SherriLynn, Community Volunteer.

When we moved back to Seattle, I joined the board of Passages Northwest, an organization that helps girls build confidence through outdoor adventures and the arts.  One day the Executive Director said to me, "We're updating the letterhead to list board members and their job titles.  We're going to list you as a 'community volunteer.'  Okay?"

This very innocent question set off an internal crisis.  My inner dialog went something like this: Community volunteer?!   Anyone can be a community volunteer.  I'm an attorney!  I was on Law Review!  I have national security clearance!  The title, community volunteer, minimizes my experience and contribution to the organization.

Looking back, it's easy to see that this thought process had very little to do with the letterhead of a small nonprofit.  Instead, it was a reflection of my struggle transitioning from D.C. lawyer to Seattle mom.  

In the years since that conversation, I've noticed that "community volunteer" is a common description for board members that are not currently employed.  I've also realized (but really known all along) that the contribution of nonprofit volunteers is measured in terms of impact, not in terms of title.  

Community volunteers provide valuable assistance to many nonprofits.  I'm proud to be one of them.

Bakeoff: Barefoot Contessa's Ina Garten vs. Orangette's Molly Wizenberg

Reading Molly Wizenberg's fantastic new book, A Homemade Life, I noticed many similarities between her recipes and the recipes of Ina Garten.  I considered having a bakeoff: baking similar recipes and comparing the differences.  As the weekend slipped away, it became clear that a marathon baking session was not in the cards.  Maybe you'll be inspired to try a comparison or two?  If so, leave a comment and tell us about your results.

Here are the similar recipes I found:

1.  Lemon Yogurt Cake.  A Homemade Life (AHL) pp. 204-05.  Barefoot Contessa at Home p. 168.

2.  Coconut Macaroons.  AHL pp. 94-95.  Barefoot Contessa Family Style p. 163.

3.  Coeur a la Creme.  AHL pp. 33-34.  Barefoot in Paris p. 189.

4.  Fruit Nut Balls/Fruitcake Cookies. AHL p. 80.  Barefoot Contessa at Home p. 195.

5.  Fennel Salad. AHL pp. 238-239.  Barefoot in Paris p. 99.

Starbucks Annual Meeting 2009

One of my favorite Seattle activities is attending the Starbucks Annual Meeting.  This morning's meeting was much more subdued than in years past:  instead of a musical performance, the CFO spoke; instead of sampling Frappuccino, the company offered brewed coffee; and instead of celebrating soaring stock prices and expansion, Howard Schultz spoke about cutting costs and providing value.  

The more mellow tone felt appropriate for the economy, and Howard discussed challenges and opportunities in a humble, forthright manner.

The most entertaining part of the meeting was watching meeting attendees stuff their bags and purses with Starbucks pastries.  With the stock price around $11 and the 52-week low around $7, free pastries might be the only return shareholders see for a while.

For more on the meeting, check out my twitter feed.

Emmett Carson encourages philanthropies to capitalize on upcoming structural changes

If there is anything I love more than thinking about non-profits, it's eating free food.  When Sofia M. from Social Venture Partners invited me to a *free* lunch sponsored by Philanthropy Northwest with Emmett Carson from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, I readily agreed.

I wasn't familiar with Emmett Carson before this invitation, so I wasn't sure what to expect.  I left feeling inspired, challenged and deeply impressed.  Here is a brief summary of Carson's main points:

Carson trained as an economist.  Economics is perfect training for a career in philanthropy, he said, because it focuses on allocating scarce resources to unlimited wants.  Economics also taught Carson to understand market failures and he views philanthropy as a response to market failure.

Carson lamented the lack of diversity in the boards and staffs of philanthropic organizations.  These organizations have not diversified in more than 30 years, he said.  During the same time period, corporations and other organizations have diversified to a much greater extent.  Why do philanthropies feel insulated from the cultural forces that are impacting the rest of society?, Carson asked.

Carson discussed President Obama's proposal to reduce the tax deduction allowed for charitable donations.  Carson said, foundations, organizations and donors need to understand that charitable donations don't "belong"to them.  Because tax deductions subsidize the donations, government has a right to regulate or place restrictions on how the money is spent.  And, if philanthropies don't evolve and become more reflective of current society, it is likely that government will step in and mandate that evolution.

The current economic situation, Carson said, is more than just a cyclical low in the business cycle.  It is an inflection point in history.  Just as the Great Depression caused society to rethink the social contract, Carson expects a significant redrafting of the social contract in the near future.  

Non-profits and philanthropies need to realize that this is a critical moment.  "This is our moment," Carson emphasized.  We can't be so focused on planning for when the economy returns to normal.  We need to capitalize on the opportunity to participate in the revision of the social contract.  In a sense, Carson said, we all need to adopt the California (I'd say, West Coast) mindset and embrace structural change.  Instead of worrying about self-protection, philanthropies need to be willing to change and identify new opportunities for relevance and effective social change.

This description only begins to capture Carson's thinking on philanthropies.  Fundamentally, he urged the people in the room to take a break from the day-to-day rat race, and think big thoughts and take bold action with respect to paradigmatic shifts and responding to structural changes.  Thinking about my own board experience and the ongoing struggle to have more generative conversations, I wonder if foundations will make the effort to prioritize this type of thinking.  I agree with Carson that they should.

Little S, scientist

Tough economic times are forcing parents across the country to consider whether the benefits of private school are worth the cost.  For the New York Times article on this topic, click here.

One of the things we love about Little S's independent school is the way it helps her see herself as a reader, a mathematician, and a scientist.  When she begged for a chemistry set for Hanukkah, we readily agreed.  Here's a picture of her preparing for science experiments:

Safety first!