Random Connections Brings About Creativity and New Partnerships

In the 2009-10 fiscal year, the major action item in which most of our activities revolve around is promoting the SEM Link brand. SEM Link is a wonderful organization, that has a sound organizational structure and quality programs; but not enough people know who we are and what we do. As Executive Director, I am always telling people about SEM Link, who we are and what we do. However, because we have been taking promoting the organization up a notch, I find myself talking about the organization in places that I normally wouldn't. As I result, I have gained some additional resources for the organization as well as told more people about our great organization and the great work we do to "unveil potential through exposure".

While I was enjoying a wonderful jazz concert last weekend; I made two connections that will help out with provide support with our marketing and fundraising efforts. I didn't have my business card with me because I was going to have a good time, I wasn't going to this event as SEM Link's Executive Director. But since the connections were made, I took the advice of the best networker I know, Ms. ChiChi Okezie of Simple Networking LLC took advantage of the technology by getting their email addresses and emailing them at the event. I'm glad I followed Ms. Okezie's advance because I am already developing relationship that are bringing resources to the organization and promoting the brand.

In the past few days, I have meet a jewelry maker and a exercise physiologist who is in training to be a registered dietitian. I recruited them to become volunteers for our programs to teach the girls in the after-school program of our community partner Cool Girls concepts related to real world applications of science. I'm not going to give away my lesson plan until I get it copyrighted, but I can tell you that these connections made me think of a more creative way to engage students in hands on science activities. No child will learn about material science, earth science, anatomy and physiology and biology in a more "out of the box" way than these young ladies.

So I am sharing this story because this push to promote the SEM Link brand, tells me that I must always be ready and open for the resources that will come as a result and make sure that my cell phone is charged so I can take advantage of the opportunities when they present themselves.

The Importance of Honoring The Commitments You Make to a Nonprofit Organization

This afternoon, I had to make an executive decision to cancel an event, which was a truly sad moment for me and the first time that I have had to cancel an event in my entire professional career and definitely in the history of SEM Link. This week, when we sent an email to reconfirm our speaker for the event, they were no longer available and couldn't find a replacement speaker. With the event being a little over a month away, i thought it was a better use of my time and resources, to focus on other programs and operations projects. This fiscal year, we have implemented a brand new marketing and communications plan that includes starting a heavy marketing campaign for our events no later than a month out. Although, I am sad, I know that it was the right thing to do in the bigger picture of what we are trying to do as an organization.

I tell this story to stress how important it is for individuals and corporations to honor the commitments they make to non profit organizations. We all are busy people with many commitments and responsibilities and it is hard to manage it all. Nonprofit organizations achieve their mission with limited resources and are so reliant on the community to provide resources to achieve their mission in the community. Therefore, when you don't honor your commitment to volunteer, make a financial contribution or donate in-kind good, it is not like canceling a lunch or dinner with a friend or colleague. It can truly be detrimental for the nonprofit because the resource that you committed to the organization, could be only option for the non profit to achieve its mission and to do that particular task or project. I encourage you as you evaluate your priorities and review your calendar, make sure that the commitments that you have made to the nonprofit that you have committed your time, talent and resources to, don't fall through cracks and get put on the backburner.

What are your results of your relationships?

This evening as I am winding down from a wonderful day, I was journaling with such a attitude of gratitude for all the friends and colleagues, old and new that have either giving me the confidence or by direct support by giving of their time and talent to help me accomplish the goals that I have both personally and professional. In addition to being grateful for my relationships with three of my mentees that are close to my heart and make me beam with pride with not only the great people I've seen them grow and develop into but them making strides toward achieving their goals. One who just graduated from high school in May 2nd in his class and preparing to go to college at my alma mater FAMU on this Saturday. One who graduated from Spelman College in May, who is on her way to graduate school to pursue what will probably be considered a non traditional career path in public health via computational chemistry. The final one who graduated from Spelman in May as well, who I'm very proud of the fact that she is constantly doing things to pour into the lives of the generation that is coming behind her. As well as her wisdom being able to realize that delay is not denial and at times working a plan B will help you get where you want to go in life as well. I would like to say that I've helped these young people accomplish their goals and grow as a person, just like my mentors have done for me.

As the beginning of the school year just started for many school districts and SEM Link programs start next month. What are you doing to make the goals of a person or organization come to pass? What relationships are you going to develop and maintain with individuals or organizations that will allow you to make a difference in the lives of others. I have a favorite quote that states the "Leaders Get Result Through People". As I paraphrase this quote in the context of mentoring and making a difference, my new quote is " What Results Will You Get Through Your Relationships". What results do you want to see from your relationship with SEM Link Will you see the results of sharing your expertise and passion with a child by volunteering for our programs? Will you see the results of sharing your time and expertise to help with our operations? Will you see the results of how you can help us achieve our programming goals for this program year by making a financial contribution to our "Donate Your Lunch Money" individual donor campaign? Will you the results of how your business, government agencies or professional society will produce by becoming one of our Corporate Partners? Visit our website and find out more information about what relationship you will develop and maintain with SEM Link in the 2009-10. Do just search our website, but make use of the online application that we made it an easy process for you to sign up to start your relationship with SEM Link in a way that is authentic to who you are and the resources that are available to you. The staff and board of SEM Link are looking forward to you become a part of the SEM Link family.

Donating Your Lunch Money to SEM Link to Provide Resources to Help Us Achieve Our Mission

Any non profit organization that wants to be sustainable has to have a diversified revenue stream; SEM Link is no different. The diversity in revenue streams is necessary because in age where resources are limited grantors don't have enough resources to fund every organization that applies for funding. In addition your organization may have a great grant proposal, but your organization project may not line up with the mission of the funding organization.

Two years ago, my advisory board member Dr. LaToya Myles and I were talking about the organization's revenue that came from individuals donors. Research of philanthropic giving shows that approximately 60-80% of the funds that non-profits receive that provide the resources necessary to achieve their mission comes from financial contributions made by individuals. Therefore it was imperative for us to formalize our individual donor campaign as a part of our diverse revenue stream. We needed to provide an opportunity for any individual that was interested in supporting the organization to make a financial contribution. However, we realized that many people don't give to non profit organization's because they feel that the little bit of money they have to give isn't enough to help out a non profit. We wanted people to know that a small amount of money such as your daily lunch money (approximately $5) can truly make a difference in supporting the mission of a nonprofit organization such as SEM Link. Hence, our "Donate Your Lunch Money" Individual Donor Campaign was born.



So I invite you now to donate your lunch money to SEM Link this year. Any financial contribution you make to the organization is tax deductible. We accept donations on a year-round basis and have an easy process to donate your lunch money to SEM Link! by visiting the donate page on our website http://www.semsuccess.org/donation.html. Thank you for helping us "unveil potential through exposure".

SEM Link Redesigned Website Defining Our Who We are and What We Do

Science, Engineering and Mathematics Link Inc. redesigned Website, www.semsuccess.org, on launched tonight. The new Web site was designed by Ms. Radhika Gadiyaram of Two Penny Creations in Detroit, Michigan. This interactive Website not only clearly communicates SEM Link’s niche as an organization in math and science education but also its messages for each of its target markets (K-12 students, parents and educators, volunteers, individual donors, and corporate partners).

A new and exciting feature of the Website is the online applications for Experimental Design and Math and Science Career Academy Programs. Individuals and corporations that are interested in volunteering for programs or operations or making a financial contribution to the organization can do that through an online application. The use of online applications, developed by Mrs. Chandra McCrary of MJS Plus Automation, shows that the organization is going green by reducing its paper waste while also increasing operational efficiency by automatically creating a database of program participants, volunteers, donors, and corporate partners. The new homepage has a message from the Executive Director and Founder, as well as links to the organization’s Facebook group, blog, and www.GoodSearch.com (powered by Yahoo) where individuals can raise money for SEM Link’s programs by searching the Internet or shopping online.

Students can use the Educational and Professional Development pages to find tools to develop their basic skills in math and science as well as learn critical study strategies and test preparation skills to promote academic achievement. The career exploration page will introduce students to a science, engineering and mathematics professionals and careers. These two pages allow us to promote student achievement and career exploration in math and science for the students we can't touch with our programs.

Our new website is definitely a great marketing tool to promote the SEM Link Brand and attract new resources and relationships for our organization.

Great Intentions, Wrong Methods

As a non profit organization, we truly appreciate the support of our volunteers. Without our volunteers we wouldn't be able to achieve our mission because it is the volunteers that implement our programs and assist with various tasks related to operations. However, as a volunteer there are certain things you have to be careful about when you represent the organization to make sure that you properly represent the organization and don't put the organization in harms way.

A few days ago, I was googling SEM Link, which I periodically to do see if I our efforts to increase our webpresence is working. I came across a volunteer who had posted pictures and videos from one of our events on their website. I was horrified at this huge liability this person put our organization in. However, I realized that this person probability didn't even realize the huge liability and risk they were putting SEM Link in by posting picture of minors on their site. They probably didn't even think they had to ask permission to take pictures or videos of this event, let alone obtain permission from SEM Link before they posted it on the website.

So as volunteers to be sure that you are always representing the organization be sure you do the following things.
1. Always be sure that you know the mission and vision of the organization you are serving; people will ask you why you volunteer and knowing this information about the organization promote the organization and encourages others to be involved as well.
2. Before you take pictures of your own, please ask the organization representative if you can take pictures. If they don't allow you to please be ask permission to obtain the photos that will be taken of the event. This will allow the organization to go through the proper channels to release permission to your organization to utilize their photos.
3. If are a business owner or community organization that is serious about serving your community, please consider becoming one of the organizations corporate partners and financially support the organization.

SEM Link Appreciating the Unsung Hero of Volunteers- The Skilled Volunteer

In most non profit organization's volunteers are a critical component to the organization being able to achieve it mission. When we think about the volunteers, we always think about those who are in direct services or directly involved in the programs. However, there is another group of volunteers that does a lot of the behind the scences work for programs and operations called the skilled volunteers.

A skilled volunteer is an individual that donates their time and expertise to the organization. These volunteers usually help with projects that deal with operations or indirect service related to programs. These are usually the people who assist with organization fundraising, coordinate special events, web design, graphic artist, marketing projects, public relations, etc. These volunteers are so invaluable because they usually provide a service that the non profit organization could not afford to have without this professional believing enough in the mission of the organization to use their expertise to help the organization achieve its mission. They also save the staff and huge amount of time by provide a person in which tasks that are critical to programs or operations can be delegated to an individual who has the skill set to complete it; sometimes they have a better expertise than the organization's staff.

So I just want to spend a few minutes, saying thank you to some of the skilled volunteers that support SEM Link. First of all, I would like to thank Mrs. Mardell Artis and her Community Consulting Team (CCT) that spent months developing a marketing and communications plans for the Science Cafes and our Annual Career Fair and Exhibition. We are implementing that plan in the 2009-10 fiscal year and beyond. I would like to thank Mrs. Radhika Gadiyaram of Two Penny Creations of Detriot, MI who has donated her time and expertise to redesign and maintain our website. I would like to thank Ms. Wanda Clouston of Eiram Creative, who donates her time to meet our graphic design needs. I would also like to thank our newest skilled volunteer Ms. Tanya Montgomery who is donating her time and expertise to help us with public relations efforts.

I truly appreciate every volunteer that has makes time in their busy schedule to serve and help us "unveil potentional through exposure". I realize there are many non profits that you could have donated your time to and I am so honored you have chosing SEM Link.