NPAction Update
Vol 2, Issue 21
11/9/2004

Welcome to the post-electoral madness edition of the NPAction Update. Whether you're pleased or disappointed, energized or demoralized, the election is over, and it's time to plan out the next four years. So if you're sick of listening to talking heads on TV? Get your organization to be the change you want to see.

You are receiving this newsletter as requested during your registration with NPAction.org. To unsubscribe, send an email to npaction@npaction.org.

In this issue:
*What's New- Aftermath and Open Source*
*Current Poll- Electoral College*
*Featured Article- National Campaigns*
*Featured Resource Links- Libraries*

*What's New*

"Election Aftermath" seems like a great cable news logo, but it is also a new section on NPAction, dedicated to articles and commentaries on the voting process, what went right, and what went wrong. Join in on the newest trend in the electoral process: a lengthy post-mortem. A wise man once said the pain of war cannot exceed the woe of aftermath, and the past two elections have agreed.

"Election Aftermath"
http://www.npaction.org/article/articleview/534/1/223/

One of NPAction's hobbies has always been the use of technology in the nonprofit world. Since "high tech" is usually synonymous with "expensive," we always like to point out uses for open source technology in the nonprofit world. Last week, Media Dot Org released the results of its survey of open source usage.

"Open Source Survey Results"
http://www.dotorgmedia.org/Publications/Publications.cfm?ID=82&c=18

For those of you who are interested in the intersection of nonprofits and technology, check out Michael Gilbert's "Nonprofit Online News" (http://news.gilbert.org/), which is a source we can't speak of highly enough.

*Current Poll*

This month's poll on the Electoral College (yea, nay, or party school) is still open. Even though the popular and electoral votes were in agreement this election, do you think that we should keep the Electoral College?

At last count, two thirds want the College dropped, just under a third want it kept, and five percent are pretty sure it made the party school list. Vote in the poll, continuously displayed on the right hand side of the site (just don't try to vote twice!!)

Here's your chance to ask a question you've wanted to ask other nonprofits, but couldn't figure out how. Send your idea for a poll to npaction@npaction.org.

Past Poll Results
http://www.npaction.org/article/archive/207

*Featured Article*

Unless your issue is one of the "values" issues that have been talked about ad nauseam since Tuesday night, it might be harder for you to get attention in the current climate. Or, maybe the results of this election have spurred your organization to action. Either way, learn about taking part in a national advocacy campaign in this week's featured article, which is part of "So You Want to Make a Difference," our advocacy guide for nonprofits.

"Taking Part in a National Campaign"
http://www.npaction.org/article/articleview/212/1/117/

Buy or Download "So You Want to Make a Difference"
http://www.ombwatch.org/article/articleview/119/

Remember that you can rate and comment on most NPAction articles by clicking the "New Comment" button at the end of an article.

*Featured Resource Links*

The NPAction Resource Links Directory is a human-edited compendium of tools and references, contributed by nonprofits for nonprofits.

Has all of the democracy floating around in the air made you decide to get more involved? Want to find a group that lobbies on your issues? Check out this list compiled by Kathi Carlisle Fountain, who is a reference librarian at CSU, Chico. Everything from animal rights to term limits is covered.

Political Advocacy Groups: A Directory of US Lobbyists
http://www.csuchico.edu/~kcfount/

The coming of November means, for most of the country, a turn from crisp autumn days to a deep freeze, and a desire to stay inside as much as possible. Skip a trip to the library and visit the University of Michigan's Internet Public Library, which is a well-edited collection of internet sources on all sorts of diverse topics, and even manages to maintain a library feel. Check out the almanacs section to see if it's going to be a long winter, or read a Fijian newspaper and think of the beach.

Internet Public Library
http://www.ipl.org/

Suggest a Resource Link
http://www.npaction.org/link/suggestlink