| | Greetings! We are constantly striving to better our community and the great organizations that are members, but without our membership dollars we are limited. Please make sure that you have renewed your membership. |
Muskogee Nonprofit Resource Center - Upcoming Events The following events will be provided by Muskogee Nonprofit Resource Center mark your calendars and more information to follow November 5, 2009 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Miss Addies, 821 W. Broadway Wine and Song - Please join us for an evening of Wine and Song benefitting Muskogee Nonprofit Resource Center. The event will feature music by Suzanne Barns, Hors d'oeuvres, Wine tasting, Cash Bar, and Door prizes. Tickets are $46/ea or 2 for $90. For more information or to purchase tickets please call 918-683-4600. November 10, 2009 5:30 p.m., LaQuinta Inn, 3031 Military Blvd New Voices - "Speed Dating" for boards and prospective members allowing boards to find a simple and fun way to connect with prospective members and volunteers. November 11, 2009 3:30 p.m., Muskogee Nonprofit Resource Center Bookkeeping and Back Office - This free workshop will outline potential services available to nonprofits with little or no staff. It is designed to help small organizations learn more about resources available to help run the organization without a staff person or allow staff to work effectively toward the organization's mission. December 8, 2009 9:00 am - 2:00 pm, Muskogee Public Library Downstairs Meeting Room Introduction to Grantsmanship - Bring your lunch, and join the Muskogee Nonprofits grant writer Rebecca for a training focused on the basics of how the granting process begins. It wil focus on what materials and information are needed to write a grant, where grants can be found, and how to understand foundation application criteria and government RFP documents. This is the first in a series of trainings about grant seeking and writing. Training is free as part of the city of Muskogee Foundation grant. January 19, 2010 2:00 - 4:00 pm, Northeastern State University, Muskogee Campus City of Muskogee Foundation - Letter of Inquiry - The Muskogee Nonprofit Resource Center is coordinating and providing the space for the City of Muskogee Foundation's Letter of Inquiry granting process. February 16, 2010 3:00 - 4:00 pm, Muskogee Public Library Upstairs Meeting Room How to Be An Effective Board Member - You believe in the organization, said yes to the nominating committee, and were elected to the board - now what? This workshop will give the financial, ethical, moral, and critical obligations you probably never thought of when you said yes. You will receive materials and preparation for your first or fifieth board meeting. Cost: $10.00 for members, $20.00 for non-members. February 16, 2010 4:15 - 5:45 pm, Muskogee Public Library Upstairs Meeting Room Elected to An Office, Now What? - Are you a new officer of a board? Considering serving or wanting to take a leadership role and need to know the expectation of an officer? In a short hour and a half, we will discuss each primary officer role - Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer - provide sample job descriptions, and have the new officer tote bags available for check-out. Cost: $10.00 for members, $20.00 for non-members. |
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October is Domestic Abuse Awareness Month October is officialy Domestic Abuse Awareness Month and Women in Safe Homes is having a display of silent witnesses at Arrowhead Mall, October 29, at 11:00AM. Plans are to meet at the court house and volunteers to carry as many of the silhouettes as we can to the mall. Any one that would like to volunteer would be appreciated. Speakers include Larry Moore, Charles Pearson, Debi Bush, Mike Jackson, and many more. There will be over 200 silhouettes on display. If you would like more information please call Gwyn LaCrone at 918-682-7878.
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PAWS Animal Fest 
PAWS(Promoting Animal Welfare Society) will be having their yearly animal fest at Honor Heights Park on October 24th from 11 - 3. The group is raising money for their shelter. There will be face painting, concessions, a clown making balloon animals, a pet contest, police dog demos, items for sale including PAWS animal fest t-shirts. Petco will be there in with lots of free gifts, coupons and goodies. There will be a groomer there to do free pet toe nail clipping and a dog obedience person there to give small seminars. PAWS currently has raffle tickets for $10 each for a chance to win one of the following items: A years supply of Hills Science Diet Dog Food, Bebbs gift certificate or 14KT gold dog necklace or Cat bracelet, 14KT Gold Cat Ring, I'm a Basket gift certificate, and more still to come You do not need to be present to win just stop by the shelter and pick up a raffle ticket for your chance to win. Any donations would be appreciated and are tax deductible.
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Muskogee Public Library 
Gaze at the Stars October 26, 2009 7:00 p.m.
Gaze at the stars through a telescope with science teacher Richard Martin Monday, October 26th at 7:00 p.m. in the Southwest corner of the parking lot at Muskogee Public Library. For more information contact: Rhonda Lee 682-6657 x250
October 28, 2009 11:30 a.m. Join us for Books Sandwiched In at Muskogee Public Library on Wednesday, October 28th at 11:30 a.m. This month's speaker is Lansing Lee. Books Sandwiched In is a monthly program at Muskogee Public Library. It is normally held on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 11:30 p.m.
Book Sale October 31st through November 7th Normal business hours |
Muskogee County Oklahoma Home & Community Extension Clubs 
Sewing Demonstration
Tips to Making Great Totes, Purses and Bags
October 29, 2009
10:00 AM
Muskogee OSU Extension Building
Presented by
Janice Cranor
Extension Educator
Osage County OSU Extension
Hosted by Muskogee County
Oklahoma Home &
Community Extension Clubs
This event is free of charge, please RSVP by October 26 at (918) 686-7200
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Muskogee Art Guild 
Fall Art Show and Sale November 5 - 7th 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. This event will be held outside of Dillards at the Arrowhead Mall. Please come by to see all the wonderful works of art that will be offered. |
Community Roundtable  OG&E will host its annual Community Roundtable in Muskogee on November 6th. The meeting will be held at Cowboys B-B-Que. The address is 401 N. York Street. The meeting will begin at 11:30 a.m. and conclude at 1:00 p.m. This meeting allows representative's from various social service agencies and other people active in the community the opportunity to network and share information about their service and community programs. For more information or if you would like to attend, please email me at davisjk@oge.com or call Jan Davis at 684-4657. |
Five Civilized Tribes Museum The Five Civilized Tribes Museum will host the Masters Art Show during the month of November. A reception is planned for the artists November 7 at 7 pm in the museum art gallery. Join the Board of Directors and the staff of the museum as they welcome artists from across Oklahoma and Arkansas. |
Martin Luther King Center 
Make You Money Talk Series November 5, 2009 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A six week series, which will take you through the basic steps of developing a financial plan. Topics include financial goal setting, developing a spending plan, bill paying and organizing records, credit, reducing debt, shopping financial institutions, savings and investing. Program completers will have a working financial plan and budget and will be on the road to toward financial freedom. Call 918-684-6314 to pre-register today. Space is limited Tax Facts to Make Your Head Explode
November 14th 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. This seminar will help you learn the basics of the tax system allowing you the chance to finally get the refund you deserve. Learn about: - The different tax forms
- How the IRS can help you
- Individual tax savings ideas
- When head of Household applies, and more.
Call 918-684-6314 to pre-register today. Space is limited Budgeting November 24, 2009 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. This seminar will teach you to learn to make the most of your money by: - Learning the benefit of having a budget
- Identifying various sources of income
- Identifying types of expenses
- Knowing the importance of savings
This workshop is co-sponsored by the Credit Counseling Centers of Oklahoma, Inc Call 918-684-6314 to pre-register today. Space is limited Remember Pre-Registration is required so call now!!!! |
One Way Outreach Limited Through out the month of november we will be presenting a number of workshops for adults and kids. November 10
We will present a workshop for adults End of Life Planning the Facts everyone should Know. - This workshop will explore end of life planning, information on advance directives, power of attorney's and information that everyone needs to know in order to make an informed choice. Information will also be provided on rights and responsibilities of caregivers and how there are no right or wrong choices. End of life planning is a topic that most people do not like to address,but it it is a subject that causes a dilema when a person's wishes are not known. We will be sponsoring the following workshops for kids. Self-Expression Through Art - This workshop allows youth to express themselves in various forms of art. A participant need not be a budding artist, but merely looking for ways to express themselves. Science Talks - This workshop will give area youth an opportunity to explore science through hands on activities. Hands on Experience - This workshop will give kids the opportunity to explore various fields of their choice, from arts, science, nature, crafts and more. All youth workshops are $7 or morning or afternoon sesion and $10 for all day. Luuch is provided for an extra $2 if desired. Three day discount available as well as multi-children discount for families. Other workshops scheduled in November Self-Expression for adults. This workshop will allow people to use different forms of art to express what is inside of them and give them understanding to their own inner soul. All adult workshops are $12.00 lunch included and last for 4 hours. Please call for the exact date and time for this workshop. Registration for workshops can be obtained by email at onewayoutreachlimited@yahoo.com or by calling 351-3613. Space is limited. All workshops are sponsored by One Way Outreach Limited . |
| Upcoming Events In The Community
SAVE THE DATE!!! Saturday, October 24, 2009
ANIMAL FEST 2009
There will be pet contests bring your pet for some fun, must be on leash and shots up-to-date. There will be food concession and t-shirts for sale and police dog demontrations and much more.
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Honor Heights Park
Contact For More Info: P.A.W.S
Saturday, October 24, 2009: Muskogee Community Anti-Drug Network (CAN) Medicine Cabinet Clean-out
The Medicine Cabinet Clean-out offers a free, easy solution for people to get rid of old or unneeded medications. Muskogee-area residents simply drop off their medicines for proper disposal. Area residents are encouraged to remove all expired, unneeded or unused medicines from their homes and bring them for proper and safe disposal. The Medicine Cabinet Clean-out is a partnership between Muskogee CAN, the Bedouin Shrine Temple of Muskogee, Muskogee Police Department, City of Muskogee Weed and Seed program, and Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics. Time: 10:00am - 2:00pm Location: 201 s 6th St Bedouin Shrine Temple Contact For More Info: www.muskogeecan.org Lindsey Roberts (918) 683-4600 Tuesday, October 27, 2009: RAY BRADBURY'S BOOKS ON FILM Tuesday October 27th through Thursday October 29th , at 5:30 PM, Muskogee Public Library will hold a film festival of Ray Bradbury's books on film. Free popcorn will be served and a short discussion will follow each event. Muskogee Public Library is partnering with Northeastern State University to participate in the Big Read. The Big Read is sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, Institute of Museum and Library Services, Arts Midwest. All events are free and open to the public. Time: 5:30pm Location: Muskogee Public Library Contact For More Info: (918) 682-6657 Friday, October 30, 2009 to October 31, 2009: GHOST STORIES CARAVAN TOUR Location: Three Rivers Museum Contact For More Info: (918) 686-6624 Thursday, November 05, 2009: Evening of Wine & Song
Benefitting the Muskogee Nonprofit Resource Center. Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm Location: Miss Addie's Contact For More Info: (918) 683-4600 Saturday, November 07, 2009: Arts & Crafts Show Shop for Christmas, Stay for Lunch, Bring food for Food Pantry and get in Special Drawing. Time: 9:00am - 3:00pm Location: Ft. Gibson Methodist Church 302 N. Beauregard Contact For More Info: (918) 478-4721 Saturday, November 07, 2009: Muskogee Veterans Parade Pre-parade ceremony at 10:30am: color guard, Mayor's Proclamation and Salute to Veteran's. Time: 11:00am Location: Market Square Muskogee Civic Center Contact For More Info: (918) 684-6302 x28 Thursday, November 12, 2009: Dinner & Silent Auction Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm Location: Grace Episcopal Church Contact For More Info: (918) 687-5416 Thursday, November 26, 2009: Garden of Lights View over 1,000,000 shimmering lights as well as the animated displays. Open Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve. Donations are accepted. Time: Dusk Location: Honor Heights Park Contact For More Info: Muskogee Parks & Recreation (918) 684-6302
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News from TechSoup.org
TechSoup By the Cup - October 13, 2009
The Newsletter from TechSoup.org
"Technology served the way nonprofits need it."
****************************************************************** NEW PRODUCT ALERT Boost Fundraising and Manage Donors with DonorPerfectDonorPerfect Online for Growing Organizations (DPO-GO) is an all-in-one database that stores all information needed for managing fundraising and reporting. This top-rated online fundraising and donor management software allows for up to 1000 records, with options to add features as your organization grows. Four New Adobe Products Added to LineupAdobe has generously added four new offerings on TechSoup. Create video, audio, and interactive productions with Production Premium 4 (Mac/Windows); capture and edit video with Premiere Pro CS 4 (Mac/Windows); create animations, interactive applications, and other rich media with Flash Pro CS 4 (Mac/Windows); and produce motion graphics and video effects for film, video, the web, and mobile devices with After Effects CS 4 (Mac/Windows). TechSoup offers donated and discounted software to qualifying nonprofits and public libraries in the United States. ****************************************************************** FEATURED ARTICLE Data Warehousing for NonprofitsData warehousing is certainly not a solution for every organization. It's not likely to be a great option for tiny organizations or those without any IT support structure. It will require technical skills and a considerable investment. But it can provide considerable rewards as well. Is a data warehouse right for your organization? ****************************************************************** ****************************************************************** ****************************************************************** -> ABOUT TECHSOUP TechSoup Global is working toward a time when every nonprofit and NGO on the planet has the technology resources and knowledge it needs to operate at its full potential. In addition to our product donation program for nonprofits and public libraries, we also offer articles, webinars, forum discussions, and more, all as a free service to the NGO community. TechSoup's services are available around the world through our global network. Learn more. For questions about product donations, please see TechSoup Stock's Contact Us page. Please send other questions or comments to btc@techsoup.org. Please do not reply to this message. For more information, see our About Us page. ****************************************************************** -> SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Help other nonprofits get the most out of technology by telling them about TechSoup By the Cup. Canadian organizations and libraries, TechSoup Canada now has its own email newsletter. Subscribe to By the Cup Canada and get up-to-date news and announcements from TechSoup Canada along with the latest TechSoup.org resources you've come to expect from TechSoup By the Cup. Copyright (c) 2009, TechSoup Global. All rights reserved. Please feel free to pass TechSoup By the Cup along to your friends. However, we ask that you keep the TechSoup attribution, BTC subscription, and copyright information intact. |
Out with the Old, in with the New Building effective governance at not-for profit organizations
Recent conversations in the nonprofit world increasingly surround "good governance" within nonprofit organizations.
For years, many looked at good governance as board members contributing large sums of money to their organizations, while also making sure that the particular organization is following its mission.
No longer is that good enough.
Well-known accounting scandals involving Enron, Tyco and WorldCom have put the spotlight on good governance - not only in the for-profit world, but also in the world of nonprofits. As we know, the nonprofit sector has not totally steered itself clear of blame. Whatever the case may be - avoiding taxes by conducting activities not consistent with the organization's mission, fraudulent activities, or simply misspending funds - many nonprofits are as much to blame as their for-profit counterparts.
So what does that have to do with good governance?
Well, it's a commonly known fact that an active board can enhance how effective a nonprofit is. But a board that meets often may still not be exercising the type of governance the particular organization may need.
FACT VS. FICTION
Fiction: A board that meets often satisfies most of the important elements of effective governance.
Fact: The amount of times the group formally meets doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of effective governance. What is most important is how the board exercises appropriate oversight over management.
This includes:
* What types of expertise does each board member bring? Financial expertise? Legal expertise? Operational expertise?
* Are there any subcommittees in place to oversee specific projects?
* What accountability is there for activities conducted that do not meet the mission of the organization?
Fiction: There is basically a "one-size-fits-all" approach that organizations must follow to exercise good governance.
Fact: The size of an organization has a large effect on the governance necessary to be successful and compliant with pertinent laws and regulations. What is adequate for a small organization, for example, obviously wouldn't suit a large university or hospital.
Fiction: Other than the nonprofit organization itself, no other parties are concerned with the organization's governance.
Fact: Many other parties are interested in how well an organization governs itself. Especially because of recent allegations of misspent funds at many nonprofits, donors are becoming more interested in the governance of organizations. Donors feel a lax governance structure can lead to their money being spent inappropriately. Lenders also want to see that an organization is well governed.
While not technically a requirement within the Internal Revenue Code, the Internal Revenue Service will review an organization's exemption application and annual information returns to determine whether organizations have instituted certain policies that demonstrate effective governance.
THE NEW FORM 990
To improve its review of the governance of nonprofit organizations, the IRS has increased the number of questions on the new Form 990, mainly in Part VI. Due to the public transparency of the Form 990, Part VI is not an area that nonprofits should take lightly. Potential donors can now easily see what important policies an organization has in place, and what it lacks. Some of the key questions that now must be answered by organizations concern governance in the areas of:
* Conflicts of interest. Does the organization have a policy, and does it require key employees (officers, directors, trustees) to disclose annually any interests that could give rise to conflicts of interest?
* Executive compensation. As this is now a key focus area in both the for- and nonprofit sectors, what type of process does the organization go through to determine the compensation of key employees?
* Board meetings. Are there records of meetings held by the governing body?
* The Form 990 itself. Was a copy provided to the organization's governing body? This question also requires a description of the process the organization goes through to allow for review of the form.
Another important issue is whether the following policies are in place: a written whistleblower policy; a written document retention and destruction policy; and, if an organization has invested in, participated in or contributed assets to a joint venture or similar taxable entity, a policy whereby the organization evaluates its participation.
OTHER ELEMENTS
Outside of required answers to new Form 990 questions, it is considered best practice for nonprofit organizations to demonstrate the following aspects of sound governance:
* Fundraising. Organizations must determine if their solicitations meet applicable state and federal law, and are done in good faith. Additionally, only funds that are congruous to an organization's mission and existence should be accepted.
Strong financial oversight. Organizations should determine if the board has a member(s) that can exercise the proper due diligence over the books, records and financial statements of an organization. The formation of an audit committee to conduct many of these tasks is also encouraged. Other areas of strong financial oversight include how expenses are allocated on a functional basis, the accounting for restricted donor assets and revenues, revenue recognition, and the creation and monitoring of a budget.
* Bylaws. Organizations must be aware of all provisions, whether they are being followed, and if the appropriate updates are being made.
* Internal controls. Organizations must decide if the controls in place are suitable for the organization and if they are being followed by appropriate staff.
A nonprofit that demonstrates good governance will find that this can have a direct link with its overall success.
John McCarthy, CPA, is manager of assurance services at Braver PC. (c) 2009 Accounting Today and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.webcpa.com/ http://www.sourcemedia.com/ |
| | | Muskogee Nonprofit Resource Center supports, strengthens and promotes Muskogee's nonprofit organizations, local government agencies, faith-based organizations and community coalitions in a variety of meaningful ways. Sincerely, Kim Lynch Executive Director |
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