Thursday, December 04, 2003
Stewardship / Local Living Economies
Tap Water Takeover
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, WA – December 4, 2003 (YES!) - The new water district in Montara, California, is both locally owned and locally run. Find out how residents got their water system back at http://www.YESMAGAZINE.ORG/28water/mcconnelltapwater.htm
Tap Water Takeover
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, WA – December 4, 2003 (YES!) - The new water district in Montara, California, is both locally owned and locally run. Find out how residents got their water system back at http://www.YESMAGAZINE.ORG/28water/mcconnelltapwater.htm
Stewardship
The Lake and the 'hood
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, WA – December 4, 2003 (YES!) - A struggle to save a desert lake could have pitted bird lovers against city water consumers. Instead, a remarkable alliance was born between environmentalists, community activists, and East Los Angeles youth. Read the full article at http://www.YESMAGAZINE.ORG/28water/little.htm
The Lake and the 'hood
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, WA – December 4, 2003 (YES!) - A struggle to save a desert lake could have pitted bird lovers against city water consumers. Instead, a remarkable alliance was born between environmentalists, community activists, and East Los Angeles youth. Read the full article at http://www.YESMAGAZINE.ORG/28water/little.htm
Wednesday, December 03, 2003
Stewardship
Urban Stewardship Awards of Excellence
TORONTO, ON – December 3, 2003 (Sustainability Network) - Evergreen, Wildlife Habitat Canada and The Regional Municipality of York are pleased to launch the Urban Stewardship Awards of Excellence for 2003-2004.If you know of a group, an individual or a project that should be recognized for exemplary dedication and commitment to community greening, habitat restoration and enhancement or any other urban stewardship initiative in Ontario, you can nominate them for an Urban Stewardship Award of Excellence in one of two categories. For full eligibility criteria and nomination forms, visit Evergreen's website at www.evergreen.ca, or Wildlife Habitat Canada's website at http://www.whc.org.
Urban Stewardship Awards of Excellence
TORONTO, ON – December 3, 2003 (Sustainability Network) - Evergreen, Wildlife Habitat Canada and The Regional Municipality of York are pleased to launch the Urban Stewardship Awards of Excellence for 2003-2004.If you know of a group, an individual or a project that should be recognized for exemplary dedication and commitment to community greening, habitat restoration and enhancement or any other urban stewardship initiative in Ontario, you can nominate them for an Urban Stewardship Award of Excellence in one of two categories. For full eligibility criteria and nomination forms, visit Evergreen's website at www.evergreen.ca, or Wildlife Habitat Canada's website at http://www.whc.org.
NFPs / NGOs
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Lobbying...
TORONTO, ON – December 3, 2003 (Sustainability Network) - Increasingly, voluntary organizations recognize that playing an active role in influencing government policy is key to achieving their missions. Yet many boards face challenges regarding how to engage in policy dialogue and often lack in the skill set to do so successfully. In response to this need Volunteer Canada has developed Advocacy on the Agenda: Preparing Voluntary Boards for Public Policy Participation. This manual provides a “Poli Sci 101” snapshot of the country’s governmental structures and processes and presents the process of changing public policy. To obtain a copy of this document as a PDF file (58 pages), please email Shehrina at info@sustain.web.ca.
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Lobbying...
TORONTO, ON – December 3, 2003 (Sustainability Network) - Increasingly, voluntary organizations recognize that playing an active role in influencing government policy is key to achieving their missions. Yet many boards face challenges regarding how to engage in policy dialogue and often lack in the skill set to do so successfully. In response to this need Volunteer Canada has developed Advocacy on the Agenda: Preparing Voluntary Boards for Public Policy Participation. This manual provides a “Poli Sci 101” snapshot of the country’s governmental structures and processes and presents the process of changing public policy. To obtain a copy of this document as a PDF file (58 pages), please email Shehrina at info@sustain.web.ca.
NFPs / NGOs
Free Legal Management Resource Available
TORONTO, ON – December 3, 2003 (Sustainability Network) - Carter and Associates, a law firm with extensive experience in the nonprofit sector and publisher of the Charity Law Bulletin, has developed two new, free resources to help charities and nonprofits. These documents address issues such as identification of legal risks, reducing board liability, insurance considerations and anti-terrorism legislation. To obtain a copy of either a document as a PDF file, please email Shehrina at info@sustain.web.ca and indicate if you want the nonprofit (8 pages) or charities (11 pages) edition.
Free Legal Management Resource Available
TORONTO, ON – December 3, 2003 (Sustainability Network) - Carter and Associates, a law firm with extensive experience in the nonprofit sector and publisher of the Charity Law Bulletin, has developed two new, free resources to help charities and nonprofits. These documents address issues such as identification of legal risks, reducing board liability, insurance considerations and anti-terrorism legislation. To obtain a copy of either a document as a PDF file, please email Shehrina at info@sustain.web.ca and indicate if you want the nonprofit (8 pages) or charities (11 pages) edition.
NFPs / NGOs
Evaluation in the Voluntary Sector
TORONTO, ON – December 3, 2003 (Sustainability Network) - A new study by the Voluntary Sector Evaluation Research Project, led by the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy and the Centre for Voluntary Sector Research and Development at Carleton University, shows that voluntary organizations are facing increasing demands for evaluation from their funders and stakeholders. Most organization evaluate (including program evaluation, member satisfaction studies, impact analysis, organizational assessments, etc.) but many organizations are not clear on what funders want from them in the studies. Also, funder’s increased expectations do not appear to have been accompanied by increased financial support. To obtain a PDF copy of “Assessing Performance: Evaluation Practices & Perspectives in Canada’s Voluntary Sector” (66 pages which includes a 2 page executive summary), email Shehrina at info@sustain.web.ca
Evaluation in the Voluntary Sector
TORONTO, ON – December 3, 2003 (Sustainability Network) - A new study by the Voluntary Sector Evaluation Research Project, led by the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy and the Centre for Voluntary Sector Research and Development at Carleton University, shows that voluntary organizations are facing increasing demands for evaluation from their funders and stakeholders. Most organization evaluate (including program evaluation, member satisfaction studies, impact analysis, organizational assessments, etc.) but many organizations are not clear on what funders want from them in the studies. Also, funder’s increased expectations do not appear to have been accompanied by increased financial support. To obtain a PDF copy of “Assessing Performance: Evaluation Practices & Perspectives in Canada’s Voluntary Sector” (66 pages which includes a 2 page executive summary), email Shehrina at info@sustain.web.ca
NFPs / NGOs
This Month's Free Reprinted Nonprofit World Article: "How Effective is Your Board? A Rating Scale"
TORONTO, ON – December 3, 2003 (Sustainability Network) - This month, we are able to offer another Nonprofit World reprint: a 1 ½ page article that presents a table with 12 characteristics that helps a board assess where they need to improve. As with many rating systems, the process of thinking about each characteristic is more important than the rating of any one particular aspect. Ideally, the rating should be carried out by a group. The discussion that ensues should yield important insights about your organization and the board. To obtain a free copy of this article as a PDF attachment, please email Shehrina at info@sustain.web.ca
This Month's Free Reprinted Nonprofit World Article: "How Effective is Your Board? A Rating Scale"
TORONTO, ON – December 3, 2003 (Sustainability Network) - This month, we are able to offer another Nonprofit World reprint: a 1 ½ page article that presents a table with 12 characteristics that helps a board assess where they need to improve. As with many rating systems, the process of thinking about each characteristic is more important than the rating of any one particular aspect. Ideally, the rating should be carried out by a group. The discussion that ensues should yield important insights about your organization and the board. To obtain a free copy of this article as a PDF attachment, please email Shehrina at info@sustain.web.ca
NFPs / NGOs
Free Book for Ontario-based Environmental Nonprofits: "Strategic Planning Workbook for Nonprofit Organizations"
TORONTO, ON – December 3, 2003 (Sustainability Network) - This month, we are able to offer free copies of the Strategic Planning Workbook for Nonprofit Organizations by Bryan Barry and the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation (144 pages, retail value $39.00) to select environmental nonprofits based in Ontario. To apply for your free copy, email your name and the organization’s mailing address to Shehrina at info@sustain.web.ca. Please include one sentence that makes clear what environmental nonprofit organization will be retaining the book and the nature of your work on environmental issues. We will review the list and mail the book to qualifying organizations by mid December.
Free Book for Ontario-based Environmental Nonprofits: "Strategic Planning Workbook for Nonprofit Organizations"
TORONTO, ON – December 3, 2003 (Sustainability Network) - This month, we are able to offer free copies of the Strategic Planning Workbook for Nonprofit Organizations by Bryan Barry and the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation (144 pages, retail value $39.00) to select environmental nonprofits based in Ontario. To apply for your free copy, email your name and the organization’s mailing address to Shehrina at info@sustain.web.ca. Please include one sentence that makes clear what environmental nonprofit organization will be retaining the book and the nature of your work on environmental issues. We will review the list and mail the book to qualifying organizations by mid December.
Monday, December 01, 2003
Municipalities / Planning
Follow-up Publication Details Getting to Smart Growth
BUTTE, MT, December 1, 2003 – (Smart Communities Network - NCAT) - A new publication, Getting to Smart Growth II, from the International City/County Management Association and the Smart Growth Network follows up on the work done in the original Getting to Smart Growth. This second volume is a 120-page primer that describes concrete techniques of putting the ten smart growth principles into practice. The policies and guidelines presented in this primer have proven successful in communities across the United States, and range from formal legislative or regulatory efforts to informal approaches, plans, and programs. See http://www.smartgrowth.org/pdf/gettosg2.pdf
The original Getting to Smart Growth (2MB) is available at: http://www.smartgrowth.org/pdf/gettosg.pdf
Follow-up Publication Details Getting to Smart Growth
BUTTE, MT, December 1, 2003 – (Smart Communities Network - NCAT) - A new publication, Getting to Smart Growth II, from the International City/County Management Association and the Smart Growth Network follows up on the work done in the original Getting to Smart Growth. This second volume is a 120-page primer that describes concrete techniques of putting the ten smart growth principles into practice. The policies and guidelines presented in this primer have proven successful in communities across the United States, and range from formal legislative or regulatory efforts to informal approaches, plans, and programs. See http://www.smartgrowth.org/pdf/gettosg2.pdf
The original Getting to Smart Growth (2MB) is available at: http://www.smartgrowth.org/pdf/gettosg.pdf
Municipalities / EcoJobs
Study: Smart Growth Creates More Construction Jobs than Sprawl
BUTTE, MT, December 1, 2003 – (Smart Communities Network - NCAT) - A new study by Good Jobs First provides evidence that smart growth can create more employment opportunities than sprawl for workers who build residential and commercial structures and transportation infrastructure. The report on the study, The Jobs Are Back in Town: Urban Smart Growth and Construction Employment, challenges the conviction that construction employment suffers when communities implement smart growth measures. A national analysis of 155 metro areas revealed that those with growth management policies enjoyed construction activity per new resident more than $100,000 higher than other areas over a ten-year period. http://www.goodjobsfirst.org/backintown_release.htm
Study: Smart Growth Creates More Construction Jobs than Sprawl
BUTTE, MT, December 1, 2003 – (Smart Communities Network - NCAT) - A new study by Good Jobs First provides evidence that smart growth can create more employment opportunities than sprawl for workers who build residential and commercial structures and transportation infrastructure. The report on the study, The Jobs Are Back in Town: Urban Smart Growth and Construction Employment, challenges the conviction that construction employment suffers when communities implement smart growth measures. A national analysis of 155 metro areas revealed that those with growth management policies enjoyed construction activity per new resident more than $100,000 higher than other areas over a ten-year period. http://www.goodjobsfirst.org/backintown_release.htm
Community Building / EcoVillages
Which Came First, the Community or the Building?
NANAIMO, BC, Dec. 2003 (NICN) - “How did you get started?” Standing in a near complete straw bale building, pressing mud onto the straw walls with a view of the Valhalla Mountains, it seems hard to imagine what history has made this possible. A small group of people has a vision of a better way of living, and come together to make this dream a reality. Sounds familiar. But the question remains: how? Luckily, many of the communities we visited this summer were in the early stages themselves, and we got to experience many of the processes and challenges first hand. Read more
Which Came First, the Community or the Building?
NANAIMO, BC, Dec. 2003 (NICN) - “How did you get started?” Standing in a near complete straw bale building, pressing mud onto the straw walls with a view of the Valhalla Mountains, it seems hard to imagine what history has made this possible. A small group of people has a vision of a better way of living, and come together to make this dream a reality. Sounds familiar. But the question remains: how? Luckily, many of the communities we visited this summer were in the early stages themselves, and we got to experience many of the processes and challenges first hand. Read more
