Organizations Books

I have used almost every idea in this book. These things really put the responsibility back on the kids. Pinellas County, FL is really into CLS and total quality management. This book gives you all the help you need to change your classroom. I would recommend this book to any teacher!

This book is filled with ideas and concepts that are simple to implement. Best of all, the kids LOVE the things we do from this book. I teach fifth grade and use this book on a daily basis in order to have "Total Quality Management" in my class. The ground rules and expectations started out this school year with a BANG and my students love that they are stockholders in the classroom. They respect each other better than I ever thought imaginable and encourage each other throughout the day! This book should be purchased by every teacher, administrator, and superintendent.

This book is a useful resource guide for teachers. It helps develop capable kids by providing them with the right 'tools' for learning in the classroom environment. McClanahan and Wicks answer the question of how to introduce quality principles into the classroom that encourage a focus on process, the customer, and continuous learning in order to improve the standard of education for students. They have designed and produced a set of principles, skills and strategies that enable children to be continuous learners, prepared for contributing in the 21st century. This book is a practical companion to Glasser's "Quality School Teacher", (1993).

As a college student and aspiring civil servant, I definitely recommend this title to all young people who are interested in the nonprofit world. Dr. Raymond's explanations are clear, understandible, and precise. Even in the community work I do as an extra-curricular activity, I have seen the beginnings of some of the trends Dr. Raymond outlines. A friend even used this book as a reference for a sociology paper.

For any young person who hopes to spend part of their professional life in nonprofits, this book is a great introduction to the field. You really get a sense of the kinds of issues that will be faced by organizations in the next 10 years.

This book should be read by anyone who is interested in the future of philanthropy. The author shows how economic trends will affect donors and recipients alike, and points out the challenges -- from ethics to fiscal responsibility -- that nonprofits will increasingly face. The style is refreshing and the scholarship superb.

As usual, Dr. Raymond excels at asking the tough questions, even if easy or pat answers are not available. She realizes that nonprofit status - that philanthropy itself - is a grant made on the public commons and that therefore, nonprofits and those that support them must hold themselves to a higher standard. I've been reading her newsletters forever. Get this book!

This is a "real" life stirring book. It is present truth, scripturally sound. I found it to be a manual of prevalent information; Christ-centered and prophetic in its content. I found myself praying much of what I was absorbing from its pages - it is actually, to me, a intercessory handbook for this season. I couldn't put it down. Bought copies for friends. It is well written, an eye opener - NEVER boring! I recomment it to anyone who feels desert dry - it is an oasis!

Everyone in the world needs to read this book.

Chuck Pierce is a voice crying out in the wilderness, "Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord."

There is a prophetic voice emerging out of mainline Christianity today and Chuck Pierce is one of those Prophets. He captures, in one volumn, the heart of God and what Christ is doing in the hearts of this generation in preparation for His soon return.

Chuck Pierce opens a window into the Spiritual realm easily understood by anyone. He speaks of intercessory warfare and explains God's strategy in tearing down strongholds of the enemy.

He talks about and explains the coming Apostolic Church Government and the raising up of Prophets who will and are admonishing us to prepare our hearts before God.

Chuck Pierce has defined in depth what God means in His Commandment to 'Love God first with your whole heart and soul, and your NEIGHBOR as yourself.' Jesus Christ longs to share the fire of His love with us. Embrasing Him intimately is key to our growing up in Him.

Chuck Pierce shows us the way. One small paragraph sums up the whole of his prophetic message here:

"As we learn to operate in our gifts, the Body of Christ will function as it was meant to. No demonic force, including lawlessness, will be able to stand against a fully functioning Body of Christ. Operating properly in the gifts will lead us back to love (1 Cor. 13:1010), where we can work together according to the heart of God." (Page 203-204).

I recently heard Mark Graham Brown speak at a conference and thought he was fantastic. I started reading his new book Get it, Set it, Move it, Prove it and it is a great read. For those of you who are looking into performance management, this book is insightful, humourous and to the point. From hearing Mark speak and reading his book I've come to expect a certain standard and he more than exceeds it in this book. Not only can you relate to the stories and experiences in the book, it makes you think about your organization, what kind of things to avoid and how to better manage your organizations performance.

This book is refreshing for those tired of business jargon. Its a great reference of businesss excellence practices, presented with no nonsense terminology, using time tested principals created by others failures! Marks ability to simplify the Malcomb Baldrige Quality critera really shows through.
Don Hoffert- Director -Continuous Improvement Storaenso NA.

I loved this book. It was easy to read and comprehend. Down to earth examples and to the point. Many I could relate to as having been there. Great summaries of things "to do" and "not do". I also found the index unique and helpful. This book is great and should be a required reading requirement for everyone in an organization especially manager/decision makers. It is a great reference book that I will use before making major decisions and I will keep it handy and refer to it often. I sure have made a lot of mistakes in the past, thanks for pointing them out. A really great and informative book, everyone who works should read it.

This book is a unique resource for organizations, employers, and people who care about the diversity in their midst. Melissa Marshall's approach to helping people understand why they should care if they're physically and programatically accessible is...well...accessible. As one of the people she trains says, "You mean it's fair!"
Marshall is funny and creative, and is clear that she isn't interested in having people feel guilty. She talks about her adventures navigating a wheelchair through Chicago's O'Hare airport, hotel fires, offering fabulous prizes (like finger puppets)to button-down corporate types, and using masks to help people "get it" about what it means to be disabled today.
This is a book that should be on the shelf of anyone who trains around issues of diversity, all human resources staff, and executives of for-profit and not-for-profit corporations alike.
Get it!

This book is an exceptional resource for any trainer who needs to learn more about disability,

This book is a unique resource for organizations, employers, and people who care about the diversity in their midst. Melissa Marshall's approach to helping people understand why they should care if they're physically and programatically accessible is...well...accessible. As one of the people she trains says, "You mean it's fair!"
Marshall is funny and creative, and is clear that she isn't interested in having people feel guilty. She talks about her adventures navigating a wheelchair through Chicago's O'Hare airport, hotel fires, offering fabulous prizes (like finger puppets)to button-down corporate types, and using masks to help people "get it" about what it means to be disabled today.
This is a book that should be on the shelf of anyone who trains around issues of diversity, all human resources staff, and executives of for-profit and not-for-profit corporations alike.
Get it!

A very helpful and enjoyable read. The stories really helped to bring the book into the context of our daily lives. It was easy to relate to many of the families in the book...and Bempechat's advice was reasonable and easy to follw. She didn't make the reader feel like there was an absolute "right and wrong" way, but points out some of the pitfalls we, as parents, all find ourselves in when trying to motivate our children in school.

This book is wonderfully informative and entertaining. Bempechat speaks in language accessible to all parents about the struggles we all face trying to do the best for our kids' education. Her anecdotes and suggestions for dealing with everyday problems, such as homework, are right on the mark. Not at all preachy, Bempechat urges that we think about what works best for us and our families, to help us help our kids do well in school. A must read!

A very helpful and enjoyable read. The stories really helped to bring the book into the context of our daily lives. It was easy to relate to many of the families in the book...and Bempechat's advice was reasonable and easy to follw. She didn't make the reader feel like there was an absolute "right and wrong" way, but points out some of the pitfalls we, as parents, all find ourselves in when trying to motivate our children in school.

The Global Corporation is required reading for those who seek to understand the complex issues and problems that are an important part of the future of those companies seeking to do business outside of their traditional home market. The book is well rounded in scope and conveys its message in a clear, concise and easy to follow manner. It first begins with a lesson in the history of the world economy and its various market structures. The rest of the book is dedicated to analyzing the multifaceted issues that are common to all companies who are now or will in the future compete in the multinational/global arena. I highly recommend this book to anyone whose career, interests, or academic studies are in anyway related to economics and business.

It's very excellent book. It show's how each market has it's own prespective markets throughout the world.

The author profiles the characteristics of a global corporation-distinct from a multinational, this is an enterprise consisting of a network of independent entrepreneurs operating autonomous units, with support and guidance, but not control, from headquarters. The parent company treats each national market as part of a regional or global network. This is an interesting and well written book about an increasingly important subject. Reviewed by Yvette Borcia, co-founder, Stern & Associates, co-author of Stern's Sourcefinder The Master Directory to HR and Business Management Information & Resources, Stern's CyberSpace SourceFinder, and Stern's Compensation and Benefits SourceFinder

St. Louis DeMontfort had alot of insight into the mysteries of our Catholic faith in regards to Mary our Mother. If you want to get to know Mary, read St. Louis' works. This book is a collection of all of his works - which means that this is the book for you!

I ordered this book and when I first got it I was struck to my knees and my love of Christ rose to levels I could only hope for. Sentances would bring me to tears, because of the powerful way they were written and what they said. I can say this with my entire heart, my faith grew by leaps and bounds because of this book and in particular the secrets of the rosary, which is included in this book. I hope you all buy this book either for yourself or for someone else . It is perfect for any and all Catholics, you will find that you will read this book for the rest of your life, and each time you read it you will learn something new

God Bless

At last there is a compilation of all the known written works of St. Louis Marie de Montfort in one volume! Not only is it important for those of us who seek to deepen our understanding of The Incarnation, one sees a side of the great saint that is normally not known. Many Catholics fail to see the importance of what St. Louis was all about, however, Pope John Paul II, who had read all of his works and took them to heart, is a true example of what will happen if we take the writings of this great saint to heart.

Out of all house church books, this is my favorite because of the straightforward and concise dissertation on the hinderances to Biblical community, outreach, service, and fellowship that most Institutional Churches naturally inhibit.

Easy to read yet deeply profound in meaning, Smith gives adequate Scripture and documented research as to the problems hindering true revival in our churches today. Free from bitterness or complaining, the author recognizes that God is still sovereign over all His church, regardless of our flawed platforms, yet advocates the house church model as one that is most Biblically centered on Christ's purpose for believers. He also leaves plenty of freedom to enjoy variety within the house church model, structure, and operation, using language free from a dogmatic and know-it-all pretense.

In all his proposals, most readers will feel quite convicted by their dependence upon being a spoonfed benchwarming puppet on Sunday, their wasted resources on useless building expenditures, their prideful disunifying sectarianism within their denomination, and their lack of concern for the needs of others in their community. Smith admonishes a 24/7 Christianity where EVERYTHING you do is glorifying to God...including your job, family, chores, free time, etc., instead of just doing the usual list of spiritual things proscribed by the church. No wonder we can't feel the power of God or the freedom for the Holy Spirit to move in our hearts and our gatherings!

A MUST HAVE BOOK for any student of the Scriptures or those who feel there has to be more to the Christian life than the usual Sunday morning routine.

I have read many books on church restoration. This is currently the one I am recommending to those who notice the problems, but are unsure of the answers. For those who recognize that the plethora of religious gimicks and more "purpose-driven" products will not do... this book is for you.

There are many authors today that are very elequently able to articulate the problem with the church today, yet... most of them are not able to do what Smith has done in his gentle presentation. The problems in the institutional church are great and the people who support it are very dependent upon it. I submit to you that slamming them with their error is not the most effective means of conversion. Smith presents biblical truth as an invitation. He reveals the problem and invites you to discover the answer. He allows the Holy Spirit to connect the dots!

I appreciated Smith's focus on community from the very start. I also was refreshed by his obvious influence of the Anabaptist tradition. It was a breath of fresh air to hear a "house church" proponent talk about the doctrine of the two kingdoms and radical discipleship.

Christ is the answer to the church's ills today. A return to the person and work of Christ is the foundation of our faith. Ultimately, people must receive a fresh new vision of Christ and his work (life and teachings) before anything of true worth can take place. Then, there must be an undestanding of God's image in us is community. The Trinity enjoys community in eternal love and faithfulness. This is the image in which we were created. We experience this community together in the church once we have seen Jesus (God in the flesh) as he truly is and we gather around him in natural Body life.

If you are noticing the problems and are looking for more than just pop-culture American Christianity... or maybe you are just curious... I encourage you to get this book. So far... Smith's book is the one to start with... in my humble opinion.

After reading Smith, I suggest reading:

The Centrality of Jesus Christ (Works of T. Austin-Sparks)
The Normal Christian Life
The Release of the Spirit
Created for Community,: Connecting Christian Belief with Christian Living
Pagan Christianity: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices
Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community

Christian Smith goes to the heart of the problems within the organized Christian church. He does more than just complain about the way things are though ... he offers practical solutions to each problem in easy to understand text.

If you are still in the organized church -- yet, you see that "the emperor has no clothes," this book is for you. It will confirm many things that the Lord has been showing you. It will give you the strength to leave the "dog and pony show" (the performance-based church) and to forge out in the land that the Lord will show you.

If you desire to meet in a simple way with other believers and develop true relationships -- then this book is for you. It will give you the tools you'll need to begin your journey.

This book received such a glowing in-depth review (from reviewer "Center for Nonprofit Management"), I was disappointed to see that it was out-of-print.

Then I saw the good news - there's a second edition of this book (which strangely was published only 7 days before the in-depth review was written)!

So fret not, you activist, grant-writing wannabes (or is that grant-writing, activist wannabes?), just head on over to ISBN 0787965782 and begin your journey of making a difference!

If you come in to our nonprofit management support organization and ask for a book on grant proposal writing, there are two we'll pull out right away: Grassroots Grants and Winning Grants Step by Step. We're often asked which to choose. Of all the books we see, these are the two we most often recommend, but they do have different approaches.

Winning Grants Step by Step takes a pragmatic tone. It accepts the rules of the game and offers to show you how to win within them. "Most funders prefer to give grants for new and expanding programs or in support of special projects and new ideas rather than for the general operating expenses of an organization or the ongoing costs of established programs," it explains. "Because funders have these preferences, this workbook uses the idea of creating a new program as the basis for developing a proposal." (The book does also give examples of core operating support proposals, and does start with a planning guide to help you see which programs fit your priorities).
In the introduction to Grassroots Grants, on the other hand, the publisher shares her qualms about publishing a book about grants at all, preferring that the reader focus first on developing more renewable and less restricted gifts from individual donors. "This book is about two things: money and power," says Grassroots Grants, and calmly analyzes the dynamics of both in the grant proposal process. This big-picture view is in the end more pragmatic - it encourages you to take control of the grantseeking process by searching out those funders and pitching those programs that really best fit with what you are trying to do.

Both books have excellent project planning guidelines. As Winning Grants Step by Step observes, "Generally, organizations will spend approximately 80 percent of their time planning a project and only 20 percent of their time writing and packaging a proposal," so this section is obviously very important. Both books ask questions such as "What is unique about your organization's project?" "Is anyone else working on a similar project?" "What members of your community support each project?"

Both also contain useful information about finding appropriate funders, which is key to the process - much more important than your writing skills is finding the right funder who cares about projects like yours. Although Winning Grants Step by Step puts this information at the end in an appendix, you should really read it first, particularly the excellent section on corporate giving programs. Grassroots Grants contains very helpful guidelines about what to consider when deciding whether a funder is really a good fit for your organization, and detailed information about ways to develop good relationships with potential funders.

The books have different approaches to how they help you with your own writing. Winning Grants Step by Step has a workbook format, with questionnaires you fill out as you go, so that by the time you have completed them you will have addressed most of the subjects covered in a typical proposal, and it will be easy to cut and paste the appropriate bits into the funder's preferred format. It comes with all the worksheets on a CD-ROM so you can fill them out electronically and reuse them. If you like project planning, but get nervous about the writing process, this format may help walk you through. Grassroots Grants has questionnaires throughout the text, and it has more examples of proposals, query letters, and other documents with notes on how they were developed. If you like to write by reading examples to inspire you to your own purposes, this book will suit you.

Ultimately, these books complement one another. Even if you prefer the workbook format of Winning Grants Step by Step, the "big picture" you get from reading Grassroots Grants will help you answer all those questions. Likewise, if you prefer the style of Grassroots Grants, you can still benefit from the excellent sections on overhead costs and planning for sustainability in Winning Grants Step by Step.

Andy Robinson tells it straight and tells it true - this is a very clear and lucid text on the art of getting grants, written from a grassroots perspective. I especially appreciated the wealth of samples and examples. Robinson holds your hand through the whole process from beginning research all the way through to dealing with acceptance and rejection letters.