Blog post: Join the YNPN Professional Development Committee!

The YNPN SD Professional Development Committee is now accepting applications!

We are pleased to announce a new committee at YNPN San Diego that will be designing professional development programming in 2009 for YNPN San Diego members. Below you will find the description for this committee and contact information. To apply for the committee, please fill out the one-page application on the YNPN San Diego website.

We are considering the following topics for the 2009 Professional Development Series and hope that our efforts will add value to the development of young nonprofit professionals in the San Diego area:

• Next Gen Executive Director Panel (January)
• Work With Me
• Advocating for yourself
• Leadership
  
• Personal finance
• Governance and Emerging Leaders
• Networking

The purpose of the Professional Development Committee (PDC) is to design and support professional development activities for YNPN San Diego members. The Committee recommends specific programs, oversees their implementation, evaluates the effectiveness of each program, and provides general oversight of programs. Recommendations for workshop topics are based on input from YNPN San Diego’s general membership and board members; availability of topic speakers and information; and popular issues and developments in the nonprofit sector.

Professional Development Committee members meet monthly and are asked to participate in all meetings and Professional Development events, communicate consistently, and represent YNPN San Diego appropriately. The PDC plans on coordinating a total of six professional development workshops every other month during 2009 and beginning in January.

The Professional Development Committee fosters the development and enhancement of the YNPN San Diego membership by:

• Creating professional development programs and development opportunities for members;
• Facilitating the process of members' sharing of information and professional development resource material;
• Collaborates with Membership Committee on marketing and outreach, funding for professional development, and member communications.

Come make a difference in the lives of hundreds of San Diego nonprofit professionals and join the Professional Development Committee! If you are interested in participating, or would like additional information about your responsibilities as a committee member, please contact Emily Davis or Dennis-Michael Broussard at sandiego@ynpn.org.

Year End Meet and Greet December 8!

Announcing the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN) San Diego 3^rd Meet and Greet! Join YNPN San Diego on December 8^th for this exciting event, where you will have the opportunity to connect with professionals in the San Diego nonprofit community and learn more about YNPN San Diego. Look for more details on the YNPN San Diego website, the YNPN San Diego Facebook Group, the YNPN San Diego blog, and the YNPN San Diego list serv.

All listserv members have been sent an Evite to the upcoming YNPN San Diego Meet and Greet. You are welcome and encouraged to invite your friends and coworkers to this not-to-miss event. The more the merrier! Below are some additional details about the YNPN San Diego Meet and Greet.

Who: Anyone and everyone involved in the nonprofit community, from volunteers to staff to board members - all ages are welcome to this event.

When: Monday, December 8th 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Where: The Palm Restaurant, 615J Street, San Diego, CA 92101

Why: Because you want to connect with nonprofit professionals and volunteers in the San Diego community. This is a great way to meet new friends, learn about other organizations, build alliances, and learn about YNPN San Diego!

Cost: FREE at the door! The first 60 guests will enjoy complimentary appetizers and drink specials. There will also be a cash and carry bar.

Other: Please bring any organizational materials to share on our community table and make sure to pick them up when you leave the Meet and Greet.

Bonus: We will have a special gift give away from YNPN San Diego and our generous organizational partners. Make sure to bring your business card to participate in the gift give away.

Support YNPN~

YNPN San Diego services are free to the San Diego nonprofit community, but there are still costs involved in running this all-volunteer organization. Please consider making a donation at the door to support YNPN San Diego programs and ensure that we are able to continue offering professional development, networking and social opportunities that meet the needs of the San Diego nonprofit community. Suggested donation (optional) is $15. To learn more about our mission, programs, and opportunities, visit www.ynpnsandiego.org.

If you have any questions or comments, please email sandiego@ynpn.org. We hope to see you there!!!

Blog post: New YNPN applications!

Have you been interested in joining a YNPN San Diego committee, but felt like the application was too daunting? YNPN SD has created a shorter and simplified application for individuals who are interested in participating only on committees!

We are currently looking for committee members for the Professional Development, Membership, Meet and Greet, and Finance committees. There are a lot of exciting projects for you to use your skills and knowledge. For example:

• The Professional Development Committee is developing a series of professional development workshops in 2009 for emerging leaders BY emerging leaders. We would love your ideas for topics and suggestions for speakers, facilitators, planning, and locations.
• The Membership Committee is in the process of developing the fundraising plan for 2009, conducting marketing and outreach for YNPN San Diego and their events, and launching a new website and other member communications tools.
• The Meet & Greet Committee is planning ongoing networking events for individuals in the San Diego nonprofit community.

If you are interested in joining any of these committees, just go to our website, fill out an application and submit it along with your resume to sandiego@ynpn.org. It's that easy! YNPN San Diego is here to serve its membership...become an important part of that process and gain experience in running great programming and building a nonprofit in your community. For more information, visit the Committees page on the YNPN San Diego website.

YNPN San Diego will also be accepting applications for board positions beginning this month through February 15, 2009. The board capacity is 15 members, so please be sure to get your applications in early. For more details about the YNPN San Diego Board of Directors and applying, visit our website or email us at sandiego@ynpn.org.

We're looking forward to hearing from you and as always, be sure to read and subscribe to the YNPN San Diego blog by clicking here.

Blog post: Congrats Dennis-Michael!

Megan Lim's blogpost on the YNPN San Diego Facebook group...

Congratulations to YNPN San Diego Board member, Dennis-Michael, on being awarded the 2008 Asian Business Association (ABA) Community Service Award last night! I was on-hand to see Dennis-Michael score a sweet lucky bamboo plant.

Dennis-Michael Broussard is this year’s recipient of the Community Service Award for his commitment and service to the Asian Pacific Islander community. Dennis-Michael, founder of Silk Road Productions, an event management and production firm that evolved him into an event producer focused on social entrepreneurship. His dedication to the Asian-American community is evident by his involvement in almost every Asian-American event in San Diego, whether as a volunteer, a committee member, or as chair. Dennis-Michael is currently completing his second graduate degree, a Master of Pacific International Affairs, from UCSD’s School of International Relations and Pacific Studies.

Thoughts or comments about Dennis-Michael's award? Feel free to leave them here on the YNPN San Diego blog.

Blog post: Perspectives from the YNPN Board: Emily Bhatti

From Emily Bhatti, Board Chair...

I have been involved in the start up of two non profits now, YNPN San Diego being one of them. I noticed some similarities and differences in the process. One of the things that happens with a new npo is no one knows about you and you are trying to get everyone to know you. Suddenly, it seems, so many amazing opportunities come up that you can’t believe all your efforts finally worked. Then comes the reality. Can you commit to all these great opportunities? You feel like you can’t turn anything down because it may be great exposure and raise your profile or make a great connection for the future…the exact thing you have been desperately trying to do.

One great aspect of YNPN SD is it has so many great leaders on board and they have really taken the time to build a structure. So, when these great opportunities come up, there are people to do them and a support system. At the other npo I helped start up, that team of people never really took shape. It always came down to one or two of us to do all the work if some opportunity came up. This is especially exhausting if everyone is a volunteer and everyone also has a day job. After a year or so, the few worker bees got pretty burned out and the organization is left in an awkward situation. Either someone or (preferably) some people need to step up or everyone watches the npo dissolve. Luckily, with this particular npo, people did realize the problem and stepped up. We re-created the structure by giving others more responsibility and autonomy. They felt responsible for their projects and therefore, put a lot more work into them.

It was a great lesson to learn, but I am glad that I didn’t have to experience that same situation with YNPN SD. Currently, YNPN San Diego has many opportunities on the horizon. And while we won’t be able to do EVERYTHING that comes up, I feel pretty confident that we will be able to create meaningful partnerships, great programs and serve our members in a way that will be lasting.

Thoughts? Comments? Share anything you like at the YNPN San Diego blog.