Membership Team

The Network Membership Team invites you to join us for a working happy hour on March 18, 4-5:30 at Watercourse on the corner of 17th & Emerson in Denver.

The team will be reviewing the Circles facilitation process and our March-April dicsussion circles on leadership, stress, and conflict resolution. We'll also talk about ramping up the fun through our Facebook page, listserve traffic, and Women's Health Week.

We're still following along the survey results shared a few months back, and we hope you'll want to help us create new mentoring, health & wellness activities, and share more info with your peers on best practices.  Ideas?  Can you join us on the 18th?

The Membership Team had a great December meeting and will catch up again on January 29, 4PM at Watercourse (17th/Emerson, Denver).

Of the top benefits from the recent survey--lastest human services news, advocacy, speaker series, networking events, resource fair, leadership program, peer suppor groups, job resources, issue-area groups, purposeful trips, and mentoring,

the Team is going to initially focus on:
lastest news--by increasing content, contributors and posts to the list and Facebook page--Heidi will invite board, Team, and cultural organizations to post;
networking events--perhaps following 2/17 or 2/26 training;
speaker series; and
peer support groups.

Peer support groups--called 'Talking Circles'--will create opportunities for issue resolution, stress reduction, and improved services from cross-sector resource sharing and perspectives.  Donna will draft ground rules, a leader description, a pilot timeline and a 'training of facilitators' curriculum--initially offered to the Team.  A 3-month pilot will kick-off following the January lunch-n-learn on burnout prevention. Applications will be accepted through January 27.

In addition to revisiting Talking Circles for February kickoff, Team will flesh out tasks and a 2010 timeline at the January gathering.  All are welcome, especially those that would like to take on membership projects for new benefits, listed above.

A fun group is meeting at 4PM next Friday, at Hamburger Mary's on 17th/Washington in Denver to outline a plan for implementing some of the hottest ideas from the recent survey.  Anyone is invited.

Resources are tight, but the membership team and the Network are committed to supporting each other, our participants, and the work that we do.  We think there are some great opportunities to do these things together in 2010.  Many thanks to UCD Intern Eurica Thapa and incoming intern Donna DuBois from Naropa.

Tasks for December meeting include prioritizing new benefits and setting monthly benchmarks for January-June 2010 to best support members. 

Here's a recap of the recent survey, and (your & the board's) suggestions on some potential new benefits:

Peer Support Groups

            55+ networking & resources (financial, retirement…)

            Mentors--older professionals with younger computer-savvy

            Partner with T4T to offer tech classes

            Social groups for meals, exercise, problem-solving

            Set groundrules and best practices for anyone to lead

Trips with a Purpose

            Tour agencies

            Monthly cultural or discussion dinner

            Volunteer day as a group

            Advertise others' volunteer vacations (e.g. Habitat)

            Rural Colorado weekend to work on NPO

            New Orleans trip

            'retreat' for renewal

Issue-area groups

            Interest-specific networking, ongoing meetings

            Member organizations convene topical group

            Online forums

            Host expert speaker

            'open space' facilitated roundtables to discuss topics    

            Purpose to vent

            Ignite lightning presentations to spark groups

            Geographic quarterly groups

Speaker Series

            DV or other agencies/issues

            Masters' students or professors research

            Toastmasters present 'Speaking 101' or provide speakers

            "gurus" paid speaker series

            Well-known agencies/directors

            Motivational (vs. networking or training)

            National speakers

News

            Schedule contributors to post to listserve

            Develop list of who/where we want info from & assign research

This is a thoughtful post about how some Canadian members perceive their organizations--keys are direct and meaningful communication and involvement.

The next gathering of the Membership Team will be on Friday, November 20--we'll evaluate the 11/17 happy hour and examine survey results to determine how we can start right away to implement some of the benefits our members--and potential members!--are saying they want.

If you'd like to be a part of bringing these new services and opportunities to light, join us and say your piece.

Friday, November 20 4-5:30PM
RSVP to HumanServicesNetwork@gmail.com for location.

• Complete online survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=lPAIgDZLYKb3EG5QIk_2fisA_3d_3d
• 15% response rate--members-only one-question survey on future actions
• Networking event 5:30PM on November 
• Volunteers:  need individuals to take on projects from survey, incl. resource fair 
• UC-D graduate intern conducting 6 member/non-member interviews

Creative souls interested in organizing networking events for the Network's membership are welcome to attend the next meeting of the Membership Team, aka the Fun Team!

This is the group responsible for the annual drive and benefits for the Network's membership, and we'll be working with an advisor from the corporate world to learn about 'self-directed teams' and goal-setting.

RSVP to HumanServicesNetwork@gmail.com for next meeting details!

Met tonight over some great ideas---now just need some follow up and more participation to 'git 'er done!'

• Awards nominations--get out the vote! by 12/1, winner announced at 12/11
• (Tracey) Invite 'Let Us Rise' to facilitate a strategic conversation among all types of human services coalitions (CCADV, CCJRC, AACCS, MYE....) in Spring about Head Start model of collaboration, what do 'silos' need to collaborate & get ready for changing federal landscape and how can the Network support them, esp. through infrastructure & training.
• (Tracey/Lynn/Heidi) Meet with PRC about sharing membership.
• (Heidi/Lynn) Learn from MHYC how to share GoogleCalendar online, and let members post their training/programs to our website
• (Heidi) Host social event around 'outcomes' at agency, with speaker, in 2009
• Cookies & Cocktails Dec. 11--location--if not Sarah's offer (Heather), relaxation (T/L), marketing (Heidi), cookies (Terese/Alicia)
  

We talked about modernization and efficiencies in human services, and Tracey shared her experiences with Center for Budget Policy & Priorities and CBMS.  We have the opportunity to be on the cutting edge, even though there is very little importance put on technology as a means of getting people more quality time to spend with participants.  We could host a '5 at 5' on new technologies ideas (Seamless Compassion, CBMS focus group/Deloitte, overview of new tech tools, managing email/Rhett?, CCADV's personal info privacy); we could give away tech e.g. PDA, laptop, bluetooth headset.  Heidi will establish & market a Twitter account as a step to modeling this use.  We could pursue funding for technology to distribute but wouldn't want to do this without offering training/maintenance.

Next meeting: ?
Still need to revisit priorities, linked in post below.

We're officially the Fun Committee!  Our goals--while having fun and learning togethe--by June 2009, double membership to 200, and add more benefits for our members.

The 'team' concept is to meet more intensively over a shorter period of time, and get speakers/resources to help the team meet the goals.  We are looking for 3 more sharp, creative members.

Ideas: 
Membership incentives & drive--test out a drive contest with the board; bring a friend for free or win training voucher or membership; have organizations compete to see who can recruit the most members.

Award--Sarah will send the updated form--prize can be a year of free trainings

Survey--what's valuable about the Network, what would keep you in HS work, how important is marketing your own organization, learning topics--Heidi to draft and share with Training

Social events--need a purpose beyond drinks and networking, help people find new resources, burnout prevention, prizes.  Host events quarterly, have a different invite focus/topic?  Host open houses at various member organizations.  Send targeted eVites but make sure some sort of 'ambassadors' RSVP first.

Needs--need someone to take the lead on:

• contact university student groups - ?
• research other organizational membership dues/structures - Terese?
• find ways to engage government employees, e.g. techies to blog
• send out a monthly poll question to the list to inspire feedback and web visits - ?
• Promote member directory; encourage members/organizations to complete their profile
• Promote our info sources--searching the listserve, and searching the member directory; need a blurb to send out - all to comment
• Redraft Team goals/action plans - ?