We are receiving a tremendous response to the conversation started in last month's e-newsletter on the theme of generating our own language to define performance rather than defaulting to business and government to do it for us.

To add to that conversation the articles in this issue can assist you in developing a framework for thinking about evaluation with in your organization. Let us know what you think!

Look for an article synthesizing your colleagues' collective thoughts in the Fall issue of the Nonprofit Quarterly. Thank you for your bulletin board postings, emails and phone calls! If you missed the first issue read Paul Light's and Peter Frumkin's articles that got the conversation rolling:

What We Measure and Why, by Margaret Wheatley & Myron Kellner-Rogers

The prevailing cultural wisdom that only numbers define and make visible what's real is challenged in this article. If your looking for commitment, focus, teamwork, learning and quality work in your organization this is a must read. Let us know what you think.

The Emergence of Evaluation: A conversation with Ricardo Millett

If you want to talk powerfully to your constituents, funders and policymakers about the valued added services your organization provides, tune in to this conversation. Ricardo Millett is an important contributor to national initiatives on evaluation policy and standards of practice. Join the conversation.

Recommended Resources:

No matter where you stand, the President's controversial Faith-Based Initiative reaches far into the lives of all of us. Here is a sampling of articles that explore different perspectives:

Excerpts on "Faith Based" Policy from the report Unequal Protection: Corrupted Democracy This article lays bare the questionable assumptions underlying the proposal and suggests that the problem really lies in the lack of political will to replicate what works on a larger scale.

"What's God got to do with the American Experiment?" By E.J. Dionne, Jr., and John J. Diulio, Jr. Presenting a different perspective, the authors write that "the new interest in faith-based charity should be seen as a particularly promising aspect of a larger transformation in the discussion of religion and politics in America."

OMB Watch is following the initiative closely. Check them out for the most current news and action alert information.