Here's the text of the announcement:

The BOARD CAFE is a new, free, national newsletter exclusively for members of nonprofit boards of directors. Available by fax and e-mail, each issue of the BOARD CAFE contains "little ideas" on recruiting board members, tax deductions for board members, solving the acronym problem, free booklets to send for, and other practical tips and info of immediate use to busy board members. In addition, each issue has one "big idea" such as a job description for board treasurer, how to deal with "deadwood," or how to evaluate the executive director. Underwritten in part by the Charles Schwab Corporation Foundation, subscriptions to the BOARD CAFE are free: fax, call, or e-mail subscription requests to the Support Center for Nonprofit Management, (415)541-9000 (phone); (415)541-7708 (fax); supportcenter@supportcenter.org (e-mail). The BOARD CAFE is edited by Jan Masaoka, Executive Director of the Support Center for Nonprofit Management and author of "Action Handbook for Boards". BOARD CAFE launches its first issue November 11; as of October 31 there are more than 400 advance subscriptions.

And here's the text of the first issue:

BOARD CAFE

The First Electronic Newsletter Exclusively for Members of Nonprofit Boards of Directors

A menu of ideas, information, opinion, news, and resources to help board members give and get the most out of board service. Published by the Support Center for Nonprofit Management.

Executive Chef / Editor: Jan Masaoka. November 11, 1997. Vol 1., No. 1

Welcome to the very first issue of the Board Cafe. The Board Cafe is a fast-read electronic newsletter (available by fax or e-mail) for members of nonprofit boards of directors. Each issue we'll bring you a cornucopia of "Little Ideas," as well as one "Big Idea" you can use for your board. Thanks to the Charles Schwab Corporation Foundation and others, subscriptions to the Board Cafe are free.

If you are reading a gift subscription to the Board Cafe, thank the executive director or board president of the organization on whose board you serve (subscriptions available ONLY by request). To give subscriptions to others (another board you serve on, a neighbor, co-worker or relative), just fax or e-mail a list along with your name and telephone number.

HATE THOSE ACRONYMS There's only one thing worse than being a new board member and wondering what all those acronyms mean (NOAA, CDBG, CTBS ad nauseam) . . . being a LONGTIME board member and STILL not knowing what those acronyms mean. Try this: Ask the staff to write up the common acronyms on a big chart, and EVERY meeting, post this chart on the wall. (If the acronyms are typed on a piece of paper, it won't be as convenient as glancing over to see the Acronym Poster.)

DID YOUR ORGANIZATION'S FISCAL YEAR END JUNE 30? If so, your organization's Federal Form 990 is due on November 15, just a few days from now. Form 990 is required for 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations (except churches) with receipts of $25,000 or more in the fiscal year. The penalties for late filing are stiff, so if you think you might be late, apply NOW for an Extension of Time to File (IRS Form 2768, due on the same date the 990 is due). In most cases an extension of 90 days will be granted.

WEBSITE OF THE MONTH Congrats to the National Center for Nonprofit Boards for a well-designed and helpful website. The best part? The FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section with a couple dozen questions and answers about boardsmanship. Visit this site at http://www.ncnb.org.

FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO "NEW IDEAS" "New Ideas" is the free quarterly newsletter from the Center for Strategic Communications, devoted to ideas for nonprofits on developing communications strategies. Each issue has a couple of good ideas. Subscribe for your organization's development office: 212-965-0180.

LAST CHANCE TO GET A 1997 TAX DEDUCTION Still time to write a check to a homeless shelter, Alzheimer's clinic, historical society or conservation league and claim a 1997 tax deduction. Consider writing an extra check to the nonprofit on whose board you serve, and earmark it for a holiday lunch for the hardworking staff. It's a simple act that can help staff feel appreciated by a board of directors that can feel distant to them.

Now for this month's "Big Idea": An Annual Board Committee Report

Instead of asking board committees for monthly written reports or having only verbal reports at board meetings, consider asking committee chairs to write an "Annual Report" at the end of each year describing their committees' activities and decisions. These reports can be included with the board minutes in the organization's formal, permanent records.

Here is a simple format that committees can use for an "Annual Report of the Committee":

"Annual Report" from a Board Committee A summary report on the Committee's work this last year, with recommendations to the staff and the full board.

Committee: ________________________________

Period of time this report covers: ________________________________

Committee chair: ________________________________

Committee members: ___________________________________________

The main objectives for the Committee: ____________________________

___________________________________________________________

Summary of recent accomplishments and current activities:

List of activities in progress and upcoming events/discussions:

Recommendations to the Executive Director/CEO: Recommendations to the Board of Directors:

You are reading the BOARD CAFE, published by the Support Center for Nonprofit Management as part of its Board Match Plus+ services to boards. 706 Mission Street, 5th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103; (phone) 415/541-9000 (fax) 415/541-7708; (e-mail) supportcenter@supportcenter.org (website) http://www.supportcenter.org/sf/ We welcome your comments and contributions to the BOARD CAFE. If you have an item of interest -- something your board does that other boards should know about, a useful booklet or website, or whatever strikes you as newsworthy -- send it along to any of the above numbers.

If you would like to have your own free fax subscription to the Board Cafe, contact the Support Center for Nonprofit Management at any of the numbers listed above. If you would like to have the BOARD CAFE delivered to you free via electronic mail, send an e-mail message to msimpson@supportcenter.org and in the body of the message type SUBSCRIBE BOARD CAFE. To unsubscribe to the BOARD CAFE, send e-mail to msimpson@supportcenter.org and type UNSUBSCRIBE BOARD CAFE in the body of the message, or fax your request to 415-541-7708. The Board Cafe's e-mail/fax mailing list is not rented, exchanged, or given to any other entity.

c 1997 Support Center for Nonprofit Management

Posted 11/17/97 by Putnam Barber, President, The Evergreen State Society http://www.tess.org