The Vermont Nonprofit Conference 2011  is just around the corner! Join us on Thursday April 14^th (12 – 5 p.m.) for the nonprofit event of the year! Bring your colleagues and dig into this year’s theme:  “Measuring, Marketing & Money”.  We look forward to seeing you there! Learn more and register today at http://bitly.com/npvt11

Here are some frequently asked questions about the conference:

Who is the conference for? Nonprofit staffers, volunteers, board members, funders, constituents and anyone with a stake in Vermont’s independent sector and your communities. This is a unique opportunity to network with colleagues in your neck of the woods and across the Vermont to learn mission critical best practices.  The presentations are relevant for independent business owners, entrepreneurs and municipal officials so spread the word!

Where will the Vermont Nonprofit Conference be held? You can attend the statewide conference at one of nine Vermont Interactive TV locations located in Burlington, Bennington, Castleton, Johnson, Middlebury, Randolph Center, Springfield, St. Albans and Waterbury.

Why are you holding the statewide conference at VIT sites rather than a central location? When we asked, Vermont nonprofits told us that you want to meet regionally with your peers to network and access high quality knowledge. So we’ve combined the best of both! You’ll gather at one of the Vermont Interactive TV sites with 15-30 colleagues, meet and mingle and learn together from best that our nonprofit presenters have to offer! Not to mention that you’ll have less distance to travel and the conference will cost less to attend!

What will I learn at “Measuring, Marketing & Money”? You want to show that you are making a difference and want advice about how to tell your story  to your funders, public policy makers and the public at large. The Vermont Community Foundation’s recently released State of Vermont’s Nonprofit Sector report backs this up and makes a case for increased evaluation, marketing and development skills. The Conference presentations will address these topics during the interactive workshops: Building Skills to Monitor & Evaluate Performance & Outcomes, Making a Difference by Being Different: Tips to Turn You into a World Class Marketer and Vermont Nonprofits in Changing Times.

Who will be presenting? We’ve chosen leaders in the field of project evaluation, marketing and community change. You can learn all about them here: http://bitly.com/npvt11

I’ve never been to a VIT event before, what will it be like? Interactive is the key word. This is an opportunity to meet and network with you regional and statewide colleagues. Your regional event will be hosted by a site coordinator and moderator from your community. In addition to meeting with your peers during break out sessions, you’ll hear high quality presentations from the Waterbury and Burlington studios.  You will be able to ask direct questions of presenters during the conference and also post them to the online forum at www.commongoodvt.org. During the “snack” break, you’ll have another opportunity to interact with your peers in person. Following the final presentation, there will be a regional site wrap up where you can share your ideas about how to put your new skills into action! See the agenda for more details about the flow of the afternoon.

How much does it cost? Are scholarships available? The conference cost is $60 for the afternoon. A limited number of scholarship seats are available at $45 for students and people of limited income whose organization will not cover the cost of their registration. These will be offered on a first come, first served basis.

Will food be served? We encourage you to bring a “bag lunch” to the event. We’ll have afternoon snacks (cookies, lemonade, fruit), served during the break.

Who will be the regional moderators? We are grateful for our friends throughout the state who will serve as regional moderators and site coordinators. You can find out more by scrolling through the agenda.

How do I register? Go to this handy link: http://bitly.com/npvt11

How do I get more information? Please contact Common Good Vermont’s Coordinator Nick Carter at coordinator@commongoodvt.org or call him at 802.862.1645 x21