Having managed IT off the side of my desk (in addition to fundraising), I wanted to pass along a few nuggets of wisdom about information technology. Specifically, I was asked the other day how to hire a good “geek” for a non-profit. Seemed that all the best IT experts were either too specialized or too expensive to hire.

So I said to her, don’t just hire a geek. You need to step back and plan laterally. Here’s my two-part series on how to solve your IT woes…

Hello! Our last economic sustainability session will be more conversational thanks to our panelist, we will be mixing it up for a bit. This is Evonne Heyning and I will do my best to liveblog this session as it flows.

Panelists:

Anita Figer, Nonprofit Finance Fund, hired by foundations to look at economic sustainaiblity of nonprofits

Susan Walters, California Emerging Technology Fund, broadband technologies in low income communities Panel leader: Ask tough questions! Don't be afraid to share what you think.

TAKING IT GLOBAL

Was honored (after much debate, persuasion, and final clarity about the general laid-backed-ness of the meeting) to be asked by Ed Schipul to lead the July – Houston, TX – NetSquared get together. Have not been to other NetSquared meetings, so can only speak about the attitude of the Houston group, which is more about social issues and passion than technology. I chose to talk about using technology (the internet really) to tangibly support our troops while they are deployed (I’m not talking yellow flags on your car here!) – A topic containing many social issues, all of which I can get pretty passionate about. I’m a Quaker (Nothing to do with the guy in the funny hat) and embrace the Peace Testimony. I also have a brother who is an MP and served a year in Iraq. I find myself in an interesting position with a unique point of view about the “War on Terror.” 

Trish Snyder is the Relay for Life Mission Delivery Chair in Everett, Washington.  Her blog, bloggingforacause.com, is a personal and independent continuation of the work she did as a volunteer in helping develop the American Cancer Society’s Blog Project.  Trish also blogs at the American Cancer Society's FISpace: A Journal About Innovation and Change.

Today bloggingforacause.com performs an essential function of networking among blog writers and readers dealing with cancer.  It is an excellent place to find cancer related resources and information.  It is also a great example of what can be done with a personal blog focused on a particular set of issues.