CommonCents Non-Profit Marketing

Many updates!

2011-11-16T21:19:00.003-05:00

Thanks to anyone who drops by linking from MOO's blog about the holiday gift tags I made from MOO mini-cards.

That's just one of the cool projects I did with my Flickr photos - MOO and also Snapfish offer so many ways to extend your photos.

Some updates for anyone visiting from MOO: I currently work for Tourism Cares... still volunteer with my local land trust... and still active on Flickr.

Please visit these sites and let me know what you do with MOO and Flickr!

Susan

Sustainable Farming Program Re-Scheduled

2009-12-09T20:16:00.004-05:00

Metacomet Land Trust has re-scheduled its program on Sustainable Farming due to the after effects of today's snow storm...

Please join us Wednesday, December 16th, at the Mendon Senior Center, 62 Providence Street, Mendon for this program with Carolyn and Rob Nicholson of Sweetwilliam Farm (Upton). Rob and Carolyn will discuss Sustainable Farming in our region.

Come hear the perspective of a practicing farmer when Rob and Caroline present our Annual Meeting program. We'll also discuss the important connection our land preservation efforts have to supporting agriculture in the region.

Metacomet's short annual meeting will begin at 6:30, followed by the program with Carolyn and Rob at 7:00. Please stay for refreshments and conversation after the program.

This program is free; a small donation is requested at the door.

If you join Metacomet Land Trust before the end of this year, your modest dues will be extended through the end of 2010.

Green Jobs in Massachusetts

2009-09-09T09:20:00.002-04:00

Even as unemployment rates climb, there are opportunities in our area for new careers greening the energy infrastructure of the Bay State and New England.

Recent news stories and links that may lead you to a new job:

Tri-County Regional Tech in Franklin offers a continuing ed course in Photovoltaic Solar Panel Installation. The course starts on Saturday, September 26th and costs $450. One neat thing about this course is that it is scheduled on 4 Saturdays, so if you're still employed, you can test this new field with a weekend course!

Today's Boston Globe includes news that the number of jobs in our solar industry doubled between 2007 and 2008. Should continue to increase, if the Patrick administration can use the Obama energy stimulus plans to keep building more sun-powered facilities in Massachusetts. A formal announcement will be made today at the Cleantech Forum XXIII, happening in Boston.

Of course, sometimes the green economy takes a few media hits - as was obvious this week when Van Jones left the Obama administration precipitously... but news coverage of the Jones snafu's often included the big picture of what he, the President and so many are trying to do. A Google search for Van Jones plus Green Jobs produces over 43 Million results!

Boot Camp on New Media

2009-08-12T21:35:00.004-04:00

Volunteers Charles and Monique in our Franklin Area Climate Team were intrigued by Steve Sherlock's quick intro to many cool ideas, tips and tools available for non-profits working on social change. After our meeting, they asked for some more info on some of the tech topics we heard about tonight... Steve blogs about civic issues in the Town of Franklin, Massachusetts, and on a number of personal interests as well. He's volunteered to help FACT maximize its online visibility as we work toward local events on October 24th for the international 350 Teach-In.

On the way out of the meeting, Charles began to put some of the new media concepts together with his own concerns about health care, politics and delivery of information... he's on his way! He asked for some links to sources I've explored over the past three years on my own voyage of discovery into new media and social networking. Others may find this short list helpful, so here it is... please comment and add more links!

Grass Roots Use of Technology conference, sponsored by Organizer's Collaborative, a group I joined after attending in 2006. This year's GRUT will be at Northeastern this year, October 17th, 2009.

Usually OC posts presentations from the past conference, but so far I don't see them on their new site.

One of the interesting thinkers I first met at GRUT is Alison Fine. Alison has published a lot about the new media implications & ramifications that Charles is picking up on. Her blog is good and she also does a monthly podcast called "social good." Her latest book is called "Momentum: igniting social change."

For an introduction to how some people are USING all of this stuff "out of the box" check out "The Action Mill" and co-founder Nick Jehlen... a video of one of Nick's presentation at a past GRUT is now on line at Action Mill. They have a good blog that also is loaded with info on what they're up to. Lots of meat here!

In the parking lot, Charles and I started talking about the Obama Campaign as an example of a modern political campaign that was based on direct contact with the voter, outside the bounds of white male powere structure; the idea of power at the edge rather than at the so-called center of society. For more on the concept of "pushing power to the edges" see Network Centric Advocacy.

The 2005 report which coined the concept of pushing power to the people through technology (I believe) is at this link; http://www.pacefunders.org/pdf/05.06.05%20Final%20Version%201.0.pdf. Well worth reading.

Another superb source for latest info on how people use the web in a democracy, check out the Pew Center for the Internet and American Life.

Happy reading!

Keeping in Touch - Resources to Help You

2009-06-18T09:08:00.003-04:00

Thank you to the brave souls who participated in our short survey on non-profit needs. We found your responses helpful. It's clear from the small sample that everyone sees the need for realistic fundraising goals and budgeting to be able to reach your targets. Other needs include assistance designing new ways of reaching your members and prospects and preparing Board members and volunteers to help the organization.

If you did not take the survey but would like to add your own "two cents" to the dialogue, please email me or comment on this post!

Here are some current links for those working on land conservation or other enviro projects:

The summer 2009 issue of "Saving Land" - the Land Trust Alliance magazine - is filled with news you should know about. The online version is now available for download. It includes a two page spread on the major social networking venues and how they can be applied to your organization.

One of the tools mentioned is the photo sharing site flickr. Here's a new photo group I created for photos of Franklin, Massachusetts and one for the Taunton River Watershed that has many outstanding photographs of the now officially Wild and Scenic Taunton River.

A flickr photo pool is basically an online location for people interested in one place, one activity, or an artistic idea to share their images. Some groups have thousands of members and images. If your organization has even a few members who care about the mission, events and activities you sponsor, it's a fun way for them to share person-to-person without going through your hierarchy.

The first step is to create a free flickr account for someone in your organization - a volunteer or staff - and share a few photos on the web. You have the flexibility to set the copyright protections using standard Creative Commons choices. (You can also restrict access to your family or friends if you want to use flickr as a personal or family photo sharing site.)

Once your flickr page has been started, you can then search for other photos already on flickr that relate to your location or your group's issue. Comment on the ones you like to give feedback to the photog!

When you're ready, you can then join groups set up by others and very easily create a group just for your location or cause. Add your own photos to your new group and then invite others to link their photos. And you're off!

Flickr has a very good Help section that will provide initial FAQ and search tools for assistance.

Of course, if you would like help with all of this, please let me know!

Survey Open: Services Needed by Non-Profit Community

2009-03-27T23:02:00.003-04:00

We are working to find solutions to keep your organization healthy and moving forward even during these tough times.

We are currently developing a non-profit service concept that would be based around your organization’s needs and our strengths. No need is too small or too great.

Please accept our invitation to take our short survey on the current needs of the non-profit conservation community and allied organizations at Survey Monkey.

The survey has 10 short questions. You may take it more than once if you work with, or volunteer with, more than one organization. Thank you!

(Survey Monkey offers free accounts for anyone to run a short web-based survey with sophisticated tools to collect and analyze up to 100 responses. Constant Contact offers a trial subscription for its survey tool. Talk to us to learn more about how online surveys could be used by your organization.)

Buying Time: Get The Job Done

2009-03-12T15:02:00.006-04:00

Got tech stress?

Do you have great ideas but not enough time to implement? Is your organization clear on its mission and ready to roll out a new project or service but just short of enough hands to actually get your project done?

We can help! Whether it's a needed technology upgrade, permission-based email news, volunteer rewards programs, better events promotion, or media outreach, we can provide hands-on time to help you lead your organization to a higher profile and greater productivity.

Lisa and I are available to help environmental non-profit organizations with project assistance on a freelance, short-term basis. We're currently brainstorming a survey to determine the need for several types of freelance "intervention" for our colleagues in the Massachusetts land trust community.

If you work or volunteer with a non-profit organization in southern New England, please take our short survey at Survey Monkey.

Among the services we can provide:

~ Stress-free, customized training to help manage your online visibility and upgrade technology
~ Permission-based email marketing
~ Website Content updates and promotions
~ Media Outreach
~ Publications: newsletters, annual reports, brochures, website content, proofreading and editing ~ Volunteer recognition programs, member thank you promotions
~ Fundraising events planning and execution

If you just can't wait and need help now, please email Susan or Lisa through the comment/email icon below this post!

Energy Film - Kilowatt Ours

2009-01-06T09:49:00.004-05:00

Highly recommend this film if you are interested in "big coal," the impact of mountain-top destruction by coal mines, and how one family can really cut their energy use.

http://www.kilowattours.org/

“Kilowatt Ours: A Plan to Re-Energize America,” an award-winning film about energy conservation was shown at the Franklin Public Library, on Wednesday, January 14th at 7:00 p.m. The program was co-sponsored by the Friends of the Franklin Public Library and the Franklin Area Climate Team. The film focuses on how ordinary citizens can take an active role in energy conservation and provides simple solutions that result in health, money and environment-saving measures.

Kilowatt Ours is an inspirational and enlivening film that demonstrates how easy it is to conserve energy that is produced from traditional sources as well as the many ways the average consumer can easily become part of the renewable energy revolution.

“Kilowatt Ours” was chosen as an official selection of the 2008 United Nations Association Film Festival. from environmentalist and filmmaker Jeff Barrie that has sparked a word of mouth sensation, spreading the message of hope and inspiration. With occasional whimsical zest, the film shares how simple changes such as switching incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents, using energy star appliances, installing adequate insulation and locating and sealing leaks in air duct systems can have significant results. These changes can result in hundreds of dollars saved on home energy annually, millions of dollars in savings for businesses and communities, as well as dramatically reduced carbon footprints.

“The film provides simple energy saving ideas for homes, businesses and schools that significantly lower utility bills,” said the film’s maker, Jeff Barrie. “With rising energy costs and the potential environmental impact, this is an important and timely issue.”

Barrie asks film subjects if they know where their energy comes from – few are aware that over 50% of our power in the U.S. comes from coal, amounting to more than 5 tons of coal burned annually to provide electricity for the average American home. Personalizing the film’s message, Barrie turns the tables on himself and takes viewers along as he and his wife take steps to reduce energy use in their own home. The film features other stories of individuals, businesses, organizations, and communities that are foregoing traditional forms of energy and encouraging conservation, promoting energy efficiency, reducing waste, buying renewable power and saving money.

Flickr Pool for Metacomet Land Trust!

2008-09-08T12:18:00.005-04:00

We now have a Flickr photo sharing group for photos of Metacomet Land Trust's open space properties and our events! If you're on Flickr - check it out and share your shots!

Metacomet Land Trust Flickr Pool

We've just announced a photo contest and invite you to visit our properties this year and submit your favorite scenes from our open space land! Come at least once in each season - a category for winter, spring, summer and fall - plus a special category for members!

While you're on Flickr, check out the pool I've set up for the Taunton River watershed also!!

The Truth Hurts

2008-07-15T16:14:00.001-04:00

FACT Yahoo Group

2008-07-01T11:34:00.003-04:00

FACT members have set up a Yahoo group to help each other stay in touch as we plan for activities in the fall.

If you would like to become a member of our Yahoo group, email the group admin, Dan, and ask for the link!

We have lots of good ideas for local action to reduce energy use, switch to clean energy options, and help others learn about climate change and global warming.

In the meantime, check out Mass Climate Action!

The Power of One Person!

2008-05-11T09:48:00.001-04:00

If you have ever doubted your own ability to change the world, read the story of a BBC producer who is convincing towns in England to switch from plastic bags to biodegradable shopping bags!

Green the Economy with Your Tax Rebate

2008-03-30T12:37:00.002-04:00

Are you due to get a tax refund or an "economic stimulus rebate" this spring?

Why not spend it on energy-saving improvements or other steps to reduce your carbon footprint?

The Bush rebate of $1,200 for a working couple might not pay all the cost of a solar-powered hot water system but it would go a long way for less intensive, smaller-ticket items!

A few ideas for the typical Massachusetts home:

1. Purchase an energy-star appliance
2. Purchase a "kilowatt interrupter" that prevents the phantom energy consumption from electronic equipment that usually stays on night and day - or - quick tip: plug electronics into a power strip in an easy-to-reach location and just switch off the strip when you leave the room!
3. Purchase a share in a local Community Supported Agriculture farm - you will eat well all year and help keep farms and farmers in your town
4. Purchase a rain barrel and hook it up to drip irrigation equipment - contact Denise Zambrowski, Franklin's Recycling Coordinator at 508-520-4910 or come to Earth Day at Beaver Pond on April 19th to order!
5. Better yet, "Go Native!" Choose native, beautiful drought tolerant plants for your home (and dig up the ones that are NOT!) - Come to hear a presentation on "xeriscaping" at Earth Day on April 19th!
6. Purchase all Compact Flourescent Lights for your outdoor lights - or a solar outdoor system
7. Replace older indoor thermostats that do not have auto set backs with new ones to save on your heating costs
8. Purchase carbon offsets for family reunions, large parties such as weddings, and your organization's next event. When you travel on business or pleasure, support hotels that are reducing energy consumption and water use.
9. Buy re-usable water bottles and jugs for everyone in your family and break the plastic bottle habit! If you are asked whether you want bottled water or tap water when eating out, choose the local, filtered tap water. Plastic bottles are not only unnecessary but are filling landfills and littering our oceans.

Here are some more expensive projects that could save even more when you're making major household investments:

10. If you remodel your existing house, invest in solar heating for hot water and electricity! Sell your surplus power back to the grid!
11. When replacing older windows, invest in the best "low-e" insulating windows.
12. The next time you buy a new car, test drive a hybrid car! In addition to the Toyota Prius ...

... and the Honda Civic, shop the Hybrid Camry or the Hybrid Nissan Altima!

More ideas and how much you can save!

Earth Day in Franklin

2008-03-26T16:02:00.001-04:00

"A Hug for Mother Earth"
Many Thanks to the 300+ Volunteers
at Franklin's Earth Day

We were swamped by so many people who came to help clean up our town, plant spring flowers and learn new ways of protecting the environment!

Please participate again next year!

If you have ideas about how to make Earth Day even better, or would like to help plan the event so that we are prepared for as many people who want to help, please contact Ryan Jette at the Franklin Recreation Department or Denise Zambrowski at the Department of Public Works. A committee will begin to organize in January of 2009!

Thanks also to the many, many sponsoring groups and businesses this year so far include Franklin Teen Girl Scouts, the Franklin Momʼs Clubs, the Franklin Recycling Committee, Franklin Area Climate Team, Drums for One and All, Hillside Nurseries, Franklin Tile-Carpet One, Signs by Cam, Comprehensive Environmental Inc., CDM, Malcolm-Pirnie, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Stop & Shop, Entenmann's, Domino's Pizza, Metcalf Materials, Aubuchon Hardware, Garelick Farms, Whole Foods, Panera Bread, the Franklin Department of Public Works, Franklin Recreation, and my own organization, Metacomet Land Trust.

Photos Remind Me of the Story

2008-03-02T20:48:00.001-05:00

What If?

2007-11-17T14:07:00.001-05:00

What would life in the United States be like if all carbon-based fuels were rationed, not on the basis of available supply, but on the basis of carbon emissions?

What if power plants were held to a cap on carbon emissions and shut down when they used up their cap?

What if gasoline were rationed not by price but by carbon per gallon?

What if American business and citizens were thus forced to use non-carbon based fuels for power generation, transportation, construction, and heating?

Is it any more equitable to ration by price instead of by carbon pollution?

There might be…

** rolling blackouts by power plants as they reached their carbon limit…
** public health consequences, economic disruption, and social dislocation if there is no public transit and limited carbon fuels available for transportation of food and consumer goods
** the price of clean energy fuels would rise as demand rises, making another stress on the economy

How fast could local and regional governments build public transit that would replace less efficient family cars?

How would industry ship its products using carbon-neutral transportation?

The "Locavore" movement would take off like a shot! Farms, CSA, “victory gardens” all over America – we would all need to learn to grow new crops as climate warms and precipitation changes

How many years will it take to shift to a system of carbon credits to protect the atmosphere?

If, in 2008, we pass laws that would force a reduction in carbon pollution from all sources by 15% within FIVE YEARS – or 20% in 10 years - and announced the future carbon cap enforcement plan, what would start happening?

*** Automakers would build engines that use flex fuels or plug-in electrics in vehicles that are designed to be efficient from inside out… trucks and truck engines must be held to equally tough standards…
*** All possible trains switch to electric, with improvements made in diesel engines as all transportation needs to shift to cleaner mix of carbon fuels…
*** Nuclear power plants might regain favor, raising all of the existing issues about long term nuclear waste security, fuel transportation, etc.
*** Wind farms would become more profitable and face fewer hurdles if they promise a clean, non-rationed power supply to the residents and businesses in the immediate vicinity…
*** New buildings and existing factories would attempt to generate their own power on site
*** Solar generation projects (local and large scale) would start up
*** Incentives to create new Hydro power stations would put further stress on rivers and streams where fish passage is already threatened. New hydro projects must include fish passage that is designed for future climate change impacts to allow species to adapt
*** Energy efficiency would be implemented across the board: manufacturing, transportation, construction industries
*** Owners of forests would be given credit for carbon sequestration

How many years do we have to decide?

What is the alternative?

Rationing by price… in a dirty world… with massive climate changes altering daily life around the globe

Why is no one talking about it? Scientists and we in the green movement need the support of elected officials and industry leaders… advocates of "change now" cannot be too far on the fringe if we want to be effective.

This is about saving the Earth… our world… everything in it and on it… not just the American economy, jobs, the shoreline, property values, animal life… people all over the world and life on Earth.

check out:

www.LightsOutAmerica.org
Saturday, March 29th, 2008
8:00-9:00 p.m. nationwide

A Spider's Tale

2007-07-26T09:30:00.001-04:00

We noticed a visitor to our second story bedroom window last summer, just after the worst of the August heat wave. A large – for Massachusetts – spider tucked itself into a corner of the outer window frame, building a bit of a nest of silk.

At first, it seemed that the bulk of this mass, about three quarters of an inch across – must be a nest of eggs just inches from the window screen. I did not panic – but I closed the casement window and left it closed, not wishing to invite an invasion of tiny spiders when they hatched.

My husband pointed out that the spider built a perfect orb web on the outside of the window. Opening and closing the casement window did not seem to bother the spider, who remained tucked into the upper corner, as far as we could tell.

Our understanding of the spider’s motives changed a few nights later. Entering the room well after dark, I saw that the spider was now hunting: positioning itself in the middle of the web, it waited for night flying insects to strike the web. As a moth flew in to the web was was snared, the spider quickly moved to the insect, dispatched its prey with no more than a brief engagement – not a fair fight this – and then gave a few twists of silk to wrap up its meal for consumption later. Leaving the prize hanging on the web, the spider returned to its waiting game in the center of the orb.

Another moth flew into the web, and I realized that the spider was capitalizing on the attraction of night flying insects to the light at the window. A drive-up food source and the spider was positioned perfectly to take advantage of the situation.

Watching from inside, it was immediately clear that this creature was much larger than I’d imagined. The spider’s body was larger than my smallest fingernail; its legs would cover a 50-cent coin. The mass seen in daylight in the window corner was not a nest – it was simply the spider itself, curled up and resting. I turned off the light and reported the activity to my family.

What to do, now that the true size of our visitor was apparent? My husband offered to move it the next day, using our 12-foot pool broom. A great idea, I said, "I’ll wait inside!" The spider accepted the ride, and after a couple of strong shakes, eventually dropped off the broom onto the flower box of our garden shed, about 30 feet from the house.

You have to see this, the successful broom-handler said. I approached cautiously. The spider had quickly moved to the underside of the window box, where some other spider’s web was spun loosely. Our visitor could be seen up close and personal: the body and head dark brown, the sturdy legs banded with a lighter tan. Most definitely not one our familiar “daddy long legs,” brightly colored garden spiders, or smaller jumping spiders. A creature is built for business, a predator that can take down thousands of smaller species, adapted for its precise niche in the world.

But what was it doing on a sunny second story window? What is this creature’s natural place in our environment? Having had a recent encounter with a small, delicate spider while attempting to kayak on the Nemasket River, I realized that many spiders live in trees, where they crawl or capture food, presumably some building aerial webs. Was our visitor going to build a web on this other man-made structure, or would it climb up into the tree canopy?

Less than 24 hours later, a new web built appeared just below the window box, about two feet in diameter and attached to the shed and surrounding plants. The builder was nowhere to be found, mostly likely resting, well-fed, and waiting for another night of hunting.

An astute family member, listening to me spin the spider’s tale, pointed out that this encounter consumed my attention because it illustrated the same question I faced in my professional life at the moment: where do I belong? What is my niche? To what professional habitat am I best adapted?

The tensions I bring home and express to my family, in the eyes of this teenager, reveal the slight mismatch of skills and setting, like the spider on a house window. The spider could survive on the window, catching prey, sheltering during the daylight from its own potential predators. By moving it closer to the woods, were we helping it return to its natural niche – or simply out of our own hair?

Big Questions

2006-11-04T15:35:00.001-05:00

Virginia Farley asks conservation leaders to think about why we work in the field...

what inspires our vision...

why we care... and why we should articulate the vision.

Scary thoughts which take each person back through time to a trigger point, an ah-hah moment, an epiphany that, with reflection, might have been the inspiration for the choice to work in the field of conservation...

I found this hard to handle... I'm a fixer, a producer, a "get it done" - usually on deadline - person. Easily distracted by the daily details, the routine, the mechanical steps of organizing others, assisting others who have a vision… I have been uncertain of my own voice… and often come back to searching for the best way I can help: what am I best at? Is my contribution a skill or an art?

In any case, Virginia's question overturned a very emotional connection to the Ocean… as an organizing theme almost, the single most inspiring place or piece of the Earth, and connections that go back into childhood.

What inspires me?

The ocean. the coastline ... whether rocky or salt marsh, beach or estuary…

It was in Maine that I first understood that the salt marsh is the nursery of the ocean, the ocean is the nursery of all life, even if life began with dust from the void.

The tides -- the push and pulse of the ocean on the land -- are a connection to the essence of life…

Sunshine on water, the play of light, providing the energy for life in the Ocean.

Wherever I am in the world, along a shoreline I am closest to life, close to being part of the ocean. It is an edge, a boundary.

It is difficult for me to ignore the ocean when I am close to it: how can you turn your eye away?

Even at night it pulls me to it: the night sky meeting the ocean… moon on water, clouds shifting… waves breaking on a beach at night.

Memories flood in: Sailing off Cancun at night in a small boat, feeling the wind in the sails for the very first time… a sensation so fresh and intense that I cannot believe 30 years have past since I took the tiller of that little boat.

Lighthouses up and down the East Coast, along the coast of Oregon.

Bicycling in the rain along the coast of Nova Scotia, hair wet with salt.

Mornings on Mount Desert Island when the fog drenches the spruce trees.

The pink and blue skies of sunset off the East coast of Florida - the sun setting at your back, tinting the Atlantic salmon and the beach soft at dusk. Manatees in the channel at Fort Pierce.

Orange sunsets at Flamingo Bay, at Everglades National Park.

Flat gentle beaches where children are happy to play and paddle: Sunset Bay, Cape Arago, Oregon... Demerest Lloyd State Park in Massachusetts

Whether I am in Maine, Rhode Island, Florida, California or Oregon, when I am close to the ocean, I am home.

Virginia, what are we supposed to do with this?

How do you take something that makes you cry and turn it into something useful?