Robert Egger´s Piece of Mind

Just in town for a quick respite in between gigs (in Indy and Pittsburgh) that, as always, included some VERY cool business.

I joined the 23 men and women of Class 74 (in week 8 and still going strong), along with some righteous YSOP volunteers from Rutgers University and we all went up to the Hill show our support for the GIVE Act, which is ALL about a new era of volunteerism. We’re talking Senior Corp, Experience Corp, Americorps—in short—about a new American Bad Ass Corp, 80 million strong and united in their desire to round out their lives and strengthen their communities and this country through service. As always, we were glad to be on hand to help.

But I also hooked up with David Davenport, the CEO of the Capital Area Food Bank in Austin (who was also on the Hill today). He is rallying the nonprofit troops in Austin (in advance of their upcoming Mayor’s race) to hold a candidate forum in partnership with the V3 Campaign. It’ll be in April 9^th and I’ll make sure to post lots of details of that event, along with film from yesterdays amazing day in Indianapolis.

The V3 Campaign is on a ROLL—join us.

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There was a really good story today about a really cool program in town, Atlas Corp. They  deserve every drop of ink they got, but I have to hit the Post for ruining a righteous article with what they must have considered a funny little line about nonprofits.

Check it out….and chime in if you think, as I do, that this kind of boring reporting is just what got us into the economic mess we are in right now.

DEPTH is what we need from our Forth Estate friends. Don’t make me go all Jon Stewart on your asses.

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According to an article in Congressional Quarterly, a growing number of nonprofit groups are becoming engaged in the political process….but the jury is out on whether this is a really good thing, or something that will bite us. 

As some of you know, I have been at the forefront of the effort to get our sector’s voice heard and our value recognized in every election, via the V3 Campaign. This has been a rocky road, as many nonprofits are burdened by the myth that they cannot be engaged in the political process. We can—but by law, we (meaning 501C3 groups) must avoid being partisan, or endorsing or opposing candidates.   However, groups organized as 501C4’s, or 501C6’s can be, in varying degrees, overtly partisan….and they are now filling the void that resulted from the crackdown on 527 groups that proliferated in the 2004 campaign (you’ll recall the Swift Boat Vets). In the 2008 election cycle, these groups spent $200 million to influence voters. And that is, even in this era of billion dollar bailouts, some serious legal tender. 

Here’s the rub. The headline in the CQ article reads “Nonprofits Wield Some Serious Campaign Cash” and for many folks out there, there is little understanding of the fact that not all “nonprofits” are the same. Groups like the V3 Campaign (which is a project of the DC Central Kitchen—a 501C3) are working hard to elevate the public’s understanding of the serious economic role that the sector plays in every community, while also encouraging candidates and incumbents to articulate how they will include our sector in America’s economic recovery. We are playing by the rules, and being overtly cautious in our rhetoric, so that we avoid arousing public (or congressional) speculation that we are somehow breaking faith (or the law) during the process. 

While the groups mentioned in this article are certainly working within the letter of the law (and often raise legitimate issues), it appears that some groups may be exploiting this “nonprofit” option to continue the kind of slash and burn/hide the money tactics that have led to public cynicism with Washington and the political process. In the confusion, I am concerned that it will provide fuel to those who would question the integrity of the larger nonprofit sector, or empower those who would use the public’s confusion to pursue legislation that might further erode our sector’s legitimate abilities to be active participants in our country’s great democratic process  

Will calls for hearings and reform be around the bend? You can bet on it….and that might not be a bad thing. In fact, maybe we rank and file folks should be yelping for it the loudest.  

It’s our house—let’s keep it clean.

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Hey…if you are, like me, open to the potential of Social Enterprise, or curious about what’s going on outside the US, or intrigued by what’s got some of the sector’s old guard’s knickers in a triple twist, then I am going to once again suggest that you look into Livewire, which is an online magazine/update dealio from my friends at Social Enterprise Magazine (which is also worth subscribing to). BOTH are chocked full of intellectual goodies.

 And HEY…if you haven’t, check out Pandora, and amazing website that lets you groove to new music all day long. I happen to dig ethereal, ambient music while I’m working (or on Sunday mornings). If you do also, then plug in the composer Harold Budd, and sit back and drift on his sonic groove.

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First of all…I do have faith.  

I do believe that we, as a country, will come out of this funk, and we will come out stronger, more united and ready to rock. BUT….there is some serious trouble brewing for our elders, and the kettle is whistling loud, long and clear. Many of you may have already read or heard me speak about the waiting list for Meals on Wheels in America. HALF of all U.S. cities have a waiting list, now…and there are 80 million boomers coming round the bend. We’re talking 12,000 people a day turning 60!!!

This is why I fuss and spit so much about nonprofit evolution. Folks think (as noted in a past post) that I am against food banks. Again…just the opposite, but I hate it when groups aren’t looking out and seeing the future coming. The entire design of the street level anti-hunger movement is based on the people we served 20 years ago, NOT for those who are about to show up in numbers that will crush our capacity. But hey…the food thing is just the beginning. If you look at the entire issue of aging in America….just about every which way you turn, everyone who should be shouting seems to be asleep at this wheel. Stories are appearing in the news that really (REALLY) offer ample evidence that we are simply not preparing for the reality of how many folks are going to live to be 80-85-even 90, but who are unprepared financially to cover their nut alone…and neither are their families. More worrisome is how equally unprepared we are socially to engage, include and respect our elders for the world they helped to build. 

Here are two examples: 

In Sunday’s Washington Post there was a story about the Seigler family, and how the Madoff meltdown has totally messed up their family’s finances.  These are people who really planned. They saved, they scrimped…and now it’s all gone. Now what?

And in today’s Post comes another signal, as Sunrise Senior Living, one of the country’s largest assisted living providers, considers bankruptcy protection. While the company reports that nothing will affect the folks who live in their facilities, it’s still troubling. Particularly when you look at larger trends, including the escalating costs of elder care, the quality of care that is provided and the number of providers (both for-profit, and not-for-profit) that are in rough waters or opting out of the biz altogether.

The systems we employ to care, feed, engage and respect our elders is falling apart….literally. It’s part of our country’s decaying infrastructure. Call me a grandstander, call me Henny P, call me whatever you want…but realize that this is scary accurate. 

I ask you….actually, I implore you…read your newspapers. Look at your community. Ask friends with older parents. I know that MUCH is on thin ice—but the issue of our elders is so huge, and so sad and SO wrong. They are us, only they are there sooner. Realize that we owe them more than this. Also realize how much we have to gain as a society if we channel their energy and experiences and keep them contributing till the day they pass. There are amazing efforts already going on all over the country–just too few. Let’s ramp it UP.

I will be working with Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) who leads the Congressional Hunger Caucus to begin to trumpet this issue, and will keep you posted. Stand ready. 

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Here’s an interesting interview I did with the Utne Reader. The whole series they do on charity is pretty provocative….just the way I like it.

And here’s another sweet hit, from Fast Company on the Kitchen’s Social E efforts.

And for you cynics out there….the answer is “no”….we don’t fish for these stories.

Our bait is so good–they jump out of the water and into our arms.

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