Wednesday, November 12, 2008

DrakeCo hosting 990, 403(b) seminar

Association legal experts from Howe & Hutton, along with accounting experts from Bergman Schraier and financial planners from Cornerstone Financial invite associations and not-for-profit organizations in the Greater St. Louis area to attend this FREE seminar about the new IRS Form 990 and 403(b) requirements. They will help you prepare you to:
  • File the new Form 990
  • Implement your organization's 403(b) plan as of Jan. 1, 2009
  • Establish a conflict of interest policy
  • Have a record retention policy
  • Create a whistleblower policy
The FREE session starts at 7 a.m., Friday, Nov. 21, at the Drake & Company offices in Chesterfield and runs until 9:30.

For more information go to: www.drakeco.com. Please RSVP to info@drakeco.com or by calling (636) 449-5050.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

What Association Execs Want to Know about Cause Marketing

Association execs representing about 200 association and nonprofit organizations have now responded to my survey asking about cause related marketing. I sent to survey to four ASAE list serves with the goal of helping me craft my cause marketing presentation at ASAE's Great Ideas conference in February.

Some interesting results to date:

  • Even though 59.1% of those responding represent a foundation or charitable organization, only 21.9% are actively involved in a cause marketing program with their organization.
  • 74.1% of the respondents say they don't know about cuase marketing or have no direct experience with cause marketing.

Yet, cause marketing represents a growing potential for nonprofits to partner with a corporation ... the partnership offers a way to advance the nonprofits mission as well as generate additional funding for its programs (cause).

The top three reasons these execs say their organizations have NOT implemented a cause marketing campaing are:

  1. 44.3% - Hadn't really thought about it (a cause marketing program)
  2. 26.2% - It's not a priority
  3. 23.0% - Don't have the staff time or expertise to develop a cause marketing program

What do these execs want to know about cause marketing? Here are the top four issues they listed in the survey responses:

  1. What is it and how do I get started (what steps, how do I get buy-in, etc.)
  2. How do we find a corporation that would be willing to partner with us? And, how to we "vet" the company to make sure we're not embarrassed?
  3. How to we create "marketing buzz" about our cause marketing program?
  4. How do we evaluate a cause marketing program? What is its ROI?

Since space is limited, I'll end this post here ... but ... if you want a copy of my ASAE Great Ideas Conference presentation (available about Feb 1, 2009), please email me at drake@drakeco.com and put "Great Ideas Presentation" in the subject line.

Meanwhile, I'll try to get time to answer some of these questions in posts later this fall. I say try because our own cause marketing program (the 2008 Trees for Troops campaign) kicks off Wednesday (Nov 12) ... working with staff to collect and ship fresh, farm-grown Christmas trees to about 16,000 families at 40+ military bases keeps us a bit busy. To watch the Trees for Troops story, see the post and link below.

Steve

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Christmas SPIRIT Foundation Receives Summit Award for Trees for Troops



You've heard me talk about "cause-related marketing." The Trees for Troops program -- conducted by the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation in conjunction with FedEx and Drake & Company -- is a great example of a cause marketing campaign at work.

The Christmas SPIRIT Foundation has been nationally recognized for its Trees for Troops program by the 2008 Associations Advance America Summit Award from American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and the Center for Association Leadership.

The Christmas SPIRIT Foundation (CSF) – with support from FedEx Freight – has delivered more than 34,000 Real Christmas Trees to military families since Trees for Troops began in 2005.

It has grown from about 400 Christmas tree farms and retailers participating to more than 850. Almost 17,000 families at more than 40 military bases received a Christmas Tree in 2007 grown by an American tree farm.

“We are excited to receive this significant honor recognizing the work of hundreds of volunteers in the Christmas tree industry,” said Steve Drake, CEO of the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation. “The Trees for Troops program represents the work of more than 850 tree farms and retailers along with the hundreds of miles and hours provided by our partners at FedEx Freight. All these efforts have allowed us to deliver fresh, farm-grown trees and holiday memories to more than 34,000 military families. We look forward to an expanded program in 2008.”

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Trees for Troops Kick Off

What is the Trees for Troops Program?
As a way to give back to those who serve our country, the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation, in conjunction with FedEx, provides Real Christmas Trees to military members and their families. The Trees for Troops program aims to provide holiday cheer to military families who may be away from their families at Christmas time.

How many trees have been sent to the Troops through Trees for Troops?
In 2005, the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation and FedEx provided 4,300 trees to military families at five military bases across the U.S. and overseas. In 2006, the program almost tripled when the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation and FedEx delivered more than 11,000 trees to families at 25 bases in the U.S. and overseas to 17 countries! In 2007, the program grew even more when we delivered nearly 17,000 trees to more than 40 bases. Over the past three years 34,000 military families have received a Real Christmas Tree from Trees for Troops. In 2008, we hope to deliver the same number of trees as 2007, if not more.

Who else does the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation work with?
The Trees for Troops program is a member of America Supports You, a Department of Defense organization that supports homefront groups who support the troops. The Foundation receives support from individuals and corporations, including FedEx, Cost Plus World Market, New Holland Agriculture and Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation.

How can I support these efforts?
Donation information is available on-line at www.christmasspiritfoundation.org or by calling 636/449-5060. Federal employees may donate through the Combined Federal Campaign, CFC#12283. Also, the weekend of December 5-7 has been declared “Trees for Troops Weekend.” Many Christmas Tree farms and lots are offering the opportunity for customers to make a donation or buy an extra tree for the family of a troop. To find a participating farm or lot, go to: www.christmasspiritfoundation.org.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Fall Ramblings

Here in the Heartland, fall is truly a maginificant season. The fall colors. The cool, crisp, fresh air. The upcoming holidays. I hear lots of people say "it's my favorite season."

Barb and I got to re-experience the tradition of big time college football as we returned to Columbus for an Ohio State game. In addition to seeing "old" college friends and family, we experienced the traditions and pageantry associated with college football. One of my joys for the fall! (Even though the game we watched was a pretty boring win.)



While in Columbus, we had a chance to have lunch with Jim Davis-Hicks (http://www.davisphotographer.com/), a very creatigve wedding photography who is co-founder of a wonderful organization called Thirst Relief International (TRI) (http://www.thirstrelief.org/). Did you know that 1.1 billion people in the world lack access to clean drinking water? Or, that every 15 seconds, someone dies from a waterborne illness. Jim established Thirst Relief to do something. For about $50, TRI can install a water filter in a house in developing nations. And, that family will have clean drinking water. Jim donates a portion of each wedding assignment to buying water filters. Something he calls Life in Art: capturing yours and saving another.

I'm committed to helping Jim raise the $200,000 to $250,000 that will permit TRI to switch from cement filters to plastic filters ... which greatly increases the efficiency of the sytems. We're looking for associations, churches or companies interested in helping. Interested? Please contact me (drake@drakeco.com) or TRI. Thanks.

And, I'm still gathering stories about cause marketing. In addition to "discovering" Jim, I've found that one of my association management company colleagues has founded an organziation called Solid Rock Carpenters (http://www.solidrockcarpenters.org/). Jeff Engle of the Association Management Center founded Solid Rock to help build houses for Habitat for Humanity. They have about 1,000 participants in Solid Rock. They build the housing frames on the AMC parking lot in suburban Chicago. And, they've recruited a trucking company to ship the frames to Louisiana where a work crew assembles them. What a really neat idea and organization.

If you know any great cause marketing stories, please email them to me. I'm working on a "Growing with a Cause" project to collect great stories and case studies and would love to hear your story. Send to drake@drakeco.com ... Thanks.

This has been a busy travel fall for me.

I've been leading sessions that I call "Bridging Generations: From Minnie Pearl and Pearl Harbor to Wiki and Wii." This deals with the four generations in the workforce issue. One of the neat features of this series is the results of audience surveys about their generation and their feelings about other generations. More than 80% of the sales force of Syngenta responded to the survey ... made a great session for their sales meeting.

I'm in the process of completing the survey to give the Briding Generations presentation to the Finishing Industry Forum in Las Vegas in early November. Looks like we'll have more than 150 finishing contractors and union trade members in the session.

I'm also working on early stages of Strategic Planning processes. I'm chairing the 2008-09 Strategic Planning Process for the AMC Institute, my trade association. In addition, I've been selected to facilitate the strategic planning workshop of the Asphalt Paving Association of Indiana. Will be doing that session in early March. And, I've been asked to submit a proposal for a planning workshop and consultanting assignment that would start in mid-February.

In late September I was honored to accept the ASAE Associations Advance America Summit Award for the Trees for Troops campaign (http://www.treesfortroops.org%29campaign/ of the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation (one of the organizations our company manages) (http://www.christmasspiritfoundation.org/). What a great thrill to be honored in front of your peers for doing great work that you love! And, ASAE produced a 4-minute video introducing Trees for Troops and the award. Click here to watch it: (http://www.youtube.com/user/RealTrees)

Speaking of Trees for Troops, we're rapidly approaching the 2008 program ... aimed at delivering fresh, farm-grown Christmas Trees (donated by about 800 tree farms and lots) to about 16,000 military families at more than 40 bases in the U.S. and around the world! Special thanks to FedEx Freight and FedEx team for their huge commitment to make this project possible. Last year, they donated about 51,000 truck miles to get the trees to military families. Talk about making memories!

We're looking for more support this year.

This year, FedEx Office (formerly Kinkos) is joining to support the effort. Watch for their details on where you can go to create a greeting card to go with the trees to military families.

Want to help provide holiday memories to troops? Here are some options: (1) buying a tree and donate to a military family; (2) send a greeting card; (3) donate funds. For details, go to http://www.treesfortroops.org/

Thanks for reading ... you can help us Make Dreams Fly!

Steve

Sunday, August 24, 2008

End of Summer Ramblings

As I travel and read, I discover a population where "life goes on." Most seem to be ignoring the "silly season" of American politics ... frustrated with promises of "change" from local, state and national politicians who have been politicians most of their lives. It is a summer when the President’s approval rating is only about 30% ... and the approval rating for the U.S. Congress is only half that of the the unpopular President.

What gives?

I realize that I’m a "half-full" thinker. But, again, "what recession."

Obviously, the numbers don’t lie and the economy has slowed. But ... for what seems a very large segment of the American public, life goes on.

This summer, we hosted "gas tank top offs" (where I filled cars with $20 of free gas) for both my staff and then for out-of-work folks (I prefer to say "in between successes) who are members of Businesspeople Between Jobs (BBJ).

Had a chance to read lots of books (nearly all "management" books) this summer. Some really good stuff out there for someone like me who runs a small business focused on being the staff and headquarters of not-for-profit organizations. They include:
Here Comes Everybody: the Power of Organizing without Organizations.
Mastering the Rockefeller Habits
The Future of Management
The Purpose Driven Life
Death by Meetings
The Long(er) Tail

As I get time, I’ll try to give some highlights of these books.

Last month, I attended the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) annual meeting in San Diego ... which included the AMC Institute meeting for owners and principles of Association Management Companies. I love the networking with people owning businesses such as mine. Leads to ideas and information. For example, we’re in the middle of switching association management system software and several owners who have just made the switched shared information and processes.

Two neat things to announce:

1) ASAE has awarded the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation its Associations Advance America SUMMIT Award for the Foundattion's Trees for Troops program. We manage both the Foundation and Trees for Troops. It is a really neat cause marketing campaign ... and our partners at FedEx Freight make it possible. Last year, they provided FREE more than 51,000 trucking miles to get the farm-grown Christmas trees from 850 farms and retail lots to the 17,000 military families at 40 bases! And, we're in the final planning stages for th 2008 program which we hope will let us deliver holiday memories and farm-grown trees to more than 20,000 military families. FedEx Office (formerly Kinko's) will be joining us in 2008. If you want to help (donate a tree, donate funds, send a greeting), go to http://www.treesfortroops.org/.

2) I've been selected as a speaker at ASAE's Great Ideas Conference in February. I'll be leading a discussion on cause marketing ... using Trees for Troops as a case study.

I’m headed for a week of fishing in northwest Ontario ... to a remote lake that is 100 miles from the nearest road and two hours from cell phone and/or internet connection. Perhaps that week of solitude, silence and freedom from the "modern world" will lead to a different percpective.

I’ll let you know.

Steve

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Cause Marketing Links

Here is an interesting cause-marketing effort dealing with colony collapse, the unexplained disappearance of honey bees. Colony collapse threatens global food supplies, yet it is relatively unknown problem. Haagen Dazs is trying to change that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7m5vt07W2n4 -- Bee Dance Video

http://helpthehoneybees.com/ - Haagen Dazs Web site

http://www.youtube.com/user/helpthehoneybees -- the official YouTube Cause page