Tahltan ‘Welcome Home’ Booklet Released

Welcome-Home-booklet---cover-(web)

The Welcome Home gathering was hosted by the Tahltan Band Council in 2013. This booklet strives to capture the spirit and highlights of the event. (Click on image to view booklet.)

Last summer I was very fortunate to be invited to a “Welcome Home” celebration hosted by the Tahltan Band Council in Telegraph Creek, BC. The event was for former students of residential schools and their families.

Over 500 people attended this very moving gathering and ceremony. My role was to take photos and document the event, and then create a publication that would capture the spirit and highlights of the gathering.

The booklet’s introduction describes why the Welcome Home gathering was held:

Over many decades in the 1900s, Tahltan children were forced into Canada’s residential school system.Continue reading

Message Mapping

Whether you are a business selling a product, a government or non-profit providing a service or a campaign advocating for create change, how you describe what you sell, do or act on should be clear and consistent. Staff and volunteers at all levels should all be able to represent the scope of  your work in a very short, concise blurb.

I came across this short video from Forbes that provides a potential tool you can use to help you focus on what you would say to people about your work — in 15 seconds.Continue reading

What kind of person would your group be?

What is the personality of your organization? Would you describe it as hip, trendy and creative? Polite, professional and well-educated? Nurturing and compassionate, yet also assertive?

Your group’s personality is your brand. And it should be consistent with what you are trying to accomplish!

Branding is important to non-profit success

Branding is often associated with selling products —something that can  help differentiate one cigarette or pop drink from another. There is often a negative association with the idea of branding as people see it as a superficial coating of logos, taglines and colours intended to hook consumers.

However, branding for non-profit organizations and other public services is all about how people perceive your group. And how people perceive you is important to the success of your programs and services, and to your fundraising.  Continue reading

Final Stepping Stones: Structure, Practice, and Harvest

In two previous postings, I began discussing “The Chaordic Stepping Stones” developed by Chris Corrigan. I described the six of nine stepping stones: need; purpose; principles; people; concept; and limiting beliefs.

This posting discusses the last three steps which offer the opportunity to start adding colour and texture to the general shape that has been taking form.

Structure

This stage involves building on the concept, discussed earlier, and adding the details needed to give it life. Discussions about the structure are discussions about time, money, energy, and commitment.Continue reading