My son and I had a great discussion today about best friends and its meaning not being the same among people. So I ask you to think what is a best friend?

A best friend is not just one person. It is a community of friends who represent your friendships that will be there at various times in your life or the life of the organization. Your best friend is an emotional tie that in one’s mind. It is a moving assignment ultimately assigned to the support that comes from the person you least expect when you need it the most. Your true friends are those that are there when things get tough. However, do not let friends pressure you to make choices that cause trouble for you or your organization. There are those who will call themselves your friend to get you or your organization to do what they want.

CEO’s, CFO’s and COO’s as leaders consider what is best for their organization and its members, its community and its friends. Their leadership style provides for dealing with the various levels of friendship that the organization has with individuals.

How does your organization balance these friendships?

What is the cause of youth violence? The political landscape is full of mostly white elected officials who talk a lot about it, but put little money towards solving it. Is it because youth cannot vote? Is it because the majority of those being killed are from districts that do not vote?

Building facilities, locking youth up and letting them out with even less skills than the educational system would have provided has failed. When a system fails it is bad business to continue practices that give bad results.

The business community can force change because they have the economic strength and ability to move quickly and surgically to make change.

Community leaders and the nonprofit community can work with the business community to set goals and measurable outcomes. If the practice set forward does not meet the needed outcomes then change the practice, businesses do it every day or die.

I have been amazed to watch the outsourcing of military and security services to for-profit companies at higher prices. The military has lots of qualified men and women who would continue to serve if their compensation were comparable or even a faction of what the government contracts pay. Federal and State legislatures have passed various laws on pay schedules but seem to have missed this one.

However, I see a place for partnerships between corporations and the government.  Corporations that are non profits (501 c 3 ) and the government can work well together to address needs.

Parks and historic sites is one such partnership.

For those involved in housing, how about using some historic sites for housing?  In exchange for free rent why not be stewards of history.  In addition to providing housing, the nonprofit can teach the tenants the skills on historic preservation.

The teaching of the skills can help reduce the maintenance costs and provide a long term benefit for the greater good of all.

An Association is usually incorporated as a 501 (c) 6 organization. It works on behalf of its members. The strength of an Association is based on its membership. The larger the membership, the more success the Association will have in producing greater results. A nonprofit or individual should pay a membership to join an Association if there are clear and measurable benefits to being a member.

The most simple measure is, “Will my organization save money or obtain additional funds by the actions of the Association?” Group purchasing is the quickest and easiest way to see results immediately. These actions create more funds by decreasing costs.

Property insurance, health insurance, dental insurance, visioin insurance, utilities, billing services, retirement plans, human resource services, accounting services, consulting services, development services, office supplies, security, bottled water, food, equipment, web services, information technology services, banking services, audit services, construction, and employment assistance programs are just a few examples where group purchasing can decrease costs.

The other part of an Association’s effort is lobbying and clearly educating elected officials. A key role they play is providing a clear voice on the economic impact of their member organizations and the criticial areas of concerns.

So take advantage of Associations where it makes sense. Make sure you never pay more than it costs your local, state or federal government for a service or product.

An instinctive reaction to fear is fight or flee.  An individual’s reasoning causing their reaction does not have to be based on truth but can be a perception.  Therefore, when groups use false information to create a perceived threat many individuals do not really know if the threat is real.  Their first reaction is based on their ability to cope with the situation.  Youth have not at this point in their life gained the coping skills to resolve conflict without striking out forcefully. The Matthew Shepard attack may have been such a reaction.

Causes of death between the ages of 15-24, according to the CDC, are:  first accidents, second murder, and third suicide.  Groups that teach hate only confuse youth more.  It is hard enough for them to understand that in their sphere of family, school and community, love and hate can be directed to and from the same person.  Teaching youth the tools to resolve conflict within themselves is critical to teaching them to resolve conflict with others.

Maybe the increase in violence among youth is due to the fact that society supports their exposure to violent content but not to sexual content.  Violence is okay but sex is not.  Hate is okay by adults but not kids.  Remember free speech does have its consequences and children and youth do hear.  Behavior is learned from adults and shared among peers.

The Boston Globe wrote in its 9/25/2007 edition about the pending Matthew Shepard Act in Congress.  It focuses on fabricated information by individuals throughout the USA who have stated that it is a bill to arrest clergy and storm churches.

It is about stopping hate crimes.  Stopping Violence!!!!!!  Supporting our youth helps us all.