There is a mix message playing out in the world of nonprofit and government jobs. What does it take to recruit qualified individuals to positions with major responsibilities? What is the definition or measure to define major responsibilities? The common thread between nonprofits and government is that they exist to perform public good.

Therefore, if someone says that the nonprofit needs to pay the President of the Red Cross $500,000 or the President of the Blue Cross a $6.3 million does that mean that individuals running for the President of the USA are less qualified.

In government and nonprofit positions it first takes a persons dedication, smarts and heart to really make a difference. The meltdown of the financial markets and the ongoing examples of manipulation in companies by high paying executives shows that the incentive of money can corrupt any institution.  A board needs to make sure that its mission comes first and that any candidate that says money is what it takes for them to take the job is focus more on making a living than focusing on the organization’s mission.

An organization in choosing its leader needs one whom lives by equality principles, dedication, and a commitment to take on a job that takes ones heart, soul and brains to make the necessary impact the organization exists to make.

Harvard University Faculty are using the Internet to publicly release their articles.  The power of exposure to the masses will increase circulation of their articles.  The articles will be available for free.

It was found that the circulation of their articles in expensive scholarly journals was limiting their exposure to a small group of people and not providing sufficient access and  exposure of their works.

Distribution of their research  as widely as possible will likely create more collaborations and opportunities.

The same is true in the sharing of successful programs and their outcomes.  The use of the Internet  is a great tool for promoting an organizations brand and successes.

In China the government requires employers to contribute to a housing fund for employees. Employees can draw down from the fund to buy a house.

In Russia and Brazil employers sponsor mortgages at reasonable rates where employees have traditionally had less access to credit and cost of living is high.

Recruitment of foreign students for part time employment while they go to school provides for a two to four year dedicated employee. Apprenticeship provides on the job training and supplements the skill and college experience. Further it provides a pool of labor with added credentials.

In the current Presidential race there is a tremendous amount of talk about whether experience or an agent of change will make the biggest difference.

Whether a Speaker of the House in Massachusetts or a Rev. in New York slams another candidate, who is most qualified to decide what amount of experience is necessary to lead and be the agent of change.

If experience is all it took to lead then the world should be in a lot better place than it is today, because individuals dedicated to political life have been unable to accomplish this positive change.

A key is whether the person is willing to make the true sacrifices to see change even if it means political assassination.

The greatest leaders in politics and in the world had vision first and acted upon that vision. Nonprofits were started by visionaries. Therefore, whom is more likely to make a difference.

Where is the leadership? How many have to die? Thousands of youth killed by youth. Youth have been speaking out and seeking relief but find adults not willing to listen and support them. WHO MUST BE SACRIFICED IN DEATH TO MAKE THE ISSUE IMPORTANT?
How many Virginia Tech’s, Northern Illinois and Columbine’ killings have to happen before you pay attention to the crisis? Did the government forget to tell us that there was another battle going on here in this country?

What donor will make an impact? What organizations will make an impact? What will Obama, Clinton, or McCain do about this War in the USA? Which Candidate has the ability to reach this generation and have the biggest impact? What will you do?

Serious issues and Generation O wants to be heard. EMO speaks out through his weekly cartoon: http://mynonprofitwebsite.com/blog/category/emo-cartoon/

In 2004 in the USA:
Total Homicide deaths 16,611
Total Suicide deaths 31,647
Total Injuries due to Firearm deaths 29,036

Ages 1-4 Homicide is 4th likely means of death (354) 2.2 per 100,000 (car accidents is first)
Ages 5-14 Homicide is 4th likely means of death (318) .8 per 100,000 (car accidents is first)
Ages 5-14 Suicide is 5th likely means of death (292) .7 per 100,000 (car accidents is first)
Ages 15-24 Homicide is 2nd likely means of death (4,877) 11.7 per 100,000 (car accidents is first)
Ages 15-24 Suicide is 3rd likely means of death (4,214) 10.1 per 100,000 (car accidents is first)
Ages 25-44 Homicide is 5th likely means of death (4,877) 8.5 per 100,000 (car accidents is first)
Ages 25-44 Suicide is 4th likely means of death (11,403) 13.6 per 100,000 (car accidents is first)

With the billions being spent overseas to keep other countries safer for their citizens, many individuals are at risk here. Should there be a stronger policy on domestic violence? How many people must die before we each make it a priority. I ask, is it time to declare War against the youth dying in our own streets each day?

Protect our Children: Create the support to stop the thousands killed each year by those who kill. Teach our youth and citizens that killing others does not solve the problem or that killing of one self does not solve the problem.

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?

I recently came across thesimpledollar.com. A web site dedicated to making your money saving simple. The sight was set up by Trent Hamm,  who in April 2006 went through a complete financial meltdown.  You can read more about him at (read my “financial biography” here). He addresses your every day concern of throwing yourself head first into trying to figure out every nuance of fixing your financial situation. He uses himself as an example of what he did to get the picture and within eight months had paid off all of his credit card debt, his vehicle, and also established an emergency fund. He says,

“What is The Simple Dollar? http://www.thesimpledollar.com.
The Simple Dollar is an exploration of personal finance from the perspective of a late-twentysomething who just realized that he needs to get a grip on his money. ”

His list of 100 great ways to save money can be found by clicking on this link.

According to the Los Angelos Times it was reported that two women with Downs Syndrome wearing suicide vests were used to bomb two popular pet markets in Iraq. The bombs were denoted remotely.

This act of brutality against these two individuals must strengthen the resolve across all religions that there is a line none of us should cross in war.

International organizations and government agencies must reach out to better protect individuals who are disabled in Iraq, since it is now clear that their lives are at risk and they have an inability to seek safety.

Millions are being sent by the US government and donors to address a health care crisis in other regions of the world. Yet millions of people are not insured and not receiving health care in the US. There are thousands of organizations servicing to the health care needs of many who cannot afford health care, but there are many they turn away each day. Each month there is a story of hospitals reaching across the world to donate or for a small price do major surgery for an individual, usually a child. At the same time these same hospital send a persons debt to a collection agency.

Clearly the time is now to have a marketing campaign to bring the problem to the forefront to have the philanthropic community and government to create affordable health care solutions through out the US.

Who in the philanthropic community is ready to lead to endow a solution state by state? Is it the Bill Gates Foundation? Is it the Warren Buffet Foundation? Who out there is prepared to lead and make the difference? Health care costs in the US have not created better results in health care. Therefore, help make the community health care system a much stronger option not completely dependent on government.

Who among the health care providers is willing to step to the challenge to market for a solution? Let’s stop the complaining and put money on marketing for the change and looking for that leadership in the world of philanthropic giving. The millions are there to really make the system changes.

If the majority of one’s peers have a criminal record and are excluded from serving as a juror does that set up the system against all defendants?

Discretionary or peremptory challenges to jurors are viewed as slated towards the prosecutors when the law has created such.

I would propose allowing anyone to serve on civil cases who has completed their required sentence, does not know the defendant and has not been arrested for any possible crime in 3 years from the last date of their sentence being completed.

Diverse opinions are important in every argument and presentation of facts, especially when weighing the evidence for one party or another. Everyone has a preference or bias on something and everyone has those moments in their life that effects whom they are today.

To say that those once convicted of a crime are no longer valued for their view or opinion is short sighted and a bias in itself. There are many points in our history where biases caused death, pain and even wars because of the difference of opinions.

An ex-con’s right to employment and the right to be treated equally without malice is no different than what each of us should expect. If a person is considered a risk to someone and is to register wherever they live I would not consider their sentence completed.

Organizations need to help reduce the stigma of ex-cons by being leaders in the employment of those who have completed all obligations of their sentence. If your organization does not value their input and work, how can you expect legislation to be passed to allow them to participate in the juror system?