Friday, October 24th was the first conference held by the MA Nonprofit Network. A gathering of over 300 professionals from the state's nonprofit sector committed to learning from and sharing ideas with one another was definitely a forum that should serve as a model to the sector everywhere.

Plenary session speakers ranging from the inspirational Liz Walker to the energizing Steve Grossman and others provided the framework for over thirty seminar discussions in which speakers addressed the challenges that many of the state's nonprofits are struggling with. Nonprofit leaders had the opportunity to learn, exchange ideas and at the very least realize they are not alone in the struggles they face.

The best part of the conference in my view was that one could not escape the realization that there is a lot each of us can learn from each other. Recruiting talented staff, getting attention at the state house, soliciting donors, managing programs, evaluating what services can be provided as the downward economic trends continue and managing the organization in this unstable environment are challenges faced by every organization in attendance.

Congratulations to the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network (www.massnonprofitnet.org) for creating this venue for best practice sharing. And may all of us in the nonprofit sector continue to find ways to work together to strengthen the safety net for the people of Massachusetts and relentlessly learn from one another how to address the challenges we will face in the upcoming months.