Volume One Number Eleven

On August 10, the board of The Evergreen State Society voted unanimously to ask the members to approve combining with Executive Alliance. An notice of a special meeting on September 14 will be sent in the last week of August; members may vote in person or by returning a proxy enclosed with the notice.

Here is the text of a press release from the two organizations:

Executive Alliance and The Evergreen State Society, two organizations that work to support the success of nonprofits, plan to combine their program activities. This move will unite the complementary strengths and resources of two well respected membership organizations.  The two organizations plan a celebration of the plan for October 14 with further details to be announced.

“We are excited to be bringing together the strong programs of these two organizations,” said Greg Vigdor, chair of Executive Alliance. “The Evergreen State Society’s publications and technical assistance offerings have helped us all understand the vital role nonprofits play in a healthy community and a thriving economy.” “By combining with Executive Alliance,” Gene Edgar, chair of the Society, added, “we align the Society’s work with a broad spectrum of programs that effectively serve the leadership of our region’s nonprofits and the community.”

Founded in 1990, The Evergreen State Society has published three profiles of the nonprofits of Washington State, in 1994, 1999 and earlier this year. Along with the leadership training programs at Seattle University and the University of Washington, Executive Alliance and United Way of King County, the Society organizes an annual leadership conference for Washington nonprofits. Over the years, more than 150 individuals and organizations have received recognition in the form of its Evergreen Awards for Outstanding Community Service. Detailed information about past events and previous issues of its online newsletter Observing Nonprofits are available on the web at www.tess.org.

Executive Alliance is a membership association founded in 2000 by nonprofit executive directors to provide both a venue for peer support and leadership development and a cohesive voice for the nonprofit sector. The current membership of 175 organizations represents many of the most recognized and effective organizations in the community. Executive Alliance carries out its work of advancing a powerful nonprofit sector through professional networking, workshops and conferences, leadership recognition, and peer-to-peer learning and support; enhancing the position and voice of the nonprofit sector through increased involvement and visibility in community events, planning and decision-making; and advocating in governmental actions that have a significant impact on the nonprofit sector. For more information see www.exec-alliance.org

The membership of The Evergreen State Society will vote on the plan to combine programs at a special meeting on September 14. It is expected that the work of the two organizations will be fully integrated before the end of 2004.

Executive Alliance’s executive director Roberta Rohr has served in leadership capacities with both public and nonprofit organizations in Snohomish and King Counties for more than 20 years. The Society’s president, Putnam Barber, is a member of the board of several local nonprofits, including the Municipal League of King County, and currently serves as an advisor to the American Law Institute project on the Principles of the Law of Nonprofit Organizations. Following the combining of the two organization’s programs, he will serve as a Senior Consultant to Executive Alliance.

News about Nonprofits and Their Work

"What's Happening in the Nonprofit Industry?"

Speakers from Clark Nuber will provide a briefing on current developments and trends affecting nonprofits at the WAC in downtown Seattle from 8 to 11 in the morning on September 14.  The sessions include: "Actions by the IRS," "Congress is on the Prowl," "International Grant Making -- What to Watch Out For, " and "Social Responsibility, Accountability, and State and Local Taxes." Registration for the seminar is $35 and includes validated parking (in the WAC garage) and continental breakfast. Send a check and particulars to PO Box 3844, Bellevue, WA 98009 or contact Sue Lewis at 425-454-4919 with credit card information before September 8. 

"All About Boards 2004"

William P. Ryan of the Hauser Center at Harvard will be the featured speaker on "Leadership as Governance: Reframing the Work of the Nonprofit Board" on Thursday, November 18, at the Tacoma Convention Center.  More information from www.npcenter.org. 

Washington 2-1-1 receives financial support

The Boeing Employee Community Fund and Verizon Foundation have helped to launch a new statewide health and human  services helpline using the number 211.  Significant financial support from these sources will open call centers in five communities and provide for a benchmark cost-benefit study; part of the funding is in the form of a challenge grant.  For more information see www.win211.org

Tacoma "Nonprofits After Hours" on September 2

A panel of consultants will do their best not to get stumped by your questions from the floor. Panelists will be Jan Brazzell of Advancement Consulting, Liz Heath of The Nonprofit Center and Joe Manjarrez of Dwyer Pemberton & Coulson. 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The Vault Restaurant at 11th & Pacific in Downtown Tacoma. $5 at the door; rsvps preferred, by visiting www.npcenter.org.

Washington Planned Giving Council 2004 Conference

Many experts in the subject are on the program for September 27th & 28th, 2004 at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center, Seattle.  Early registration closes September 15.  More information from wpgc@shirleybishopinc.com.

"The Law of Nonprofit Organizations"

Topics include: charitable purposes, the tax laws and contributions, property tax exemptions, Washington's nonprofits, Sarbanes-Oxley's implications, selecting and protecting directors, and issues for distressed nonprofits. The Washington Law Institute presents this all-day seminar with Judy Andrews, Sheldon Frankel, Mark Hugh, Putnam Barber, Kristen Gurden, Scott Greenburg and Elizabeth McCaw. The full schedule is linked from the list of current seminars at http://www.wlaw.com.  Members of The Evergreen State Society and Executive Alliance are offered a 25% discount for the fee. On the early registration fee of $199.00 this will work out to a discount price of $149.25 per person. On the regular registration fee of $229.00 (after Sept. 10) this works out to $171.75 per person. To register, use the online form, request materials from mail@wlaw.com or call (206) 726-9337.  Just mark the form "TESS member" or "EA member" (if applicable) to register at the discount rate.

The Nonprofit Center email address changed

Effective September 1, all email should be sent to dana@npcenter.org (the address info@npcenter.org will not longer accept messages).

2005 Wage and Salary Survey planned by United Way of King County

Data will be collected between February 1 and March 31 of next year.  Organizations that contribute data will receive the report at just 30% of its regular price.  For details, contact Carolyn Cunningham [ccunningham@uwkc.org].

ePhilanthropy Tour postponed

The ePhilanthropy Tour will come to Seattle at some future time (not on September 9 as previously announced).

News from The Evergreen State Society

Meet Executive Alliance September 21

For the regular "Civil Society in Everyday Life" meeting on September 21, board members from the Society and Executive Alliance will talk about the plans for combining the two organizations' work in Casey 517 on the Seattle University campus.  The meeting will run from 8 to 9:30 am. The cafeteria in the Student Center will be open for anyone who wants to bring their own coffee and breakfast snacks.

Note that this meeting is in Casey Hall, not the usual space in the Student Center.

Responses to Senate Finance Committee 'White Paper' being collected

Working with Northwest Nonprofit Resources, The Nonprofit Center, Executive Alliance and others throughout the state, Putnam Barber, president of The Evergreen State Society, is tallying nonprofit leaders' reactions to many of the ideas contained in the 'white paper' circulated by the staff of the Senate Finance Committee in advance of its June 22 hearings.  (See the July Observing Nonprofits at www.tess.org/ON/0407_INDEX.html for more information.)

The survey form was circulated by email in mid-August.  It is also available online at www.tess.org/ON/0409_survey.html. More responses are welcome.

Since we will be sending the tally of responses to the National Council of Nonprofit Associations (www.ncna.org) in mid-September, quick responses are needed (preferably by the 3rd of September).

Review of Perfectly Legal

The September 2004 issue of Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly contains a review by Putnam Barber of Perfectly Legal: The Covert Campaign to Rig Our Tax System to Benefit the Super Rich--and Cheat Everyone Else by David Cay Johnston (the tax-beat reporter for the New York Times).  NVSQ texts are not available online; to request a photocopy of this review, just send an email to info@tess.org with your mailing address.

Observing Nonprofits

Observing Nonprofits is an occasional publication of The Evergreen State Society, sent by email to members and supporters. A few days after publication, it is also emailed to a wider audience of people interested in nonprofits in Washington state and simultaneously posted on the Society’s website at http://www.tess.org

Managing Editor: Marie Sauter, MNPL

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Observing Nonprofits is a benefit of membership in The Evergreen State Society. To learn more about membership options, visit http:://www.tess.org/pages/join.html.

Observing Nonprofits is also circulated on a delayed schedule to readers of NonprofitNetworking (a free email service of The Evergreen State Society). To add your address to the NonprofitNetworking list, send email to nonprofitnetworking-request@tess.org.