World Changers: Africa

I get really excited by young people who are changing (or attempting to change our world). Started by a Gen Yer Laura McGilvray, Ghana Do Something Real is a network of people who are supporting New Life Orphanage in Ghana and the 35 children who call it home. The group have allowed uniforms and musical instruments to get to the orphanage.

The group have a very real Facebook presence and thanks to contemporary technology it waas able to translate that into a very real presence with a launch conducted in Australia having input with speeches and interviews and songs from Ghana via camera!

Check out their newsletter. They have set up a system to get donations straight to the orphanage from western donors. They prefer to send money to the orphanage rather than goods so as to show support to local traders in Ghana.

Google Plus Reviewed

Image via CrunchBaseLast week I was invited to join Google + which is the social networking app from Google available on the web, iphone and android.

If you have a gmail address- it is a cinch to log in. I don't but I did have a google account-that was just as easy! Automatically my blogs were listed on my Google+ page.

Google+ seems to have seven main features:

1. A main profile page 
2. The ability to easily organise friends into groups called "Circles".  I have groupings (circles) for friends,  family, acquaintances, people following me and work contacts. I love this feature. You can then send and share content with specific people in those circles. Facebook lets you organise people into groups too but Google+ makes it simple.
3. Sparks is like Google alerts combined with Google Reader. You select topics you want eg volunteer management, not for profit, trains, aeroplanes. Each topic gets its own sparks page and then thanks to the magic of Google, every time an article, posting or news report appears on the net with that topic, it will appear in my Google plus. I can then share any of that content with one or more individuals or circles.  I am thinking I can even set up a circle with all my A380 interested friends in it and share A380 stories with them quickly!
4. Photos can be uploaded in the same way as Facebook but sharing is a lot easier. I can easily share photos for a specific group eg niece's christening photos with my family only or pictures from a particular training with people from that training. Yes, you can do it on Facebook but Google+ has made it so much easier.
5. Streamlined video chat...this is also cool..its  a bit like Skype embedded into your browser
6. Huddles....a group messaging video chat..where you can get a group of up to ten friends who are in a circle to chat to each other...if it works well, this could be a great boon in our sector
7. The Google+ bar, which appears at the top of everything Google now, lets you add comments about anything you see on the web to your google+ stream (feed). It lets you switch between google documents, photos, calendar and mail.

So all in all, I like Google+ so far BUT I have around 2000 people connected through Facebook page and 543 on my Linked in. Why would I want to start again with this entire site? Well for a start Google has already got me. As I already use a Google blog, Google docs, Google calendar etc, then incorporating Google + is akin to falling off a log. So imagine when all the people with gmail add Google+ to their suites.

I do wish Google had taken that power and enhanced other systems. For example, I would have preferred to have Google add Sparks into Linkedin and Facebook asa feature rather than create a whole new site. To my thinking, if Facebook adds similar things as circles, huddle and sparks then the appeal of Google+ is reduced.

Finally, Google has a bad habit of dumping things that do not takeoff.  Look at Google Wave,  for example. Great idea but didn't take off because of its complexity. Google+ is much simpler but faces the formidable competition of Facebook. How long will Google allow plus to grow before it pulls the plug. Remember GoogleVideo?  Google Catalog search? Google Notebook? Google Mashup?

Anyone using it now? What d you think, will it take off?

Want an invite? email me!

Monday Motivation: 18th July 2011

I got a new baby nephew yesterday!!!!
Thats very motivating! He is 56cm long (thats almost two feet) and 4.6 kg (I think thats about ten pounds) so a HUGE baby. Mother and baby (and father and uncle) all doing well. Mum had no stiches!

Why do Not for Profit Managers outscore their for profit counterparts?

This article appeared in People First e-news for July, 2011.

Are managers of not-for-profit organisations second-class citizens when compared to their high-flying corporate cousins? Less skilled? Naive? Incompetent?

No! Nonprofit managers are often more effective than those in the corporate world. They deal daily with all kinds of complex situations, give advice to and accept advice from a range of people in the community, and generally keep the machinery running on the smell of an oily rag.

A survey by The Nonprofit Quarterly showed that, in 14 out of 17 leadership dimensions, not-for-profit managers outscored their corporate counterparts! (Interestingly, nonprofit managers tended to rate themselves lower than their peers rated them, while for-profit executives tended to rate themselves more highly than their peers.)

The survey included the following categories. Why not rate yourself alongside them?
1. Persuasiveness
2. Risk-taking
3. Demonstration of effectiveness
4. Vision

Why do you think managers in this sector fare better? Love to know your comments here or on the People First Facebook page

You ARE a millionaire: July 11, 2011

"You are a time millionaire - for a rich life invest wisely." 

(Richard Andrews, KYT Stage and Screen Academy)

We have about half a million minutes to our disposal every year.

Not good enough...some agencies fail at data protection

Not good enough...some agencies fail at data protection

A woman at one of my trainings objected to my insistence that agencies need to ensure their data is backed up.

She pointed out that if people in Christchurch had backed up their computers data at their offices or homes, their data would still be lost.

She's right. On the day of the second quake, many workers in Christchurch were at lunch. Laptops, diaries and records were all sitting in offices that either collapsed or have been since abandoned. This may be a more dramatic scenario than most agencies will face but how many people have all of their data on a laptop or a desk computer or usb stick that gets lost or stolen. How many records sit in offices that are burnt down?

In today's world data is vital. Could you survive without your financial records, donor database or volunteer lists?

Thats why I am a fan of backing up online. In  theory your data is safe on 3 or 4 or 5 servers around the world.  I use an online database, an online client records system, google docs and an online accounting package.

I cannot urge agencies enough to do this and it stuns me that people do not have back up in place.

A mate of mine recently confessed his charity does not back up their data. He is been one of a long list of people who have told me this.

I was recently talking to a not for profit agency recently who cannot print a list of their volunteers as "we dont know where that data is".

Not good enough. ...some agencies fail at data protection...some are probably okay..but how do we know how many. Agencies need to make it right.

More Mandated Volunteering

So what do you think of "compulsed volunteering?"

In Australia, Sydney's The Daily Telegraph reported on July 1, 2011: "People too poor to pay their fines will be allowed to work off their debts by volunteering with charities."

Five comments

1.  I am not at all  opposed to this creative idea,  especially if it gets people connected into a positive experience and helps people become financially free.  In fact, I would like to enrol when I get a fine notice!
2.   Am fascinated again by the appropriation of volunteerism by government in this way- Is this in fact volunteering or an indentured labour scheme where people work off a debt? What do you think? Does it matter if we call it volunteering?
3.   As an ex youth worker, I am thinking the "disadvantaged youth" that will "use this to make a new start"need to be managed/handled well/carefully. The experience could indeed transform them positively or it could be a colassal waste of time
4. I missed the sentence where it says agencies who take on such "low income earners" will be funded to support the participants. Was there a sentence that said: "Mr Smith said in view of the responsibility and impost on the agencies and to ensure participants have a fruitful experience, agencies will be funded to manage the programs. Agencies electing to be involved in the scheme will receive funding to cover a SACS employee level 4 on a ratio of one hour for every four hours a participant puts in. So if an agency takes on 3 participants for 8 hours a week, the agency would receive funding of 6 hours a week." It costs agencies money to properly manage volunteers
5. I am also fascinated by the silence from the Volunteer peak bodies in Australia on this? Do they like this direction or not?

Other people's comments?

The Full article:

PEOPLE too poor to pay their fines will be allowed to work off their debts by volunteering with charities.

 Attorney-General Greg Smith will expand a program that allows low-income earners to work with church and community groups instead of paying their speeding, red-light camera and fare evasion fines.

 "They would have to show that they are financially disadvantaged," Mr Smith said.

 "It would be a one-to-one situation for offences like minor shoplifting offences, speeding and red light fines."

 The two-year Work Development Orders (WDO) pilot program, which ends on July 10, has processed 700 people who racked up massive debts.

 The pilot program members, including homeless youth, people with mental illnesses and poor families, reduced their fine debt by a combined $294,000.

 About 80 per cent of the participants did not incur another fine after entering the program.

 Youth Off The Streets CEO Father Chris Riley said the program would allow the disadvantaged youth on the street to shake off debts and have a "new start".

 "These fines can add up to thousands of dollars and eventually the fine becomes so big, they just throw their hands in the air and say, 'Look, I can't ever fix this, so I'm just going to keep going with getting fines on trains'," Father Riley said.

 "It is important that we make sure whoever signs up for this program, they are kept accountable and that they don't abuse the system.

 "That is a key factor for us."

 Father Riley said WDO members would be asked to perform a number of tasks ranging from cleaning creeks to assisting with disabled children.

 The Attorney-General's department has co-ordinated the program with the State Debt Recovery Office and the Bureau of Crime Statistics.

 In 2009, more than 2.8 million people were issued with penalty notices for minor criminal infractions and regulatory offences.

 Mr Smith said it was crucial to break the habit of taking driving licences away from repeat offenders.

 A doctor involved with the pilot program said it was a proactive approach to early crime intervention.

 "When I say I could help you get your licence back, all of a sudden we've got engagement," he said.

2000 miles (about 3000km) for Volunteer Week

For New Zealand's 2011 National Volunteer Week, I travelled about 3000km (2000 miles) by car, plane and bus presenting across New Zealand (Sadly, no ferry or train this trip!). My trip actually extended National Volunteer Week into two weeks for me!

This map shows my stops on a trip that started in WLG (Wellington) and finished in AKL (Auckland).

Stop One was Wellington (WLG) -  where I wished the Wonderful Volunteer Wellington team a Happy Volunteer Week! Across their branches, they had a photographic display, emergency preparedness workshops and a massive corporate volunteering challenge where employees form companies volunteered to make a difference in over 50 projects. IBM taught seniors how to text, for example!

Stop Two took me 300 miles south to the South Island city of Christchurch (CHC). There,  I presented a workshop at St Mark's Church (see right) along the lines of the NZ Volunteer week theme: Every Minute Counts 

The session was for Volunteering Canterbury. Despite the agency losing its premises in the second quake, the staff have kept matching volunteers to tasks by cell phone, email and Facebook from their homes! Vol Can now has a new (temporary home) and it was great to celebrate that new start with a positive workshop!

On the Tuesday afternoon of Volunteer Awareness Week,  we held a forum to consider what the Future of Volunteering will look like in Christchurch. So many agencies have lost premises, funding, employees and confidence. I predict that there will be a desire to re -engage with the community through volunteering and agencies need to be ready for that.

Stop Three was Blenheim (BHE) which feels like its becoming a second home as I seem to have become Volunteer Marlborough's resident trainer!  Thanks Judy and Barbara!  Two workshops took up the Wednesday: one on the 4Rs of Recruitment and one on Engaging Employers in Volunteer Programs.

That evening, Mayor Alistair Sowman (pictuted with me) of Marlborough District Council launched Volunteer Marlborough's new book focusing on portraits of key community volunteers in the region. I was the international guest speaker!

Down to Stop Four in Dunedin (DUD) where I spent a very interesting time with the folks from Community Patrols NZ. These volunteers work with the police to provide vital support in all sorts of different ways. I met Police Minister Judith Collins who spoke before me. She didn't stay for my presentation which frankly was a shame because I think she would have found what I had to say about the future of volunteering in NZ interesting and helpful (says I modestly!)

Also, in Dunedin, it was great to meet Anna, the new CEO of Volunteer Otago when I popped in to wish the team Happy Volunteers Week with locally made chocolates (Cadbury has a factory opposite where I stay in Dunedin).

Back to the North Island to Stop Five Paraparaumu (PPQ),  a town on the Kapiti Coast. Try saying the town name three times fast! It is  50 kilometres north of Wellington and is where my favourite NZ ice cream (Kapati) comes from there. I helped the local Volunteer centre celebrate heir first birthday with an enjoyable morning of training on the 4Rs which I know made an impact on the participants. Thanks for your warm welcome guys  and yes I would love to come back.t

In Whanganui/Wanganui (WAG)  I delivered my 4Rs session to 14 agencies from the area for a company called Exult which is led by Kerri Tilby-Price. They focus on supporting the NFP sector in New Zealand. I had not been to the town for 20 years! It has definitely got better!

Popped into Volunteer Whanganui for a belated Volunteer week greeting. They had a very successful event to celebrate the week - outdoors (brave people!).

Went to Trade Aid Wanganui These are some of my favourite shops selling handicrafts and goodies from all over the world.. I bought orange infused dark chocolate and dates from Palestine (yum)

Eight hours of travel from there brought me to Stop Seven Gisborne (GIS),  one of the more isolated communities in NZ. They suffered from a 6.8 earthquake in 2007 and there is still some damage.  Agencies there don't get a lot of external training and warmly welcomed my sessions on the Trends impacting volunteerism and How to Sabotage you program. I think the participants walked away with over 100 ideas to be implemented and gave me an average rating of 9.5 out of ten.

To celebrate the start of 10th Birthday celebrations for Gisborne, I went to a dinner with the  Mayor Meng Foon of Gisborne Volunteer Centre's 10th birthday. Pictured above with the Volunteer Gisborne team Jenny and Jane.

So several stops, several talks and several thousands kilometres later: very rewarding and very enjoyable.  Thanks for hosting me! And a very Happy Volunteer Week all.

Monday Motivation: July 4, 2011

Independence is my happiness, and I view things as they are, without regard to place or person; my country is the world, and my religion is to do good. ~
    Thomas Paine


~ To safeguard democracy the people must have a keen sense of independence, self-respect, and their oneness. ~
    Mahatma Gandhi

A blog post about Insurance?

A blog post about insurance is not very exciting but I feel compelled to share this.

But after the multiple Christchurch earthquakes, New Zealand is having hard time getting companies to provide insurance.

After paying out billions,  insurance and reinsurance companies are saying: "no more".

So Christchurch now has no insurance coverage for about 2 billion dollars of its 4.2 billion dollar property portfolio.

This means (heaven forbid) any more nasty earth movements puts the city in an awful situation. I guess the NZ government would stump up for the costs if forced but "acting Prime Minister Bill English said the Government will do what it can to help out, but "it's not the Government's intention to replace insurance companies."


One more tough situation for Christchurch.

Liquefaction at AMI Stadium

Finally, a bizarre story:
AMI Stadium is the main sports arena in Christchurch. Massively damaged in the quakes, it is unusable and now uninsurable.  The turf in the Stadium was not insured by its owners, the Council owned Venues company. AMI who had the naming rights for the stadium is one of New Zealand's major insurers. Surely an insurance company sponsor  should have checked what they were sponsoring was insured?