Co-sponsored by the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and MAP for Nonprofits

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE OVERVIEW

DETAILED SCHEDULE 

Early Morning Breakout Sessions -- 7:45 - 8:45 a.m.

Marketing and Communications 101
In this session, participants will learn the basics of nonprofit marketing and communications, including a vocabulary and foundation to enrich sessions throughout the rest of the day.
Carlo Cuesta, managing partner, Creation In Common

Web 2.0 101
In this session, participants will learn the basics of Web 2.0, including a vocabulary and foundation to enrich sessions throughout the rest of the day.
Aaron Landry, s4xton.com

Morning Keynote -- 9 - 10:15 a.m.

Nonprofits in an Age of Social Media
During the morning plenary, participants will hear from Beth Kanter, one of the most prominent voices in the country on nonprofits and social media. Beth will give an overview of what social media is, describe how it is different from traditional media, explain why it is important to pay attention, and discuss some of the adoption challenges nonprofits face as well as what to think about to get started. There will be ample time for audience questions as well.
Beth Kanter, bethkanter.org

Morning Breakout Sessions -- 10:30 - 11:45 a.m.

Media Relations in the Age of New Media
Marketing/Communications
As newspaper and television newsrooms get smaller and news priorities shift, it's getting harder for nonprofits to get their message out through traditional media. Exciting experiments are taking place around the world that explore the potential of new technologies to create and sustain new media. This workshop will explore how nonprofits can use a variety of creative new media strategies to get their message out.
Jeremy Iggers, executive director, Twin Cities Media Alliance and Mary Turck, editor, Twin Cities Daily Planet

Digital Youth and Analogue Adults
Program Delivery
What are they thinking? Why are they doing that? Do I need to learn to do that? This session will look at how nonprofits should be adjusting their structures and programming to meet new needs and utilize new skills of a digitally-inclined employee and service population. The session will also examine realistic expectations for nonprofits to have of their young employees and vice versa - what young employees should expect of their employer as it relates to technological capacity. Are people growing up in the digital age learning differently and developing new strategies for solving problems? Can an old dog learn new tricks?
Van Amenya, system administrator, US Bank; Taran Burke, high school student and technology intern, MTS Charter School; Graham Hartley, director of programs, MIGIZI Communications; John Malone, Web designer, MOCO; and Elana Wolowitz, communications direction/senior trainer, Wellstone Action

Why I Hate Facebook
Demonstration and Skill Building
Explore the world of social networks outside the Facebook silo. This discussion will consider the role of social networking in nonprofits and look at open tools like Ning, Twitter, Seesmic and Google that allow for reuse and mashup of content. Participants in this session will gain an understanding of open versus closed social applications, gain knowledge of ways to use social networking for collaboration and marketing, and learn why Peter hates Facebook.
Peter Fleck, Web & tech coordinator, University of Minnesota Extension Family Development

Where Technology and the Workplace Collide
Leadership
In this session participants will get an in-depth look at workplace technology issues, including employee use and abuse of the Internet, email, IM, cell phones, and blogs, employee privacy, as well as an employer's right to monitor and control an employee's use of technology in the workplace. We will discuss how these issues intersect with employment laws, affect employers on a practical basis and how these issues land employers in litigation.
Norah E. Olson Bluvshtein and Teresa M. Thompson, Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.

Put the Develop Back Into Development
Fundraising
This presentation into the world of information will show how to locate inside data on people and companies. What do people care about? Where have they donated? Where have they volunteered? What are the issues being faced by their company? Attendees will learn how to find information, and then how to apply it in a development/fundraising solicitation, ensuring relevancy and a great first impression. This presentation is an eye-opening (and sometimes scary) look into the world of search engines, the Invisible Web, and the relationship and value-building process.
Sam Richter, CEO, SBR Worldwide, LLC

Luncheon Presentation of the 2008 Dot.Org Awards-- Noon - 1:30 p.m.

Online communications are constantly evolving, and nonprofits are continually improving their Web sites to engage, inspire, and connect their communities through innovative communications technologies. To highlight this exciting movement, some of the best Minnesota-based nonprofit Web sites will be recognized during our second annual Dot.Org Awards.

Nominations are now closed. Winners have been notified.

Early Afternoon Breakout Sessions -- 1:45 - 3:00 p.m.

Strategic Web site Design: Once Again, Form Follows Function
Marketing/Communications
Whether your organization plans to update its current Web site or dive into a new project, developing a strategic plan for your project is critical to the success of your Web site. Too often, nonprofits forgo this important step assuming it’s too expensive and/or time-consuming, or their project is too small to really need a strategic plan. This session will demonstrate why this component of Web site development is so important, illustrate what it really takes to create a strategic plan, and help you understand how this process can help you visualize and implement a well-designed, effective and user-friendly Web site. Our panelists will also share ideas concerning how to improve your organization’s current Web site today.
K. Darby Laing, art director/Web site architect, LAINGdesign; Catherine Settanni, president, Settanni+Company; Anne Ulseth, Aqua Public Relations, and Mary Anne Welch, communications manager, Project for Pride in Living

Conversation Marketing: New Media Communication Strategy
Marketing/Communications
You may not be interested in social media, but social media is interested in you. People are talking about your issue - or even you - regardless of whether you are paying attention to them. Isn't it better to be a part of the conversation? By joining the conversation you can ensure that your point of view is heard, tap into the "wisdom of crowds" as a valuable research and feedback tool, build strong relationships with your supporters, engage (and perhaps learn from) your detractors, and prepare your organization for the future of communication. This session will help you understand the conversations taking place on popular New Media sites and services such as blogs, YouTube, Flickr, Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter, and help you learn how to engage in those conversations as a marketing and communication strategy.
David Erickson, director of e-Strategy, and Patrick Lilja, director of e-Strategy, Tunheim Partners

Ten Things You Can Do To Lower Your Data Integration Costs
Demonstration and Skill Building
Most nonprofits today need to be able to cost effectively integrate a variety of applications with Web sites, Web content management systems, member/donor/client management systems, not to mention their accounting and HR system/s and others. Giving vendors a blank check to build an integrated solution can reach well beyond the budget of most nonprofits. In this presentation we will discuss 10 proactive steps any organization can take to lower the cost of building a seamless experience for their stakeholders. These steps include not just a listing of technologies but actionable tasks for project managers responsible for integrating many systems.
Dan McCreary, data integration consultant, Dan McCreary & Associates

Technology Leadership for the Technically Challenged
Leadership
You weren't hired for your technological prowess, but you find yourself faced with decisions about technology every day. The most successful nonprofit leaders know how to use technology to their advantage – making technology work for their organization, not the other way around. In this session, we'll talk about common challenges and strategies to overcome them so that you can understand and contribute to technology conversations, make smart technology decisions for your organization, increase your organization's efficiency, and identify and evaluate creative ideas for using technology to meet your mission.
Holly Ross, executive director, Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN)

Accessing Public Sector Resources
Fundraising
The State of Minnesota is an important partner to nonprofits providing resources and support to respond to community needs. In this presentation, you will get a comprehensive overview of funding and technical support resources available through the public sector at federal and state levels. You will also get an overview of the State of Minnesota service provider database, and be able to determine if, and how, your organization should be listed. Finally, an update will be provided on efforts of the State of Minnesota’s newly created Office of Grants Management.
Kristin Batson, director, Office of Grants Management – State of Minnesota; Krista Kay Boston, manager consumer choice, Minnesota Board on Aging; and Lee Buckley, special advisor/Office of Governor Tim Pawlenty, Governor’s Council on Faith and Community Services Initiatives

Late Afternoon Breakout Sessions -- 3:15 - 4:30 p.m.

How to Get Graphic Design to Work for You
Marketing/Communications
You know good design when you see it. Do you know why it's good? Presenters will cover what you need to know before you begin a communications project and the elements of effective graphic design. Presenters will lead participants in a process of applying elements of effective design in small breakout groups. Participants are invited to bring one example of marketing/communications material from their organization for use by the presenters.
Jennifer Larson, Jennifer Larson communications design, and Bob Schmitt, creative director, Laughing Waters Studio

Targeting: Not Just for Elections
Program Delivery
Many people are familiar with how political campaigns commonly organize and analyze data to pinpoint, or "target," key districts in which to focus their resources to help them win. Using the same basic model, nonprofit organizations can use targeting analysis and technology to help prioritize resources for an issue-focused campaign or to aid in other strategic decision making processes. Using ClearWay Minnesota’s targeting work around the statewide smoking ban as an example, participants will understand how targeting impacts issue campaigns, become acquainted with the mechanics behind developing a targeting tool and undertaking a targeting analysis, and learn how targeting can be applied to decision-making processes within their own organizations to effectively bring about change.
Dan Cramer, president, Grassroots Solutions, Inc. and Molly Moilanen, senior intervention program manager, ClearWay Minnesota

Advanced Tools 2008
Demonstration and Skill Building
In this session, we will briefly discuss five advanced technology tools as a group, and then divide into small groups to enable you to delve more deeply into the tools and models that interest you most. The tools are:

Drupal and CiviCRM - Open source freely downloadable products that can be used together. Drupal is a popular content management system. CiviCRM is a constituent relationship management system designed for the needs of advocacy and nonprofit organizations. (Steve Hanson and Chris Bennington)

Geographical Information Systems (GIS) - Analysis and mapping are being used by organizations to better understand their client and member base and inform service delivery. 1000 Friends of MN will discuss how they are using GIS to track members and support service delivery. (Sally Wakefield)

Google Analytics (GA) - A powerful Web analytics package that can help organizations learn about keywords, ads, referrals etc. to learn about the impact of their Web sites. The Walker Art Center will talk about how they use GA and offer tips on how to find out how your site is being used. (Nate Solas)

Really Simple Syndication (RSS) Feeds - Formats used to publish frequently updated content. They are used in everything from blog entries and news feeds to help interested readers stay up on their favorite Web sites and content. One dedicated user will lead a discussion on how nonprofit organizations and their stakeholders can use this new technology not only to follow feeds themselves, but also how to produce them or use them on your Web site. (Peter Fleck)

Social Media Game
Leadership
In this interactive workshop we will play a simulation game where participants work in small groups to develop a strategy, identify challenges and benefits, and identify tools to deploy when integrating social media tools for a fundraising or communications campaign in a nonprofit organizational context. The session will begin with a brief introduction to the strategies and tools, followed by playing the game. Each group will share their campaign ideas and the benefits and challenges they discovered. Participants will leave the session with one or two ideas to implement back at the office, and some additional resources for continued learning.
Beth Kanter, bethkanter.org

Generate More Individual Gifts Using Your Donor Data and Your Web Site
Fundraising
How well do you know your donors and volunteers? Individual data about your top donors and volunteers may be a resource more valuable than cash in the bank. Many organizations are not aware that they are not fully leveraging their data-tracking system to support their annual individual giving program. By attending this session participants will learn what to track, how to track it, and how to utilize this information to increase contributions. We’ll take some of the mystery out of increasing donor gifts by showing you how to better utilize your donor data and Web site tools.
Lori Jacobwith, founder, Apporte LLC, with additional resources from Kathleen Alme, business development manager and technology circuit rider, MAP for Nonprofits; Brian Hanf, software developer and Mark Panger, data base consultant, Trail Blazer Campaign Services

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