Ideas Shared, Strategies Developed At First NSC Communications Circle
Debby Edelman, Public Relations Director of Riverbend Head Start, Janelle Floerke, Operations Manager of The Clarkson Eyecare Foundation, L. Carol Scott, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Missouri Child Care Resource and Referral Network, and Carmen Garcia, Communications Manager at the Nonprofit Services Consortium, (from left) attended NSC's first Communications Peer Circle
The first Communications Peer Circle on Thursday, March 3, 2010, at the Nonprofit Service Consortium was great experience. Participants reviewed how an organization can develop a communications plan in tandem with building a committee of volunteers to execute the plan.
The most beneficial part of the two-hour session was the exchange of ideas. If one goes into this type of conference or seminar with an attitude that they can come away with something of value for themselves or their organization, they usually will. Plus, you might contribute an idea or solution that will help an individual or organization made a tremendous improvement in fulfilling their mission.
NSC exists to strengthen the region’s nonprofit organizations and the nonprofit sector. It provides programs services and resources that inform, promote and connect nonprofits as they work to improve people’s lives. (Read more about NSC’s mission, vision and values…)
A special note of thanks to Carmen Garcia, Communications Manager at NSC, for making the Communications Peer Circle a reality. NSC started with Development Peer Circles to assist those in all areas of fundraising for charities and nonprofits. (Donna McGinnis, MBA, CFRE, leads this group and their next is scheduled for Thursday, April 1.)
Register for the next Communications Peer Circle. It will be from 9 to 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 6, 2010, at NSC. We’re kicking around the idea of talking about social media. As soon as we have the topic refined, we’ll publicize it.
You’re welcome to leave a comment on future topics or anything else you find on the blog. The slides that guided Thursday’s discussion are below.
Join Me At Nonprofit Services Consortium’s Communications Peer Circles
Listening to the panel. Photo by mmpartee
If you are new to nonprofit marketing and communications or if you need to “reboot” your plan or efforts, join me for the Nonprofit Services Consortium’s first Communications Peer Circle. The event is free. It’s from 9 to 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 4, at the NSC’s new location, 326 South 21st St., Suite 301, St. Louis, MO 63103. (Click here to see location on Google map.)
One benefit of being a Community Service Public Relations Council member throughout the years is networking with other nonprofit marketing and communications professionals. During those opportunities, I’ve experienced countless times when a fellow CSPRC member or nonprofit professional provided outstanding advice, a breakthrough solution or encouragement to continue my efforts. NSC’s Communications Peer Circles promise to deliver that type of experience. You might learn a new strategy, tactic or approach. You might solve someone’s problem.
Most nonprofit and charitable organizations face the same challenges in marketing and communications. They strive to raise more funds, improve awareness of their programs, gain more members or serve more clients. The atmosphere can be filled with apprehension or anxiety when marketing and communications professionals share struggles with peers. It’s as if admitting these problems will put their organizations at a competitive disadvantage. But when professionals come together during NSC’s Communications Peer Circles — like my CSPRC experiences — there’s an understanding that sharing experiences, lessons learned and best practices can help everyone. If you mention a problem, someone might offer a solution that changes the situation from quagmire to success. If you contribute an idea that helps a nonprofit or charitable institution become more successful, you help the world become a better place.
Communications Peer Circles will be held on the first Thursday of odd-numbered months: March 4, May 6, July 1, Sept. 2 and Nov. 4. The NSC also offers a Fund Development Peer Circle, led by Donna McGinnis, and held on the first Thursday of even-numbered months: April 1, June 3, Aug. 5, Oct. 7, Dec. 2.
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