International Relief Agencies

There are six major international disaster and relief agencies operating in Hong Kong (see the Mingpao news below). Yesterday my little sister asked me how to choose among the relief agencies, and it's difficult to tell... with due respect to the other four agencies, I recommended UNICEF and MSF at last, mainly because the widespread geographical locations might correspond better for the two agencies. I would probably recommend the other four agencies (all are HK-chapters of int'l agencies) if it is a relief operation in China.

A good friend of mine working for ADRA has been headed to Sri Lanka organising for their relief work there. It's likely that another friend at UNDP is also working on fire to coordinate some sorts of relief work. I wish them all the best...

政府舉辦籌款呼籲踴躍捐款[22:38]
2004/12/30

民政事務總署署長陳甘美華呼籲市民發揮人類互助互愛的崇高精神，踴躍捐款協助南亞地區的地震海嘯災民。

陳甘美華今午在新聞發布會上說，為響應聯合國的呼籲，政府將於本星期六舉行籌款活動。她說，連日來已經接觸過不少熱心市民、社區及慈善團體，甚至政黨成員，他們都表示願意捐款協助。

是項名為「四海同心送關懷」的籌款活動，已定於元旦當日下午三時至五時在香港大球場舉行，由香港電視廣播有限公司負責製作，安排本地歌手演唱募捐。善款將交予紅十字會、香港世界宣明會、樂施會、無國界醫生、聯合國兒童基金會及救世軍等六個國際救援組織，在受影響地區進行賑災工作。

無線電視翡翠台將直播「四海同心送關懷」節目，市民也可親自到大球場觀賞節目，免費入場，額滿即止。

Donating in 7-Eleven Stores for MSF & HK Red Cross

Subject: 7-Eleven helps Medecins Sans Frontiers & Red Cross to collect tsunami disaster fund

Dear Colleagues,

The South Asia tsunami tragedies took tens of thousands of lives and made millions homeless. Victims are in emergency need of assistance. In immediate response, 7-Eleven Hong Kong has lined up with two international voluntary organizations in collecting disaster relief funds. They are:

Medecins Sans Frontiers
Hong Kong Red Cross

Please visit any of the 610 7-Eleven stores in Hong Kong and make donation in the multiple of HK$10. You will get a receipt immediately and the money will be transmitted to the voluntary organization's relief fund of your choice.

ACT NOW! Please forward this message to your friends, relatives and business associates.

Thank you very much for your contribution,

7-Eleven Hong Kong Management Team

Tsunami Blogs

According to Yahoo...
Blogs from around the world are offering instant witness reports from the region affected by the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami that the traditional media cannot match, as well as links to relief groups for readers seeking to provide immediate help.

Blogs became an important means of communication and information following the September 11, 2001 terror attacks in the United States. The phenomenon has now reached global proportions with the explosion of Asian blog sites and sites dedicated to the southwest Asian disaster.

www.worldchanging.com
tsunamihelp.blogspot.com
tsunamimissing.blogspot.com
www.sumankumar.com or tsunamihelpindia.blogspot.com
www.command-post.org

慈善國宴

慈善國宴是一場誤解?

損款3.8萬可與國家領導人同進餐
慈善國宴人民大會堂舉行

【明報專訊】具官方背景的中國扶貧基金會將於明年2月1日在人民大會堂 國宴大廳首次舉辦慈善晚宴，以門票收入募集資金，並請中共黨和國家領導人出席宴會，為扶貧基金募捐。凡認捐1800元人民幣即可出席晚宴，而捐 38,000元更可與國家領導人同桌進餐。活動籌備辦公室負責人對本報表示，此舉目的是為中國 的慈善活動創造新平台，但與領導人同進餐者須先經資格審查。當局有意今後每年舉辦一次，發展成中國的招牌慈善活動。

CCSG e-Newsletter (3rd Issue)

The third issue of our HKU Research Centre's e-newsletter has been released today. Much of the news have already been reported in this blog - actually one of the reasons for me to set up this blog is to facilitate my work to compile the quarterly e-newsletter. But now it has become a very interesting exercise to me...

The latest issue of the e-newsletter (December 2004/January 2005) of the Centre for Civil Society and Governance (CCSG) at HKU has been released: http://web.hku.hk/~ccsg/newsletter/ccsg_issue3.htm
You're welcome to send us your comment at ccsg@hku.hk. Thank you for your attention.

Centre for Civil Society and Governance
website: www.hku.hk/ppaweb/ccsg
email: ccsg@hku.hk

-----------------------------

ABOUT CCSG AND THE NEWSLETTER

The Centre for Civil Society and Governance is a multi-disciplinary research unit established by the Department of Politics and Public Administration under the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Hong Kong.

The Centre aims to enhance our knowledge of civil society - its nature, constituents, dynamics, roles, and in particular its contributions toward governance, and to foster the development of a vibrant civil society in Hong Kong, mainland China, and other parts of the world. The Centre seeks to do this through research, advocacy, and dissemination.

The CCSG e-Newsletter, first published in June 2004, is a quarterly online news bulletin which serves to provide a platform for allowing interested parties to disseminate news and happenings about civil society development to local NGO practitioners.

香港兒童合唱團成立「藝術基金」

In the past few weeks I have introduced two new charitable funds that support NGO activities (viz. the Digital Solidarity Fund and the HER Fund). Another new $30 million trust fund from the arts sector - the Hong Kong Arts Fund for the Youth (temporary name only) - will be established by the Hongkong Children's Choir using funds from the organisation's own accumulated reserve. As noted by HKCC, it is kind of an unprecedented move by an arts organization (indeed by any NGO in Hong Kong) to deploy its own resources to set up a permanent fund for supporting some general purpose social causes (promoting youth arts in this particular case). The organisation also challenges the property developers bidding for the West Kowloon Cultural Project (see the quotes below) by asking them to set up a $15 billion Arts Endowment for promoting arts in the territory...

It's good to see recently many trust funds are established in Hong Kong, given the fact that we do not have a strong foundation culture, and worse still many existing foundations (individual, family, or corporate) simply do not operate in a very transparent manner and appear not very responsive to community needs. In the past two years, I have been advocating for the establishment of the Hong Kong Community Foundation for serving as an umbrella philanthropic institution that assists individuals and groups in different service fields to establish charitable endowments. While from time to time (usually as the aftermath of some critical social events) there would be individuals and organisations working to set up charitable endowments (just like after the SARS outbreak many funds have been set up), those efforts may not be sustainable. The creation of a community foundation could assist such efforts to produce concerted and lasting impacts in the society. While up to this moment the project is still not a very successful endeavour, I'll continue to promote this concept given the right opportunities...

拋磚引玉成立「藝術基金」

為了貫徹我們的理想，董事局在慶祝建團三十五周年的好時機，通過一個在業餘藝術團體來說實屬破天荒的創舉，就是設立一個「香港青年藝術基金」（暫定名稱），金額初步定為不少於三千萬港元（由本團歷年的儲備中撥出），長遠目標為五千萬港元（規模和現時的「香港賽馬會舞蹈、音樂藝術基金」相若）。基金以每年的利息和收益撥作推廣青年藝術活動，同時會支助有藝術才華和具發展潛力的青年人深造。這計劃待會員大會通過後，即可進行。

挑戰「西九龍」計劃入圍財團

這次「西九龍文娛藝術區」計劃中入圍的三大財團，對推廣藝術都表現出無比的熱情，其中之一更豪氣地說，就算為這計劃補貼一百幾十億都不成問題！以他們的財力 我們相信並非虛言，為了顯示他們對藝術支持的誠意，我們公開呼籲三個入圍財團承諾，任何一個在奪標後先行捐出一百五十億元成立一個「香港文娛藝術發展基金」，讓文化界及專業人士組成獨立委員會為信托人負責管理，這樣香港才真正有希望成為亞洲文化之都！

假如「西九龍文娛藝術區」計劃不幸告吹，亦希望起初有意支持此計劃的財團，合力捐助實現特區政府令香港成為藝術之都的大計！這些香港舉世知名的財團的實力比起「香兒」何只高出千倍萬倍，但我們做得到，你們亦一樣輕而易舉做得到，這樣全港市民就不會再說你們「忽然藝術」了！

阿麥書房 - 「非牟利機構」專業參考書目

Mackie Study is a very small 2nd floor bookstore at Causeway Bay selling mostly Chinese books (and mostly books imported from Taiwan). I highly recommend book lovers to visit them to pick up a book, enjoy a cup of freshly brewed coffee, or buy a CD of alternative music produced by Hong Kong or Taiwan musicians.

I have also introduced Mackie to my nonprofit friends because of the nonprofit management series that they are selling. Capacity building of NGOs - or nonprofit management - has been a hot topic in Taiwan in recent years and many overseas books on nonprofit management have been translated into Chinese by the Taiwanese. However, few of them are available for sale in Hong Kong. Markie is the authorized sole distributer for a Taiwan publisher whose collections include the nonprofit management series and the creative industries series... A 10% discount is now offered to NGOs purchasing books from the nonprofit management series; check it out to help yourself...

阿麥書房 -「非牟利機構」專業參考書目

非牟利團體訂購優惠 !!!

為了進一步提倡本地優質的非牟利事業管理，「阿麥書房」從大中華出版界找到了台灣的藝術行政專門出版社「五觀藝術管理有限公司」的「非營利事業管理」系列叢書，並獲授權在香港專門銷售他們的所有出版，希望給本地的非牟利機構和行政人員，提供寶貴的參考書籍和實務手冊，協助非牟利事業以強勢主導的管理出?，辦好任重道遠的慈善、教育、社會、環保、文化等非牟利事務。

阿麥書房非常榮幸，獲此機會向香港地區的非牟利機構成員介紹「五觀藝術」整系列優質的中文出版。六年來，「五觀藝術」默默耕耘，將「藝術管理」專業概念廣泛引進華人地區，加上「非營利事業管理」叢書所涵蓋之「第三部門」(Third Sector)管理知識，致使非營利事業的執行和發展得到應有的關注。

1a Space - Bilateral Cultural Exchange Project

1a space is one of the more active arts organisations promoting visual arts in Hong Kong and this is a upcoming event...

Bilateral Cultural Exchange Project
How To See Woman Art will begin in late-February at Cattle Depot Artist Village. With eight local woman artists, 1a space is continuing its investigation into art and cultural environment in Hong Kong by addressing issues that look at wider concerns of the modern world. Whether or not it is feminine, they are all enjoying their life as an artist at different positions in Hong Kong, One of the exhibitions A Woman/ Traveller is going to explore the journey of being a woman artist. Besides, we are glad to invite Griselda Pollock, Professor of the Social and Critical Histories of Art, University of Leeds, who is interested in art history and feminist studies in the visual arts to give a seminar.
Programme details and seminar booking will be announced soon.

SoCo & KPMG (Part II)

29個寶貝故事盼引起關注

【明報專訊】香港社區組織協會由畢馬威會計師事務所贊助製作的攝影集《貝》，將於下周二在尖沙嘴文化中心舉行攝影展，將部分照片展出，希望呼籲公眾關注這一群活在貧窮線下的兒童。

社協社區組織幹事施麗珊表示，將攝影集命名為《貝》的原因是，任何兒童不論在父母或其他人心目中都是「寶貝」，奈何因為貧窮，有些小孩有不同的命運，他 們要承受貧窮所帶來的不幸，但社會上了解他們苦的人不多，所以便以照片記錄貧童的生活，亦可作為實證向社會人士交代。

她續稱，這一代貧 窮兒童的生活較以前的更艱難，以前是「窮，不緊要，我們有書讀」，但現在的教育動輒也需要金錢及資源配合，有時教師不理解學生的處境，令貧窮學生的學習更 加困難，有時更會打擊他們的自尊。因此在攝影集中，有要求小朋友寫上最欣賞自己的地方，從中可窺見小童的自我形象。

她指，現時政府削減綜援，令貧窮兒童生活難上加難，所以他們唯有尋求其他方法，其中就是向中產人士求助。只要他們出一點力，便可幫助多幾名有需要的兒童。

攝影集內共展示29名貧窮兒童的生活實，由他們如何幫助父母分憂，到拾荒幫補家計，以及蝸居的狹窄生活環境，其中有部分更被至親拋棄，也有未能融入社區的少數族裔兒童。

施麗珊說，攝影集只展露了部分慘，實際上有些更慘的，例如有一名小童為節省金錢，每日都到快餐店取免費茄汁，帶回家撈飯吃，可惜他拒絕上鏡，無法將這慘告訴大家。

SoCo 社區組織協會

KPMG (畢馬威) is my past employer. It's good that they now address poverty issues and partner with SoCo and organize their employees to make home visits to children living in poverty...

中產貧童挽手走出板間房

【明報專訊】香港一般小朋友的聖誕禮物多是玩具、聖誕大餐或是跟父母去旅遊等，但同一天空下的深水，板間房內的小朋友想要的聖誕禮物，卻是一罐奶粉、一包米 或一樽生油，因他們希望減輕家庭負擔。貧窮令小孩子鮮有機會逛商場、看電影、到公園玩耍、食漢堡包薯條……一群會計師事務所職員，每月抽出時間，義務安排 活動給深水的兒童，助他們增廣見聞，多接觸社會。中產與貧童的每月相遇，是政府資源以外的另類資源再分配。

政府正醞釀扶貧政策，行政長官董建華下月中的施政報告亦會作出公布。社區組織協會主任何喜華說，扶貧有很多模式，政府直接資助是方法，而動員社會上的中產，為貧窮階層做點事也可以。社協估計，生活在貧窮線下的兒童達35萬。

每月約會同吃同玩

願 意奉獻公餘時間義助這群小童的，是全球四大會計師行之一畢馬威會計師事務所的職員，他們都對義務工作有興趣，經過公司的問卷調查後，發現大家都樂意幫助新移民小朋友，於是主動聯絡社協。由社協作「紅娘」，為這群中產階層穿針引線，與約400名貧窮兒童聯繫，並促成了「協助貧困兒童全人發展計劃」。

畢馬威會計師事務所合伙人麥嘉軒，是這項計劃的其中一名成員。過去一年半，她與同事多次安排活動，曾帶小朋友遊農莊及海洋公園，也有特意帶他們入東涌逛商場及看電影。這個月，他們便帶約30名小孩到中環，先去食薯條漢堡包，然後到附近玩攤位遊戲。

大讚特別團結懂事

面 對一群與他們良好生活環境截然不同的小朋友，難不倒仍未婚的麥嘉軒，她說﹕「小孩就是小孩，不會因生活的環境而有分別，只是各有各的個性，只要用對待小孩的心態與他們相處便可以。」但她坦言，這群小朋友是特別團結及懂事，令她感受至深的，是一次她到社協的社區學習中心幫一名女孩補習，怎料，女孩突然哭起 來，麥無論怎樣也不能令女孩停止哭泣，其間，另一名小女孩走過來協助安慰。

一個星期日，記者「隨團」到中環遊玩，一名女員工說﹕「每次小朋友都可能因為怕陌生而對你有點抗拒，但一段時間後，他們會主動和你交談，然後無時無刻都用他的小手拖你，還有臨別時的依依不捨，都令你很感動的。」

會計師行職員除了帶小孩外出，亦經常與社協聯絡，跟進小朋友，如在盛夏時贈送涼風機，或為個別小朋友與家庭提供緊急援助等，由細微到買鞋給無鞋穿的小朋友、補習功課，以至協助貧困家庭交租等，他們都會從員工集腋成裘的小基金撥款協助。

聖誕禮物盼要一包米

今個聖誕節，全公司約1000名員工將搖身變成聖誕老人，給400名小孩送上聖誕禮物。但麥嘉軒透露，沒想過部分小朋友的願望會是一罐奶粉、一包米或一樽生油，其實這都反映他們希望減輕家庭負擔的心意。所以，負責的員工都會暗中加送禮物，給他們驚喜。

他們經過一年半與貧窮小朋友相處，感慨良多，公司亦贊助製作攝影集《貝》，希望記錄貧窮兒童的生活，帶動多些人參與扶貧工作。

Playright Play Day

The Chater Road Pedestrian Precinct in the heart of bustling Central was transformed into a festive fun-filled playground on 12 December 2004, as the Hong Kong Institute of CPAs (HKICPA) and Playright Children's Play Association (Playright) co-organised the PlayStreet∞2004. The event was a great success in bringing lots of fun and laughter to thousands of families and raising funds for the HKICPA Charitable Fund and Playright.

Watch out for it - Cable TV Children's Channel has captured footage of PlayStreet in its Children's programme, "IQ雙拼", on Friday, 24 December 2004 at 5:30 - 6:30 pm. Click here to visit the photo gallery and press release of the event.

HER Fund 婦女動力基金

The HER Fund was established on 8 March 2004 (i.e. the last women's day) with an aim to undertake collective fundraising for supporting the development of women services in Hong Kong. The Fund is now calling for submission of funding applications for the year 2005, with application deadline set on February 7, 2005. Priority areas of concern include economic justice, political participation, gender-based violence, health, and sexual and reproductive rights. Current grantees of the Fund include Action for REACH OUT, The Association for the Advancement of Feminism, Gutsy Women, Hong Kong Women Workers' Association, and Lady MacLehose Centre.

香港愛滋病基金會 傑出義工

Outstanding volunteers from the Hong Kong AIDS Foundation...

抗愛滋無尷尬
傑出女義工大派安全套

【明報專訊】由尷尬忐忑到勇敢面對，3名女子為推廣預防愛滋病，放下傳統婦女的保守觀念——在落馬洲關口向北上的陌生男士大派安全套、在中小學大談性知識，更有人在去年SARS高峰期，為怕在一夜情後染上愛滋病的青少年抽血。她們憑勇敢及堅持，獲得香港愛滋病基金會頒發傑出義工獎。

45歲的得 獎者余仲英是家庭主婦，她與同為義工的丈夫齊齊拍檔，在落馬洲、澳門向外遊的男士派發免費安全套。余坦言，最初向陌生男士派安全套感到極尷尬，連說話也是 「細細聲」，又試過有男人前來「搶套」或一次索取4個套，但思前想後，她認定「派套」是正確的，於是堅持至今。

另一得獎者冼賜梅任職護士8年，即使在去年SARS的高峰期，她仍不怕風險，堅持當義工幫助懷疑愛滋病者抽血，見盡不少「一夜情」後忐忑不安的十六七歲青少年。

另一得獎人林玉珍僅24歲，任職護士半年，但她已有4年義工經驗，曾在中、小學講座大談預防愛滋病的知識，縱使部分學生不太接受，但她仍努力解釋。

有份督導眾得獎義工的高級資訊主任蔡頌文說，持續推行講座很重要。她憶述一次在小學談到懷孕母親感染愛滋病時，竟有8歲小童舉手建議不如「落佢(墮胎)」，反映歧視愛滋病的思想根深柢固，故學校的愛滋病教育非常重要。

愛護動物協會否認糊塗帳

A potential scandel (at least bad publicity) of a prominent nonprofit...

愛護動物協會否認糊塗帳

主動邀廉署助檢討

【明報專訊】本港有逾80年歷史、去年獲公帑及捐款數百萬元的愛護動物協會（下稱協會），最近鬧出帳目不清的風波。有協會會員質疑，會內財務混亂，管理失當， 並於前晚舉行的周年大會中提出質詢，與執行委員會擦出激烈火花。愛護動物協會昨日發出聲明，否認帳目不正常，但將邀請廉政公署私營機構顧問組，協助該會進 行檢討及匯報。

「給動物福利變給人福利」

該會的財務報告資料顯示，協會於2001至2003年，分別虧蝕348萬、245萬及370萬元，今年卻轉虧為盈，淨盈餘高達210萬元。一名參加協會逾10年但不願透露姓名的會員說，財政獲改善固然高興，但他不禁懷疑過去數年協會出現嚴重虧蝕的背後原因。

報告顯示，協會今年收入與去年相若為4700萬，但支出則由去年的5072萬元，減少約一成即600萬，其中僱員支出相距最大，約減少230萬元。該會員憤怒地表示，「給動物的福利，變成給人的福利﹗」

不過，轉虧為盈的「幕後功臣」、協會執行總監戴寶蓮今年10月起開始申請病假，至今仍未復工，遂會內有傳言指，她在整飭協會財務及進行財務調查時與執行委員 會人士發生衝突。自稱是戴寶蓮的朋友PhilCurlewis說，他曾義務到協會進行初部調查，從部分文件及職員訪談中，懷疑多項帳目及程序有問題，包括 聘用價格較高的物料供應商、動物藥物採購與存貨數目不符等。他本欲進一步邀請執行委員會提供資料時，遭拒絕，他說﹕「究竟他們是不想知﹖還是不想別人知﹖ 他們的反應引起我懷疑。」

藉此加強公眾信心

協會公關及傳訊經理顏綺苓承認，戴寶蓮至今仍在病假，但協會財務報告經由核數 師審核，並已在周年大會上獲會員一致通過。今年協會轉虧為盈，主要因為今年籌錢多，支出少。顏又指，邀請廉政公署介入，一方面是應部分會員在周年大會提出 的要求，同時希望藉此加強公眾信心。截稿前仍未找到戴寶蓮作回應。

Stanford Social Innovation Review - Call for Submissions

The Stanford Social Innovation Review is a new journal that publishes research and practice-based articles on nonprofit management, philanthropy, and corporate social responsibility. Our mission is to encourage an exchange of ideas between the nonprofit, public, and private sectors that fosters innovative solutions to social problems.

I also want to encourage you to consider submitting a paper to the Review. We welcome submissions that make strong connections between theory, research, and practice and that take an interdisciplinary perspective. We are especially interested in grounded articles that approach important issues in new ways.

Past contributors have included:
* Mayer Zald on why foundations should support social movements
* David P. Baron on strategies for activists and companies when they go head to head in a boycott.
* Robert Cialdini on putting the power of influence to work in nonprofit fundraising.
* James Austin on nonprofit and corporate strategic alliances.
* Mark Chaves on debunking the myths about faith-based organizations.

We are seeking both original and adapted articles (i.e., book excerpts, synopses, or adaptations of articles published elsewhere). Our editors will work with authors to craft a paper that conveys the authors' message as they understand it and that will also be interesting and accessible to the high level nonprofit executives. Please email your paper to editor@ssireview.com. Deadlines are rolling.

樂施電子報 Oxfam e-News

Check out the December 2004 issue of the Oxfam e-News here. You can also send a e-X'mas card (and make a donation to help the poor)...

最新活動
樂施會電子賀卡傳心意

聖誕節快到了！想和偏遠地區的貧窮人一同分享聖誕佳節的喜悅，只要捐款港幣20元，就可以在任何一張樂施會賀卡上，加上您的個人祝福字句，寄給本港或遠方的親友。你的小小幫忙，可以為更多貧窮人的生活帶來大大的改善。請即登入樂施會的網站，為親友送上一份扶貧心意！

網上教育籌款平台

An interesting development and a new kind of organized philanthropy that is very different from the conventional model of federated fundraising. Should the other nonprofit fields also consider developing similar federated fundraising campaigns? In the States, United Way is not the only federated fundraisers. Many other federated campaigns such as the Combined Federal Campaign are in existense to support other specific community causes such as women's services, green groups etc...

網上平台助中小學幼園籌款

【明報專訊】為協助中、小學建立籌款文化推動教育計劃，美林（亞太）有限公司擬於 明年3月建立一個網上籌款平台，讓全港中、小學和幼稚園在網上公開籌款。由學校於平台發放募捐教育計劃，捐款人可選擇有興趣的項目「配對」認捐，由社會大 眾贊助學校推行教育活動。多個議會代表歡迎有關計劃。

3月開始學校上載計劃書

教育統籌局與美林（亞太）有限公司代表及多 個學校議會日前召開會議，討論設立網上籌款平台的計劃。據悉，建構中的網上平台注入股票市場的「集資」概念，為提升學校籌款的透明度和靈活性。有意募捐的 學校因應各自需要，上載籌款計劃書及介紹籌款項目，捐款人閱覽計劃書後可直接向學校認捐。籌款平台作為籌款學校和捐款者的中介角色，能發揮市場力量，更有效地分配社會資源。

據與會者透露，已有機構願意捐款鼓勵學校發展籌款文化，向上載最多計劃書和籌款成功率高的學校發放額外捐款，目前已有兩間本地機構表示願意捐款。據悉，明年3月將邀請首批24所學校參與先導計劃，每校發布兩項計劃，共48項計劃供市民認捐。

集腋成裘推動學校活動

津貼中學議會主席儲富有歡迎有關建議，學校現時沒有渠道公開籌款，透過網上平台，可讓有興趣贊助學校活動的市民捐款，學校活動亦可得到支持。他說﹕「雖然市民捐款未必多，但可集腋成裘。」不過，他亦擔心平台上太多教育項目無人認捐，猶如「孤兒仔」無人認領。

東區小學校長召集人馮家正指出，部分學校的學生家庭社經地位低，難以籌募經費，平台可協助該類學校籌款，推動教育活動。他又稱，申請優質教育基金撥款舉辦活動，會增加工作量亦未必獲批，期望捐款平台可彌補不足。

資助小學校長會林湘雲認為，捐款平台應供全港中、小學、幼稚園及特殊學校參加，避免出現不公平﹔他建議由教統局中央監察捐款的運用，避免平台被濫用。他亦擔心公眾向中、小學捐款的文化未建立，籌款成效未必顯著。

救世軍回收舊電腦計劃

救世軍助窮戶打開資訊之窗

翻新舊電腦捐弱勢社群

【明報專訊】今時今日，互聯網已成為我們生活的一部分，不過，香港卻有逾 六成貧窮家庭，就連數百元的二手電腦也負擔不起，更遑論上網服務的費用。為令弱勢社群能擁有自己的電腦，得以開啟一扇通往世界資訊的窗，救世軍一班職員發 起回收舊電腦計劃，翻新、復修後送給有需要的人，並深深感受到「助人為快樂之本」這句說話的真諦。

「我們的計劃自10月開始接受申請，一個月內已收到近400張申請表，反映社會上其實有很多人都很需要電腦，但卻沒有錢買。」救世軍港澳軍區教育及就業服務主任張華新告訴記者，申請人不只是年輕人，還有不少失業的中年人和老人。

負責維修及翻新電腦的資訊科技助理Matthew，工作間擺滿一部部待修的電腦，他憶述自己將電腦送往一些貧窮家庭時，有受惠者向他表示「等了很久」，更有智障人士非常用心地學用。看見自己的努力能幫助有需要的人，他覺得很開心和有滿足感。

為貧困人士爭取上網優惠

他說，在送電腦期間，不少家庭向他們表示負擔不起上網費用，因此他有一個心願，希望爭取互聯網供應商支持，優惠貧困人士，讓他們得以接觸世界。

另一位資訊科技助理阿強，對長者接收電腦時的印象分外深刻，「有些老人家很想學上網，希望透過電郵跟身在外地的子女聯絡。看到他們那麼用心，自己既開心又感動」。

發信300公司回收千部電腦

該 項計劃於今年4月獲得利希慎基金和香港工商及科技局資助60萬元，救世軍之後向近300間大公司發信，要求捐出舊電腦，反應踴躍，其中包括匯豐銀行、東方 海外、九廣鐵路、香港大學、國泰航空及多個政府部門，現時已回收近1000部電腦，工作人員及義工早前已先後將100部電腦送出。

看工作間內堆積如山的電腦，Matthew和阿強表示會盡最大努力，盡快完成維修及翻新，令更多人受惠。

數碼共融基金供團體申請

Announcing the establishment of the Digital Solidarity Fund [news from today's Mingpao] (see earlier post here)

數碼共融基金供團體申請

【明報專訊】香港社會服務聯會獲得政府及商界共165萬元的捐款支持，昨日宣布成立「數碼共融基金」，供志願團體申請，協助弱勢社群獲得電腦軟硬件，令他們趕上瞬息萬變的社會發展。

基金主要資助以下三類計劃﹕

●為弱勢社群提供接觸資訊科技的設施，如回收舊電腦贈予低收入家庭及改進軟件功能

●提升弱勢社群的資訊科技知識，如提供訓練課程

●助弱勢社群融入資訊社會，如提倡網頁無障礙設計

基金每年將有兩次公開接受申請，而每項計劃最高可獲20萬元資助，至於計劃的受益人可包括長者、傷殘人士、單親家庭、低收入家庭、新移民及婦女等。

Institute for Volunteering Research (UK)

Some of those on the list might be interested in a new publication by the Institute for Volunteering Research (IVR), the 'Volunteering Impact Assessment Toolkit.'

The toolkit has been written to help organisations to understand how they can undertake their own research to demonstrate the impact made by volunteers to:

• The volunteer themselves
• The organisation involving the volunteers
• The service users
• The wider community

The toolkit comprises of a 130 page book and a CD ROM of materials which users can adapt.

To order copies of the Volunteering Impact Assessment Toolkit priced at GB POUNDS 35 or GB POUNDS 30 to members of Volunteering England Telephone +44(0)845 305 6979 or visit www.ivr.org.uk to order online.

Medecins Sans Frontieres Hong Kong

An MSF-HK event...

On behalf of Médecins Sans Frontières Hong Kong (MSF-HK), I would like to invite you to join us in a luncheon, with Dr. Rowan Gillies, President of the International Council of MSF, as the key speaker on 21 December 2004 (Tuesday).

The year 2004 is a gloomy and exceptional year for humanitarian work. As an international medical humanitarian organization, MSF was forced to withdraw from Afghanistan and Iraq after many years of work.

Dr. Rowan Gillies will have a two-day visit to Hong Kong this month. He has undertaken MSF missions to Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, South Sudan and Liberia. He also visited Darfur, Sudan during the summer of 2004. We are glad to have him to share about humanitarian work in today's world, especially in the age of the "War on Terror".

澳門公益金

I never know there's a Community Chest in Macau until today. Seven million is a huge sum of donation raised for a walkathron...

澳門公益金善款創新高[15:01]

明報即時新聞網 2004/12/12

澳門約3萬人參加公益金百萬行，今年贊助的善款創歷史新高，已達700多萬元。

步行隊伍由一條長達60多米的金龍和八頭醒獅引領，沿孫逸仙大馬路經南灣湖廣場緩步行至終點媽閣廟前地，全程約3公里，沿途有體育會舞獅助興。

公益基金會表示，今年澳門經濟環境轉好，令贊助的善款創歷史新高。

The Oceana Network

This nonprofit blog of Oceana was mentioned in the "Should your nonprofit launch a blog?" article.

The Oceana Network is a global online community of individuals who care passionately about protecting the world's oceans. It's a place to get the latest news, join stimulating discussions, and find ways you can take action and make a difference.

In the past year we talked a lot about knowledge sharing and knowledge management, and setting up a special interest blog would be a great step towards achieving this ends - e.g. can a joint environmental protection blog be created so that all green groups in Hong Kong could report their good works in a single location? The same applies to other service fields.

The biggest obstacle is perhaps the unwillingness of local nonprofit practitioners to cooperate with one another to contribute to such "common cause"...

Should Your Nonprofit Launch a Blog?

Came across this article on the internet from the webpage of a U.S. communications and media consulting firm serving nonprofits...

Should Your Nonprofit Launch a Blog?
(see full article)

The author also publishes a monthly e-newsletter on nonprofit communications...

About the Author
Nancy E. Schwartz is editor and publisher of Getting Attention, the monthly e-newsletter that helps nonprofits succeed through effective communications. To subscribe to Getting Attention, click here.

"Social Sector Policy" Online Event

Another online event organized by Social Edge. Though the discussion would be centred around developments in the US, useful lessons could still be learnt...

Social Edge and Policy Development Launch "Social Sector Policy" Online Event on 13 December.

The current Congressional Hearing on Charity Oversight and Reform presents an historic opportunity to help shape the non-profit sector. But thus far, the Hearing has been driven by several recent scandals, legal loopholes, and a discussion of technical fixes. While we acknowledge the need to constantly increase vigilance, the more fundamental issues are not being addressed.

The objective of this unique one-week online event is to start a national conversation about how public policy can evolve to support a vibrant, sophisticated, and innovative social sector, and to identify some of the current systemic obstacles that innovators face. It will begin with the question: "What is 'the non-profit sector' today, and how well do policy and regulatory regimes reflect that reality?"

The discussion will be kicked off by several prominent and thoughtful non-profit sector leaders, including Stan Katz, Jed Emerson, Mike Burns and others, and everyone is encouraged to participate! "Social Sector Policy", part of the Thought Leaders on The Edge series, runs from 13 to 20 December.

China Charity Federation (Part II)

In the last post I noted that China Charity Federation is a non-state agency but has close ties with the Government. In fact most of the staff members of CCF are retirees from the Ministry of Civil Affairs (and some early retirees owing to government downsizing). This past news item (2002-01-30) reported that the present President of CCF, 范宝俊会长, (newly elected at that time) was previously the Deputy Minister for Civil Affairs of the Chinese Government. Also, the Founding President of CCF, 阎明复前会长, also served the post of Deputy Minister for Civil Affairs before he retired from the Ministry. I had a chance to meet with President Yan a few years ago while visiting CCF at Beijing; the visit was a very memorable one for me...

全国政协常委范宝俊当选中华慈善总会会长

新华网 （2002-01-30 20:25:54）
稿件来源：新华社电稿

　　新华网北京１月３０日电（记者　吴晶　肖岩冰）中华慈善总会今天在京举行第二次会员代表大会，全国政协常委、原民政部副部长范宝俊当选新任会长。

　　与此同时，慈善总会今天正式启动“慈善一元捐行动”，旨在最大限度地激发每个人的慈善之情，弘扬“不以善小而不为”的慈善理念，使每个人的爱心得以实现。

　　中国全国人大常委会副委员长何鲁丽、许嘉璐，以及会员代表和各界人士共３００多人出席了会议。国务委员司马义·艾买提向大会发来了贺信。

　 　现年６２岁的范宝俊在大会上列举了慈善总会今后的工作重点：加强宣传，提高公众对慈善事业的认知和了解，并由此树立起整个社会的慈善意识；强化慈善机构 的自身建设，最大限度地提升组织的公信度；完善内部机构设置，重视慈善队伍的建设，加强财务管理和项目管理；适应市场经济，强化慈善资源的动员能力；重视 慈善理论与实践研究，努力推动慈善法规、政策的完善；进一步加强国际交流与合作。

　　前任会长阎明复在第一届理事会工作报告中说，慈善总会成立７年多来，共筹款物９.８亿元，其中，国外和港台捐赠１.９亿元；国内企业团体捐赠数额占８５％，个人捐赠占１５％。中华慈善总会在近年来大力开展 救灾、赈灾工作，并逐步开展了３３个慈善救助项目，包括微笑列车工程、雨水集蓄工程、慈爱孤儿工程和烛光工程。

　　目前，中华慈善总会已建立起地方慈善网络，志愿者队伍迅速扩大，受助者数以千万人计。

　　大会授予阎明复荣誉会长称号，还聘请王光英、程思远、何鲁丽、万国权等担任名誉会长。（完）

China Charity Federation 中華慈善總會

China Charity Federation is the most prominent federated fundraising organisation in China which is a non-state charitable organisation but has close ties with the Ministry of Civil Affairs. It has established local chapters all around China...

國內善款七成捐自境外 內地稅制未鼓勵捐贈

【明報專訊】中國最大慈善組織──中華慈善總會的統計顯示，在該會收到的慈善捐贈中，70%來自國外和港台地區，內地的捐款不足15%。內地的免稅政策及對一般人對慈善機構的不信任等，影響了內地人參與慈善事業的熱情。

調查顯示，內地富豪極少通過捐錢回報社會。中華慈善總會會長范寶俊在中央電視台節目《新聞會客廳》中談到，目前內地的免稅政策、優惠政策等問題都還限制了內地富人參與慈善事業的熱情，政策需要改善。另外，他估計今後推出遺產稅會令捐贈增加。

范 寶俊表示，對慈善機構的不信任也是目前內地絕大多數富人不願意捐錢的重要原因。在中華慈善總會，一筆善款從捐出到送達救助者手中的過程包括﹕捐贈人填寫 捐贈書，寫明意向和具體用途﹔然後捐贈人與總會簽訂協議，協議除了包括捐贈書的內容外，還須寫明總會如何使用這筆捐贈﹔之後總會按協議執行，執行結束後再 檢查和驗收有關項目，驗收合格後發給捐贈人驗收報告。

Study on Nonprofit Board Recruitment

Nonprofit boards rely on member referrals for recruiting, study shows...

Old-board network
Philanthropy Journal, 11.29.2004 -

Three in four nonprofits have a business or strategic plan and, for most of those groups, that plan drives their board recruitment, a new study shows.

Bridgestar, a consulting firm that aims to help nonprofits strengthen their leadership, conducted a survey of nonprofit board members and executive directors to better understand board recruiting.

Among groups that tie recruiting to their business plan, the survey says, more than nine in 10 say they recruit new board members by tapping personal networks, and over half believe this method is the most effective.

At a time when nonprofits are under increasing regulatory scrutiny because of highly publicized management and financial scandals, Bridgestar questions whether the network approach to board recruiting is adequate to "ensure that our sector remains healthy, productive and well regarded."

Nonprofits "need deeper and broader expertise to address key strategic and operational challenges facing their organization, and better ways to interpret and communicate about their performance," Bridgestar says.

Nearly half the groups surveyed lost board members in the last two years, with resignations leading term expiration slightly as the reason for the departures.

When recruiting new board members, fundraising skills are in highest demand, followed by expertise in program and financial oversight.

Of those surveyed, about seven in 10 executive directors and board members believe their boards are appropriately diverse, and six in 10 believe their boards do their jobs well.

Dr Lo on State-Society Linking Arrangements

Dr Sonny Lo, who left HKU for an opening in Waterloo University earlier this year, is still very active in writing newspaper articles commenting on public affairs in Hong Kong. The following point he raised in today's Ming Pao article concerning the Government's lack of intermediary organisational vehicles to link up with civil society organisations resonates the main theme of my own research inquiry, i.e. to make sense of the Government's use of various linking arrangements to engage with not-for-profit voluntary organisations in different policy domains in Hong Kong...

最後，過去數年來的公民社會團體不斷湧現和挑戰政府，可是政府卻沒有中介組織有效地吸納這些團體。

各諮詢委員會的重組和改革似乎進展極緩慢，不能有效吸納社會各種異見。而殖民地時代在吸納政治起重要角色的民政事務專員地位大不如前，民政總署也未能駕馭各種公民社會力量。除非政治改革包括大幅度重組諮詢委員會，隸屬各決策部門及局長，否則社會力量難以有效吸納。

The full Ming Pao article is reproduced below...

盧兆興﹕管治危機禍延第三屆政府
2004年12月6日　星期一　論壇

作者為香港大學政治及公共行政學系副教授

最近港府面臨不少政治挑戰，計有高等法院對公務員減薪的裁決、保育政策受鄉議局反對、西九龍招標諮詢掀起爭論、市民不滿法庭對公屋租金裁決而打算繼續上訴， 以及紅灣半島拆卸一事與地產商意見衝突。雖然特區政府危機再現，但看來危機的規模比23條立法之爭論為少，將不會構成嚴重政治後果。

今次的管治危機有四大因素。

首先，第一屆特區政府之急進政策動搖了管治基礎，其影響延續至第二屆特區政府，而公眾對《基本法》怎樣演繹政策的看法與政府往往有衝突。結果，法庭便要仲裁爭議性大的公共政策。

第一屆特區政府的公務員改革早已孕育不少公務員不滿情緒，到前財政司長梁錦松決定削減公務員薪津時，部分公務員唯有用法律途徑捍衛本身利益。同樣，政府與公 屋居民對於公屋租金一事亦有不同演繹。治本之法其實是每個決策部門應成立小組，研究各政策之漏洞，嘗試修改法例來早點解決問題。

其次，特區政府制定和推行政策過程中的政治考慮不夠周詳及敏感。

例如保育政策似乎未有向鄉事派解釋清楚便動員局長出馬，結果弄至氣氛更僵。西九龍招標諮詢時間太遲，弄至部分商界人士不滿，也令社會對單一招標有異議。治本 之法乃各決策官員，特別是政務官階層，必須接受政治訓練。過去的決策官員大多數在公共行政方面訓練充足，但卻忽略政策制定及推行過程的種種政治考慮。以紅 灣半島為例，停售居屋時根本不需要讓地產商補地價來買斷業權，因為說不定5至10年後居屋市場重現。很明顯，決策官員政治觸覺低。

第三，特區政府過去數年的權威大為削弱。

雖然政府在23條立法擱置後的民望有改善，但過去的政治衝擊太大，不少市民仍對政府缺乏信心。治本之法是政府高層人士作大調動。可是，由於短期內人事調動可 能性低，只能寄望第三屆特區高層有煥然一新的局面。此外，盡快把政治體制稍為民主化可以疏導市民的不滿，但民主化的方案暫仍有待公布，拖延了解決管治問題 的時間。

最後，過去數年來的公民社會團體不斷湧現和挑戰政府，可是政府卻沒有中介組織有效地吸納這些團體。

各諮詢委員會的重組和改革似乎進展極緩慢，不能有效吸納社會各種異見。而殖民地時代在吸納政治起重要角色的民政事務專員地位大不如前，民政總署也未能駕馭各種公民社會力量。除非政治改革包括大幅度重組諮詢委員會，隸屬各決策部門及局長，否則社會力量難以有效吸納。

總括來說特區管治危機的湧現源於公共政策有漏洞和《基本法》的演繹問題、政策制定和推行政治觸覺不足、政府權威因過往失誤而大為削弱及政治體制失衡而不能有效吸納各種社會力量。假如特區政府不能對症下藥，轉危為機的時間將拖延至第三屆特區政府之始。

Greenpeace in China

綠色和平促京勿急推基因米 批評決策欠透明

【明報專訊】正當北京準備就轉基因（基因改造）水稻是否可以商業化種植拍板之際，環保團體綠色和平（中國）在京發表分析報告稱，證據顯示基因水稻對健康存在風險，匆忙推出市場是極不負責任的，他們呼籲北京當局慎重其事，並要求這項重大決策的過程要公開透明。

國家農業部近日在京召開「農業轉基因生物安全委員會」會議，討論基因水稻的商業化種植。如果與會專家同意將基因水稻推出市場，當局很可能發出安全證明，將基因水稻推向市場，中國將成為世界第一個種植基因水稻的國家。

稱對健康環境存風險

綠色和平中國辦事處日前在京召開記者會並發表「中國轉基因水稻對健康和環境的風險」的報告。綠色和平專案經理施鵬翔指出，大量科學證據顯示，基因水稻無論對健康或環境都存在風險，匆匆推出市場是極不負責任的做法。

施鵬翔還指出，中國當局很多資料不公開，安全測試和環境影響評估也保密，參加安全委員會的50名專家中，差不多三分二是從事生物技術研究的，來自環保部門只有一名代表，從事食品安全研究的只有兩名專家，「將中國口糧的未來交由他們決定，令人難以放心」。

中科院院士、華中農業大學作物遺傳改良國家重點研究室主任張啟發一直強調，基因農作物在全球大面積種植已有9年，食用基因食品人群超過10億，至今未見不安全的任何證據，因此，基因作物是安全的。

明報駐京記者陳永階報道

Digital Solidarity Fund 數碼共融基金

二零零三年十一月十日，社聯在立法會資訊科技及廣播事務委員會建議成立數碼共融基金。基金捐款來自政府及私人界別，支援非政府機構籌辦活動。

Extracts of information about the Digital Solidarity Fund...

II. 數碼共融基金目的

1. 廣拓基金來源，資助香港數碼共融活動。
2. 聯繫不同界別人士，共同制定及推行數碼共融策略。

III. 基金資助活動範圍

基金會資助以下的活動計劃：
1. 為弱勢社群提供接觸資訊科技的基建設施。（例子：回收舊電腦贈與低收入家庭；改進軟硬件功能令有特別需要人士可接觸互聯網）
2. 提升弱勢社群的資訊科技知識（例子：為有需要人士提供意識提升活動及訓練課程）
3. 將弱勢社群融入資訊社會（例子：提倡網頁無障礙設計，為特別有需要人士設立網上平台）

IV. 申請資格

不同界別的機構，若有志於縮減數碼鴻溝的工作，皆可申請基金撥款。符合申請資格的機構可以是：
1. 非政府機構；
2. 福利機構；
3. 慈善團體；
4. 專業或資訊科技組織；
5. 其他

V. 誰是資訊科技弱勢社群

數碼共融基金對於資訊科技弱勢社群採取較廣義的定義。基金所支助的活動，其受益人可屬於以下其中一項類別：
1. 長者人士；
2. 傷殘人士；
3. 單親家庭；
4. 低收入家庭；
5. 新來港人士；
6. 婦女。

The Hong Kong Breast feeding Mothers' Association

推廣母乳協會財政告急籌款

【明報專訊】近年經濟不景，非但令公、私營機構掀起一浪接一浪的瘦身潮，不少志願與受助機構更因經費貧乏，需要停止部分服務、甚至面臨「倒閉」。過去9年來一向默默肩負提倡餵哺母乳的香港母乳育嬰協會現正「告急」，呼籲各界資助，讓他們可繼續鼓勵與支援母乳育嬰。

協 會主席華陳正容表示，該會9年來一直堅持推廣母乳餵哺，以去年為例，協會的24小時熱線便接獲約5000個求助電話，為兩成多授乳媽媽提供如何餵哺母乳的 支援，並定期舉辦免費講座、醫院探訪及向各公共與私家醫院派發季刊等，但經費貧乏卻令協會面臨「倒閉」，令她十分心痛。

她希望透過本月19日在香港公園舉行的「母乳餵哺心《定向》健康人生」籌款活動，能夠籌得20萬元，以應付未來1年的經費，否則過年後便要「摺埋」。

拒絕接受紅灣「捐獻」

I don't agree with Tik's argument. Has he consulted the views of his elderly residents? It's not about「骨氣」, but a strict moral issue... you just can't make the claim that such an ugly act is doing good to the elderly. Surely not for me if I were a elderly resident at SAGE's homes.「我們是被動的...」 What does that mean??

社工總會籲同工拒受紅灣「捐獻」

【明報專訊】紅灣拆卸餘波未了，近日更延伸至社福界，對於紅灣發展商表示拆樓後的可再用物件，如冷氣機或浴缸等，會送給慈善機構，香港社工總工會昨發表聲明， 呼籲同工要「有骨氣」，拒絕接受紅灣半島的「任何捐獻」。但據了解，不少福利機構已回應發展商的邀請，當中包括有23個老人中心及院舍的耆康會。

耆康會申請數十部冷氣機

耆康會總監狄志遠對本報承認，該會已回覆發展商的邀請，申請數十部由紅灣半島拆卸出來的冷氣機，安裝在該會的老人院。狄志遠說，現有約有4間老人院，是完全沒有冷氣設備或冷氣機已殘舊，需要翻新，因此早前收到發展商的通知，表示可將拆卸冷氣機送出，因此作出申請。

對 於有團體呼籲福利機構要「有骨氣」，狄志遠說﹕「我們是被動的，我們的立場很簡單，就是希望改善老人福利，若對方已決定拆樓，物件亦不應浪費。」狄強調， 接收發展商的冷氣機，不等於支持他們拆樓。香港社會工作者總工會昨發表聲明，認為接收紅灣設施形同替發展商「站台」，現時社福界雖面對削資，但仍要「做個 有骨氣的社工」，否則等於認同拆樓。

CALL for PAPERS

CULTURAL CHANGE, SOCIAL PROBLEMS, AND KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY

SYMPOSIUM on SOCIOLOGY MARCH, 7-9

All academic activities will be celebrated at Zaragoza University, Paraninfo Building (Zaragoza City) and some Working Groups of the Symposium at the Economics Faculty.

THEME

Talking and writing about globalization and information society, or more recently knowledge society, is so widespread that it already risks to become a repetition and platitude. And yet, a closer look, scientific and interdisciplinary, reveals that behind surface phenomena like economic globalization and the Internet there is a deep-rooted change and upheaval of world society as well as individual everyday life. This upheaval is comparable in scope and consequences to what was called the Industrial Revolution in previous centuries. The Information Revolution is, for sure, based on new technologies, i.e. information technologies (IT), just like the Industrial Revolution was based on new technologies. But the changes brought forth are also in this case far-reaching cultural shifts and innovations for which the concepts of digital towns, digital divides, Internet and cyberspace are just first glimpses at a future still in the dark. These shifts entail new kinds of social problems with new qualities and hitherto unknown scopes. Under such a perspective this conference brings together a number of distinguished scientists of the International Sociological Association, ISA, representing a wide range of social science specialties with whom to discuss the implications of cultural change and the social problems inherent in contemporary and future knowledge society.

The conference aims to clarify conceptual tools which contemporary sociology and social sciences might be able to provide in order to deal with these issues both at a theoretical and methodological level. It intends to explore, to the extent possible within a few short days of debate, how these could be applied for pertinent research as well as for developing means and strategies to cope with the social problems analyze.

This will be done in plenary sessions starting out with the issue of social diagnosis for a single world and dealing in the following with the issues of cultural change, new social problems in moving societies, the digital world and cyberspace, and finally the issue of building societies able to cope with the changing world and its changing culture, and the challenges this poses for the social sciences. The plenary sessions will be complemented by working group sessions. This will permit to go into more detail and in particular to discuss these issues in more depth.

December Issue of Alliance

PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION

December 2004 issue of Alliance published - Getting global giving going

The December 2004 issue of Alliance, with a special feature on getting global giving going, has just been published. Articles republished on the website include:

**Manuel Arango on how he came to found the Mexican Center for Philanthropy

**Adele Simmons and Dan Nielsen with an overview of the global philanthropy infrastructure

Go there now...

Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation

Another charity event jointly organised by an NGO and a business partner. Given the Government also has ownership over Cyberport, would this be a case of "tri-partite partnership"?

Dear Sir,

You and your colleagues/friends are cordially invited to participate in the CyberRun for Rehab – Healthy Steps in Cyberport 健康萬步數碼港" jointly organized by The Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation (HKSR) and Cyberport Tenants Club (CTC) to be held on 12 December 2004 (Sunday) at Cyberport.

CyberRun for Rehab aims to raise funds to support HKSR and heighten the awareness of the general public the importance of leading a healthy life with proper exercise. We estimate that at least 500 runners and 1,200 walkers will participate in this event.

Please circulate this invitation to your related parties. Further details can be checked from :
http://www.rehabsociety.org.hk
http://www.cyberport.com.hk

Or download the registration form at
http://ited.hkuspace.hku.hk/cyberrun/index.html

Thank you very much and look forward to seeing you and your teams on 12 December 2004.

Yours sincerely,
CyberRun for Rehab Organization Committee

Software Partnership

[report from the Philanthropy Journal]

B2P, Microsoft developing tools for nonprofit accounting, donor-management.

11.22.2004 -

By Todd Cohen

Chicago-based B2P Commerce has teamed up with Microsoft to develop a nonprofit application for new small-business-management solutions Microsoft is developing for its Microsoft Office software.

B2P also will integrate its software designed to let nonprofits manage contacts with donors into new contact-management software Microsoft is developing for small businesses.

The new applications will be available in fall 2005, targeted to small and mid-sized nonprofits and priced at about $1,500, said Jay Stocki, vice president of business development at B2P.

B2P, which previously teamed up with Intuit to develop a nonprofit application for its QuickBooks accounting software used by small businesses, will develop a similar application for Microsoft's new small-business accounting software that will be geared to the fund-accounting rules nonprofits must use, Stocki said.

The application will be designed to let nonprofits meet reporting requirements set by the Federal Accounting Standards Board, and also track grants, allocate expenses, handle budgeting and spending for programs, and manage general finances, he said.

B2P also will develop a nonprofit contact-management application for Microsoft's new small-business Outlook software that will be geared to nonprofits' needs to track and communicate with donors based on their donation history and charitable interests.

Another Form of Public-Private Mix?

「非政府組織」NED代替中情局秘密行事

【明報專訊】水門案後對美國中情局活動的調查，揭露了中情局為伸張美國外交目標而在他國暗地從事 的政治活動詳情，包括秘密資助一些符合美國利益的個人、政黨和非政府組織，以及捐輸金錢去對抗一些被理解為反美的活動，卡特總統後來下令禁止中情局這類活 動。但列根上台後情又有變化。列根為加強海外情報活動能力而任命的顧問小組，建議重振在海外的秘密政治活動﹔由於國會和民意可能反對再重用中情局執行這 類任務，小組提出可交由與中情局沒表面關係的「非政府組織」負責，最後促成了全國民主基金會(NED)在1983年的誕生。

資助亞洲20組織一半針對華

據 國會通過的法案，NED是個「非牟利、非政府、提供捐助的組織，以加強全球民主建制」，但它其實是個半官方機構，在94年前基本上全靠國會撥款﹔94年 後，它同時接受私人捐助作為國會撥款以外的「幫補」。NED的財政預算中，有三成是直接用於撥給外國組織，有關工夫主要透過4個「核心組織」執行，包括國 際共和黨機構(IRI)、全國民主黨國際事務機構(NDI)、國際私人企業中心(CIPE)和自由工會機構(FTUI)。

NED提供財力 和顧問支援，以多種方式支持外國政黨、競選團、工會、學生團體、媒體等，另NED也給美國FreedomHouse撥款「推動世界自由」。在亞洲，獲 NED資助的組織有20多個，約一半是針對中國。NED目前在中國的活動可分為兩類﹕一是獲中方接受的，如協助訓練村官員搞農村選舉等﹔一是被美國視為恰 當但被中方視為干涉內政的，包括支持異見人士和西藏流亡人士。首類活動主要靠跟NED有關甚至獲其資助的組織的員工進行，第二類則是藉NED離岸辦公室 從事。97年前NED在港設有這樣的辦公室，97後遷到澳洲。

助樹親美政權有效外交工具

90年代中有人質疑東歐變天後是 否還需要NED，保守智囊傳統基金會曾發表報告力撐﹕「NED是思想戰爭的一個重要武器，共產政權仍控制中國、北韓、越南、古巴，另一些前共產黨人也以民 族主義者的姿態繼續主宰前蘇聯成員國。NED可幫這些國家邁向民主。這些地方的政治活躍分子通常都較寧願從（美國）非政府組織接受援助，因來自美國政府機 構的援助，可能會削弱他們在國民面前的公信力。NED透過在世界重要戰略地區，協助與美國親善的民主政權發展起來，伸張了美國國家利益。美國不可放棄這一 有效的外交政策工具。」

被指借私人地位影響外國選舉

但華盛頓外交政策專家孔里和前中情局官員麥吉都質疑NED的作為。孔 里曾說﹕「NED在外國常被視為美國干涉內政的工具而招來憎恨，特別是NED企圖欺騙外國人以為它所提供的『私人協助』。NED曾多次利用其所謂的私人機 構地位，去影響外國的選舉，美國其他能執行這種任務的，恐怕就只有中情局的秘密行動。」

曾協助草擬法案成立NED的溫斯坦91年時更曾坦認﹕「我們現在所幹的，基本上正是25年前中情局秘密地幹的。」

以上為印度政府內閣秘書處前高官，時事專題研究所總監B.Raman的文章節錄。

中國性病艾滋病防治協會

This Chinese AIDS NGO was featured in the previous news item extracted from MingPao Instant News (see this post). HIV/AIDS and environmental protection are the two areas of work where NGO activities are most active and visible in China.

中国性病艾滋病防治协会
CHINESE ASSOCIATION OF STD & AIDS PREVENTION AND CONTROL

　　中国性病艾滋病防治协会(简称协会)是依法成立的全国性行业协会。是由性病艾滋病防治工作者和热心于性病艾滋病防治事业的各界人士组成的群众性社会团 体。中国性病艾滋病防治协会的英文译名是：CHINESE ASSOCIATION OF STD & AIDS PREVENTION AND CONTROL。 　　
　　协会成立于1993年11月30日。宗旨是团结、组织和动员广大卫生工作者和社会各界人士,在国家有关法律规范的范围内，积极参与全社会的性病艾滋病防治工作,为保障我国人民身体健康和加强社会主义物质文明和精神文明建设服务。
　
　　协会主要任务： 　　
　　一.组织、动员和协调广大卫生工作者和社会各界人士共同参与性病艾滋病防治工作；
　　二.大力宣传和普及性病艾滋病的防治知识,开展广泛的健康教育活动和咨询服务,提高民众的自我保护意识； 　　
　　三.接受政府委托开展的调查研究工作,为政府部门制定性病艾滋病防治对策和政策法规提供咨询和依据； 　　
　　四.开展性病艾滋病防治技术培训活动,组织研究和科学考察活动,并广泛开展国际交流和合作,积极发展与国际机构和民间组织的联系,建立国际间协作； 　　
　　五.开发、推广有关性病艾滋病防治的新技术、新成果,提供技术咨询和技术服务；
　　六.编辑出版有关性病艾滋病防治专业性期刊、科普刊物、宣传品、书籍及音像信息资料　
　　七.积极鼓励扶持从事性病艾滋病防治工作的骨干分子,评审并奖励优秀科技成果和论文；
　　八.为性病病人和HIV感染者/艾滋病人提供帮助，呼吁全社会关心和维护性病艾滋病病人及其亲属的合法权益,使其免受社会的歧视； 　　
　　九.向政府反映性病艾滋病防治工作者的意见和要求,为会员服务,维护他们的合法权益； 　
　　十.建立、发展符合本会宗旨的产业和服务,增强自身发展能力。 　　

　　协会有常务理事67人，理事126人。主要领导人员如下：

　　会 长： 王克安 中国预防医学科学院院长
　　副会长： 戴志澄 原卫生部疾病控制司司长
　　　　　　 张孔来 中国协和医科大学教授
　　　　　　 康来仪 上海市疾病预防控制中心主任医师
　　　　　　 郑锡文 卫生部艾滋病预防与控制中心副主任
　　秘书长: 董永坤 中国预防医学科学院副院长
　　副秘书长： 沈 洁 卫生部疾病控制司传染病控制二处处长
　　　　　　吴明山 公安部治安管理局副局长
　　　　　　陈宝珍 中国预防医学科学院研究员 　　　　

地址：北京市宣武区南纬路27号 　　
邮政编码：100050 　
电话：010-63034521 010-63178284 010-63186655转2703，2920，2428 　　
传真：010-63034521

中國九成愛滋病患未有登記

明報即時新聞網

中國九成愛滋病患未有登記 [20:15]
2004/11/28

中國性病愛滋病防治協會會長戴志澄說，九成愛滋病感染者仍潛伏在「冰山」下﹐這是一個潛在的危機。

戴志澄在北京舉行的關注婦女、共抗愛滋大型社會公益活動上指出，目前中國登記確認的愛滋病感染者只佔一成。據官方已公佈的數字，中國目前估計有愛滋病病毒感染者八十四萬，居全球第十四位、亞洲第二位。

戴志澄指出﹐目前最令人擔憂的是，登記確認的愛滋病感染者到去年年底只有六萬多，到今年九月份也只有九萬多﹐實際報告數約為官方預測數的百分之十，這表明仍有百分之九十的感染者潛伏在「冰山」下而未浮出水面﹐這將是一個巨大的潛在危機。

由於潛伏期關係，感染者可以在沒有任何明顯症狀的情況下攜帶愛滋病病毒七至十年之久﹐在不知情中感染他人的事例屢屢發生﹐其中包括把病毒傳給自己的孩子。而過去二十年﹐在全世界十個國家累積的數據表明﹐一個已知自己感染了愛滋病的人，高危行為將減少百分之七十。

無障礙網頁設計研討會

News from the Council's ITRC (Information Technology Resource Centre) newsletter:

為了推動無障礙網頁設計，由政府資訊科技總監辦公室及香港社會服務聯會資訊科技資源中心聯合舉辦之“網頁設計無障礙，成功關鍵之所在”研討會將於二００四年十二月廿日（星期一）在香港會議及展覽中心四０一室舉行。

此研討會主要向與會者提供設計無障礙網站一些主要概念及技術，令殘障人士，特別是令失明人士可以方便瀏覽網站。

是次研討會邀請有關團體及專業人士出席分享設計無障礙網頁的寶貴經驗，大會並安排小型展覽，展示多種供殘障人士使用的電腦輔助器材。

社署冀削支不減福利服務

明報即時新聞網[12:12]

2004/11/27

社會福利署助理署長馮伯欣表示，希望來年社會福利開支的1％減幅，不會帶來太大影響，服務也不會減少。

馮伯欣今早出席電台節目時強調，每個界別均須承擔滅赤的責任，也應靈活運用和調配有限的資源。

他指出，雖然下年度的社會福利開支會輕微下調，但透過重組和調配服務，加上其他的資源如社區投資共享基金，相信調整的影響不會太大。

他舉例說，社署正重組轄下的家庭服務，以免資源重疊，令服務更為專注和直接；預計重組需時1年完成。

談到天水圍家庭服務檢討小組的建議時，馮伯欣指出，社署一直三管齊下，即預防教育、支援和補救工作，避免家庭悲劇的發生。

他表示，社署明年4月將成立第6隊保護家庭及兒童服務課，並調撥更多資源予寄養家庭服務方面。

此外，社署也將在家庭暴力問題較嚴重的地區，如天水圍和將軍澳投放多些資源，加強支援。

元朗區福利專員周廖鳳儀表示，每年均舉辦大型福利策劃研討會。出席的非政府機構、政府部門、地區人士、學校和醫療界代表，以及服務用者，會就區內的最新發展和獨特需要，擬訂來年的地區福利服務計劃。

她指出，已因應天水圍區對家庭服務的需求，先後設立共3間綜合家庭服務中心，為居民提供預防、支援和補救服務。

周廖鳳儀指出，綜合家庭服務中心開放時間具彈性，並備有不少資源，也舉辦親子和教育活動，以及小組分享等；因此，中心的工作並非純粹屬補救性質。

她說，天水圍居民對地區社福支援的認識較為薄弱；社署因此跟區內的志願機構合辦外展服務，主動探訪家庭，介紹中心的服務，以及了解他們的需要和問題。

須為社福服務把脈

明報社評 2004年11月27日

政府宣布來年度削減社會福利機構資源1％，即6200萬元，三大社福組織昨日召開聯合記者會，指連同過去數年的削資，社福機構的服務資源總共減少了12％，金額達8億元，社福機構和前線員工已經到達崩潰邊緣。可是，日前財政司長唐英年會見社福界人士時卻表示，過去10年社福撥款大幅增加近兩倍，遠高於同期政府開支升幅，單是過去5年，非政府機構的資源便從64億元增加至74億元。如果唐司長說的數字不假，而社福界訴說的苦也是真的，那麼錢去了哪裏﹖

我們建議社署和社福組織邀請獨立的專家和學者，聯手為社會服務把脈，看到底是資源不夠，還是資源未能善用，從而對症下藥。

政府官員列舉數字來說明社福資源已大幅增加，社福組織則不斷批評政府削資。事實是﹕過去數年既有削資，也有新增資源﹔問題是﹕受削資影響的與受惠於新增資源的，未必是同一批人。有加有減之後，整體社福服務是否足以應付社會需求，或是真的已到達崩潰邊緣，不是簡單看表面數字可以判斷，必須深入評估。

事實的真相可能是資源不足，也可能是社會服務分裂割離。像天水圍家庭慘劇引發的調查報告所指出，區內有377名社工，論數字並不少﹔但因缺乏統籌和協調，令到珍貴的資源，用不得其所，無法有效為問題家庭服務。社福機構如果願意接受「身體檢查」，應有助公眾了解真相，尋求適切的對策。

社署削資大會業界噤若寒蟬

2004年11月27日　星期六　港聞

【明報專訊】社會福利署昨午向志願機構代表簡介「削資大計」，百多名機構負責人出席，多名與會者指出，社署署長鄧國威交代削資安排後，除了一名社聯及工會代表提問，全場噤若寒蟬。有機構代表指，當時大家心情太壞才相對無言，亦有人指，社署是資助來源，沒有機構敢明目張膽反抗。

業界憂影響服務質素

每年接受社署資助逾1億元的聖雅各福群會，其總幹事賴錦璋指出，因一筆過撥款承諾了員工不能裁員減薪，但那邊廂社署的工作合約又有服務承諾，機構省錢唯有靠自然流失，面對削資，同工壓力增加，服務質素難免受影響，他舉例，在復康院舍中，使用者近年多了意外發生。他表示，聽罷削資講座後與會者相對無言，因為有感經濟環境改善，政府仍然開刀，感到甚為無奈。

資助300萬以下「免疫」

每年獲社署資助290餘萬的和諧之家總幹事王鳳儀則表示，她們剛好避過削資的刀鋒（300萬為分水嶺），但她指，社會問題愈多愈嚴重，其實社福界不止不能削資，還要增加資源，但她對社署體恤小機構，感到有點安慰。社聯行政總裁方敏生表示，下周她已約見衛福局長周一嶽，表達對削資不滿。

志願機構削資1%

2004年11月27日　星期六　港聞

【明報專訊】社會福利署繼續推行削資計劃，於2005/06年向百多志願機構削資6200萬，即1％，被社福界強烈批評「不必要」及「不近人情」，社福界批評近年承受累積削幅已達業界開支10％。但政府反駁，相比社署內部及衛生食物界別，志願機構「被咬那一口已較小」。

社福界轟不近人情

社署署長鄧國威昨日會見傳媒，解釋削資方案。他指，和衛生福利及食物局磋商下，決定社福界在來年承擔2.1%削資，目標省下2.2億。其中社署內部會承擔5100萬，佔社署全年30餘億營運開支1.6%。志願機構則要削6200萬，佔百多機構60多億津貼總額1％。
考慮到小型機構的困難，每年資助額300萬以下的機構可豁免1％削減，估計「免疫機構」共70間，佔182間受資助機構近四成。

社署稱被咬得更大

政府強調已盡力做到減少對服務的影響，其中衛福局首席助理秘書長鄭琪說，「過去幾年社福界的減幅比其他政策範疇如衛生、醫療、食物環境來得小。」鄧國威亦稱﹕「站在政府立場我們要看闊點，在幾個範疇下，社會福利界2.1%減得最少。」社署發言人補充﹕「若拿志願機構和社署比較，社署『咬得大口』一點。」

反駁真正削幅2.5%

不過，代表140多間資助志願機構的社會服務聯會和兩大社工工會反駁，實質削幅遠超社署所指的1％。他們解釋，社署所指的「服務重整」和「老人宿舍轉型」合共削去1億餘，大部分都由志願機構承擔，故「真正削幅」是2.5%，社聯總裁方敏生形容，「我們的信封比別人更大」。
社會工作人員協會會長蔡海偉狠批，「對政府來說6000萬是什麼錢﹖維港匯、紅灣半島浪費不是更多嗎﹖1％也要減有必要嗎﹖政府是不近人情。」

代表社福界的立法會議員張超雄批評，政府「玩算數字遊戲」，「1％一刀切以外，『理順』及『轉型』搞一大餐，其實是削了2.5%，那不是小削幅，財爺剛不是說香港有7％經濟增長﹖那是數十億元，社會愈來愈有錢，但基層市民卻分享不到成果。」

$$ 社會福利 資源削減 $$

So exactly what's the accumulated government cutbacks on welfare subvention since the year 2000/01? The Council of Social Service produced the following figures:

• 2000 / 03 資源增值 $ 2.85 億元 5% (over 3 years)
• 2003 / 04 節約措施 $ 1.30億元 1.8%
• 2004 / 05 資源削減 $ 1.63億元 2.5%
• 2004 / 05 服務重整 $ 0.41億元 0.6%
• 2005 / 06 資源削減 $ 0.62億元 1%
• 2005 / 06 服務重整 $1.08億元 1.5%
• 00/01-05/06 總數 接近8億元 (即12%)

政府於2004年11月26日公布一刀切再削減社會福利資源... 政府提出削資1%，但計及業界通過服務理順及轉型而節省的一億一千萬元，實際非政府機構要承擔的削資幅度是2.5％，超過一億七千萬元。由於過去幾年，社 福機構已承受削資六億元，連同今次建議的削幅，金額達八億元，即12%。

Sadly many people may still think that an accumulated cutback of 12% over 5 years is not a big deal... Can someone from the sector offer a convincing case on why a 12% cutback is totally unacceptable, and that the sector is trying to safeguard the interests of the disadvantaged and not the welfare agencies themselves?

社署削開支機構憂影響服務

明報即時新聞網 [ 2004/11/26, 19:28 ]

社署在下個財政年度將要減2.1%的開支，而受資助機構須減1%開支，多個福利機構感到失望及遺憾。

社署表示，已接到下個財政年度開支信封，將要減2.1%的開支，約2.2億元，受資助機構將要減1%開支，較原訂的2%為少，其中182間非政府機構的撥款減少6000萬元，但70間資助額低於300萬的非政府機構資助就不受影響。

社署本身將要削減5000萬元，將在老人院買位、重整幼兒服務及資源增值等方面節省支出。社署強調，來年仍會有新服務，包括殘障人士社會支援、安老院轉型、家庭暴力等。

社聯、社會工作人員協會和社會工作者總工會就不滿社署繼續削資，早上拒絕與署方開會。其中社聯行政總裁方敏生表示，社署聲稱透過重組服務節省的一億一千萬，實際上亦涉及由志願機構提供的服務，所以他們實際再被削減一億七千萬元。

她表示，連早前削減近一成的撥款額，明年再削，不單令服務質素大受影響，更會將業界推向崩潰邊緣。

社工總工會擔心會影響服務質素；立法會社福界議員張超雄認為經濟增長理想，政府稅收亦增加，無必要削減福利撥款。

零點研究集團 - 中國愛滋病調查

明報即時新聞網 [ 2004/11/26, 18:04 ]

中國居民對愛滋病存誤解

一項調查顯示，中國居民對愛滋病傳播途徑存在很多誤解，對與愛滋病者正常接觸或共用公共設施心存恐懼。

這項名為《２００４年中國居民愛滋病常識及態度和行為狀況研究報告》顯示，在接受調查的城鄉居民中，只有４８．８％能夠正確認識到與愛滋病患者握手、擁抱、禮節性接吻等接觸行為不會感染愛滋病﹔２９．８％能夠正確認識到與愛滋病患者共用馬桶、浴室、游泳池等公共設施不會感染艾滋病﹔對蚊虫叮咬是否會傳播愛滋病，中國居民的認識也不很清晰，僅有２９.８％回答不會。

衛生專家指出，對愛滋病缺乏了解會加劇恐懼和歧視心理。愛滋病雖然是一種病死率極高的傳染病，但愛滋病病毒並非輕易、隨便就能感染和傳播。愛滋病主要通過性、血液和母嬰三種途徑傳播。愛滋病病毒主要存在於愛滋病病毒感染者和患者的血液、精液、陰道分泌物、乳汁、傷口滲出液等體液之中。在唾液、淚液、汗液和糞便等體液和排泄物中不含或含量極少，不會引起傳播。

此項調查由衛生部委托零點研究集團完成，共調查了中國部分城鎮、鄉村３２４７名１８至６０歲的常住居民。

睿哲文化學會－哲學夜話

A book talk organised by the Philosophia Cultural Society 睿哲文化學會; our buddy Roger will facilitate the discussion...

哲學夜話 – 現代人的輓歌－讀黃碧雲的【七宗罪】

人置身其中、承受無盡的苦痛煎熬的場所，稱之為「地獄」；而「罪」則是導致人下地獄的原因。在西方基督教傳統中，人因為犯罪而下地獄。從最基本的意義來說，罪源於人對上帝的背離。罪使人沉溺於世俗欲求而棄絕神，因而人要為此贖罪，在地獄永恆之火中輾轉呻吟。

但， 假設上帝不存在，罪是否還有意義？地獄又會否存在？這正是黃碧雲在其作品【七宗罪】中所要探討的問題。作者透過七個獨立的故事，為人的「罪」和「地獄」賦 予一個現代意義。她從新詮釋了中古時期基督教的七宗罪 －「饕餮」、「懶惰」、「忿怒」、「妒忌」、「貪婪」、「好欲」和「驕傲」，描繪出它們在香港這個現代社會中如何呈現。她的結論是：現代社會的人，根本就 是活在地獄之中，而且完全沒有出路。

Restricted Donations Rise

The New York Times reports that the new generation of philanthropists, who acquired their wealth over the last decade, increasingly are tying their large gifts to demands about the use of the money, both as a way to assert their will and to enforce accountability in the groups they fund (Nov. 15).

Big but Not Easy: As Donors Set Terms, Some Charities Resist
By STEPHANIE STROM

MORE than ever before, donors are tying strings to their gifts and pulling them hard to ensure that their dollars do exactly what they want them to do.

Thanks to the immense wealth created in the last decade, the country has a new generation of philanthropic lions, and, like their predecessors, these donors seek to invest not just their money but their ideas into the causes that are their passion.

Eli Broad's recent gift to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, for example, gained him virtually exclusive control over the construction of a new building and strong influence over the art that will go into it. Michael and Susan Dell structure their contributions so they can measure the effects.

Like Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller, the founders of America's peculiar brand of capitalist compassion, this new breed of donors has an understanding of the power of money to produce results. The difference is that the earlier philanthropists built new institutions while many of today's donors are working through established groups — at a time when public confidence in charities is low. (Read "Big but Not Easy: As Donors Set Terms, Some Charities Resist")

Hong Kong Committee on Children's Rights

A good friend of mine, Tom Mulvey, passed me information about the Hong Kong Committee on Children's Rights, which holds its AGM today. The organisation has close ties with other NGOs working on children's rights such as Against Child Abuse, Save the Children (HK) and Save the Children (UK), etc. Useful information can be found in the section on Recent Concerns:

1. Age of Criminal Responsibility in HK
2. Guardianship and Custody
3. Adopiton Ordinance
4. Children's Charter in Hospital
5. Prevention of Child Pornography

生命拼圖

Just received the photos from the earlier trip with Adventure Ship (see earlier post here). A bit disappointed 'coz there ain't any photo of me and Ho Nam (my buddy) that can clearly show both of our faces...


Ho Nam, Captain Ming, and me...

Recently the RTHK TV program 鏗鏘集 has produced an episode called 生命拼圖 featuring Adventure Ship's buddy program. The activities described in the program are those we've undertaken during our trip. The episode can be watched online through this hyperlink.

非牟利組織「乘風航」為弱能人仕提供海上活動訓練，通過「伙伴計劃」安排弱能同學與健全義工以平等關係結成伙伴，在訓練船上完成各種活動，藉此拉近彼此距 離。 節目紀錄了他們的旅程，不單是一段為弱能同學安排「遊船河」的歡樂經驗，而是兩個生命的接觸，旅程當中，伙伴們看到另一個與自己有別的個體，對照自己的生命，究竟那一個的生命力更強？先入為主的印象是否真像？每多一次接觸，彼此認識多一點，就像慢慢完成一幅拼圖。

all together...

Firefox「還網於民」快閃行動

Would really like to join this party as I'm a Firefox user and an advocate for opensource applications. It's also great to learn about this organisation - Opensource Application Knowledge Association 開放系統研用協會 - promoting the development and use of opensource applications in Hong Kong.

Firefox「還網於民」慶祝會
- Mozilla Firefox 推出 1.0 版本全球慶祝派對


還網於民 Take Back the Web大行動

日期：	2004年11月21日(星期日)
活動 1：慶祝派對
時間：	下午2:00
地點：	新華 Linux 培訓中心 (地圖) 灣仔軒尼詩道396-416號 智德中心三樓
活動 2：快閃行動
時間：	下午4:30
地點：	灣仔電腦城 灣仔軒尼詩道130號地下

活動簡介
為加入 Mozilla Firefox 1.0 版本推出的全球慶祝派對，一向熱心推廣開放源碼軟件的OAKA協會，將於 2004 年 11 月 21 日在香港舉行 Firefox「還網於民」大行動。同類型的非牟利開放源碼軟件活動，在香港還是首次舉行。該活動目前全球已經有超過七十個國家宣佈會同時舉行，可謂IT 界的全球性盛事。大家可以到這網址看到全球參予這次盛事的用家名錄。

Mozilla Firefox 為開放源碼的瀏覽器，其安全性以及支援開放標準的優良品質，最近已經越來越為人熟悉，早前推出 1.0 預覽版在短短 3 天內已經錄得超過790,000人下載。美國國安部早前更為了保護國民免受病毒及惡意軟件影響，更建議用家放棄使用微軟公司的 Internet Explorer，改用支援開放標準的 Mozilla Firefox 以處理網上理財服務。(詳見 CNET的報導)

為了讓市民可以認識到開放源碼軟件的優秀，破除只有付錢的軟件才是最好的迷信，當日Party除了有一般的慶祝活動外，還會有專人介紹 Firefox 的獨特之處，使用心得等等，另外亦會有網站開發專家，講解為何支援公開標準的瀏覽器，對一般電腦用家使用網頁非常重要。慶祝會後我們還會有一個獨特的快閃 推廣活動！有心的參與者將會帶同自製的 Firefox 1.0 CD，聯群結隊到灣仔電腦城門口大派 Firefox CD，大叫 ”還網於民、Take Back the Web” 的口號！熱鬧高興之餘，亦能貫切開放源碼的分享無私精神。

“Firefox 還網於民” 慶祝會將會於2004年11月21日下午2:00假座於灣仔 eTech 中心3樓的新華理大培訓及研發中心舉行，歡迎大家到這網址報名，名額有限，先到先得。

快閃推廣活動則會於下午 4:30 由新華理大培訓及研發中心出發，到灣仔電腦城門口開始派發 Firefox 1.0 CD。

「網絡政治研究計劃」

This is a "Junior Research Project" organized by Roundtable (Hong Kong Avant-garde Policy Research Institute 香港青年政策研究所) :

由「特區選舉研究計劃」轉型的Roundtable香港青年政策研究所，希望透過讓新生代學生參與實習研究，培養出一群關注社會事務的政治人才，並且建立渠道使學生能立體切身參與，以取締平面的論政。

本會成立後首個初階研究題目是「網絡政治 (E-politics)」。網絡的興起徹底改變了人類文化，到底互聯網會為政治帶來多少動力？網絡政治新世代的來臨，又對傳統政治架構有何衝擊？由香港 青年政策研究所舉辦維期三個月之「網絡政治研究計劃」將給予學員就個別研究題目統籌、設計及進行研究工作，包括問卷設計、訪問等和就數據進行分析等。學員 將有機會接受一連串之預備工作坊和講座，確保對研究題目有一定的認識後才進行研究工作。而計劃末期將要求每小組撰寫一分約12,500字的研究報告，研究 結果將會集結成書出版。

We need to learn more about new forms of social movements, and the underlying logic of collective action of Hong Kong's civil society, in order to make sense of our society's collective response towards events like SARS, July 1, etc. The Project's proposed research topics are indeed quite interesting.

建議研究題目：
1.E-politics，選舉與政治宣傳
2.E-politics與社會運動
3.黑客行為
4.與政治有關之多媒體創作與傳播
5.E-Government
6.網上廣播趨勢
7.E-politics與民主化
8.網絡政治之濫用及監管

PlayStreet ∞ 2004

I'm a big fan of Playright's services and just learnt from the HKICPA newsletter that Playright will team up with HKICPA in the PlayStreet ∞ 2004 event.

The Chater Road Pedestrian Precinct will be turned into a colourful and fun-filled playground for cross-generation play activities on Sunday, 12 December this year when the Hong Kong Institute of CPAs and the Playright Children's Play Association (Playright) co-organise the PlayStreet ∞ 2004.

PlayStreet ∞ 2004 is a large scale charitable event open to members and affiliates of the Institute and Playright as well as the public. With the theme "Transmitted Play Ideas Across Generations", the event aims to promote the value and importance of play across generations to foster family relations and enrich the family lives of Hong Kong people. The event promises to be a jovial carnival with lots of creative play ideas, game booths, live performances and entertainment for the enjoyment of the whole family.

Please join this exciting and meaningful programme and support us with your donations or corporate sponsorships to raise fund for the HKICPA Charitable Fund and Playright. Please click the following links for details:

- Event brochure
- Sponsorship package

Lamma-zine Blog

The Lamma-zine Blog is a good vehicle for nonprofit organisations working in Lamma Island to keep in touch with not only the Lamma community but other Hongkongers and tourists interested to learn more about Lamma and their activities. For example, I found the hyperlink to Lamma Animal Welfare Centre which is a nonprofit I'm not aware of previously...

This Lamma-zine Blog started on Sep 1, 2004, and will be updated frequently with anything related to Lamma Island or its residents, be it news, events or photos.

Contact Lamma-Gung with anything relevant to Lamma that you'd like to see published on this home page!

Posts from all former months are stored in the Blog Archives, see below.

All photos, text & graphics by Lamma-Gung, if not otherwise credited.

At the end of each month, the best of this Lamma News Blog will be collected and published in the Lamma-zine, together with many other additional original contributions. Free subscriptions!

We always say development begins at home. However here in Hong Kong we don't have a lot of communities like Lamma that have a rich community life...

Developments Magazine

Did you read the Rough Guide to a Better World? Like it? Want to know more?

Department for International Development (DFID) produces a free quarterly magazine packed with compelling news and views about how development really works.

Over fifty thousand people already read Developments magazine. Are you next?

The latest issue asks whether cheap flights and bargain breaks are good for the poor. Subscribe to Developments magazine.

The Rough Guide to a Better World

The Rough Guide to a Better World has just been released online, and will be released in print at the end of this month.

THE ROUGH GUIDE TO A BETTER WORLD is the essential guide to how the world can be a better place for everyone. Poverty in the developing world is well known, but less publicised are the efforts of those who combat hunger, disease and illiteracy. This guide shows how you can get involved.

"The book, which will be available free to the public, is an attempt to end British ignorance of the developing world at a time when the creeping globalisation of trade is bringing its four corners ever closer." Also, "as well as providing travel advice, it informs Britons at home how they can help the fight against world poverty: by buying fairtrade goods, doing voluntary work overseas and by becoming activists with British-based aid organisations."

Two million free copies of this book will be available at UK Post Offices from 29 November, 2004.

Call for Papers - Public & Nonprofit Division of the Academy of Management

CALL FOR PAPERS
Submissions are now being accepted for the Public and Nonprofit Division (PNP) portion of the program at the Academy of Management annual meeting, to be held 5-10 August 2005 in HONOLULU, HAWAII. The conference theme this year is A New Vision of Management In The 21st Century.

The deadline for submissions this year is 10 January, 2005.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES TO THE PNP DIVISION:
The PNP Division focuses on the application of management research to government agencies, the military, social services, cultural and educational institutions, membership and professional associations, advocacy organizations, and religious and other charitable organizations which have generated, and continue to shape, a large share of modern management thought. The Public and Nonprofit Division of the Academy of Management brings together scholars, managers, and students who continue this tradition by studying the public and nonprofit sectors, and the relationships among public, nonprofit, and private sector organizations. Our division pays special attention to how distinctive qualities of the public and nonprofit sectors influence management and organizational processes.

In applying the conference theme-A New Vision of Management for the 21st Century-we are especially interested in how our knowledge addresses the world of "stark contrasts" and "difficult tensions" that public and nonprofit organizations face in their efforts to be ethical, responsible, while also meeting complex goals and multiple bottom lines.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:
Submitters should FOLLOW the Academy's GENERAL GUIDELINES for all Submissions, which can be found on the Academy's web site (http://meetings.aomonline.org/2005/). AFTER submitting to the Academy submission web site, you should submit a SECOND COPY of your paper directly to the division at pnp@indiana.edu. Please make sure that you follow the Academy's FORMAT for your submission.

In addition, in your submission e-mail to the division please indicate your PREFERENCE FOR PRESENTATION FORMAT. Four formats are available (Interactive Paper, Shared Interest Track, Paper Presentation, and Visual Presentation); please indicate your preference for all four with a 0 (no interest), 1 (willing to present in this format), or 2 (prefer this format). If you need further information regarding submissions to the PNP division, please check our division web site for the conference.

Call for Papers - Corporate Philanthropy

Call for papers: Special Issue on Corporate Philanthropy

The International Journal of Nonprofit & Voluntary Sector Marketing is issuing a call for papers for a special issue on corporate philanthropy.

We are interested in all dimensions of this topic. Submissions on corporate donating practices; cause marketing; business sponsorship of charity events; corporate foundation support of charities, nonprofit organizations, and NGO's are welcome. Perspectives from the business manager's point of view as well as the charity's point of view are encouraged.

Book reviews of approximately 600 words on related topics are also encouraged.

Deadline for submissions is May 1, 2005

Submissions are to be delivered electronically. Submitted articles will undergo a blind review. The journal's style requirements must be followed. Information is available online at http://www.henrystewart.com/journals/nvsm/

Each email submission should attach two versions: one with author
information and the other without author information (for blind review).

**************************************************
NOTE:
Do NOT reply to me but to Walter Wymer, North American Editor IJNPVSM wwymer@cnu.edu

**************************************************

Business Case for Employee Volunteering

Community Business is a home-grown nonprofit organization promoting CSR in Hong Kong. Shalini Mahtani is the founder of the organization, and under her leadership CB is doing a good job in raising CSR awareness in Hong Kong. Shalini puts a lot of emphasis on research, and this upcoming event - Proving the Business Case for Employee Volunteering - is just another example of her effort to build up local research findings for making the case that CSR (employee volunteering in this particular project) actually creates values to all.

Community Business has measured the business benefits arising as a result of one specific employee volunteering programme - Race for Mentors. This programme has brought together the government sector, the private sector and the non-profit sector over a 6 month programme where corporate volunteers have mentored youth from a government school. The impact on all 3 parties has been measured and the case study proves that if undertaken strategically, there is a strong business case for employee volunteering.

CIVICUS Civil Society Toolkits

CIVICUS aims to help civil society organisations to build their capacity and achieve their goals. Based on requests from it organisation members, CIVICUS has produced several toolkits to enable organisations to improve their capacity in a number of areas. From communications and planning skills to writing funding proposals, the resources are meant to help civil society organisations to get many useful tips, tools, and ideas to help strengthen organisational capacities. Comments or feedback on these toolkits can be sent to communications@civicus.org

# English Writing Effectively & Powerfully (PDF)
# Writings Within Your Organisation (PDF)
# Producing Your Own Media (PDF)
# Handling the Media (PDF)
# Promoting Your Organisation (PDF)
# Planning Overview (PDF)
# Action planning (PDF)
# Monitoring and Evaluation (PDF)
# Strategic Planning (PDF)
# Developing a Financing Strategy (PDF)
# Financial Controls and Accountability (PDF)
# Writing a Funding Proposal (PDF)
# Budgeting (in two parts): Part 1 (PDF) and Part 2 (PDF)

中國紅十字會打贏首宗慈善官司

【明報專訊】據中新社引述北京市第一中級法院披露，中國紅十字會成立百年來首次遭遇的慈善官司已經宣判，曾承諾為「中華骨髓庫」捐款2000萬元人民幣善款、在獲得「慈善大使」稱號後神秘蒸發的北京通康集團董事長董佔義被判令賠償支付中國紅十字會總會捐贈款500萬元。

北京通康集團於2001年8月與中國紅十字會總會簽署捐贈協議，但董佔義獲「慈善大使」後無任何回音，紅十字會於是將該公司告上法庭。

News Items From Philanthropy Journal

The following news items from the latest issue of Philanthropy Journal should be of interest to many of our NGO colleagues, but it doesn't seem like we could have the luxury to develop any of those...

Targeting burnout: Sabbatical program aims to give nonprofit leaders a break from stress

The program provides US$15,000 each to five or six nonprofit executives a year to take breaks of three to six months to pursue activities "totally unrelated" to work.

Succession planning: Nonprofits should prepare in advance for departure of chief executive

Nonprofits often experience serious disruptions in services, staff morale, fundraising efforts and other vital functions when the CEO or executive director of a nonprofit leaves the organization.

E-philanthropy consolidation: Network for Good acquires Direct Help

Network for Good is acquiring Direct Help, a nonprofit in Norwalk, Conn., that provide e-philanthropy tools nonprofits can use for managing data, relationships with donors and clients, email campaigns and websites.

Debating Social Entrepreneurship

Extract from Stanford Social Innovation Review online forum on social entrepreneurship...

Social entrepreneurs need to focus primarily on their social mission which is at the heart of their actions. All what is being done has to be measured against the advancement to realize a social goal. Business is only a tool to fuel, or to simplify, the accomplishment of a far-reaching social innovation. Yet when we are committed to a social mission we need to know how far and how well we are treading on this path. the degree to which a social goal has been fulifilled depends on the capacity to effectively allocate the scarce resources being available to the vast target population. In this matter, we are facing complex business-like problems such as logistics and organizational problems. That is why Social entrepreneurs need to be equipped with business skills. Nevertheless the vision to change the patterns of society stems from a global understanding of political and international relations, at least. This understanding should be confronted to the constraints and opportunities of the local reality. I think social entrepreneurs are visionary people, that's why a wide set of skills, not only business ones, are mandatory. (Posted by: Nayim Khemaies at September 2, 2004)

公共政策研究與政府施政研討會

Another half-day conference... What's the point? The Government should make reference to the development of overseas nonprofit think tanks like the Urban Institute, the Brookings Institution, etc. which are independent research institutes funded by public funding.

Message from Faculty of Social Sciences
The Central Policy Unit of the Government of Hong Kong, Faculty of Social Sciences of The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies of The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Radio Television Hong Kong are pleased to invite you to attend 'Seminar on Public Policy Research' to be held on November 20, 2004 (Saturday). The speakers will consider the challenges and opportunities of the public policy of Hong Kong SAR Government. The Seminar will be conducted in Cantonese, please refer to the Chinese description for details.

此研討會是本港首次集合多方面的資源和專家，全面探討公共政策研究與施政的關及面對的各種挑戰及契機，以求集思廣益，促進香港公共政策的研究和協助政府改善施政。

Speaking of the Urban Institute, it has also developed the Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy under its establishment which has an extensive research agenda to support NGOs and civil society development. Lots of downloadable research reports are also available for reference by policymakers and nonprofit practitioners alike, many of them relevant to Hong Kong also...

Strengthening Political Parties in Hong Kong

A conference sponsored by National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (an NGO from US [established by the Democratic Party??] - Christine Chung is its resident program manager in Hong Kong).

Message from Social Sciences Faculty
You are cordially invited to join a conference on “Strengthening Political Parties in Hong Kong”, the 5th part of “Constitutional Review and Democratic Development: The Way Forward” conference series on November 27, 2004 (Saturday) 9:00 am – 5:00 pm which will be held at the Council Chamber, 8/F, Meng Wah Complex, HKU. The local and international speakers will provide a comparative view of the law of political parties in Hong Kong and elsewhere, and examine how other jurisdictions have responded to the issues that Hong Kong political parties and groups contend with.

While usually not being regarded as typical NGOs, political parties also face similar problems like NGO does - e.g. the lack of a facilitative legal environment (law of political parties?) and difficulties to achieve financial independence and self-sufficiency (fundraising, accountability and monitoring?) - those are the two main themes of the conference...

Blogs and Nonprofits

Some of my friends from the nonprofit field said they were not familiar with the "blog" format. Thus I copy below an earlier news item from our Centre's e-newsletter which talks about blogs and nonprofits...

What is a Blog?

A blog is basically a journal that is available on the web. The activity of updating a blog is "blogging" and someone who keeps a blog is a "blogger." Blogs are typically updated daily using software that allows people with little or no technical background to update and maintain the blog. Postings on a blog are almost always arranged in cronological order with the most recent additions featured most prominantly.

Blogs and Nonprofits:

For potential use of weblogs (i.e. blogs) for nonprofits, check out the following articles - "An Introduction to Weblogs," "Weblogs: The Promise for Nonprofit Organizations," and "Weblogs and the Nonprofit Sector".

(Sources: CCSG e-newsletter September 2004; links of articles from Techsoup.org)

Ho Sum (好心) New System Launched

Ho-Sum is a web-based volunteer matching web portal dedicated to involve people in volunteering and increase awareness of charities in Hong Kong. Charities and volunteers (individuals or corporate) can seperately register with the website and the system can help match volunteers with the available volunteering opportunities. Ho Sum today annouced the launch of its new interface and system:

Highlights of the new functions and features:-

1. Join Projects with Friends /Family Members/ Colleagues - You may register a Volunteer Group Account, and become the contact person of the volunteer group and sign up projects. A volunteer group can be just 2 of you, a family of 2 adults, 2 kids and 1 senior, or a team of staffs in the company. Please come and view the projects for your Corporate & Group.

2. Speak out corner - if you would like to share your thoughts and experience on volunteering, and your suggestions to Ho-Sum, please feel free to speak out in our bulletin board Volunteers Forum. This forum is implemented with content filtering feature which can filter indecent wordings.

3. Donate unwanted items - Give n Take is the section for items exchange. If you want to donate an unwanted item, simply post the information on 'Give Items' board. The charity who is interested to take will contact you directly. To protect your privacy, only registered Charity Members can view your contact information.

4. Do Good - Ho-Sum always promotes volunteerism through our campaigns. Please check out our Campaigns section to support us!!!

Subscription to Alliance Bulletin

Alliance Bulletin, a subscriber-only electronic publication, is published eight times a year. If you would like to read the full copy of Alliance Bulletin, you can subscribe at http://www.allavida.org/cgi-bin/click/click.cgi?id=53

This is the main source of many of the international NGO news posted here...

新《基金會管理條例》介紹研討會

『推動民間公益事業發展： 新《基金會管理條例》之介紹』

日期: 2004年11月24日
時間: 下午3時正

《登記表格》

2004 年3月18日，中央人民政府頒佈了新的《基金會管理條例》，這是有關基金會的第一部行政法規，對促進基金 會的健康發展起到了重要作用。該條例反映中央政府對基金會發展的重視及致力改革其管理體制，同時也為國內基金會、乃至整個民間社會和公益慈善事業面臨帶來 新的發展機遇。

基金會得以完善發展，還需要各方將新條例落到實處，並付諸行動，更要採取一系列配套的措施。新的《基金會管理條例》不僅影響國內公益團體及民間社會的發展空間，對本港社會福利服務機構與內地合作及發展空間也有重要意義。

為了讓本地社會福利界同業對新的《基金會管理條例》有更深認識，香港社會服務聯會與社會服務發展研究中心特別舉辦上述研討會，並邀請了中央人民政府民政部 主管有關條例之副部長姜力發表演講。姜力副部長是國家民政部主管民辦非企業單位事務之領導，對推動國家社會福利社會化及民間公益事業發展一向都非常關心。

Lusina from the Faculty of Law at HKU (our expert on trust law in Hong Kong and China) will participate in this event...

GuideStar International formed

Can Hong Kong join this collaborative network someday?

GuideStar, the US-based national database of information about non-profits, has announced the creation of GuideStar International, which will make such information more accessible by setting up charitable databases and websites in countries outside the US. New activities will be launched in Germany and, in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, in South Africa. This initiative follows the recent development of GuideStar UK. During its first year of operations, in addition to its activities in Germany and South Africa, GuideStar International will work with leaders in other countries to assess the feasibility of creating comprehensive non-profit sector information systems. The new organization’s chief offices will be in Williamsburg, Virginia, and London. Ultimately, the aim is that the new GuideStar agencies will form a collaborative network.

(Source: Alliance Bulletin Novermber 2004)

JHU International Fellows in Philanthropy Program

The Johns Hopkins fellowship program, under the leadership of Professor Lester Salamon, has been one of the highly praised programs for nonprofit researchers, especially famous on its academic vigour. The CUNY's international fellows program, on the other hand, should be more appropriate for the practitioners, and it being organized in NYC makes it even more attractive...

The International Fellows in Philanthropy Program at the Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies, Center for Civil Society Studies, will host up to eight fellows each year. Programme participants should be involved in studying or managing private, non-profit or philanthropic organizations outside the US, or serve as government or corporate liaisons to the non-profit sector. The programme also sponsors a fellows’ conference in a country overseas to encourage continuing interchange among fellows and to help broaden understanding of this sector at the international level. The deadline for applications is 25 February 2005.

When I last checked the list of past fellows of the JHU program I remembered there was at least one past participant coming from Hong Kong; however I have no idea who that person is...

(Source: Alliance Bulletin November 2004)

Online Resources on Foundation Building from Synergos

Once met the Synergos staff during the New York fellowship two years ago, and again at the last APPC conference in Manila; they are supporting civil society development in South America, South Africa, some parts of Asia, among other places...

Synergos makes Three Ring Binder generally available

The Synergos Three Ring Binder is a compendium of knowledge on philanthropy, foundations, and social change. The three 'rings' are nuts and bolts (tools for building foundation capacity), hot topics (trends in philanthropy and foundation building) and innovations (ideas and perspectives that inform Synergos's work). The Binder was put together by Synergos Senior Fellows and was until recently password protected.

(Source: Alliance Bulletin October 2004)

Community Foundations Supported US Citizen Deliberations

Estabalishing a community foundation in Hong Kong and running deliberative opinion poll are two areas of work our Centre wishes to pursue. It's good to see such things happening in other parts of the world...

Eight community foundations in the US supported Citizen Deliberations that took place on 16 October, three weeks before the US elections . The Deliberations brought together a random sample of citizens in 17 communities in the US in discussions on national security and American jobs in a global economy. The community foundations involved were those of Kansas City, Seattle, Miami, Charlottesville, Greater New Haven, Rochester, Cleveland and Detroit. They were providing funding and/or assistance in connecting with other organizations. For more information, see www.by-the-people.org.

(Source: Alliance Bulletin October 2004)

US community foundation sector gains in 2003

The Columbus Foundation survey is another important survey on community giving in the US apart from the annual Giving USA survey. The number of community foundations in the US remained at the region of 600 to 650, thus not much development in the past few years...

According to the annual Columbus Foundation survey issued in October, gifts, grants and assets of the community foundation field increased in 2003 in an improving economic climate. The 645 US community foundations surveyed received $3.8 billion in gifts last year, 17 per cent up on the previous year. They made grants totalling $2.6 billion, $47 million more than the previous year, while net assets also increased 17 per cent over the preceding year to $34.9 billion.

(Source: Alliance Bulletin November 2004)

United Way remodels itself (HK Community Chest to Learn?)

When will the HK Community Chest fundamentally revitalize its missions and operations?

United Way is transforming in an effort to remain vibrant and relevant in communities where other non-profits have multiplied, and where many businesses have opted out of United Way planned giving programmes. A spokesman for the organization estimated that 80 per cent of the country’s 1,400 United Way groups are increasingly targeting funds to effect long-term change rather than short-term ‘fixes’. This means that United Way is now more likely to fund groups that expand access to affordable housing than a homeless shelter. The national agency is also stressing United Way’s role as a community leader, collaborating with other organizations to prioritize a community's needs. In 2003, United Way of America approved tighter standards for transparency and accountability, now being adopted by member organizations. The changes are in part a response to a national decline in United Way campaign earnings of 6.1 per cent between 2001 and 2002.

(Source: Alliance Bulletin October 2004)