State Environmental Leadership Program Newsletter |
| April 2008 |
| In This Issue |
| Board Activity |
| Programs and Services |
| SELP's 2008 Conference |
| Organizational Development |
| Inside SELP |
| Spotlight on Success |
You've asked and we're answering. Starting in 2008, SELP will be sending out updates to the membership following each quarterly board meeting, with information on board activity, programs and services, tips and news from SELP, and more. Have something you'd like to see in the update? Shoot us an email at general@selp.org. |
| Board Activity
The board has been focusing on making sure SELP is structured to continue to be successful. This entails, among other things, program development as well as diversification of our fundraising. To this end, the board and staff have been working on crystallizing SELP's vision and mission. This will allow us to communicate consistently and effectively with funders, current members and potential members. As part of this work we will be sending all members the draft vision along with three quick questions. Please take a few minutes to look over this material and send back your answers. Your feedback is important. |
Programs and Services
We are currently working with eight of our member groups on this campaign. As part of this effort we have refined and delivered our Grasstops program, one of our Power Building programs, to these members. This campaign has also allowed us to assist these members in working with groups that focus on human needs issues in their states.
Great Lakes Compact Strategic Communication We are assisting groups around the Great Lakes with developing a cohesive communication strategy for the adoption of the Great Lakes Compact. The Compact would, among other things, ensure that there would be no massive diversions of water out of the basin. As part of this project, we have delivered our Strategic Communications Power Building program to two of our members.
Mercury Products Campaign This campaign is aimed at banning the use of mercury in certain products and developing collection programs for mercury containing devices already in commerce. Many of our members have been involved in this extremely successful campaign. One of the campaign's many successes includes its contribution to Honeywell's decision to stop manufacturing mercury containing thermostats. |
 SELP's 21st Annual Conference
This year's conference will be at Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove, CA from November 19th-23rd. Asilomar is a beautiful facility right on California's sunny coast and just a short distance from Monterey Bay, so mark your calendars and start packing your sandals! Registration begins this summer. We will be sending out a survey soon to get feedback on potential session topics. Please keep your eyes out for that and let us know what you would like learn at the conference. We are also beginning to look for auction items and welcome your ideas and donations! |
| Organizational Development
990's Changes are on the horizon for the IRS 990. Among other things, this will mean that more groups will have to file returns. We are tracking these changes and will send out information we think would be useful when we have put it together.
Audit requirements If you haven't been through your audit yet this year, be prepared for a somewhat different experience. The requirements put on auditors were changed a couple of years ago and are being phased in now. For example, audits are now filled with more questions on risk management and instead of just asking about internal controls, many auditors are now requesting to observe certain procedures. In SELP's case, they actually followed Bill while he opened the mail and processed it. These changes will impact the cost of audits in the future as well as require more staff time on the front end to gather the required information and documents prior to the audit field work.
Review your Bylaws and personnel policies periodically Over the last couple of years, we have done our Healthy Organization program with many groups. This program entails a review of all of an organization's basic internal documents (e.g. Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, personnel policies, audits, budgets, etc.) Based on our experience to date, we encourage all of you to periodically review your Bylaws and personnel policies to make sure they reflect the actual practice of your organization. For example, if your personnel policies claim the organization will provide health insurance, ensure that it does, or change the policy. Also, if you have term limits for your board of directors, tracking this is important. Otherwise the organization risks ending up without a validly elected board of directors. |
| Inside SELP
Change in Duties As mentioned above, we are increasing the amount of staff time we have devoted to fundraising. To accomplish this, Melissa Gavin is shifting from Office Manager to Development Coordinator. She will be assisting Bill in SELP's foundation work and in getting the organization's major donor program going.
New Faces at SELP Vicki Lane is our new Office Manager and will be taking Melissa's place as Office Manager at SELP. Vicki comes to us with many years of experience in both the for-profit and non-profit world.
Michelle Watkins is our new Membership Services Coordinator. As you know, Curt Coffing has taken a job with the League of Conservation Voters, working with their state groups. In thinking through how best to fill the roles needed here we decided to reconstitute Paige Wilder's old position of Membership Services Coordinator. Michelle will organize the annual conference, track the work members are doing, look for important information to pass on to all groups, manage applications for membership and the membership renewal process, etc.
Online auction Per our discussion at the annual members meeting, we are conducting an on-line auction again this year. So far there are fourteen groups that have signed up to participate. There is still time if your group wants to join in. Just contact Betsy Jewell at bjewell@selp.org. This year's auction will run from Friday, June 6th through Friday, June 27th. |
Spotlight on Success Do you have a story to tell about a recent victory for your organization? If so, we'd love to hear about it! Your successes will be featured in our quarterly updates, so please share your victories and triumphs to help encourage and inspire your peers in the SELP network. |