[Offtopic] Community Group Assistance

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

If you have any connection with an Australian 'Community Group', then
this group and website may be of considerable interest and assistance:

 https://www.ourcommunity.com.au

Having no personal association with this group, as far as one can see,
they are certainly well supported & connected with well-respected folk
(eg, the ex Vic Chief Police Commisioner) and, do appear a responsible
and very helpful resource for Aussie community groups indeed ..

They write: (quote)

Building Stronger Communities Through Stronger Community Organizations

Our Community is a world-leading social enterprise that provides advice 
and tools for Australia's 600,000 community groups and schools, and 
practical linkages between the community sector and the general public, 
business and government."

News:

• Power Up! This year's Communities in Control Conference looks set to be 
the best ever. See who's in the line-up and secure your spot at 
www.ourcommunity.com.au/cic2010.

• Australia's Best Training: Our Community's training is recognised as 
the most practical and best value training available to the Australian 
community sector. What's coming: www.ourcommunity.com.au/scheduledtraining

• Show Your Face: We are now taking bookings for display tables at this 
year's Communities in Control Conference, which will be held at Moonee 
Valley Racing Club in Moonee Ponds on May 31 & June 1, 2010. (link)

• Celebrating Loud-Mouthed Troublemakers: Nominate an individual, a 
community organisation or a project to receive a 2010 Westpac Kookaburra 
Award. These new awards honour the people, projects and community groups 
who spoke out so loudly and so well we couldn't ignore them. (link)

• Treasurers' Awards Now Closed: Winners of the 2010 Westpac Community 
Treasurers' Awards will be announced later this month. (link)

• Help Transform Giving in Australia: We're looking for volunteers to 
take part in the Giving Revolution being spearheaded by the 
GiveNow.com.au giving service, which is operated by the Our Community 
Foundation. We'd particularly love to hear from you if you have an 
interest in online communities and social networking, or 
administrative/database skills.If this interests you, please send your 
name, contact details and a few words about yourself to 
hannahs at ourcommunity.com.au. 

• Newsletter schedule: View our newsletter schedule at 
www.ourcommunity.com.au/schedule. 

• Free Financial Help Guide: Westpac and Our Community have just released 
the Guide for Community Board Members: Understanding Finances, the second 
in the community financial literacy series. Download your guide now or 
request a hard copy by clicking here.

• Get the Giving News: The April edition of GiveNow News includes tips on 
how to make the right choices when buying fashion, how to give to medical 
research, celebs gone good, and much more. Sign up to receive your copy 
here.

• Join In, Join Up! New posters to help you spread the Join In, Join Up! 
message are now available for download at www.ourcommunity.com.au/joinin.

• Get Grants: Listen to Our Community grantseeking specialist Patrick 
Moriarty delivering his tips on how to get a grant here. 

• We're on Twitter! Sign up to follow Our Community on Twitter and you'll 
get all the news as it happens. Click here to get started.

• Find us on Facebook: Keep up with the latest news from Our Community by 
becoming a fan on Facebook. Click here to view our page.

• Community View: The latest edition of the Our Community Matters 
newsletter includes articles on: 

• The links between health and equality 

• How much you can say your volunteer labour is worth

• Links to new policies, help sheets, fact sheets & training 
opportunities 

• Thoughts on the new National Compact 

• Community Classifieds: Offers and Freebies 

• How to use YouTube to spread your message

• The campaign for higher wages in the community sector - what it means 
and how you can help

• Ideas You Can Steal: Hitching a ride on the election bandwagon

• Our thoughts on the Welcome to Country debate

• New community law website

and much more. Sign up as a member now (it's free!) at 
www.ourcommunity.com.au/signup, or download this month's edition of Our 
Community Matters at www.ourcommunity.com.au/ocmatters

--

Cheers people
Stephen Loosley
Registered Teacher