Council of Michigan Foundations Annual Conference and Interviews with Diana Aviv from Independent Sector

Council of Michigan Foundations is scheduling interviews for Diana Aviv, CEO of Independent Sector.

Independent Sector, is the leadership forum for charities, foundations, and corporate giving programs with a nonpartisan coalition of approximately 600 organizations. Independent Sector has partnered with the Council of Michigan Foundations for the “Challenging Times, New Opportunities” Annual Conference to take place November 4-6, 2009 at the Detroit Marriott, Renaissance Center in Detroit, Michigan.

Diana Aviv is available:

Tuesday, November 3, 2009 from 8 – 10 AM ET and 4 – 6:30 PM ET

Wednesday, November 4, 2009 from 11:30 - 12:30 PM ET and 4 – 5:30 PM ET

Diana Aviv is a noted expert on the major issues affecting the national nonprofit community including; emerging trends, the financial state of the nonprofit community, public policies affecting charities and foundations, the role of civil society in democracy, and civic engagement.

Some quick facts

• In 2005, nonprofits employed 12.9 million individuals, or approximately 9.7 percent of the U.S. economy.
• In 2006, there were over 1.9 million nonprofit organizations in the United States.
• Employees of nonprofit organizations account for 8.1 percent of wages paid in the U.S. in 2006
• In 2006, the nonprofit sector accounted for 5.0 percent of GDP.

If you are interested in talking with Diana Aviv or attending a portion of the conference in Detroit, please call or email:

Johanna Ramos-Boyer

JRB Communications, LLC

703.646.5137

johanna@jrbcomm.com

Donate Furniture to MAP Furniture Bank

MAP Furniture Bank accepts gently used furniture. To donate call 614.272.9544, option 3 and ask to schedule a pick-up.

Primary Needs (Free Pickup In Service Area)*

• Mattresses (they only accept frames and/or box springs with a mattress donation)
• Dressers
• Sofas, Couches and Loveseats (no partial sectionals)
• Tables (kitchen, dining, end, sofa, etc.)
• Chairs (kitchen, sitting room, etc.)
• Large Appliances (refrigerators, washers/dryers, stoves)

Secondary Needs

• Small Appliances (microwaves, coffee makers, toasters, etc.)
• Baby Items (high chairs, cribs)
• Blankets and Bed Linens
• Computers
• Desks smaller than 48” long
• Lamps (floor, tabletop)
• Sets of Pots and Pans
• Sets of Dishes and Flatware / Silverware
• TVs (13" and above)

* Items must be located on first floor to qualify for free pick up.

They do not accept:

• Clothing
• Automotive
• Books
• Food
• Platform Beds
• Exercise Equipment
• Nic-Nac's
• Toys
• Waterbeds
• Holiday Decorations
• Items in very poor condition or in need of repair
• Items with rips, tears, stains, holes or pet hair.

You are welcome to drop off furniture donations any time Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm.

MAP picks up around the Columbus, Ohio, area 5 days a week, based on your ZIP code.

Zip Code - Day 43002 - Monday 43004 - Wednesday 43016 - Monday 43017 - Monday 43026 - Friday 43035 - Tuesday 43054 - Wednesday 43064 - Monday 43065 - Monday 43068 - Thursday 43081 - Tuesday 43082 - Tuesday 43085 - Tuesday 43110 - Thursday 43119 - Friday 43123 - Friday

Zip Code - Day 43125 - Thursday 43137 - Thursday 43147 - Thursday 43162 - Friday 43201 - Wednesday 43202 - Wednesday 43203 - Wednesday 43204 - Friday 43205 - Wednesday 43206 - Thursday 43207 - Thursday 43209 - Thursday 43210 - Wednesday 43211 - Wednesday 43212 - Wednesday 43213 - Thursday

Zip Code - Day 43214 - Tuesday 43215 - Wednesday 43217 - Thursday 43219 - Wednesday 43220 - Wednesday 43221 - Wednesday 43222 - Friday 43223 - Friday 43224 - Tuesday 43227 - Thursday 43228 - Friday 43229 - Tuesday 43230 - Wednesday 43231 - Tuesday 43232 - Thursday 43235 - Monday 43240 - Tuesday

NOTE: Special pickups will require an out of area charge of $10.00 to $25.00.

Philanthropy Friday Behind the Scenes with VOICEcorps

Today's Behind the Scenes Philanthropy Friday highlights the VOICEcorps. To read more about this non-profit organization visit the Philanthropy Friday Feature article on Columbus Underground.

For a behind the scenes piece I asked VOICEcorps to share a special memory with me. They told me the story of Gail Baldwin.

Gail Baldwin, of Columbus, has been a VOICEcorps listener since 1981, when she began to lose her sight due to Type I diabetes. In two years, she became totally blind. “In listening to VOICEcorps, I got information on a lot things besides the news,” she said. She was drawn to information about organizations that helped people who are blind to carry on their daily activities. “Meeting other people was a big thing for me, because you feel so alone when you first lose your vision. I think meeting others was also good for my mental health.”

She eventually got involved in the blind bowling league, tandem bike riding, beeper baseball, and the American Council of the Blind. I also sat on the board of VOICEcorps.”

In 2009, Baldwin received her 25-year pin for volunteer service to VOICEcorps, a portion of which was spent as a board member. For close to 10 years, she has co-hosted a program called “The Support Group of the Air” with her friend, Jan, who is also blind.

As a listener, Baldwin enjoys a variety of programs, from The Columbus Dispatch Food Page for new recipes, to politicians speaking about their platforms. Hearing the grocery ads on VOICEcorps also helps her make a smooth trip to the grocery store, and allows her to learn about new products and compare prices.

“The variety of programming at VOICEcorps is phenomenal. It is absolutely amazing…the different things the readers read. It’s awful hard to get someone to read in person everything they read on the reading service. VOICEcorps has been a big part of my life, and I have enjoyed it,” Baldwin said.

Non-Profit Video of the Week

Trick or Treat for UNICEF

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Needs Event Volunteers

Chip In For A Cure is an event for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Central Ohio. They are in need of 10 event volunteers.

The event will be held at the Columbus Firefighters Union Hall

379 W Broad St, Columbus, OH 43215

November 13, 2009

6:00pm - 11:00pm

Guests will enjoy a Texas Hold'em Poker Tournament, Blackjack, Craps, and Roulette. The top 10 finalists of the Texas Hold'em Tournament will receive prizes with the grand prize being a 4-night stay at the Las Vegas Hilton!

CFF need assistance with registration, casino cashiers, food monitors, silent auction monitors and beverage servers. Please let me know if you are interested in volunteering for this event. For more information check out the website.

If interested contact Brittany Wittman at bwittman@cff.org.

FREE Arthritis Expo

Join the Arthritis Foundation, Central Ohio Chapter for a FREE Expo

November 10, 2009 9:00a.m.-12:00p.m.

Veterans Memorial

300 West Broad Street

Columbus, OH 43215

You will have access to the latest information, tools and resources available for improving your quality of life with arthritis. Participants can get connected by talking to Arthritis Foundation staff, local physicians and other health care providers who will be on hand to answer questions.

Participants will enjoy free parking, free admission and complimentary breakfast. Pre-registration is required.

Find out more information & register here

Or call 614.876.8200

Send a Cup of Confidence and Help Dress For Success

Veteran's Day Free Food for Vets

McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant is honoring the troops this Veteran's Day, November 8th with a free entree from a special menu.

Vets must present proper identification to your server when you are seated. Proper ID includes VA card, VFW card, discharge papers, DD214 or other Veterans ID . Please note that in an effort to accommodate as many Veterans as possible.

To find a participating restaurant click here.

Free Meal at Delaware's 5th Annual Free Community Thanksgiving Dinner

Free Thanksgiving Meal on Thursday, November 26th from 12-2p.m. at William Street United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall at 28 West William St.

For more information please call 363-4741

Future Lab: An Online Challenge for Nonprofit Community

Independent Sector has launched FutureLab: An Online Challenge for the Nonprofit Community to Chart a Vibrant 2020. FutureLab is a national conversation to identify both the challenges and possibilities that will impact the nonprofit and foundation community for years to come. This site is designed as a forum to share big ideas and identify common goals and strategies that will strengthen the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. By joining the online challenge, participants can share ideas and get feedback from peers while contributing to the collective thinking.

PARTICIPANTS DO NOT HAVE TO BE AN INDEPENDENT SECTOR MEMBER TO JOIN THE CONVERSATION. We are looking for everyone’s perspective. The ideas that come from this discussion will hopefully shape the future work of our entire community.

To help us spread the word, visit the FutureLab “Spread the Word” website though the link below to find the widgets, banners, and buttons to encourage your followers to register their opinions and make their voices heard.

http://www.independentsector.org/future/resources.html

Thank you for your help and I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you as FutureLab produces powerful results nonprofits can implement.

Lorraine Snebold - lorraines@independentsector.org