By Somerset County Board of Freeholders
SOMERVILLE – The Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission is sponsoring two technical assistance workshops for nonprofit cultural organization leaders, including directors, board members and essential staff.
“In this economy, volunteer support and in-kind contributions are essential to help local organizations thrive and survive,” said Freeholder Patrick Scaglione, commission liaison. “We encourage nonprofits to send one or two representatives to take advantage of these excellent opportunities.”
Workshop topics, dates, times and locations are:
“Volunteers: Non-Profit Organizations Can’t Live Without Them” – Thursday, April 28, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (followed by lunch and “air-and-share” session, 12-1:30 p.m.). Budget belts are tightening, so smarter use of volunteers makes sense. Learn why the upfront “investment” in a volunteer program will yield large “payoffs.” This workshop will provide resources to assist organizations in recruiting, retaining, rewarding and retiring volunteers. Location: Somerset County Administration Building, second floor Engineering Conference Room, 20 Grove St., Somerville.
“Diversify and Leverage Your Budget: The Real Value of In-Kind Donations” – Thursday, May 12, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (followed by lunch and “air-and-share” session, 12-1:30 p.m.). Historically, funding is countable and recordable in dollars and cents. But what about those in-kind donations that set programming and projects apart from the rest? How do we ask for them and how does one calculate their worth? Join this workshop to learn how your organization can gain strategic advantage using in-kind donations. Workshop participants will receive resources to help better position them to ask for, accept and record the true value of in-kind donations to their organizations. Location: Former Administration Building, 40 N. Bridge St. (corner of Bridge and High streets), Somerville.
Both workshops will be facilitated by Pat Bohse, president of Bohse & Associates, a management consulting firm based in New Jersey for the past 23 years. She serves on the Board of Directors for National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs (NANASP) in Washington, DC. She is a nationally recognized speaker as a member of the National Speakers Association.
She is the association manager for New Jersey Area Agencies on Aging Association (NJ4A). She is also an adjunct professor at Farleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck. Her latest success includes the launch of the Not For Profit Exchange Internet Radio Show.
Cost $10 per workshop and includes lunch. A lunch menu will be emailed after your registration check has been received. Make checks payable to Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission and mail to Cindy Mellusi, SC Cultural & Heritage Commission, P.O. Box 3000, Somerville, NJ 08876. Non-refundable, advance payment is due no later than four business days before the designated date of each workshop to allow time to arrange for lunch and beverage orders.
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Funding has been made possible, in part, by a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, through funds administered by the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission through the State /County Partnership Local Arts Program.

