CommonGoodVT.org Launches Nonprofit Lunches - RSVP Today

April 2009

Dear Fellow Non-Profiteer,

As a person with a leadership role in one or more of Vermont's not-for-profit organizations, you are invited to join your colleagues for lunch to network and discuss how to build your organization's capacity for meeting current challenges.

A new initiative: Common Good Vermont
With major funding from the Vermont Community Foundation, A.D. Henderson Foundation and support from community access channels and other nonprofit champions across the state, we are launching Common Good Vermont. This is a new people-based and web-based hub that will serve as a cooperative clearinghouse of relevant tools, training and technical assistance for you and your fellow stakeholders who are making Vermont healthier, community by community. RSVP Today

We are extremely excited about this new initiative, and are eager to have you and your organization represented and with us on the ground floor of this great occasion. We're going to get right down to work, and so we urge you to attend one of the nine Launch events scheduled in May and June. RSVP Today

WHY Common Good Vermont, and why now?
We nonprofits face many of the same issues: Can we be more effective? How do we stay "on top" of rapid change? Where are new funding sources? How do we organize quickly? How do we know we've achieved our mission? Who do we turn to for advice? How do we raise the profile of our organization--and the sector as a whole?

As a Vermont nonprofit leader, you are undoubtedly always on the look-out for "low cost, high impact" services and products that can make a difference to your organization and help to achieve your mission. And going it alone is no longer an option--things have gotten just too expensive and complex.

HOW will Common Good Vermont help us?
The time is now right for you to join your fellow Vermont nonprofit staff, board members, consultants, philanthropists and friends at one of a series of regional networking events across Vermont. We will learn more about "capacity building" resources that can help nonprofits to "do more with less." We hope you will RSVP today (below) and join us to discuss:

* The tools and services you use to be effective, the networks you rely on, and the people you trust.

* Your organization's plans for the next 6-12 months and what you will need to carry out your mission.

* Ways to cultivate and build an active and viable nonprofit network to shares news, best practices, relationships and opportunities.

WHEN & WHERE?
These regional networking events are hosted by CommonGoodVT.org, the Vermont Community Foundation, Vermont's community access channels and our nonprofit champions across the state. The networking events are free, but seating is limited to 40-50 at each site so please REGISTER TODAY at the launch event site nearest you. And please pass the word!

• MAY 2009
• Bennington - Tuesday May 5th - CAT-TV - 2 p.m.
• White River Junction - Thursday May 14th - UVEC/ Access Channel - 12 p.m. - Light Lunch
• Montpelier - Tuesday May 19th - Kellogg Hubbard Library - 12 p.m. - Light Lunch
• St. Johnsbury - Tuesday May 26th - Catamount Arts Center - 2p.m.
• Rutland - Friday May 29th - Rutland Regional Access TV - 1 p.m. - Light Lunch

• JUNE 2009
• Middlebury - Tuesday, June 2nd - Isley Library - 12 p.m. - Light Lunch
• Brattleboro - Tuesday, June 16th - BCTV - 12 p.m. - Light Lunch
• Burlington - Thursday, June 25th - Channel 17 - 12 p.m. - Light Lunch
• Johnson - Monday, June 29th - Johnson State College - 12 p.m. - Light Lunch

How to Register:
Follow this link to Register or call Kathleen Swanson, Project Staff, at 802.862.1645 x19

NOW is the time to open the next chapter of nonprofit capacity building for Vermont's nonprofit organizations and lay the groundwork for a vibrant, user-supported network of support.

Yours Sincerely,

Lauren-Glenn Davitian - davitian [at] cctv [dot] org
Kathleen Swanson - kathleen [at] cctv [dot] org
Nick Carter - nick [dot] carter [at] cctv [dot] org

CCTV Center for Media & Democracy
CommonGoodVT.org Team
802.862.1645 x19

Background:
CommonGoodVT.org convenes a human network of Vermont nonprofit staff, leadership, consultants, trainers, philanthropists, advocates and allies. This network will inform and participate in the electronic network and hub designed to a/ raise the visibility of Vermont's independent sector and b/ improve the capacity of its nonprofit organizations to deliver efficient and effective service.

The 2-year pilot project, guided by a growing network of "champions", depends on personal relationships within the Vermont nonprofit "network" and will launch a web "commons" or "hub", www.commongoodvt.org, that is largely built by the independent sector and serves as a clearinghouse of relevant tools, training and technical assistance. With the advice of the sector, CommonGoodVT.org will gather tools and packages stories, best practices, lessons learned about how to build community capital with limited resources.

CommonGoodVT.org is managed by CCTV's Center for Media & Democracy (www.cctv.org), a 25 year old free speech and community media organization with experience in network building and using communications tools to promote social change.

Watch the Common Good Vermont Advisory Team Meeting on March 12 2009. READ Notes here.