My friend and colleague Jan Masaoka's organization, California Association of Nonprofits, has a campaign underway: Vote Your Mission. Jan's view is that nonprofits should not only serve our communities but also represent them. The goal is to have 100% of eligible nonprofit staff, board, and volunteers vote; and the campaign stresses that when you vote November 6, to, “vote with your values, your mission, and your heart."

Those of you on the direct front lines - especially those serving communities and families - experience first-hand the overwhelming stress they are facing during these economic hardships. You have ideas, suggestions and a willingness to work collaboratively to solve the problems that no one organization or sector (government, private and nonprofit) can solve alone.

As members of the nonprofit community, our responsibility is often to promote actions for the common good. In an era when it seems some elected officials are growing more and more apathetic to community responsibility, it is imperative that we take our missions with us to the voting booth.  Our challenge next week is to elect those willing to work in partnership with us to solve problems. So on November 6th, remember to take the greater good with you- remember the responsibility we all have to each other- and get out there and vote!