Serving nonprofits. Good for you. Good for business!

By: Pam Rucinski

My business partner, Susan Reetz, and I are big believers in working with non-profits. Sometimes we volunteer writing and producing services. Other times, we have initiated our own video projects or worked for a non-profit.

Susan is the ?tour de force? of non-profit work in our company. She has taken the lead in a number of projects that required extensive research and close monitoring of numerous elements in order to successfully complete the productions. Here?s my interview with Sue. Keep in mind, this is not about process ? it?s about the value of working with non-profits. (Yes, we are cheerleading here!)

Q: So Sue, can you give a quick overview of some of our non-profit work over the years?

Sue: We have initiated projects focusing on drug prevention for teens, gangs in small towns, Ecstasy, and a series on Meth. It?s so gratifying to know that these videos are generating discussion and awareness. We?ve won national and international awards for many of these videos which also helps bring the topics to light. Currently we?re working with a large medical organization on a video for cancer survivors, and a live event about breast cancer. We?re also working with existing footage to create a documentary about children who grew up in homes where drugs were used, sold, or manufactured.

We were able to involve junior high and high school students in the research/pre-production end of several of our teen social issue projects. It was especially important to give ?at-risk? teens the opportunity to research topics that may have been present in their home lives, and then present the information to a larger group, to gain some recognition in a positive way. Some even participated in the filming process and parts of post-production. I can only hope that they found it have as rewarding as I did ? their insights and ideas blew me away.

Q: There are countless non-profits looking for video ? how do you choose?

Sue: It?s true that our industry often gets more requests than time allows. I?d suggest picking the non-profit or topic that inspires your passion or holds personal relevance for you. These projects are a great way to stay creative and energized. Our projects are often social issue or awareness type programs. You might be more interested in the arts, environmental causes, historical preservation or other topics. The trick is to find something that is meaningful to you ? and beneficial to the community.

Q: How does non-profit work help my business?

Sue: Your good reputation will grow! It is a networking opportunity. Many organizations like United Way have many volunteers connected to businesses in the community. Many will become friends!

• Connect with the people you meet through social networking ? Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn?
• Post your production work on the social networking sites.
• Take photos while doing the production ? post them as you go through the process.
• Send press releases when the project is finished.
• Send the production for awards ? both you and the non-profit benefit from winning awards by using earned media (free) opportunities in print, social networking, website and blogs.

Q: What?s in it for you?

Sue: Granted non-profit projects can be a lot of work ? especially when you?re trying to fit them into a full work and family schedule. That being said, I can say without reservation the personal value is beyond measure. Life satisfaction, increased self-esteem, self-confidence, good feelings about doing something that can make a difference, being a role model for my children and others, stretching creativity and keeping my passion are just a few of the benefits gained.

Q: I?m a recent graduate. How can volunteering help me?

Sue: Number one is learning job skills. Volunteering looks great on your resume and it gives you career experience. It gives you work for your demo reel or portfolio. It can also build on skills you already have ? non-profits are great for stretching skill sets like public speaking, marketing skills, learning to communicate with diverse groups of people.

Q: Bottom line Sue?

Sue: Make a commitment to do at least one project in what?s left of 2012. Many of our video productions have even included our families as grips, on-camera talent, transcribing?they reap some of the same benefits from participating in the video production. In the end, it becomes part of your work history ? a part of your legacy that shows you left the world a little better place. Good for you. Good for your business!

Pam Rucinski, a partner in Rucinski & Reetz Communication is a writer/director/producer for film, video, websites, print and other promotional materials. Her scriptwriting work has earned numerous local, national, and international awards. She can be reached at 715-241-7316.? Rucinski@RucinskiReetz.com.

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