MultiBriefs - Your source for industry specific News Briefs

Shaping events to inspire donations

Jim Alvarez Association Management

Nonprofit organizations face a constant challenge of funding. From homelessness and hunger to education and the arts to conservation and animals, as well as youth, health and faith-based, most nonprofits search for ways to combat declining governmental funding, an aging donor base, an often overburdened small staff and limited volunteers.

Phish in a barrel: Cybertheft often starts with tricking employees

Ronnie Richard Business Management, Services & Risk Management

The next time your company's CEO sends you an email and asks you to do something, it might be best not to comply. This is no April Fool's joke to get you fired — just a bit of caution in the wake of a widespread phishing scam known as "whaling."

A quick guide to Robert’s Rules of Order

William D. Pawlucy Association Management

Have you ever attended a meeting and felt like nothing was achieved? Using meeting rules of order is the key to a high-performing organization. In 1876, Army engineer Henry Martyn Robert published "Robert's Rules of Order" to establish a firm set of guidelines for conducting meetings and making decisions. These rules of order still hold up today, and here is a quick look at these formal meeting procedures.

Got the agenda — Now what?

Robert C. Harris Association Management

The purpose of an agenda is to ensure a meeting will be conducted in an orderly manner and discussions will lead to results. With an agenda, conversations stay on track, and the meeting should end on time.

Building high-performance boards

Randall Craig Association Management

Have you ever considered why some boards (or senior management teams) are more effective than others? The usual reasons may include individual skills and knowledge, attitude, strong staff support, infrastructure, etc. However, one of the most powerful drivers of board performance — and also one of the most overlooked — is the onboarding process.

What’s the right way to handle political speech at work?

D. Albert Brannen Business Management, Services & Risk Management

With the primaries under way and the November elections looming, everyone seems to have strong opinions about the candidates and issues. Inevitably, these opinions may come up during conversations at work where they can be disruptive and interfere with productivity. Such conversations also can expose employers and employees to legal risks if they do not fully understand the laws that govern political speech at work.

12 rules to live by in the board room

William D. Pawlucy Association Management

Have you ever sat in a board meeting gnashing your teeth and saying to yourself, "When is this meeting going to be over?" or "Why won't they listen to me?" or "What is the purpose and my contribution?" These are the typical questions board members and other volunteer leaders ask when a meeting is inefficient and run poorly.

What’s the cure for a board hangover?

Robert C. Harris Association Management

A hangover usually refers to "discomfort from overindulging." More recently, it is the name of a movie about a bachelor party gone wrong in Las Vegas. But a hangover should not describe a board or any of its directors.

False starts: 13 ways to blow strategic planning

Robert C. Harris Association Management

Boards can be resistant to thinking strategically — they often find it easier to focus on short-term thinking and safe topics. A few boards consider planning an expensive process, while others fear the group hugs and games that characterize some retreats. Even the boards that have budgeted for planning often delay it a year or more.

Here’s how to craft the perfect email

Emma Fitzpatrick Marketing

Yes, they got your email. That much we know. The average office worker sends or receives 121 emails a day, according to a recent report from the Radicati Group. Chances are they opened it as well since Americans have a penchant for checking their emails 'round the clock. 42 percent of Americans check their email in the bathroom, 50 percent check email while in bed, and 18 percent check their email while driving, Adobe found.

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