[COMM-ORG] query: ways to provide training/ support to existing community orgs

[Discussion list for COMM-ORG]

[ed:  thanks to Bill for replying to Amy's query.]

From: "Ward, William" <wward at health.usf.edu>

Amy, my guess is that offering a certificate that has at least local 
recognition, charging a fee to offset costs, putting training materials 
on a CD, setting up a discussion forum or an e-mail distribution list, 
or using a free software program such as Moodle http://moodle.org/ 
and/or collaborating with a local university will get you most of the 
way there.

Yours, Bill Ward
Tampa, Florida

Discussion list for COMM-ORG wrote:
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> [ed: please feel welcomed to copy COMM-ORG with responses to Amy's 
> query. A bit from me below.]
>
> From: "Amy S. Mondloch" <amy at grassrootsleadershipcollege.org>
>
>
> Hi all—
>
>
>
> The organization that I run, the Grassroots Leadership College, is 
> embarking on an interesting new path and trying to find who else has 
> traveled or is traveling the same way and can share some insights. For 
> the past 7 years we’ve been providing training to emerging community 
> leaders and assisting their efforts on a wide variety of different 
> community projects. Now, we’re moving toward providing support and 
> training to community organizations (rather than the focus on the 
> individual).
>
>
>
> Our community (Madison, WI) has literally thousands of nonprofits. This 
> doesn’t include the many, many organizations that are more informal 
> community groups without official nonprofit status. We’re focusing on 
> the small or young organizations, especially those led by traditionally 
> disenfranchised groups (i.e. women, People of Color,,,,). We’d like to 
> provide training and support to the staff and volunteer leadership of 
> these organizations that is inline with our belief that everyone is a 
> learner, everyone is a teacher, and everyone is a leader. For us this 
> means non-hierarchical training/support opportunities that give 
> participants to learn from each other as well as from faculty. This 
> could come in many forms. That’s why I’m looking to all of you. What 
> have you seen/been a part of that is successful?
>
>
>
> The biggest challenge I think we’re facing is the element of time. The 
> folks running small organizations whether as staff or in unpaid 
> capacities are simply booked to the gills! Often they aren’t doing thing 
> very effectively, but they have a hard time finding the opportunity to 
> slow down and fix the systems so that they run better. They also often 
> aren’t aware that things can work better.
>
>
>
> How have you dealt with providing training and support to already active 
> people with a wide range of experience levels in community work? Any 
> models to suggest?
>
>
>
> Thanks so much!
>
>
>
> Peace,
>
> amy
>
>
>
>
> Everyone A Learner, Everyone A Teacher, Everyone A Leader
> a proud member of Community Shares of Wisconsin
> now accepting applications for the spring semester at 
> www.grassrootsleadershipcollege.org
>
>
> Amy S Mondloch
> Executive Director
> Grassroots Leadership College
> 1321 E. Mifflin St. Suite 201
> Madison, WI
> 53703
> phone: 608-441-0085
> fax: 608-204-0835
> amy at grassrootsleadershipcollege.org
>
> www.grassrootsleadershipcollege.org
>
> [ed: one of my favorites is the Neighborhoods Resource Center in 
> Nashville, http://www.tnrc.net/]
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