Session Descriptions
Pre-Conference Sessions
Wednesday, November 9th
2 Sessions: 8am – 12pm and 1 – 5pm: Energy + Health Training (extra fee of $25)
Don Ryan
We are excited to offer a half-day pre-conference training that provides information and resources around how to safely increase the energy efficiency of homes. Sealing a home without proper ventilation can have serious health implications from reduced indoor air quality to moisture and mold problems, and this training will provide tools to help understand these effects and how they can be countered. This training is centered on how the basics of building science can inform work scope decisions and ensure there are not unintended effects from the work we are doing. Resources provided will include sample work specifications and step-by-step instruction sheets that can be used on worksites. This curriculum was developed through a partnership with the National Center for Healthy Housing, Habitat for Humanity, ClearCorps, and a team of energy and housing experts as part of an initiative called Energy+Health.
Thursday, November 10th
8am – 1pm: Current and Incoming Board President’s Training (extra fee of $75)
Michela Perrone
Are you currently serving in the critical leadership role of Board President or will be in the near future? How would you rate your skills in the following areas:
- Setting Strategic Direction for a nonprofit Organization;
- Holding people accountable;
- Motivating board members to get the job done;
- Recruiting and Acknowledging Board Members?
If you are currently serving as the Board President or are about to take on that responsibility it is critical to the success of the organization that you are able to perform all of the above functions and more.
Join Dr. Michela Perrone of MMP Associates for a training that can’t be missed by anyone currently serving, or about to serve in the critical leadership role of the Board President or Chair. Learn strategies and practical information on how to set goals and hold people accountable, deal with difficult people and acknowledge others for their hard work and contribution.
Calling all Executive Directors! (extra fee of $75)
Melissa Flynn
Make this the year you embark on a future filled with professional success and achievement. Expand your leadership, impact and versatility, while producing sustainable results. Participants can narrow the gap between the impact they currently have and the impact you want to achieve. The work starts by exploring your skills and assumptions, your intentions, and your values to move you toward new possibilities for you and your organization. It all starts with you.
Conference Sessions Friday, November 11th
9:30 – 10:45am
The Financial Services Industry – Need Money? Just Ask Us!
Frank Hammond, Alan Sisco
This session will provide attendees with an overview of the various funding, volunteer, and engagement opportunities available to Rebuilding Together in the Financial Services industry. Affiliate leaders will learn about the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), the Financial Services Roundtable, and other opportunities to gather support for their chapters. Best practices and strategies to “make the ask” will be discussed. *Suggested for Staff Members and New Affiliates
Safe at Home: When Doing More with Less Isn’t Enough
Jerry Zuniga
Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley is celebrating 5 years of a successful Safe at Home program this year. This presentation will share the lessons learned and best practices. Jerry will share statistics, lifecycle, and how to best define a Safe at Home program to make it fit for your affiliate. Jerry will also discuss sub-contractors, liability, challenges that come with mobile homes, vendors that they recommend, and ways to expand your program.
Affiliate Collaboration Workshop
Cy Baumann, David Gooler, Mary Garcia, Deanna Johnson, Steve Carpenter
This panel will describe the functions of the Southern California Council and how the Council interfaces and interacts with the local affiliates. This session will focus the audience to consider what features of the Council could be of benefit to their local affiliates. Issues, obstacles, and impediments that were encountered and may still exist will be described. The way the Council operates and the experience gained by efforts of the Southern California affiliates will be shared with the network, including the strengths and areas needing improvement. *Suggested for Board Members
Engaging the Faith Based Community
John Albers, Sandy Walton
Rebuilding Together is not a faith-based organization, but its mission is a perfect fit for local faith-based organizations (churches, synagogues, and other groups). Often, Rebuilding Together is seeking teams of workers who are mission-minded, include a variety of skills, and can provide some significant leadership for a project. Faith-based organizations are seeking an efficient means to engage with their community but lack a structure to engage with their neighbors in need.
Several Rebuilding Together affiliates have strong ties to the faith-based community and have regularly engaged teams of volunteers on projects, on National Rebuilding Day and throughout the year. These affiliates engage the faith community in ways that are unique to their community and serve their local needs. The panel will provide a brief overview of how they engage the faith community, and then engage affiliate leaders in a brainstorming session on how to more proactively engage their faith community.
Creating a Culture of Accountability with Boards and Staff
Amber Hamilton
This session will explore challenges, approaches, and tools to better define expectations and ensure responsibilities are met by boards and staff. If you have ever struggled to make sure that people have followed up with tasks or completed assignments, this session will give you tools to lead the team to better accountability.
Blower Door Test Instruction and Live Demonstration with an Energy Efficiency Discussion
Jonathan Merrick
This session will provide a hands-on demonstration of how a Blower Door Test system is set up, ran, and operated. Using Blower Door equipment you can quantify the quality of your work. This is not only an advantage to see where you might be falling short, but a great way to let volunteers know how much their effort makes a difference. This will allow affiliates to tell the story of their energy efficient repairs more effectively and accurately, using a saving to investment ratio. The presentation will review common energy efficient repairs, and the value of those repairs.
Friday, November 11th, 11:15am – 12:30pm
Write the Grants Foundations Want to Fund
Kevin Heuer, Ryan C. Albright
This session will cover how to set a framework for success, elements of strong and weak proposals, and proven strategies to acquire and maintain funding from foundations. You will walk away with a sample of issues to include where the money isn’t; finding funders that fit; a breakdown of budgets; and how to craft a compelling case with a logical narrative, seductive outcome, and an airtight budget.
Rebuilding a Neighborhood
Joseph G. Hejka
Attendees of this session will learn how to develop action plans to improve neighborhoods, work with other entities and governmental units, and measure results. Oakland County’s concept is to cluster the homes together to create a positive impact on a particular community. Joseph will share the benefits of seeing the neighborhood visually improved after the workday, having increased media exposure, empowering more residents, and having appearances by county and U.S. officials. *Suggested for Board Members and Executive Directors
The Work of the Board: How to Govern Effectively and Support Efficiently *For Board Members with Staff
Michela Perrone
The effectiveness of the Board and of the Executive Director is a determining factor in the success of an organization. Without effective board and staff leadership, organizations lack direction and oversight and often flounder. The partnership between the Executive Director and the Board is essential in making sure that organizations accomplish their mission and do so successfully. This session will explore the role of the Board and the role of the Executive Director and clarify mutual parameters of authority and responsibility. The session will address the governance and support obligations for the Board as a whole and the legal standards for individual Board Members. Best practices will be shared for Board structures, systems and meetings. *Suggested for Board Members with Staff
Public Relations and Marketing: Getting to Know You
Valerie Aubert
In this session you will receive ideas for how to get attention from your community, build successful partnerships, and work successfully with the media.
Valerie will discuss the importance of “Making Yourself Available and Meeting Prospective Partners”. Sometimes it’s who’s in the room, not what’s on the agenda. Valerie stresses to be on committees and panels that are relative to the work of Rebuilding Together, whether it’s presenting at conferences or having a booth at a neighborhood event. There will also be a discussion about Twitter and Facebook, e-newsletters, and the importance of keeping your website current.
*Suggested for Staff Members
Resource Allocation – Covering the Business of Rebuilding Together
Melissa Flynn
Join Melissa Flynn for a session to begin a critical conversation around how affiliates can fully cover the cost of doing business by using key budget strategies. Melissa will review strategies for effective project budgeting. Learn to leverage your affiliate’s funding creatively to cover both project and indirect costs. Practical examples of budgets will also be shared.
Healthy Homes Overview and Unmanaged Moisture
Tina Lohr, Sandie Branan, Amanda Walz
Tina and Sandie will provide an understanding of how moisture affects every aspect of the house. They will share tools to troubleshoot and access the level of urgency on the area, and recognize what is repairable and when less is best. This session will go over how to visually recognize moisture problems, to trace them back to possible sources, and discuss the possible remedies. Once you understand unmanaged moisture in the home, you can create cost effective solutions and improve the quality of life for the homeowner. During this session Amanda Walz will also provide an overview of the healthy home initiative, what the National Office is doing, and what affiliates can look forward to in the future around healthy homes training and funding.
Friday, November 11th, 2:30 – 3:45pm
Service Learning as a Creative Partnership
Heather Stafford Gay, Dave Christensen
This session will highlight a successful partnership that formed with the affiliate and a private, nonprofit technical college, utilizing service learning as a leverage for student participation. The presenters will provide a model for Rebuilding Together affiliates with the needed tools to replicate a similar arrangement, and share lessons learned from their experience. Technical colleges and local affiliates can partner for potential, shared fundraising and grant initiatives.
*Suggested for Staff Members
Rebuilding Together New Orleans’ Deconstruction and Salvage Program
Sean Vissar
Rebuilding Together New Orleans (RTNO)’s Deconstruction and Salvage Program acts as both an earned income strategy and material provider, which in turn supports the entire organization’s operations. Revenue generated through project fees of service and sales of reclaimed materials from its Preservation Salvage Store directly fund organization wide expenses reducing the need to rely on outside funding sources. This presentation will demonstrate how RTNO’s Deconstruction and Salvage Program is playing a crucial role in reducing blighted and storm damaged properties from New Orleans while funneling both the materials and revenue generated from the program directly back into the community. Its mission is to reduce construction and demolition waste from entering the landfills, provide affordable salvaged building materials to the public through commerce, and advocate for a sustainable alternative to conventional demolition. Sean will discuss the difficulties and challenges RTNO faced when developing the program, in addition to the best practices and available resources.
*Suggested for Executive Directors and Seasoned Affiliates
The Work of the Board: How to Govern Effectively and Support Efficiently *For Board Members without Staff
Michela Perrone
When organizations depend on volunteer boards to accomplish their mission, the work of the Board and of the individual board members is essential to the organization’s survival. Board members need to govern the organization and at the same time perform the work of the staff, doing both effectively.
This session will clarify the role of the Board when it governs and fulfills its legal obligations and when it actually performs the work of the organization. Best practices will be explored around the dynamics which occur when board members play the dual role of governing and managing. Systems, structures and board meetings’ best practices will also be discussed.
*Suggested for Board Members without Staff
Social Media and Rebuilding Together
Jerry Zuniga, Kelly Hall, Whitney Flight
What is social media and what are my options? Join a panel of Affiliate leaders and Whitney Flight from the National Office to explore the ever changing world of social media. The panel will discuss the pitfalls and advantages of using social media and which ones to focus on. Tips and an explanation of how to navigate social media will also be given. You will leave the session with a Social Media Roadmap and action plan to start marketing your affiliate and getting the most out of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and more.
National REO Program (Foreclosed Properties)
Howard Lewis, Amber Hamilton
Attendees will hear from Wells Fargo and JP Morgan Chase on their programs and partnerships with Rebuilding Together affiliates. We will also share details and grant opportunities from our new National REO Programs, and hear from affiliates that have successfully launched local REO programs.
Continuing the Relationship Beyond the Project: Developing a “Call Back” Program
Renee Feiger, Kym Hall
During this session you will explore the positive aspects of developing a relationship between the affiliate and the client beyond the project. Home safety awareness can be expanded by engaging in the community and educating clients that their safety needs change as they change. The development of a “Call Back” program enables clients to help monitor their adjustment to the changes that were made to their home.
*Suggested for Staff Members and New Affiliates
Saturday, November 12th, 9:30 –11am
Event Excellence
Tiffanie Kinney, Becky Carter, Amy Seusing
Join the National Office staff for a discussion on National Partners, National Grants, and the expectations around project and event management. Topics will range from project planning, donor stewardship, branding/marketing/PR, and overall event management. At the end of the session participants will: understand the partnership development process & expectations of National Partner grants; develop a set of tools to successfully meet expectations and showcase the value of Rebuilding Together’s work; and hone their skills to better position Affiliates locally for scarce affordable housing dollars.
Preparing Your Board to Be Your Best Ambassadors
Gary Ebert
Are your Board members doing all they can to best represent your organization? Do they have a prepared “elevator speech” about your organization that they can recite at a moment’s notice? Has your Board been properly trained in how to represent your organization within your community? Learn some new methods on how your Board members can reach their potential as brand ambassadors and help your Rebuilding Together Affiliate gain momentum. *Suggested for Board Members
Choosing the Right Software: Seeing the Big Picture, Asking the Right Questions
Tim Parsons
Choosing the right computer tools and software to meet the needs of your affiliate can be an overwhelming task... and often, a reactive one: “We need something that emails everyone!” “I can’t edit these photos!” or “Why can’t I find anything in this database?” Learn how to pause and take a step back and see the bigger technology picture, what to consider when laying out technology goals, how to make a plan, and then move that plan forward proactively.
Computer technology and software affects almost all aspects of our business, from networking to record keeping, from research to fundraising. Learning how to set technology goals and make informed, proactive choices will reduce tech anxiety and lower costs in the near term, and increase efficiency and productivity in the long term.
Establishing a Relationship With Your Bank
Paul James
Session Description Coming Soon!
Saturday, November 12th, 11:15am – 12:45pm
ROI and True Sustainability
Tom Ralser
Nonprofit sustainability is not about writing a better grant, or finding that one product or service for which you can charge a fee. It’s about delivering outcomes that people value in order to make their community a better place to live. The ROI and True Sustainability session will focus on the transformational process used to move organizations from a charity mindset to one of sustainable investment. The ability to do this requires moving beyond basic descriptions to actually demonstrating the value of your outcomes. This session introduces the Organizational Value Proposition® concept as a tool for strategic planning, program development, and fundraising.
ASHI Certified Home Inspectors Collaborating with Rebuilding Together!
Bruce LaBell
This session will provide an introduction to Home Inspections and working with the ASHI Certified Home Inspector in your city, state, and region. There are many benefits for partnering with the local ASHI Home Inspector chapters, such as marketing, networking, and branding and after this session you will understand the importance of collaborating.
Bruce will discuss what a bad inspection will look like as well as the inspection process. Rebuilding Together affiliates can cut their cost working with ASHI before and during the event. A presentation on Common Defects will also be shared.
Development and Fundraising Assessment for Board Members
Valeria Lassiter
Often we hear that nonprofits must create sustainability. However, in the current fluctuating economic climate, financial stability has to be the focus of sustainability efforts for most nonprofits. This session will help participants develop steps to engage their board in fundraising and assess their board’s collective participation toward financial stability and ultimately sustainability of their organizations. The focus of the session will be on the board’s role in development and fundraising and the tools necessary to evaluate and assess performance that leads to organization efficiency and desired results.
Reaching Out To Local Media
Lynn Long
Join Lynn to discuss how to reach out to local media and garner the best coverage for your organization and funders/volunteers. The session will include how to design your message and how to reach out to the appropriate media to present your message. Lynn will describe some case histories of successful coverage in New Orleans in the post-Katrina world, including positive and potentially negative stories.
Fraud Alert: Financial Controls and Why They’re Important
Holly Sharp
During this session Holly Sharp will discuss the specific risks nonprofits face and the need to implement strong internal controls. You will walk away with a new awareness after discovering specific case studies showing the impact on a nonprofit when there is fraud. Holly will discuss the importance of making this the responsibility of everyone involved, the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee. She will discuss red flags to look for and how your affiliate can minimize its exposure to fraud.
Saturday, November 12th, 2:30 – 3:45pm
Strategic Partnerships
Brooke Smith
Session Description Coming Soon!
Need Additional Capacity at your Affiliate? Consider Joining Rebuilding Together’s National AmeriCorps Program
Jessica Oh, Erin Lawless
Need help at your affiliate? This session will explain how to join Rebuilding Together’s national AmeriCorps program, the Rebuilding Together CapacityCorps. Explore how you can utilize an AmeriCorps member, the cost, and details associated with joining the program. AmeriCorps members would start in August 2012. National staff, Jessica Oh and Erin Lawless will introduce you to basics of AmeriCorps and how AmeriCorps members can help build the capacity of your affiliate to serve additional homeowners. Sample position descriptions and success stories will be shared.
Advocacy Made Simple for Your Use and a Washington Update
Matt de Ferranti, Amanda Walz
Join Matt de Ferranti for an explanation on concrete advocacy steps you can take to support your fundraising efforts with an update from Washington. Matt will describe the funding opportunities we are pursuing nationally to support affordable, safe and healthy housing for low-income homeowners. Matt will provide updates on our efforts to support affordable homeownership via energy efficiency, veterans, and Safe at Home funding. He will also describe our advocacy efforts on behalf of Community Development Block Grant Funding (CDBG) and CapacityCorps funding. Amanda Walz will provide an update on how to obtain CDBG funding and steps you can take locally, with the help of affiliates who have had success.
Marketing and Communications: Year in Review
Becky Carter
Join Becky Carter from the National Office as she reviews big brand wins for Rebuilding Together in 2011! Becky will also review and discuss the 2011 trends in traditional social media and how to best prepare and prep your affiliate for success in 2012.
Working Effectively with your Board of Directors
Amy Radachi
What is the role of the Executive Director at board meetings? How can you effectively prepare for meetings so that your board can do their job? Join Amy Radachi as she shares suggestions and reports you can use to make your affiliate more efficient.
Get Your Questions Answered by Rebuilding Together
Bill Good, Dave Matta, Gary Officer
Do you have specific questions about how Rebuilding Together? Join Bill Good, Rebuilding Together’s Board President, Dave Matta, Rebuilding Together’s National Affiliate Council Chairman, and Gary Officer, Rebuilding Together’s President and CEO as they address the growth of the network and your questions. Submit your questions at the Registration Desk during the National Conference.