Archive for the ‘Strategic Planning’ Category

Evolution: Darwinian vs Creation

Friday, September 18th, 2009

3255645967_6c6953b7361.jpg 

pic by Sparrows Friend

evolution in spirit or truth

pic by PLOtOnAnTiQuE

Scientific proof, a proof of concept and blind faith are three variables from which one can decide to operate. The reality of science provides a mix of emotions and reactions as discovery provides more about the inner workings of human kind development. 

Instinct as it relates to evolution does not mean anyone has to agree is always appropriate but one must agree in spirit it is there.  The same must be agreed upon as it relates to Creation.  Scientifically, such will likely never be confirmed, however the concept is not a bad place to place the unknown or to put ones faith towards. 

I would like to place one thought into the Creation concept.  The science is present showing the inner spirit of species to care about one another and to live in harmony. 

Society has created formally into law the means for it to be institutionalized and that is through organizations known as nonprofits and non governmental entities (NGO’s).  The role of nonprofits to be the base to the moral means of reaching the highest level of a caring society I foresee as a growing trend.

Further, I foresee the growing of more partnerships between for-profits and nonprofits to balance the return to society and the return to investors. 

Evolution of society continues and both theories are relative and not mutually exclusive.

Nonprofits should find those partners that they can evolve with and strengthen those bonds.  The strongest will survive. 

Energy Policy Burns Money While We Wait

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

what is the right way

pic by tsudohnimh

Congress is famous for complaining and playing political games with important decisions. In the meantime, businesses spend millions to support foreign countries due to US reliance on foreign oil.

Nonprofits do not need to wait for Congress to begin to lower its energy costs.  Nonprofits should look to foundations and individuals to support the one time cost of installing alternative systems and end up saving in their operating costs.

In the states of California and Massachusetts there is the option to go solar and not have to buy the system.  Thereby, lowering the costs to a few thousand to have installed.

Another option for nonprofits is to think more about establishing cooperatives to lower their energy costs.  Bulk purchasing and implementing a plan energy conservation program as a group will save tens of thousands of dollars when done in conjunction with others.

In a sampling of providers in any particular zip code there seems to be a sufficient number of organizations in any geographic area to make this work.

What is a Lie?

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009

Speech or awful intent

pic by wstera2

Propaganda based on distortions if used long enough destroys the integrity of any argument. 

The longer a person can remember a false fact the more likely the person will come to believe the fact to be true. 

Therefore, if a person believes something is true or a portion of the statement is true then it becomes more difficult that the person can be found guilty of a lie.  However, the harm due to the lie will have been bestowed upon an entity or an individual already.

The freedom of speech was meant to allow a group in the minority to be able to promote their views, have equal access,  gain recognition and ultimately representation.

There is nothing like experiencing first hand the harm that others in the US have experienced to know the truth.  Fairness only works when everyone plays by the intent of same rules.  However, individuals do choose to manipulate the rules to control outcomes for their own greater good.

Nonprofits have an opportunity as charity organizations to be above the image of lies and manipulation.

Nonprofits can start with bringing salaries to the level of 99% of the population.  According to the Wall Street Journal a salary of $400,000 places an individual in the top 1%.  These large salaries are harming the nonprofit industries reputation as being charitable organizations. 

Health Care Unfunded Mandate to States

Monday, September 14th, 2009

progressive approach to health care

pic by Tobias Higbie

One congressman’s disrupted remark during the President’s Speech “you lie” has focused talks for health care on not allowing illegal immigrants to benefit from health care reform.

To make sure there is a system that is easy to use, lets not invent a new one.  Use the social security number as the required verification process and have everyone use the one line verification process in place today.  The only issue that may arise if care is necessary upon entering the US legally is that the social security number has not been obtained.  I would suggest that the appropriate alternative documents should be those allowing permanent entry up to a certain date.

The argument that verification will prevent legal residents from getting care would highlight flaws in the health care system that need to be fixed.  The automation of health care records, the use of the social security numbers for verification will also have an assurance means to validate the patient information is matched to the right individual.

A Social Security number is the gateway to many benefits and anyone who advocates not to use it has the right not to want services funded by a government entity or mechanism but they should not have the right to prevent others from making that choice.

If such action is to take place then Congress must allow the health care industry or states not to be penalized to use their free care pools or charitable dollars to fund the health care of these individuals.  It is a policy set for financial failure if Congress does not address health care for anyone in the US.  It will open the states to be able to sue the federal government for placing a financial burden on them for a population they are not to be responsible for. 

The failure of the federal government to prevent illegal immigration in the millions is their funding liability and not the states.  The states should join together in a class action lawsuit to have the federal government pay for services that laws make states responsible to provide.  Two of the most expensive areas are education and health care.

While I do not agree that the education and health care should be ignored, it is not reasonable to have it fall to the states.  Therefore, if there are requirements to prevent illegal immigrants from being covered under health care reform there must be a provision that will stand up to court challenges that specifically provides states and health care providers with the legal means to refuse to treat those that can not pay and show proof of legal status.  Someone has to pay for the health care services.

Better Planning Just Might Get Us Somewhere

Tuesday, September 8th, 2009

usa choices on what path to take
pic by torbakhooper

What does the Electrical Grid Initiative, High Speed Rail Initiative, Internet Initiative, and the Gas Line Initiative have in common?

  1. They require environmental approvals.
  2. They require bringing heavy equipment and laborers into remote locations
  3. They require large sums of capital to complete.

I have a suggestion for maximizing the dollars and having greatest impact.

Since high speed rail brings most people to population centers it make sense to use the same corridor to connect the electrical grid  to bring alternative energy to the population centers.  It can also be used to power the high speed rail system.

Since the rail and electrical grid are laying track to transport or running wires for power it would make sense to run the Internet along such routes and thereby creating for every community along the route easy access to tap the resource as a rural community.  The internet cables could be placed in large underground prefab  tunnels along the route to allow for expanded IT technology business which can pay the government for the use of the assets.

On the other side of the track place the underground gas pipeline to bring the fuel to many communities along the route and the larger population centers.

The utilization of the billions to be spent for these four initiatives in a coordinated fashion will allow for thousands of more citizens of the US to feel the positive impact because more projects will be able to be completed.

It is not so much about whether there will be an environmental impact, but why would positive changes have to create four separate environmental impacts.  The joining of the initiatives mitigates the impact of building the infrastructure.

The joining of the initiatives makes it easier to mobilize and deliver the workforce and materials for each of the initiatives.  Nothing like using the same route to coordinate the projects in the same amount of time and possibly keeping individuals employed longer to deliver on multiple projects.

There is not enough money to fund every project for each initiative, however; more projects could be funded  and the number of communities  effected increased if these projects used the same route and the projects managed jointly.

Is Your Investments Getting a Fair Chance to Grow?

Friday, September 4th, 2009

mickey takes on the front running for hero
pic by J Garrettley

Just when you think it is safe to start investing again, there are more surprises.  The Feds agreed with banks to withhold from people who have borrowed money under Tarp, or how one ranked under the Stress tests.  It took a court order to release some of the information.  Now there is another way to beat the small organization or individual investor with high-frequency trading.  It is a technique where lots of trades are executed and canceled in seconds to get a pulse of what is going on in the market to find the best deals and make money.  First, I would ask how many organizations or individuals have the ability to execute and cancel trades in seconds.  Second,  the argument that it makes a more efficient market, I find false since it makes money for a chosen few.  The financial markets need to be open and transparent at all times to be trustworthy.  If the market place can not be regulated appropriately then just maybe it is time to stop certain functions from occurring.  It might be radical for some but it is better than having others make money on the small businesses and individuals.

I guess it is time organizations and individuals create their own heroes to look out for their interest.  I nominate Mickey!!!

Roles of Women According to Who?

Thursday, September 3rd, 2009

woman and the church seem to be in conflict
pic by Terry McCombs

The Vatican office headed by Cardinal Wlliam Levada is investigating the leadership of the Council of Women Religious, a group that represents 95% of the nuns in the United States.  It is the second time that the male hierarchy seems to be looking to rein in the perceived independent nuns.  It seems odd that an institution that has been around for centuries would continue to subjugate women to complementary, subordinate, and expected workforce roles.  These women of faith dedicated to serving humanity in Christ’s name are doing just fine and should be allowed to continue to serve their communities as they find appropriate.  Much of the community outreach to nonprofits from the faith based community has been conducted by the woman of faith.  The increase in faith among the population of the United States I would be willing to say is due to the creative ways of these women to get out the message of God.

Faith is a strong powerful force in getting one to heal and overcoming barriers to create a better society for individuals and society as a whole.  No one group or individual should try to control or censure how women provide their meaningful service to society with God and Church.

I urge more nonprofits to join with the faith base organizations of their community to maximize the strength that each brings to the community.

Chris: Practice

Tuesday, September 1st, 2009

practice_cr3.jpg

Thanks Chris for reminding me that only with practice does one do better.

Good government requires active participation by its citizens to be successful. 

If an athlete could pick to practice with the team whenever the likelihood of success would be lower. 

If a student is left to decide what is worthy for their education most would fail to obtain adequate knowledge to sufficiently pass a proficiently test. 

A democratic society of government is not about having passive participation.  The anti lobbying provisions that nonprofits have caused too many organizations to keep silent and watch.  As the largest employment sector in the country it is time to speak up and be heard.

Health Care (affordable and for all)

Education (A High School diploma and a minimum of an Associate degree)

Smart Growth (energy generation, energy  distribution ,transportation and Internet)

The role of practicing is to always provide an opportunity for improvement and having the maximum preparedness for the task at hand.  In creating good public policy there must be the ability to set forward good intentions and to modify components where the result is not the intent.  History has shown that words used in the passing of legislation some times has unintended consequences.  These unintended consequences are the result of individuals or entities utilizing the law for personnel gain or craft ideology direct. 

As stewards of our government both individuals and organizations must participate to ensure the best balance and interpretation of intent.  It take practice for any government to create fairness in its system of governance that balances its fairness to all individuals and organizations.

Failure of Memorial Hospital

Monday, August 31st, 2009

medicine quack

The New York Times Magazine article describes in detail how a for-profit hospital chain dealt with its patients during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrinia.  The allocation of health care during a crisis that may have resulted in the death of individuals.  What everyone  should learn from these past mistakes is a protocol must be in place showing that a hospital evacuate safely regardless of their medical condition people in its care.  If not then the hospital should not be able to function in providing care until such time.  The safety of an individual is not to say that the same level of care can be performed but that the individual can be transported to another location in a responsible amount of time to minimize the risk to their health.  Memorial Hospital clearly did not send an adequate  distress call that people were dieing and clearly government was not prepared to respond.

A health care system must not tie individuals to anyone system of care because even in diasters it is hard to see which entity will exceed and which will fail to achieve success in the care its provides.  The Memorial Hospital failure shows how even when resources were available an inadequate response can result in death.

Health care reform will makes it easier for the market place to punish those whom provide a level of care that the price is more afforadble somewhere else.  The highest quality at the best price only works when the customer is informed of results and can conduct comparative pricing.    Health care is considered a big ticket item and in most cases reviewed by the customer.

The is a good opportunity under a cooperative health care cooperation for many health care professionals and entities to join together and yet be stand alone organizations.

Nonprofits over the next few months should join the conversation and see how they can participate and improve health care for their organization and community.

Health Care Smoke Screen

Thursday, August 6th, 2009

what’s wrong with everyone having access to the same care

Do nonprofit health care insurers or government insurers make better choices in support of individuals?

Does nonprofit health care provide better choices for health care where outcomes come first?

There are many arguments against changing the current system because government is involved.  Everyone should be reminded that government is the single largest payer of health care expenses. Employers are the second highest payer and the individuals are the third.

Each of these three payers are being hurt by the level of health care expenses and the uncontrollable  increases that are being incurred by a Health Care system that has equal results to much cheaper health care in other industrial nations.

The problem comes down to two simple areas; profit and risk protection.