Eco, Non-Profit, and the 'Yoots'

Hi, gang

Thanks to the keen eyes of alumnus, Mary, we're pleased to pass along a couple of interesting info items for the Nintendo (ie. younger) set. If anyone spies anything interesting for the rest of us old dogs, please feel free to forward, as well.

Now off to shoo those kids off my lawn...

~B

Interesting Item #1:

Career Paths for Young Professionals – September 9, 2009 from 4:00-6:00pm
*Register with a Friend and Save 50% on the Second Registration*

Do you wonder what the best opportunities in the sector are? Do you want to know how current leaders in Vancouver’s not-for-profit community got to where they are? The HR Council will join us to talk about research they’re undertaking about career opportunities in the sector and their Tapping Into the Talents of Early Career Employees initiative. Also hear from three current leaders in our community on steps they’re proud of as well as mistakes they’ve made as they developed their careers.

This session will feature one full hour of time for your questions to the panelists, as well as networking with panelists and other attendees.

Panelists include:
Janet Austin, CEO of the Vancouver YWCA
Maureen Kellerman, Project Manager at the HR Council for the Voluntary and Non-profit Sector
Kevin Millsip, Executive Director of Check Your Head
Minna Schendlinger, Managing Director of the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival Society

For more information on this workshop, click here.
To register now, click here.
For group registration or questions contact Afton Bell at 604.637.8295.

Interesting Item #2:

The YMCA’s Youth Eco Internship Program is a national program, funded by the Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, offering 3 to 12 month funded internship placements. Interns will be placed with non-profit organizations and paid through the YMCA. Applications to host interns will be accepted online through the website:

english: www.yeip.ca french: www.pesj.ca

The website will be launched on August 28th with full program information. All host applications should be filled out on-line through the website. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible for any positions your organization wishes to host, as we anticipate interest will outweigh the number of internships available.

Hammer time!

Hi, gang - hope you're enjoying the return of summer "proppa" this week (cue the MC Hammer).

We're doing some contract-ending paperwork at the moment and need to inform our funders of how many of our participants started working or took training following taking the Compass program. As such, we're requesting that, if you haven't done so already, to please let us know if you're working in any capacity (ie. full-time, part-time, contract, what-have-you) or taking any kind of a training program. If you're not sure whether we know of your situation, please send word anyways and we'll corroborate.

Besides celebrating you moving ahead on your journey (or, in the case of temporary-structure jobs, at least treading water), every bit of info helps us build our case that the program has useful effects on people's lives.

We thank you sincerely, in advance, for anything you can provide and, regardless of your situation, hope you'll all stay in touch regularly - we always enjoy hearing stories of what you cutesters get yourselves up to.

Other than that, keep your rhymes tight and your pants baggy, y'all.

~Bill

NVC Online!

Hey, gang - hope you've successfully traded your sunscreen for waders this week and are surviving this moist summer interlude in style.

Through the years there have been a number of requests for some continuing NVC support by those who would like to stay in the energy and practice of the model so I'm very pleased to announce that we'll be breaking new ground and offering the first ever Compass online support program this week. It's intended to be a refresher of the concepts and to offer practice activities, web-based resources and links, and a place to discuss all things NVC. It'll be hosted on our networking website under the "Groups" tab and consist of a series of modules looking at the main elements of the model. Feel free to work through them all or just pick and choose which ones speak to you.

You won't have to be a member of the group to view modules or contribute to discussions but may wish to if you want to receive updates when new material is added. I'm going to request that I be the only one to add instructional material (using the "Start a Discussion" tab which is how the module material is added) but I'm hoping you'll want to contribute your thoughts, questions, or comments using the "Reply to This" comment boxes at the end of each discussion. And if you spot anything elsewhere that you think might be a nice addition, please feel free to post a link or forward it my way.

That's all I can think of at this point. I'll be inviting all those already on the website to join the group as soon as it's up (some time later today, hopefully) and anyone who isn't on the site but wants to be involved, please send a note and I'll re-invite you.

Keep your giraffe water-wings handy and jackal paddles at the ready, all.

~B