOTES
NOVEMBER 8, 2007

The November 8th Y.E.S. meeting was held at the NIWHRC Annex from 9:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. This was a technical assistance workshop on the open source Organizers Database (ODB) on fundraising software.

Pam Iron of National Indian Women’s Health Resource Center (NIWHRC) presented a ‘Management Minute’ on Perseverance. She told the group to always keep trying. If you have to submit a grant six times, keep doing it until you reach your goal. It is not always easy but this is how she got to where she is today. Ms. Iron gave us a website resource on Board Café for board members and directors. Board Café can be accessed through www.compasspoint.org. Directors can sign up their board members so it comes to them automatically each month. Ms. Iron told the group it is important for board members to have written job descriptions. When new board members come onboard, it makes the transition much smoother and everyone is clear as to the board member’s duties. In the Board Café archives, job descriptions can be found for board members. Partners can also access the Board Café through the YES website (www.yesproject.org) under ‘Resources.’

Heather Hale of AIRC has updated the YES website with Sex Offender information, Board Resources-Resolutions, IRS information on 990’s, and a link to Charity Channel to search for grants.

Pam Moore said we have a few extra slots to re-assign on the 5Dynamics program. Please contact Pam as soon as possible if you are interested in obtaining these slots. The slots need to be used by the first week in December so that we can start coalition building.

Robin Gann will be sending all Partners a copy of their Memorandum of Understanding electronically. The MOU contains the format (Attachment A: Partner Activity & Evaluation Report) for the first year-end report which is due to the YES office by December 31, 2007.

Partner News:
Jo Prout of CASA announced they are having their last fundraiser for the year. On Thursday, November 15th, they are having a Chili, Stew and Cornbread dinner at the First United Methodist Church, Activity Building, 301 W. Delaware, Tahlequah, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tickets should be bought in advance and are $15.00. They will have a Silent Basket Auction.

Pam Iron announced the Women’s Health Coalition is holding a free health seminar and lunch “Taking Care of the Caregiver” on Wednesday, November 14th from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Go Ye Village, Richardson Hall. Guest Speaker is Linda Miller, Caregiver Coordinator, Area Agency on Aging. Call 456-3331 to reserve your place.

Fundraising Software Presentation:
Matt Mason of AIRC spoke to the group on open source versus paid software. He explained that open source software is software created using “code” that is available to the public with relaxed or non-existent intellectual property restrictions. This allows users to create software content through incremental individual effort or through collaboration. By using open source software, you are not “locked in” to a particular program, and the open source version is just as good if not better than the paid version. Open source software also assists with sustainability because the user is not paying for yearly upgrades, and technical assistance can be easily found on the internet, usually more comprehensive than paid software. For example, Gimp is an open source program that is equivalent to Adobe Photoshop. By using Gimp, a person can have the graphic editing ability without paying a large sum of money for the program. Another popular open source program is Open Office, which is equivalent to Microsoft Office. Open Office allows the user to do word processing, spread sheets, and presentations, and files created using Open Office can be opened by Microsoft Office.

Before demonstrating the Organizer’s Database software program, Heather distributed copies of a worksheet and a CD. On the CD were the software installation program, a manual, the worksheet, a price list for optional technical support, a software features list, and the customization survey that had been printed out. Heather stressed that before even beginning to use the database, it was important to spend at least one hour completing the worksheet and thinking about how partners wanted to set up their database programs. She explained how it was easier to think things through and set them up properly in the beginning rather than go back and fixing what was wrong.

With some assistance from Matt, Heather began to walk the partners through an actual installation of the program. Heather demonstrated the ease of customization for both the information screens and the codes. Heather also demonstrated how to use the software by entering donor information, executing a search for donor information, thank you letters, and reports. The software literally could be set up to track whatever information the partners wanted. Reports are easily customizable and can be tailored to suit any need. Those in attendance were eager to get started using the program.

The software CD that was distributed at the demonstration was mailed to those partners who were not in attendance. Because they were mailed on Monday, partners still have an opportunity to review the program and documentation. If there is adequate interest, we could conduct another presentation on the fundraising software.

Follow-up and technical assistance will be available to the partners through the end of December. Any partner wanting assistance needs to contact Pam or Robin for scheduling as soon as possible. Technical assistance is available to partners free of charge, while the presentation and technical assistance is available to non-partners for a small fee. Either way, if technical assistance is scheduled, the worksheet must be completed and information on a couple of donors must be available prior to our visit.



YES Meetings December 2006 Meeting February 2007 Meeting Building a Safer Future Post Award Conference, July 2007 November 2007 Meeting December 2007 Meeting January 2008 Meeting Y.E.S. PROJECT MEETING MEETING NOTES NOVEMBER 8, 2007 The November 8th Y.E.S. meeting was held at the NIWHRC Annex from 9:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. This was a technical assistance workshop on the open source Organizers Database (ODB) on fundraising software. Pam Iron of National Indian Women’s Health Resource Center (NIWHRC) presented a ‘Management Minute’ on Perseverance. She told the group to always keep trying. If you have to submit a grant six times, keep doing it until you reach your goal. It is not always easy but this is how she got to where she is today. Ms. Iron gave us a website resource on Board Café for board members and directors. Board Café can be accessed through www.compasspoint.org. Directors can sign up their board members so it comes to them automatically each month. Ms. Iron told the group it is important for board members to have written job descriptions. When new board members come onboard, it makes the transition much smoother and everyone is clear as to the board member’s duties. In the Board Café archives, job descriptions can be found for board members. Partners can also access the Board Café through the YES website (www.yesproject.org) under ‘Resources.’ Heather Hale of AIRC has updated the YES website with Sex Offender information, Board Resources-Resolutions, IRS information on 990’s, and a link to Charity Channel to search for grants. Pam Moore said we have a few extra slots to re-assign on the 5Dynamics program. Please contact Pam as soon as possible if you are interested in obtaining these slots. The slots need to be used by the first week in December so that we can start coalition building. Robin Gann will be sending all Partners a copy of their Memorandum of Understanding electronically. The MOU contains the format (Attachment A: Partner Activity & Evaluation Report) for the first year-end report which is due to the YES office by December 31, 2007. Partner News: Jo Prout of CASA announced they are having their last fundraiser for the year. On Thursday, November 15th, they are having a Chili, Stew and Cornbread dinner at the First United Methodist Church, Activity Building, 301 W. Delaware, Tahlequah, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tickets should be bought in advance and are $15.00. They will have a Silent Basket Auction. Pam Iron announced the Women’s Health Coalition is holding a free health seminar and lunch “Taking Care of the Caregiver” on Wednesday, November 14th from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Go Ye Village, Richardson Hall. Guest Speaker is Linda Miller, Caregiver Coordinator, Area Agency on Aging. Call 456-3331 to reserve your place. Fundraising Software Presentation: Matt Mason of AIRC spoke to the group on open source versus paid software. He explained that open source software is software created using “code” that is available to the public with relaxed or non-existent intellectual property restrictions. This allows users to create software content through incremental individual effort or through collaboration. By using open source software, you are not “locked in” to a particular program, and the open source version is just as good if not better than the paid version. Open source software also assists with sustainability because the user is not paying for yearly upgrades, and technical assistance can be easily found on the internet, usually more comprehensive than paid software. For example, Gimp is an open source program that is equivalent to Adobe Photoshop. By using Gimp, a person can have the graphic editing ability without paying a large sum of money for the program. Another popular open source program is Open Office, which is equivalent to Microsoft Office. Open Office allows the user to do word processing, spread sheets, and presentations, and files created using Open Office can be opened by Microsoft Office. Before demonstrating the Organizer’s Database software program, Heather distributed copies of a worksheet and a CD. On the CD were the software installation program, a manual, the worksheet, a price list for optional technical support, a software features list, and the customization survey that had been printed out. Heather stressed that before even beginning to use the database, it was important to spend at least one hour completing the worksheet and thinking about how partners wanted to set up their database programs. She explained how it was easier to think things through and set them up properly in the beginning rather than go back and fixing what was wrong. With some assistance from Matt, Heather began to walk the partners through an actual installation of the program. Heather demonstrated the ease of customization for both the information screens and the codes. Heather also demonstrated how to use the software by entering donor information, executing a search for donor information, thank you letters, and reports. The software literally could be set up to track whatever information the partners wanted. Reports are easily customizable and can be tailored to suit any need. Those in attendance were eager to get started using the program. The software CD that was distributed at the demonstration was mailed to those partners who were not in attendance. Because they were mailed on Monday, partners still have an opportunity to review the program and documentation. If there is adequate interest, we could conduct another presentation on the fundraising software. Follow-up and technical assistance will be available to the partners through the end of December. Any partner wanting assistance needs to contact Pam or Robin for scheduling as soon as possible. Technical assistance is available to partners free of charge, while the presentation and technical assistance is available to non-partners for a small fee. Either way, if technical assistance is scheduled, the worksheet must be completed and information on a couple of donors must be available prior to our visit.