In This Issue:

Director's Update:  A brief and heartfelt thanks...
MNA News:  Build Montana lanches with Volunteer Opportunity Listings
Nonprofit Resources: BoardSource Nonprofit Governance Index |  Grants
Featured Member: Montana Local Food Banks
Featured Job: Managing Director, American Prairie Foundation, Bozeman
Featured Video: Project WET Foundation, Bozeman
MNA Programs: D&O Insurance is Mission Assurance!
MNA Trainings: Using Roberts Rules of Order to Effectively Manage Your Meetings | Free GrantStation Tour
Welcome New MNA Members

Director's Update: 
A brief and heartfelt thanks…
by Brian Magee, Executive Director, MNA

This month’s column will be short and sweet.  I wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of you for the kind words and the many well wishes regarding my departure from MNA later in the year.  It reminded me in a very real way that what I’ll miss most about Montana are the people.  And there isn’t a close second.  I’ve always said that it was the natural beauty – the rolling plains, mountains, rivers, glaciers, and streams - that brought me here, but it was the gracious, kind, and genuine people that kept me here.  There’s no place like Montana.

Over the past fifteen years working in the state (eight with MNA), I’ve been so fortunate to work with some of the most incredible individuals one could ever hope to know.  Your wisdom, guidance, dedication to your work, and love for Montana and your communities, have all contributed to building MNA into one of the strongest state nonprofit associations anywhere in the country. That foundation will carry this organization forward under new leadership to new heights. There’s no doubt about it.

MNA News & Nonprofit Resources

MNA News:

Build Montana: Find Volunteer Opportunities Statewide
We introduced Build Montana, our new website for all Montanans to learn more about and to engage further with Montana's charitable nonprofits, this week to the attendees of the Serve Montana Symposium in Helena. The Build Montana website now features a Nonprofit Search tool and a brand new Volunteer Opportunity search tool. Coming soon with be a Donate Now feature to donate directly to all Montana charities. The Volunteer Search tools compiles opportunites submitted to over 16 volunteer sites into one local listing. Official, state-wide lanch of the new website will be early June but check it out now to learn more about Montana nonprofits and to find volunteer opportunities across Montana. Contact Patty White if you have questions.

Serve Montana Awards: MNA Members Honored
Sixteen people and organizations were recognized for their outstanding volunteer and community service last week at the Serve Montana Symposium, sponsored by the Governor's Office of Community Service. Many of them are members of MNA (listed below in bold). Honorees include:

• Kay Reeves, Big Sky – Volunteer math tutor at Hyalite Elementary
• Chicks in Science, Billings – MSU- Billings sponsored event that showcases career opportunities in math, science and technology to girls
• Ashton Fink, Livingston – Environmental educator; worked with students in Missoula and Livingston
• Ecology Project International (Scott Pankratz and Julie Osborn co-founders), Missoula – Nonprofit dedicated to educating the next generation of conservation leaders

• First Interstate Bank (Kelly Bruggeman, Vice President), Billings – Corporate partner on Winter Ready Montana coat donation drives
• Family Promise of Gallatin Valley, Inc. (Gloria Edwards, Executive Director and Debbi Royer, Board President), Bozeman — Divers faith organizations working to help homeless families with children

Liann Meyer, Helena — founder of Montana Supporting Soldiers; main focus is to support deployed troops with letters and care packages Arlene Mathews, Helena – volunteer for 58 years at St. Peter’s Hospital Antoine Brockman, Kalispell — young adult volunteer with focus on cancer prevention, meth education and student access to health care Rosie Olesen, Kalispell — 82-year-old “energizer bunny” volunteer with Kalispell Parks and Rec Bob Dorion, Missoula — WWII veteran and foster grandparent

Liann Meyer, founder of Montana Supporting Soldiers, and Lt. Governor, John Bohlinger.

ReadyMontana Awards:

• Dax Schieffer, Big Sky – Eight-year volunteer firefighter; named Firefighter of the Year in Big Sky
• Darwin Feakes, East Glacier Park – Volunteer firefighter/EMT; former National Guard member; instrumental in establishing ambulance service in East Glacier Park
• Sonny Stiger, Helena – Co-Founder, Tri-County FireSafe Working Group; instrumental in program, enabling citizens to leave homes safely in emergencies
• Norman Moeller, Missoula – Disaster Task Force Leadership Team; volunteered over 1,000 hours aiding in disaster prevention and emergencies

Congratulations to All!

Nonprofit Resources:

Juvenile Justice Title II Formula Grants
The Montana Board of Crime Control (MBCC) is soliciting proposals to implement the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) Formula Grant Funds. Approximately $510,000.00 will be available.  Deadline is March 14, 2011. http://www.mbcc.mt.gov/Grants/RFP/11-07TitleII.pdf

BIG SKY Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)
CFC is the workplace, charitable giving campaign of federal employees in 36 Montana counties.  Federal employees who choose to make a charitable donation through their workplace campaign can ONLY give to nonprofit organizations that have applied and been accepted to the CFC.  Last year federal employees in these counties donated over $244,262 to non-profit organizations.  The application and instruction can be downloaded at www.usbr.gov/gp/cfc. Applications are due Thursday, March 31, 2011.

As always we would like to close with a sincere, great thanks to our recently joined new members:

and our new Affiliate Members:

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