Dear Bridging AZ,
My time has come to move on and find a place in the professional workplace. But in my time here I have learned many valuable skills and much more personal lessons because of the large amount of 1 on 1 time due to there only being a few of us. The mission here at Bridging AZ is a great one and being only one of two places working in Phoenix on providing furniture to needy people is truly a noble cause. The hard work and dedication that goes into the mission shows as your name becomes more well known and more and more donations flood in.
I have enjoyed my times as intern going on donation pickup runs and then coming back and contining work on either the inventory system or working on setting up the for-profit arm, which in itself has a great mission only aimed at serving even more people. I have gained valuable skills and the ever-important real world experiences that come along with this kind of position. I wish best of luck and I will always refer friends and family to you.
Sincerly,
Mark Weikart
Friday, May 1, 2015
Career Services
I know this one is a little late as I thought I had made a post but clearly included to forget it last time. But anyways I 'attended' a webinar on Professional Communication and Net Etiquette a little over a week ago. In an age where the using the internet for communication and meetings in the workplace is almost readily taking out face to face communication understanding how to communicate effectively and properly online is extremely important.
I learned a lot of the basics that are taught in other reading classes like the proper way to format online messages and also how to greet others. One of the biggest things I learned is how to present yourself through meetings online, whether there is a webcam or not, because tone of voice and other factors dictate more how you sound over the web or microphone than in person. It is nice to learn some new tips and refresh known ones about communication with the web since our lives are becoming increasingly more dependent on it.
I learned a lot of the basics that are taught in other reading classes like the proper way to format online messages and also how to greet others. One of the biggest things I learned is how to present yourself through meetings online, whether there is a webcam or not, because tone of voice and other factors dictate more how you sound over the web or microphone than in person. It is nice to learn some new tips and refresh known ones about communication with the web since our lives are becoming increasingly more dependent on it.
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Internship Wrap Up
As the semester ends so do our internships and I have enjoyed my time with Bridging AZ. One of the recurring themes I have heard from them is the same that echoes from class, if you want to get into the non-profit business and there are other groups like yours don't even bother doing your own thing and take your skills to the other group to make a larger impact. To many small nonprofits working on the same mission will get nothing done and that defeats their purpose. I have learned some good skills while working here mainly looking at management of a nonprofit and the what goes on behind the scenes. On top of this I learned the process and helped file paperwork that helped the owner create a for-profit side of his non-profit service.
I would say I met my goals of learning something new in management and how the operations of a nonprofit work. I also learned as I stated how to file tax forms for new businesses and all other relative paperwork. In my time there I went on pickup runs, sat in the office working on tax papers and other legal forms, and I also set up a inventory management system for them. I learned many valuable skills both in how to manage and handle clients and partners and also all the little tedious things that going into running and managing a small non-profit which actually seems like more work than a large non-profit because resources are slimmer for you.
I would say I met my goals of learning something new in management and how the operations of a nonprofit work. I also learned as I stated how to file tax forms for new businesses and all other relative paperwork. In my time there I went on pickup runs, sat in the office working on tax papers and other legal forms, and I also set up a inventory management system for them. I learned many valuable skills both in how to manage and handle clients and partners and also all the little tedious things that going into running and managing a small non-profit which actually seems like more work than a large non-profit because resources are slimmer for you.
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Career Services Writeup
I attended the career service event that was teaching us how to effectively negotiate salary and benefits. In a work force where benefits are dwindling and pensions are almost non-existent setting yourself up for long-term success with a company is becoming harder and harder, especially since employees are less likely to stay with a company through their entire career more than ever before. Before attending I never even really considered about my non-salary benefits, I had been stuck at looking at the salary and seeing how much money can come now. But paychecks do not mean everything.
A high salary is good, everyone knows this. But having great benefits is part of your salary. I was taught this in pretty good detail and learned that benefits go far beyond simply retirement funds and healthcare. Depending on who you work for, there are a multitude of benefits depending on your field such as that same company paying for you to go back to school to get an advanced degree. It is important to get good benefits and compensations from the get go as you can always use that as a bargaining tool and only increase your benefits in the future.
A high salary is good, everyone knows this. But having great benefits is part of your salary. I was taught this in pretty good detail and learned that benefits go far beyond simply retirement funds and healthcare. Depending on who you work for, there are a multitude of benefits depending on your field such as that same company paying for you to go back to school to get an advanced degree. It is important to get good benefits and compensations from the get go as you can always use that as a bargaining tool and only increase your benefits in the future.
Free Write
Another person has died in police custody, apparently after doing nothing at all. Freddie Gray died while in police custody over a week in Baltimore after not committing any crime. The police report they did not have to have any probable cause to detain him as he lives in a high-crime area. According to the story the reasonable suspicion that was used to pull him over was that he was not wearing a seat belt. The issue in the story is that he died while in custody of a spinal injury, something that should never occur while in custody.
This follows a large amount of suits and criticism towards police in the United States as many cases of people being killed by cops is being caught on tape or stories are being publicized in every single news outlet throughout the nation. People fear that the police have to much control and that there are not enough protections in place to ensure their duties are being performed correctly and deadly force is only being used at correct times. This case could be another hallmark case in which drastic changes could occur to the way police operate in Baltimore.
This follows a large amount of suits and criticism towards police in the United States as many cases of people being killed by cops is being caught on tape or stories are being publicized in every single news outlet throughout the nation. People fear that the police have to much control and that there are not enough protections in place to ensure their duties are being performed correctly and deadly force is only being used at correct times. This case could be another hallmark case in which drastic changes could occur to the way police operate in Baltimore.
Organizational Strengths
One of the biggest strengths of this organization is that they are one of a kind in the City of Phoenix so their mission can continue pretty much without any issues. It is also ran by passionate people who truly believe in their mission and completely changed their lifestyle to bring this service to the valley. This has helped them build a strong network with their clients and those who serve their clients. The same goes for the warehouse worker who does all the psychical labor and pickups, without him managing the warehouse this nonprofit would be in some trouble.
Really the only major thing I would change if I was in charge of a similar organization is to market on a much larger scale. With things like Facebook and YouTube in existence now it is not very difficult at all to get your name known at absolutely no cost. Double that with local papers who may waive fees for a nonprofit or charge smaller amounts it would be easy to spread the name through the whole valley. Most of their donations come from those who know past donors, it is a word of mouth type of deal. This works but to really increase donations, especially the most needed ones such as beds, a larger audience needs to be reached. By getting the name out not only may furniture be donated but cash donations would most likely come in larger amounts than before.
Really the only major thing I would change if I was in charge of a similar organization is to market on a much larger scale. With things like Facebook and YouTube in existence now it is not very difficult at all to get your name known at absolutely no cost. Double that with local papers who may waive fees for a nonprofit or charge smaller amounts it would be easy to spread the name through the whole valley. Most of their donations come from those who know past donors, it is a word of mouth type of deal. This works but to really increase donations, especially the most needed ones such as beds, a larger audience needs to be reached. By getting the name out not only may furniture be donated but cash donations would most likely come in larger amounts than before.
Free Write
So today a court has passed judgement on a case revolving around former NFL players and head trauma. Each player who's name was on the class action lawsuit can be looking up to 5 million dollars coming their way in compensation as a part of the judgement. The court found that the NFL had in the past hid the dangers of concussions and their consequences later on in someones life. One of the most notable names is that of junior Seau, a player who after learning about possible debilitating mental issues caused by concussions committed suicide rather than see his life go down a path similar to Alzheimer's disease.
This is an important step into increasing player safety and awareness about head trauma and concussions. These players are taught to play a certain way, and sometimes this training is not in their best interest and can increase these odds of developing an issue or receiving a concussion. It seems like the basics of wrap around the waist that is taught at a younger age dissolves and it has become each player, regardless of who has the ball, trying to make the big play and many times injuring themselves in the process.
This is an important step into increasing player safety and awareness about head trauma and concussions. These players are taught to play a certain way, and sometimes this training is not in their best interest and can increase these odds of developing an issue or receiving a concussion. It seems like the basics of wrap around the waist that is taught at a younger age dissolves and it has become each player, regardless of who has the ball, trying to make the big play and many times injuring themselves in the process.
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