Inaugural Conference of Nonprofit Communities draws 350
- HANO President Lisa Maruyama introduces Brian Schatz, Hawaii Lieutenant Governor-elect, at the conference pau hana.
- Future leaders take notes at Young Leaders panel discussion.
HANO, AFP, Chaminade partner
to deliver an extraordinary event
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Setting a vivid example of the power of collaboration, the first-ever Conference of Nonprofit Communities of Hawaii brought together some 350 nonprofit executives, staff, board members, philanthropists and fund raising professionals on Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 9 and 10, at the Sheraton Waikiki for two days of dynamic presentations, networking and information gathering.
The conference, planned by the Association of Fundraising Professionals–Aloha Chapter, the Hawaii Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations and Chaminade University, featured more than 25 sessions and presentations by experts in fields such as nonprofit management, fund development, volunteers, social enterprise, capital campaigns, marketing, philanthropy, leadership social media, planned giving, public relations, major gifts and executive compensation.
- HANO board chair Laura Robertson thanks retiring board member John Howell for his service.
AFP and HANO each held their annual business meetings over lunch on Tuesday. Three new HANO board members were elected – Robin Campaniano of the Ulupono Initiative, Gregory Dunn of the Hawaii Nature Center and Lisa Ontai of Ontai-LaGrange and Associates. Laura Robertson, outgoing HANO board chair and president and CEO of Goodwill Industries Hawaii, thanked John Howell, president of Easter Seals Hawaii and founding HANO board member, for his years of service on the board. Howell’s term ends in December.
- David Thompson, a voice in Washington for Hawaii nonprofits.
David Thompson, National Council of Nonprofits director of Government Affairs, spoke to HANO members about the likely impacts of the November elections on nonprofits. Smaller government – an announced objective of the new Republican majority in the House of Representatives – could mean the more government services would be contracted out “which could be a good thing for nonprofits. … We take our politicians as we find them and work with them to move forward,” he said. “As members of HANO, you are also members of the National Council and you have a voice in Washington.”
Thompson said in the face of 48 state deficits totaling as much as $191 billion there are three things governments are doing: cutting budgets; raising new taxes and fees on nonprofits; and breaching contracts with nonprofits by withholding payments, paying late or unilaterally changing contract terms. “Real people are being hurt because governments aren’t holding up their part of the bargain,” he said.
“It sounds like the election made a difference here,” Thompson said. “Hawaii got bluer but the mainland got much, much redder.”
Noting that Hawaii nonprofits reported numerous state government contract issues, he said, “We see government contracts as central to strengthening the nonprofit community. When contracts aren’t fulfilled, the service providers have to compete for resources against other nonprofits.”
Referring to successful efforts to oppose a bill to require Hawaii nonprofits to pay general excise tax, Thompson said the New York Times became interested in Hawaii’s issue because other states got involved through HANO’s participation in the national network of state nonprofit associations. “Make HANO as strong as it can be to help make the nonprofit community as strong as it can be,” he urged.
- HANO staffers Jennifer Creed and Lisa Maruyama of HANO listen to suggestions at the town hall.
Following the HANO luncheon meeting, Thompson also participated in a town hall meeting that explored a nonprofit agenda for the 2011 legislative session. Some of the ideas that emerged:
- Nonprofits must make it clear that they are tax exempt because they do work for the public good, lifting a burden from government and delivering services cheaper and better than government can.
- Nonprofits must overcome the attitude of some policy makers that they are always begging for money. Rather, government outsources services to qualified nonprofits under contract – “We have to explain it. If they understood it better, they will come around.”
- When nonprofits speak they must make it clear that they speak for their clients not for themselves as a special interest group.
- Leadership must come from the community when elected officials aren’t courageous enough to lead.
- With the state not paying its bills and the new Congress threatening to cut funding for police, teachers and stimulus programs, as bad as it is, it could get worse. The state must bring nonprofits to the table to identify what might be cut and what should be protected.
- The state hasn’t applied for many federal programs or sits on grant proposals even when nonprofits have done their part. This has to change.
- Nonprofits that have had success advocating for their clients should let HANO know what has succeeded so strategies can be shared.
- Rudy Ruettiger: "When you chase your passion, great things can happen."
Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, the Notre Dame University football player on whom the film “Rudy” was based, delivered the conference keynote, which focused on the message that “you never know where you’ll end up if you never quit.”
Ruettiger inspired the conference attendees and those arriving for the 2010 National Philanthropy Day awards luncheon with gems such as:
- “We grow up with goofy thoughts that keep us from becoming what we want to be. You have this vision and then you have this goofy thought.”
- “My fourth grade teacher said you can be anybody you want to be. In fifth grade the teacher said you can only be who you want to be if you learn – you had to be smart to be someone. … Inspiration is the key to education. Education by itself isn’t the key to life.”
- “When you chase the dollar, things get confused. When you chase your passion, great things can happen.”
- “Don’t tell people to pick up the paper or say don’t walk on the grass. Pick up the paper yourself and walk on the sidewalk. People will follow.”
- “Focus is the key. With it the confusion goes away. Hit the center and great things happen.”
- “Don’t be afraid of going after what you want. When you stand for something, it’s your attitude and character and pride that’ll have people say ‘that’s the guy I want for my team.’”
- “Dream in 3-D – then do the work.”
- David Bower of ALTRES discussed the impact of social media on the workplace, with 200 million people using Twitter on mobile devices generating 95 million tweets a day, all archived by the Library of Congress.
- Yvonne Morris says, "We want the asks to be a win-win. Your doors will give because they love you."
- Sherri Okinaga of Academy 21: Leadership for 21st Century Education led two sessions on innovative thinking and adaptive leadership.
- Ann Botticelli of Kamehameha Schools takes a question about getting news about your nonprofit into the news media.
