Where Are You Getting Your News?
Two weeks ago, I met with my colleagues from the six Minnesota Initiative Foundations for a presidents’ meeting. We had several guests including Steven J. Rosenstone, MnSCU Chancellor; Michael Langley, CEO of the new organization Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Economic Development Partnership; Bill Blazer, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs and Business Development at the Minnesota Chamber; and Curt Brown, a staff writer at the Minneapolis Star Tribune. I’ve shared before just how valuable I find all of these connections and discussions.
For today, I really want to focus on the opportunity to work with Curt and build a better relationship with metro-based media, ultimately to make sure they know about of all the good things happening in our region.
This isn’t the first time news coverage has come up during conversations at SWIF. Southwest Minnesota boasts award-winning newspapers and top-notch radio stations and public access channels. And, Pioneer Public Television out of Appleton is a great regional asset. But unlike any other region in Minnesota, we don’t have one central news source that’s a go-to for our region.
If you live here, you might watch television news coverage from the Twin Cities, Sioux Falls or Alexandria. Newspaper coverage is likely local. But sources are unlimited if you pick up your smartphone or sit down at your computer. The news industry and the way we share information is changing so quickly.
So, how does this affect our region and the stories that are (or aren’t) told about it? This connection to a major Minnesota news source creates a great opportunity to share our stories, but we need your help. You know better than anyone about the amazing new things your business is doing, or about the person who stepped up to make a huge difference in your community.
What story do you want to hear told? Please share by posting a comment or connecting with me at sherryr@swifoundation.org.
photo credit: Mustafa Khayat
Ignore the Critics and Be Inspired to Listen
As leaders, we have access to so many resources—including plenty that come through our email inboxes—to improve our skills and change our thinking. Something that’s resonated with me was introduced by the International Listening Leadership Institute. Their e-newsletter is one that I always try to take time to read. It enforces great messages about the importance of listening to enhance leadership effectiveness. They offer programs and coaching all focused on being what they call a Listening Leader.
I truly want to be a Listening Leader and know I can always be raising the bar on this skill. There are just SO many distractions in our lives. And with technology, there are more than ever before. Effective leadership doesn’t just happen. Something as simple as a weekly tip, like one from earlier this month to “Ignore the critics and naysayers,” is just the spark I need to get through the daily distractions and get my focus back on my leadership and its impact.
What is something that inspires you and your own leadership?
photo credit: Taylor Burnes
SWIF Board of Directors Welcomes Tim Connell
I’d like to introduce our newest-elected member of the SWIF Board of Directors, Tim Connell of Luverne. We are so excited to have Tim join this group of outstanding soutwhest Minnesota leaders.
Tim has a strong passion for his community and a perspective that makes him an excellent addition to our Board of Directors. Through his experience as a judge, he brings important knowledge and insight about the needs of people in our communities and region. He is committed to southwest Minnesota and, along with the entire board, will help steer our organization in a direction that best serves our region.”
He is a retired judge of the Fifth Judicial District, Rock County, Luverne, Minn. Tim is also a high school graduate of Luverne High School, has a B.A. in Humanities from St. John’s University and received his Juris Doctor Degree from William Mitchell College of Law in 1976. He was in private practice for 11 years before being appointed judge and is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association.
Tim is very active in the Luverne community, serving as chair of the Rock County Children’s Justice Initiative and Rock County Collaborative 6-12 Work Team. He is also active in various civic groups including his church, Rotary Club, Rock County Community Education Board and many others. He lives in Luverne with his wife, Connie. They have three adult children.
Please join me in welcoming Tim to SWIF!
Warming Up to 2012
If we’re talking temperatures, our first week of January seemed more like the first week of March here in southwest Minnesota. I’ve heard mixed reviews about our winter so far. It’s been so much easier for us to travel throughout the region. It’s also made my long walks with my new standard poodle puppy, Lilly, very nice without either of us getting too cold!
But I know many people are more than ready to see snow and get going with the outdoor activities that it brings. So much is affected by this mild, dry weather—from leisure time, to businesses, and even thinking ahead to the spring planting season. This winter is filled with CHANGE that impacts many people in many different ways.
There are more changes to come in 2012, but I believe it is going to be a great year for SWIF and all of our friends and partners!
Five things I’m excited about in the New Year:
- Plans for new staff at the Foundation to help us raise the bar on our technology and data base management and a new leader in donor development.
- Kicking off a new brand promise that has unlimited possibilities!
- Being on the Council on Foundation Board of Directors as we conduct a search and hire a new President to take our field forward at the National level.
- Engaging and adding new communities in our early childhood and community foundation work.
- Meeting new leaders and donors who want to make a difference in southwest Minnesota AND of course, staying connected with all our relationships of leaders and donors.
What’s at the top of your list for 2012? Leave a comment to share what you are excited about.
Guest Post: Investing in More than the Markets
In the midst of our year-end work and celebrations, many of us can’t help but think about numbers. I asked SWIF Controller Margie Nelsen to share some of SWIF’s numbers as we look back at past years and gear up for 2012.
Enjoy and Happy New Year!
Sherry
Margie Nelsen
Investing in More Than the Markets
By Margie Nelsen, SWIF Controller
The calendar year-end has quickly arrived. Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF), like other businesses and organizations, is in the process of wrapping up the calendar year financially.
SWIF is in its 25th year and in those years, we have seen the ups and downs along with everyone else. When SWIF was organized, the DOW hovered at around 1,900. Today, it is hovering around 12,300. When you look at the market in this perspective it shines a different light on things. I’m not discounting the trials and hardships of what we are facing today, but it shows that SWIF is here for the long haul and as such, endowments are meant for perpetuity.
We are organized to serve our mission into our future which includes those in our region that, as staff and board today, we will never meet. They are the people, neighbors, businesses, communities, leaders and children of our future. These people are as much a part of our service scope as the people we meet and talk with today. So, we invest with the intention that we will be here into perpetuity as well.
When we look back and track our investment progress, we closed our fiscal year in June ending on a positive note, bringing our average investment return rate of 8.24 percent over our 25 years. Since then, we have seen a market loss bringing our average to around 7.76 percent.
However, SWIF continues to grow not just because of the market, but because there are wonderful people that support the region we serve through us.
May you and yours have a Happy Holiday Season!
Margie
What is your organization’s, business’s or family’s outlook for 2012? Leave a comment to let us know what you’re most looking forward to in the New Year.
