Bye Bye Green Grass-Hello Snow!

Hi Everyone!
Ah summer and fall are long gone and snow and winter are ahead of us!  I am going to miss playing ball with these cuties in the green grass!  That's OK though looking forward to the winter, it's my favorite season!  With the dead of winter coming, a lot of Boards, groups, organizations that I know of and am a part of tend to take a 'winter/holiday break''.  However, not D.O.G.S we are still moving forward-for we have countless things to accomplish, among our personal life responsibilities and just life itself!  So I thank D.O.G.S's dedicated Board members who have worked extremely hard over the past few weeks and are continuing their efforts well into the holiday season.  We salute you!  Woof Woof says Jasmine and Leche! :)  We have had a Special Board meeting in between our monthly meetings to discuss our next big project besides the non profit paper work-our first benefit party!  This one is a private benefit celebration to celebrate our incorporation with our close friends and family!  Thanks for all your support!

Until next time animal lovers, supporters, fans and alike; keep on doing what you do-Hope. Inspire. Learn. Advocate.

Woof!

MF

"The average dog is a nicer person than the average person"
-Andrew A. Rooney

It's Official!!!

D.O.G.S is official from the Secretary of State!  We are incorporated!  This is very exciting news for D.O.G.S and we couldn't have done it without the help of Marcy, (non profit lawyer/mentor) and the D.O.G.S team and supporters!  Thanks to everyone; we are truly grateful! I was checking the mail every day faithfully for 3 weeks!  Turns out that the incorporation paper work was sent to the wrong address!  I was so happy when I found out we are good to go.
 Now on to the Attorney General's office, one step that was "missed".  Once we are recognized and registered here, we can start soliciting for funds (donations).  We are eager to get started on pending projects in order to provide resources for rescues.  Please help us spread the word, because when we are "ready", we want to be able to connect with the rescues that would need D.O.G.S help the most!

FYI...."Official" Steps so far in recommended order:

• Forming a mission and vision
• Forming a Board
• Drafting by laws, strategic plan, articles of incorporations, program planning
• Forming a to do list w/ a timeline, a very brief shorter version of plan
• forming databases (volunteers, contacts, resources)
• Applying to the Secretary of State for incorporation (1-2 week wait)
• Registration with the Attorney General (SOS application first) (1-2 week wait)
• Working on IRS non profit status (packet form and perhaps most costly of all forms) NOTE: You may receive a lower fee depending on what the non profit is and what it qualifies under.

Stay tuned....

Woof!

The Waiting Game

Greetings Everyone! :)

Just a quick update!  D.O.G.S is playing the waiting game.  We are still waiting on the Secretary of State for the approval of the incorporation.  *fingers crossed* I have been checking the mail every day like I was back in grade school waiting on a special package from someone! It's nerve wracking. I just try to remember what someone once told me "Good things come to those who wait"  Like my doggies!

 

check out http://www.sos.state.mn.us/

for good resources on how to start your own non profit business.   Click on Business/non profit tab and there will be info on 'how to', forms, resources and contacts.  You will also need to go to this web page eventually if you want to apply for a non profit status, so it is good to familiarize yourself with it.  Just be patient it will always take longer then you anticipated, so don't get discouraged.  In the meantime you can work on other things on your long list!  Currently D.O.G.S is busy working on:

• Board member recruitment
• logo
• website
• business cards
• volunteer database
• holding our first official meeting: Wed. Nov 7th (if you are interested please contact me and we would be happy to have you sit in.  We are always welcoming any feed back, suggestions, or just another friendly face!

One friendly word of advice-it is easy to want to work on everything and anything, however remember to prioritize in order to be efficient.  Our logic behind tackling social media and PR is that we need to spread the word about us, to gain support, and to let others know that we are here to HELP!  Simple as that right?  Then a volunteer database is helpful to assist with all these social media, PR, recruiting ideas, etc.  Till next time, hope I have good news to share with you all in the next post! :)

All the best,

Woof!

“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.” 

-Josh Billings

So treat him with what they deserve, unconditional love.

More to Come!

Greetings everyone!

It's been awhile, my apologies!  It's been busy working on paper work, networking, organizing thoughts/ideas, and trying to form a Board.  Well-we have it!  A full Board of Directors! :) Exciting news,however D.O.G.S is still recruiting for Board Members at Large, so if you are interested in making a difference, up for a challenge and working together, contact me!  As D.O.G.S waits to hear back from the Secretary of State for approval we are recruiting, networking and working on a long list of things!  Keep in mind when starting out, so much is happening at once:

• filing forms/fees
• program planning
• resource development
• networking
• forming a Board
• social media
• brainstorming ideas for fundraising, agency forms, volunteer database, logos, website, business cards, stock letters, donations, etc
• self care

list goes on and on...but just remember it's doable!  YOU CAN DO IT, if you want to, strive to, you CAN make it happen.  Don't give up! Set realistic goals and you WILL achieve it, believe me :)

You may feel like this...

so remember this. :)

Until next time!

Woof!

1 is a lonely number, 2 is better, & 3 is score!

Hello all!
"1" is such a lonely number, especially when you don't want to be ALONE!  It's scary, discouraging, lonely, sad, and frustrating when there is no one that you have connected with or reached out to that seems to have 110% faith or support in you.  This has been my experience for over 4 years now.  True, I have great friends, family, and community people,that I do connect with on other levels, that are just as important, however not very many, if any 'like minded' people for me to connect with about D.O.G.S, what it stands for, what it could be, what I strive for.  People who have this deep passion and drive to want to DO SOMETHING with me.  I have ran into too many people who don't take me seriously, doubting and invalidating this endeavor.  For a lack of a better word it SUCKS.  I had to try to break through a lot of doubt, still am, but at least now I can say I am no longer ALONE completely.  I have my 3, D.O.G.S has its 3!  What can I say I am a pretty happy camper right now!  D.O.G.S has its Board minimum-3!  Thanks to my dear husband with a great background in business and my sweet friend with passion, heart, and brains for the love of animals, and myself we have reached our Board minimum-for now.  As D.O.G.S grows I will not be able to 'officially' sit on the Board, but we will cross that bridge when it comes.  For now things are moving right along.  As the incorporation is waiting to be finalized and we have a Board to start on a strategic plan, resource development and program planning together, it's not so lonely.  Tip: the 3 mentioned above one could do on their own, in fact you should probably have an idea and draft in mind, however engaging the Board is the best way to go.  The Board is what will drive and control the organization, so choose wisely and choose carefully.  I know so far I have :)

Anyone interested please don't hesitate to contact me.  You don't have to love furry creatures, non profits or even have a pet, you just have to want to succeed and carry out a mission.  Is that YOU?  

Always share, so they say....

Hi everyone!  It's been awhile.  Busy trying to recruit Board members and learning in general about this great non profit process.  It's been mostly frustrating the past few weeks; with no responses from people, people doubting what I am doing, questioning my ability, and the worst not wanting to help/share their experiences with me.  I look at it as we are all in it together to help one another as much possible.  I am open to sharing and helping others, wish people felt the same way.  Don't get me wrong there are people out there who are willing to share, but it surprises me how many people are not willing to share.  Well folks, I AM willing to share, in fact I am going to share as much as I can so whoever wants to try this crazy, fantastic idea of building a non profit can try and relate to this blog.  It doesn't have to be animal related, it's all non profits! :)

Some things to keep in mind (or back of your mind if you are getting started)not necessary in this order.  Steps you can start doing right away, there are no timelines for these.  Some may seem obvious, but never assume!  I learned some of these along the way, now you got a heads up! Most of these are FREE too!!

1) NETWORK, NETWORK! One of the best advice I have received, even though it's obvious.  Talk to other people besides yourself! :)
2) Have your paper work in order first and foremost
3) Work with the Board members
4) Check for name duplication
5) Get a EIN (employment identification number) number from the IRS
6)Start a Blog, a website, business cards, join all social media networks: FB, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc
7)get ideas and start writing the by laws, articles of incorporation, strategic plan lots of sites out there to help. Refer to previous blogs for references.
8)Connect with a mentor
9)Volunteer
10)Organize your thoughts way beforehand and then do it again, and again!
11)  Set realistic goals for yourself and IDEAL goals, what would you be OK with?
12) Do your research before, during and after
13) Understand it WILL take awhile for it all to happen
14) Save and budget for capital start up and in general (i.e. the paper work submitting process is not free)
15) Be open minded to change/edit your mission/purpose as the idea evolves-example in previous blogs, it already happened to me!
16) We'll start there, more to come, stay tuned...:)

Don't get worn down or out!  Find a support system, come visit my blog, remember WHY you are doing it and strive on!  

"Every artist was first an amateur"

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Run It! Run It! Woo Woo

Hi All!
I had my meeting today with my mentor, long awaited!  I am discouraged and encouraged more then ever!  I told her one of my feelings were that I am scared.  She stated " you SHOULD be scared, this isn't easy".  I know it's hard work, but with the new information I received today I feel...a little bummed.  She told me, which I should have figured out for myself; the non profit world is just as cut throat and territorial as the for profit world.  She encouraged me to keep thinking in a business frame of mind more then anything.  It is frustrating because I sincerely just want to help and people won't share with me or even respond to me on their steps, experiences and expertise.  I have reached out to a few people and that has been my experience.  I know we are probably all going after the same 'pot of money' resources, and demographic, but in the end we are in a similar mission!  I don't care I AM going to share my steps and everything along the way.  Enough of me venting.  I gave my mentor my drafts and she is going to tweek them and get them ready for applying for an incorporation.  Which is about $100 or so with the state.  It is recommended that you work with an attorney on this.  This is one of the first steps of money to the non profit status road.  YES! :) Applying for this first then a 5013 C.  Why a 5013 C you ask? Well you can get tax exempt, apply for grants, donations can be tax exempt.  Just remember if you solicit funds in any other state you must file within that state as well-cross commerce.


My mentor really encouraged me to 'talk to other people besides yourself, MyLy' It was quite funny and true at the same time.  I don't know very many people personally with a passion for animal rescues like me.  I need to expand my search and find these people!!! Are you one of them?! I need to have people on D.O.G.S team that can run a business, they don't necessary have to be absolutely passionate about the animal rescue world, but passionate about succeeding, about following through on the mission statement and doing what's best for D.O.G.S.  I need those types of people on D.O.G.S board.  I learn more and more every day and lots from my mentor then I could in any book.  My next step is to recruit for more board members.  It has been in the back of my mind and unfortunately I have not been concentrating on it enough.  I could either make a strategic plan, bylaws, resource development and program planning before I recruit a board or engage the board and do these with them.  Either way be prepared.  Be prepared to have your vision and plans scrutinized and possibly fired from your own creation.  Lots to learn hope this can help, inform, interest you in some way.  In between the incorporation and recruiting.  I have to check on D.O.G.S name to make sure no one is using it.  To do this you can go to the Secretary of State.  If you want to be national that's a different story.  For now I am going to keep it local.  I should also be applying for an EIN (employment identificaion number) with the IRS.  Simple you can do it online or call them, google it.  Below is a video that is pretty informational about starting a non profit that is just as beneficial as reading almost any book.  It's quick and to the point.

Till next time friends!

woof.