Literacy and Non-Profits Topics

BookSpring held three Lunch and Learns are for people curious about early literacy, non-profits, and BookSpring’s programs and services.  We joined together in an informal setting to consider and discuss a timely topic of interest.

Meetings were held from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month from August-October 2018 at the beautiful Austin Public Library Central Location, 710 W. Cesar Chavez.  We met in the Demonstration Area on the first floor, unless otherwise noted (see photo).  Selected readings were made available online one week before each event.

Wednesday, August 15, 2018 — noon to 1 p.m.
Volunteerism and Values
Over 63 million people in the United States volunteer each year, says the advocacy group the Independent Sector – 800 of them through BookSpring! Volunteers help out neighbors in times of need, serve their communities to promote a better quality of life for everyone, and provide their expertise to non-profit organizations, like BookSpring. And yet, there is a paradox that volunteer work is often undervalued.  How do we recognize, cherish and preserve this great American tradition?  Click here for readings.

Wednesday, September 19, 2018 — noon to 1 p.m.
Financial Literacy for Non-Profits
With much discussion about new models for non-profit funding, as well as possible threats to charitable tax deductions and other traditional models, it’s more important than ever that anyone who appreciates and supports non-profits deeply understand their financial models, regulations, and reporting requirements.  Join BookSpring President Elect Jillian Bergman of Holtzman Partners for an informative presentation on sound non-profit fiscal management. Download presentation.

Wednesday, October 17, 2018 — noon to 1 p.m.
On Being Engaged
In the new economy, experience and service are critical components of the success of any venture. Chip and Dan Heath have shown us ways to make ideas “stick” and to make moments of engagement “epic.” What in your experience makes you engaged in a particular activity, event, or cause?  BookSpring measures both the quality and quantity of the experience in different ways. What matters most to you in terms of engagement? Read about engagement in this online article from Forbes.

We have discontinued the series as of November 2018 but will continue to think about these and other interesting topics and their role in our community.