Editor's Notes • By Susan Sanow • March 3, 2014
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I scream, you scream, we all scream for the Blue Avocado Bonus Issue! We have everything our readers want:
Deep discounts on books, magazines, tech training, T-shirts and accounting services
Webinars offered free and only to Blue Avocado readers
A Blue Avocado contest!
A recipe for avocado ice cream (summer is coming)
Here are the rules for these Blue Avocado opportunities: if you're reading this, you're eligible! All deals are good for only 4 days. That means look at the offers, pick what you want and act now. All deals close at 8 pm Eastern time/5 pm Pacific on Friday, March 14, 2014.
We're happy to provide this bonus issue to you. Our next regular issue will hit your inbox in late April where we'll have the first of the "I Followed A Founder" stories along with Ask Rita on transgender employees, and more.
-- Susan Sanow, Blue Avocado Project Manager
1. Blue Avocado Campfire Contest
Another April Fools' Day is ahead and could that mean another April Fools' Day issue of Blue Avocado? What fictitious news story would you like to see? Send us the headline and first 2-3 sentences of the story. Here is a sample to get you started:
Blue Avocado to Change Name to Orange Avocado; Blue Color Too Sad
With news too focused on negatives, Blue Avocado is rebranding to the new and improved Orange Avocado. An unidentified insider commented, "This has nothing to do with the rumor that we're about to get a big grant from Sunkist. Which isn't true anyway. Yeah."
Winners will be invited to the Blue Avocado Virtual Campfire. The Campfire, held on April 14, 2014 at 9-10 am Pacific time (noon - 1 Eastern ), is a conference call discussion for 20 led by Rick Cohen (NPQ) and Jan Masaoka (Blue Avocado). You can ask questions and share your thoughts about fundraising, boards, staff, the state of the nonprofit sector and the latest jargon. If your headline is chosen as one of the best, you will also receive a Blue Avocado flashdrive!
IMPORTANT: Submit your headline and opening paragraph by Friday, March 14 at 5 pm Pacific time to blueavocado at hotmail dot com, subject line: Campfire. And be sure to include your name and email address.
Three Webinars -- All Free!
2. Solving Nonprofit Employment Challenges with Ask Rita
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
9 – 10 am Pacific Time (Noon - 1 pm Eastern)
Speakers: Blue Avocado's "Ask Ritas": Ellen Aldridge and Siobhan Kelley
Our two favorite labor/risk management attorneys . . . live and not just in print! The most frequent sources of employment-related liability for nonprofits will be addressed -- and Ellen and Siobhan know which they are because they answer questions for members at the Nonprofits Insurance Alliance Group (NIA Group). The webinar is packed with practical tips on hiring, firing, independent contractors, and more. Don’t miss this free opportunity to learn how to improve labor and employment compliance in your workplace.
To register, click here by Friday.
3. Going Deeper: The Nonprofit CFO Study
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
10 – 11 am Pacific Time (1:00 pm Eastern Time)
Speaker: Steve Zimmerman, Spectrum Nonprofit Services
You know about the survey of nonprofit finance folk that drew more than 900 responses. In this exclusive-to-Blue-Avocado webinar, co-researcher Steve Zimmerman CPA will recap the findings but go deeper with your questions and comments. He'll reveal some surprises about this crucial but often overlooked staff including educational backgrounds, workload, what they think of how their boards understand finance and whether they think their CEOs make fair salaries.
To register, click here by Friday!
4. Google Analytics for the Enthusiastic Beginner
Thursday, April 3, 2014
11 am – 12 noon Pacific time (2 pm- 3 pm Eastern)
Speaker: Bonnie Massa, Massa & Company
This webinar got so much good response from Blue Avocado readers last time that Bonnie agreed to do it free again (thanks, Bonnie!). Join this overview of Google Analytics, a free web analytics tool that shows you how visitors are using your site. We will start with how to capture data on visitors and then hit the highlights of using Google Analytics to improve your website. This overview is for beginners and executives that want to know the value of the tool but not necessarily how to operate it. To register, click here by Friday!
Next: Two Special Tech Offers from Tech Soup . . .
5. Free Online Tech Training: Atomic Training Courses
Blue Avocado readers get an exclusive free pass to Atomic Training tech courses when you request any other tech donations at TechSoup. Choose from more than 100 software and 50 assistive-technology courses, online, on-demand, via your smartphone, tablet, or computer. Review the full list of classes here. To begin, go here by March 14 at 5 pm Pacific. Use promo code ATOMICBLUEAVOCADO for Product G-48446.
6. T-shirts Tee Up Your Message
TechSoup's partner Teespring will give you a 50% discount on its t-shirt (what else?) fundraising program. You can use Teespring to make custom-branded clothing and other products combined with a web-based campaign that doesn't require any upfront costs. Cool.
To access the offer, visit here. Use promo code TEESPRINGBLUEAVOCADO. Offer good through Friday, March 14 at 5 pm Pacific.
Our thanks to our friends at TechSoup for the two great deals above. Register and qualify at TechSoup, and access donated and discounted products and services, including high-quality refurbished hardware and software from partners like Microsoft, Adobe, Cisco, Intuit, and Symantec. TechSoup is NOT a limited Blue Avocado offer. TechSoup provides great programs and services all the time!
7. Nonprofit Management Books from CharityChannel Press
CharityChannel Press offers Blue Avocado readers a 25% discount on its entire collection! We mean everything: it applies to any and all books, manuals, and workbooks, in any quantity, and may be re-used during the 4-day bonus issue period (Tuesday, March 11 through Friday, March 14).
Review the catalog, and when you're ready to order you'll see "Have a Coupon?"-- click Yes and use the code Blue in the coupon box to receive the discount. (This offer may not be combined with any other offer except for additional discounts available for bulk purchases.)
To start shopping, the CharityChannel Press bookstore is here.
8. Jitasa Nonprofit Accounting Support Center - Get a 30 day FREE trial
Jitasa knows that outsourcing isn't an option for everyone, so they created the Jitasa Nonprofit Accounting Support Center. It's a resource that puts the knowledge and expertise of Jitasa's nonprofit accountants a phone call or email away.
This offer, exclusive to Blue Avocado readers, means you’ll receive 30 days free unlimited access to nonprofit accounting expertise, best practice templates and other content to provide a staff bookkeeper or accountant the confidence that to handle bookkeeping and accounting correctly -- all at a fraction of the cost of having your own staff.
To take advantage of this 30-day free trial offer (no credit card required):
Visit www.jitasa.is/support-center-trial
Fill out the form by Friday, March 14 at 5 pm Pacific time (8 pm Eastern)
Start calling and emailing with your nonprofit accounting questions!
It's that simple. Questions? Contact SupportCenterSales@jitasa.is
9. $15 Off on The Nonprofit Quarterly
We at Blue Avocado are grateful that the Nonprofit Quarterly brings journalism and non-establishmentarian voices to their online and print discussions. Just for Blue Avocado readers, we're delighted they're offering a $15 discount on a one-year subscription to their print journal.
By using the discount, you'll also get a collection of Rick Cohen's classic articles available to download after checkout. To subscribe, click here. Offer good only through March 14th. (And don't forget you can join Rick at the Virtual Campfire by submitting a winning April Fools' Day contrest entry.)
10. Let’s Scream For Avocado Ice Cream!
Avocados are so delicious plain, but just imagine (or even taste)...
Ingredients:
12 ounces avocado, approximately 3 small to medium
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup heavy cream
Directions:
Peel and pit the avocados. Add the avocados, lemon juice, milk, and sugar to a blender and puree. Transfer the mixture to a medium mixing bowl, add the heavy cream and whisk to combine. Place the mixture into the refrigerator and chill until it reaches 40 F or below, approximately 4 to 6 hours.
Process the mixture in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's directions. However, this mixture sets up very fast, so count on it taking only 5 to 10 minutes to process. For soft ice cream, serve immediately. If desired, place in freezer for 3 to 4 hours for firmer texture. Thanks to Alton Brown and the Food Network for this recipe!
Or, go to Torico's in Jersey City which often has it. Jersey City! Who knew?
And finally . . .
If you enjoy Blue Avocado and/or appreciate these special offers, consider making a donation to our sponsor American Nonprofits (you can specify it is for Blue Avocado). And don't forget to pass along Blue Avocado to your friends, co-workers, co-board members and others. Thanks! -- Susan and Jan