Reflecting on Civic Reflection

by:

Joe Patti

Six years ago I wrote on the practice of Civic Reflection, a process which is supposed to help non-profits and civic groups.

“Imagine getting together with other civically engaged people and talking about your values and the choices you make in serving your community.”

It still sounds interesting though I haven’t come across another mention of it in the last six years. I wonder if it can be adapted to communities based on the internet. I renew my inquiry for more information from anyone who has engaged in this practice.

Effecting Change After The Meeting

by:

Joe Patti

Two entries today and sort of long.

Many of us are dubious about attending meetings because we aren’t sure any action of value will result. In two entries entitled Useless Meetings and Useless Meetings 2, I explore the monograph, The Measure of Meetings: Forums, Deliberation, and Cultural Policy.

I talk about their thoughts on why it is so hard to create cultural policy and why conventions are a poor place to attempt it–currently. They make suggestions on how to alter that situation.

More Revisting Drucker

by:

Joe Patti

Following up on my last trip to early entries, I had done a handful of entries on Peter Drucker’s Managing the Nonprofit Organization. I am not going to link back to all the entries, but I thought the topics covered in this one were particularly interesting because he addresses the unintended consequences of decisions and provides guidance on how to avoid them.

One of my favorite quotes:

“…Soon people in the organization no longer ask: Does it service our mission? They ask: Does it fit our rules? And that not only inhibits performance, it destroys vision and dedication.”

Oldies But Goodies

by:

Joe Patti

I am off on vacation for a couple weeks, but I thought I would leave my readers with some things to ponder and review while I am away. The next handful of days will have links to some of my earlier entries that still seem very relevant.

The first is an entry I did on Peter Drucker’s book, Managing the Non-Profit Organization. I had taken it out of the library at the time but just bought the book this past winter. I can’t believe that was 6 years ago. Drucker wrote the book because he didn’t feel most management books addressed the particular challenges non-profits face.