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I am presenting today at the International Corporate Citizenship Conference hosted by the Boston College Carroll School of Management’s Center for Corporate Citizenship. Yesterday Intel sponsored an opportunity to build bikes which will be donated to a nonprofit that will give them to poor children. Great idea. Check out the pictures from the event below:  Intel made this happen
 2012 International Corporate Citizenship Conference  Successful corporate citizenship  We’ve learned a lot over the last month about the power of social media to bring down tyrants and corrupt governments in Tunisia and Egypt and mobilize people in Yemen, Libya, Bahrain, Iraq, Algeria, Morocco, Jordan and Oman. It’s been thrilling to watch how Facebook and Twitter, in particular, have helped to encourage thousands of people to take action. But these social movements have been essentially leaderless. Years of political repression has pretty much stamped out any meaningful civil society in these countries. So what happens now? How does social media help build civil societies and democratic governments? I don’t have an answer, but it’s going to be a lot harder for social media alone to actually build institutions. I can see it playing a role in mobilizing people to vote or assessing public opinion. But who will play the role of writing laws, creating institutions, and developing political parties? It seems to me that will still need to be done the time-tested, old-fashioned way with people sitting in a room and hashing out the details. The U.S. government seems to be pondering this question too. This Sunday’s POST (March 6) reported that the U.S. will spend about $250 million this year in Egypt for economic assistance, job training and education, health and pro-democracy assistance. I assume other efforts are under way in other mid-east countries, although not at this level. At the recent Tech Soup Global conference I learned about another government effort from Noel Dickover , who works for the U.S. State Department where he leads an effort called “ediplomacy Civil Society 2.0.” The Project is discussed by Fast Company here: http://www.fastcompany.com/1703889/state-department-convenes-tech-conference-for-ngos-in-latin-america. Here is a little bit from the State Department web site: http://tech.state.gov/profiles/blogs/what-is-civil-society-20. At the Tech Soup conference, I also spent some time with Beth Kantor. In her blog she writes about her recent visit to Beruit participating in a program to teach social media skills and help empower individuals to build more participatory and pluralistic societies. It’s good to know these efforts are underway. But my central concern remains: can social media be as effective building new institutions as it is in tearing down old corrupt ones? I’d like to hear your thoughts. Ever since the economy began to deteriorate in late 2008, I’ve been hearing stories about how there was going to be a huge wave of consolidations, mergers, and acquisitions in Last Sunday my wife and I attended the viewing of a movie called “A Small Act.” It’s the true story of a woman living in Sweden, a Holocaust survivor of modest economic means, who made small monthly contributions to support the education of a high school student in Kenya who eventually becomes an important international aid organization executive. The movie reminds us that each person has the capacity to make a difference and transform a life. The film’s showing was sponsored by two organizations: the Nomadic Kenyan Children’s Educational Fund (NKCEF) based in Virginia and the Kenya Education Fund (KEF) from New York. During the evening’s events I heard they are merging and so I wanted to learn more. Here are a few questions I asked Cathy Gorrell, NKCEF Board Member and one of the NKCEF Founders and Bradley Broder, Executive Director of KEF. 1) What prompted your organization to consider a merger? Cathy (NKCEF): NKCEF had been a nonprofit for eight years and as a result of strategic planning we were exploring the possibility of hiring an executive director and a staff person on the ground in Kenya – all in order to better serve our scholarship recipients. One of our board members found the Kenya Education Fund (KEF) and identified it as an organization with the same mission as NKCEF. We contacted Brad Broder, the executive director of KEF, and after several meetings and many many conversations with Brad and his board members, we asked Brad if he would consider merging with the Nomadic Kenyan Children’s Education Fund (NKCEF). In many ways, it seemed like the obvious and right thing to do – we both had a mission to educate bright, motivated, poor high school students in Kenya. KEF had a strong executive director who travels to Kenya regularly and who lived in Kenya as a member of the Peace Corps. They also are a Kenyan NGO and have a staff person in Kenya. NKCEF had more organizational infrastructure and had been around a few years longer. Hogan Lovells, a large international law firm, accepted us as a pro bono client and we started the process of merging two years ago. 2) What has been the hardest part of undertaking the merger? Brad (KEF): The merging of our two organizations’ operations was seamless due to the identical nature of our missions. However, with the KEF registered as a nonprofit in New York and the NKCEF registered in Virginia, the most difficult part of the merger was negotiating the complicated legal regulations surrounding nonprofit mergers for each state. Going on two years now, none of us anticipated the merger taking this long. In the interim, our two organizations have merged operations using a simple memorandum of understanding while we wait for the lawyers to wrap up the legal side of things. Our modest size has also made it easy our Board of Directors to vote and agree on new Board positions for the merged entity. Cathy (NKCEF): I would agree with Brad’s comments and want to emphasize that the complexities of merging two organizations in two jurisdictions was extremely difficult, but fortunately, the lawyers were able expertly guide us through the process. While the lawyers were doing their part, we focused on our operations. We continue to find ways to improve our operations and to develop and refine procedures for dealing with various issues. This is time consuming, but time well spent because it makes our organization run more smoothly and our students ultimately benefit. 3) What will be the benefits of being together in one organization? Brad (KEF): There are two major benefits to this merger: One is being able to scale up our operations in an efficient way. For example, prior to merging operations, each organization assisted roughly 200 high school students per year in Kenya. Together, we now fund 500 students, with a plan of reaching 1000 student per year in the next four years. Because we are a scholarship organization we are able to ramp up the number of beneficiaries without a commensurate rise in operational costs, which are relatively low in Kenya to begin with. The other benefit is the broadening of our donor base to include both the greater New York metropolitan area and the greater Washington DC region. Cathy (NKCEF): Improving the economies of scale is critical to both organizations. Additionally, we are always looking for ways to help our students. For us, having honest, reliable, accountable staff on the ground in Kenya allows us to provide our students with additional support and the services that they need to be successful in high school – such as tutoring, workshops, text books, scientific calculators and eye glasses. 4.) Any advice to other nonprofit organizations that might be considering a merger? Brad (KEF): I think the success and feasibility of a merger depends largely on the size of the two organizations and the ability of each to agree on a how best to carry forward the mission of the new entity. Our merger works because it combined an all-volunteer organization (NKCEF) with one with paid employees (KEF) so there was no need for demotions or layoffs. Bigger organizations might have bigger Board egos and employee redundancy issues to contend with, in which case an acquisition might be a better solution. Be ready to make sacrifices. But remember, a merger only makes sense if it improves your ability to fulfill your mission. Cathy (NKCEF): Merging two organizations is more complicated and takes longer than you think. It is essential to have open communication and strong, experienced legal help. Stay focused and never lose track of your mission. Saturday was a terrific day for bicycling in Washington D.C. Most of the major streets were closed to car traffic and we could pretty well cruise anywhere we wanted to go without fear of being run over. Plus, it turned out to be very entertaining watching tens of thousands of fun loving people attracted to the Jon Stewart/Steven Colbert rally on the Mall and various Halloween parties around the city. Below is a brief collection of some of the signs we saw. Special thanks to Erinn Andrews of Philanthropedia for sharing some of her favorite pictures from the rally!
This Saturday I did what thousands of Americans do: I attended a fundraiser for a nonprofit organization. All across America on a typical weekend, hundreds of thousands of people are participating in events to raise money. The list is long and interesting: runs of all sizes and lengths, long and short bike rides, walk-a-thons, bake sales, telethons, and flea markets─to name only a few This Saturday I was in New York to cheer on my wife Faith as she ran in a race to raise money for the charity Women for Women International and the organization Run for Congo Women. She not only finished the race─a feat in itself─she surpassed her fundingraising goal by 150 percent and was one of the top fundraisers for the day. Run for Congo Women was started by a human dynamo by the name of Lisa Shannon. Listen to how she describes herself and her book, “A Thousand Sisters,” on her website:
That’s all it took: one woman, some motivation, and lots of determination. Now her passion is turning into a movement. On her website Lisa suggests 9 things you can do. Here’s her number nine: “Dream up something all your own, like I did!” What are we doing this week? You can read more about Run for Congo Women here: http://www.runforcongowomen.org/index.html. These posts conclude my daily diary of adventures with the 38th annual Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI), organized by the Des Moines Register. Thank you for sharing in my journey, and I look forward to hearing your travel experiences across our great country. 
Thursday, July 29 Last night we had a classic Midwestern thunderstorm, with lots of rain, thunder, and lightning. Our tent did a little rocking and rolling but held up well with no water inside. This morning was cool and sunny with low humidity. The road out of town was newly paved, and the first 40 miles were the fastest of the trip. Overall we rode 82 miles before we rolled into Waterloo. Being selected as a host town has many obvious economic benefits, but it also comes with lots of responsibilities. I’m told towns put together committees of hundreds of volunteers and spend nearly a year organizing events, sprucing up their town, and making sure their few hours in the spotlight make a good impression. Finding enough open space for thousands of RVs and campers is often a challenge. And just think of all the port-a-potties and showers needed.But probably one of the most important responsibilities is helping to line up the musical entertainment. As we pulled into town there were generally several musical events available. Riders had a surprising number of music players ranging from huge boom boxes on trailers to smaller devices that fit neatly on the back of a bike. We must have heard 20 different kinds of music: high-decibel screaming rock, old-time rock and roll, and everything in between. Sometimes I was glad to leave the music behind (or more often have them leave me behind); other times I lingered next to a rider with a particularly good music selection with just the right beat to keep me going.
Friday, July 30 Today was one of the roughest days. The distance wasn’t so bad, with only 62 miles from Waterloo to Manchester, but we were bedeviled by a cold driving rain for much of the day and a stiff headwind. I saw one young entrepreneur’s handmade sign altered to read "warm water" rather than the ice-cold water we normally craved. We were exhausted by the time we arrived in town. Due to plane connections, it was sadly our last day. We were forced to miss the last 47-mile ride into Dubuque and the chance to dip our front wheels into the Mississippi. All in all, it was an amazing week. It’s an experience my wife, Faith, and I will never forget. It was challenging and at times grueling, but the sense of accomplishment, the camaraderie, the opportunity to eat with abandon, and the beautiful scenery made it well worth the effort.
 This last one is courtesy of the RAGBRAI Web site
Over the course of the week I will be sharing my daily diary of adventures with the 38th annual Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI), organized by the Des Moines Register. Check back for new updates every day, and please share any insights you have into the wonderful world of bike riding across our beautiful country. Tuesday, July 27 Today’s route was a relatively short 60 miles as we rode from Algona to Clear Lake, but it was extremely hot and steamy most of the day, with the temperature index over 100. Twenty thousand riders need a lot of food. And they need it frequently and in large quantities. One of the great things about riding this many miles every day is that I could eat with abandon. No worries. Here are some of the things I ate:  How the bicycling nonprofit CEO fuels up
 Running out of food was never a concern  One source of sustenance for RAGBRAI riders
Wednesday, July 28 One of the shortest days on the tour—only 52 miles from Clear Lake to Charles City. When people say why they enjoy RAGBRAI, their answers always include the opportunity to meet so many interesting people, and I couldn’t agree more. Every town provided a chance to meet friendly people eager to talk and swap stories. Twenty thousand riders came in all sizes and shapes. There were the teams of young riders racing along in peloton style pedaling to the beat of a big boom box. There were lots of tandems, and they seemed to come in two extremes: some powered by two young riders zooming along at breakneck speed and just as many slowly lumbering along with two overweight and inexperienced riders. There were a surprising number of recumbents, in a variety of styles: long to short wheelbases; large and small wheels; and overseat, underseat, and no-hands steering.  Bob Ottenhoff, RAGBRAI veteran Julia, and Faith Ottenhoff My wife, Faith, and I rode with a group that included our Washington friends Tom and Donna and about 10 of Donna’s family members, ranging in age from 15 to 76. During the week, one of them, Julia, celebrated her 76th birthday along the trail and marked her 15th RAGBRAI anniversary. She was an inspiration for all of us. Her secret for success: attitude and determination. Here’s a picture of Julia: I also had a chance to ride with Roxie Jerde, from GuideStar’s partners at the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation. Roxie and her husband, Mike, have ridden in about 15 RAGBRAIs and look forward every year to meeting friends and celebrating traditions. The ride also gave us a chance to spend a night with an old friend, Doug, and his wife, Gail, and spend two days riding with regular bikemates Bill and Rita.  Roxie Jerde and Bob Ottenhoff  Riding companion Tom, Bob Ottenhoff, riding companion Donna, and Faith Ottenhoff Over the course of the week I will be sharing my daily diary of adventures with the 38th annual Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI), organized by the Des Moines Register. Check back for new updates every day, and please share any insights you have into the wonderful world of bike riding across our beautiful country.  Lions Club fundraiser Sunday, July 25 Today we rode about 70 miles from Sioux City to Storm Lake. It was a tough day with a total vertical climb of nearly 4,000 feet, crowded roads, and steep hills. It has been a while since I read a full piece by Alexis de Tocqueville, but I remember him commenting on how impressed he was by the extraordinary number of civic organizations he observed on his American travels. Too bad he couldn’t have experienced RAGBRAI. Iowans seem to be joiners. Every town we went through was loaded with hundreds of volunteers helping to coordinate logistics and raising money for one cause or another. Over the course of the week I bought food that helped send money to Haiti, helped one church rebuild a steeple and another install an elevator, helped pay for an artificial leg, and supported flood victims, to name just a few great causes that were being supported by RAGBRAI. Bicycle jerseys were the same way: promoting fundraisers to fight cancer or Multiple Sclerosis and other important causes were abundant. All of this is part of the undocumented part of the charitable sector. For every dollar included in Giving USA’s annual charitable survey, my guess is there is another dollar or two that goes for local civic, social, and religious causes that never touch the GuideStar database, or the IRS for that matter.  First Lutheran Church concession stand  Another church concession stand
 Iowa wind turbines Monday, July 26 Today’s route was flatter but longer as we rode from Storm Lake to Algona. I opted for the optional 100-mile route over the 80-mile regular route and did just fine. What happens when 20,000 cell phone users show up in a small town at the same time? For the entire week of riding I was unable to get cell phone service or access a wireless network using my ATT I-phone. Spotty coverage and inadequate bandwidth would be my guess. My blackberry and cell phone worked only sporadically, and it was the same with Internet access. Keeping everything powered meant plugging in whenever you got a chance—fast food joints, libraries, gas stations, etc., with everyone desperately scouring the town looking for power.  Wind turbines on the horizon For several days the unbroken sea of corn and soybeans was accented by fields of tall wind turbines. Iowa ranks second to Texas in wind-generated power in the United States. In return for use of their property, farmers earn an annual rental fee and a percentage of any profit; Wikipedia estimates $3,000-$5,000 per year in rental income from each turbine, an important source of steady income for some farmers. Plus the turbines help provide a small tax boost for local communities and channeled $17 billion into the national economy in 2008. Energy advocates might have more success promoting the economic benefits of wind energy rather than the abstract issue of global warming. Wind farms are controversial in some areas (e.g., Nantucket Sound) because opponents say they mar the “viewscape.” But out here in Iowa I think they looked graceful and majestic. Solar power played a role on the tour, too. Many riders hooked up various CD and MP3 players to blast out their favorite music. The most ingenious were those pulling little trailers with huge boom boxes powered by little solar panels. Neat idea.  Here I am on the far right with part of the team I rode with all last week Saturday, July 24, at about noon I entered the city of Sioux City, Iowa, in northwestern Iowa, population 85,000. Nestled up against Nebraska and South Dakota, Wikipedia says this general area is called "Siouxland." I have newfound curiosity for the surrounding geography, having just finished reading Nathaniel Philbrick’s best-seller on General Custer’s exploits and ultimate demise here on the plains and areas to the west. For the next seven days I participated in the 38th annual Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI), self-described as "the oldest, largest and longest bicycle touring event in the world—and one of the state’s best excuses for a party. The cities and small towns along this year’s route are hosting big-name concerts (Smash Mouth, the Spin Doctors, the Nadas), dusting off old recipes (Mulligan stew, gargantuan ham balls) and sprucing up landmarks that visitors can see year-round, no matter how many wheels they ride to get there."  Our accommodations The ride always begins on the western border of Iowa and always ends on the eastern border. Organizers expected more than 10,000 riders from 50 states and 25 countries to make the full seven-day trip and another 10,000 or so (no one really knew) to join us for shorter periods. Over the years a tradition has developed for riders to dip their rear tires in the Missouri River at the beginning of the ride and dip their front tires in the Mississippi River seven days later when they complete the trip. I was honored to join that rich tradition. The event is organized by the Des Moines Register. According to the promotional literature, the Register contributes to nonprofit organizations and causes within Iowa as well as to RAGBRAI towns. Please check back to this blog as I highlight interesting nonprofit organizations taking part in the ride and share some of our adventures. Please check tomorrow to find out what happened on days 1 and 2 of my trip across Iowa. |
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