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Draft Response to COABE - Your Thoughts Needed ASAP

DK
Deborah Kennedy
Fri, Jul 22, 2016 3:01 PM

Hello, all,

As you know from the message strings that Silja and I have forwarded, COABE has secured a $5,000 commitment from ETS to sponsor NCL activities during Adult Ed and Family Literacy Week. This is wonderful, but it comes with strings attached. ETS  needs an invoice from NCL in order to provide the money. However, COABE insists on being the intermediary for the invoice (and possibly the payment).

As the NCL finance chair and vice president, I am unequivocally opposed to allowing a member organization to forward an invoice or handle a payment on the NCL’s behalf. It is contrary to everything I know about best practices in nonprofit management and about conflict of interest. I would rather walk away from the money than accept it under such circumstances.

In addition, as we discussed at our meeting on July 13, we already have sufficient underwriting and other support to fund all of the planned AEFL week activities. We would therefore need to communicate directly with ETS about what types of additional activities they would be interested in supporting. However, COABE appears not to want us to engage in any direct communication with ETS.

I believe, based on Sharon’s most recent email, that COABE has full underwriting for its Capitol Hill Day activities (during AEFL Week) from another sponsor, and that that funder wants to be the exclusive sponsor. I am guessing that this is why COABE has offered the $5,000 from ETS to the NCL.

Rather than walk away from the $5,000 completely, which would make us look weird to ETS and might preclude future sponsorships, I’d like to propose a joint COABE-NCL activity that would support AEFL Week (not Capitol Hill Day) and that would allow COABE to manage the money. It is to sponsor a contest in which NCL and COABE members are invited to have their adult learners write (short) essays on the theme “what adult education has meant to me.” Submitted essays would be read by a panel of two NCL board members and two COBE board members, and awards would be given to the two or three strongest adult learners. The prize, paid for from the ETS sponsorship, would be an all-expenses-paid trip to DC to attend the NCL awards event on the Hill and the NCL membership meeting, plus $500 for the winners’ adult ed programs. We would acknowledge the winners and their programs at the awards event. We would also post their essays on the NCL website and use them in our awareness materials going forward.

I would like to send an email to Sharon first thing Monday morning outlining NCL’s position and this proposal. Before I do, though, I’d like to be sure that you support it. Please let me know your thoughts.

Apologies for the long message, thanks in advance for your responses, and have a good weekend.

Deborah

Hello, all, As you know from the message strings that Silja and I have forwarded, COABE has secured a $5,000 commitment from ETS to sponsor NCL activities during Adult Ed and Family Literacy Week. This is wonderful, but it comes with strings attached. ETS needs an invoice from NCL in order to provide the money. However, COABE insists on being the intermediary for the invoice (and possibly the payment). As the NCL finance chair and vice president, I am unequivocally opposed to allowing a member organization to forward an invoice or handle a payment on the NCL’s behalf. It is contrary to everything I know about best practices in nonprofit management and about conflict of interest. I would rather walk away from the money than accept it under such circumstances. In addition, as we discussed at our meeting on July 13, we already have sufficient underwriting and other support to fund all of the planned AEFL week activities. We would therefore need to communicate directly with ETS about what types of additional activities they would be interested in supporting. However, COABE appears not to want us to engage in any direct communication with ETS. I believe, based on Sharon’s most recent email, that COABE has full underwriting for its Capitol Hill Day activities (during AEFL Week) from another sponsor, and that that funder wants to be the exclusive sponsor. I am guessing that this is why COABE has offered the $5,000 from ETS to the NCL. Rather than walk away from the $5,000 completely, which would make us look weird to ETS and might preclude future sponsorships, I’d like to propose a joint COABE-NCL activity that would support AEFL Week (not Capitol Hill Day) and that would allow COABE to manage the money. It is to sponsor a contest in which NCL and COABE members are invited to have their adult learners write (short) essays on the theme “what adult education has meant to me.” Submitted essays would be read by a panel of two NCL board members and two COBE board members, and awards would be given to the two or three strongest adult learners. The prize, paid for from the ETS sponsorship, would be an all-expenses-paid trip to DC to attend the NCL awards event on the Hill and the NCL membership meeting, plus $500 for the winners’ adult ed programs. We would acknowledge the winners and their programs at the awards event. We would also post their essays on the NCL website and use them in our awareness materials going forward. I would like to send an email to Sharon first thing Monday morning outlining NCL’s position and this proposal. Before I do, though, I’d like to be sure that you support it. Please let me know your thoughts. Apologies for the long message, thanks in advance for your responses, and have a good weekend. Deborah
JM
Judy Mortrude
Fri, Jul 22, 2016 3:07 PM

Sounds like a solid strategy to me!
Judy

Judy Mortrude
202-906-8014
651-276-7067

-----Original Message-----
From: Board [mailto:board-bounces@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org] On Behalf Of Deborah Kennedy
Sent: Friday, July 22, 2016 11:02 AM
To: National Coalition for Literacy Board Members List
Subject: [NCL Board] Draft Response to COABE - Your Thoughts Needed ASAP

Hello, all,

As you know from the message strings that Silja and I have forwarded, COABE has secured a $5,000 commitment from ETS to sponsor NCL activities during Adult Ed and Family Literacy Week. This is wonderful, but it comes with strings attached. ETS  needs an invoice from NCL in order to provide the money. However, COABE insists on being the intermediary for the invoice (and possibly the payment).

As the NCL finance chair and vice president, I am unequivocally opposed to allowing a member organization to forward an invoice or handle a payment on the NCL’s behalf. It is contrary to everything I know about best practices in nonprofit management and about conflict of interest. I would rather walk away from the money than accept it under such circumstances.

In addition, as we discussed at our meeting on July 13, we already have sufficient underwriting and other support to fund all of the planned AEFL week activities. We would therefore need to communicate directly with ETS about what types of additional activities they would be interested in supporting. However, COABE appears not to want us to engage in any direct communication with ETS.

I believe, based on Sharon’s most recent email, that COABE has full underwriting for its Capitol Hill Day activities (during AEFL Week) from another sponsor, and that that funder wants to be the exclusive sponsor. I am guessing that this is why COABE has offered the $5,000 from ETS to the NCL.

Rather than walk away from the $5,000 completely, which would make us look weird to ETS and might preclude future sponsorships, I’d like to propose a joint COABE-NCL activity that would support AEFL Week (not Capitol Hill Day) and that would allow COABE to manage the money. It is to sponsor a contest in which NCL and COABE members are invited to have their adult learners write (short) essays on the theme “what adult education has meant to me.” Submitted essays would be read by a panel of two NCL board members and two COBE board members, and awards would be given to the two or three strongest adult learners. The prize, paid for from the ETS sponsorship, would be an all-expenses-paid trip to DC to attend the NCL awards event on the Hill and the NCL membership meeting, plus $500 for the winners’ adult ed programs. We would acknowledge the winners and their programs at the awards event. We would also post their essays on the NCL website and use them in our awareness materials going forward.

I would like to send an email to Sharon first thing Monday morning outlining NCL’s position and this proposal. Before I do, though, I’d like to be sure that you support it. Please let me know your thoughts.

Apologies for the long message, thanks in advance for your responses, and have a good weekend.

Deborah

National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org
http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org

Sounds like a solid strategy to me! Judy Judy Mortrude 202-906-8014 651-276-7067 -----Original Message----- From: Board [mailto:board-bounces@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org] On Behalf Of Deborah Kennedy Sent: Friday, July 22, 2016 11:02 AM To: National Coalition for Literacy Board Members List Subject: [NCL Board] Draft Response to COABE - Your Thoughts Needed ASAP Hello, all, As you know from the message strings that Silja and I have forwarded, COABE has secured a $5,000 commitment from ETS to sponsor NCL activities during Adult Ed and Family Literacy Week. This is wonderful, but it comes with strings attached. ETS needs an invoice from NCL in order to provide the money. However, COABE insists on being the intermediary for the invoice (and possibly the payment). As the NCL finance chair and vice president, I am unequivocally opposed to allowing a member organization to forward an invoice or handle a payment on the NCL’s behalf. It is contrary to everything I know about best practices in nonprofit management and about conflict of interest. I would rather walk away from the money than accept it under such circumstances. In addition, as we discussed at our meeting on July 13, we already have sufficient underwriting and other support to fund all of the planned AEFL week activities. We would therefore need to communicate directly with ETS about what types of additional activities they would be interested in supporting. However, COABE appears not to want us to engage in any direct communication with ETS. I believe, based on Sharon’s most recent email, that COABE has full underwriting for its Capitol Hill Day activities (during AEFL Week) from another sponsor, and that that funder wants to be the exclusive sponsor. I am guessing that this is why COABE has offered the $5,000 from ETS to the NCL. Rather than walk away from the $5,000 completely, which would make us look weird to ETS and might preclude future sponsorships, I’d like to propose a joint COABE-NCL activity that would support AEFL Week (not Capitol Hill Day) and that would allow COABE to manage the money. It is to sponsor a contest in which NCL and COABE members are invited to have their adult learners write (short) essays on the theme “what adult education has meant to me.” Submitted essays would be read by a panel of two NCL board members and two COBE board members, and awards would be given to the two or three strongest adult learners. The prize, paid for from the ETS sponsorship, would be an all-expenses-paid trip to DC to attend the NCL awards event on the Hill and the NCL membership meeting, plus $500 for the winners’ adult ed programs. We would acknowledge the winners and their programs at the awards event. We would also post their essays on the NCL website and use them in our awareness materials going forward. I would like to send an email to Sharon first thing Monday morning outlining NCL’s position and this proposal. Before I do, though, I’d like to be sure that you support it. Please let me know your thoughts. Apologies for the long message, thanks in advance for your responses, and have a good weekend. Deborah _______________________________________________ National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org
RC
Rhodes, Christy
Fri, Jul 22, 2016 3:27 PM

I think it's a great idea, too.
Christy

Christy M. Rhodes, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Adult Education
Department of Interdisciplinary Professions
Ragsdale Hall 221-A
College of Education
East Carolina University
252-737-4795
Rhodesc14@ecu.edu

Director-at-Large
American Association for Adult and Continuing Education
2013-2016

-----Original Message-----
From: Board [mailto:board-bounces@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org] On Behalf Of Deborah Kennedy
Sent: Friday, July 22, 2016 11:02 AM
To: National Coalition for Literacy Board Members List board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org
Subject: [NCL Board] Draft Response to COABE - Your Thoughts Needed ASAP

Hello, all,

As you know from the message strings that Silja and I have forwarded, COABE has secured a $5,000 commitment from ETS to sponsor NCL activities during Adult Ed and Family Literacy Week. This is wonderful, but it comes with strings attached. ETS  needs an invoice from NCL in order to provide the money. However, COABE insists on being the intermediary for the invoice (and possibly the payment).

As the NCL finance chair and vice president, I am unequivocally opposed to allowing a member organization to forward an invoice or handle a payment on the NCL’s behalf. It is contrary to everything I know about best practices in nonprofit management and about conflict of interest. I would rather walk away from the money than accept it under such circumstances.

In addition, as we discussed at our meeting on July 13, we already have sufficient underwriting and other support to fund all of the planned AEFL week activities. We would therefore need to communicate directly with ETS about what types of additional activities they would be interested in supporting. However, COABE appears not to want us to engage in any direct communication with ETS.

I believe, based on Sharon’s most recent email, that COABE has full underwriting for its Capitol Hill Day activities (during AEFL Week) from another sponsor, and that that funder wants to be the exclusive sponsor. I am guessing that this is why COABE has offered the $5,000 from ETS to the NCL.

Rather than walk away from the $5,000 completely, which would make us look weird to ETS and might preclude future sponsorships, I’d like to propose a joint COABE-NCL activity that would support AEFL Week (not Capitol Hill Day) and that would allow COABE to manage the money. It is to sponsor a contest in which NCL and COABE members are invited to have their adult learners write (short) essays on the theme “what adult education has meant to me.” Submitted essays would be read by a panel of two NCL board members and two COBE board members, and awards would be given to the two or three strongest adult learners. The prize, paid for from the ETS sponsorship, would be an all-expenses-paid trip to DC to attend the NCL awards event on the Hill and the NCL membership meeting, plus $500 for the winners’ adult ed programs. We would acknowledge the winners and their programs at the awards event. We would also post their essays on the NCL website and use them in our awareness materials going forward.

I would like to send an email to Sharon first thing Monday morning outlining NCL’s position and this proposal. Before I do, though, I’d like to be sure that you support it. Please let me know your thoughts.

Apologies for the long message, thanks in advance for your responses, and have a good weekend.

Deborah

National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org
http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org

I think it's a great idea, too. Christy Christy M. Rhodes, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Adult Education Department of Interdisciplinary Professions Ragsdale Hall 221-A College of Education East Carolina University 252-737-4795 Rhodesc14@ecu.edu Director-at-Large American Association for Adult and Continuing Education 2013-2016 -----Original Message----- From: Board [mailto:board-bounces@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org] On Behalf Of Deborah Kennedy Sent: Friday, July 22, 2016 11:02 AM To: National Coalition for Literacy Board Members List <board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org> Subject: [NCL Board] Draft Response to COABE - Your Thoughts Needed ASAP Hello, all, As you know from the message strings that Silja and I have forwarded, COABE has secured a $5,000 commitment from ETS to sponsor NCL activities during Adult Ed and Family Literacy Week. This is wonderful, but it comes with strings attached. ETS needs an invoice from NCL in order to provide the money. However, COABE insists on being the intermediary for the invoice (and possibly the payment). As the NCL finance chair and vice president, I am unequivocally opposed to allowing a member organization to forward an invoice or handle a payment on the NCL’s behalf. It is contrary to everything I know about best practices in nonprofit management and about conflict of interest. I would rather walk away from the money than accept it under such circumstances. In addition, as we discussed at our meeting on July 13, we already have sufficient underwriting and other support to fund all of the planned AEFL week activities. We would therefore need to communicate directly with ETS about what types of additional activities they would be interested in supporting. However, COABE appears not to want us to engage in any direct communication with ETS. I believe, based on Sharon’s most recent email, that COABE has full underwriting for its Capitol Hill Day activities (during AEFL Week) from another sponsor, and that that funder wants to be the exclusive sponsor. I am guessing that this is why COABE has offered the $5,000 from ETS to the NCL. Rather than walk away from the $5,000 completely, which would make us look weird to ETS and might preclude future sponsorships, I’d like to propose a joint COABE-NCL activity that would support AEFL Week (not Capitol Hill Day) and that would allow COABE to manage the money. It is to sponsor a contest in which NCL and COABE members are invited to have their adult learners write (short) essays on the theme “what adult education has meant to me.” Submitted essays would be read by a panel of two NCL board members and two COBE board members, and awards would be given to the two or three strongest adult learners. The prize, paid for from the ETS sponsorship, would be an all-expenses-paid trip to DC to attend the NCL awards event on the Hill and the NCL membership meeting, plus $500 for the winners’ adult ed programs. We would acknowledge the winners and their programs at the awards event. We would also post their essays on the NCL website and use them in our awareness materials going forward. I would like to send an email to Sharon first thing Monday morning outlining NCL’s position and this proposal. Before I do, though, I’d like to be sure that you support it. Please let me know your thoughts. Apologies for the long message, thanks in advance for your responses, and have a good weekend. Deborah _______________________________________________ National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org
KL
Kristin Lahurd
Fri, Jul 22, 2016 6:00 PM

I, too, think this is a really great idea and a creative solution, Deborah.

Kristin

From: Board [board-bounces@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org] on behalf of Deborah Kennedy [deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net]
Sent: Friday, July 22, 2016 10:01 AM
To: National Coalition for Literacy Board Members List
Subject: [NCL Board] Draft Response to COABE - Your Thoughts Needed ASAP

Hello, all,

As you know from the message strings that Silja and I have forwarded, COABE has secured a $5,000 commitment from ETS to sponsor NCL activities during Adult Ed and Family Literacy Week. This is wonderful, but it comes with strings attached. ETS  needs an invoice from NCL in order to provide the money. However, COABE insists on being the intermediary for the invoice (and possibly the payment).

As the NCL finance chair and vice president, I am unequivocally opposed to allowing a member organization to forward an invoice or handle a payment on the NCL’s behalf. It is contrary to everything I know about best practices in nonprofit management and about conflict of interest. I would rather walk away from the money than accept it under such circumstances.

In addition, as we discussed at our meeting on July 13, we already have sufficient underwriting and other support to fund all of the planned AEFL week activities. We would therefore need to communicate directly with ETS about what types of additional activities they would be interested in supporting. However, COABE appears not to want us to engage in any direct communication with ETS.

I believe, based on Sharon’s most recent email, that COABE has full underwriting for its Capitol Hill Day activities (during AEFL Week) from another sponsor, and that that funder wants to be the exclusive sponsor. I am guessing that this is why COABE has offered the $5,000 from ETS to the NCL.

Rather than walk away from the $5,000 completely, which would make us look weird to ETS and might preclude future sponsorships, I’d like to propose a joint COABE-NCL activity that would support AEFL Week (not Capitol Hill Day) and that would allow COABE to manage the money. It is to sponsor a contest in which NCL and COABE members are invited to have their adult learners write (short) essays on the theme “what adult education has meant to me.” Submitted essays would be read by a panel of two NCL board members and two COBE board members, and awards would be given to the two or three strongest adult learners. The prize, paid for from the ETS sponsorship, would be an all-expenses-paid trip to DC to attend the NCL awards event on the Hill and the NCL membership meeting, plus $500 for the winners’ adult ed programs. We would acknowledge the winners and their programs at the awards event. We would also post their essays on the NCL website and use them in our awareness materials going forward.

I would like to send an email to Sharon first thing Monday morning outlining NCL’s position and this proposal. Before I do, though, I’d like to be sure that you support it. Please let me know your thoughts.

Apologies for the long message, thanks in advance for your responses, and have a good weekend.

Deborah

National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list
Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org
http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org

I, too, think this is a really great idea and a creative solution, Deborah. Kristin ________________________________________ From: Board [board-bounces@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org] on behalf of Deborah Kennedy [deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net] Sent: Friday, July 22, 2016 10:01 AM To: National Coalition for Literacy Board Members List Subject: [NCL Board] Draft Response to COABE - Your Thoughts Needed ASAP Hello, all, As you know from the message strings that Silja and I have forwarded, COABE has secured a $5,000 commitment from ETS to sponsor NCL activities during Adult Ed and Family Literacy Week. This is wonderful, but it comes with strings attached. ETS needs an invoice from NCL in order to provide the money. However, COABE insists on being the intermediary for the invoice (and possibly the payment). As the NCL finance chair and vice president, I am unequivocally opposed to allowing a member organization to forward an invoice or handle a payment on the NCL’s behalf. It is contrary to everything I know about best practices in nonprofit management and about conflict of interest. I would rather walk away from the money than accept it under such circumstances. In addition, as we discussed at our meeting on July 13, we already have sufficient underwriting and other support to fund all of the planned AEFL week activities. We would therefore need to communicate directly with ETS about what types of additional activities they would be interested in supporting. However, COABE appears not to want us to engage in any direct communication with ETS. I believe, based on Sharon’s most recent email, that COABE has full underwriting for its Capitol Hill Day activities (during AEFL Week) from another sponsor, and that that funder wants to be the exclusive sponsor. I am guessing that this is why COABE has offered the $5,000 from ETS to the NCL. Rather than walk away from the $5,000 completely, which would make us look weird to ETS and might preclude future sponsorships, I’d like to propose a joint COABE-NCL activity that would support AEFL Week (not Capitol Hill Day) and that would allow COABE to manage the money. It is to sponsor a contest in which NCL and COABE members are invited to have their adult learners write (short) essays on the theme “what adult education has meant to me.” Submitted essays would be read by a panel of two NCL board members and two COBE board members, and awards would be given to the two or three strongest adult learners. The prize, paid for from the ETS sponsorship, would be an all-expenses-paid trip to DC to attend the NCL awards event on the Hill and the NCL membership meeting, plus $500 for the winners’ adult ed programs. We would acknowledge the winners and their programs at the awards event. We would also post their essays on the NCL website and use them in our awareness materials going forward. I would like to send an email to Sharon first thing Monday morning outlining NCL’s position and this proposal. Before I do, though, I’d like to be sure that you support it. Please let me know your thoughts. Apologies for the long message, thanks in advance for your responses, and have a good weekend. Deborah _______________________________________________ National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org
JC
Jeff Carter
Fri, Jul 22, 2016 11:58 PM

Folks,

I’m sorry to be so late in responding to this — yesterday was a long travel day and I’m struggling to catch up today.

I have been playing phone tag with ETS for several days — I still feel pretty confident that they will be willing to sponsor us without going through NCL and we (NCL) can just generate an invoice and that will be that. Give me one more day (Monday) to touch base with Amy and see if I can work around Sharon, which would be the easiest option, I think. If not, then we can turn to Deborah’s excellent suggestion. I agree strongly that what COABE is proposing is completely unacceptable. The idea that they can ask us not to engage in any direct communication with ETS is absurd. I’m actually quite comfortable turning down the funding, although hopefully we won’t have to.

Sorry I haven’t been able to have a direct conversation with ETS yet.

I have to say also that the once again, I fear that we are becoming the “dealing with Sharon” coalition. Not our fault, of course, but I think we need to continue to think about drafting clear ground rules about member solicitation of donations going forward in order to prevent stuff like this from happening. Hard, of course to anticipate what she is going to throw at us next, but I don’t know what else to suggest…

Thanks everyone for your patience and good will,

Jeff

On Jul 22, 2016, at 2:00 PM, Kristin Lahurd klahurd@ala.org wrote:

I, too, think this is a really great idea and a creative solution, Deborah.

Kristin

From: Board [board-bounces@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org] on behalf of Deborah Kennedy [deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net]
Sent: Friday, July 22, 2016 10:01 AM
To: National Coalition for Literacy Board Members List
Subject: [NCL Board] Draft Response to COABE - Your Thoughts Needed ASAP

Hello, all,

As you know from the message strings that Silja and I have forwarded, COABE has secured a $5,000 commitment from ETS to sponsor NCL activities during Adult Ed and Family Literacy Week. This is wonderful, but it comes with strings attached. ETS  needs an invoice from NCL in order to provide the money. However, COABE insists on being the intermediary for the invoice (and possibly the payment).

As the NCL finance chair and vice president, I am unequivocally opposed to allowing a member organization to forward an invoice or handle a payment on the NCL’s behalf. It is contrary to everything I know about best practices in nonprofit management and about conflict of interest. I would rather walk away from the money than accept it under such circumstances.

In addition, as we discussed at our meeting on July 13, we already have sufficient underwriting and other support to fund all of the planned AEFL week activities. We would therefore need to communicate directly with ETS about what types of additional activities they would be interested in supporting. However, COABE appears not to want us to engage in any direct communication with ETS.

I believe, based on Sharon’s most recent email, that COABE has full underwriting for its Capitol Hill Day activities (during AEFL Week) from another sponsor, and that that funder wants to be the exclusive sponsor. I am guessing that this is why COABE has offered the $5,000 from ETS to the NCL.

Rather than walk away from the $5,000 completely, which would make us look weird to ETS and might preclude future sponsorships, I’d like to propose a joint COABE-NCL activity that would support AEFL Week (not Capitol Hill Day) and that would allow COABE to manage the money. It is to sponsor a contest in which NCL and COABE members are invited to have their adult learners write (short) essays on the theme “what adult education has meant to me.” Submitted essays would be read by a panel of two NCL board members and two COBE board members, and awards would be given to the two or three strongest adult learners. The prize, paid for from the ETS sponsorship, would be an all-expenses-paid trip to DC to attend the NCL awards event on the Hill and the NCL membership meeting, plus $500 for the winners’ adult ed programs. We would acknowledge the winners and their programs at the awards event. We would also post their essays on the NCL website and use them in our awareness materials going forward.

I would like to send an email to Sharon first thing Monday morning outlining NCL’s position and this proposal. Before I do, though, I’d like to be sure that you support it. Please let me know your thoughts.

Apologies for the long message, thanks in advance for your responses, and have a good weekend.

Deborah

National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list
Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org
http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org

National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list
Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org
http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org

Folks, I’m sorry to be so late in responding to this — yesterday was a long travel day and I’m struggling to catch up today. I have been playing phone tag with ETS for several days — I still feel pretty confident that they will be willing to sponsor us without going through NCL and we (NCL) can just generate an invoice and that will be that. Give me one more day (Monday) to touch base with Amy and see if I can work around Sharon, which would be the easiest option, I think. If not, then we can turn to Deborah’s excellent suggestion. I agree strongly that what COABE is proposing is completely unacceptable. The idea that they can ask us not to engage in any direct communication with ETS is absurd. I’m actually quite comfortable turning down the funding, although hopefully we won’t have to. Sorry I haven’t been able to have a direct conversation with ETS yet. I have to say also that the once again, I fear that we are becoming the “dealing with Sharon” coalition. Not our fault, of course, but I think we need to continue to think about drafting clear ground rules about member solicitation of donations going forward in order to prevent stuff like this from happening. Hard, of course to anticipate what she is going to throw at us next, but I don’t know what else to suggest… Thanks everyone for your patience and good will, Jeff > On Jul 22, 2016, at 2:00 PM, Kristin Lahurd <klahurd@ala.org> wrote: > > I, too, think this is a really great idea and a creative solution, Deborah. > > Kristin > ________________________________________ > From: Board [board-bounces@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org] on behalf of Deborah Kennedy [deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net] > Sent: Friday, July 22, 2016 10:01 AM > To: National Coalition for Literacy Board Members List > Subject: [NCL Board] Draft Response to COABE - Your Thoughts Needed ASAP > > Hello, all, > > As you know from the message strings that Silja and I have forwarded, COABE has secured a $5,000 commitment from ETS to sponsor NCL activities during Adult Ed and Family Literacy Week. This is wonderful, but it comes with strings attached. ETS needs an invoice from NCL in order to provide the money. However, COABE insists on being the intermediary for the invoice (and possibly the payment). > > As the NCL finance chair and vice president, I am unequivocally opposed to allowing a member organization to forward an invoice or handle a payment on the NCL’s behalf. It is contrary to everything I know about best practices in nonprofit management and about conflict of interest. I would rather walk away from the money than accept it under such circumstances. > > In addition, as we discussed at our meeting on July 13, we already have sufficient underwriting and other support to fund all of the planned AEFL week activities. We would therefore need to communicate directly with ETS about what types of additional activities they would be interested in supporting. However, COABE appears not to want us to engage in any direct communication with ETS. > > I believe, based on Sharon’s most recent email, that COABE has full underwriting for its Capitol Hill Day activities (during AEFL Week) from another sponsor, and that that funder wants to be the exclusive sponsor. I am guessing that this is why COABE has offered the $5,000 from ETS to the NCL. > > Rather than walk away from the $5,000 completely, which would make us look weird to ETS and might preclude future sponsorships, I’d like to propose a joint COABE-NCL activity that would support AEFL Week (not Capitol Hill Day) and that would allow COABE to manage the money. It is to sponsor a contest in which NCL and COABE members are invited to have their adult learners write (short) essays on the theme “what adult education has meant to me.” Submitted essays would be read by a panel of two NCL board members and two COBE board members, and awards would be given to the two or three strongest adult learners. The prize, paid for from the ETS sponsorship, would be an all-expenses-paid trip to DC to attend the NCL awards event on the Hill and the NCL membership meeting, plus $500 for the winners’ adult ed programs. We would acknowledge the winners and their programs at the awards event. We would also post their essays on the NCL website and use them in our awareness materials going forward. > > I would like to send an email to Sharon first thing Monday morning outlining NCL’s position and this proposal. Before I do, though, I’d like to be sure that you support it. Please let me know your thoughts. > > Apologies for the long message, thanks in advance for your responses, and have a good weekend. > > Deborah > > > > _______________________________________________ > National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list > Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org > http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org > > _______________________________________________ > National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list > Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org > http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org
SK
Silja Kallenbach
Sat, Jul 23, 2016 4:32 AM

I agree that Sharon's approach is highly unusual. I don't think having
sufficient funds for an event is in any way a criteria for turning down
sponsorships. I do think it will make NCL look bad to do so, so I would
avoid that solution. Why not first deal w Sharon directly and request the
contact info for NCL before you go to ETS directly, which will inevitably
escalate bad relations w her and COABE by extension?

I don't think doing a joint essay contest at this juncture when most
programs are closed is very practical. It could be something for next year.
Silja

On Friday, July 22, 2016, Jeff Carter jcarter@literacypolicy.org wrote:

Folks,

I’m sorry to be so late in responding to this — yesterday was a long
travel day and I’m struggling to catch up today.

I have been playing phone tag with ETS for several days — I still feel
pretty confident that they will be willing to sponsor us without going
through NCL and we (NCL) can just generate an invoice and that will be
that. Give me one more day (Monday) to touch base with Amy and see if I can
work around Sharon, which would be the easiest option, I think. If not,
then we can turn to Deborah’s excellent suggestion. I agree strongly that
what COABE is proposing is completely unacceptable. The idea that they can
ask us not to engage in any direct communication with ETS is absurd. I’m
actually quite comfortable turning down the funding, although hopefully we
won’t have to.

Sorry I haven’t been able to have a direct conversation with ETS yet.

I have to say also that the once again, I fear that we are becoming the
“dealing with Sharon” coalition. Not our fault, of course, but I think we
need to continue to think about drafting clear ground rules about member
solicitation of donations going forward in order to prevent stuff like this
from happening. Hard, of course to anticipate what she is going to throw at
us next, but I don’t know what else to suggest…

Thanks everyone for your patience and good will,

Jeff

On Jul 22, 2016, at 2:00 PM, Kristin Lahurd <klahurd@ala.org

javascript:;> wrote:

I, too, think this is a really great idea and a creative solution,

Deborah.

Kristin

From: Board [board-bounces@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org

javascript:;] on behalf of Deborah Kennedy [
deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net javascript:;]

Sent: Friday, July 22, 2016 10:01 AM
To: National Coalition for Literacy Board Members List
Subject: [NCL Board] Draft Response to COABE - Your Thoughts Needed ASAP

Hello, all,

As you know from the message strings that Silja and I have forwarded,

COABE has secured a $5,000 commitment from ETS to sponsor NCL activities
during Adult Ed and Family Literacy Week. This is wonderful, but it comes
with strings attached. ETS  needs an invoice from NCL in order to provide
the money. However, COABE insists on being the intermediary for the invoice
(and possibly the payment).

As the NCL finance chair and vice president, I am unequivocally opposed

to allowing a member organization to forward an invoice or handle a payment
on the NCL’s behalf. It is contrary to everything I know about best
practices in nonprofit management and about conflict of interest. I would
rather walk away from the money than accept it under such circumstances.

In addition, as we discussed at our meeting on July 13, we already have

sufficient underwriting and other support to fund all of the planned AEFL
week activities. We would therefore need to communicate directly with ETS
about what types of additional activities they would be interested in
supporting. However, COABE appears not to want us to engage in any direct
communication with ETS.

I believe, based on Sharon’s most recent email, that COABE has full

underwriting for its Capitol Hill Day activities (during AEFL Week) from
another sponsor, and that that funder wants to be the exclusive sponsor. I
am guessing that this is why COABE has offered the $5,000 from ETS to the
NCL.

Rather than walk away from the $5,000 completely, which would make us

look weird to ETS and might preclude future sponsorships, I’d like to
propose a joint COABE-NCL activity that would support AEFL Week (not
Capitol Hill Day) and that would allow COABE to manage the money. It is to
sponsor a contest in which NCL and COABE members are invited to have their
adult learners write (short) essays on the theme “what adult education has
meant to me.” Submitted essays would be read by a panel of two NCL board
members and two COBE board members, and awards would be given to the two or
three strongest adult learners. The prize, paid for from the ETS
sponsorship, would be an all-expenses-paid trip to DC to attend the NCL
awards event on the Hill and the NCL membership meeting, plus $500 for the
winners’ adult ed programs. We would acknowledge the winners and their
programs at the awards event. We would also post their essays on the NCL
website and use them in our awareness materials going forward.

I would like to send an email to Sharon first thing Monday morning

outlining NCL’s position and this proposal. Before I do, though, I’d like
to be sure that you support it. Please let me know your thoughts.

Apologies for the long message, thanks in advance for your responses,

and have a good weekend.

Deborah

National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list
Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org javascript:;

National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list
Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org javascript:;

--

.
Silja kallenbach [image: Red Squares]Vice President [image: Red Squares]
617.482.9485
www.worlded.org [image: JSILogo] http://www.facebook.com/worlded [image:
JSILogo] http://www.twitter.com/worlded

I agree that Sharon's approach is highly unusual. I don't think having sufficient funds for an event is in any way a criteria for turning down sponsorships. I do think it will make NCL look bad to do so, so I would avoid that solution. Why not first deal w Sharon directly and request the contact info for NCL before you go to ETS directly, which will inevitably escalate bad relations w her and COABE by extension? I don't think doing a joint essay contest at this juncture when most programs are closed is very practical. It could be something for next year. Silja On Friday, July 22, 2016, Jeff Carter <jcarter@literacypolicy.org> wrote: > Folks, > > I’m sorry to be so late in responding to this — yesterday was a long > travel day and I’m struggling to catch up today. > > I have been playing phone tag with ETS for several days — I still feel > pretty confident that they will be willing to sponsor us without going > through NCL and we (NCL) can just generate an invoice and that will be > that. Give me one more day (Monday) to touch base with Amy and see if I can > work around Sharon, which would be the easiest option, I think. If not, > then we can turn to Deborah’s excellent suggestion. I agree strongly that > what COABE is proposing is completely unacceptable. The idea that they can > ask us not to engage in any direct communication with ETS is absurd. I’m > actually quite comfortable turning down the funding, although hopefully we > won’t have to. > > Sorry I haven’t been able to have a direct conversation with ETS yet. > > I have to say also that the once again, I fear that we are becoming the > “dealing with Sharon” coalition. Not our fault, of course, but I think we > need to continue to think about drafting clear ground rules about member > solicitation of donations going forward in order to prevent stuff like this > from happening. Hard, of course to anticipate what she is going to throw at > us next, but I don’t know what else to suggest… > > Thanks everyone for your patience and good will, > > Jeff > > > On Jul 22, 2016, at 2:00 PM, Kristin Lahurd <klahurd@ala.org > <javascript:;>> wrote: > > > > I, too, think this is a really great idea and a creative solution, > Deborah. > > > > Kristin > > ________________________________________ > > From: Board [board-bounces@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org > <javascript:;>] on behalf of Deborah Kennedy [ > deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net <javascript:;>] > > Sent: Friday, July 22, 2016 10:01 AM > > To: National Coalition for Literacy Board Members List > > Subject: [NCL Board] Draft Response to COABE - Your Thoughts Needed ASAP > > > > Hello, all, > > > > As you know from the message strings that Silja and I have forwarded, > COABE has secured a $5,000 commitment from ETS to sponsor NCL activities > during Adult Ed and Family Literacy Week. This is wonderful, but it comes > with strings attached. ETS needs an invoice from NCL in order to provide > the money. However, COABE insists on being the intermediary for the invoice > (and possibly the payment). > > > > As the NCL finance chair and vice president, I am unequivocally opposed > to allowing a member organization to forward an invoice or handle a payment > on the NCL’s behalf. It is contrary to everything I know about best > practices in nonprofit management and about conflict of interest. I would > rather walk away from the money than accept it under such circumstances. > > > > In addition, as we discussed at our meeting on July 13, we already have > sufficient underwriting and other support to fund all of the planned AEFL > week activities. We would therefore need to communicate directly with ETS > about what types of additional activities they would be interested in > supporting. However, COABE appears not to want us to engage in any direct > communication with ETS. > > > > I believe, based on Sharon’s most recent email, that COABE has full > underwriting for its Capitol Hill Day activities (during AEFL Week) from > another sponsor, and that that funder wants to be the exclusive sponsor. I > am guessing that this is why COABE has offered the $5,000 from ETS to the > NCL. > > > > Rather than walk away from the $5,000 completely, which would make us > look weird to ETS and might preclude future sponsorships, I’d like to > propose a joint COABE-NCL activity that would support AEFL Week (not > Capitol Hill Day) and that would allow COABE to manage the money. It is to > sponsor a contest in which NCL and COABE members are invited to have their > adult learners write (short) essays on the theme “what adult education has > meant to me.” Submitted essays would be read by a panel of two NCL board > members and two COBE board members, and awards would be given to the two or > three strongest adult learners. The prize, paid for from the ETS > sponsorship, would be an all-expenses-paid trip to DC to attend the NCL > awards event on the Hill and the NCL membership meeting, plus $500 for the > winners’ adult ed programs. We would acknowledge the winners and their > programs at the awards event. We would also post their essays on the NCL > website and use them in our awareness materials going forward. > > > > I would like to send an email to Sharon first thing Monday morning > outlining NCL’s position and this proposal. Before I do, though, I’d like > to be sure that you support it. Please let me know your thoughts. > > > > Apologies for the long message, thanks in advance for your responses, > and have a good weekend. > > > > Deborah > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list > > Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org <javascript:;> > > > http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org > > > > _______________________________________________ > > National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list > > Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org <javascript:;> > > > http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org > > > > _______________________________________________ > National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list > Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org <javascript:;> > > http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org > -- . Silja kallenbach [image: Red Squares]Vice President [image: Red Squares] 617.482.9485 www.worlded.org [image: JSILogo] <http://www.facebook.com/worlded> [image: JSILogo] <http://www.twitter.com/worlded>
DK
Deborah Kennedy
Sat, Jul 23, 2016 12:51 PM

Jeff, happy to wait until you have a chance to connect with Amy. Thanks for continuing to try on that.

Just to clarify on Silja’s question about requesting the contact info from Sharon directly: I did that, and she refused to give it to me. I may not have forwarded my last communication with her, so here it is pasted in below.

Deborah

Hi Deborah,
Glad you were able to join the webinar and you are welcome for the shout out!

With regard to my contact at ETS, I had shared with Silja in the beginning that it is the executive director there and someone I have cultivated a relationship with for years. It is due to that relationship that we were able to bring in the $5,000. With this in mind, I am happy to forward an invoice on your behalf.

Yes, we have a corporate sponsor (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) for our Capitol Hill Day which coincides with AEFL week. Due to the level of funding they are providing we had agreed to not seek additional funds from additional sources for COABE for this event.

I hope that's what you needed. If not, please let me know.

Kind Regards,

Sharon Bonney
Executive Director

E: sharonbonney@coabe.org mailto:sharonbonney@coabe.org
W: www.coabe.org http://www.coabe.org/
M: PO Box 620, Syracuse, NY 13206
Connect with us!

Download our FREE App for adult educators at www.coabe.org http://www.coabe.org/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/COABEnewsFacebook

Twitter http://twitter.com/COABEnewsTwitter

LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/groups/COABE-4860354?gid=4860354&goback=.gmp_4860354&trk=NUS_UNIU-ngroup

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: ETS HiSet: Confirmed Sponsor for NCL Adult Ed and Family
Literacy Week
From: Deborah Kennedy <deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net mailto:deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net>
Date: Wed, July 20, 2016 3:35 pm
To: Sharon Bonney <sharonbonney@coabe.org mailto:sharonbonney@coabe.org>

Hi again, Sharon,

Interesting webinar with the Ward Circle folks this afternoon! Thanks for organizing that — I’m sure it was very helpful to the COABE membership. And thanks for the shout-out to the NCL at the beginning, too. :-)

On the ETS sponsorship, could you give me the name and contact info of the person I should reach out to for invoicing matters, please? Also, do you have any other sponsorship-type possibilities for AEFL Week in the works? I ask because the NCL Board is working on some options, and we want to be sure we know what else might be happening.

Thanks again for everything.

Deborah

On Jul 23, 2016, at 12:32 AM, Silja Kallenbach silja_kallenbach@worlded.org wrote:

I agree that Sharon's approach is highly unusual. I don't think having sufficient funds for an event is in any way a criteria for turning down sponsorships. I do think it will make NCL look bad to do so, so I would avoid that solution. Why not first deal w Sharon directly and request the contact info for NCL before you go to ETS directly, which will inevitably escalate bad relations w her and COABE by extension?

I don't think doing a joint essay contest at this juncture when most programs are closed is very practical. It could be something for next year.
Silja

On Friday, July 22, 2016, Jeff Carter <jcarter@literacypolicy.org mailto:jcarter@literacypolicy.org> wrote:
Folks,

I’m sorry to be so late in responding to this — yesterday was a long travel day and I’m struggling to catch up today.

I have been playing phone tag with ETS for several days — I still feel pretty confident that they will be willing to sponsor us without going through NCL and we (NCL) can just generate an invoice and that will be that. Give me one more day (Monday) to touch base with Amy and see if I can work around Sharon, which would be the easiest option, I think. If not, then we can turn to Deborah’s excellent suggestion. I agree strongly that what COABE is proposing is completely unacceptable. The idea that they can ask us not to engage in any direct communication with ETS is absurd. I’m actually quite comfortable turning down the funding, although hopefully we won’t have to.

Sorry I haven’t been able to have a direct conversation with ETS yet.

I have to say also that the once again, I fear that we are becoming the “dealing with Sharon” coalition. Not our fault, of course, but I think we need to continue to think about drafting clear ground rules about member solicitation of donations going forward in order to prevent stuff like this from happening. Hard, of course to anticipate what she is going to throw at us next, but I don’t know what else to suggest…

Thanks everyone for your patience and good will,

Jeff

On Jul 22, 2016, at 2:00 PM, Kristin Lahurd <klahurd@ala.org javascript:;> wrote:

I, too, think this is a really great idea and a creative solution, Deborah.

Kristin

From: Board [board-bounces@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org javascript:;] on behalf of Deborah Kennedy [deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net javascript:;]
Sent: Friday, July 22, 2016 10:01 AM
To: National Coalition for Literacy Board Members List
Subject: [NCL Board] Draft Response to COABE - Your Thoughts Needed ASAP

Hello, all,

As you know from the message strings that Silja and I have forwarded, COABE has secured a $5,000 commitment from ETS to sponsor NCL activities during Adult Ed and Family Literacy Week. This is wonderful, but it comes with strings attached. ETS  needs an invoice from NCL in order to provide the money. However, COABE insists on being the intermediary for the invoice (and possibly the payment).

As the NCL finance chair and vice president, I am unequivocally opposed to allowing a member organization to forward an invoice or handle a payment on the NCL’s behalf. It is contrary to everything I know about best practices in nonprofit management and about conflict of interest. I would rather walk away from the money than accept it under such circumstances.

In addition, as we discussed at our meeting on July 13, we already have sufficient underwriting and other support to fund all of the planned AEFL week activities. We would therefore need to communicate directly with ETS about what types of additional activities they would be interested in supporting. However, COABE appears not to want us to engage in any direct communication with ETS.

I believe, based on Sharon’s most recent email, that COABE has full underwriting for its Capitol Hill Day activities (during AEFL Week) from another sponsor, and that that funder wants to be the exclusive sponsor. I am guessing that this is why COABE has offered the $5,000 from ETS to the NCL.

Rather than walk away from the $5,000 completely, which would make us look weird to ETS and might preclude future sponsorships, I’d like to propose a joint COABE-NCL activity that would support AEFL Week (not Capitol Hill Day) and that would allow COABE to manage the money. It is to sponsor a contest in which NCL and COABE members are invited to have their adult learners write (short) essays on the theme “what adult education has meant to me.” Submitted essays would be read by a panel of two NCL board members and two COBE board members, and awards would be given to the two or three strongest adult learners. The prize, paid for from the ETS sponsorship, would be an all-expenses-paid trip to DC to attend the NCL awards event on the Hill and the NCL membership meeting, plus $500 for the winners’ adult ed programs. We would acknowledge the winners and their programs at the awards event. We would also post their essays on the NCL website and use them in our awareness materials going forward.

I would like to send an email to Sharon first thing Monday morning outlining NCL’s position and this proposal. Before I do, though, I’d like to be sure that you support it. Please let me know your thoughts.

Apologies for the long message, thanks in advance for your responses, and have a good weekend.

Deborah

National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list
Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org javascript:;
http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org

National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list
Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org javascript:;
http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org

Jeff, happy to wait until you have a chance to connect with Amy. Thanks for continuing to try on that. Just to clarify on Silja’s question about requesting the contact info from Sharon directly: I did that, and she refused to give it to me. I may not have forwarded my last communication with her, so here it is pasted in below. Deborah >> Hi Deborah, >> Glad you were able to join the webinar and you are welcome for the shout out! >> >> With regard to my contact at ETS, I had shared with Silja in the beginning that it is the executive director there and someone I have cultivated a relationship with for years. It is due to that relationship that we were able to bring in the $5,000. With this in mind, I am happy to forward an invoice on your behalf. >> >> Yes, we have a corporate sponsor (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) for our Capitol Hill Day which coincides with AEFL week. Due to the level of funding they are providing we had agreed to not seek additional funds from additional sources for COABE for this event. >> >> I hope that's what you needed. If not, please let me know. >> >> Kind Regards, >> >> >> Sharon Bonney >> Executive Director >> >> E: sharonbonney@coabe.org <mailto:sharonbonney@coabe.org> >> W: www.coabe.org <http://www.coabe.org/> >> M: PO Box 620, Syracuse, NY 13206 >> Connect with us! >> >> Download our FREE App for adult educators at www.coabe.org <http://www.coabe.org/> >> >> Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/COABEnews>Facebook >> >> Twitter <http://twitter.com/COABEnews>Twitter >> >> LinkedIn <http://www.linkedin.com/groups/COABE-4860354?gid=4860354&goback=.gmp_4860354&trk=NUS_UNIU-ngroup> >> >> >> -------- Original Message -------- >> Subject: Re: ETS HiSet: Confirmed Sponsor for NCL Adult Ed and Family >> Literacy Week >> From: Deborah Kennedy <deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net <mailto:deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net>> >> Date: Wed, July 20, 2016 3:35 pm >> To: Sharon Bonney <sharonbonney@coabe.org <mailto:sharonbonney@coabe.org>> >> >> Hi again, Sharon, >> >> Interesting webinar with the Ward Circle folks this afternoon! Thanks for organizing that — I’m sure it was very helpful to the COABE membership. And thanks for the shout-out to the NCL at the beginning, too. :-) >> >> On the ETS sponsorship, could you give me the name and contact info of the person I should reach out to for invoicing matters, please? Also, do you have any other sponsorship-type possibilities for AEFL Week in the works? I ask because the NCL Board is working on some options, and we want to be sure we know what else might be happening. >> >> Thanks again for everything. >> >> Deborah > On Jul 23, 2016, at 12:32 AM, Silja Kallenbach <silja_kallenbach@worlded.org> wrote: > > I agree that Sharon's approach is highly unusual. I don't think having sufficient funds for an event is in any way a criteria for turning down sponsorships. I do think it will make NCL look bad to do so, so I would avoid that solution. Why not first deal w Sharon directly and request the contact info for NCL before you go to ETS directly, which will inevitably escalate bad relations w her and COABE by extension? > > I don't think doing a joint essay contest at this juncture when most programs are closed is very practical. It could be something for next year. > Silja > > On Friday, July 22, 2016, Jeff Carter <jcarter@literacypolicy.org <mailto:jcarter@literacypolicy.org>> wrote: > Folks, > > I’m sorry to be so late in responding to this — yesterday was a long travel day and I’m struggling to catch up today. > > I have been playing phone tag with ETS for several days — I still feel pretty confident that they will be willing to sponsor us without going through NCL and we (NCL) can just generate an invoice and that will be that. Give me one more day (Monday) to touch base with Amy and see if I can work around Sharon, which would be the easiest option, I think. If not, then we can turn to Deborah’s excellent suggestion. I agree strongly that what COABE is proposing is completely unacceptable. The idea that they can ask us not to engage in any direct communication with ETS is absurd. I’m actually quite comfortable turning down the funding, although hopefully we won’t have to. > > Sorry I haven’t been able to have a direct conversation with ETS yet. > > I have to say also that the once again, I fear that we are becoming the “dealing with Sharon” coalition. Not our fault, of course, but I think we need to continue to think about drafting clear ground rules about member solicitation of donations going forward in order to prevent stuff like this from happening. Hard, of course to anticipate what she is going to throw at us next, but I don’t know what else to suggest… > > Thanks everyone for your patience and good will, > > Jeff > > > On Jul 22, 2016, at 2:00 PM, Kristin Lahurd <klahurd@ala.org <javascript:;>> wrote: > > > > I, too, think this is a really great idea and a creative solution, Deborah. > > > > Kristin > > ________________________________________ > > From: Board [board-bounces@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org <javascript:;>] on behalf of Deborah Kennedy [deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net <javascript:;>] > > Sent: Friday, July 22, 2016 10:01 AM > > To: National Coalition for Literacy Board Members List > > Subject: [NCL Board] Draft Response to COABE - Your Thoughts Needed ASAP > > > > Hello, all, > > > > As you know from the message strings that Silja and I have forwarded, COABE has secured a $5,000 commitment from ETS to sponsor NCL activities during Adult Ed and Family Literacy Week. This is wonderful, but it comes with strings attached. ETS needs an invoice from NCL in order to provide the money. However, COABE insists on being the intermediary for the invoice (and possibly the payment). > > > > As the NCL finance chair and vice president, I am unequivocally opposed to allowing a member organization to forward an invoice or handle a payment on the NCL’s behalf. It is contrary to everything I know about best practices in nonprofit management and about conflict of interest. I would rather walk away from the money than accept it under such circumstances. > > > > In addition, as we discussed at our meeting on July 13, we already have sufficient underwriting and other support to fund all of the planned AEFL week activities. We would therefore need to communicate directly with ETS about what types of additional activities they would be interested in supporting. However, COABE appears not to want us to engage in any direct communication with ETS. > > > > I believe, based on Sharon’s most recent email, that COABE has full underwriting for its Capitol Hill Day activities (during AEFL Week) from another sponsor, and that that funder wants to be the exclusive sponsor. I am guessing that this is why COABE has offered the $5,000 from ETS to the NCL. > > > > Rather than walk away from the $5,000 completely, which would make us look weird to ETS and might preclude future sponsorships, I’d like to propose a joint COABE-NCL activity that would support AEFL Week (not Capitol Hill Day) and that would allow COABE to manage the money. It is to sponsor a contest in which NCL and COABE members are invited to have their adult learners write (short) essays on the theme “what adult education has meant to me.” Submitted essays would be read by a panel of two NCL board members and two COBE board members, and awards would be given to the two or three strongest adult learners. The prize, paid for from the ETS sponsorship, would be an all-expenses-paid trip to DC to attend the NCL awards event on the Hill and the NCL membership meeting, plus $500 for the winners’ adult ed programs. We would acknowledge the winners and their programs at the awards event. We would also post their essays on the NCL website and use them in our awareness materials going forward. > > > > I would like to send an email to Sharon first thing Monday morning outlining NCL’s position and this proposal. Before I do, though, I’d like to be sure that you support it. Please let me know your thoughts. > > > > Apologies for the long message, thanks in advance for your responses, and have a good weekend. > > > > Deborah > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list > > Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org <javascript:;> > > http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org <http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org> > > > > _______________________________________________ > > National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list > > Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org <javascript:;> > > http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org <http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org> > > > > _______________________________________________ > National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list > Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org <javascript:;> > http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org <http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org> > > > -- > . > > SILJA KALLENBACH Vice President 617.482.9485 > www.worlded.org <http://www.worlded.org/> <http://www.facebook.com/worlded> <http://www.twitter.com/worlded> > > > _______________________________________________ > National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list > Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org > http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org
Attached image Attached image Attached image Attached image
JC
Jeff Carter
Mon, Jul 25, 2016 9:38 PM

Hi everyone,

I talked to Amy Riker at ETS today and we are all set. I had left her a message thanking her back when we first got the news. I just picked the conversation up from the point where someone mentioned something about sending her an invoice. We had a great conversation about the event. She can’t attend but their GR guy who is based here will be able to go. I’ll send her a description and invoice etc. tonight.

Thankfully, Sharon did not promise ETS anything we can’t deliver on in return from their sponsorship. I was pretty sure that would be the case, but again, that was the crux of the problem, and why I agreed that we could end up in a position where we’d have to turn it down. This is why I think getting that “sponsorship options” document out to the members is important.

Anyway, I think we’re in good shape. Thanks for your patience everyone.

Jeff

On Jul 23, 2016, at 8:51 AM, Deborah Kennedy deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net wrote:

Jeff, happy to wait until you have a chance to connect with Amy. Thanks for continuing to try on that.

Just to clarify on Silja’s question about requesting the contact info from Sharon directly: I did that, and she refused to give it to me. I may not have forwarded my last communication with her, so here it is pasted in below.

Deborah

Hi Deborah,
Glad you were able to join the webinar and you are welcome for the shout out!

With regard to my contact at ETS, I had shared with Silja in the beginning that it is the executive director there and someone I have cultivated a relationship with for years. It is due to that relationship that we were able to bring in the $5,000. With this in mind, I am happy to forward an invoice on your behalf.

Yes, we have a corporate sponsor (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) for our Capitol Hill Day which coincides with AEFL week. Due to the level of funding they are providing we had agreed to not seek additional funds from additional sources for COABE for this event.

I hope that's what you needed. If not, please let me know.

Kind Regards,

<sigimg1.png>
Sharon Bonney
Executive Director

E: sharonbonney@coabe.org mailto:sharonbonney@coabe.org
W: www.coabe.org http://www.coabe.org/
M: PO Box 620, Syracuse, NY 13206
Connect with us!

Download our FREE App for adult educators at www.coabe.org http://www.coabe.org/

<icon_sm_facebook.gif>Facebook https://www.facebook.com/COABEnews

<icon_sm_twitter.gif>Twitter http://twitter.com/COABEnews

<sigimg0.jpeg>LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/groups/COABE-4860354?gid=4860354&goback=.gmp_4860354&trk=NUS_UNIU-ngroup

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: ETS HiSet: Confirmed Sponsor for NCL Adult Ed and Family
Literacy Week
From: Deborah Kennedy <deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net mailto:deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net>
Date: Wed, July 20, 2016 3:35 pm
To: Sharon Bonney <sharonbonney@coabe.org mailto:sharonbonney@coabe.org>

Hi again, Sharon,

Interesting webinar with the Ward Circle folks this afternoon! Thanks for organizing that — I’m sure it was very helpful to the COABE membership. And thanks for the shout-out to the NCL at the beginning, too. :-)

On the ETS sponsorship, could you give me the name and contact info of the person I should reach out to for invoicing matters, please? Also, do you have any other sponsorship-type possibilities for AEFL Week in the works? I ask because the NCL Board is working on some options, and we want to be sure we know what else might be happening.

Thanks again for everything.

Deborah

On Jul 23, 2016, at 12:32 AM, Silja Kallenbach <silja_kallenbach@worlded.org mailto:silja_kallenbach@worlded.org> wrote:

I agree that Sharon's approach is highly unusual. I don't think having sufficient funds for an event is in any way a criteria for turning down sponsorships. I do think it will make NCL look bad to do so, so I would avoid that solution. Why not first deal w Sharon directly and request the contact info for NCL before you go to ETS directly, which will inevitably escalate bad relations w her and COABE by extension?

I don't think doing a joint essay contest at this juncture when most programs are closed is very practical. It could be something for next year.
Silja

On Friday, July 22, 2016, Jeff Carter <jcarter@literacypolicy.org mailto:jcarter@literacypolicy.org> wrote:
Folks,

I’m sorry to be so late in responding to this — yesterday was a long travel day and I’m struggling to catch up today.

I have been playing phone tag with ETS for several days — I still feel pretty confident that they will be willing to sponsor us without going through NCL and we (NCL) can just generate an invoice and that will be that. Give me one more day (Monday) to touch base with Amy and see if I can work around Sharon, which would be the easiest option, I think. If not, then we can turn to Deborah’s excellent suggestion. I agree strongly that what COABE is proposing is completely unacceptable. The idea that they can ask us not to engage in any direct communication with ETS is absurd. I’m actually quite comfortable turning down the funding, although hopefully we won’t have to.

Sorry I haven’t been able to have a direct conversation with ETS yet.

I have to say also that the once again, I fear that we are becoming the “dealing with Sharon” coalition. Not our fault, of course, but I think we need to continue to think about drafting clear ground rules about member solicitation of donations going forward in order to prevent stuff like this from happening. Hard, of course to anticipate what she is going to throw at us next, but I don’t know what else to suggest…

Thanks everyone for your patience and good will,

Jeff

On Jul 22, 2016, at 2:00 PM, Kristin Lahurd <klahurd@ala.org javascript:;> wrote:

I, too, think this is a really great idea and a creative solution, Deborah.

Kristin

From: Board [board-bounces@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org javascript:;] on behalf of Deborah Kennedy [deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net javascript:;]
Sent: Friday, July 22, 2016 10:01 AM
To: National Coalition for Literacy Board Members List
Subject: [NCL Board] Draft Response to COABE - Your Thoughts Needed ASAP

Hello, all,

As you know from the message strings that Silja and I have forwarded, COABE has secured a $5,000 commitment from ETS to sponsor NCL activities during Adult Ed and Family Literacy Week. This is wonderful, but it comes with strings attached. ETS  needs an invoice from NCL in order to provide the money. However, COABE insists on being the intermediary for the invoice (and possibly the payment).

As the NCL finance chair and vice president, I am unequivocally opposed to allowing a member organization to forward an invoice or handle a payment on the NCL’s behalf. It is contrary to everything I know about best practices in nonprofit management and about conflict of interest. I would rather walk away from the money than accept it under such circumstances.

In addition, as we discussed at our meeting on July 13, we already have sufficient underwriting and other support to fund all of the planned AEFL week activities. We would therefore need to communicate directly with ETS about what types of additional activities they would be interested in supporting. However, COABE appears not to want us to engage in any direct communication with ETS.

I believe, based on Sharon’s most recent email, that COABE has full underwriting for its Capitol Hill Day activities (during AEFL Week) from another sponsor, and that that funder wants to be the exclusive sponsor. I am guessing that this is why COABE has offered the $5,000 from ETS to the NCL.

Rather than walk away from the $5,000 completely, which would make us look weird to ETS and might preclude future sponsorships, I’d like to propose a joint COABE-NCL activity that would support AEFL Week (not Capitol Hill Day) and that would allow COABE to manage the money. It is to sponsor a contest in which NCL and COABE members are invited to have their adult learners write (short) essays on the theme “what adult education has meant to me.” Submitted essays would be read by a panel of two NCL board members and two COBE board members, and awards would be given to the two or three strongest adult learners. The prize, paid for from the ETS sponsorship, would be an all-expenses-paid trip to DC to attend the NCL awards event on the Hill and the NCL membership meeting, plus $500 for the winners’ adult ed programs. We would acknowledge the winners and their programs at the awards event. We would also post their essays on the NCL website and use them in our awareness materials going forward.

I would like to send an email to Sharon first thing Monday morning outlining NCL’s position and this proposal. Before I do, though, I’d like to be sure that you support it. Please let me know your thoughts.

Apologies for the long message, thanks in advance for your responses, and have a good weekend.

Deborah

National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list
Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org javascript:;
http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org

National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list
Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org javascript:;
http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org

Hi everyone, I talked to Amy Riker at ETS today and we are all set. I had left her a message thanking her back when we first got the news. I just picked the conversation up from the point where someone mentioned something about sending her an invoice. We had a great conversation about the event. She can’t attend but their GR guy who is based here will be able to go. I’ll send her a description and invoice etc. tonight. Thankfully, Sharon did not promise ETS anything we can’t deliver on in return from their sponsorship. I was pretty sure that would be the case, but again, that was the crux of the problem, and why I agreed that we could end up in a position where we’d have to turn it down. This is why I think getting that “sponsorship options” document out to the members is important. Anyway, I think we’re in good shape. Thanks for your patience everyone. Jeff > On Jul 23, 2016, at 8:51 AM, Deborah Kennedy <deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net> wrote: > > Jeff, happy to wait until you have a chance to connect with Amy. Thanks for continuing to try on that. > > Just to clarify on Silja’s question about requesting the contact info from Sharon directly: I did that, and she refused to give it to me. I may not have forwarded my last communication with her, so here it is pasted in below. > > Deborah > > >>> Hi Deborah, >>> Glad you were able to join the webinar and you are welcome for the shout out! >>> >>> With regard to my contact at ETS, I had shared with Silja in the beginning that it is the executive director there and someone I have cultivated a relationship with for years. It is due to that relationship that we were able to bring in the $5,000. With this in mind, I am happy to forward an invoice on your behalf. >>> >>> Yes, we have a corporate sponsor (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) for our Capitol Hill Day which coincides with AEFL week. Due to the level of funding they are providing we had agreed to not seek additional funds from additional sources for COABE for this event. >>> >>> I hope that's what you needed. If not, please let me know. >>> >>> Kind Regards, >>> >>> <sigimg1.png> >>> Sharon Bonney >>> Executive Director >>> >>> E: sharonbonney@coabe.org <mailto:sharonbonney@coabe.org> >>> W: www.coabe.org <http://www.coabe.org/> >>> M: PO Box 620, Syracuse, NY 13206 >>> Connect with us! >>> >>> Download our FREE App for adult educators at www.coabe.org <http://www.coabe.org/> >>> >>> <icon_sm_facebook.gif>Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/COABEnews> >>> >>> <icon_sm_twitter.gif>Twitter <http://twitter.com/COABEnews> >>> >>> <sigimg0.jpeg>LinkedIn <http://www.linkedin.com/groups/COABE-4860354?gid=4860354&goback=.gmp_4860354&trk=NUS_UNIU-ngroup> >>> >>> >>> -------- Original Message -------- >>> Subject: Re: ETS HiSet: Confirmed Sponsor for NCL Adult Ed and Family >>> Literacy Week >>> From: Deborah Kennedy <deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net <mailto:deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net>> >>> Date: Wed, July 20, 2016 3:35 pm >>> To: Sharon Bonney <sharonbonney@coabe.org <mailto:sharonbonney@coabe.org>> >>> >>> Hi again, Sharon, >>> >>> Interesting webinar with the Ward Circle folks this afternoon! Thanks for organizing that — I’m sure it was very helpful to the COABE membership. And thanks for the shout-out to the NCL at the beginning, too. :-) >>> >>> On the ETS sponsorship, could you give me the name and contact info of the person I should reach out to for invoicing matters, please? Also, do you have any other sponsorship-type possibilities for AEFL Week in the works? I ask because the NCL Board is working on some options, and we want to be sure we know what else might be happening. >>> >>> Thanks again for everything. >>> >>> Deborah > > > > >> On Jul 23, 2016, at 12:32 AM, Silja Kallenbach <silja_kallenbach@worlded.org <mailto:silja_kallenbach@worlded.org>> wrote: >> >> I agree that Sharon's approach is highly unusual. I don't think having sufficient funds for an event is in any way a criteria for turning down sponsorships. I do think it will make NCL look bad to do so, so I would avoid that solution. Why not first deal w Sharon directly and request the contact info for NCL before you go to ETS directly, which will inevitably escalate bad relations w her and COABE by extension? >> >> I don't think doing a joint essay contest at this juncture when most programs are closed is very practical. It could be something for next year. >> Silja >> >> On Friday, July 22, 2016, Jeff Carter <jcarter@literacypolicy.org <mailto:jcarter@literacypolicy.org>> wrote: >> Folks, >> >> I’m sorry to be so late in responding to this — yesterday was a long travel day and I’m struggling to catch up today. >> >> I have been playing phone tag with ETS for several days — I still feel pretty confident that they will be willing to sponsor us without going through NCL and we (NCL) can just generate an invoice and that will be that. Give me one more day (Monday) to touch base with Amy and see if I can work around Sharon, which would be the easiest option, I think. If not, then we can turn to Deborah’s excellent suggestion. I agree strongly that what COABE is proposing is completely unacceptable. The idea that they can ask us not to engage in any direct communication with ETS is absurd. I’m actually quite comfortable turning down the funding, although hopefully we won’t have to. >> >> Sorry I haven’t been able to have a direct conversation with ETS yet. >> >> I have to say also that the once again, I fear that we are becoming the “dealing with Sharon” coalition. Not our fault, of course, but I think we need to continue to think about drafting clear ground rules about member solicitation of donations going forward in order to prevent stuff like this from happening. Hard, of course to anticipate what she is going to throw at us next, but I don’t know what else to suggest… >> >> Thanks everyone for your patience and good will, >> >> Jeff >> >> > On Jul 22, 2016, at 2:00 PM, Kristin Lahurd <klahurd@ala.org <javascript:;>> wrote: >> > >> > I, too, think this is a really great idea and a creative solution, Deborah. >> > >> > Kristin >> > ________________________________________ >> > From: Board [board-bounces@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org <javascript:;>] on behalf of Deborah Kennedy [deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net <javascript:;>] >> > Sent: Friday, July 22, 2016 10:01 AM >> > To: National Coalition for Literacy Board Members List >> > Subject: [NCL Board] Draft Response to COABE - Your Thoughts Needed ASAP >> > >> > Hello, all, >> > >> > As you know from the message strings that Silja and I have forwarded, COABE has secured a $5,000 commitment from ETS to sponsor NCL activities during Adult Ed and Family Literacy Week. This is wonderful, but it comes with strings attached. ETS needs an invoice from NCL in order to provide the money. However, COABE insists on being the intermediary for the invoice (and possibly the payment). >> > >> > As the NCL finance chair and vice president, I am unequivocally opposed to allowing a member organization to forward an invoice or handle a payment on the NCL’s behalf. It is contrary to everything I know about best practices in nonprofit management and about conflict of interest. I would rather walk away from the money than accept it under such circumstances. >> > >> > In addition, as we discussed at our meeting on July 13, we already have sufficient underwriting and other support to fund all of the planned AEFL week activities. We would therefore need to communicate directly with ETS about what types of additional activities they would be interested in supporting. However, COABE appears not to want us to engage in any direct communication with ETS. >> > >> > I believe, based on Sharon’s most recent email, that COABE has full underwriting for its Capitol Hill Day activities (during AEFL Week) from another sponsor, and that that funder wants to be the exclusive sponsor. I am guessing that this is why COABE has offered the $5,000 from ETS to the NCL. >> > >> > Rather than walk away from the $5,000 completely, which would make us look weird to ETS and might preclude future sponsorships, I’d like to propose a joint COABE-NCL activity that would support AEFL Week (not Capitol Hill Day) and that would allow COABE to manage the money. It is to sponsor a contest in which NCL and COABE members are invited to have their adult learners write (short) essays on the theme “what adult education has meant to me.” Submitted essays would be read by a panel of two NCL board members and two COBE board members, and awards would be given to the two or three strongest adult learners. The prize, paid for from the ETS sponsorship, would be an all-expenses-paid trip to DC to attend the NCL awards event on the Hill and the NCL membership meeting, plus $500 for the winners’ adult ed programs. We would acknowledge the winners and their programs at the awards event. We would also post their essays on the NCL website and use them in our awareness materials going forward. >> > >> > I would like to send an email to Sharon first thing Monday morning outlining NCL’s position and this proposal. Before I do, though, I’d like to be sure that you support it. Please let me know your thoughts. >> > >> > Apologies for the long message, thanks in advance for your responses, and have a good weekend. >> > >> > Deborah >> > >> > >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list >> > Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org <javascript:;> >> > http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org <http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org> >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list >> > Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org <javascript:;> >> > http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org <http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list >> Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org <javascript:;> >> http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org <http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org> >> >> >> -- >> . >> >> SILJA KALLENBACH Vice President 617.482.9485 >> www.worlded.org <http://www.worlded.org/> <http://www.facebook.com/worlded> <http://www.twitter.com/worlded> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list >> Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org <mailto:Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org> >> http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org >
DK
Deborah Kennedy
Mon, Jul 25, 2016 9:45 PM

Excellent news, Jeff — thanks much! Okay for me to let Sharon know that we won’t be sending invoice thru her, or should I just let the correspondence die on the vine?

Deborah

On Jul 25, 2016, at 5:38 PM, Jeff Carter jcarter@literacypolicy.org wrote:

Hi everyone,

I talked to Amy Riker at ETS today and we are all set. I had left her a message thanking her back when we first got the news. I just picked the conversation up from the point where someone mentioned something about sending her an invoice. We had a great conversation about the event. She can’t attend but their GR guy who is based here will be able to go. I’ll send her a description and invoice etc. tonight.

Thankfully, Sharon did not promise ETS anything we can’t deliver on in return from their sponsorship. I was pretty sure that would be the case, but again, that was the crux of the problem, and why I agreed that we could end up in a position where we’d have to turn it down. This is why I think getting that “sponsorship options” document out to the members is important.

Anyway, I think we’re in good shape. Thanks for your patience everyone.

Jeff

On Jul 23, 2016, at 8:51 AM, Deborah Kennedy <deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net mailto:deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net> wrote:

Jeff, happy to wait until you have a chance to connect with Amy. Thanks for continuing to try on that.

Just to clarify on Silja’s question about requesting the contact info from Sharon directly: I did that, and she refused to give it to me. I may not have forwarded my last communication with her, so here it is pasted in below.

Deborah

Hi Deborah,
Glad you were able to join the webinar and you are welcome for the shout out!

With regard to my contact at ETS, I had shared with Silja in the beginning that it is the executive director there and someone I have cultivated a relationship with for years. It is due to that relationship that we were able to bring in the $5,000. With this in mind, I am happy to forward an invoice on your behalf.

Yes, we have a corporate sponsor (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) for our Capitol Hill Day which coincides with AEFL week. Due to the level of funding they are providing we had agreed to not seek additional funds from additional sources for COABE for this event.

I hope that's what you needed. If not, please let me know.

Kind Regards,

<sigimg1.png>
Sharon Bonney
Executive Director

E: sharonbonney@coabe.org mailto:sharonbonney@coabe.org
W: www.coabe.org http://www.coabe.org/
M: PO Box 620, Syracuse, NY 13206
Connect with us!

Download our FREE App for adult educators at www.coabe.org http://www.coabe.org/

<icon_sm_facebook.gif>Facebook https://www.facebook.com/COABEnews

<icon_sm_twitter.gif>Twitter http://twitter.com/COABEnews

<sigimg0.jpeg>LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/groups/COABE-4860354?gid=4860354&goback=.gmp_4860354&trk=NUS_UNIU-ngroup

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: ETS HiSet: Confirmed Sponsor for NCL Adult Ed and Family
Literacy Week
From: Deborah Kennedy <deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net mailto:deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net>
Date: Wed, July 20, 2016 3:35 pm
To: Sharon Bonney <sharonbonney@coabe.org mailto:sharonbonney@coabe.org>

Hi again, Sharon,

Interesting webinar with the Ward Circle folks this afternoon! Thanks for organizing that — I’m sure it was very helpful to the COABE membership. And thanks for the shout-out to the NCL at the beginning, too. :-)

On the ETS sponsorship, could you give me the name and contact info of the person I should reach out to for invoicing matters, please? Also, do you have any other sponsorship-type possibilities for AEFL Week in the works? I ask because the NCL Board is working on some options, and we want to be sure we know what else might be happening.

Thanks again for everything.

Deborah

On Jul 23, 2016, at 12:32 AM, Silja Kallenbach <silja_kallenbach@worlded.org mailto:silja_kallenbach@worlded.org> wrote:

I agree that Sharon's approach is highly unusual. I don't think having sufficient funds for an event is in any way a criteria for turning down sponsorships. I do think it will make NCL look bad to do so, so I would avoid that solution. Why not first deal w Sharon directly and request the contact info for NCL before you go to ETS directly, which will inevitably escalate bad relations w her and COABE by extension?

I don't think doing a joint essay contest at this juncture when most programs are closed is very practical. It could be something for next year.
Silja

On Friday, July 22, 2016, Jeff Carter <jcarter@literacypolicy.org mailto:jcarter@literacypolicy.org> wrote:
Folks,

I’m sorry to be so late in responding to this — yesterday was a long travel day and I’m struggling to catch up today.

I have been playing phone tag with ETS for several days — I still feel pretty confident that they will be willing to sponsor us without going through NCL and we (NCL) can just generate an invoice and that will be that. Give me one more day (Monday) to touch base with Amy and see if I can work around Sharon, which would be the easiest option, I think. If not, then we can turn to Deborah’s excellent suggestion. I agree strongly that what COABE is proposing is completely unacceptable. The idea that they can ask us not to engage in any direct communication with ETS is absurd. I’m actually quite comfortable turning down the funding, although hopefully we won’t have to.

Sorry I haven’t been able to have a direct conversation with ETS yet.

I have to say also that the once again, I fear that we are becoming the “dealing with Sharon” coalition. Not our fault, of course, but I think we need to continue to think about drafting clear ground rules about member solicitation of donations going forward in order to prevent stuff like this from happening. Hard, of course to anticipate what she is going to throw at us next, but I don’t know what else to suggest…

Thanks everyone for your patience and good will,

Jeff

On Jul 22, 2016, at 2:00 PM, Kristin Lahurd <klahurd@ala.org javascript:;> wrote:

I, too, think this is a really great idea and a creative solution, Deborah.

Kristin

From: Board [board-bounces@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org javascript:;] on behalf of Deborah Kennedy [deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net javascript:;]
Sent: Friday, July 22, 2016 10:01 AM
To: National Coalition for Literacy Board Members List
Subject: [NCL Board] Draft Response to COABE - Your Thoughts Needed ASAP

Hello, all,

As you know from the message strings that Silja and I have forwarded, COABE has secured a $5,000 commitment from ETS to sponsor NCL activities during Adult Ed and Family Literacy Week. This is wonderful, but it comes with strings attached. ETS  needs an invoice from NCL in order to provide the money. However, COABE insists on being the intermediary for the invoice (and possibly the payment).

As the NCL finance chair and vice president, I am unequivocally opposed to allowing a member organization to forward an invoice or handle a payment on the NCL’s behalf. It is contrary to everything I know about best practices in nonprofit management and about conflict of interest. I would rather walk away from the money than accept it under such circumstances.

In addition, as we discussed at our meeting on July 13, we already have sufficient underwriting and other support to fund all of the planned AEFL week activities. We would therefore need to communicate directly with ETS about what types of additional activities they would be interested in supporting. However, COABE appears not to want us to engage in any direct communication with ETS.

I believe, based on Sharon’s most recent email, that COABE has full underwriting for its Capitol Hill Day activities (during AEFL Week) from another sponsor, and that that funder wants to be the exclusive sponsor. I am guessing that this is why COABE has offered the $5,000 from ETS to the NCL.

Rather than walk away from the $5,000 completely, which would make us look weird to ETS and might preclude future sponsorships, I’d like to propose a joint COABE-NCL activity that would support AEFL Week (not Capitol Hill Day) and that would allow COABE to manage the money. It is to sponsor a contest in which NCL and COABE members are invited to have their adult learners write (short) essays on the theme “what adult education has meant to me.” Submitted essays would be read by a panel of two NCL board members and two COBE board members, and awards would be given to the two or three strongest adult learners. The prize, paid for from the ETS sponsorship, would be an all-expenses-paid trip to DC to attend the NCL awards event on the Hill and the NCL membership meeting, plus $500 for the winners’ adult ed programs. We would acknowledge the winners and their programs at the awards event. We would also post their essays on the NCL website and use them in our awareness materials going forward.

I would like to send an email to Sharon first thing Monday morning outlining NCL’s position and this proposal. Before I do, though, I’d like to be sure that you support it. Please let me know your thoughts.

Apologies for the long message, thanks in advance for your responses, and have a good weekend.

Deborah

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--
.

SILJA KALLENBACH Vice President  617.482.9485
www.worlded.org http://www.worlded.org/  http://www.facebook.com/worlded  http://www.twitter.com/worlded

National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list
Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org mailto:Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org
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Excellent news, Jeff — thanks much! Okay for me to let Sharon know that we won’t be sending invoice thru her, or should I just let the correspondence die on the vine? Deborah > On Jul 25, 2016, at 5:38 PM, Jeff Carter <jcarter@literacypolicy.org> wrote: > > Hi everyone, > > I talked to Amy Riker at ETS today and we are all set. I had left her a message thanking her back when we first got the news. I just picked the conversation up from the point where someone mentioned something about sending her an invoice. We had a great conversation about the event. She can’t attend but their GR guy who is based here will be able to go. I’ll send her a description and invoice etc. tonight. > > Thankfully, Sharon did not promise ETS anything we can’t deliver on in return from their sponsorship. I was pretty sure that would be the case, but again, that was the crux of the problem, and why I agreed that we could end up in a position where we’d have to turn it down. This is why I think getting that “sponsorship options” document out to the members is important. > > Anyway, I think we’re in good shape. Thanks for your patience everyone. > > Jeff > >> On Jul 23, 2016, at 8:51 AM, Deborah Kennedy <deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net <mailto:deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net>> wrote: >> >> Jeff, happy to wait until you have a chance to connect with Amy. Thanks for continuing to try on that. >> >> Just to clarify on Silja’s question about requesting the contact info from Sharon directly: I did that, and she refused to give it to me. I may not have forwarded my last communication with her, so here it is pasted in below. >> >> Deborah >> >> >>>> Hi Deborah, >>>> Glad you were able to join the webinar and you are welcome for the shout out! >>>> >>>> With regard to my contact at ETS, I had shared with Silja in the beginning that it is the executive director there and someone I have cultivated a relationship with for years. It is due to that relationship that we were able to bring in the $5,000. With this in mind, I am happy to forward an invoice on your behalf. >>>> >>>> Yes, we have a corporate sponsor (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) for our Capitol Hill Day which coincides with AEFL week. Due to the level of funding they are providing we had agreed to not seek additional funds from additional sources for COABE for this event. >>>> >>>> I hope that's what you needed. If not, please let me know. >>>> >>>> Kind Regards, >>>> >>>> <sigimg1.png> >>>> Sharon Bonney >>>> Executive Director >>>> >>>> E: sharonbonney@coabe.org <mailto:sharonbonney@coabe.org> >>>> W: www.coabe.org <http://www.coabe.org/> >>>> M: PO Box 620, Syracuse, NY 13206 >>>> Connect with us! >>>> >>>> Download our FREE App for adult educators at www.coabe.org <http://www.coabe.org/> >>>> >>>> <icon_sm_facebook.gif>Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/COABEnews> >>>> >>>> <icon_sm_twitter.gif>Twitter <http://twitter.com/COABEnews> >>>> >>>> <sigimg0.jpeg>LinkedIn <http://www.linkedin.com/groups/COABE-4860354?gid=4860354&goback=.gmp_4860354&trk=NUS_UNIU-ngroup> >>>> >>>> >>>> -------- Original Message -------- >>>> Subject: Re: ETS HiSet: Confirmed Sponsor for NCL Adult Ed and Family >>>> Literacy Week >>>> From: Deborah Kennedy <deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net <mailto:deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net>> >>>> Date: Wed, July 20, 2016 3:35 pm >>>> To: Sharon Bonney <sharonbonney@coabe.org <mailto:sharonbonney@coabe.org>> >>>> >>>> Hi again, Sharon, >>>> >>>> Interesting webinar with the Ward Circle folks this afternoon! Thanks for organizing that — I’m sure it was very helpful to the COABE membership. And thanks for the shout-out to the NCL at the beginning, too. :-) >>>> >>>> On the ETS sponsorship, could you give me the name and contact info of the person I should reach out to for invoicing matters, please? Also, do you have any other sponsorship-type possibilities for AEFL Week in the works? I ask because the NCL Board is working on some options, and we want to be sure we know what else might be happening. >>>> >>>> Thanks again for everything. >>>> >>>> Deborah >> >> >> >> >>> On Jul 23, 2016, at 12:32 AM, Silja Kallenbach <silja_kallenbach@worlded.org <mailto:silja_kallenbach@worlded.org>> wrote: >>> >>> I agree that Sharon's approach is highly unusual. I don't think having sufficient funds for an event is in any way a criteria for turning down sponsorships. I do think it will make NCL look bad to do so, so I would avoid that solution. Why not first deal w Sharon directly and request the contact info for NCL before you go to ETS directly, which will inevitably escalate bad relations w her and COABE by extension? >>> >>> I don't think doing a joint essay contest at this juncture when most programs are closed is very practical. It could be something for next year. >>> Silja >>> >>> On Friday, July 22, 2016, Jeff Carter <jcarter@literacypolicy.org <mailto:jcarter@literacypolicy.org>> wrote: >>> Folks, >>> >>> I’m sorry to be so late in responding to this — yesterday was a long travel day and I’m struggling to catch up today. >>> >>> I have been playing phone tag with ETS for several days — I still feel pretty confident that they will be willing to sponsor us without going through NCL and we (NCL) can just generate an invoice and that will be that. Give me one more day (Monday) to touch base with Amy and see if I can work around Sharon, which would be the easiest option, I think. If not, then we can turn to Deborah’s excellent suggestion. I agree strongly that what COABE is proposing is completely unacceptable. The idea that they can ask us not to engage in any direct communication with ETS is absurd. I’m actually quite comfortable turning down the funding, although hopefully we won’t have to. >>> >>> Sorry I haven’t been able to have a direct conversation with ETS yet. >>> >>> I have to say also that the once again, I fear that we are becoming the “dealing with Sharon” coalition. Not our fault, of course, but I think we need to continue to think about drafting clear ground rules about member solicitation of donations going forward in order to prevent stuff like this from happening. Hard, of course to anticipate what she is going to throw at us next, but I don’t know what else to suggest… >>> >>> Thanks everyone for your patience and good will, >>> >>> Jeff >>> >>> > On Jul 22, 2016, at 2:00 PM, Kristin Lahurd <klahurd@ala.org <javascript:;>> wrote: >>> > >>> > I, too, think this is a really great idea and a creative solution, Deborah. >>> > >>> > Kristin >>> > ________________________________________ >>> > From: Board [board-bounces@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org <javascript:;>] on behalf of Deborah Kennedy [deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net <javascript:;>] >>> > Sent: Friday, July 22, 2016 10:01 AM >>> > To: National Coalition for Literacy Board Members List >>> > Subject: [NCL Board] Draft Response to COABE - Your Thoughts Needed ASAP >>> > >>> > Hello, all, >>> > >>> > As you know from the message strings that Silja and I have forwarded, COABE has secured a $5,000 commitment from ETS to sponsor NCL activities during Adult Ed and Family Literacy Week. This is wonderful, but it comes with strings attached. ETS needs an invoice from NCL in order to provide the money. However, COABE insists on being the intermediary for the invoice (and possibly the payment). >>> > >>> > As the NCL finance chair and vice president, I am unequivocally opposed to allowing a member organization to forward an invoice or handle a payment on the NCL’s behalf. It is contrary to everything I know about best practices in nonprofit management and about conflict of interest. I would rather walk away from the money than accept it under such circumstances. >>> > >>> > In addition, as we discussed at our meeting on July 13, we already have sufficient underwriting and other support to fund all of the planned AEFL week activities. We would therefore need to communicate directly with ETS about what types of additional activities they would be interested in supporting. However, COABE appears not to want us to engage in any direct communication with ETS. >>> > >>> > I believe, based on Sharon’s most recent email, that COABE has full underwriting for its Capitol Hill Day activities (during AEFL Week) from another sponsor, and that that funder wants to be the exclusive sponsor. I am guessing that this is why COABE has offered the $5,000 from ETS to the NCL. >>> > >>> > Rather than walk away from the $5,000 completely, which would make us look weird to ETS and might preclude future sponsorships, I’d like to propose a joint COABE-NCL activity that would support AEFL Week (not Capitol Hill Day) and that would allow COABE to manage the money. It is to sponsor a contest in which NCL and COABE members are invited to have their adult learners write (short) essays on the theme “what adult education has meant to me.” Submitted essays would be read by a panel of two NCL board members and two COBE board members, and awards would be given to the two or three strongest adult learners. The prize, paid for from the ETS sponsorship, would be an all-expenses-paid trip to DC to attend the NCL awards event on the Hill and the NCL membership meeting, plus $500 for the winners’ adult ed programs. We would acknowledge the winners and their programs at the awards event. We would also post their essays on the NCL website and use them in our awareness materials going forward. >>> > >>> > I would like to send an email to Sharon first thing Monday morning outlining NCL’s position and this proposal. Before I do, though, I’d like to be sure that you support it. Please let me know your thoughts. >>> > >>> > Apologies for the long message, thanks in advance for your responses, and have a good weekend. >>> > >>> > Deborah >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > _______________________________________________ >>> > National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list >>> > Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org <javascript:;> >>> > http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org <http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org> >>> > >>> > _______________________________________________ >>> > National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list >>> > Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org <javascript:;> >>> > http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org <http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org> >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list >>> Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org <javascript:;> >>> http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org <http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> . >>> >>> SILJA KALLENBACH Vice President 617.482.9485 >>> www.worlded.org <http://www.worlded.org/> <http://www.facebook.com/worlded> <http://www.twitter.com/worlded> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list >>> Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org <mailto:Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org> >>> http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org <http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org> >
SK
Silja Kallenbach
Tue, Jul 26, 2016 6:15 PM

I'm so glad to hear you were able to work it out, Jeff.
Silja

On Tuesday, July 26, 2016, Jeff Carter jcarter@literacypolicy.org wrote:

Hi everyone,

I talked to Amy Riker at ETS today and we are all set. I had left her a
message thanking her back when we first got the news. I just picked the
conversation up from the point where someone mentioned something about
sending her an invoice. We had a great conversation about the event. She
can’t attend but their GR guy who is based here will be able to go. I’ll
send her a description and invoice etc. tonight.

Thankfully, Sharon did not promise ETS anything we can’t deliver on in
return from their sponsorship. I was pretty sure that would be the case,
but again, that was the crux of the problem, and why I agreed that we could
end up in a position where we’d have to turn it down. This is why I think
getting that “sponsorship options” document out to the members is important.

Anyway, I think we’re in good shape. Thanks for your patience everyone.

Jeff

On Jul 23, 2016, at 8:51 AM, Deborah Kennedy <
deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net
javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net');> wrote:

Jeff, happy to wait until you have a chance to connect with Amy. Thanks
for continuing to try on that.

Just to clarify on Silja’s question about requesting the contact info from
Sharon directly: I did that, and she refused to give it to me. I may not
have forwarded my last communication with her, so here it is pasted in
below.

Deborah

Hi Deborah,
Glad you were able to join the webinar and you are welcome for the shout
out!

With regard to my contact at ETS, I had shared with Silja in the beginning
that it is the executive director there and someone I have cultivated a
relationship with for years. It is due to that relationship that we were
able to bring in the $5,000. With this in mind, I am happy to forward an
invoice on your behalf.

Yes, we have a corporate sponsor (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) for our
Capitol Hill Day which coincides with AEFL week. Due to the level of
funding they are providing we had agreed to not seek additional funds from
additional sources for COABE for this event.

I hope that's what you needed. If not, please let me know.

Kind Regards,

<sigimg1.png>
Sharon Bonney
Executive Director

E: sharonbonney@coabe.org
javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','sharonbonney@coabe.org');
W: www.coabe.org
M: PO Box 620, Syracuse, NY 13206
Connect with us!

Download our FREE App for adult educators at www.coabe.org
http://www.coabe.org/

<icon_sm_facebook.gif>Facebook https://www.facebook.com/COABEnews

<icon_sm_twitter.gif>Twitter http://twitter.com/COABEnews

<sigimg0.jpeg>LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/groups/COABE-4860354?gid=4860354&goback=.gmp_4860354&trk=NUS_UNIU-ngroup

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: ETS HiSet: Confirmed Sponsor for NCL Adult Ed and Family
Literacy Week
From: Deborah Kennedy <deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net
javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net');>
Date: Wed, July 20, 2016 3:35 pm
To: Sharon Bonney <sharonbonney@coabe.org
javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','sharonbonney@coabe.org');>

Hi again, Sharon,

Interesting webinar with the Ward Circle folks this afternoon! Thanks for
organizing that — I’m sure it was very helpful to the COABE membership. And
thanks for the shout-out to the NCL at the beginning, too. :-)

On the ETS sponsorship, could you give me the name and contact info of the
person I should reach out to for invoicing matters, please? Also, do you
have any other sponsorship-type possibilities for AEFL Week in the works? I
ask because the NCL Board is working on some options, and we want to be
sure we know what else might be happening.

Thanks again for everything.

Deborah

On Jul 23, 2016, at 12:32 AM, Silja Kallenbach <
silja_kallenbach@worlded.org
javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','silja_kallenbach@worlded.org');> wrote:

I agree that Sharon's approach is highly unusual. I don't think having
sufficient funds for an event is in any way a criteria for turning down
sponsorships. I do think it will make NCL look bad to do so, so I would
avoid that solution. Why not first deal w Sharon directly and request the
contact info for NCL before you go to ETS directly, which will inevitably
escalate bad relations w her and COABE by extension?

I don't think doing a joint essay contest at this juncture when most
programs are closed is very practical. It could be something for next year.
Silja

On Friday, July 22, 2016, Jeff Carter <jcarter@literacypolicy.org
javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','jcarter@literacypolicy.org');> wrote:

Folks,

I’m sorry to be so late in responding to this — yesterday was a long
travel day and I’m struggling to catch up today.

I have been playing phone tag with ETS for several days — I still feel
pretty confident that they will be willing to sponsor us without going
through NCL and we (NCL) can just generate an invoice and that will be
that. Give me one more day (Monday) to touch base with Amy and see if I can
work around Sharon, which would be the easiest option, I think. If not,
then we can turn to Deborah’s excellent suggestion. I agree strongly that
what COABE is proposing is completely unacceptable. The idea that they can
ask us not to engage in any direct communication with ETS is absurd. I’m
actually quite comfortable turning down the funding, although hopefully we
won’t have to.

Sorry I haven’t been able to have a direct conversation with ETS yet.

I have to say also that the once again, I fear that we are becoming the
“dealing with Sharon” coalition. Not our fault, of course, but I think we
need to continue to think about drafting clear ground rules about member
solicitation of donations going forward in order to prevent stuff like this
from happening. Hard, of course to anticipate what she is going to throw at
us next, but I don’t know what else to suggest…

Thanks everyone for your patience and good will,

Jeff

On Jul 22, 2016, at 2:00 PM, Kristin Lahurd klahurd@ala.org wrote:

I, too, think this is a really great idea and a creative solution,

Deborah.

Kristin

From: Board [board-bounces@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org] on

behalf of Deborah Kennedy [deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net]

Sent: Friday, July 22, 2016 10:01 AM
To: National Coalition for Literacy Board Members List
Subject: [NCL Board] Draft Response to COABE - Your Thoughts Needed ASAP

Hello, all,

As you know from the message strings that Silja and I have forwarded,

COABE has secured a $5,000 commitment from ETS to sponsor NCL activities
during Adult Ed and Family Literacy Week. This is wonderful, but it comes
with strings attached. ETS  needs an invoice from NCL in order to provide
the money. However, COABE insists on being the intermediary for the invoice
(and possibly the payment).

As the NCL finance chair and vice president, I am unequivocally opposed

to allowing a member organization to forward an invoice or handle a payment
on the NCL’s behalf. It is contrary to everything I know about best
practices in nonprofit management and about conflict of interest. I would
rather walk away from the money than accept it under such circumstances.

In addition, as we discussed at our meeting on July 13, we already have

sufficient underwriting and other support to fund all of the planned AEFL
week activities. We would therefore need to communicate directly with ETS
about what types of additional activities they would be interested in
supporting. However, COABE appears not to want us to engage in any direct
communication with ETS.

I believe, based on Sharon’s most recent email, that COABE has full

underwriting for its Capitol Hill Day activities (during AEFL Week) from
another sponsor, and that that funder wants to be the exclusive sponsor. I
am guessing that this is why COABE has offered the $5,000 from ETS to the
NCL.

Rather than walk away from the $5,000 completely, which would make us

look weird to ETS and might preclude future sponsorships, I’d like to
propose a joint COABE-NCL activity that would support AEFL Week (not
Capitol Hill Day) and that would allow COABE to manage the money. It is to
sponsor a contest in which NCL and COABE members are invited to have their
adult learners write (short) essays on the theme “what adult education has
meant to me.” Submitted essays would be read by a panel of two NCL board
members and two COBE board members, and awards would be given to the two or
three strongest adult learners. The prize, paid for from the ETS
sponsorship, would be an all-expenses-paid trip to DC to attend the NCL
awards event on the Hill and the NCL membership meeting, plus $500 for the
winners’ adult ed programs. We would acknowledge the winners and their
programs at the awards event. We would also post their essays on the NCL
website and use them in our awareness materials going forward.

I would like to send an email to Sharon first thing Monday morning

outlining NCL’s position and this proposal. Before I do, though, I’d like
to be sure that you support it. Please let me know your thoughts.

Apologies for the long message, thanks in advance for your responses,

and have a good weekend.

Deborah

National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list
Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org

National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list
Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org

--

.
Silja kallenbach [image: Red Squares]Vice President [image: Red Squares]
617.482.9485
www.worlded.org [image: JSILogo] http://www.facebook.com/worlded [image:
JSILogo] http://www.twitter.com/worlded

I'm so glad to hear you were able to work it out, Jeff. Silja On Tuesday, July 26, 2016, Jeff Carter <jcarter@literacypolicy.org> wrote: > Hi everyone, > > I talked to Amy Riker at ETS today and we are all set. I had left her a > message thanking her back when we first got the news. I just picked the > conversation up from the point where someone mentioned something about > sending her an invoice. We had a great conversation about the event. She > can’t attend but their GR guy who is based here will be able to go. I’ll > send her a description and invoice etc. tonight. > > Thankfully, Sharon did not promise ETS anything we can’t deliver on in > return from their sponsorship. I was pretty sure that would be the case, > but again, that was the crux of the problem, and why I agreed that we could > end up in a position where we’d have to turn it down. This is why I think > getting that “sponsorship options” document out to the members is important. > > Anyway, I think we’re in good shape. Thanks for your patience everyone. > > Jeff > > On Jul 23, 2016, at 8:51 AM, Deborah Kennedy < > deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net > <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net');>> wrote: > > Jeff, happy to wait until you have a chance to connect with Amy. Thanks > for continuing to try on that. > > Just to clarify on Silja’s question about requesting the contact info from > Sharon directly: I did that, and she refused to give it to me. I may not > have forwarded my last communication with her, so here it is pasted in > below. > > Deborah > > > Hi Deborah, > Glad you were able to join the webinar and you are welcome for the shout > out! > > With regard to my contact at ETS, I had shared with Silja in the beginning > that it is the executive director there and someone I have cultivated a > relationship with for years. It is due to that relationship that we were > able to bring in the $5,000. With this in mind, I am happy to forward an > invoice on your behalf. > > Yes, we have a corporate sponsor (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) for our > Capitol Hill Day which coincides with AEFL week. Due to the level of > funding they are providing we had agreed to not seek additional funds from > additional sources for COABE for this event. > > I hope that's what you needed. If not, please let me know. > > Kind Regards, > > <sigimg1.png> > Sharon Bonney > Executive Director > > E: sharonbonney@coabe.org > <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','sharonbonney@coabe.org');> > W: www.coabe.org > M: PO Box 620, Syracuse, NY 13206 > *Connect with us!* > > *Download our FREE App for adult educators at www.coabe.org > <http://www.coabe.org/>* > > <icon_sm_facebook.gif>Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/COABEnews> > > <icon_sm_twitter.gif>Twitter <http://twitter.com/COABEnews> > > <sigimg0.jpeg>LinkedIn > <http://www.linkedin.com/groups/COABE-4860354?gid=4860354&goback=.gmp_4860354&trk=NUS_UNIU-ngroup> > > > > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: Re: ETS HiSet: Confirmed Sponsor for NCL Adult Ed and Family > Literacy Week > From: Deborah Kennedy <deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net > <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net');>> > Date: Wed, July 20, 2016 3:35 pm > To: Sharon Bonney <sharonbonney@coabe.org > <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','sharonbonney@coabe.org');>> > > Hi again, Sharon, > > Interesting webinar with the Ward Circle folks this afternoon! Thanks for > organizing that — I’m sure it was very helpful to the COABE membership. And > thanks for the shout-out to the NCL at the beginning, too. :-) > > On the ETS sponsorship, could you give me the name and contact info of the > person I should reach out to for invoicing matters, please? Also, do you > have any other sponsorship-type possibilities for AEFL Week in the works? I > ask because the NCL Board is working on some options, and we want to be > sure we know what else might be happening. > > Thanks again for everything. > > Deborah > > > > > > On Jul 23, 2016, at 12:32 AM, Silja Kallenbach < > silja_kallenbach@worlded.org > <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','silja_kallenbach@worlded.org');>> wrote: > > I agree that Sharon's approach is highly unusual. I don't think having > sufficient funds for an event is in any way a criteria for turning down > sponsorships. I do think it will make NCL look bad to do so, so I would > avoid that solution. Why not first deal w Sharon directly and request the > contact info for NCL before you go to ETS directly, which will inevitably > escalate bad relations w her and COABE by extension? > > I don't think doing a joint essay contest at this juncture when most > programs are closed is very practical. It could be something for next year. > Silja > > On Friday, July 22, 2016, Jeff Carter <jcarter@literacypolicy.org > <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','jcarter@literacypolicy.org');>> wrote: > >> Folks, >> >> I’m sorry to be so late in responding to this — yesterday was a long >> travel day and I’m struggling to catch up today. >> >> I have been playing phone tag with ETS for several days — I still feel >> pretty confident that they will be willing to sponsor us without going >> through NCL and we (NCL) can just generate an invoice and that will be >> that. Give me one more day (Monday) to touch base with Amy and see if I can >> work around Sharon, which would be the easiest option, I think. If not, >> then we can turn to Deborah’s excellent suggestion. I agree strongly that >> what COABE is proposing is completely unacceptable. The idea that they can >> ask us not to engage in any direct communication with ETS is absurd. I’m >> actually quite comfortable turning down the funding, although hopefully we >> won’t have to. >> >> Sorry I haven’t been able to have a direct conversation with ETS yet. >> >> I have to say also that the once again, I fear that we are becoming the >> “dealing with Sharon” coalition. Not our fault, of course, but I think we >> need to continue to think about drafting clear ground rules about member >> solicitation of donations going forward in order to prevent stuff like this >> from happening. Hard, of course to anticipate what she is going to throw at >> us next, but I don’t know what else to suggest… >> >> Thanks everyone for your patience and good will, >> >> Jeff >> >> > On Jul 22, 2016, at 2:00 PM, Kristin Lahurd <klahurd@ala.org> wrote: >> > >> > I, too, think this is a really great idea and a creative solution, >> Deborah. >> > >> > Kristin >> > ________________________________________ >> > From: Board [board-bounces@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org] on >> behalf of Deborah Kennedy [deborah.r.kennedy@verizon.net] >> > Sent: Friday, July 22, 2016 10:01 AM >> > To: National Coalition for Literacy Board Members List >> > Subject: [NCL Board] Draft Response to COABE - Your Thoughts Needed ASAP >> > >> > Hello, all, >> > >> > As you know from the message strings that Silja and I have forwarded, >> COABE has secured a $5,000 commitment from ETS to sponsor NCL activities >> during Adult Ed and Family Literacy Week. This is wonderful, but it comes >> with strings attached. ETS needs an invoice from NCL in order to provide >> the money. However, COABE insists on being the intermediary for the invoice >> (and possibly the payment). >> > >> > As the NCL finance chair and vice president, I am unequivocally opposed >> to allowing a member organization to forward an invoice or handle a payment >> on the NCL’s behalf. It is contrary to everything I know about best >> practices in nonprofit management and about conflict of interest. I would >> rather walk away from the money than accept it under such circumstances. >> > >> > In addition, as we discussed at our meeting on July 13, we already have >> sufficient underwriting and other support to fund all of the planned AEFL >> week activities. We would therefore need to communicate directly with ETS >> about what types of additional activities they would be interested in >> supporting. However, COABE appears not to want us to engage in any direct >> communication with ETS. >> > >> > I believe, based on Sharon’s most recent email, that COABE has full >> underwriting for its Capitol Hill Day activities (during AEFL Week) from >> another sponsor, and that that funder wants to be the exclusive sponsor. I >> am guessing that this is why COABE has offered the $5,000 from ETS to the >> NCL. >> > >> > Rather than walk away from the $5,000 completely, which would make us >> look weird to ETS and might preclude future sponsorships, I’d like to >> propose a joint COABE-NCL activity that would support AEFL Week (not >> Capitol Hill Day) and that would allow COABE to manage the money. It is to >> sponsor a contest in which NCL and COABE members are invited to have their >> adult learners write (short) essays on the theme “what adult education has >> meant to me.” Submitted essays would be read by a panel of two NCL board >> members and two COBE board members, and awards would be given to the two or >> three strongest adult learners. The prize, paid for from the ETS >> sponsorship, would be an all-expenses-paid trip to DC to attend the NCL >> awards event on the Hill and the NCL membership meeting, plus $500 for the >> winners’ adult ed programs. We would acknowledge the winners and their >> programs at the awards event. We would also post their essays on the NCL >> website and use them in our awareness materials going forward. >> > >> > I would like to send an email to Sharon first thing Monday morning >> outlining NCL’s position and this proposal. Before I do, though, I’d like >> to be sure that you support it. Please let me know your thoughts. >> > >> > Apologies for the long message, thanks in advance for your responses, >> and have a good weekend. >> > >> > Deborah >> > >> > >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list >> > Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org >> > >> http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list >> > Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org >> > >> http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list >> Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org >> >> http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org >> > > > -- > > . > Silja kallenbach [image: Red Squares]Vice President [image: Red Squares] > 617.482.9485 > www.worlded.org [image: JSILogo] <http://www.facebook.com/worlded> [image: > JSILogo] <http://www.twitter.com/worlded> > > > _______________________________________________ > National Coalition for Literacy Board mailing list > Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org > <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','Board@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org');> > > http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/board_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org > > > > -- . Silja kallenbach [image: Red Squares]Vice President [image: Red Squares] 617.482.9485 www.worlded.org [image: JSILogo] <http://www.facebook.com/worlded> [image: JSILogo] <http://www.twitter.com/worlded>
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