9 Ways To Convince Donors Your Organization Has Changed (For The Better)

If you work in a school that relies on significant financial contributions to meet your yearly budgetary goals, it is possible that at some point there will be or has been a breakdown in confidence within the organization. As a result, donations have dropped, enrollment has likely declined, and school spirit is in serious jeopardy.In essence, the overall health of the organization is very poor and the prognosis isn't very good.

At these times, if the board of directors wishes to save the school, drastic measures must be taken to both "stop the bleeding" and set a new course to the future.

Below, I have suggested ten ways for schools to regain the trust and confidence once shown to it by parents, alumni, and donors.

1. New Leadership

The quality of leadership is vital to the overall success of any organization, especially a school. If your school is in dire straits, I would look at the person in charge of the day to day operations, whether he or she is called the principal, administrator, or superintendent. What has this leader done to either help or harm the community? What has he or she done to foster alumni development and what is the current status of donor relations? Has enrollment increased or decreased? All these factors are important when judging the leader. These questions can be summed up, however, when gaging the predominant "mood" of the school. If the teachers and students aren't energized and happy to be in the school everyday, I would submit that the leader is not doing a good job.

If this is the case, either something has to be done for the leader to improve dramatically in short order or a change must be made. Without the absolute commitment of the administrator, the school will continue its downward decent.

2. Apologize Without Excuses

Once new leadership (or at least a new leadership attitude) is in place, the repair work must begin. The incoming leader must quickly acclimate him or herself and find out who has been or who feels wronged by the organization. Then, the leader must reach out and do whatever it takes to bring these people back into the fold.

The leader must make this apology, even though he or she had nothing to do with the perceived injustice. The best way to do this is with a sympathetic ear and understanding words. Phrases like, "I can totally understand that would make you feel hurt," or "It makes sense that you felt we weren't being good stewards of the money" are honest and sincere expressions that will resonate with the people, without damaging the personal standing of the new leader.

Make sure not to get bogged down in excuses or details from the past. Accept that the person feels wronged and your job is to make him feel better. That's it.

Once you've got a few people back on board, word will spread, and your job of mending fences will become a little easier with momentum.

3. Make Easy Physical Changes within the Organization

I feel that easy physical changes should always precede difficult policy shifts. If your school is going to go through serious transformations in staff, procedures, and expectations, that will be difficult for some people to accept.

I have always found that if I undertake some simple physical projects, like painting, landscaping, re-arranging furniture, changing the purpose of a supply closet or classroom, or anything else that does not affect people's sense of security, but actually improves the physical appearance of the school, you will start to win them over before the tough stuff comes.

4. Honor History in New Ways

If the leader is new to the school, he or she can earn much respect and loyalty by finding a way to honor the school's past, but doing it in a way that has never been done before. This way, the leader will be both showing a respect for what came before, but also demonstrating that he or she has an eye on the future.

One example might be to create an annual award based on service to the school. This award could be named after a school founder or an important donor. This covers the "past" part, while the actual honor of the award, along with a new plaque that hangs in a prominent location is the "new" part. I did something very similar to this in the school I worked at and got great results.

5. Listen to Alumni and Donors

Another important task for new leadership in the school is to listen to alumni and donors. The leader should seek these people out and ask them a lot of open-ended questions. Let the alumni and the donors give you their unedited opinions about the school at large. Listen to them as long as they want to speak. Pay close attention and take good notes. Let them know that while you may not be able to make all the changes at once, you really appreciate their insight and will do your best to enact sensible change. This act of just opening yourself up will go a long way toward building trust and loyalty.

6. Study Successful Programs and Emulate Them

While every school has its own special circumstances, there are plenty of commonalities between educational institutions where you can find a success story to model. Do some research and talk to other leaders of similar schools. Share your story with them and find out what they did to pull themselves out of the tailspin they were in. While you may not use every suggestion, I would wager you will still find many pieces of useful advice in their experience.

7. Set Realistic Short Term Goals

Donors want to see verifiable proof of success. This is another reason why making physical changes is beneficial. Even though painting a few walls or cleaning something up won't make long-lasting improvements in enrollment or fund raising, they will show donors that "stuff is getting done." And that is good.

The leader must find a handful of areas that he or she can point to for easy success. Perhaps one goal is to improve communications. A regular newsletter, frequent email blasts, an improved website, and frequently updated bulletin boards are all ways to show that the leader is making quality communications more of a priority than it was in the past. Donors like this.

If the leader chooses to set and focus only on more long-term goals, like raising enrollment 10% for example, he will miss all of the building blocs in front of him. After the slow decline into the depths, donors and alumni, as well as parents of currently enrolled students are going to want to see more immediate signs of life. It's the reverse of the cliché, "Can't see the forest for the trees". Just remember that without individual trees, there is no forest.

8. Repair a Key Relationship(s) in the Community at Large

When I worked for the Christian school, I encountered a situation in which the relationship between the school and the local church community was dormant or in some cases, non-existent. I was shocked that there wasn't an active and dynamic support system between these seemingly cooperative groups.

One of the first things I did was to schedule private meetings with many of the key pastors involved to introduce myself and to invite them to become involved in our mission. Not everyone accepted my invitation, but some did, and we developed some very good friends from this effort.

I would guess that there are many rather obvious "missing links" in schools and non-profits out there. A new leader has the chance to, without any history, right some wrongs. If you find a person or a group that your school should be friendly with, but you aren't, I urge you to make this happen.

If you are successful in making this important connection, it will be another example to your board and donors that you are out there, changing the culture that existed before.

9. Be Appreciative

Sadly, one of the most common mistake non-profits in general and schools in particular, make is not to be appreciative of the gifts they receive. A gesture as simple as a thank you note is often forgotten.

This omission is often the reason why many donors break off their relationship with a school. I actually heard one donor once say he felt like a horse, ridden hard and then put away.

Even if a gift is many years old, if you are new to the school's leadership, you have the opportunity to say thank you again. With the "thank you" should also come the admission that you know this was (very) late in coming and you should give them your word that such omissions will not occur again. (And make sure they don't!)

Conclusion

Taking over a school in trouble is a very difficult task. The issues that put the school in jeopardy can be very serious and almost impossible to reverse. However, there are several ways that can help set your school back on a path to success.

What Is Expected From A Medical Office Administrator?

A medical office administrator is a person who is responsible for the day-to-day operations and functioning of a hospital, clinic or health care center. The efficient and smooth functioning of the hospital depends on the skills and the knowledge of this professional, so as such, the person concerned should be proficient and well qualified.

He or she must possess a degree in health service administration, public health, or at least business administration. Apart from educational qualifications, the medical hospital administrator must also possess soft skills like good communication and organizational skills. Thorough knowledge of accounting, insurance policy rules, medical billing and medical law is also a must.

Duties that come within the scope of medical practice include accounting, human resource management and making purchases to ensure the smooth functioning of the office. In addition, this professional would be responsible for the daily and monthly accounts of the hospital or health center in terms of financial details, books being balanced for bank deposits, amount of cash in hand and the yearly budget.

As the human resources manager of the hospital, his duties encompass hiring and firing of employees, reviewing their performances and deciding on the promotions to be granted. He is also the liaison officer for the computer software that is used by the hospital. In case of any major breakdown or problem with the software it is this individual who would get in touch with the software company to get it fixed.

It is yet again this professional who is responsible for all the purchasing that is done in the hospital by either overseeing the job or personally placing orders for goods as and when required. The purchases are varied and can range from small office supplies to large medical equipment. At times he may be helped by an assistant to whom he can delegate the responsibility of making smaller purchases but after having sought his prior approval.

Being responsible for the flow of the office entails an eye for details like planning out the location of the doctors' offices, the front reception, the seating arrangements and other conveniences for the patients. A well planned set up would in turn translate into smooth functioning of the hospital.

Managing a medical office efficiently with good organizational skills is a challenging job and to handle it with proficiency a medical office administrator should possess the ability to multitask and prioritize projects according to their importance. He should have a head for figures as it would not only help him to identify problems in accounting but to solve them as well. He should be able to supervise, manage and motivate the people working under him and be a constant source of inspiration to them.

Ensuring the smooth running of the hospital as well as the office, managing accounts, payrolls as well as medical billing and taking an inventory of stocks from time to time on a regular basis are mandatory responsibilities. In addition possession of good communication skills to be to interact freely with doctors and patients alike is definitely a bonus.

Reflexology and the Elderly

It seems to me that reflexology and working with the elderly is a match made in heaven. Alternatives to medications are always of interest because they are often safer and with fewer side effects.

People usually seem rejuvenated after a reflexology session (and if not, it's because the body needed to rest a bit more). Reflexology definitely shows results and it's proven all the way back to ancient times.

Not only have nursing homes accepted reflexology as a powerful complementary and alternative therapy, reflexology has also found its place in eldercare and hospice.

Reflexology from a well trained reflexologist can do a lot to ensure better health or faster recovery.

Here are some facts that define why reflexology is so essential in hospice and nursing homes:

• Reflexology helps to relieve pain and of course, this makes a person feel good and relaxed. It might reduce the necessity of pain reliever medicines which can have certain side effects, but this will have to be determined by a medical professional only.

• It can really help someone feel rejuvenated with less stiffness and they can carry that into day to day activities with more ease and comfort.

• Blood circulation is increased with reflexology. Increase in circulation ensures speedier recovery. It can also help to improve the lymph, nerve function, muscle function, etc.

• The client can be sitting up or lying down and there's no need to roll over or to disrobe in order to receive and feel the benefits.

• Reflexology helps increase body awareness and is stimulating to the nervous system. Better nerve function can help maintain faster responses and thus able to deal with day to day activities in a better way.

• And, reflexology is safe and compassionate touch, without being too invasive.

The elderly are a large segment of the population and can feel isolated and be lonely, even when they are in facilities like nursing homes. The touch they receive in institutions is mostly for practical purposes and is often mechanical making reflexology a greatly appreciated experience especially because of its attentive and non-invasive qualities.

There are things you need to remember when working with the elderly:

Since the elderly tend to suffer from more illnesses and have more complications from these, always check with a medical professional before beginning to work with anyone who has health issues. This is so much easier to do when the client is in a nursing home or hospice because medical professionals are right there on staff.

Use less pressure when starting to work with an elderly client because their organ systems are older and may be slower than someone who is younger. There's no need to move too deeply or too quickly, certainly not until you have established what the tolerance to the reflexology is, and maybe never if you're working in a hospice setting.

Make the session shorter - there's no need to tax the body. The therapeutic benefits are still there and with a shorter session, you won't be overdoing what they might need or appreciate.

Of course there are always exceptions. I've been working with a client for almost 10 years. She's 94 years young and has been doing yoga for over 50 years. She has the physicality of a 60 year old (one who would be in excellent shape). For longer than I've known her, she's had a massage session and a reflexology session on alternating weeks. She eats well and has never indulged in sweets or desserts.

This is my one exception to the above mentioned rules and also a road map on how to stay healthy and live well.

Eric Hoffer - The Obstacles We Face Daily Present Our Greatest Opportunities

As a young, struggling college student in the 1960's I became entranced with the life, philosophy and writings of the great American thinker Eric Hoffer. Hoffer's life story was almost mystical, his thinking so lucid and the concepts he presented were so fresh that I could not get enough of this great mans ideas. Only now do I fully realize how my adherence, to the thoughts of Mr. Hoffer have positively affected my professional life to this very day.

Eric Hoffer was born in Germany. His family immigrated to America when he was a toddler. He could read English and German fluently by the age of five. His earliest years were spent in poverty, living in tenements in New York City. He lost his sight at the age of seven after a fall that ultimately took the life of his mother. Inexplicably, at the age of 15 his sight returned.

This gift of the return of his eyesight stoked a voracious desire in Hoffer to read everything he could lay his hands on. He was completely without formal education and yet he was one of the most studied, learned men of the 20th century.

Hoffer spent most of his life living in farm camps in California, working as a longshoreman and finally in a one room flat in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco. His first book, "The True Believer", was an immediate classic and stamped him as a most original thinker. "The True Believer" is Hoffer's observations on mass movements and fanaticism. Nazism, Communism, socialism, and early religious movements were topics that this classic book examined and critiqued with scrupulous research and poignant observations.

Owing to a life lived mostly in poverty; Hoffer's comments on the human condition are particularly astute. Hoffer's life was full of obstacles: blindness, loss of his parents at an early age, growing up in a new country without access to education, a lifetime of manual labor and subsistence wages. And yet, this self-educated man has left an indelible mark on all that have read his writings and consider his brilliant thoughts on a wide range of cultural, philosophical and political topics.

As a student reading "The True Believer", I did not realize the lasting effect it would have on my life. Hoffer observed that the struggle to survive, at its most elemental, offered the best promise of a lifetime of fulfillment. The man who must work, must harvest, must create is most satisfied. Man with plenty has too much time to reflect, regret and criticize.

I have been a serial entrepreneur all of my working life. Currently I work with small businesses, inventors, and entrepreneur's to commercialize new product ideas. Each of these individuals and company's possess an unintended compliance with one of Eric Hoffer's most prescient observations: "It still holds true that man is most uniquely human when he turns obstacles into opportunities".

Every time a new technology, product or service is commercially successful an opportunity has overcome an obstacle that the inventor has identified, analyzed and conquered. The world becomes a bit more comfortable, more beautiful, healthier, or a bit safer as a result. It is hard wired into all successful entrepreneur's that there are answers to problems that others can not identify or address.

For the last 40 years, I have read and re-read "The True Believer" more times than I can count. I don't think there is another book that I have ever fully re-read. Each time I pick up this amazing work I learn something new, fresh perspectives and concepts that I can apply to my personal and professional life.

Obstacles represent opportunity. Identifying problems and needs is the first step necessary to providing answers that commercially benefit consumers. As Eric Hoffer so correctly observed, we are "most uniquely human when we turn obstacles into opportunities".

Nursing Home Abuse Warning Signs - You Have Rights!

Making the decision to place a loved one in a nursing home facility is a difficult decision that needs to be thoroughly researched. Despite your diligence in choosing a qualified nursing home or elder care facility, you should beware of the signs of nursing home abuse to ensure your loved one is getting the proper care and is not a victim of abuse or neglect. There are warning signs that can be observed in both Nursing Home Abuse and Nursing Home Neglect providing you keep your eyes open and know what to look for. If, after investigation, you believe your loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect you first need to ensure they are safe, then you need to contact the authorities and finally you should discuss the situation with a qualified nursing home abuse/neglect attorney so that you can fully understand your rights and the compensation you may be entitled to.

Nursing Home Abuse Warning Signs

The obvious signs of Nursing Home Abuse are injuries that you can actually see. For example, if your loved one is constantly developing new cuts, scratches and bruises it is possible that they are a victim of Nursing Home Abuse. If you notice the consistent appearance of physical injuries, it is important to investigate the issue immediately. Ask your loved one if everything is alright and if they are being mistreated. Many times, the resident may not want to discuss their injuries, so you must then follow up with the supervisor, attending doctor as well as analyze the residents charts. Once you have investigated the injuries, it is time for you to decide whether you need to take the appropriate steps to ensure the safety of your loved one and report the abuse to the proper authorities.

Nursing Home Neglect Warning Signs

Nursing Home Neglect is more difficult to diagnose, as the physical signs are not as obvious as the signs of physical abuse. Signs of such neglect are bad hygiene, weight loss, dirty facilities (bathroom, dirty sheets, dirty underwear) and bed sores. All of the above warning signs could be due to non-neglect issues, but should be thoroughly investigated at the time of their discovery. Many elder care residents rely on the nursing home to ensure they are staying hydrated (plenty of water), fed with a well balanced diet, bathed and exercised. The above warning signs could be a sign that the nursing home may be neglecting their responsibility to take care of your loved one. Much like the appropriate action steps required of you in potential physical abuse situations, in a potential neglect situation you need to investigate all avenues while ensuring the safety of your loved one.

First and foremost, if you feel your loved one is being abused or neglected in a nursing home, you need to ensure their safety. After your investigation of the abuse with the elder care facility administrator and attending doctor you should tell the patients primary care physician about your suspicion of abuse as well as your family and report the abuse to Police. Elder abuse is a crime with both criminal and civil penalties. Your next step is to protect your rights by contacting a qualified nursing home abuse attorney. A nursing abuse attorney will have experience handling these types of cases and will know what to look for to aid your civil case against the facility. There are a lot of factors that go into this type of lawsuit and it is not a battle that can be fought effectively without proper representation.

The Basics Of Nursing Entrepreneurship

Those certified nurses who are enthusiastic about pushing forward with some nursing entrepreneurship ideas will likely have a lot to be excited about. Because nurses have been through rigorous academic training and have assuredly earned their degrees, they will have much to offer the world. By setting up their own businesses, they can strike out independently and, in a sense, be their own bosses. Most nurses who try this should at least pick up some basics in business management so they know how to go about the process. They will also need to begin finding clients, which can be done rather easily with some tips and guidelines.

There are several ways in which nurses can use their skills to help patients. First off, they may very well find that some men and women have just recently arrived back from the hospital and need some sort of at-home care. Men and women can provide this kind of care, sometimes around the clock. If they will be caring for younger children, then they will need to have a formal discussion with the parents so that everyone knows what to expect out of the situation. If the young patients are not in immediate medical danger, then this might be the perfect nursing job.

Likewise, some senior citizens may have an acute illness but may wish to stay in their own homes. To avoid going to a nursing home or some other similarly themed retirement community, they will need nursing help. Some people may wish to build their nursing businesses on patients who are in this type of situation. If nurses can develop an outstanding reputation within the community, then they may make quite rapid progress in bringing new patients on board. Keeping files on the special needs of each particular patient is a good idea.

Some of the best nurses may go on to establish their own agencies after they graduate from school. Those who exhibit managerial skills may eventually find themselves overseeing a whole network of nurses. These nurses will be sent to the houses of different clients in the name of the agency. Assuming that excellent care is given, the agency will only continue to build itself up through the months and years. Some agencies will be in the business of making money while others will be non-profit in nature. There are advantages to each of these setups.

Developing skills in a broad array of areas will best prepare nurses to go into business for themselves. They will have to be eminently familiar with biology, anatomy, physiology, and a range of other sciences. It may even be best if nurses have a particular area of specialization that they can tout. Nurses will also have to be excellent communicators. Because they are often liaisons between patients and doctors, they will often be on call and may work long shifts. An attention to detail, especially on non-routine medical tasks, is also a must.

In short, when researching nursing entrepreneurship, men and women will have to take a number of things into consideration. As long as they set clear goals and have a plan for reaching those goals, they should be setting themselves up for success. As they begin to become more familiar with being self-employed, they should develop a method of completing tasks efficiently.

Copyright (c) 2012 Nurse Entrepreneur Network

Brain Damage and Personal Injury

Brain damage can occur in a variety of ways, but is considered to be any type of injury to the structure of the brain that disrupts or prevents normal brain function or healthy brain development. Brain damage can occur after birth (acquired, non-traumatic or traumatic brain injuries) or before birth (congenital brain injuries).

Most brain damage that occurs after birth is due to an injury of some sort. Unfortunately, many of these injuries are due to accidents that were caused by negligence on the part of someone else. Car accidents account for the majority of traumatic brain injuries. In these cases the driver of the car that caused the accident may be held accountable for the injury.

Similarly, brain damage injuries that occur before or during birth may also be the result of someone else's negligence. In these cases the doctor or other member of the medical staff could have made a mistake and caused the injury, or made the injury worse. In these cases you may be able to seek legal counsel to help you determine what your legal rights are, and to help you recoup some of your monetary loss.

To help you gain more insight into brain damage, it is first important to understand the different types of injuries and how they can occur. Let's begin by taking a look at congenital brain injuries. These types of injuries can be caused by a trauma, genetic defect, infection, poisoning, anoxia, or hypoxia. The result can be quite devastating and can appear in the form of conditions such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, epilepsy, or dyslexia.

Cerebral palsy has been linked to several causes, including trauma during birth, premature birth, infection, poor oxygen or blood supply to a developing fetus, and infant diseases such as encephalitis or meningitis. This condition is often a result of a birth injury and can manifest itself in a variety of neurological disorders that can prove quite debilitating.

Down syndrome is another type of birth disorder that is caused by the presence of an extra chromosome in each cell. The condition can lead to mental retardation, gastrointestinal issues, and heart conditions. Down syndrome occurs more so among the children born to women over the age of 40.
Fetal alcohol syndrome is an incurable brain disorder that is a result of the mother consuming alcohol while pregnant. This can lead to mental retardation, growth issues, and low birth weight. Children with fetal alcohol syndrome often have problems with their central nervous system, as well as behavioral issues.

Epilepsy is another incurable brain disorder that can develop before birth. Epilepsy causes the brain to produce intermittent bursts of electrical energy that can be quite intense and adversely affect overall brain function. The condition can manifest itself by producing convulsions and loss of consciousness. Epilepsy has been linked to brain development problems, as well as birth injuries. It can also develop later in life.

Dyslexia is a common type of learning disability that causes the brain to misinterpret what the eyes see and then translate into written or spoken language. Letter and words often appear incorrect, backwards, or cannot be recognized properly. It is not known exactly what causes dyslexia to occur.

Finally, congenital hydrocephalus is a type of brain damage that presents itself with an excessive amount of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain during the birth process. This condition is caused by prenatal bleeding, infections, or other genetic disorders. It is often associated with other types of birth defects.

Acquired brain damage can occur after birth, and can be classified as either non-traumatic, or traumatic. These types of injuries often are the result of accidents, violent acts, sports injuries, or from other conditions such as neurodegenerative diseases or internal conditions.

Traumatic brain injuries can be either closed head injuries, or open head injuries. Closed head injuries do not involve objects penetrating the skull. Open head injuries involve objects penetrating the skull and directly impacting the brain.

Symptoms of both closed and open head injuries can range a great deal from very subtle to very severe. There can be many different cognitive and behavioral changes, as well as various types of physical ailments.

A traumatic brain injury can show up in the form of a concussion, blood pooling (hematoma), bleeding (hemorrhage), bruising, or skull fractures. Infections, epilepsy, intracranial pressure, hydrocephalus, ischemia, and vasospasm are common secondary injuries that can result from traumatic brain injuries.

It is often quite difficult to diagnose traumatic brain injuries because the symptoms can range a great deal and may be accompanied by other conditions. Imaging tests, monitoring of the length of time of unconsciousness, and the Glasgow Coma Scale are common tools used to diagnose these conditions.

The end result of a traumatic brain injury can also be quite varied, and may require nothing more than bed rest, all the way up to complicated neurosurgical procedures, and lifelong rehabilitation treatments. Patients who have suffered only mild injuries may be able to fully recover, while individuals with moderate to severe injuries may never recover. Permanent disabilities, loss of brain function, coma, a persistent vegetative state, and even death can result.

Non-traumatic brain injuries occur from internal or neurodegenerative conditions that cause damage to the neurons. Infection, alcohol abuse, hypoxia, anoxia, stroke, and tumors can all cause this damage. The result is a progressive deterioration of brain function; issues with memory, speaking, muscle control, problem solving and reasoning are all quite common.

If you or a loved one has experienced brain damage, or had any of these conditions made worse by someone else's negligence, a lawyer who specializes in personal injury can help. These types of attorneys will evaluate your case, explain your legal rights, and establish a course of action. He or she can determine how much monetary compensation you are entitled to receive as well. A personal injury attorney has plenty of experience handling these types of claims and knows exactly how to take your case to court. He or she will handle all aspects of the case from gathering evidence, to locating expert witnesses. This will allow you to focus on your or your loved one's recovery, while getting back to some state of normalcy.