< PreviousTRIBALNETONLINE.COMFEATURE COLUMN |TRIBALNET20 | SPRING 2017GRANT FUNDINGRON FLAVINENERTRIBEThrough my own experiences and conversations with other reviewers, I have put together a list of five reasons tribal IT projects do not get funded. #1 Not Following the Directions Outlined in the Funding Program GuidelinesThis is the number one mistake I see proposal writers make, even seasoned ones. In the most recent round of proposals my team reviewed, only one writer addressed every one of the review criteria outlined in the program guidelines. In all the others, one or more criterion was omitted with no reference made to the missing information. For a reviewer, this is frustrating because there is no way of knowing if this information was left out because the question was not applicable or because the point was simply overlooked. Thus, when preparing a proposal if any of the criteria do not apply to your organization or situation, you should at the very least write ‘not applicable’ and include a brief explanation as to why this is the case. With the competition for grant funding fiercer than ever before, every point counts. # 2 Using a Template or Boiler PlateWhen writing a grant proposal to support tribal IT projects, never use a boiler plate proposal or template. Proposal requirements inevitably vary from one funding program to another, especially when looking at IT funding programs. Some people mistakenly believe that if they create one ‘perfect’ proposal that covers everything, then they can use that to apply to nearly any funding program. This is just not the case. Grant reviewers are typically required to participate in training sessions before they begin to review proposals. By going through this training, reviewers learn how to quickly identify and weed out proposals that are obviously using a template or a boiler plate. Every funding program has its own unique priorities and areas of focus. During the review process, reviewers score each section of the proposal based on how well it addresses a specific focus or priority outlined in the published request for proposals (RFP) or guidelines. A template or boiler plate will not be aligned the proposal requirements and when key information is not where it is expected to be, critical points are lost. Always start fresh with each proposal. #3 Failing to Fully Address SustainabilityGrant funders can be somewhat compared to venture capitalists because (in general) their intent is to provide an influx of capital resources to achieve a specific set of goals and objectives. It is not to support an organization for the long-term. And much like venture capitalists, they don’t fund Tribes or projects that have not developed and put in place long-term financial sustainability plans. In other words, funders are not inclined to fund projects that are likely to die out once the grant funds are expended. The majority of grant proposals that I have reviewed do little more than address sustainability in passing. This is a big mistake. Building sustainability into your project plan from the start is critical to successful FIVE REASONS YOUR IT GRANT PROPOSALS GET REJECTED AND HOW TO FIX THEMOverall, depending on the funding program and the funding agency, only about 5-8% of grant proposals are awarded funding.I have been helping tribes win grant funding for more than 15 years. During that time, I have secured well over $200 million in grant funds for my clients. I’ve raised tens of millions of dollars to support IT infrastructure deployments, upgrades and programs. I’m also frequently called upon by funders to review proposals and help them decide which projects should get funded. I’ve worked with the USDA Rural Utilities Service, Administration for Native Americans, U.S. Treasury Department and others. In that capacity, I have led, and been part of, the decision-making teams that have awarded more than one billion dollars in funding. Over the last five years, I have reviewed hundreds of grant proposals, nearly all of which were not considered for funding. In fact, I recently calculated that only about 3% of the grant proposals I have reviewed as part of a federal peer review team have scored high enough to be recommended for funding. Con dentialDOC File transferred From Provo, UT By DavidCon dentialDOC File transferred From Provo, UT By DavidPII FilePDF File transferred To Sydney By RenaPII FilePDF File transferred To Sydney By RenaPROTECTSENSITIVEBUSINESSDATA IN MOTIONHOLONET SECURITYFIRST EVER REAL-TIME BREACH DETECTION FOR SENSITIVE BUSINESS DATAwww.holonetsecurity.comMore InformationSPRING 2017 | 21TRIBALNETONLINE.COM | FEATURE COLUMN TRIBALNETGRANT FUNDINGRon Flavin has secured well over $200 million in funding for his clients, supporting programs, projects and IT infrastructure deployment. Funding agencies also rely on him to assist in determining which projects and agencies to fund. In this role, he has led and been part of the decision-making teams that have awarded more than $1 billion in funding.grant seeking for IT projects. At the very minimum, you should include letters of support from the tribal council and any partners detailing their commitment to sustaining the project over the long-term. #4 Making Assumptions About the Reader’s Knowledge of Your Organization, Community or ProblemWhen writing your proposal, never assume that the reader has prior knowledge about your community or the problem you are trying to address. The people reviewing and scoring your proposal are often located in other parts of the country and may not be familiar with your area or your organization. Never expect the proposal readers to mentally fill in any missing information or gaps. If you do, it will cost you points. Additionally, because reviewers change from year to year, don’t depend on prior knowledge or past relationships when writing your proposals. Be sure to provide a concise overview that includes key information, background and statistics (where appropriate). #5 Building the Budget from the Top DownFrom the reviewers’ perspective, budgets that total the exact amount of the maximum allowable request can appear padded. Such budgets can also make it look as though not a lot of thought has gone into developing the total needed funds. So, instead of starting at the award ceiling and working backwards until you reach zero, you should develop your project budget from the bottom up and stop when all expenses have been accounted for, even if you are below the award ceiling. This is important because developing the budget from the bottom up infers that only necessary expenses have been included in the request. Regardless of the requested amount, be sure to justify all expenses in the budget and include calculations. While this is certainly not a comprehensive list of every error that I have seen in my years as a professional grant reviewer, these are the most common ones that my teammates and I run across during reviews. Avoid these pitfalls and you can rest assured that you will be well on your way towards developing a winning grant proposal to secure funding for your tribal IT projects.Con dentialDOC File transferred From Provo, UT By DavidCon dentialDOC File transferred From Provo, UT By DavidPII FilePDF File transferred To Sydney By RenaPII FilePDF File transferred To Sydney By RenaPROTECTSENSITIVEBUSINESSDATA IN MOTIONHOLONET SECURITYFIRST EVER REAL-TIME BREACH DETECTION FOR SENSITIVE BUSINESS DATAwww.holonetsecurity.comMore InformationTRIBALNETONLINE.COMTRIBALNETAGENCY UPDATE |22 | SPRING 2017TRIBALNETONLINE.COMSPRING 2017 | 22AGENCY UPDATE | NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS & INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION (NTIA)NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS & INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION (NTIA)NTIA is the Executive Branch agency that is principally responsible for advising the President on telecommunications and information policy issues. NTIA’s programs and policymaking focus largely on expanding broadband Internet access and adoption in America, expanding the use of spectrum by all users and ensuring that the Internet remains an engine for continued innovation and economic growth. BroadbandUSA is an integral part of fulfilling NTIA’s mission by serving as a strategic advisor and supplying technical assistance to communities and tribes as they implement broadband deployment and adoption programs to advance economic development, education, healthcare and public safety. The BroadbandUSA program provides expert advice and field-proven tools for assessing and improving broadband access and digital literacy. It engages a wide variety of partners in broadband projects. BroadbandUSA also convenes stakeholders to solve problems, improve broadband policies, share best practices, connect communities to other federal agencies (and funding sources) and improve coordination among federal agencies. BroadbandUSA offers online and in-person technical assistance in communities and tribes, hosts regional workshops throughout the United States and publishes guides and tools that provide communities with proven solutions to address problems in broadband planning, financing, construction and operations. If you are interested in receiving assistance from BroadbandUSA, please email us today! For general information, including the available tool-kits and guides, visit the website at www2.ntia.doc.gov/.AIMEE MEACHAMDIR. OUTREACH/EXTERNAL AFFAIRS202-482-5820BROADBANDUSA@NTIA.DOC.GOV TribalNet’s ExclusiveTribalNet’s ExclusiveEnjoy an evening of networking at this fun and engaging event!Monday Nov. 6th, 20174:30-7:30 PMFOOD • DRINKS • ENTERTAINMENTJust steps away from the hotel in the Westgate districtAttendees: This is Included in Your Registration FeeSponsors/Exhibitors: Tickets Will Be Available For PurchaseSALTY SOUTHWESTMeet & Greet EventTRIBALNETONLINE.COMFEATURE COLUMN |TRIBALNET24 | SPRING 2017COMMUNICATION METHODSthe use of electronic messaging over face-to-face or phone conversations. Haven’t we all tried to engage others in conversation only to be stopped short by the words, email or text me? Are people THAT busy that they don’t have time for even as much as an elevator conversation? If we took five minutes to talk it out would we save ourselves from time spent mending relationships? I have even been accused of being one of THOSE people. Oh, you’re a taaaaalk-er.Here’s the deal. Email is a fine way to disseminate information. But, you cannot build trust or foster healthy relationships, gain consensus or resolve con ict through email. I’ve seen people try and, honestly, it often achieves the opposite – distrust, unhealthy con ict management, disagreement, dissension and opposition. I personally have spent a considerable amount of time smoothing out the feathers of folks that have been ruf ed by an astringent email.Have you ever witnessed this scene? A group of colleagues huddled over a computer monitor reading an ill-received email out loud with the method-acting prowess of an Emmy Award winning superstar. The protagonist evokes a shrill, tinny voice worthy to be recorded as the voice-over for the Disney character Maleficent. Please complete project tasks before the deadline.I’ve seen a fair number of disconnects with a few of my married friends too, that rely almost exclusively on text messaging as a way to resolve marital con ict. Good luck guys. I’ve been known to evoke the three email rule which boils down to: If you can’t come to an agreement in three emails, you need to get in a room together and figure it out.There’s a concept called homophily that I believe we need to re-examine. The theory is that individuals in homophilic relationships share common characteristics (beliefs, THERE IS NO FONT FOR EMPATHYRENITA DISTEFANOCHIEF INFORMATION OFFICERSENECA GAMING CORPORATIONRenita joined Seneca Gaming Corporation in 2006 as the Customer Care Manager. In her 11 year tenure with Seneca, she has risen through the ranks to become the Chief Information Officer. Renita is responsible for driving the technology strategy for SGC. To learn more about Renita, visit www.linkedin.com/in/renita-distefano-09968913/.values, education, etc.) that make communication and relationship formation easier.The concept of homophily has specific business applications as well. Did you ever notice that real estate agents put their picture on their business cards and on For Sale signs? That’s because they want you to believe that you know them, like them and trust them because people do business with people they know, like and trust. They’re trying to achieve homophily to gain your trust and your business. The key here is founded in face-to-face interaction.A trusting relationship is built on harmonious, real-time, synchronous communication and it extends to non-verbal communication, body language (e.g. eye contact, smiling, open arms, a smooth calming voice). Email and text messaging are asynchronous and do not facilitate real-time feedback. When choosing communication channels, let’s remember this: The power of the voice is extraordinary. There is no font for empathy. There’s a difference between machine-readable and human-readable. Let’s get back to doing what we first learned as newborns during our first days as humans with imprinting. A colleague gave me some advice a long time ago, which is, if you fail to get the results you’re looking for, change the way you’re communicating. That’s really good advice; it has served me well and I’m passing it on.Is our reliance on machine-human communication killing our chances for fostering healthy relationships?The article Managing Relationships for Success written by Christopher DeCamp, Director of Technical Services for Win-River Resort Casino featured in TribalNet’s Fall 2016 Magazine provided the inspiration for this article. His piece struck a nerve in me, inspiring me to write this follow up commentary. In his article, DeCamp wrote that a strong relationship is built on trust, communication, mutual respect, acceptance and sharing each other’s interests and values. The article was timely. It resonated with me within the context of how communication is at the core of all relationships and how we, as corporate citizens, are trying to leverage electronic communication to build and foster relationships. Without getting into the great generational debate, I re ected on some of the differences in communication styles amongst my peers and I saw a trend moving us toward choosing, even preferring, SEE FOOTNOTES ON PG 2TRIBALNETONLINE.COMTRIBALNETSPRING 2017 | 25The Annual Gaming & Hospitality Industry Awards aretheawards in our industry awardsand the onlyawards created and evaluated by your clients and future clients comprised in theG&L Board and Roundtable colleagues.These judges are the top innovation leaders in our industry, they represent a vast majorityofgamingand hospitalitytechnology spend in North America and thusly the awards arehighly coveted.Even if your company is not a recipient, there is tremendous value in having your buying constituencygranularly understand the value of your product and or service for future consideration.Annual Gaming & HospitalityIndustry AwardsHosted by Gaming & LeisureAwards Announced at the G&L Roundtable • October 2nd, 2017Download the entry packet anytime at www.gamingandleisuremagazine.comEntry Packets Due 9am June 1st, 2017TRIBALNETONLINE.COMTRIBALNETAGENCY UPDATE |26 | SPRING 2017INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE (IHS)INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE (IHS)Information Technology (IT) in the Indian Health Service (IHS) has come a long way since the introduction of computer systems to the agency. While the focus of the IHS Headquarters IT budget lines remains the same today as listed in the 2002 IHS Headquarters Programs, Services, Functions, and Activities (PSFA) Manual, “... to provide the necessary resources to maintain a national IT infrastructure that supports IHS, Tribal, and Urban (I/T/U) programs,” innovations in technology have steadily outdated many of those PSFAs established back then. Recognizing the need to update IT PSFAs, the IHS initiated a project in 2011 to create an IHS Headquarters Office of Information Technology (OIT) IT Service Catalog. The catalog is a comprehensive menu of current IT services provided at IHS Headquarters and is updated on an annual basis.The IHS Headquarters PSFA Manual historically identified four major functions for Headquarters IT: National Database Services, Telecommunications Management Services, Software Development and Maintenance Services, and System Support/Training Services. The four major IT functions were further divided into 11 options. These are still in use today. Compacting and contracting tribes utilize a light service catalog contained within the so-called “IT Buyback Worksheet” to identify PSFAs they choose to retain or take. Many tribes quickly realized that if they retained their IT services with IHS they could find no better value in the entire marketplace and have elected to retain all or most of the Headquarters IT services. Retained shares are resources a tribe elects to leave with the federal government to administer.The IHS is also updating the “IT Buyback Worksheet” used in conjunction with the IT Service Catalog. The IHS proposes to streamline the process by consolidating the 11 options into three. The IT Buyback Worksheet currently references outdated products such as “Microsoft Windows 98 or NT” and “Microsoft Office Pro.” Microsoft does not support Windows 98, NT or Microsoft Office Pro anymore. We also know that the Windows product lines have evolved into Windows 10, Windows Server 2016 and Office 365. Adding new code and expanding the functionality has given these 25 year old products new life, while remaining backwards compatible with previous versions of the software. The OIT recognizes the need to modernize the product lines. Finally, the major functions for Headquarters IT are being retitled to reflect the services supported as follows: National Patient Information Reporting System (NPIRS), previously National Database Services; Infrastructure, Office Automation and Telecom (IOAT), previously Telecommunications Management Services; and Resource and Patient Management System (RPMS), previously Software Development and Maintenance Services and System Support/Training Services. The IT Service Catalog can be viewed at www.ihs.gov/oit/service-catalog/. Please make plans to join us when the IHS hosts a national webinar with tribal leaders to update you on progress to-date and solicit additional input through the Tribal Consultation process. Webinar dates can be found on the IT Service Catalog website listed above.RANDALL HUGHESOIT TRIBAL LIAISON301-348-3402RANDALL.HUGHES@IHS.GOVCALL FOR SPEAKERS - JUNE 2017Watch for the CALL FOR SPEAKERS in late June when the agenda topics are announced! 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Alternative Solutions offers Salesforce Xpress Implementation which transforms out-of-the-box Salesforce products into customized solutions that fit any industry of any size.TRIBALNETONLINE.COMTRIBALNETSPRING 2017 | 29A TRIBALNET INITIATIVE POWERED BY INFO-TECH RESEARCH GROUPBecome an NATRC Member TODAY and Join Your Peers from Tribal Organizations NationwideVisit us online to see what’s on the agenda for the next research topics specific to tribal governments and health care facilities.Hear from other tribes who are benefiting from their NATRC membership“Info-Tech’s research has been very beneficial to my team, and has helped us define our technology strategy for BYOD, select the right vendor to meet our unique needs, and provide a cost analysis to help ensure the prices we were quoted are on par with what others are paying for the same solution. Our interaction with them is at a partner level, where they work beside us as we leverage technology to reach organizational goals. ”“Currently cyber security is a major concern for the Navajo Nation. We have taken measures to secure the multiple layers of security for the nation. But we have been utilizing InfoTech as a primary resource for security measures and they have been absolutely helpful in many ways.”“NATRC has a lot of GREAT IT Policy templates! That proved to be highly valuable for our team. There is an enormous amount of information available to a NATRC member. ”Erin Font: Managing Director, NATRC efont@infotech.com 519-777-9791 Larry Fretz: Practice Lead, NATRC lfretz@infotech.com 702-574-4575HAROLD SKOW IT DIRECTOR NAVAJO NATIONJEROLYN TAKALA IT DIRECTOR THE HOPI TRIBEDUSTIN STARKIT DIRECTOR CHOCTAW NATIONwww.tribalnetonline.com/NATRC Next >