Cycling Victory: Community Board 7 Passes Resolution for Protected Bike Lanes

Last night, Community Board 7 passed a resolution for Class 1 protected bike lanes on Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues by a vote of 28 to 7. The resolution stated that the CB asks the DOT to study the area to better understand how protected bike lanes will impact business, parking, traffic, and safety and to report back with a plan to build such lanes.
For those of you who know that I am a big cycling advocate, this represents a huge victory in creating a safer, more livable city for everyone as well as reducing the impact on the environment.Continue reading

Are you hiding your message from your donors?

Are you hiding your message from your donors?
In today’s environment, it is more critical than ever to have your communications be as crisp and targeted as possible. In his article, The Dance of the Four Veils, Tom Ahern describes the hinderances to communications. I would add a fourth veil: that of poor design, a factor which is often overlooked by nonprofits.
Poor design hinders your communication in many ways. When your reader doesn’t know what to look at first on your website or newsletter, or can’t focus on your message because of the distracting formatting, you are doing a dis-service your communications.
A strong design will lead lead your reader through your message in the sequence you want, including getting the full emotional impact from well-selected images, to understanding the impact, through your writing, to connecting with your brand, through your colors and overall attitude conveyed.
Don’t let design be the overlooked element that hinders readers from connecting with your cause
Veil Number One: Avoiding Conflict at All Costs
Veil Number Two: A Tendency toward Weak, Bland Language Rather Than Bold, Vivid Words
Veil Number Three: Faint Appreciation for the Emotional Basis of Human Response
Veil Number Four: Relying on Jargon
The Dance of the Four Veils
http://www.nonprofitquarterly.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1410:the-dance-of-the-four-veils&catid=150:from-the-archives

In today’s environment, it is more critical than ever to have your communications be as crisp and targeted as possible. In his article, The Dance of the Four Veils, Tom Ahern describes four hinderances to communications. I would add a fifth veil: that of poor design, a factor which is often overlooked by nonprofits.Continue reading

How Much is This Dollar Worth?

Nonprofits often brag that a high percentage of their money goes directly toward services – with a low percent toward actual overhead and fundraising costs – as this insert in a direct mail piece shows. However, rather than benefitting nonprofits, this strategy only undermines nonprofits’ ability to fundraise and to plan for success.

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CT Nonprofit Conference Challenges Nonprofits to Imagine & Innovate

The Connecticut Association of Nonprofits’s 7th Annual Conference is built around the theme of: Imagine. Innovate. Impact. Keynote speaker William Strickland, the President and CEO of Manchester Bidwell Corporation will address the Art of Leadership and the Business of Social Innovation, in what is being billed as a simple, optimistic message for leaders: give people the tools they need, treat them with respect, and they will perform miraculous deeds.Continue reading

New Report Measures Nonprofits' Fiscal Readiness

Nonprofit organizations are more likely to emerge stronger from tough economic times when they are communicating consistently and operating effectively, reports a new study by Fiscal Management Associates and ERE LLP its affiliated public accounting firm.

The report puts forth three principles to maximize fiscal resources — efficiency, reliability, and collaborative decision making — to serve as guides to address the challenges that organizations face at various growth stages.Continue reading

How to Effectively Brand Your Business

It Just Starts with Your Logo
How to Effectively Brand Your Business to Gain a Competitive Advantage
Summary: This hands-on session is designed specifically for small and mid-sized business and social entrepreneurs who are launching ventures or are looking to create a more effective brand presence. Your logo is just the starting point for engaging your audience. We will explore how you can create you brand promise, develop an effective logo, and create a consistent brand presence across all forms of communications.
This seminar will help you to:
– Understand what branding is all about
–  Learn how to differentiate your business from your competitors
–  Use emotion, authenticity and credibility to build your brand
– Express your value to your customers
– Apply your brand to your brochures, publications, and online presence.
You will also learn:
–  The role of logos, icons and avatars
–  The elements of an effective business name
–  How effective taglines can help your organization
You will see examples of branding campaigns, participate in a hands-on activities to clarify your brand, and get to “Ask the Expert” your branding questions.
Who Should Attend: Business Owners, Marketing and Communications Staff
Presenter – Howard Adam Levy
Principal, Red Rooster Group
Howard brings 17 years of branding, design and marketing expertise to help businesses, social ventures and nonprofits create more effective brands. He has helped countless organizations launch gain visibility, increase sales, attract members, promote fundraising events and increase donations.  His firm specializes in integrated campaigns that leverage the best of strategy, message and design through print and online media. He is an award-winning designer whose work is featured in many publications and he is a called on to speak to business and nonprofit organizations on branding and marketing topics. His blog, Nonprofit Wake Up Call, explores issues at the intersection of the business and nonprofit sectors: www.blog.redroostergroup.com.
Contact:
Howard Adam Levy
212-673-9353
howard@redroostergroup.com

It Just Starts with Your Logo: How to Effectively Brand Your Business to Gain a Competitive Advantage

  • Wednesday, October 21, 2009, 9:30 – 11:00 am
  • Brooklyn Creative League /  540 President Street in Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY

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Resourcing Publication Helps Buying Agents Gain Credibility

CLIENT: International Merchandise Group

With changing political climates and increasing demands from retailers, helping apparel companies in the United States to source manufacturing overseas is no easy feat. To help executives understand the complex issues involved, we created this newsletter for the International Merchandise Group. The newsletter was unique and helped establish credibility for the company as experts in overseas sourcing and manufacturing.

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Red Rooster Group IconRed Rooster Group is a New York based graphic design firm that creates effective brands, websites, and marketing campaigns to increase your visibility, sales, and communications effectiveness. Contact us at info@redroostergroup.com.

Stop Watch Newsletter To Prevent Domestic Violence

CLIENT: National Council of Jewish Women

This newsletter for this program to prevent domestic violence was distributed through the 25 chapters of this national Jewish nonprofit organization.

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