Technola : Public Interest Law & Technology Updates & Commentary : Matthew Burnett & Kate Bladow : Tech Advice for the Non-Profit Legal Sector

Recognizing that nonprofits have integrated teleconferences, videoconferences, and webinars into their daily routine,  The Goodman Center, which helps nonprofit organizations improve their communications with funders, stakeholders, and the public, surveyed the community to find out the good, the bad, and the ugly about these events. The result: Dialing In, Logging On, Nodding Off: The True Costs of Teleconferences, Videoconferences and Webinars, a report that suggests the nonprofit community has a lot of not-so-good meetings, trainings, and conferences.

The Goodman Center is sponsoring a webinar on July 17, 2009 to review the results of their report. Registration information is available on The Goodman Center's website. - K

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Yesterday, I introduced you to Andy Goodman. Today, I want to direct you specifically to his April 2008 newsletter - Why Do You Do What You Do? While there have been several topics that have caught might attention - How High Is My Eye-Q?; Like This, Only Better; Click. Damn. Click. Damn. Click. Goodbye! - and briefly made me think, the April newsletter has stayed with me for a while.

Why do I do what I do? I definitely didn't have an answer when I opened the envelope. I know that I don't do it for the money. I don't do it because it is easy to leave the work at the office. My husband's answer, "For God and Country. Well . . . at least Country." wasn't very helpful. And copying from someone else on the WDYDWYD website seems wrong. For right now, I guess, I do what I do because I've asked to be given work where I could do the most good, and this is where I've ended up.

Through the process, I've realized that having an answer is important. It doesn't necessarily have to be the "right" answer, but on the days when everything goes wrong, you get yelled at and criticized, and your clients are calling repeatedly just to tell you that you're dirt, don't you need to know why you put up with it all?

So, why do you do what you? - K

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From the title, you might be hoping for a guide to online romance in the legal aid and pro bono community. Well, I'm sorry to disappoint. This is not that article. (Maybe you want to head over and check out the networking opportunities at the ABA Equal Justice Conference?)

This article is really an ode to Andy Goodman and the resources that he and his colleagues produce to help progressive businesses and public interest groups "reach people more effectively." Usually, that means getting them tell their stories better. I stumbled upon Andy Goodman accidentally. I was looking for marketing and outreach best practices and picked up The Communications Toolkit from Cause Communications. Andy Goodman's name seemed to be everywhere, so I looked him up online to see what else he might know. My online research ended with me signing up to receive two books - Why Bad Ads Happen to Good Causes and Why Bad Presentations Happen to Good Causes - and his newsletter, Free-Range Thinking. It took me a while to pick up the books, and I regret not reading them earlier. They look dense but are quick reads with lots of useful images and valuable information.

• Bad Presentations is a simple discussion of what works and how to give a great presentation. It should be a necessary read for everyone advocating for good causes. At the very least, if you use PowerPoint, for your audience's sake, please read Chapter 4.

• Bad Ads is also a great resource. While this book concentrates on creating big, glossy ads with great design, the principles that Andy lays out aren't just about those big glossy ads. Getting people's attention and having them remember your message is just as important if you are creating simple fliers that promote your website or a fundraising event.

The newsletter is just as impressive. In this day of e-newsletters, it refreshing to have a small four page newsletter arrive by snail mail each month. It covers a wide variety of topics related to advocacy and communications. And true to his message, Andy tells stories to involve the reader. You can sign up for several of Andy's workshops on his site. However, if you want to hear how he presents for free, you can check out a recording at the Social Innovation Conversations' website. - K

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