Networking - M - Mingle

It's always easier to attend a networking event with someone you know, but make sure you don't stand in the corner and only talk to each other.  Set yourself a 5 minute limit to catch up at the beginning of the event and then mingle people, mingle.

from Tonic magazine, Issue 20

Networking - L - Learn People's Names

We all know how it feels to start talking to someone we 'know', only to realise they have forgotten our name.  It certainly doesn't make you feel valued or important, does it?  By making an effort to remember someone's name you have the opportunity to make them feel wonderful the next time you meet.  That feeling goes a long way towards building a lasting relationship.

from Tonic magazine, Issue 20

Networking - K - Keep Engaged

When someone is speaking to you, always be present in the conversation and stop worrying about what else is going on.  You may well be waiting for someone else to arrive or wanting to catch someone before they leave, but if that's the case, say so and excuse yourself.  There's nothing harder than talking to someone who is only half-way engaged.

from Tonic magazine, Issue 20

Networking - J - Jot Notes

Once you have finished a conversation with a new contact, take 2 minutes to jot some notes on the back of their business card.  When you go to follow up the next day, you'll be able to easily remember who the person was and where the potential connections lie.

from Tonic magazine, Issue 20

Networking - I - Introduce

It's easy to get caught up talking with one person the whole night; especially if you are their only contact in the room.  A good way to break the conversation and enable you both to meet new people is to say 'There's someone I'd love you to meet.  Let me introduce you.'  After introducing the person to another of you contacts, leave them to get acquainted and find someone new to talk with.

from Tonic magazine, Issue 20

Networking - H - Host

If you attend a regular networking group, find out how to go about hosting the event at your place.  This gives you a chance to really showcase who you are and what you do, and its amazing how connections deepen once people have seen your home-base.

from Tonic magazine, Issue 20

Networking - G - Get Their Details

Be proactive in asking for people's business cards or contact details - don't just leave it for them to get in touch with you.

from Tonic magazine, Issue 20

Networking - F - Follow Up

After meeting someone for the first time, always follow up with a brief email.  Based on the conversation you had, try to include something that you think may be of interest to them.  It could be a link to a website, an interesting article or perhaps contact details for someone you think they should meet.  This shows the person that you were actually listening to what they had to say and are genuinely interested in helping them out.

from Tonic Magazine, Issue 20

Networking - E - Effort

For networking to be truly effective you need to be persistently consistent.  That means you need to attend the events on a regular basis, even if you don't feel like it.  The more you attend, the more people you get to know you, and the deeper the relationships and possibilities become.

from Tonic Magazine, Issue 20

Networking - D - Don't, Won't and Can't

Always keep your conversations positive and never talk about what other people should or could be doing better.  When the conversation turns to funding (as it inevitably does), try not to paint a desperate woes-me picture; people are more likely to support you if you paint a picture of success.  Focus on what is working well and encourage support in that area.

from Tonic Magazine, Issue 20

Networking - C - Carry Business Cards

Networking is much more than simply talking to people at the event.  You need to be able to share contact details so you can keep in touch.  It's a good idea to have a little business card holder that slips into the palm of your hand.  That way you can easily pass out your cards with out rummaging through your handbag with every conversation.

from Tonic Magazine, Issue 20

Networking - B - Be Prepared

You know people are going to ask about your organisation and your role within it, so make sure you are prepared with some good clear responses.  In about one minuted you need to be able to sum up who you are, what you do and most importantly, why you do it.  Make sure you can share a clear compelling vision of what your organisation wants to achieve.

from Tonic Magazine, Issue 20

Networking - A - Ask Good Questions

There's more to networking than simply telling people about you and your organisation; the real value comes in finding out about others.  Whether it is business networking for potential sponsors or networking with other non-profits, the more you know about others in the room, the more likely you are to find useful connections.  Practice using open-ended questions that give other people a real chance to speak.

from Tonic Magazine, Issue 20

Toolbox Tuesday - Marketing Must Do's

For the next 40 Tuesday's I am going to bring to your toolbox - 40 marketing must-do's. I encourage you to add one of these to your week for the next 40 weeks and change how you reach your communities for GBNZ.  This come to you courtesy of Exult.

1. Make Use of Your Email Signature
For most people email is the most frequently used form of communication, and every time you hit send, you have the opportunity to promote something specific about your organisation. Have a look at your email signature and check you are making the most of the opportunity it provides.

Your email signature should have more than just your contact details, there is room to have one or two lines about a specific programme, campaign or need. Add a link so that readers can click straight through to your
website for more information.

Sample Email Signatures
Your email signature should have more than just your contact details, there is room to have one or two lines
about a specific programme, campaign or need. Use these sample signatures to give you some ideas of what
you could promote in your own organisation.

Did you know our ‘Food for Families’ programme provides budget cooking classes for 15 new families every week? You can support one family through this programme for as little as $30 by visiting our Fundraising page www.abcdefghi.org.nz/fundraising

What are your children doing these holidays? Why don’t they join our School Holiday Programme from 6th – 16th April 2010. Loads of fun, games, outings and more. WINZ Subsidies available. For more information visit www.abcdefghi.org.nz or phone 07 555 5555

Join us for our annual Art Auction and Ball on Saturday 15th May. Great music, food, wine, and a chance to win $5,000 worth of travel. Tickets just $70. For more information or to secure your tickets visit www.abcdefghi.org.nz/ball.

Do you have 1 hour to spare on Monday 19th July? We need collectors to help with our street appeal in YOUR neighbourhood. We give you everything you need, and you can collect anytime from 3pm – 7pm. For more information phone 07 555 5555 or email volunteer@abcdefghi.org.nz

Do you have an old fridge you are no longer using? Our children’s art programme needs a small fridge to store wax in – it doesn’t have to be flash. If you have a fridge you would like to donate, please call Milly on 07 555 5555 or email milly@abcdefghi.org.nz

Sponsorship Opportunities are now available for ‘Little Day Out’ on Saturday 18th September. You can contribute to the success of the day AND market your business to 500 families for as little as $250. For more information phone 07 555 5555 or email sponsors@abcdefghi.org.nz

Would like to keep up-to-date with what’s going on? Visit www.abcdefghi.org.nz/subscribe to register for our free monthly newsletter. Find out about clinic times, workshops, support groups and more.

Toolbox Tuesday

Today's blog comes courtesy of Exult, from Tonic magazine, this article from Issue 7, August-October 2010.

Top Tips for Attracting Time-Poor Volunteers

Get to know the members within your organisation personally.
Its not enough to know about their skills or hobbies - you need to understand what makes them tick. Some people volunteer out of a sense of obligation, some because they want to 'make a difference', and others because it makes them feel important or valued. Regardless of how little time people have available, you will always get them involved if you can give them what they need in return.

If people are really busy, it is unlikely they will respond to a call for help in the newsletter or on the notice board, because they assume someone else will take up the challenge.
When the event goes ahead or the job gets done, they assume that someone else volunteered or you didn't need them after all. They have no idea that one person ended up doing the whole lot! If people aren't coming to you after a blanket call for help, pick up the phone and ask people one-on-one. You'll be surprised by how many people will 'find time' when they realise you're still looking for help.

Break the jobs you need done into smaller 'bite-sized' tasks, so that people only need to commit to small periods of time.
The more specific you can be about what needs to be done, the more likely you are to get people involved. Break everything down, and then if necessary, break it down again. Even committee roles can be shared. For example, you could have a Minutes Secretary and a Correspondence Secretary.

Let people know what needs to be achieved, but provide some flexibility in how they make that happen.
People know their schedules and commitments much better than you do, so let them have control over how they use their time, provided the job still gets done.

Support time-poor people in managing their time with you.

You can do this by:

- Giving them contact lists so they can get in touch with everyone they need to, when they need to.

- Allowing them access to specific information using passwords or codes, so they can work to their schedule not yours.  Constantly waiting for someone to get back to them only eats in to the precious little time they have available.

- Allowing a degree of authority so they can 'get on with the job'.  If they have to check in every step of the way, they will soon get frustrated by the hold-ups.

If you need people to do a specific task at a specific time, make sure you are organised and communicate with potential volunteers early.

Time-poor people need loads of warning to fit things into their schedule, therefore asking for helpers one week before they are needed is bound to fail.

Genuinely appreciate how precious time is to time-poor people - and don't waste it!

If you invite a time-poor person to attend a meeting, make sure that meeting is run efficiently otherwise they will never come back.  If a time-poor person volunteers to help with a specific project or event, make sure the event is well organised and they don't spend time twiddling their thumbs.  If they feel like their time is being wasted, they will choose to spend it elsewhere.

Give people the option to make a cash donation, rather than a donation of time.

Most time-poor people would rather tape a $5 note to a plate, than bake a cake for a cake stall.  (And let's face it, the result is the same.)  Your time-poor members may not be able to help mow the office lawns, but they may be prepared to pay for a lawn mower once a fortnight.  Don't assume it's volunteering or nothing - make the ask.

Recognise your time-poor volunteers in ways that give them more time - not take time away.

For example, instead of inviting a time-poor volunteer to a thank-you dinner, give them the gift of a pizza voucher that they can use when their day has been extra frantic.  Instead of only having volunteer get-together in person, set up a Facebook page where your volunteers can connect with each other online.  This can allow your time-poor volunteer to feel like part of the team, without asking for more if their precious time.

Funding and Marketing Resources

Meetings coming out my ears!
But loved last nights company AGM and planning night - lots of debate and opinions shared - so productive.  Love to have such a great team involved in an awesome ministry.

Like all of you not only are we looking at our programme for the year but also looking at fundraising and grants.
So a couple of links for you:

• Fundview - you can access it free at your local library.  Below is the link to the Auckland Council site, if you're an Aucklander and have a library card you can use this from the comfort of home.  http://www.aucklandcitylibraries.com/DigitalLibrary/resourcepages/fundview.aspx

• Exult - I have the The Seriously Good Guide to Fundraising, Top 40 Checklists for Community Groups, and 40 Marketing Must-Do's.  Absolutely fantastic resources - they have been a huge help and I definitely recommend Exult.  An excellent company dedicated and passionate about the not-for-profit sector.  I have just signed up to receive Tonic magazine for a year and also their Sustainable Funding workshop on DVD.  So I will bring you some info from these wonderful resources during the year.   http://www.exult.co.nz/