Does your organization receive state funding either through grants, contracts or MaineCare reimbursement? What would another curtailment order from the Governor, along with further cuts to health and human services, mean to your organization? Why could the failure of pending federal legislation have immediate consequences for my organization?
Congress failed again last week to pass HR 4213, also known as the tax extenders bill, which includes a 6 month extension of enhanced federal funds through the Medicaid program to provide fiscal relief to cash-strapped states, like Maine. The legislature and the Governor expected this bill to pass and accounted for it in the SFY 2011 budget passed earlier in the year.
Even though Maine’s Senators voted in support of this extension in previous legislation, they have voted against moving HR 4213 to the Senate floor for a vote three times over the last couple of weeks. Our Senators have expressed a willingness to support the extension of the enhanced Medicaid funds and have the power to make this happen this week. They also have a history of reaching across the aisle to help Maine. Their leadership is needed to ensure that Maine does not lose this fiscal relief and that we do not see further cuts to vital health and human services and more loss of jobs in this state. If Maine does not receive this funding, there will be an $85 million hole in the budget for SFY 2011.
Maine Can Do Better will be holding a rally to urge the Senators to work to pass HR 4213 before heading home for the 4th of July recess. The rally will be on Wednesday, June 30th in Lobsterman’s Park (right in front of the Nickelodeon Theatre on the corner of Middle and Temple) in Portland. The coalition hopes to draw a large crowd to illustrate the need for this funding in Maine.
Maine Can Do Better also urges folks to call the Senators office today to urge them to advocate for the passage of HR 4213 and the extension of Medicaid funds to ensure that vital health care services and jobs are protected.
U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe
(202) 224-5344
U.S. Senator Susan Collins
(202) 224-2523
MANP Classifieds Now on our Website
Do you have an office space to lease? Are you looking for a meeting location? Do you have any office supplies you’d like to redistribute? We have a brand new place on our website for you. The MANP Classifieds will help you find what you’re looking for and help you find a home for items that are cluttering your office.
This site aims to help nonprofits take advantage of limited resources. Take a look around your work space and see what you could make room for or get rid of. So far, we have free banquet tables and desks, and a few office spaces for lease. Maybe you have extra office chairs rolling around, or you could use some binders someone else has left over from a conference, or you have a conference room you’re willing to share with another nonprofit for a meeting. All ideas are welcome. Check it out and post for free.
Funders and nonprofit leaders interested in learning about useful capacity building tools and services developed by Maine-based consultants are invited to attend the upcoming Capacity Builder’s Tool Box luncheon series.
These discussions will run from 11:30-1 p.m., and will be held in either Bangor or Portland. Lunch will be provided, and the cost for attending is $20 for each session. To register, please contact LK Gagnon at lgagnon@nonprofitmaine.org
July 21
Back Office Services
Leleah Parker is the founder of Portland-based Red Balloon for ME, an innovative business venture designed specifically to support Maine nonprofits by providing centralized, shared, ‘back office’ services in finance, human resources, administration, project and office management. Come learn more about this interesting business model.
Goodwill Industries of NNE
353 Cumberland Ave
Portland, ME 04101
September 15
Marketing
Gary Stern, president of Portland-based Stern Consulting International, will share work-in-progress from the 3rd edition of his globally-distributed Marketing Workbook for Nonprofit Organizations, co-authored with Elana Center. Gary will engage participants in addressing how core marketing principles and practices have (and haven’t) changed with the advent of the Internet and explosion of social media. He will touch on positioning and brand identity; strategic marketing goals; aligning the offline and online mix for results.
United Way of Greater Portland
400 Congress St., 4th Floor
Portland, ME 04101
November 3
Accounting and CFO Services
Bob Brown is president of The CPA Solution, LLC, a firm specializing in fraud detection and prevention, forensic accounting and fractional CFO services. Based in Bangor, Maine, the firm provides services from coast to coast to a diverse client base. With the recent downturn in the economy, fraud and embezzlement are becoming all too common in organizations today. With the median loss of a typical fraud reaching $175K, just a few take away items over lunch can pay dividends for years to come. Leave the theories at home and learn some action steps that can be implemented once you set foot in your office.
Bangor Public Library
145 Harlow St.
Bangor, ME 04401
To register, please contact LK Gagnon at lgagnon@nonprofitmaine.org
This series is funded by Mimi Foundation with special thanks to MANP advisor Dick Roderick.
Watch Maine Nonprofit Day on YouTube
Every year, MANP hosts Nonprofit Day at the State House to raise awareness of the economic and social impacts of our sector as well as to encourage nonprofits to participate more fully in our legislative process. This year, Nonprofit Day was held in February featuring twelve exhibiting nonprofits, a tour of the state house and a noon time presentation focusing on the need for nonprofits and government to work better together. This year’s exhibitors were:
- The Iris Network, Portland
- Museum L-A, Lewiston
- The Maine Support Network, Readfield
- Coastal Studies for Girls, Freeport
- The Charlotte White Center, Dover-Foxcroft
- Ferry Beach Ecology School, Saco
- Volunteers of America-Northern New England, Brunswick
- Bangor Area Homeless Shelter, Bangor
- Restorative Justice Project of the Midcoast, Belfast
- Community Television Network, Portland
- Maine Community Action Association, Augusta
- Day One, South Portland
See it all on our first YouTube posting and share it with your universe.
The date for the 2011 Nonprofit Day will be set in the first of September 2010. For more information on Nonprofit Day, visit our website.
Upcoming Communications SkillBuilders
How do you explain your organization and the work you’re doing with your donors, funders, and other constituents? Do you often use jargon or confusing language without even realizing it? Two SkillBuilders this July will address how to communicate your message and your story in a way that will garner more support for your organization.
Click on the titles below for a full course description and registration information.
7/15 – Getting Your Message Across in Plain English – Portland
7/28 – The Marketing Tool Kit: How to Tell Your Organization’s Story – Lewiston
Brenda Peluso
Annie Sutton
Elizabeth Banwell
LK Gagnon
Jessica Lantos
Scott Schnapp
Rachael DeCruz
Abi Griffith
Brianna McCabe