Thursday, April 07, 2005

Recently Released Books

From ARNOVA e-news (vol. 3, no. 2)...

Disaster Recovery Planning for Nonprofits (2003)
Michael K. Robinson; Hamilton Books (www.hamilton-books.com), 112 pages
Michael Robinson’s book provides us with a way to help our own organizations prepare for disasters large or small. Robinson pushes us to think beyond the natural disaster, and begin to plan for any disaster, war, equipment failure, corruption or the loss of key personnel.

Grassroots Grants: An Activist’s Guide to Grantseeking (Second Edition) (2004)
Andy Robinson, with contributions from Jean Lewis, John Pomeranz, and Wendy Wilson; Jossey-Bass (www.josseybass.com), 259 pages

Although this book is intended for social activists, the lessons presented by Andy Robinson can be beneficial to anyone seeking grants. Robinson presents the reality of what an organization can expect in the process of grantseeking, and what is expected of the organization.

How To Lobby at Intergovernmental Meetings (2004)
Felix Dodds with Michael Strauss; Earthscan Publications (www.earthscan.co.uk), 169 pages

Dodds sets forth to answer a major challenge to map the process of how individuals or organizations can lobby intergovernmental meetings. The book offers tips for the stakeholder or governmental official, who may be at a loss concerning where to start in this process.

Special Events: Proven Strategies for Nonprofit Fundraising (2nd Edition) (2004)
Alan L. Wendroff; John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (www.wiley.com), 244 pages

One of the best fundraising strategies for nonprofits is bringing people together at an event. Wendroff draws upon his years of experience to provide guidance that even a seasoned professional can find useful.

The Good Corporate Citizen: A Practical Guide (2004)
Doris Rubenstein; John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (www.wiley.com), 200 pages

Rubenstein sets forth how a corporation wishing to give can do so effectively. While this book offers a step-by-step guide, it provides flexibility to the plans to allow companies of all shapes and sizes to use it successfully. The book lays out the benefits to the community and company that can be made by good corporate citizenship.

The Professional Edge: Competencies in Public Service (2004)
James S. Bowman, Jonathan P. West, Evan M. Berman, and Montgomery Van Wart; M. E. Sharpe (www.mesharpe.com), 154 pages

As public service employees and contractors (nonprofit and private) are required to have more specific skills, their jobs have become professionalized. They need to have specialized knowledge and skills to meet the needs of the public that they serve, and the complex problems they are expected to solve. The need for nonprofit sector employees to gain those same competencies becomes increasingly important with increased levels of contracting out by federal, state, and local governments.

Financial Leadership for Nonprofit Executives: Guiding Your Organization to Long-term Success (2005)
Jeanne Peters and Elizabeth Schaffer; Amherst H. Wilder Foundation (www.wilder.org), 152 pages

This book gives executive directors the framework, specific language, and processes needed to create an effective nonprofit business that strikes the balance between mission and money.

Managing at the Leading Edge (2005)
Mike Hudson; Jossey-Bass (www.josseybass.com), 304 pages

Find out how the most successful nonprofit organizations are flourishing in a difficult social and economic climate. Hudson takes the best practices from nonprofits around the country and distills them into this practical guide for leading and managing nonprofit organizations.

Leadership for the Common Good (2005)
Barbara C. Crosby and John M. Bryson; Jossey-Bass (www.josseybass.com), 496 pages

Learn how to be a better leader in this revised and updated leadership classic. Crosby and Bryson offer new insights and guidance to a new generation of leaders and aspiring leaders.

650 Essential Nonprofit Law Questions Answered (2005)
Bruce R. Hopkins; Jossey-Bass (www.josseybass.com), 448 pages

This book provides essential guidance for those interested in starting new nonprofits, as well as valuable advice for directors of established organizations.

Effective Fundraising for Nonprofits (2005)
Ilona Bray; Nolo (www.nolo.com), 275 pages

Nolo’s new guide to fundraising for nonprofits covers everything from working with individual donors to soliciting grants to starting a side business.

Starting & Building a Nonprofit (2005)
Peri H. Pakroo; Nolo (www.nolo.com), 300 pages

In practical steps, Starting & Building a Nonprofit guides you from deciding whether to form a nonprofit, to engaging in strategic planning, managing your finances and taxes, developing a website, and creating a board.

Tuesday, April 05, 2005

Who is giving?

How is this compared to the case of middle class giving in Hong Kong?
Who is giving?
Most Americans give, but the low-income give more, study says.

03.30.2005 -

Almost all Americans donate to charity, but those with lower incomes are more generous with their donations than the wealthy, a new study says.

"Freelanthropy Charitable Giving Index," published by Freelanthropy, which provides online communications services for nonprofits, analyzes the giving behavior of a cross-section of 1,000 Americans.

More than nine in 10 Americans give $100 or more a year, the study says, with more than four in 10 giving $100 to $1,000 and only about one in 20 giving $5,000 or more.

Lower-income Americans are most generous in their giving, based on percentage of income, the study says, with four in 10 people who make less than $25,000 giving $100 to $1,000 last year.

Older people are more generous than younger ones, the study says, with one-quarter of donations in the $1,000-to-$5,000 range coming from people ages 45 to 54, compared to 1.3 percent from those 18 to 24, while those ages 55 to 64 gave almost half the gifts of $100 to $1,000.

One in three self-employed people gave $1,000 to $5,000, more than any other group by employment, while retirees gave the fewest of the larger gifts, the study says.
However, at the lower giving level of $100 to $1,000, retirees were the largest group of givers, with about half giving at that level.

Gift planning

Community foundations are planned-giving resource for small nonprofits.
03.29.2005 -

As always, what a great issue [Special report on planned giving, 03.23.05].

I really stay up to speed on what is going on through you and Philanthropy Journal. Thank you.

On the subject of "Getting started," just for the record, smaller nonprofits or nonprofits without planned-giving expertise can create an endowment for their organization at almost any community foundation.

They then have the full array of community-foundation services available to their donors.

It is a wonderful option in the scenario you described.

Such a fund takes about 10 minutes to set up.

Information about community foundations and a locator to find them are available on the web.

Mary Holmes, executive director,
Cumberland Community Foundation,
Fayetteville, N.C

Monday, April 04, 2005

CHALLENGES OF MANAGING THE THIRD SECTOR

THE 5TH WORKSHOP ON THE CHALLENGES OF MANAGING THE THIRD SECTOR

The purpose of the workshop 'The challenges of managing the third sector' is to present and discuss in a stimulating environment high quality research papers on all relevant aspects of managing small and large non profit organisations. Both theoretical and empirical papers, including excellent case studies and papers written by senior managers/ policymakers/ practitioners, will be welcomed.

Suggestions for specific domains to be dealt with are :
· policy constraints on npo management
· funding constraints on npo management
· ethical issues versus commercialisation and commodification
· the introduction of private sector managerial techniques in npos
· the role of sponsors
· problems of fundraising
· functional management of npos : accounting, finance, marketing, human resources
· strategy and npo objectives
· npo management in transition economies
· inter-disciplinary approaches to the challenges of the Third Sector

Those who are interested in presenting a full paper should submit it before April 15, 2005.

和諧之家

和諧之家求助男士升兩成

設熱線輔導施虐者

【明報專訊】本報昨日報道,本港4個庇護中心之一的和諧之家,新一年度的求助婦女人數上升兩成。最新數字亦顯示,求助的男士人數,今年亦同樣上升近兩成。和諧之家開設熱線,為向婦女施虐後的男士提供輔導,2004至05年有115宗 個案,較2003年96宗增加19.8%。

宣傳多公眾懂求助

負責男士服務的湛志豪稱,男士向妻子施虐後,會感到擔心及疑慮,希望找人分享。他們也希望及早疏導男士的情緒,否則繼續使用暴力發泄。他稱個案增加,相信是宣傳較多,公眾懂得求助方法。

入住和諧之家兒童增兩成

而入住和諧之家的兒童人數亦有升幅,去年有193名小童入住,今年度有224人,上升了18.5%。和諧之家總幹事王鳳儀指兒童受家庭暴力影響嚴重,部分兒 童入住庇護中心後,會仿效父親暴力行為。因此,機構今年會加強兒童服務,設「和諧速遞」專車,巡迴學校向兒童講解和諧信息。

九成個案與經濟有關

她又指受虐個案急增,情嚴重,九成個案與經濟問題有關,有關家庭面對失業、待業、領取綜援等,未必受惠於經濟環境改善。她稱服務需求增加,政府今年未有增加資源,需向賽馬會增加撥款。但她稱財政緊絀下,令新服務未能開展,例如醫院跟進、施虐者輔導等。

Saturday, April 02, 2005

CCSG e-Newsletter (4th Issue)

Check out the latest e-newsletter here.

ASEF

I'm supposed to participate in this conference and present the Hong Kong paper, which I compiled jointly with Josephine Lee (of SJS), and with research support provided by the St James' Settlement Research Team.


EVENT: Asian Social Entrepreneurship Forum: Roots And Roadmaps
Dates: 19-20 February
Venue: Taipei, Taiwan
Organizers: Conference of Asian Foundations and Organizations (CAFO)

Thirty-five social entrepreneurs gathered at a conference entitled 『Roots and Roadmaps' in Taipei on 19-20 February 2005. The objectives of the gathering, organized by the Conference of Asian Foundations and Organizations (CAFO), were to discuss and contribute to the evolving social entrepreneurship framework developed by CAFO over the preceding three years; to increase appreciation of the roots, contexts and characteristics of social entrepreneurship in Asian societies; and to discuss the issues and challenges the movement faces in the region and how CAFO might serve as a platform to address them.


Social Entrepreneurship in Asia:
Origins and Roles


The session on indigenizing social entrepreneurship in Asian societies found the roots of social entrepreneurship in community cooperation on such things as house construction and transfer, agricultural production and the barter system, which were common in India, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. In more recent times, self-help groups and cooperatives had grown up in response to the failure of post-colonial states to provide adequate level of goods and services. Development NGOs had also arisen, funded either by overseas development assistance or western donors more generally in the case of poorer countries (such as India, Indonesia and the Philippines) or by government and corporate donors in the case of more affluent countries (such as Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore).

Social entrepreneurship evolved in both cases as NPOs were obliged to diversify their sources of funding following a general downturn in funding. Participants felt that social entrepreneurship had effectively become the art of developing and managing enterprises with multiple bottom lines and identified a number of potential roles for it in different areas of Asia:

* to address the financial sustainability of development programmes and institutions where sources of grant funding are drying up and create trends towards more market-based approaches among NPOs;

* to empower economically the poor/marginalized in underdeveloped/developing economies (India, Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia);

* to advocate for a more humane, responsive market economy (for example, fair trade, partnership with corporations to promote corporate citizenship while tapping their expertise and resources for social enterprise initiatives);

* to provide services for businesses to help them provide for a larger section of the population (as in the case of Taiwan);

* to integrate disadvantaged, vulnerable and marginalized sectors into the mainstream economy in developed market economies or affluent societies (Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan);

* to ensure a more humane shift to market economies in socialist countries (such as China and Vietnam).

This last point was felt to be of particular importance for future research projects.

The challenges of social entrepreneurship

The conference identified a number of major challenges through the experiences presented by individual social enterprises. Many of these were to do with managing the conflicts creating by running a business and at the same time providing a service (how, for instance, to measure non-financial bottom lines or to determine the cost-benefit ratio of a service or programme). There was also the question of mainstreaming: organizations engaged in fair trade begin with niche markets but, sooner or later, need to be able to compete in the open market. Another issue is scaling up, that is, enhancing the participation of marginalized sectors and the benefits of such enhanced participation in the market. Here again, the major underlying question was seen as being how to reconcile the commercial and the social elements of a social enterprise.

The relevance of social entrepreneurship in the aftermath of the tsunami

The fourth session described the work of Dompet Dhuafa (DD) (Indonesia) and the Thai Volunteer Service (TVS) in the relief and rehabilitation of tsunami victims. DD implements a community recovery programme called the Kampung (Village) Reform, which has economic, social development, education, health and infrastructural elements. TVS spearheaded the formation of the Taskforce for Southern Community and Ecological Recovery composed of over a hundred Thai NGOs that address the needs of women, children and local fisherfolk and questions of labour, religion and disability, among others.

The social entrepreneurship agenda for CAFO


Delegates proposed the following action plan for CAFO. In respect of tsunami relief and reconstruction, CAFO can be a platform for the exchange and sharing of ideas and experiences about rehabilitation and reconstruction work using social entrepreneurship models.

Social entrepreneurship is a key strategy for sustainable development. In order to further its promotion and development, CAFO can help organize and support future initiatives like the Roots and Roadmaps conference. Sectors to be lobbied are government, corporations, CSOs outside of CAFO, and the public. CAFO also has a capacity-building role, bringing organizations and resources together and helping build a body of knowledge.

Finally, CAFO should develop further overall strategies in social entrepreneurship based on the specific strategies in each country; conduct action research based on the challenges outlined above; develop further capacity-building tools; and set up a website and mailing list for the sharing of information.

    Friday, April 01, 2005

    社區投資共享基金

    共享基金主席[10:25]
    2005/04/01

    政府今日公布再度委任鄔維庸醫生為社區投資共享基金委員會(委員會)主席。

    現任成員高靜芝將獲委任為副主席,她自三年前委員會成立以來一直擔任成員。

    另外,五名人士獲委任為新成員,他們分別是鄒正林、關則輝、林正財、劉嘉時和吳志榮。

    以上全部委任/再度委任將於二○○五年四月一日生效,全部任期為三年。

    此外,七名現任成員獲再度委任兩年,他們是陳思堂、郭鍵勳、梁文傑、曹啟樂、王紹爾、余秀珠和阮曾媛琪。

    三億元的社區投資共享基金在二○○二年成立,以鼓勵市民互助互愛,進一步建立社區支援和網絡,以及推動社區參與。委員會負責審批申請,以及向政府提供有關香港社會資本發展的建議。

    Strategic Grants-Management Software

    [advertorial from Philanthropy Journal]

    Strategic software

    Optimizing grants-management software can help reach goals faster.

    By Kathy Krais

    [Publisher's note: The Philanthropy Journal does not necessarily endorse the opinions, products or services offered or cited in this paid advertorial.]

    The JEHT Foundation was established in April 2000 to support its donors' interests in human rights, social justice and community building.

    The foundation makes a combination of multi-year and one-time grant commitments for general operating support, project support, capacity building, and special needs and opportunities as they arise in its fields of interest.

    JEHT Foundation has used GIFTS® grants management software from MicroEdge Inc. since its inception. However, the foundation realized it would need more detailed grants and organizational data to conduct more thorough analysis and planning, including creating specific cash-flow reports.

    Debra Kendall, JHET Foundation's administrative director, called MicroEdge, which recommended that the foundation consider an optimization analysis to examine their use of GIFTS and ensure they are getting the most from GIFTS.

    The optimization analysis took three days. After an onsite examination of why the foundation uses GIFTS, evaluation and discussion of the objectives of the optimization analysis, and review of the completed report, MicroEdge spent time with the foundation staff to demonstrate additional ways to use GIFTS.

    The reporting problem that initially prompted the JEHT Foundation's call to MicroEdge occurred due to the way grants data were input into GIFTS, and the coding structure that was being used.

    The foundation resolved these issues by reorganizing its coding structure, adding more codes to cover various request types and status, enabling them to show all the detailed steps of a grant instead of just broad ranges, allowing the foundation to easily see how many organizations have submitted proposals, how many have been rejected, and how many have been funded.

    "We are now using GIFTS as an organization-wide solution for the whole foundation, rather than only as a grants process tools for the program staff," says Marjorie Louis, JHET Foundation's grants administrator.

    "Since our program managers often are on the run and can't always be tracked down, GIFTS enables us to access all the information we need, regardless of whether they're in the office or on the road."

    Once the JEHT Foundation has implemented all of the suggested changes to their current process, it plans to go back and adjust past data records, to afford a better historical view.

    Then they'll look ahead to the future.

    "Once you've started using GIFTS," says Marjorie, "it's a good idea to step back and utilize this service, to see whether the system is being used to its fullest potential."

    Wednesday, March 30, 2005

    Privatizing Social Services - The US Experience

    Privatization (Part 1):
    Social-services market adapts to lessons of outsourcing
    .

    02.24.2005 -
    By Todd Cohen
    Five years ago, flush with tax revenues in a booming economy and aiming to farm out social services under a federal policy designed to move people from welfare to work, state and local governments were fueling competition between nonprofit agencies and for-profit providers for services ranging from day care to job training. (more...)

    Part 2: For-profit contractors turned to nonprofits to deliver social services.

    Part 3: Outsourced social services fall short of expectations.

    Part 4: Drive for profits can create gaps in delivery of social services.

    Part 5: Nonprofits last resort for delivering social services.

    Monday, March 28, 2005

    香港防癌會

    南朗醫院籌款轉型癌症中心

    【明報專訊】專門照顧癌症病人及提供善終服務的南朗醫院,在2003年底因資源問題關閉,香港防癌會計劃籌募 8000萬元令南朗「重生」,將該院改建為一所收回成本的癌症綜合服務中心,為有經濟能力的癌症病人提供護理住宿及善終服務,預計每名病人每日住院收費 500至2000元,由落實計劃到完成裝修工程估計需時2年。

    現任香港防癌會主席高永文醫生,為前醫管局專業及人力資源總監,他表示,南朗醫院在1967年起為末期癌症病人服務,在1987年更成立善終服務,但自醫管局於91年成立後,陸續在分區及各聯網醫院設立善終服務,南朗醫院的歷史任務亦告完成,該院終在2003年年底關閉,一直空置至今。

    每天住院費500至2000元

    高永文指出,公營醫療資源緊絀,政府明言不會對南朗醫院的轉型及未來發展作出財政承擔,故南朗醫院若要繼續營運,便要自負盈虧,預計要籌募8000萬元為醫院大裝修,工程需時2年。

    他說,防癌會正向各大機構及私人慈善機構募捐經費,醫院將分階段開放使用,若全院啟用每年需要2300萬元營運,預計每名病人,每天的住院費為500至2000元,收費水平介乎私家醫院及公立醫院之間,視乎病人需要的護理人手而定。

    病房佈置「家」的感覺

    構思中的癌症綜合服務中心,據不同階段、不同醫療需要,為不同癌症患者提供護理、住院服務,由於並非以治療為主,故該院只有一位駐院醫生負責日常工作。病房 亦不會有大量醫療儀器,佈置會令病人有「家」的感覺,讓接受化療的病人,如乳癌病人,治療後可在中心住上兩周,幫助身心適應化療後的反應。至於善終服務的 病人一般會住1至2個月。高指若在公立醫院,乳癌病人手術後數日便要出院。

    病人可自聘中醫或另類治療

    高永文說,中心比較富彈性及綜合性,可讓病人按需要自行聘請中醫、西醫,甚至另類醫療醫生,到病房為病人診治,但醫療責任由病人與到診醫生負責。善終服務亦一如公立醫院的善終服務,若病人垂危,癌症中心不會進行緊急救治。

    防癌會副主席潘若芙醫生說,中心全院將有110張病,包括16張善終服務病,因此醫院要大裝修,將病房改建為單人、雙人,以及3至6人病房,每間病房加設洗手間及浴室等,讓一些可自理的病人有更多私隱。

    籌8000萬料聘118人

    癌症中心將聘請31名註冊護士、36名健康助理、29名病就工人,以及心理學家和社工,若全院啟用將聘有118名工作人員。中心內的病人由多於一名工作人員照顧,護理人手比例較公立醫院理想。中心亦容許病人家屬或自僱外籍傭工在病房協助照顧病人。

    明報記者談誦言

    Sunday, March 27, 2005

    楊震事件(五)

    社工抗議楊震解僱資深主管[12:10]

    2005/03/27

    十多名社工到循道衛理會在油麻地一間教堂外,抗議楊震社會服務處解僱一名有30年服務經驗的部門主管。

    請願人士指責楊震社會服務處為了節省開支而以服務重組為理由,未經社署建議的程序,把擁有豐富經驗的部門主管解僱,以資歷較淺的社工代替。

    參與抗議行動的立法會社福界代表張超雄說,有關解僱行動事前未有諮詢,是不尊重社工的權益。他還擔心,今次解僱事件會成為先例,令全港六十多個家庭服務中心效法,影響服務質素。他要求檢討一筆過撥款機制。

    Friday, March 25, 2005

    體育新生命基金會

    收到體育新生命基金會(SPORTS FOR LIFE FOUNDATION LTD.)寄來的電郵,查詢有關社區基金會的資料,可惜成立社區基金會的工作毫無進展,未能忙得上幫...

    本基金會「體育新生命基金會」為一新成立的非牟利機構,於二00四年九月成立。本基金會是香港首個以推廣運動為主題的基金會,也是「香港醫學會」和「體育事工聯盟」的合作夥伴...

    我們致力希望透過舉辦免費運動課程,帶動患病者及市民建立運動習慣。隨著香港的醫療開支日益增大,而衛生署亦積極提倡私家醫生開出「運動處方Exercise Prescription」予有需要的病人,但政府現時仍未能提供免費租用運動場地的計劃予本會及有需要之病人,故本會只能從不同的籌款活動及各方面的支助上來向會員提供免費運動健體課程。另外,我們亦會舉辦各種健康宣傳活動,讓未能負擔起學習運動費用的貧困市民能夠學懂預防疾病的重要及正確之方法。鼓勵及教導市民培養正確的做運動習慣及了解各方面的健康資訊,除了可以改善已有的疾病外,更能幫助他們強健體魄來預防疾病並減少醫療上的開支。

    因本基金會現餘的基金儲備有限,故首期免費運動健體課程的服務對象亦只能是糖尿病患者/肥胖症患者/輕度抑鬱症患者。如能透過不同的途徑獲得支助,則可將服 務範圍擴展至其他長期病患者、老年人、退休人士及對運動有興趣的貧困或低收入人士,令患病的可以得到病情改善及更多市民可以有機會接觸運動,以增強身體之低抗力,減少患病機會,舒緩現時政府在醫療上的龐大負擔。

    Thursday, March 24, 2005

    Planned Giving Special Report

    Philanthropy Journal Special Report: Planned Giving (more...)

    Who will start promoting planned giving in Hong Kong?

    Wednesday, March 23, 2005

    Hands-on Business

    Corporate giving focuses on community partnerships, innovation.
    03.14.2005 -
    By David Lamere and Joanne Jaxtimer

    The complexion of corporate philanthropy has changed. Today's charitable giving is more creative, hands-on and strategic.

    Fewer companies simply write checks and move on. These days, many focus on building multi-faceted partnerships with community nonprofits to help position them for the long term, not merely to hit this year's fundraising goal.

    Mellon Financial adopted such an approach 10 years ago. The impetus was a desire to position Mellon, long known for its Pittsburgh roots, as a good corporate citizen in Boston.

    How? By maximizing all of our resources – senior executives, employee volunteers, as well as corporate and charitable trust dollars – to make a measurable difference with Boston's smaller nonprofits.

    It's a contemporary model for partnering that emphasizes innovation, entrepreneurship and mutual accountability between funder and nonprofit. Call it a "venture capital" approach to giving.

    Mellon proactively targets new and emerging community groups, those without a history of corporate or foundation support. (more...)

    United Way Revamping Grantmaking Strategy

    United Way in Charlotte revamping strategy for distributing funds.
    03.14.2005 -
    By Todd Cohen

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- While it is a big challenge, raising money is only half the job for United Way of Central Carolinas, which each year also must decide how to most effectively invest dollars contributed from the community.

    Over the next few months, more than 300 volunteers will spend nearly 10,000 hours reviewing and making recommendations on funding requests from United Way's 100 agencies to support 214 programs they operate.

    The process can be "gut-wrenching," says Ned Curran, a volunteer for nearly 20 years who in recent years headed the allocations process and next year will chair United Way board. (more...)

    Tuesday, March 22, 2005

    社會福利持續發展

    周一嶽﹕社會福利持續發展

    作者為衛生福利及食物局長

    財政司長剛宣布了05/06年度預算案,確定了香港經濟復蘇的軌,並照顧各階層的需要。其中,預算案預留了超過3億元,切實履行1月行政長官施政報告為扶貧紓困提出的多項措施。

    這些撥款數額不少,服務範圍廣泛,關顧了不同社群的不同需要,足證明政府扶助弱勢社群的承擔。這還沒有計及去年已為攜手扶弱基金撥備的2億元。

    審慎理財是政府應有的責任,赤字仍未清除,更應如此。來年多項公共政策範疇仍須勵行節約而預算開支有所縮減,社會福利是少數例外。05/06年度總撥款達343億,較去年預算實質增加2.8%,若以修訂預算計算更增加6.4%。對於有人批評預算案不關心基層市民的說法,可能只是未能完全掌握情。

    事實上,社會福利開支過去10年連年增長,超過一倍,佔政府經常開支比例亦由10%增至17%,即使撇除社會保障開支,每年都有新資源投放於擴展社會福利服務。05/06年度投放在社會福利範疇的新資源共2.4億,其中約1.84億撥歸社會福利界。

    今年我們仍要勵行節約,社會福利署節約措施下的開支減幅達2.1%。社會服務需求日多,我們必須用創新模式,善用資源,做更多工作。我亦理解社福界對節約措施的關注及體諒志願機構的困難,來年香港108個非政府機構只須承擔約1%節約措施下的開支減幅,總額約6200萬,營運開支少於300萬的機構不受影響。如上述所說,預算案已撥備1.84億新資源與社福界合作擴展新服務,增幅約2.8%,即使撇除安老院舍轉型的項目,整個界別的資源增長仍多於節約措施下的開支縮減。

    批評預算案不關心基層 只因未掌握情

    社會保障(包括綜援及公共福利金)仍是開支增長最大的一項,來年預留撥款約241億,增幅達5%或11.4億。隨經濟好轉,我期望更多人能自力更生,毋須跌進安全網,但綜援內老年、殘疾個案仍會隨人口老化增加,健全失業人士個案今年雖稍微下降,但低收入及單親家庭個案增長更快,使我們難於對綜援支出改善過分樂觀。

    領取綜援人數過去10年以3倍增長,由每50人就有1人領取綜援升至每12人,這發展值得深思。政府的安全網並不限於綜援,我們提供補貼高達九成的醫療服務、9年免費教育及津 貼高等教育,超過五成人口居住於公共房屋或居屋。香港人口老化,預計30年後老人綜援及公共福利金將會倍增,由現在116億增至300億。安老服務需求更多,即使要維持輪候資助安老院舍宿位的時間在現有水平,也要投放3倍的資源。人口老化,公共資源卻不能無窮膨脹,如何維持這些環節的社會服務持續發展,是不能迴避的問題。

    我們會研究長遠社會福利的持續發展,包括醫療融資及老人財政保障問題,我期待與市民討論香港可能採用的模式。

    福幼基金會

    曾志偉出任港區委員

    【明報專訊】廣州市十屆政協三次會議昨日揭幕,43名港區委員出席會議,本港藝人曾志偉(圖左)亦列席開幕式。他透露,已獲邀出任廣州市政協港區委員,今次是首次列席會議。他希望出任委員後可以繼續推動內地的慈善活動,同時促請廣州有關部門加強打擊盜版,為演藝界略盡綿力。

    信佛的曾志偉昨日列席會議時,廣州市佛教代表特別走過去與他打招呼。曾志偉表示,由他擔任主席的福幼基金已經在廣州開展慈善工作逾10年,廣州是該基金在內地的第一個試點,目前在廣州資助福利院,為殘疾人士提供治療,院內的醫生七成來自香港,他希望日後可以進一步推動慈善工作。

    Friday, March 18, 2005

    Using Open Source Software

    Choosing and Using Open Source Software: A Primer for Nonprofits
    Dear ISTR-L subscribers,

    Elsewhere on the internet, and around the globe, there is an ongoing debate over the relative merits (and place) of Open Source Software (e.g. Linux, OpenOffice, etc.) and proprietary software (e.g. MSWindows, MSWord, etc.) in the non-profit sector. This is a particularly serious issue for resource strapped organizations and efforts on the poorer side of the digital divide. It is also an issue of the proper stewardship of resources on the part of more well endowed non-profit organizations.

    The Non-Profit Open Source Initiative is a collaboration of nonprofit technology service providers, consultants specializing in nonprofit support, and open source software developers working to facilitate greater adoption of Open Source Software (OSS) in the nonprofit/NGO sector.

    NOSI had produced a 28 page primer (in html and pdf) titled "Choosing and Using Open Source Software: A Primer for Nonprofits" and available at http://www.nosi.net . It is a good read and a fast track to knowledge on the issues surrounding software strategies on the part of third sector entities.

    校友捐款基金

    I'm a long time proponent of introducing charitable gift funds programs in the higher education sector which are very popular among universities in the States, but it seems like what they're talking here is more old style thinking and the same thing as charitable gift funds...
    中大設校友捐款基金長線投資

    【明報專訊】大學面對過去幾年不斷削資,紛紛對外籌募經費。中文大學拓展及籌募處高級主任鄭文珊表示,計劃邀請中大校友成立捐款基金,並仿照外國經驗進行長線投資,藉「複式效應」令基金愈滾愈大。

    鄭文珊又表示,自去年推出回饋母校計劃以來,已向逾千名2004年畢業生籌得近63萬元。

    中大校友、東驥基金管理有限公司董事總經理龐寶林表示,有意聯同任職金融及銀行界的校友成立捐款基金回饋母校。龐寶林表示,本地大學的投資策略較保守,希望日後可由校友獨立管理基金,以增加投資回報,「美國耶魯大學於70年代成立基金,由專業人士自行管理,透過25年期的長線投資和複式效應,成功將75,000元的基金增加至9000萬元」。

    04年畢業生籌得63萬

    鄭文珊表示,中大透過回饋母校計劃向千多名2004年畢業生籌得近63萬元,校方會繼續向早年的畢業生籌款。鄭文珊說,畢業生於畢業後3年內捐出500元,即可獲刻上其畢業年份的中大校徽襟章。

    Thursday, March 17, 2005

    裘槎基金會

    The Croucher Foundation 裘槎基金會 is one of the few professionally-run local foundations supporting scientific advancement in Hong Kong. I'm lucky to get to know the personnel of the Foundation, and I'm really impressed by not only the way the Foundation is being run, but also its effort to contribute to the healthy development of the philanthropy sector in Hong Kong.

    裘槎頒獎禮男女平分秋色

    【明報專訊】...本港昨日舉行的裘槎基金會05/06年度頒獎禮上,9名得獎學者及博士生中,4名為女性,得獎女教授呼籲女士勿放棄事業,認為女士做科研不會較男士遜色。

    ...奪得「優秀科研者獎」的8名學者分別來自中大、港大、科大及城大。他們會獲約10萬美元科學獎,以資助所屬院校另聘講師代替得獎者日常教職半年或一年,令他們可專心投入研究工作。

    Thursday, March 10, 2005

    組建「整合型政府」-- 公民社會的位置?

    時事評論
    P16 信報財經新聞 莫宜端
    2005-03-09
    回到港英的模式?


      當行政長官董建華辭職的傳聞在京、港兩地不斷發酵之際,傳媒的焦點由「為何辭職」演變為查找一系列「向前看」的命題,諸如一旦曾蔭權成為行政長官,任期是兩年抑或五年、哪些前高級公務員會否「回巢」以及董班子如何過渡至曾班子等。

      部分民主派的政治人物也對曾蔭權接任行政長官額手稱慶,甚至認為爭取普選的合理時間或由二○一二提早至二○一○年。更有評論認為若曾蔭權當上行政長官,正代表香港的管治在回歸後八年由「商人治港」回到港英模式。

      但筆者認為,香港實際上不會回歸到港英模式,反而是向內地省市換領導的模式靠攏。再者,從政治形勢分析,新的行政長官任期不論是兩年抑或五年,只是另一個煙幕;朦朧了的真命題,是香港缺乏多年的政治和政策人才、政黨發展和政策研究等的需要,迫切性再一次泡沫化。

    上面提名單?下面劃圈圈

      所謂內地模式是指行政長官的辭職和背後醞釀、協商繼任人的「黑箱操作過程」,與內地發放地方領導更替的輿論策略,以及醞釀、協商繼任人的操作方式愈來愈相似。

      其實自從一九七九年五屆全國人大二次會議通過的選舉法及地方組織法,把差額選舉引入地方政府領導和人大常委會委員的選舉後,直至近年實行差額選舉的例子才增多,例如二○○三年廣州市十二屆人大一次會議由八名候選人角逐七個副市長職位、湖北省人大早於九八八年對省人大常委會和副省長進行差額選舉等。可是,「上面提名單、下面劃圈圈」的等額選舉仍然是常態;剛剛產生的多個省市包括福建和廣東省長,均是在沒有競爭的情況下連任。

    選舉模式離不開黑箱作業

      實際上,具體哪些省市自治區,可批准多於一名候選人參加市長、省長以及地方人大代表選舉,還得由中央決定並公布,更說不上由下而上提名這回事。

      假若媒體的報道屬實,將在七月前舉行的新一屆行政長官選舉,在提早開跑的情況下,將與內地的省市長選舉看齊—即最壞的結果是候選人由中央決定的等額選舉(二○○二年第二屆行政長官選舉的翻版),樂觀一點,也只是由中央導演的差額選舉,熱門候選人既沒有壓力要讓其班子事前給公眾評分,也沒有壓力要向八百人以外的公眾提政綱、辦論壇,這將是港人將要面對的政治現實。

      除了選舉離不開黑箱模式,若曾蔭權繼任行政長官,其管治方式,特別是對民主派和公民社會參與的態度,亦未必會回到港英模式。港英模式.二之一

      本文僅代表筆者個人意見,不代表研究所立場。


    時事評論
    P10 信報財經新聞 莫宜端
    2005-03-10
    組建「整合型政府」


      表面上,政壇若來個大洗牌,回歸到政務官治港,不只行政會議可以回歸港英精英而非愛國精英的任命,連「行政吸納」和民政系統的籠絡公民社會的方法也可再派上用場。但是,回歸後的七、八年,公民社會在建制吸納能力愈趨渙散的情況下自行整合,其力量跟回歸前已儼如兩個世界。

      加上過去幾年政府高層的決策的種種爭議和失誤,身為政務司司長的曾蔭權也有責任,另外部分政務官出身的問責官員,管治能力的不濟亦日益彰顯。徒靠公務員重掌特區班子,放棄高官問責制,或許有可能(只是可能)滿足了平穩的要求,但未必跟得上公民社會對高質責管治的標準。簡而言之,「潘朵拉盒子」已開,政府換班不等於香港市民就停止了爭取摸索一條邁向民主和公民參與的管治之路。

    政黨發展何時見綠燈

      短期內,董建華任內造成的「行政、立法分裂」局面或許因為由熟悉原有體制運作的公務員系統掌握,加上可能有民主派參與的「執政聯盟」(民主派對曾的授位表現雀躍)而得以紓緩。但是,因中央的高招主動出手,行政長官的「中長跑」突變成「百米賽」,連原本決心向執政黨邁進的自由黨和剛與港進聯完成合併的民建聯,也壯志未酬,更不要說民主派。

      預期北京更多插手新一屆政府人事與施政的情況下(澳門模式),政制發展專責小組的第三號報告書提到的「政黨發展不成熟」、「公民參與程度不足」和「香港缺乏政治人才」等需積極探討的議題將再一次被放緩。這將代表「建制政治」(行政長官及其班子)與「民間政治」(包括民選立法會議員和區議員)繼續脫鈎。

      人換了,但制度仍無寸進,我們看清了事實沒有?今天的香港市民與七、八年前只求「馬照跑、舞照跳」的港人不同了。紅灣半島、領匯和西九事件均反映不同階層的社會、政治意識愈發成熟,並愈來愈多透過法律和社會動員挑戰政府的決策,這會因曾的上任而停止嗎?(除非港英管治時期對待反對派言論及行動的組織及措施再次出籠。)

      香港需要像英國首相貝理雅提倡的「整合型政府」(Joined-up Government)—由政策醞釀到執行均作出跨部門和官、商、民三方的大範圍的互動和合作。若新一任行政長官在七月前產生,公民社會和商界組織進一步發展的政黨,應該盡早讓熱門或冷門的候選人,知道中央的要求之外還有民間對制度改革的訴求。難道在內地政府也頻講「制度創新」的世代,香港這個理應走在現代化前沿的城市甘於在舊制度下兜圈嗎?

    政制改革仍要繼續

      在政治和社會的改革中,保守與前瞻兩種理念,總是在互動之中。當保守力量在出力時,改革力量也要不辭勞苦、不計個人利益加大力度,讓社會得以平衡。

      北京希望香港長治久安的苦心是可以理解的,但在香港國際大都會的各種國際影響下,是否只維持保守方向便能達到長治久安?新的行政長官及其班子,能否抓緊這個各方妥協形成的局面,促進香港各階層以良性互動的方式邁向二○一○年,筆者拭目以待。港英模式.二之二

      本文僅代表筆者個人意見,不代表研究所立場。

    海嘯募捐投訴

    海嘯募捐投訴56宗

    【明報專訊】就南亞地震和海嘯,本港多個團體發起募捐活動,但社署接獲56宗投訴,較過去3年共接獲的32宗相關投訴為多。

    衛生福利及食物局長周一嶽表示,在56宗投訴中,7宗已交由警方跟進,當中3宗證據不足,其餘4宗在跟進中。

    主動抽查耗人力

    對於立法會議員劉江華要求政府主動抽查慈善團體,周一嶽回應指,這樣耗費大量人力物力,非具成本效益的做法。現時稅務局和社署會定期抽查曾有不當募捐行為的團體。

    三十會

    SARS後成立善用所長回饋社會

    【明報專訊】問「三十會」創會成員是否在紅酒、高爾夫球局上認識,他們神神秘秘不肯揭盎,只說是「朋友的朋友」。但引發他們「創會」的事件,則是人人皆知的香港大事──SARS。2003年SARS令全城發起清潔行動,這群「西裝友」自動請纓到屋洗地,魏華星笑言:「洗地不是我們專業,效果不太好,因此決定還是善用所長,回饋社會。」

    魏華星和莫宜端,雖然想不起受過香港什麼大恩惠,但他們都認同七十年代出生的一群,乘香港經濟起飛浪頭,是最幸運的一代。魏華星說,自己是香港出生、香港讀書的土產﹕「看自己的地方起跌,希望出一分力。」

    「三十會」會員來自銀行、設計、醫療、法律、工業等專業,「代表香港有知識的中產階層」,會員數目由創會時10人,增至現時260人。有關《水退之後》一書及該會資料,可瀏覽網站:http://www.30SGroup.org

    中年中產充當記者寫下海嘯回憶

    【明報專訊】人到三十,得到一份工作、一架車仔、一間屋仔、一個老公/老婆仔後,還求什麼﹖一群年到三十的中產香港人,組織一個「三十會」,試飲紅酒外,更主力發表文章月旦時政、組織社區活動協助弱勢群眾。去年南亞海嘯後,會內30位專業人士學搖筆桿做記者,為善忘的港人留下海嘯的集體回憶。

    魏華星,1972年香港出生,香港城市大學畢業,現職電訊盈科資訊科技部策略拓展經理。

    莫宜端,「七幾」年香港出生,負笈英國完成學士、碩士學位,曾任無和香港電台記者,現職香港政策研究所研究員。

    三十會為海嘯災區重建籌款

    2003年SARS後成立的「三十會」,會員在SARS期間曾拿起地拖協助全城清潔。魏華星和莫宜端兩位成員,最新「跨界別」動作,是聯同另外28位義工走入傳媒界,出版《水退之後》一書,採訪海嘯中失去摯親、前往災區救援、留港組織籌款的港人。除了為災區重建籌款,他們也擔心港人對災區的關注退得像潮水那樣快,因此希望記錄屬於港人的海嘯集體回憶。

    專業人士當訪問新丁

    大部分負責採訪義工平日身居要職,但在訪問現場卻只是個「新丁」。魏華星說,一位行政管理人員訪問曾志偉,準時6點抵達片場,到11時才等到曾志偉抽出空檔接受訪問。中產「分分鐘都是錢」,5小時白等的成本可想而知。雖說是新丁,但靠義工的人際網絡,海嘯遇難者黃嘉雯的父親黃承洵、藝人曾志偉、赤柱監獄的捐款囚犯阿強,都成為被訪對象。

    曾任無、港台記者的莫宜端,今次是她轉行後首次復出,她覺得「執筆」較「執咪」讓她看得更多,如發現了帶港人脫離險境的領隊李兆邦﹔最大收穫不是「英雄」榮譽,而是重燃工作熱誠。她說:「新聞重視的數字,往後未必有人記得,但新聞對個人影響,往後留下來的,就是這些故事。」

    西裝筆挺的「IT人」魏華星,在書中也「忽然感性」,總結對海嘯災難的一點感受,「失去的,雖不能挽回﹔重拾的,卻更值得珍惜。」對經歷97回歸後,政經跌盪局面的香港中產,這句話是否同樣適用﹖

    明報記者李曉雯

    Wednesday, March 09, 2005

    香港雙生會

    支援多胞胎家庭

    【明報專訊】婦產科專科醫生羅致廉表示,本港婦女生雙胞胎的機會為1%,生3胞胎的機會則低於0.05%,生雙胞胎再生雙胞胎的機會更微,可能是數年才有該類孕婦出現。

    由於養育多胞胎面對的精神壓力及體力消耗,都較其他生一胎一嬰兒的父母大,故育有孿生子的曾劉寶堅,參考美國組織「雙生線」,於1995年在港成立「雙生會」,為多胞胎的父母提供支援服務。該會由創辦初期的5個家庭,發展至今已超過160個家庭加入,並歡迎多胞胎的父母加入。查詢可致電23171108。

    楊震《 四》

    團體請願促社署查資深社工被炒事

    【明報專訊】早前本報報道,循道衛理楊震社會服務處年初裁去服務機構9年的資深家庭部門主管麥尤美韶,昨日多個社工組織趁社署的整筆撥款督導委員會舉行會議時,到場請願,要求社署調查事件,香港社會工作者總工會會長張國柱(遞信者)昨日透露,社署已承諾為事件開聆訊委員會,圖為社署總社會主任符俊雄(左)接過請願信。

    民間組織「靜巴運動」

    民間組織「靜巴運動」﹕設靜音區作用不大

    【明報專訊】爭取在公共交通工具內不受廣播服務「滋擾」的民間組織「靜巴運動」,對九鐵宣布將在全線列車播放新聞及廣告表示惋惜,其主席吳華孔表示,在文明社會要求互相尊重的發展中,九鐵安排卻「嚴重滋擾乘客」,「講電話要細聲,聽跑馬要用耳筒,為什麼車廂不停賣廣告我們卻沒有選擇﹖」吳不接受九鐵為部分車卡設靜音區的安排,認為作用不大,且繁忙時間列車擠迫,靜音區形同虛設。她建議改為不發聲的電視,或至低限度提供喇叭開關掣。

    環署運署無法管制車廂噪音

    吳說,現時的《噪音管制條例》不適用於車廂噪音,環保署難以管制﹔運輸署亦因已給予九鐵專利權而無法管制其行政措施。她批評九鐵的安排等於將乘客安靜地乘搭交通工具的權利出賣給廣告商,利益歸於私人公司,並減低「想安靜坐車的乘客」乘搭九鐵的意欲。

    九鐵發言人回應稱,車廂靜音區的比例是根據早前調查乘客需要而定,計劃開展前亦會有內部測試,確保聲浪在合適水平,服務推出後將會再檢討聲量水平。

    Sunday, March 06, 2005

    楊震事件《三》

    社福機構被指換血省成本

    炒月薪5萬社工副手頂上薪3萬

    【明報專訊】商界聘用資歷淺的僱員以降低成本的手法,有社福機構 「照辦煮碗」採用。該「開創先河」的機構,替轄下一間綜合家庭服務中心「換血」,把月薪5萬元、有30年經驗的資深主管開除,改用其副手只有7年經驗、月 薪3萬的年輕社工。事件轟動社福界。立法會社福界代表張超雄及工會均質疑,機構為了慳錢,犧牲服務質素,但該機構卻反駁「換人」純屬架構重組,聲言會「提 升服務質素」。社工界今日將發動簽名行動,並於下周約見社署署長鄧國威,社署表示,正調查事件。

    7年經驗換走30年經驗

    根 據社署資料,全港60間綜合家庭服務中心的主管,一直由10年經驗、月薪5萬的資深社工出任,以處理棘手的家庭暴力問題。社福界稱今次換血為「楊震事 件」,被裁的麥尤美韶(麥太),是循道衛理楊震社會服務處家庭部主管。張超雄解釋,事件迴響之大,因為楊震在家庭輔導表現出色,是「名牌」,主持人麥太有 30年經驗,甚有「江湖地位」。今次事件,張超雄認為會直接影響市民﹕「像一間武館以往由黑帶六段坐鎮,現在以黑帶三段頂上,失去了十多年戰鬥經驗,武館 守不住時,家庭悲劇便會發生。」

    麥太畢業於中大社工系,曾於社署服務12年,是保護兒童課(俗稱重案組)「開山祖師」,其後效力加拿大保護兒童機關8年,輔導當地白人家庭,1995年回港後加盟楊震,負責管理大角嘴綜合家庭服務中心和幼兒園,曾主持10次社署重案組的虐兒個案跨部門會議。

    楊震指換人純屬架構重組

    麥 太職位是社工主任(Social Welfare Officer, SWO),今年1月收到解僱通知,表示會由她下屬,只有7年經驗的助理社工主任(Assistant Social Welfare Officer, ASWO)取代其職位。社署承認,全港由社署運作的綜合家庭服務中心,主管均是SWO職級,從未有ASWO出任的例子,兩職位薪金中位數相差2萬餘元。

    社署強調,1999年撥款機制改變成一筆過撥款後,機構可自行調動人事,但根據撥款指引,若經濟壓力引致裁員,社署有權干預。

    但楊震董事會主席鄭之灝卻解釋,換人是「基於服務需要、更有效運用資源,以及機構長遠發展,目的是提升服務質素,與縮減資源無關,亦不會影響服務質素」。但社工工會主席張國柱及社聯均認為,今次裁員和資源緊絀有關,擔心會影響服務質素。

    社工界發動簽名穿黑衣行動

    張國柱及張超雄指,麥太只是「冰山一角」,他們接獲社工被無理解僱的個案,共有10多宗,但礙於要求職,未敢露面。楊震工會已發起工業行動,逾百人已簽名支持麥太,並已在春茗上發起穿黑衣行動。

    明報記者譚蕙芸

    Saturday, March 05, 2005

    AMPA Reunion at Helping Hand

    The second reunion event of AMPA was held at the Holiday Camp of Helping Hand at Ma On Shan. Paul from Helping Hand is the host. Joseph, as the guest speaker, talked about civil society development in recent years and the case of the Harbour Reclamation social movement was used to compare with the stagnant development in the social welfare sector.

    Highlight of the day was the BBQ meal, and the location and scenery of the Camp was amazing. I long know about this camp (and my parents-in-law have had vacation here before) and it's good to pay a visit long after my years with the Community Chest.

    民間團體 vs. 牟利組織

    西貢合唱團兒童集體退團

    【明報專訊】由西貢區議會資助、成立約25年的西貢兒童合唱團,近70名家長近日不滿管理委員會的帳目及管理,宣布3月將集體退團並自立新團。據了解,引發是次問題的導火線,與委員會近日成立新合唱團支部有關,家長不滿在未經諮詢下,有人利用合唱團名義作宣傳,收取近一倍費用。西貢區議會主席吳仕福表示,未收到有關投訴,但會進一步了解。

    疑合唱團變牟利工具

    吳仕福指,合唱團屬於民間團體,每年有數次向區議會提交資助申請,只要申請符合批核準則便獲得資助。吳指確實資助數目需時覆查,但估計每年約逾萬元。

    西貢兒童合唱團共有3個支團,每團30多名團員,是由西貢區議會資助的地區性民間組織,每月團費180元,近年有不少公開及海外演出,備受讚賞。有團員家長昨日廣發新聞稿,表示早前該團成立一個新的分團,財政獨立自行營運,團費高舊團費近一倍,但家長亦不滿事前未獲通知,懷疑管理委員會成立新團,利用合唱團的名氣及資源牟利,將「由區議會資助的一個地區性合唱團,變為一個牟私利的工具」。家長雖曾要求審視帳目及投訴,但不獲接納。

    有家長表示,本月底兩團約70名團員會先退團,餘下一團亦正考慮退團,將於4月自行成立新合唱團。截稿前本報仍未能聯絡到管理委員會代表回覆。

    Friday, March 04, 2005

    馬店市愛滋病捐款

    神經婦挪公款捐愛滋戶

    百萬元惠及7000家庭失款大學追討

    【明報專訊】河南駐馬店市慈善總會上月21日收到100萬元人民幣捐款,其後將捐款發予7000多個愛滋病患困難家庭。據新華網報道,這筆捐款原來是山東中國石油大學一名精神病人挪用的公款,而是否該追回巨款已成為熱門話題。駐馬店市慈善總會昨天表示,該會尚未證實捐款人是精神病人,問題還在商洽中。

    新華網引述駐馬店市慈善總會辦公室負責人蔡華振說,上月11日一名叫孔亞嫻的女士致電說要捐款,同月22日慈善總會的銀行帳戶就出現了一筆100萬元巨款,並註明用途是「贊助愛滋病困難家庭」。經電話查詢,得知巨款是山東省東營市中國石油大學資訊與控制工程學院的孔亞嫻所捐。按照捐款人的意願,慈善總會第二天就將百萬元分頭發到駐馬店市所轄的10縣1區民政部門或慈善機構,並委託他們下發到全市7415個愛滋病困難家庭。

    任職中國石油大學出納員

    2月26日,中國石油大學資訊與控制工程學院負責人找到慈善總會,稱孔亞嫻是學院的出納員,因患精神病已被家人送往醫院治療,這筆捐款是她挪用國家下撥的科研經費,要求慈善總會退還。

    慈善總會職員說,慈善機構經常收到不留姓名的捐款,而慈善機構沒有調查捐款者款項合法性的責任和義務。目前這筆捐款除了按規定將5%即5萬元留在慈善總會作經費而尚未動用外,其餘95萬元已經全部轉到基層,其中大多數已經發到愛滋病困難家庭手中。

    河南金博大律師事務所律師孫保山說,根據法律,捐款人捐贈的財產應是其有權處分的合法財產,挪用公款捐贈是違法行為,但作為受贈方的駐馬店市慈善總會並無義務和責任一定要退還捐款。

    慈善會稱未證實患病

    中國石油大學現仍與慈善總會協商捐款事宜。校方承認內部財務管理有漏洞,並指孔亞嫻的家人正陪她在南京一家醫院接受治療。不過,慈善總會辦公室一名不願透露姓名的職員昨天接受本報查詢時卻反問,「誰說那個人是精神病患者﹖」職員指該會還未得到醫院證實捐款者是精神病患者,目前還未決定怎樣處置捐款。

    Thursday, March 03, 2005

    Promoting Venture Philanthropy in Hong Kong?

    Here's another article by 鄭建生 on promoting philanthropy in Hong Kong. I've been promoting the idea of community foundation and the concept of charitable gift funds; it's good to know that there're other scholars who are also advocating similar concepts. Venture philanthropy has been quite a big buzz in the US during the dot com boom but it soon died down after the IT bubble burst. And since then the term "high impact philanthropy" has been used to replace "venture philanthropy".

    For a good discussion on the concept of venture philanthropy, see the relevant book chapter on - High performance nonprofit organizations: managing upstream for greater impact / Christine Letts, Allen Grossman, William Ryan. New York:Wiley, 1999.

    建議匯豐牽頭「創投慈善」

    信報財經新聞
    鄭建生
    2004-10-07

    香港在企業社會責任(CSR)方面非常落後。道瓊斯永續指數中,香港有太古、利豐、地鐵及九巴四家企業入圍,而富時社會責任環球指數唯一香港企業—和記黃埔,在人權及環保條件都不再符合新規定下,在今年三月被撇除。特許公認會計師公會(ACCA)近月搜集全球五千份上市企業「可持續發展」報告,比較各地企業的CSR程度,全港不足十間公司有這類報告。相反,在今年五月,新加坡勞、資、政府三方成立委員會,推行企業社會責任計劃,鼓勵更多公司把企業社會責任 融入公司的運作和企業文化之中,包括減少使用膠袋、推行親家庭靈活時間工作制、不因種族或性別歧視工人等。

    而香港的社會責任投資 (SRI)基金規模尚小,筆者建議匯豐銀行牽頭推動,成立「敬老SRI基金」。亞洲可持續發展投資協會及香港大學企業環境管治計劃進行的一項問卷調查顯 示,在八百八十四名受訪者中,有百分之六十一的受訪者表示如有選擇的話,希望將部分強積金供款投資在SRI基金內,而在各組別中更以月入六萬元及每周作出 捐款的受訪者最有興趣。只要有良好零售網絡的支援,敬老SRI基金受歡迎可期。而匯豐銀行正有這方面的客觀條件。不單如此,匯豐也有良好的主觀條件。

    匯豐集團主席龐約翰制訂未來發展方針時,把CSR作為集團經營業務的首要考慮。不是其中一個,而是首要!匯豐銀行成立「企業社會責任委員會」,在去年增加捐 獻三成多至逾四千七百萬美元資助全球公益活動,又舉辦推動中小企提高CSR的計劃—SME Living Business Awards。匯豐銀行亦加強基金發展,最近亦在內地開展基金業務,理應是發展敬老SRI基金理想之選。

    基金回報支付部分綜援開支

    敬老SRI基金當然會投資在有正面CSR的香港及內地企業,基金的回報會支付部分綜援開支。敬老SRI基金亦可以突破一般互惠基金的做法,考慮採納捐贈基金的模式。基金鼓勵市民及企業購買單位基金或捐獻。購買基金的市民犧牲基金的部分回報,但可以隨時取回供款。當然,基金若虧損,市民只可以取回扣除虧損部分的供款。若市民在離世時沒取回供款,供款便自動當作捐獻。

    老人家最擔心的是醫療問題,「死慳死抵」儲下「老本」,除「百年歸老」的用途 外,最重要便是醫療費。由於嚴重憂慮沒有足夠醫療費令他們有痛苦的晚年,因此他們往往有大筆錢放在銀行,沒法進行較進取的投資。醫管局有一項措施,老人家 在銀行戶口有太多存款會令他們失去免費或平價醫療服務。對於這個措施,老人家的憂慮是可以理解。因此,當局可以豁免計算在敬老SRI基金的資產,他們便可以安心存放在基金內,可以享受免費或平價醫療服務。

    長者亦可以作出「遺贈」(bequest),立下遺囑,自己和老伴去世後,所持物業捐予「敬老SRI基金」。在一九九七年,美國「遺贈」佔業主去世留下物業的百分之十四。更有趣的是,這類物業價值愈貴重,作為「遺產」留予後人的比例愈低, 反而作為「遺贈」的比例愈高,二千萬美元以上的物業就有百分之四十九捐為「遺贈」!至於捐出大額資產及金錢的善長仁翁,敬老SRI基金甚至可以考慮每年支 付他們一定數額的金錢作生活需要。敬老SRI基金更可以和按揭證券公司合作,落實或推廣逆按揭(Reverse Mortgage)計劃。

    你或許認為這個基金不可能得到很多捐獻,對綜援以至財赤問題只是杯水車薪。然而西方的發展卻帶來強而有力的反駁。在美國,很多商業巨子在晚年成為慈善家,成 立不少慈善基金,捐出大部分資產。著名的卡耐基去世前捐出了九成財富,在全球多國興建了二千五百間圖書館。他曾說,帶著財富入棺材是富豪的恥辱!創立CNN的端納捐出近一百億港元予聯合國;英特爾創辦人捐出近五百億港元,用作環保和醫療發展;全球首富蓋茨已經捐出二千億港元。

    「盡賺盡儲盡施予」

    現在愈來愈多人沒有生育,甚至獨身,其中擁有巨額資產的亦愈來愈多。因此,對於一些沒有下一代或不願將遺產全部留給下一代的人,最善用自己財富的方法可能就是捐贈予敬老SRI基金。

    「善長仁翁」或許是不準確的稱謂,因為新一代西方創投慈善家一般由三十至五十歲,多是白手興家的青年才俊。新晉富豪多是年輕、有良好教育的創業家。新一代富豪 慈善家更把營商手法用於慈善事業上,所以歐美出現「創投慈善」(venture philanthropy)的名詞。他們不喜歡慈善機構「伸手」(hand out),要推動它們「振臂」(hand up)。他們不願將捐款一筆過捐獻之後,發現捐款用不得其所;他們改為透過長時間投入,建立一個可持續的架構,參與及挑選有意義的慈善活動,推動正面的社 會價值。本港企業履行社會責任時,仍然停留在公益捐獻的層面,敬老SRI基金是「創投慈善」的創新嘗試。

    敬老SRI基金可以成為以創意推動敬老的機制,例如可以推動「三人養一老」運動,三百多萬打工仔為一百多萬名老人家買醫療保險,基金可以提出等額資助。在香港,助養小孩子的需要比前減少,應該是轉向助養老人了。

       亞洲可持續發展投資協會及港大的聯合調查顯示,百分之七十三的宗教活躍者有濃厚興趣將強積金投資在SRI基金。中國神學研究院教務長李思敬在一個崇拜聚 會上說,英國著名牧場衛斯里曾教導處理金錢之道,不是視金錢如糞土,也不是只顧提供優質宗教服務服侍教內人或吸引教外人,而是「盡賺盡儲盡施予」。他也引 用提摩太前書六章十七至十八節的經文:「你要囑咐那些今世富足的人,不要自高,也不要倚靠無定的錢財,……又要囑咐他們行善,在好事上富足,甘心施捨,樂 意供給人。」敬老SRI基金可以是落實中國及不同宗教的「善有善報」、「積福布施」、「施比受更有福」、「禮尚往來」、「老吾老以及人之老」理念的最好方 法。

      如果得到個別富豪、社會福利界及宗教界的支持,敬老SRI基金可以關顧長者、幫助滅赤、推動CSR發展之外,更能凝聚香港人。

    善用港人的善心

    A fairly comprehensive article from Hong Kong Economic Journal (信報) on the state of philanthropy in Hong Kong (published in January, right after the tsunami fundraising buzz). I'd once written an article on a similar topic after the SARS outbreak, but HKEJ had not published that article, probably because the article is a bit too long and that I'm not a well known scholar...

    善用港人的善心

    信報財經新聞
    鄭建生 香港大學亞洲研究中心助理教授(研究)
    2005-01-17

    印度洋海嘯之後哀鴻遍野,香港市民在不足兩周內籌得近七億港元,平均每位市民約捐出一百元,人均民間捐款在全球數一數二。我們更可確認,相比受南亞海嘯災難 有切膚之痛的國家及地區,並無國際政治野心的港人慷慨捐輸,純粹出自無私的善心。惻隱之心,人皆有之,港人尤濃。和賑災時的表現不同,港人平時的捐贈文化濃厚嗎?不。

    香港是一個低稅地方,在二○○三年實收個人入息稅項只是人均收入的百分之五,是全球第七低的地方(國際管理發展研究所《二○○四年世界競爭力年報》)。低稅率意味藏富於民,民間的持續捐助對以非政府機構為主力的公民社會發揮著決定性的影響,但香港定期慈善捐款卻差強人意。

    近年來,每年百多萬納稅人申報慈善捐款扣稅額只有二十億港元左右,而商界慈善捐款扣稅額更只有十億港元左右。而所謂慈善捐款更包括捐予宗教組織的「奉獻」 的。慈善捐款扣稅額限額在去年度增加到應評稅收入或利潤的百分之二十五,但事實卻是,總入息比較,納稅人只捐贈(假設捐款扣稅額和捐款數字相距不大)不足百分之一。

    公益金的捐款數字最高峰時亦只有二億三千萬元,之後逐年下跌,前年度更跌至一億五千萬元以下,跌幅三成多,○三至○四年度終止 跌回升,反彈至一億八千萬元。又以賣旗為例,在○二╱○三年度,有一百四十五機構獲批,籌得七千多萬元,每機構平均籌得五十二萬元。再加上公開籌款(以社署批出公開籌款許可證為根據)的活動,涉及一億多元捐款。

    美國《商業周刊》去年十一月報道,在○○至○四年捐款全球最多的微軟創辦人蓋茨夫婦,二十年來已捐了逾二千億港元,佔他們資產淨值逾半。和西方國家比較,香港富豪的捐贈甚至可說是一毛不拔,香港的捐贈文化是非常薄弱。

    慈善監管存在漏洞

    粥少卻僧多。近年本港的慈善機構數目大增,○二年比九七年增加三分一;公開籌款數目大幅增加,○一至○二年有三百七十四宗,到○三至○四年增至五百六十八宗,增幅超過五成;排隊等社署抽簽賣旗的慈善機構亦愈來愈多,社署唯有研究增加賣旗籌款的日數。無怪乎馬會慈善信託基金對慈善事業有無法取代的影響力,因為每年撥款數達十億元。

    為何香港在賑災之外的慈善捐獻無什表現呢?其中一個原因是,不少人對偽善行為恥與為伍。大中華演藝界在一月七日的《愛心無國界演藝界大匯演》是香港首個籌款節目中,沒有任何商業贊助獻唱或名人贊助自己亮相。可以看到,以往不少慈善活動是變相的商業推廣、發財立品甚至 是沽名釣譽的行徑。

    除此之外,慈善監管的重大漏洞亦阻礙善行。申訴專員公署直接調查監管慈善籌款活動的安排,在前年二月公布調查報告,建 議加強慈善機構的透明度及問責性。社會福利署去年十一月因此推出《慈善籌款活動最佳安排參考指引》(下稱《指引》),期望慈善機構遵守,包括捐款者有權查 閱慈善團體的年報、財政收支等資料,慈善機構需清楚交代善款的用途,亦列明受薪籌款人員不能採取佣金制。不過,有關指引沒有法律約束力,亦沒有任何罰則。 官方稱:「最大的懲罰是名譽破產,難以展開籌款工作」,然而,有些機構根本就無心「慈善工作」。

    認可的免稅慈善團體有三千多個,沒有任何監管制度下,有多少是魚目混珠呢?善款用途既然無需向任何人交代,有多少是山頭式經營,「自把自為」,幫助根本沒有幫助需要的人?《指引》沒有列出限制行 政費佔總捐款收入的比例,有多少將籌款所得變成負責人的工資、辦公室租金,同時進行慈善以外的活動,甚至用作慶功或購買昂貴的器材?

    良莠不齊,市民對所謂慈善團體心存戒心,考慮捐款時寧缺勿濫。原本為善不甘人後的港人結果遠遠站在人後。港人的捐款就像投資活動,資本豐厚,苦無優質捐贈項目,苦無捐款出路。慈善活動沒有素質保證,令有心人有心不發力。社署是否應該考慮設立三級制呢?符合稅局要求的三千多個慈善團體是為三級,符合《指引》的慈善團體是為二級,而社署應訂立比《指引》要求更高的標準,能夠滿足的慈善團體是為一級,公益金旗下的一百四十一間機構以及在這年度重新招收的新會員理應達到這級別的水平。

    目前亦沒有足夠機制令善心人及受助人互相觸動。根據世界宣明會《助養兒童計劃工作報告二○○四》,世界宣明會在不同國家的助養兒童總數為二百二十萬,而香港人助養了九萬一千個兒童,達百分之四點一。也就是說,每七十四個港人就助養一個兒童。港人的善心是追求貼心化的,善款是放在真正有需要的人身上。讓港人親身感受到受助人的需要,善款便會源源不絕。

    馬會主席夏佳理及香港公益金籌募委員會主席柯清輝都指出,商界愈來愈關注慈善機構的透明度及捐款用途,亦希望集中資源,直接幫助到心繫的幫助對象。公益金亦會盡量讓參與者清楚知道籌款目標,例如去屆百萬行便以長者服務為籌款對象。不過,長者服務還是太籠統,不夠具體。社會服務聯會的二○○四周年建議書,建議發放長者中醫醫療開支及長者看病的交通津貼。如果要為長者籌款,應該轉為長者中醫醫療開支才夠具體。

    切勿變成政治角力

    社聯亦認為一個普通的中學生應該可以在家中上網、一周看數次報紙、一年游水六次、四次打球或看戲或到博物館、一年看三次私家醫生,但這些項目都未被納入計算綜援方法,因此四人家庭的兒童綜援每月應增加六百元。其實,公共財政有沒有可持續的能力支付這些額外開支?一定要由公帑支付才體現社會關懷嗎?向外籌款讓綜援學童能夠有錢每年去看三次私家醫生,公眾明白 到這個需要而又認同時便自然會捐款。這樣,大眾便有一個直接的途徑關心社會上弱勢群體的需要,也是由公眾以自己的行動處理眾人之事,而不是由政治人物將一 個貼心但富爭議性的問題變成一場政治角力。不贊同將綜援金額提升至遠超安全網水平以上的納稅人,也不會覺得變成「慷他人之慨」的犧牲品。

    曾經向特首要求安樂死的斌仔公開自己的處境後,政府便成立「癱瘓病人援助基金」,資助癱瘓人士購置復康用品,改裝家居,以及招請護理員,不用「屈於」醫院,可以回家生活,再展新生。只要有一個渠道,自必一呼百應,香港善長仁翁也渴望找到有意義的捐贈項目,好讓善心不枉送。

    香港電台正可提供一個這樣的渠道,例如製作《善訊》(只是舉例,並非建議)節目,介紹不同慈善機構及社會需要。透過受助人的現身說法,慈善機構的工作及意義 有機會直接呈現市民眼前,打動善心。特別是在慈善機構進行賣旗或籌款活動前,這節目可以介紹他們具體的計劃,如何善用善款,落實他們的理念及遠象。港人 一 向樂善好施,只是怕好心被人欺。

    Wednesday, March 02, 2005

    長者網絡發展協會

    I'm doing some research on philanthropy and retrive numerous articles from HKEJ. Here's another old article. Both「長者安居服務協會」and「長者網絡發展協會」are running very excellent services. I know about their activities hrough John and other NGO friends and have once referred a potential donor to them. Hope that donor has eventually made a donation to them...

    長者IT服務籌款不易

    信報財經新聞
    程家明
    2004-07-08

      民主黨立法會議員羅致光早已公開表示,不會參選下屆立法會,他對未來看來已滿肚密圈,其中一項是長者工作,包括利用IT幫助長者改善生活素質。

      羅致光在一九八三年已開始接觸長者工作,當時的對象是中西區老人,現在,他手頭有關長者的工作,共有三個主要項目:一、出版長者雜誌;二、「包租公」計劃;三、改善舊區管理。

       羅致光是「長者安居服務協會」的主席,該會旗下的「長者網絡發展協會」亦由他出任主席,長者網絡協會在二○○一年開辦了一個「老友網」,是一個長者入門 網站,亦稱為「老有網」,意謂有網沒網的分別;長者雜誌《老訊》,是「老有網」的一部分。這位等候離任的議員認為,老人家需要可以自己host的免費網 頁,需要自己的電郵戶口;亦需要資訊服務,例如安老院的資訊,特別是有素質的、可信的資訊。

    銀髮市場具發展空間

      他 說,網絡世界裏原本已有大量的資訊,但網頁多由年輕人設計,很少考慮到老人家的局限,例如字體太小、行距太密;此外,長者也非常需要有關健康、安老院、消 閑的資訊,但坊間的資訊良莠不齊,哪些是廣告,哪些是真正的資訊,「有料」、「無料」有很大分別,因此有需要想出一個方法,方便長者們獲取有用、正確的資訊。對目前網上的資訊,他說:「我仍不滿意。」

      日本是亞洲區內較早注意到「銀髮市場」的國家,香港在這方面卻仍未起步。羅志光認為, 銀髮市場不單是產品,服務亦有開發的空間,例如旅行團,老人的要求與年輕人很不一樣,老人早起,節拍慢,不能去太多地方;他希望能舉辦老人博覽會,但暫時 供應方面仍未就緒。換言之,供應銀髮市場的產品與服務仍未足以支持一個博覽會的規模。

      長遠而言,他期望長者網絡服務能企業化,自給自足。他預計「老有網」以蝕十年為限(由二○○一年起計),這十年間靠捐款支持,期間希望推動出一個銀髮市場。

       不過,羅致光透露,為這類電子化的長者服務籌款比較困難,因為很多人認為IT對長者不是必需品,因此,去年底微軟香港透過一個叫做Unlimited Potential的全球計劃,與長者網絡發展協會合作,舉辦長者電子賀卡展或慈善義賣,對協會是很實質的幫助。微軟這個全球性慈善計劃主要是以社區為基礎,向有需要的人士提供科技培訓,針對的不單是長者,也包括年輕人及少數族裔等。

    互聯網增加長者社交機會

      談到IT對 長者的作用,羅致光認為主要來自兩個方面,一是心理上的,另一是與子女與外界的聯繫。心理方面,懂得使用IT,令長者覺得自己追上時代,不會脫節;聯繫方面,現在許多成長子女已不與父母同住,有些更移居海外,電郵、Web-Cam都有助長者獲得更多有效途徑與子女接觸。這些對長者而言,十分良好,有助長者 心理健康。

      羅致光說,有說法指網上接觸缺乏真正的「人氣」,但事實是,上網對長者也多了社交機會及話題,長者網友也喜歡相約「飲茶傾偈」交換上網心得等;此外,在網上遭拒絕,感覺上不會像當面或電話裏被拒那樣強烈。

      此外,用電腦也有助長者發展出更多其他興趣,例如數碼照相、由下載照片到自製光碟。長者從中可以找到更多新的活動,老人家活動得愈多就愈健康,這是IT對長者一大貢獻。

      羅致光接觸到的長者社群,發現網上的資訊果真令他們追上潮流,他們也跟青少年一樣講「秘技」,例如講做powerpoint的「秘技」等。

       上周政府統計處新公布的數字顯示,香港人口生育率與增長率去年雙雙創下戰後新低,整體人口在二○一五年後將加速老化;去年,六十五歲以上人口超過八十六 萬。據羅致光手上的資料顯示,有用電腦的長者約佔百分之二點五,即二萬人左右,其中用電腦上網者則有一萬至一萬五千人,部分是到老人中心上網,「老有網」 亦有兩個中心,一個在灣仔,仍未全面運作,另一個名為「老友學園」,在觀塘,有十部電腦。不過,老人中超過四成是文盲。這是在長者中發展IT的一大局限, 年齡反而不是一個問題,許多八十多歲的老年人都可以在電腦面前興致勃勃。筆者也不時收到超過八十歲的親戚的電郵。

      另一個發展長者IT網絡的障礙,是人對風險的厭惡(risk aversion)—怕失敗的心理障礙。所以,羅致光說,找「有心機」的導師很重要;他們經常會由老人家來幫忙老人家,因為老人家有的是時間,「唔掂攪到掂」。

    「包租公」服務走散了的羊

      此外,也有退休人士幫忙做導師,例如校長、老師等,學得較快的便可以教;不過,這不是說不用年輕人。羅致光說,年輕人的參與可以有另一重意義,就是讓年輕人多點了解老年人,從而學習跟長者相處,令他們回家後面對老一輩時,更加明白年長者的需要與局限。

      至於前述羅致光三項有關長者的主要工作,IT與雜誌只是其一,另外兩項則是有關改善長者居住環境的,與IT關係不大,其中,「包租公」服務是協助住在自己物業的獨居老人。

       羅致光說,香港為數一百萬的老年人口中,十二萬獨居;在這些獨居老人中,有一成住在自己的物業裏,其中不少是舊樓,維修差,居住環境很糟糕,但這些老人很多都沒有錢維修,因此,「包租公」計劃打算籌一千萬元,進行一個試驗,為這些老人代管物業,把物業裝修後出租,租金令長者有固定的收入,而長者可搬到老 人院舍或公屋居住。這計劃的基礎是:這些舊樓通常市值低,但租金仍可以有百分之十至十二的回報,所以租比賣對該獨居老年業主更「著數」。

      至於改善舊區管理則原來不是針對老人家的,但長遠而言,這些社區將成為老人家的社區,因此必須及早令這些社區內的設施、物業不要殘破得那樣迅速,令住在裏面的人可以有更舒服的居住環境。羅致光形容舊區管理改善是亡羊補牢,而「包租公」計劃則是服務走散了的羊。

       不管是否採用IT,老人問題必須及早。香港目前四十至四十九歲的人口比例最大,因此,二○一六年老人比例增幅會最大,二○二一年後更成為社會的最大挑 戰,到二○三六年問題將達致頂峰。羅致光說,老年問題如果單靠政府資源一定不足夠,必須與私營企業一起合作,如要老人服務能持續,必須發展出一個銀髮市場,單是靠慈善捐助,不足以令老人整體生活得更好。

    Starbucks and Oxfam

    Starbucks just opened a new outlet at HKU campus (next to the HKU Library). As a coffee lover, and being lured by the 30% discount offered, I've already become a customer of the new shop. Is Starbucks CSR conscious? While they're not the best corporate citizen, they're not that poor either. And some NGOs have openly admitted that they chose to attack Starbucks simply because it's a big brand and not because it has a particularly poor record on CSR. The following news item from HKEJ talks about how Starbucks responded to NGO's attacks and how it has worked with Oxfam in projects to help the coffee farmers...

    星巴克肩負更多社會環保責任

    信報財經新聞
    2004-11-01

    星巴克(Starbucks)行政總裁史密斯表示,星巴克展開了一個積極進取的計劃,確保店內出售的咖啡都是來自環保而且工資合理的農場。

    星巴克預期,到二○○七年,該公司六成咖啡將出自嚴格遵守環保和勞工規例的農場。

    星巴克目前在全球各地擁有八千五百多家咖啡店,集團希望藉此避免旗下咖啡店遭到抵制或名聲受損。

    星巴克最近在英國的生意受到嚴重打擊,因為慈善組織樂施會向外界展示在全球出現的咖啡危機。

    星巴克因此和樂施會合作,在埃塞俄比亞咖啡種植區進行一個偏遠地區發展計劃。史密斯表示,這個計劃不會增加公司成本,因為星巴克撥出的費用已經包括鼓勵各地咖啡豆種植商植樹、限制農藥使用及增加工人工資的獎勵。

    一九九九年,當世界貿易組織(WTO)在西雅圖開會時,當地的星巴克咖啡店受到反世貿示威者衝擊。

    星巴克一直以高於市場價格的價錢購買咖啡。過去三年,該公司的平均出價是每磅一點二美元,相比之下,阿拉伯咖啡的十二月份紐約期貨周四只報每磅七十七點七美仙。

    史密斯表示,因為他們出價甚高,所有人都想跟他們做生意,而星巴克就可以利用這一點,迫使咖啡商遵守他們的原則。

    星巴克目前出售多種不同的一磅裝咖啡,包括蔭下栽種(shade-grown)、公平交易(Fair Trade)和有機培植等。

    星巴克在非牟利環保組織環保國際(Conservation International)和其他非政府組織的協助下,推出咖啡種植指引,名為Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E.),並由獨立環境及食品安全評估及鑒定公司Scientific Certification System負責監察參與這個計劃的種植商■

    北京的士司機行業協會

    In various occasions the Chinese Government seemed to be quite open for promoting the establishing "trade/industrial associations" (行業協會) as a special breed of "third sector organizations" in the Chinese society. The officials might change their mind if more right-based organizations are established...

    京的士司機組協會爭權益

    【明報專訊】全國兩會召開前夕,北京的士司機生計艱難的狀再次受到媒體和當局關注。一些司機接受本報記者採訪時說,「的哥」生計問題已到火山爆發邊緣,再不正視並解決,「遲早會出大事」。據了解,目前一些「的哥」醞釀成立「司機權益維護會」,擬通過自發成立行業協會及法律手段維護生存權益。

    每天開車15小時賺19元

    北京市交通局的報告顯示,北京市現行登記在冊的士共6.7 萬輛,全市擁有的士准駕證、的士服務監督卡的登記司機逾20多萬人。北京的士司機為「份錢」(車租和管理費)而拚命的事早已不是新聞。康師傅是北京銀建計 程車公司的司機,40歲,開的士10年。康師傅對記者說,因長期每天開車十五、六小時,他得了腰痛毛病,已沒有性生活。「沒辦法啊,要交份錢。」

    據 康師傅所述他前一天的工作流程是﹕上午8時出車,工作15個小時,北京市8個城區他跑了6個,累計行駛300多公里。他算了一下,15小時總收入305元 人民幣,扣除車份錢186元,油錢近100元,因此他15個小時工作的實際收入僅得19元。午夜12時許,康師傅才下班回家休息。

    據北京 千龍網刊登的調查報告顯示,以正常休假和每天8小時工作計算,每輛的士每月收入約6450元,但每月扣除車份錢平均數4800元、燃油費1800元、修理 費400元、餐費215元、罰款100元、的士計費器年檢費每月30元、個人收入調節費每月60元,合計支出7405元。如此,的士司機每月還要倒賠 955元。怎麼才能不虧損呢﹖只有靠延長工時、疲勞駕駛來增加收入。

    律師牽頭 月費10元

    該份調查還顯示,北京的士司機平均每天工作14小時,每月工作時間427小時,比法定的252小時多出175小時,也基本沒有假日。除去交給公司的「份錢」外,司機的基本收入在1000元到2000元之間,其收入低於北京平均工資。

    一位「的哥」向記者披露,部分的士司機正醞釀組織「維權會」,由律師牽頭,計劃每名的士司機每月繳納10元會費,由「維權會」出面爭取與維護的士司機的合法正當權益。據稱,該計劃已得到部分的士司機響應,目前正緊鑼密鼓籌備中。

    明報駐京記者鍾國華報道

    Tuesday, March 01, 2005

    藝術發展檢討

    I'm now involved in a book project - spearheaded by the International Association of Theatre Critics (Hong Kong Branch) - to document and evaluate the development of Hong Kong's arts sector over the past decade after the establishment of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council. From the perspective of public administration and public-sector management, I'll contribute on areas regarding how the overall trend of administrative reform has impacted the performance of the HKADC and more specifically, the institutional lessons from the ADC experiment, issues on grant and funding mechanisms, and the development of a wide range of arts policies. I'm confident that the book project can serve as a good source of reference for ADC's own review as reported below.

    藝發局3月提交西九意見書

    【明報專訊】剛換班的藝術發展局,將在3月底西九龍諮詢期完畢前,向政府遞交一份意見書,闡述文化界對西九龍的意見,內容會探討文娛區及本地文藝界關係,並建議區內管理方法,甚至會逐一評論3大發展商的計劃。至於外界爭論的單一招標及天幕問題,報告或會從簡。

    單一招標問題從簡

    藝發局主席馬逢國昨日在藝發局春茗上表示,過去幾個月正當西九龍討論如火如荼之際,藝發局正值換班時候,新一批委員剛上班,已開了兩次會議討論西九龍。他表示,大家的共識是希望西九龍成事,問題是如何能令藝術界有空間發展,帶動文化產業及長遠推動市民質素。

    他表示,藝發局會根據文委會報告提出的原則,就西九龍發表意見書,分別是注重軟件、以人為本、留意區內外設施協調等,他解釋,單一招標及天幕等問題在坊間已討論了很久,故他們會重文藝內容發表意見。

    另外,他說會用6個月時間,檢討藝發局過去的優劣,並會開放一點,多與文藝界接觸。馬逢國又說,希望在任內探討以捐獻名畫代交遺產稅,及建議若地產項目加入文藝設施,能加送地積比等文化政策。

    至於西九龍諮詢期會否延長,政府表示仍要觀望未來數星期參觀西九龍展覽的人數,才決定是否延長。

    Monday, February 28, 2005

    Amnesty International

    國際特赦創辦人病逝

    【明報專訊】於44年前創立國際特赦組織(Amnesty)的英國律師本南森(Peter Benenson)周五病逝,享年83。在他帶領下,國際特赦致力伸張全球人權,榮獲諾貝爾和平獎。

    本南森近年長期患病,周五晚在英國牛津的醫院因肺炎去世。國際特赦秘書長伊林汗讚賞本南森畢生致力對抗全世界的不公義,給世界各處監獄、刑訊室和死亡集中營帶來光明,是勇氣的證明。英國外交部說,雖然偶與國際特赦發生政策歧見,但英國政府對本南森通過創立國際特赦推動人權的「巨大貢獻」是肯定的。

    61年學生被捕展特赦運動

    受業於英國一等學府的本南森,孩童時代就開始為伸張人權而抗議,參與了支持西班牙內戰孤兒的運動。1961年,40歲的他讀報看到兩名葡萄牙學生在當時仍處於獨裁統治的里斯本一家咖啡館,為自由乾杯而被逮捕入獄的新聞後,激於義憤,決定發起一項原打算為期1年的特赦運動。未料活動引起廣泛回應,運動遂由針對單一事件的團體,定位為揭露和對抗各國政府不公義的民間組織。

    以倫敦為總部的國際特赦,目前在全球的會員和支持者超過180萬。在組織25周年活動上,本南森為「所有無法拯救出監獄、在送往監獄途中被槍殺、被處以酷刑、被無故綁架失蹤的人」點起了一支被鐵線纏繞的蠟燭,這其後亦成了組織的標誌。

    曾為金大中昂山素姬奔走

    國際特赦曾為昂山素姬、金大中、哈維爾等政治良心犯四出奔走,又就蘇丹達爾富爾種族屠殺、美國關塔那摩監獄被囚的「嫌疑恐怖分子」遭剝奪人權虐待等,仗義執言,不惜開罪權貴。

    敢批西方侵人權行為

    它既抨擊金正日、薩達姆等專制政權,但亦抨擊西方和親西方政權侵犯人權行為,曾招來前英國首相戴卓爾夫人、親西方的前智利獨裁者皮諾切特抨擊。

    路透社/美聯社/法新社

    自幼不平鳴出錢出力衛人權

    【明報專訊】畢生奉獻於人權事業的本南森,生於1921年,是俄國猶太裔銀行家之孫。在母親鼓勵下,在讀書時代開始,已經常不平則鳴,並且顯露出對人道的關注。他幼時受業於著名詩人奧登(W. H. Auden)。入讀伊頓公學後,曾為校內伙食問題勇敢地向校長投訴,又推動扶助西班牙內戰孤兒運動並助養了一名嬰兒,又參與組織募款活動,援助兩名由納粹德國逃到英國的猶太孩子。

    助養受戰爭影響孤兒

    他於牛津大學歷史系畢業後,到國家新聞部工作,50年代當上律師,獲英國工會聯盟派往西班牙為工會人士是否獲得公平審訊做觀察員。他曾數度代表工黨參選但均落敗。

    1961年,他從報上得悉有葡萄牙學生為自由乾杯而被捕囚禁,遂向英國《觀察家報》投函表達不平,引起廣泛迴響,促成了國際特赦的成立。在組織成立最初的幾個年頭,因經費短缺人手不足,本南森要親自出錢出力,幾乎參與了組織所有事務。本南森憶述﹕「(組織草創)那時候我們全都只是邊試邊學地去做。」

    從此,國際特赦不斷寫信苦纏各國政府要求釋放「政治良心犯」,呼籲關注人權,並於1977年獲得諾貝爾和平獎。人權作家鮑威爾說﹕「(國際特赦)這種低調但持之以恆、跨越宗教種族意識形態的工作,出乎意料地有效。」

    觀察家報/英國廣播公司/路透社/星期日泰晤士報

    Saturday, February 26, 2005

    兩成半港人會把遺產捐慈善

    From today's Apple Daily...

    遺產留給子女 比率僅佔六成
    港人退休後最想做義工

    【本報訊】一項國際性調查顯示,有三成一本港受訪在職人士及一成九退休人士,最想在退休後做義務工作,比率為十五個國家及地區中最高。兩成半在職港人稱日後會把遺產捐予慈善機構,比率僅次於新加坡及美國;只有六成人稱會把遺產留給子女,比率為當中最低。 記者:倪清江

    調查由AXA國保險於十五個發達國家及地區進行,總共有九千二百名在職及退休人士受訪,以了解他們的退休事宜。本港在職人士平均希望在五十五歲退休,但他們估計平均要到五十八歲才可真正退休;不過當中有四成三受訪者希望延遲退休,他們平均想等到六十三歲才退休。

    當被問及退休生活,近兩成本港受訪退休人士稱想做義工,同樣也有三成一在職人士表示日後想做義工。在歐美甚受退休人士歡迎的園藝活動,卻沒本港受訪者表示有興趣。

    八成人遺產給伴侶

    調查亦發現,港人對子女可說是最「狠心」,因為只有六成在職人士表示會將遺產留給子女,在十五個國家及地區中最少;稱會留給伴侶的有八成,排第四位。有兩成半在職人士表示會將遺產捐給慈善機構,只低於新加坡的四成及美國的三成一比率。

    調查亦顯示,受訪香港退休人士每月平均支出需八千八百元,但每月平均收入只有五千六百元,欠缺三成六,大都相信退休時要依賴子女。為應付日後的退休生活,受訪的在職人士現時每月平均儲蓄四千元。

    理工大學應用社會科學系副教授何國良指出,去旅行需要金錢,做運動需要體力,從事園藝活動需要很大居住地方,對居住在港的退休人士都不容易達到。他又說,香港人向來沒有計劃退休生活,而做義工屬抽象概念,故較多人選擇並不為奇,「唔能夠話港人特別有愛心,否則退休前後都應做義工。」

    香港善導會

    From today's Mingpao...

    釋囚夫婦棄綜援為兒子自力更生

    毒海回頭珍惜生命

    【明報專訊】細文和雯雯以往浮沉毒海的經歷與一般隱君子無異﹕因結交損友而沾染毒癮、進出監獄、戒毒……但一個小生命的誕生,卻令他們更懂得珍惜生命。從此,兩夫婦放棄向社署申請每月8000多元的綜援金, 自力更生﹔媽媽在家照顧小兒子,爸爸在外當月入6500元的保安員。看精靈活潑的進仔,他們說﹕「我們不吃也沒所謂,希望他快高長大,將來不要步我們的後塵。」

    ...

    獲善導會飛躍大獎金獎

    脫離毒海後,雯雯深明戒毒者需要別人支持,故對18歲開始吸毒、當時「有心無力」的細文說﹕「你戒毒後才可與我一起。」就是這個「戒毒認同」將兩人連繫一起,然後結婚生子,重過新生,他們並獲得今屆香港善導會「進取的心獎勵計劃」飛躍大獎金獎之一。

    該會區域經理杜國森說,近年社署不斷削減資源,已無力開辦釋囚職業培訓班,去年幸得贊助商資助才能開班﹔現要尋找更多贊助商開班,並聯絡更多僱主聘請釋囚,讓他們自力更生(查詢21856262)。

    Friday, February 25, 2005

    ARNOVA Conference - Call for Participation

    Call for Participation
    The 34th Annual ARNOVA Conference
    November 17-19, 2005
    Washington, DC USA

    The Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA) invites participation in its 34th annual conference. The special focus area this year will be:

    Nonprofits, Philanthropy and the Public Agenda: Linking Research, Practice and Policy

    Nonprofit organizations influence and affect the public agenda in numerous ways-from constituting alternatives to public action to highlighting problems that should be on the public agenda; from being third party agents critical in the implementation of various social policies to providing evaluation and feedback on policy effectiveness; from independently addressing community issues to constituting alliances to address public issues. Likewise philanthropy can support or be a partner to alternatives to public policy, both domestically and internationally. Indeed, philanthropy and nonprofits are significant influences on the public agenda in most forms that that agenda takes: campaign issues, subjects for legislative hearings, court cases and regulatory rulings, public opinion polls, issues receiving media attention, the activities of international organizations, and public and private research agendas. Furthermore, nonprofits and philanthropy often seek to influence the public agenda by bringing both research and practical experience together to define issues, identify possible causes, develop potential action options and to inform policymaker and the policymaking processes. In turn, the actions of public policymakers at all levels of governance can affect demands upon and resources available to nonprofits as well as impose new costs or delegate added responsibilities. This year's conference offers an opportunity to explore the dynamics, forms, challenges and effectiveness of these interactions. Topics of interest include (but are not necessarily limited to):
    • The practices of philanthropy as agents of change, catalysts of issue definition, and developers of model programs
    • The role of nonprofit practitioners in identifying, addressing, and advocating for policies and programs that address problems they deal with on the front line
    • The role of scholars of nonprofit organizations in identifying problems and challenges unique to the sector and developing ideas for how to respond
    • The practices of the independent sector and nonprofit organizations in being advocates for policy action, including case studies focusing on specific issues or sub-sectors
    • Obstacles and incentives for better communication and collaboration between researchers and practitioners
    • The ways in which recent or pending public policies affect the mission, operations, and evaluation of nonprofits and the independent sector
    • Methods for communicating with policymakers and assessments of the effectiveness of philanthropy and nonprofits in influencing policy activity
    • The role of nonprofits and philanthropy in influencing transnational and international governance and the forces of globalization
    • How education about the third sector and of future nonprofit administrators is responding to significant environmental changes brought on by globalization, technological change, shifting relations between the sectors, and demographic changes
    In addition to the focus areas listed above, we solicit proposals in areas such as the management and operation of nonprofit organizations, comparative studies of the third sector, and human resources including leadership and volunteerism. Moreover, proposals can address issues related to specific sub-sectors, e.g., health, social services, religious, arts and culture, civil society, recreation, advocacy and voluntary associations, etc.

      Monday, February 21, 2005

      Giving by the Middle Class

      From today's SCMP...
      Middle class most generous when it comes to charity
      Monday, February 21, 2005, PATSY MOY

      Middle-class people with an annual salary of between $400,000 and $600,000 are the most generous donors to charity, Inland Revenue Department figures show.

      Taxpayers from that income group contributed $496 million, or 0.69 per cent of their income, to charities in 2002-03 - more than double the rate of those who earned more than 10 times as much.

      The nearly 150,000 taxpayers in the middle income group earned a total of more than $70 billion in that year.

      Statistically, each contributed an average of $3,000 a year to charities.

      People who earned between $7.5 million and $10 million that year contributed 0.32 per cent of their personal income to charities.

      Ho Wai-chi, a fundraising consultant to the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, said the rich were "less generous" than the middle class.

      In light of the generosity of middle-class families, Mr Ho said he hoped the middle classes could be encouraged to designate part of their assets to charity in their wills, - a concept similar to that of organ donation, allowing them to continue to share their concern for charities after their death.

      Mr Ho said some businessmen had made contributions through companies instead of in an individual capacity.

      But charitable donations under profits tax exemption in 2002/03 totalled $640 million, only about one quarter of the $2.35 billion from salaries taxes.

      Sociology professor Ting Kwok-fai, of the Chinese University, said donors would usually consider the actual amount of their donations instead of the proportion of their income, which may explain why those in the upper economic classes contributed a smaller portion of their salaries.

      But Professor Ting pointed out that many people from the middle class in Hong Kong originally came from the less privileged families, climbing the ladder of success through their own efforts such as obtaining a higher education and professional qualifications.

      "They were not born with a silver spoon in their mouth and tend to be more sympathetic towards those who live in poverty," the sociologist explained.

      Mr Ho expected donations from individual donors could jump fourfold to $10 billion a year from $2.3 billion because the government drastically relaxed the cap on tax deductions for charity contributions from 10 per cent of personal income in the past to 25 per cent last financial year.

      He said charities should try to gear up to attract more donations amid the strong competition. They should not just maintain conventional methods to appeal for funding such as charity sales and walkathons.

      The number of charities applying for tax deductible status has jumped almost one-third in five years, from 3,060 in 1999 to 3,981 last year.

        社福大聯盟

        六成社福機構下年度現赤字

        【明報專訊】有社福界人士透露,據其了解,政府委任顧問公司研究社會福利機構財政問題的報告中,顧問公司估計在 05/06年度,約有六成社福機構出現赤字,至09/10年度更增至近九成。顧問指出,機構可能要透過凍薪及凍結增薪點、聘用低薪員工方能收支平衡。社福 大聯盟批評顧問公司沒有一併評估員工士氣受打擊情,倘一旦停止發放撥款,員工士氣低落,會影響服務質素,建議政府就撥款公開諮詢業界。

        報告未正式發表

        社署4年前更改志願機構撥款機制,由實報實銷變成一筆過撥款,給予機構更大理財彈性,承諾員工福利薪金不變,方法包括向機構連續5年給予「過渡期撥款」、按 原有合約所訂之增薪點支薪。社署早前委託顧問公司研究5年過渡期滿後,受資助機構的財政狀及需要支援程度,報告尚未正式發表。

        大聯盟指出,政府一旦停止「過渡期撥款」,機構或會以不同方式解僱員工﹔新入職的員工薪酬雖較低,但缺乏經驗,對服務質素有一定影響。大聯盟批評顧問公司有預設立場,假設政府停止發放撥款,沒有評估員工士氣受打擊情,建議政府就撥款公開諮詢業界。

        業界指未評估士氣

        報告中指出,有61%的機構在05/06財政年度會出現赤字,到09/10年度更增至89%,顧問公司評估,若機構由05/06年度開始每年減省2%或以上 支出,則絕大部分機構可在09/10年度達收支平衡﹔削減開支措施可能包括凍結薪酬及增薪點、以較低薪酬聘請人員代替離職員工。

        大聯盟指出,研究原初目標是如何協助受資助機構在06年後應付財政困難,但結果只眼於要求機構在短時間內消滅赤字,沒考慮機構是否有足夠資源維持現有服務。社署發言人表示,顧問公司並未提交報告,一切留待報告完成才公布,現階段不評論。

        Thursday, February 17, 2005

        Graduate Fellowships on Nonprofit Financial Management

        Graduate Fellowships in Public and Nonprofit Financial Management, School of Public and International Affairs, Virginia Tech

        A New Graduate Fellows Program
        The School of Public and International Affairs at Virginia Tech announces two new graduate fellowships in public and nonprofit financial management to begin in fall 2005:
        • Three- year fellowship for Ph.D. student in Public Administration and Public Affairs or Environmental Design and Planning.
        • Two- year fellowship for master student in the Master of Public Administration, Master of Public and International Affairs, or Master of Urban and Regional Planning.
        Student fellows will matriculate in their degree program while holding graduate research assistantships in the University's higher administration.

        The Goals of the Program
        The School's Fellowship Program in Public and Nonprofit Financial Management is tied to a developing curriculum and research program targeted at increasing understanding of the relationships between financial and budgeting systems and public and nonprofit organization effectiveness and accountability. More specifically, Fellows will enjoy the opportunity to pursue advanced course work and research with interested faculty that:

        • Examines the relationship of budgeting and financial management systems to the allocation of organizational resources
        • Explores how budgeting and financial processes relate to effective performance outcome measures and strategies
        • Investigates cutting edge organizational planning and management tools for more effective resource administration, including capital, treasury and debt management.
        For additional information concerning School Programs, please visit: http://www.spia.vt.edu.
        .

        Saturday, February 12, 2005

        「中產之聲」(Part II)

        中產組織半月招逾百會員

        人數直逼民協關注預算案稅項扶貧政策

        【明報專訊】由中產人士組成的獨立組織「中產之聲」,註冊後短短半個月便招收了逾百會員,當中有學者、律師、教師,會員數目直逼成立了19年的民協的百多人。這股中產新勢力崛起之快,令政界人士側目。

        同一時間,政府和政黨也正各自戮力爭取中產支持,財政預算案將會是首個戰場。政府籌備了年多的中產論壇,最快可在下月出台,過去兩個月,已不斷向政黨和學術界發出邀請,每名立法會議員提名3人,八大院校每間提名16人,經篩選後組成論壇。餘下論壇成員由各政策局和民政事務局轄下的中央名冊資料庫及自薦人士中尋找。

        政府篩選準則要是月入3萬元以上,有專業資格,以及現時並非任何諮詢及法定組織成員。

        陳鑑林﹕現時「弱者強勢」

        民主黨副主席陳竟明表示,中產人士知識水平一般較高和較獨立,部分認為政黨不能代為發聲是正常現象,但他否認民主黨只偏向基層。他說﹕「民主黨認為好的政策是中產和基層都會受惠。」民建聯陳鑑林坦言現時是「弱者強勢」,某些政黨偏向弱勢人士,令中產受忽略。

        兩黨都提出今年財政預算案應有稅務寬減的措施,以紓緩中產壓力。

        在 「中產之聲」的網站內,有50多名登記會員表達了意見,他們對政府的綜援政策反應最大,直指政府「劫中(產)濟貧」,「貪得無厭,好似前世欠了他們。要立刻取消綜援,改為無現金的援助方式」、「幫窮人無問題,但係唔可以淨係派錢而不斷加重中產負擔」、「不要再浪費我們的血汗錢,快減稅」。

        發起人之一的無黨派人士李子榮昨接受本報記者訪問時指出,有感政府沒有體恤中產需要,也沒有政黨能替中產發聲,所以要成立「中產之聲」。他說網站已有50多名會員,另外亦收到50多份書面申請。

        對綜援政策反應最大

        他表示,會員有律師、教師、家庭主婦等。他說,中產之聲不會有正式會員大會,但會透過網頁作為討論平台,收集意見。近期他們已就3月財政預算案設立討論區,部分成員希望提高父母及子女免稅額、免差餉半年至一年等,整理意見後,他們稍後會提交意見書給財政司長唐英年。

        中產另一關注重點是扶貧政策,李氏指出,會員意見認為,增加學童學習機會,不應限於基層兒童,可以公開予其他有需要的家庭。他們亦不支持政府「派糖」,希望政府小心制訂扶貧政策。他們稍後也會交意見書給扶貧委員會。

        政府決心搶中產支持

        【明報專訊】標榜代表中產利益的「中產之聲」近日傳出已招收了逾百會員,並準備在財政預算案發表的前夕一試牛刀,向財政司長提出要求。看來政府也會重視他們的意見,因為一位接近政府最高權力核心的人士近日提示本報記者要留意——特區政府會決心跟政黨一較高下,力爭中產的支持。

        中產亂極思治反對派「失去支架」

        這位知情人士指出,香港社會是以中產人士為主體,經歷幾年亂局之後,他們已「亂極思治」,希望香港經濟好轉,社會轉趨穩定,眼見反對派沒甚作為,「失去支架」,最終只有回到手執行政機關大權的特區政府。

        按照政府高層的研判,只要特區政府繼續改善施政,對反對派罵不還口,並小心推行政策,不輕率行事,盡量減少社會矛盾,埋頭改善民生,最終可以趕過政黨,取得中產人士的支持。

        政府研判﹕中產取態偏保守

        政府的研判又認定,中產的取態是偏向保守和重視社會的穩定。因此只要政府爭取到他們的支持,將可以協助政府維持穩定的政局。

        這位核心人士又指出,民主派賴以起家的「民主抗共」概念,其實已過時,因為近年港人與中央的矛盾已經緩和,但民主派還以為自己掌握民意﹔殊不知政府內部的民調顯示,主流民意是希望社會和諧穩定,今年民主派發起的新年大遊行,最終也只得2000人參加。

        政黨難平衡基層中產利益

        另一個令政府感樂觀的原因,是政黨有選票包袱,不得不偏向基層,當基層跟中產在利益上出現衝突,政黨便很難處理。

        長期以來,民主派中佔主導位置的民主黨其實也意識到,他們不能只顧基層利益,需要開拓中產的支持,但奈何他們始終擺脫不了地區力量的制約,政策上無法偏向中產。如今政府大力開拓中產的支持,且看民主黨會如何回應。

        Friday, February 11, 2005

        New Book on Community Informatics

        The Community Informatics Research Network (http://www.ciresearch.net), held its 2004 Inaugural Conference and Colloquium with the theme, 'Sustainability and Community Technology: What Does this Mean for Community Informatics?', at the Monash Centre, Prato, Italy, 29 September - 1 October, 2004.

        Proceedings are now available for purchase:

        The CIRN 2004 Prato Conference proceedings (ISBN 0-9581058-3-9) include all the refereed and non-refereed papers from the academic, practitioner, and PhD streams.

        There are 48 papers in the two volumes coming to more than 600 pages of text and graphics, with contributions from many countries. The Proceedings are an excellent resource for your organisation's research, teaching, and practical activity in community informatics.

        Additional information (including the table of contents, list of authors and introduction) available at http://www.communities.org.ru/prato/

        Proceedings CD:

        In addition to the all the conference papers being reproduced as
        bookmarked PDFs, the proceedings CD contains:

        -- MP3 sound files of the Conference Opening and keynotes from Don Schauder, Laura Ripamonti, Erica Rosalen and Mike Gurstein, as well as their accompanying powerpoints.

        -- 200+ Prato photos taken by participants

        -- Inaugural Issue of the Journal of Community Informatics

        -- CIRN Brochure

        -- CIRN Cape Town 2005 Announcement.

        Publishers of the book are the Centre for Community Networking Research, School of Information Management & Systems Monash University and Community Informatics Research Network, Inc.

        The book has been desk-published in Russia by the Centre of Community Networking and Information Policy Studies (CCNS).

        To order and purchase a copy of the proceedings please go to www.ciresearch.net/proc2004.htm.

        We invite you to purchase additional copies for your institution, and to distribute the information below to colleagues. As there are only a limited number of copies available for purchase, please encourage them to do so quickly!

        Best regards,
        Sergei Stafeev

        苗圃行動

        300市民行路上廣州籌款[09:15]

        2005/02/11

        苗圃行動約300人今日出發,步行到廣州,為山區兒童教育籌款。

        苗圃行動今次是第12年舉辦這項籌款活動,參加者每日步行約6至8個小時,預計年初六抵達廣州。

        Thursday, February 10, 2005

        Fundraising on the Internet

        From Philanthropy Journal

        Fundraising in today's Internet-driven world requires more than a "donate now" button on your Web site. You need the latest tools and techniques for fundraising success. Download our free fundraising guide and discover: How to create online fundraising campaigns that get results. How to measure online fundraising success. What successful nonprofits are doing to achieve success online.

        Wednesday, February 09, 2005

        賣旗籌款

        賣旗時限擬延長2小時

        【明報專訊】在削減福利開支下,賣旗籌款成為本港慈善團體每年收入的來源之一,向社署申請賣旗籌款的團體亦大幅上升至200多間。社署為滿足需求,今年進行多項賣旗安排改善及試驗計劃,除增加分區賣旗日數外,亦會試驗將賣旗時間延長兩小時,希望增加籌款團體及善款金額。

        申請機構升幅近六成

        社署資料顯示,近年申請賣旗籌款的團體數目可說是連年上升,由2001/02年度的141間,上升至2005/06年度的225間,升幅近六成,但經濟不景加上其間爆發SARS,導致善款則連續數年下跌。

        社署助理署長韓潔湘表示,近年多了團體登記為慈善機構,導致申請賣旗籌款的機構明顯上升。為滿足需求,社署會在賣旗安排上進行多項改變,首先會增加分區賣旗日數,由04/05年度的16日增至05/06年的29日,由於分區賣旗日可容納3間機構在同日賣旗,故總體賣旗團體可增至加20%至117間,但這數目仍與申請數目有一定距離。

        韓潔湘表示,一些規模較小的機構未必有足夠義工進行全港賣旗,分區賣旗反而可讓他們集中資源籌款,機構亦反映分區賣旗的總收入,較全港賣旗稍多。

        韓潔湘指出,在本年4月共5個賣旗日將會試驗延長賣旗時間措施,由以往上午8時至中午12時,延長兩小時至下午2時,相信可吸納一班巿民在中午放工後買旗,有助提高善款,若反應良好會在本年9月全面推行。

        僧多粥少收益料不多

        防止虐待兒童會總幹事雷張慎佳及香港社區組織協會主任何喜華指出,政府削減社福開支,令不少團體需要賣旗籌集經費,兩人皆歡迎社署推出有關改善措施。何喜華 表示,由於賣旗涉及印旗、製旗袋、尋找義工等成本,故在籌款機構明顯增加下,可能出現「僧多粥少」情,機構實際收益估計不多。

        另外,在03/04年度共收到10宗懷疑籌款行騙個案,而在04/05年有關籌款行騙個案增至20宗,當中有7宗與南亞海嘯籌款有關,社署已將個案交警方跟進。



        明報記者﹕梁偉健

        Tuesday, February 08, 2005

        Call for Submissions - "Democracy & Society"

        ** Call for Submissions - "Democracy & Society" Issue 3 **

        Georgetown University's Center for Democracy and the Third Sector (CDATS) invites article submissions for the next issue of "Democracy & Society." "Democracy & Society" (D&S) gives substantive treatment to important themes related to democratic governance and the third sector. (Log onto the CDATS website to view previous issues of D&S)

        WHAT KIND OF SUBMISSIONS ARE WE SEEKING?

        For this issue, we are seeking well written, interesting submissions of 800-2000 words on the theme below, including summaries and/or excerpts of recently completed research, new publications, and work in progress. Submissions are due Friday, March 3, 2005.

        Theme: Global Civil Society

        We are seeking submissions exploring the role and the impact of global civil society as well as changes in its structure or composition. We especially welcome submissions from scholars and other researchers from third sector organizations and from outside the United States. Potential questions to address include, but are not limited to: In what ways is global civil society able to promote greater international democracy? In what ways is it failing? Whom does global civil society represent, and how is representation legitimated? How is global civil society responding to the challenge of the rising power of "regressive globalizers" who favor globalization only when it is in their particular interest? What has been the effect of a more formalized role for civil society in global institutions? How are the people, organizations, and values of transnational civil society shaping our world? Can we look to global civil society to address concerns about inequity, health, and security? What are the implications of growing demands for the accountability of global civil society organizations?

        SUBMISSION DETAILS

        Ideal length is 800-2,000 words. Please email submissions (MS Word preferred) to cdatsnews@georgetown.edu. Endnotes preferred. Please include your name, department or organization, title, and contact information. Submissions for this issue are due Friday, March 3, 2005.

        Monday, February 07, 2005

        社會福利服務從業員協會(社福協)


        社工組新工會擬拓內地市場

        【明報專訊】社工界有新勢力崛起,一個標榜「促進香港與內地社會福利界服務交流及發展」的社 工工會剛成立,副會長認為,「社工不要只看見香港,要有跨界目光」﹔面對社福界削資,社工就業前景暗淡,他們主張開拓大中華市場,「輸出社工」北上就業。 至於立法會社福界代表張超雄和其他工會領袖主張的07、08年普選,該會坦言未有立場,副會長說﹕「太政治化是問題,要以行業利益行先」。

        香港社會福利服務從業員協會(社福協)去年10月成立,頭炮活動「無國界社工」,派社工義務到泰國海嘯災區提供輔導。外務副會長陳義飛(圖)表示,16名創 會者中,10人是前度或現任國際社會服務社(下稱國際社)職員,他和另一副會長都曾被派駐內地做社工,他本身亦擁有北京大學法學學士學位。

        北上社工月薪3000至7000元

        他說,他們和其他工會最大不同之處,是致力促進中港社福界交流。「香港回歸後,兩地融合是大趨勢,意味社工不能局限在這裏。」陳義飛形容,政府有財赤壓力, 不能無限度增加資源,社工要就業,內地是個「龐大的機會」,卻未見其他工會爭取,「其他專業如會計師也爭取CEPA專業資格互認,社工卻沒有」。

        他說,曾向上海幹部提出「輸出社工」概念,對方亦表贊同,並計劃聯絡內地官商宣傳這概念,但據他估計,北上社工月薪只有3000至7000元。有人認為香港問題不少,社工不是要先服務香港嗎﹖他說﹕「社會問題不可能全部解決」,又指「在香港受訓,除了服務港人也可服務其他人」。

        立法會社福界代表張超雄在立會倡議「公投」,哄動政界,其他工會領袖亦主張普選,社福協的政治立場如何﹖「我們未談過普選議題,我個人看,香港太政治化是問題,好多同事『搵朝唔得晚』,還是做好業界及同工利益為先。」

        「太政治化是問題」

        陳又謂﹕「張超雄提出要『四圍點火頭』,若火頭燒光房子,我們便要執手尾。」他認為政府應委任張到扶貧委員會,因為「始終他都是代表我們的立法會議員」。

        (明報記者譚惠芸報道)


        同業關心社福協背景

        【明報專訊】有資深社工分析,過去6年也沒有新的社工組織出現過,故社福協的出現,確引來社工關注。社工界互聯網留言版上,對該會有不少查詢,甚至有社工留言,要求該會交代職員背景、資金來源,又查詢該會是否與中方有關。

        副會長﹕沒任何政黨關係

        副會長陳義飛說,他們和任何政黨沒關係,但他曾替民主黨羅致光競選立法會助選。另一副會長陳萬聯曾是學協成員,去年立法會選舉曾任工聯會助選團團長,對於他 是否親中人士,他不置可否,只說﹕「社工做服務最緊要」。社福協現有50名會員,約20萬元的創會費,一半來自兩名商界朋友。

        有600多 會員的社會工作者總工會會長張國柱說,只要組織對社工行業有幫助,歡迎它成立,對於「不談政治、多和內地溝通」的立場,他說要「尊重不同人的訴求」。張國柱重申自己的看法﹕「我認為愈早有普選愈好,香港可愛的地方是可以說話,我的立場亦代表業內同事訴求。」有1000多名會員的社會工作人員協會則沒有回 應。

        社福界立法會議員張超雄表示,歡迎不同聲音在社工界出現,對於自己被批評是「點火燒屋」,他說﹕「社工行內因為一筆過撥款已有很多矛盾,『火』我不點也很熱,希望大家能夠一起解決這個矛盾。」

        Sunday, February 06, 2005

        W創作社

        各位朋友:
        音樂劇場
        《你今日拯救0左地球未呀?》即將於四月上演,請多多支持。 如有查詢或需要訂票,也可直接聯絡我。也請把以下訊息及表格轉寄給有興趣的朋友。 謝謝。 Eddy 陳銘匡/宣傳主任


        W創作社X 蘇玉華X 林一峰
        成人童話音樂劇場《你今日拯救0左地球未呀?》預訂門票送紀念Tee

        詳情亦可到W創作社網頁: www.wtheatre.org.hk

        繼《馴情記》之後,W創作社與林一峰再次聯合主辦《你今日拯救0左地球未呀?》,並將於4月20日起在藝術中心壽臣劇場公演 10 場。

        《你今日拯救0左地球未呀?》乃搞笑感人的成人童話音樂劇場,內容描述徘徊生與死的純真世界,舞台佈景燈光服裝的運用出乎你意料,主演主唱的林一峰特別為本劇 撰寫多首全新歌曲,並邀得蘇玉華擔任女主角,以及荷里活電影《史力加》動畫總監許誠毅擔任美術設計,其他主要演員包括邵美君、梁祖堯、黃雪文、楊詩敏、劉 子騰及吳劍菲,更有一群劇場幕後精英助陣,絕對值得期待。

        《你今日拯救0左地球未呀?》現推出優先訂票服務,你只需於2月24日前預訂任 何一場$280門票,除可獲得安排最佳座位外,成功訂購兩張門票的觀眾更可獲得《你今日拯救0左地球未呀?》珍藏紀念Tee(非賣品)一件。(成功訂購四 張門票則獲贈紀念Tee兩件,如此類推。)

        香港藝術中心壽臣劇場
        日期:05年4月20至24日,26至28日8pm及
        05年4月23至24日3pm
        靚位門票價:$280

        優先訂票表格亦可在W創作社網站www.wtheatre.org.hk
        林一峰網站www.chetlam.com下載
        截止日期:2月24日 (郵寄信件以郵戳為準)
        查詢熱線:6411-5602

        Saturday, February 05, 2005

        香港脫貧網

        樂施會《香港脫貧網》電子報 (4/2/2005)

        "香港脫貧網" 是由樂施會一班關注香港貧窮及不平等問題的義工精心製作的網頁,目標是透過探討現今香港社會上發生在你我週遭的貧窮和不公義的社會現象和問題,從而使大眾 對此有更多的認識,以及喚起大家的關注,凝聚多一分改革的聲音和力量。此外,我們亦希望這網頁能提供機會,分享你對問題的看法、感受和提出建議。

        Friday, February 04, 2005

        香港仁人家園協會

        捐「利是」助海嘯災民

        【蘋果日報】新春將至,小朋友可有想過怎樣善用來的利是錢呢?香港仁人家園協會主辦的「利是重建行動」,為南亞海嘯災民重建家園。小朋友只要捐出四百元的利是錢,每二十人加起來,就能為災民提供一間新屋。

        已建五十多間屋
        曾 在世界各貧困地區籌建十多萬間房屋的基督教建屋組織仁人家園,昨日正式宣布成立香港分會。該會主席陳達文說,已在海嘯重災區的印尼及斯里蘭卡興建五十多間住屋,預料總數將會在兩年內擴展至二萬五千間。該會的頭炮籌款活動,是為全港中小學生而設的「利是重建行動」,同學們需要自行組隊二十人參加,只要每人捐出四百元,全組籌得的八千元就足以興建一間新的單層住屋。

        蘋果基金接受申請撥款

        蘋果基金接受申請撥款: 蘋果日報慈善基金因應社會需要,定期舉行會議,審批社福機構遞交的計劃書,資助創新及有意義的服務,直接幫助弱勢社群。

        2月18日截止

        蘋 果基金2005年度第一季撥款現正接受社會服務機構申請,任何非牟利慈善團體、小組、自助組織均可提出。社會服務機構可將有關計劃書寄交或傳真至基金,以 便蘋果基金愛心基金委員會於短期內審核,截止日期為二月十八日(星期五)。

        社會服務團體可向蘋果基金索取《資助社會服務計劃》申請表格,另亦可上網查閱有 關資料及下載申請表。

        查詢:29908688
        傳真:23702192
        網址:http://www.charity.atnext.com
        地址:將軍澳工業西駿盈街8號

        暖流熱線
        電話:29908688
        傳真:23702192
        電郵:adfund@appledaily.com
        網址:http://www.charity.atnext.com


        New Publication: Government-Civil Society Policy Partnerships

        Strengthening Social Policy: Lessons on forging government-civil society policy partnerships

        The culmination of a two year CIDA-funded project, this book looks at a series of innovative experiences and common lessons that can help government and civil society actors address social policy challenges. Edited by the Institute On Governance, the publication contains fascinating case studies on indigenous peoples' rights, children's rights, maternity leave, consumer rights, and the prostitution and trafficking of women. The studies were prepared by lead researchers in each of the five participating countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Canada. The publication captured the attention of the World Bank Institute, who invited the IOG down to launch their series of Brown Bag discussions in November 2004.

        Table of Contents


        Chapter 1:
        Introduction

        Chapter 2:
        Policy Partnerships in an Era of Cosmopolitan Governance
        Jennifer Chandler

        Chapter 3:
        The Context for Partnership in the Participating Countries

        Chapter 4:
        Preventing Trafficking in Women and Voicing Women’s Political Interests
        Case Studies from Indonesia
        Joe Fernandez

        Chapter 5:
        Strengthening Partnerships Between Civil Society and Government
        Case Studies from Malaysia
        Dr. Denison Jayasooria

        Chapter 6:
        Children’s Protection and Indigenous People’s Rights in the Philippines
        Case Studies from the Philippines
        Dr. Francisco A. Magno and Ruth Lusterio-Rico

        Chapter 7:
        Civil Society and Governance in Thailand
        Case Studies from Thailand
        Dr. Juree Vichit-Vadakan and Dr. Kanokkan Anulansai, with assistance from Nongnoot Poungpong

        Chapter 8:
        The Role of Canadian Voluntary Sector Organizations in Development of Public Policy Related to Benefits for Children
        Case Studies from Canada
        Mel Gill

        Chapter 9:
        Building Better Social Policy: What We’ve Learned from Stories of Successful Government-Civil Society Policy Partnerships
        Laura Edgar

        Chapter 10:
        On Reflection


        Thursday, February 03, 2005

        European Conference



        Concepts of the Third Sector
        The European Debate
        Civil Society, Voluntary Organizations, Social and Solidarity-Based Economy

        The First European Conference of ISTR and EMES will take place April 27-29, 2005 at the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (CNAM), in Paris, France.

        The Preliminary Programme, Registration Form,and Hotel Information is now available on the ISTR website at www.istr.org

        Online Discussion (LIVE NOW)

        Online discussion: Getting global giving going - LIVE NOW
        Hosted by Caroline Hartnell and Adele Simmons

        Is global philanthropy increasing? What are the barriers to its increase? What can be done to stimulate it?

        We originally considered these questions in the December 2004 issue of Alliance, and the debate within the magazine focused on the following areas.
        • the need to create a new culture of giving among individuals
        • the need to make it easier for individuals to give, both by simplifying the process and by assuring them that their donations are going to reliable groups
        Now we'd like to open the conversation wider and have your views on these questions. Our online discussion forum, hosted together with Social Edge, is considering the same question as the December issue - what would it take to really get global philanthropy going?

        To participate in the debate or to read the contributions, please visit: http://skoll.socialedge.org/?13@@.3c412c02/0

        The discussion will continue until 14 February.

        Mark Your Diary - Upcoming Events and Conferences

        Also from ARNOVA e-News...

        April 3-6
        42nd Annual AFP International Conference on Fundraising, Baltimore, Md.; Contact: Association of Fundraising Professionals at www.afpnet.org.

        May 11
        6th Annual Symposium, “Nonprofits and Marketing: Unleashing the Power and Promise of Your Mission to Meet the New Market Reality,” North Park University, Chicago, Ill.; website: www.northpark.edu/axelson

        July 14-17
        Alliance for Nonprofit Management/National Council of Nonprofit Associations Joint Conference, "The Communities We Serve: Building Capacity for Impact," Chicago, Ill.; Contact: Alliance for Nonprofit Management at www.allianceonline.org or National Council of Nonprofit Associations at www.ncna.org.

        August 25-26
        The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University 18th Annual Symposium, “Women and Philanthropy: Gaining Momentum,” Indianapolis, Ind.; Contact: www.philanthropy.iupui.edu.

        October 23-25

        Independent Sector Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.; Contact: www.independentsector.org.

        November 17-19
        34th Annual ARNOVA Conference, Capital Hilton, Washington, D.C.; Contact: ARNOVA website: www.arnova.org.

        Recently Released Books

        From ARNOVA e-News...

        Losing Your Executive Director Without Losing Your Way: The Nonprofit’s Guide to Executive Turnover (2004)
        Carol Weisman and Richard I. Goldbaum; Jossey-Bass/A Wiley Imprint (www.josseybass.com), 158 pages
        The authors help guide the nonprofit board through the perils of replacing an executive director from start to finish, with their “Seven Components of Successful Transition Management.”

        Getting Funded: The Complete Guide to Writing Grant Proposals (4th Edition) (2003)
        Mary Hall and Susan Howlett; Continuing Education Press (www.cep.pdx.edu), 174 pages
        The authors of this fourth edition of Getting Funded guide the reader through the proposal development, writing and submission process.

        The Nonprofit Mergers Workbook Part II—Unifying the Organization after a Merger (2004)
        La Piana Associates, Inc.; Amherst H. Wilder Foundation (www.wilder.org), 230 pages
        This workbook, a sequel to The Nonprofit Mergers Workbook Part I—Considering, Negotiating, and Executing a Merger, helps answer the question of how to make mergers work.

        The Nonprofit Board Member’s Guide to Lobbying and Advocacy (2004)
        Marcia Avner; Amherst H. Wilder Foundation (www.wilder.org), 128 pages
        Whether the organization is large or small, locally or nationally focused, struggling or prospering, this book aims to help the board in an effect to lobby and advocate for issues deemed important.

        Community Visions, Community Solutions: Grantmaking for Comprehensive Impact (2003)
        Joseph A. Connor and Stephanie Kadel-Taras; Amherst H. Wilder Foundation (www.wilder.org), 107 pages
        The aim of this book is to help funders achieve community goals. The book presents many ways in which funders can spur action and attain results in communities.

        The New Effective Voluntary Board of Directors: What It Is and How It Works (2003)
        William R. Contrad, Jr.; Swallow Press (http://www.ohiou.edu/oupress/swallowbooks.HTM), 229 pages
        This book presents a “how-to” for those working on, for, or with boards of directors in nonprofit organizations. Conrad takes the reader through the steps for a nonprofit board of directors to work effectively.

        Benchmarking for Nonprofits: How to Measure, Manage, and Improve Performance (2004)
        Jason Saul; Amherst H. Wilder Foundation (www.wilder.org), 112 pages
        Benchmarking—the ongoing process of measuring an organization against leaders—can help stimulate innovation, increase impact, decrease costs, raise money, inspire staff, impress funders, engage the board, and sharpen the organization’s mission. The book provides a strategic, step-by-step approach to benchmarking.

        Reports on Outcome Management

        The Urban Institute has released the last two guides in its six-guide series on Outcome Management for Nonprofit Organizations: Analyzing Outcome Information and Using Outcome Information.

        The premise of the series is that tracking the results of services regularly will provide nonprofit organizations with basic information to help them become learning organizations that continuously strive to improve their services to their customers and communities.

        The guides (all six of them) are available in PDF format at www.uipress.org.


        Wednesday, February 02, 2005

        Boards and Beyond: Nonprofit Governance Conference

        BOARDS AND BEYOND: UNDERSTANDING THE CHANGING REALITIES OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION GOVERNANCE.

        March 31- April 1, 2005
        Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.A.

        A Conference for Practitioners and Researchers

        Effective governance is integral to the nonprofit sector and the communities it serves. Yet scholars and practitioners alike continue to be intrigued and challenged by the complex and changing nature of nonprofit governance and the boards that engage in it. Even as we learn more about the breadth and depth of variety in context, design, and practices, it is clear that we do not fully understand this element of nonprofit leadership and how it is or should be practiced. Are most nonprofit boards effective in providing adequate governance? Are there new and more effective ways to address nonprofit governance needs? This is a time of significant change for nonprofit governance. But what is changing and what is not?

        Among the issues likely to be examined at this conference are:

        * It long has been recognized that nonprofit governance is complicated by the fact that nonprofit organizations have no shareholders. What stakeholder interests do nonprofit boards usually see themselves as representing? How do boards effectively address the interests of multiple groups of increasingly diverse stakeholders? What have been the results and consequences?

        * How has the enhanced emphasis on accountability affected the roles and behavior of nonprofit boards? Are boards taking a greater role in assessing accountability and, if so, which boards and how?

        * What might be the implications of national (or state) legislation specifying governance requirements and mechanisms that are tailored to nonprofit organizations? What has been the impact on the performance of those nonprofit organizations that have adopted some of the provisions of the recent Sarbanes-Oxley legislation?

        * How has the recent press for some nonprofits to become more entrepreneurial or “business-like” affected the nature of their governance and the behavior and effectiveness of their boards?

        * If boards (as the available research suggests) typically do little about assessing program performance and especially about assessing overall organizational performance, why has that been true? What might (can) be done to induce boards to take a greater role? What should that role be?

        * Are efforts to improve governance of nonprofit organizations focused too much on a “managerialist” approach, attempting to improve efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery and ignoring the civic or other roles of nonprofit organizations? What standards or expectations might be established, and by whom, to encourage boards and executives to assess their organizations’ contributions to civic life?

        Conference information and registration forms: contact the Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership at www.mcnl.org

        「中產之聲」

        It seems it's an organization registered under the Societies Ordinance as a nonprofit interest group serving political purposes...

        中產斥扶貧會偏聽

        【明報專訊】無黨派、現任沙田區議員李子榮組成的中產之聲,曾向財政司長唐英年自薦其組織代表加入扶貧委員會,但未獲接納。李子榮指扶貧會中過半數是社福界代表,少數來自商界,中產代表欠奉,擔心委員會未能照顧公眾意見。他希望能約見特首及財政司長跟進。

        李子榮認為政府偏聽,他希望政府制定政策時,加強與中產溝通。另外,他已註冊「中產之聲」,並已設立網頁www.voicemiddleclass.com,吸納中產人士意見。

        中國扶貧基金會「慈善國宴」(Part III)

        A follow-up report from Mingpao on the proposed charity event...

        慈善國宴準備不足取消

        【明報專訊】由中國扶貧基金會主辦、原定昨日在北京人民大會堂舉行的春節「慈善國宴」突然流產,中國扶貧基金會解釋說,取消活動是因為場地及人員準備不充分。

        據《京華時報》報道,昨日是春節「慈善國宴」預定的舉辦日期,但中國扶貧基金會主任柏錚前晚(1月31日)接受查詢時透露,這次國宴已經取消,春節期間也不會有類似活動。柏錚表示,由於場地、人員等各方面都未準備好,加上時間比較倉卒,取消國宴是本對公眾負責的態度。

        關於已售出門票的問題,扶貧基金會解釋,門票只是電話訂購,未有現金交易,所以不涉及退票問題。

        這次慈善國宴門票分7級,最貴的「總統貴賓席」標價38,000元人民幣。

        Tuesday, February 01, 2005

        Panel on the Nonprofit Sector in the U.S.

        The Panel on the Nonprofit Sector is an independent effort by charities and foundations to ensure that the nonprofit community remains a vibrant and healthy part of American society. Formed by Independent Sector in October 2004 at the encouragement of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, the Panel is entrusted with the responsibility to prepare recommendations for Congress to improve the oversight and governance of charitable organizations. It will provide an initial report of its findings and recommendations by February 2005 and a final report later in the spring.

        The Recommendations
        The Work Groups' recommendations fall into four broad categories:
        1. Improving Transparency and Financial Management
        2. Improving Government Oversight and Enforcement
        3. Improving Governance and Self-Regulation
        4. Compliance Requirements for Small Organizations

        All can be downloaded from the List of Recommendations, either as individual items or in a single document.

        Download all of the recommendations in one document (pdf) (Warning: It's a big file of 1.3 mb).


        學校籌款網站

        [see also 網上教育籌款平台]

        網站撮合善長與籌款學校

        【明報專訊】教育學院與前美林亞太區董事總經理潘耀堅合辦一個籌款網站Ed Exchange,參照股票交易所的模式,撮合善長與學校,形同教育界的「eBay」,讓更多有心思的教育項目面世,令莘莘學子直接受惠。

        4月啟用盼年達千項目

        該網站現有24家學校試用,並於4月正式啟用,寄望首年能撮合800至1000個教育項目。

        創辦人潘耀堅解釋,有見社會上缺乏捐助本地教育的渠道,一些有創意的教育項目卻可能因資金有限而無法推行,遂興起設立籌款網站的概念,與教院一拍即合。網站歡迎由幼稚園至中學,經學校校長核准後的籌款項目,例如課外活動等與教育有關的特別項目,籌款金額不限。然後,由教院學生組成評審委員會,評核有關項目的可行性。

        教院學生評審籌款額不限

        經評核的項目會放上網,讓全球善長選擇。善長可按自己的捐款喜好,例如想幫助與運動有關的項目,或者以某個捐款額去決定捐助哪些活動,情形就像股票市場裏,投資者自行選擇購買哪種股票。項目成功籌款後,網站便會將籌得的款項,直接交給有關學校。網站的百多萬營運經費,將由數家企業承擔,用作聘請全職員工、教院學生審核項目的車馬費等。

        創辦人盼推動創意項目

        潘耀堅說,網站希望推動大眾資助更多教育項目,亦鼓勵籌款的教師和學生付出,透過細心撰寫報告書和策劃有創意的教育項目,爭取成功籌款。至於教育學院的學生,則可透過評審籌款建議書,學習如何撰寫好的建議書。

        China Development Brief



        China Development Brief is an important source of information on development news in China. If you subscribe to their e-newsletter, you will get a news update like the following every once in a while...

        Briefs In This Update
        1. Feature: 'Dragon people' want business opportunities, not speech therapy Jan 31 2005
        2. JICA seeks to strengthen Japan-China NGO links Jan 28 2005
        3. Analysis: Family planning Policy may be changing as population passes 1.3 billion Jan 28 2005
        4. British government backs new Poverty and Social Development Resource Centre Jan 24 2005
        5. '200 International NGOs in China' Directory Reflects China's Growing Internationalisation. Jan 21 2005


        News Roundup (from Philanthropy Journal)

        NEWS ROUNDUP: Relief work rapped; Gates gives $750 million; kettle drive grows.

        01.26.2005 -

        Here are the week's top nonprofit stories:

        * American charities have raised more than $597 million for tsunami relief efforts, much of that online, eclipsing the $350 million pledged by the U.S. government, with the American Red Cross raising $236.2 million, followed by the U.S. Fund for UNICEF with $68 million, and Catholic Relief Services with $51.1 million, the Chronicle of Philanthropy reported Jan. 20.

        * Oxfam issued a report analyzing the first month of tsunami relief efforts that praises the response of donors but cautions that inexperienced, untrained international aid workers may be causing problems, including sanitation problems due to overly dense housing construction, and should be accredited by governments in the region, BBC News reported Jan. 26.

        * The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will donate $750 million to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations, matching its initial gift made in 1999 to start the organization to provide vaccines for children in poor countries, the New York Times reported Jan. 25. The gift is part of one the biggest philanthropic undertakings ever, the Los Angeles Times reported Jan. 27.

        * The Salvation Army reported its annual kettle drive raised $95.3 million, up from $93 million the previous year. The fundraising effort exceeded expectations lowered after Target dropped a waiver that had allowed the charity to solicit at its stores despite the chain's no-soliciting policy.

        * Working groups of the Panel on the Nonprofit Sector, set up by Independent Sector at the request of the Senate Finance Committee, have submitted recommendations to the panel on topics covering transparency and financial management, oversight and enforcement, governance and self-regulation, and issues facing small organizations, Tax Analysts reported Jan. 25.

        * University endowments earned an average of 15.1 percent last year, replacing declines in 2001 and 2002 and a modest gain in 2003, a survey by the National Association of College and University Business Officers says, but have yet to make up for losses incurred over the last five years, when the average return was 3.8 percent, the New York Times reported Jan. 24.