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SECTION 1: ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM ENDEAVOUR
| 1. Happy Holiday from Endeavour |
| 2. Endeavour Raises $3800 at 2009 Fundraiser! Save July 22, 2010 for Next Fundraiser. |
| 3. Welcome – Subject Matter Expert: Barry Linetsky, Partner, The Strategic Planning Group |
| 4. Welcome – Writers: Debbie Kelsall, Hajera Khaja, Banu Raghuraman, and Vanessa Somarriba |
| 5. Save the Date – January 30, 2010: Endeavour/CMC-Canada Free Workshop on Project Management (Tentative) |
| 6. Due February 1, 2010 – Endeavour Spring/Summer 2010 Consulting Project Applications |
| 7. New In-Kind Sponsor – eMark Consulting Provides Strategic Advisory Services to Endeavour |
| 8. New In-Kind Sponsor – Curious Solutions Provides Web-Based Survey Solutions to Endeavour |
| 9. Thank You to Donors – David Walsh, Jessica Poon, Alex Rascanu, and Tara Shanahan |
| 1. That Timing of the Season, by Genevieve Sovereign, Endeavour Consultant |
| 2. Both Large and Small Charities Play an Essential Role in Society, by Andrea Wong, President, Endeavour |
SECTION 3: WHAT OUR VOLUNTEERS SAY ABOUT JOINING ENDEAVOUR
| Comments About Joining Endeavour from Zami Salaria, Genevieve Sovereign, Lucy Dai, and Michael Alexandor |
SECTION 4: NEWS FROM VOLUNTEERS, CLIENTS, PARTNERS & SUPPORTERS
| 1. The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Publishes New Report, “Creating Social Impact: Strategic Use of Resources in the Social Sector” |
| 2. Dr. Ann Armstrong, Endeavour Board Member, Publishes New Book, “Understanding the Social Economy: A Canadian Perspective” |
| 3. Meal Exchange (MX) – 2009 Canadian Pacific Holiday Train (Nov. 26–Dec. 18) |
| 4. Techsoup Canada – Podcast Basics: An easy way to share your organization’s messaging online (Jan. 12, 2010) |
| 5. CMC-Canada – Essentials of Management Consulting (EMC 36) (Jan. 15, 2010–May. 3, 2010) |
| 6. Rotman Net Impact – Panel Discussion on “Achieving Social Impact Through Business” (Jan. 25, 2010) |
| 7. Call for Newsletter Submissions |
| SECTION 1: ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM ENDEAVOUR return to top |
1. Happy Holiday from Endeavour
Dear Volunteers, Clients, and Supporters, They say Christmas is the time of giving, but we know you have been giving throughout the year. Endeavour has had an incredibly successful year, and it would not have been possible without your contributions and support—for this, we sincerely thank you. We wish you a safe and happy holiday and look forward to continuing our endeavours together in the new year! Warm regards, |
P.S. Check out a special holiday season blog post by one of Endeavour’s volunteer consultants. Genevieve Sovereign shares eight tips on how to keep your head above a snowballing holiday schedule: http://www.endeavourvolunteer.ca/wp/uncategorized/that-timing-of-the-season/ |
2. Endeavour Raises $3800 at 2009 Fundraiser! Save July 22, 2010 for Next Fundraiser.
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Thank you to everyone who attended Endeavour’s Networking Fundraiser on November 25, 2009. With your generosity and overwhelming support, we raised $3800 from this year’s fundraiser! This is a huge increase over our last fundraiser in November 2008 which raised $1500. Your donations will help fund Endeavour’s operations and growth for 2010.
To improve the overall quality of our fundraisers, we also request you to complete a short feedback survey regarding the 2009 fundraiser by December 31, 2009. Please save July 22, 2010 for Endeavour’s first summer networking fundraiser in downtown Toronto at SHAMBA! |
    
View more photos from the fundraiser at http://www.endeavourvolunteer.ca/photos/album.php?id=5411574564397318369 Photos taken by Kate O’Connor (www.rudoandkate.com) |
3. Welcome – Subject Matter Expert: Barry Linetsky, Partner, The Strategic Planning Group
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We are delighted to welcome Barry Linetsky as Subject Matter Expert (SME) at Endeavour. Barry is Partner of The Strategic Planning Group (TSPG) and President of Curious Solutions. Prior to joining TSPG in 1994, Barry was with a leading global financial services company where he provided his expertise in operations management, strategic planning, product development and marketing. Barry’s article “Think Like An Iconoclast: The Principles of Walt Disney’s Success” was published in the Spring 2009 issue of the award-winning Rotman Magazine. His article “The Project Management Paradox” first appeared in the Ivey Business Journal in March/April 2008 and was later republished in 2009 as an ‘Executive Briefing’ by the Economist Intelligence Unit in partnership with Harvard Business School Publishing. Barry holds an MBA from the Rotman School of Management, and an MA and BA from York University. To learn more about Barry, visit http://www.endeavourvolunteer.ca/wp/about/sme/#barry |
4. Welcome – Writers: Debbie Kelsall, Hajera Khaja, Banu Raghuraman, and Vanessa Somarriba
We are delighted to welcome our new writers: Debbie Kelsall, Hajera Khaja, Banu Raghuraman, and Vanessa Somarriba. As part of Endeavour’s Communications Team, they will be assisting with writing, editing, and PR/media support.
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Debbie works as a Communications Specialist on a contract basis for Hatch, one of Canada’s largest engineering firms. As well, she volunteers with Give Green Canada, a non-profit organization that works nationally to increase donations to environmental and conservation organizations. She was formerly the Director of Communications for Earth Day Canada. Debbie has experience developing communication plans and initiatives, as well as writing and editing a wide range of communication materials, such as newsletters, brochures, reports, surveys, and web sites, for both the profit and not-for-profit sectors. To learn more about Debbie, visit http://www.endeavourvolunteer.ca/wp/communications-team#debbiekelsall |
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Hajera Khaja is a recent University of Toronto M.Sc. graduate and is focusing on a career in science and medical communications. Hajera has been an active community volunteer for several years, and in particular, has accumulated a wealth of writing experience during her time at University of Toronto. She has held the positions of Writer and Editor-in-Chief for The Muslim Voice, a bi-monthly magazine published with the aim to provide a glimpse into Muslim thought and experiences, as well as to dispel common myths and misinterpretations about Islam. To learn more about Hajera, visit http://www.endeavourvolunteer.ca/wp/communications-team#hajerakhaja |
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Banu currently works in the technology department at the Bank of Montreal (BMO) as a Business Analyst. Her experience with the Volunteer Consulting Group at the University of Toronto inspired her to join Endeavour as a consultant after graduating from university. As a consultant with Endeavour, she worked with the Meal Exchange team. Banu is also passionate about teaching, and has been volunteering with St. Christopher House as a computer course teacher for the past few years. To learn more about Banu, visit http://www.endeavourvolunteer.ca/wp/communications-team#banuraghuraman |
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Vanessa Somarriba is the Publicist at the Canadian Opera Company (COC). Born in Toronto, Vanessa graduated from Humber College with a Public Relations Diploma. She began with the COC in 2006 as an intern in the public relations department, just prior to the opening of the company’s opera house, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. She then worked closely with the Manager of Publications working on all company publications, and has since moved into the role of lead Publicist, working on all media relations for the company. To learn more about Vanessa, visit http://www.endeavourvolunteer.ca/wp/communications-team#vanessasomarriba |
5. Save the Date - January 30, 2010: Endeavour/CMC-Canada Free Workshop on Project Management (Tentative)
The next free workshop offered jointly by Endeavour and CMC-Canada is tentatively scheduled for January 30, 2010 from 8:30-11:00 a.m. at the Ted Rogers School of Management. The presentation and panel session will focus on successful project management for consultants. The workshop will be free and open to everyone, with opportunities to network with representatives from Endeavour and CMC-Canada. Details and online registration will be announced shortly through our mailing list. |
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In partnership with Ted Rogers School of Management and Golden Key International Honour Society, University of Toronto Chapter |
6. Due February 1, 2010 – Endeavour Spring/Summer 2010 Consulting Project Applications
Endeavour provides management consulting for non-profit groups that cannot afford professional consulting. We are currently accepting project applications from non-profit organizations in Ontario for Spring/Summer 2010 consulting projects. Click here for eligibility criteria and the online application. Application deadline is February 1, 2010. Applications received after the deadline will be considered for Fall 2010/Winter 2011 projects. For additional information, email contact@endeavourvolunteer.ca |
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7. New In-Kind Sponsor – eMark Consulting Provides Strategic Advisory Services to Endeavour
We are pleased to announce that eMark Consulting is providing pro bono strategic advisory services to support Endeavour’s Board of Directors in the organization’s strategic planning. eMark Consulting offers strategic advisory services in the areas of business and technology. The firm helps organizations of all sizes and industry verticals. Learn more about eMark Consulting at http://www.emarkconsulting.com/ |
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8. New In-Kind Sponsor – Curious Solutions Provides Web-Based Survey Solutions to Endeavour
We are pleased to announce that Curious Solutions is offering pro bono expertise and guidance in web-based survey design and implementation to support Endeavour teams in surveying stakeholders. Learn more about Curious Solutions at http://www.curioussolutions.ca |
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We would like to thank and recognize the following individuals for their generous donation to Endeavour during the last quarter.
As a non-profit providing volunteer consulting to our clients, we rely on generous donations to support our work. Please consider supporting our work by donating to Endeavour at http://www.endeavourvolunteer.ca/wp/supporters/donate-online/?menu=sup. All proceeds go towards providing volunteer consulting to non-profit organizations. |
| SECTION 2: ENDEAVOUR BLOG return to top |
1. That Timing of the Season
How to keep your head above a snowballing holiday schedule
It’s mid-December. Panic has sunk in. If you’re a student you might still be neck-deep in exam review material, wondering fuzzily if the half bag of candy canes behind your monitor counts as both your last and next meal. If you’ve joined the rat race you probably spend the A.M. commute wondering how to cram limitless tasks into a finite number of hours, the P.M. commute wondering what errands and chores you can postpone until the weekend, and your Monday lunch break wondering how you missed the festive season’s memo about your weekend being cancelled.
The yuletide time of wonder is upon us. Rejoice! And might I suggest — that we just pause for a moment and take stock(ings). Here are some tips that little elves would like to share. Continue reading this entry »
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2. Both Large and Small Charities Play an Essential Role in Society
The title of a recent letter to the Toronto Star, “Business approach doesn’t fit”, caught my eye, and I was pleasantly surprised to learn that it was written by one of Endeavour’s board members and advisors, Alex Gill. Alex shares his concerns about “the troubling approach taken by Charity Intelligence toward identifying efficient charities” in response to the November 25, 2009 column by Carol Goar, “Holding charities to business standards”.
In her column, Goar tells readers that “just in time for Christmas giving”, Charity Intelligence has released its 2009 recommended list of charities that offer donors “the biggest bang for their buck”. We learn that twelve Toronto charities that made it onto the list are well known with influential corporate/institutional backers. These charities do excellent work and deserve recognition, but as Goar points out, “so do many small, grassroots voluntary organizations that will never win a Charity Intelligence seal of approval. They change lives in ways that can’t easily be measured. They know their clients personally and take the time to listen to them. They don’t aspire to be big, businesslike or competitive. Some charities deliver services efficiently. Others mobilize citizens, strengthen communities, combat indifference and solve problems in ways that defy market analysis.”
Although some of our consulting projects focus on helping non-profits become more efficient or to explore earned income ventures, we don’t select clients on the basis of efficiency and our goal isn’t to help our clients become more business-like. In contrast, Endeavour works with smaller non-profit organizations that may never win a Charity Intelligence seal of approval, but are doing very important work for our communities. We focus on serving non-profits that don’t have the financial backing of large corporations/institutions. They are not able to afford professional consulting, but can improve their effectiveness and impact with some assistance and guidance.
We encourage you to learn more about Endeavour’s free consulting services. Applications for upcoming spring/summer projects will be accepted until February 1, 2010.
I also encourage you to read the full column by Carol Goar, “Holding charities to business standards” at http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/730336 and Alex Gill’s response at http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/731544. I welcome your thoughts and feedback on the articles.
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| SECTION 3: WHAT OUR VOLUNTEERS SAY ABOUT JOINING ENDEAVOUR return to top |
Comments About Joining Endeavour from Zami Salaria, Genevieve Sovereign, Lucy Dai, and Michael Alexandor
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| SECTION 4: NEWS FROM VOLUNTEERS, CLIENTS, PARTNERS & SUPPORTERS return to top |
1. The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Publishes New Report, “Creating Social Impact: Strategic Use of Resources in the Social Sector”
The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) recently published a report, “Creating Social Impact: Strategic Use of Resources in the Social Sector”, that might be relevant to Endeavour’s consultants and clients. The report provides a structured framework for linking social sector investments to actual (monetized) impact. The framework is intended to help social-sector organizations make better investment choices and ensure that their resources are used more effectively to benefit those most in need. The report outlines how an organization can define its social-investment strategy by defining the right areas of focus and the organization’s role within these areas. It presents BCG’s four-step approach, which involves assessing and quantifying the resources invested (input), what the beneficiaries receive (output), the effects on the lives of beneficiaries (impact), and the monetized value of the benefits received (value creation). It also includes a detailed case study of REACH, a multistakeholder partnership aimed at ending child hunger, to illustrate the approach. Access the full report at http://www.bcg.com/documents/file36274.pdf or http://publications.bcg.com/social_impact_creating_social_impact |
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2. Dr. Ann Armstrong, Endeavour Board Member, Publishes New Book,
“Understanding the Social Economy: A Canadian Perspective”
Endeavour Board Member, Dr. Ann Armstrong, and her co-writers, Jack Quarter and Laurie Mook, have recently published the book, “Understanding the Social Economy: A Canadian Perspective”. The book integrates a wide array of organizations founded upon a social mission – social enterprises, nonprofits, co-operatives, credit unions, and community development associations – under the rubric of the ‘social economy.’ This framework facilitates a comprehensive study of Canada’s social sector, an area often neglected in the business curricula despite the important role that these organizations play in Canada’s economy. It includes case studies and chapters on organizational design and governance, social finance and social accounting, and accountability. The examples provide an original and in-depth examination of the relationships between Canada’s social infrastructure and the public and private sectors to further our understanding of the Canadian economy. To learn more about this book, visit http://www.amazon.ca/Understanding-Social-Economy-Canadian-Perspective/dp/080209645X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256951225&sr=8-1 Dr. Ann Armstrong is the Director of the Social Enterprise Initiative at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. In that role, she is responsible for promoting research, curriculum design, and community engagement in the social enterprise and non-profit sectors. She is involved in a multidisciplinary SSHRC-funded research project to understand Canada’s social economy and teaches elective courses on social entrepreneurship and non-profit consulting in the MBA program. To learn more about Dr. Ann Armstrong, visit http://www.endeavourvolunteer.ca/wp/about/advisory-board/?menu=abo#annarmstrong |
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3. Meal Exchange (MX)
Nov. 26–Dec. 18, 2009 Canadian Pacific Holiday Train Our client, Meal Exchange (MX), has once again joined with Canadian Pacific’s Holiday Train as it feeds the needy in 80 communities this year! From November 26th to December 18th, the train will be stopping in Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta and BC. To find out who is performing and when it comes to you, visit http://www8.cpr.ca/cms/English/General+Public/Holiday+Train/default.htm. If you’ve missed the train, you can still make a donation through Food Banks Canada at http://www.canadahelps.org/CharityProfilePage.aspx?CharityID=s40978 |
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4. Techsoup Canada
Jan. 12, 2010, Podcast Basics: An easy way to share your organization’s messaging online Our partner, Techsoup Canada, invites you to their next Toronto Net Tuesday Meetup on January 12, 2010. Co-hosted by Endeavour Advisor Jane Zhang, the Meet Up, “Podcast Basics: An easy way to share your organization’s messaging online,” will feature two organizations who have been using podcasts and will take you through the steps for making one yourself. Please visit http://netsquared.meetup.com/20/calendar/11992924/ to sign up and learn more. |
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5. CMC-Canada
Jan. 15, 2010–May. 3, 2010, Essentials of Management Consulting (EMC 36) Our partner, CMC-Canada, is offering the Essentials of Management Consulting (EMC) course from January 15th to May 3rd of 2010. Dynamic and interactive, the course is valuable to management consultants wanting to deliver superior value to their clients, to anyone who is considering becoming a management consultant, and to any member who is pursuing the Certified Management Consultant (CMC) designation. It is delivered using Internet-enabled blended learning, so you can take the EMC from the comfort of your home, office or a client site, with no travel costs or inconvenience! To learn more, visit http://www.cmc-canada.ca/event_details.cfm?Portal_ID=5&Event_ID=90 |
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6. Rotman Net Impact
Jan. 25, 2010, Panel Discussion on “Achieving Social Impact Through Business” Rotman Net Impact invites you to their panel discussion on “Achieving Social Impact Through Business” on January 25, 2010 at The Rotman School of Management. The discussion will feature four expert panelists who will share how they have wed professional careers with a desire to achieve social impact. The discussion will be followed by a networking reception from 6:30 to 7:30pm. Many Rotman MBA students who are interested in corporate social responsibility, non-profit management, and social enterprise will attend. The dress code is business casual. Time: 5:30 sharp–7:30pm To register and to learn more, visit http://www.rotman.utoronto.ca/events |
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7. Call for Newsletter Submissions
Endeavour volunteers, clients, partners and supporters are invited to submit items for the January 2010 newsletter. Please send your submission by December 31 to info@endeavourvolunteer.ca with the subject line “January 2010 Newsletter Submission”.
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