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Executive Director
“Riding on a motorcycle can make you feel joyous, powerful, peaceful, frightened, vulnerable, and back out to happy again, perhaps in the same ten miles. It is life compressed, its own answer to the question “Why?” — Melissa Holbrook Pierson, The Perfect Vehicle: What It Is About Motorcycles.
On Sunday, September 30th I joined a group of determined enthusiasts in Penacook, New Hampshire for The Pewter Run, a road trial for motorbikes made before 1950. The event has been held since 2005 and is sanctioned by the United States Classic Racing Association.
The weather was suboptimal for this year’s event: 50 degrees and rainy. I was the last rider to get her bike started, and despite many practice sessions with Dad’s Norton Dominator I wound up asking for help with the uncooperative kick start. Not an auspicious start to a two-hour adventure! About 20 miles into the course there was an option of taking a short-cut back to the starting point, or continuing on for the full 48 mile route. Bikes in the post 1925 classes were expected to complete the longer course, but given the weather conditions, the unpredictable nature of classic bikes, and the sanctioning authority’s commitment to safety, we all understood that opting for a shorter route was ok.
The event organizer, Shane Rivet joked during the riders’ meeting, “When you reach a fork in the road… take it.” As I reached that “fork in the road,” I briefly considered making a right turn and opting for the 24 mile route. At that moment I was soaked from the rain, chilled to the bone, and my left hand was starting to feel numb. My decision to press on and complete the longer route was motivated by the thought that in so many cases, something worth doing isn’t easy to do. I found myself riding alone during most of the latter half of this year’s Pewter Run. My riding companions, Jack Alexander on a 1925 Norton 16H and Dad, on his 1913 Motosacoche 2C7, both opted for the shorter routes.
My solo ride in the rain provided the perfect opportunity to contemplate the risk-reward dynamic in nonprofit life. While trying to ignore the persistent cold rain, I reflected on examples of transformative risk management practice. My favorite recent client examples of things worth doing that weren’t easy to do include:
It has been an honor to work with these best in class nonprofits as they evolve the risk management function to truly suit their organization’s mission, context, aspirations and resources. While many clients initially approach the Center hoping we can simply install a generic risk management system, most of our clients leave with the understanding that custom-fit, culture-sensitive risk management trumps borrowing another nonprofit’s policies any day. And like a 48-mile ride on a cold rainy day, facing a bit of discomfort, or even stakeholder pushback reminds us that a rewarding journey may involve navigating a bumpy road.
To read more about The Pewter Run, and see photos of some of the participating riders and bikes, visit fellow rider Dave Roper’s blog at http://daveroperracing.blogspot.com/ or the Pewter Run website.
Melanie Lockwood Herman is Executive Director of the Nonprofit Risk Management Center. She welcomes your ideas about any risk management topic, suggestions for best-in-class risk management, and questions about the Center’s resources at Melanie@nonprofitrisk.org or 703.777.3504. The Center provides risk management tools and resources at www.https://nonprofitrisk.org/ and offers consulting assistance to organizations unwilling to leave their missions to chance.
“First let me congratulate you on a conference well done. I had a great time at the Nonprofit Employee Benefits Conference and walked away with some valuable tools and questions that we’ll need to be addressing in both the short and long term. Thanks to you and your staff for all you do to provide us with quality resources in support of our missions.”
“BBYO’s engagement of the Center to conduct a risk assessment was one of the most valuable processes undertaken over the past five years. Numerous programmatic and procedural changes were recommended and have since been implemented. Additionally, dozens (literally) of insurance coverage gaps were identified that would never have been without the work of the Center. This assessment led to a broker bidding process that resulted in BBYO’s selection of a new broker that we have been extremely satisfied with. I unconditionally recommend the Center for their consultative services.
“Melanie Herman has provided expert, insightful, timely and well resourced information to our Executive Team and Board of Directors. Our corporation recently experienced massive growth through merger and the Board has been working to better integrate their expanded set of roles and responsibilities. Melanie presented at our Annual Board of Director’s Retreat and captured the interest of our Board members. As a result of her excellent presentation the Board has engaged in focused review which is having immediate effects on governance.”
“The Nonprofit Risk Management Center has been an outstanding partner for us. They are attentive to our needs, and work hard to successfully meet our requests for information. Being an Affiliate member gave us access to so many time- and money-saving resources that it easily paid for itself! Nonprofit Risk Management Center is truly a valued partner of The Community Foundation of Elkhart County and we are continuously able to optimize staff time with the support given by their team.”
“The board and staff of the Prince George’s Child Resource Center are extremely pleased with the results of the risk assessment conducted by the Nonprofit Risk Management Center. A thorough scan revealed that while we are a well run organization, we had risks that we never imagined. We are grateful to know that we have now minimized our organizational risks and we recommend the Center to other nonprofits.”
Great American Insurance Group’s Specialty Human Services is committed to protecting those who improve your communities. The Center team has committed to delivering dynamic risk management solutions tailored to nonprofit organizations. These organizations have many and varied risk issues, hence the need for specialized coverage and expert knowledge for their protection. We’ve had Melanie speak on several occasions to employees and our agents. She is always on point and delivers such great value. Thank you for the terrific partnership and allowing our nonprofits to focus on their mission!