The Alternative Press

SHORT HILLS, NJ-  Working for a non-profit organization is very rewarding, yet raising money can be quite challenging.  On Thursday morning, Oct. 18, the Junior League of the Oranges and Short Hills hosted renowned motivational speaker and volunteer Shar McBee at the Hilton in Short Hills.   

She is the author of two bestselling books: To Lead is to Serve, which was quoted by the President of the United States on television, and Joy of Leadership which went to #7 on the Amazon Business Bestseller list.

As a volunteer, McBee built wells in a village in India, organized a concert for homeless children in Australia, raised money for an orphanage in China and managed a voter registration drive in California.  Her current interest is Explore & Explain, a program that gives unique, life-enriching opportunities to children in Maryland.

McBee spoke about leadership, told anecdotes and had the audience hanging on every word she said. She emphasized shifting from asking people for money to giving people opportunities to assist.

“You have to make the shift from getting to giving,” she said. “When you make that shift, magic happens.”

Although working for a non- profit involves raising money, in tough economic times things have changed, she said. McBee said her mentor told her it’s more important to get people to show up than donate. Getting them there is the first step, she said.  

Getting people involved with non-profits is everyone’s goal, McBee said. But if things aren’t working, people need to try something else, she said. People should put themselves out there instead of just always asking for money, she added.

“Your job is to make it possible for people to participate,” she said. “What can you give to make it possible for them to donate?”

She asked the audience how it feels when a person asks them for money and most people said it doesn’t feel good. Now, what people really need to do is listen to other people, she said. People will respect and earn someone’s trust if they just take the time to listen to them, McBee said.

“If you really want them to hear you, you have to let them speak first,” she said. “Right now people are concered about money so the worst thing is for them to feel you’re trying to get something from them.”

She stressed, a leader’s job isn’t to do everything, but to get people involved and understand their needs.

“If you can make people feel included, they support you,” she said.

Lisa Vick, who runs her own audio engineering company and is a member of the Junior League, thought the presentation was excellent and she learned a lot.

“I thought it was amazing,” Vick said.

The Junior League of the Oranges and Short Hills, Inc. (JLOSH) was founded in 1913 and serves the communities of East Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Millburn, Orange, Short Hills, South Orange, Springfield and West Orange. 

The Junior League of the Oranges and Short Hills is an organization of women committed to voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving our communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.