The Woman Behind the Curtain
By Cecilia Sepp, CAE, CNAP, VEIP
In the fall of 2018, I had an idea. To be completely transparent, I had TWO ideas.
One was to form a consulting company based on the Gig Economy, where I would put together a network of highly experienced experts in different areas of nonprofit management and service. The goal was to create community, help each other get work, and to take on big projects that solopreneurs can’t handle on their own. This became my consulting company, Rogue Tulips, which I described as a Consulting Consortium.
The second idea was to create a different kind of membership organization that would be “by and for the people,” with very affordable dues, developed and grown by the members themselves with no board of directors, committees, or rules. My dream was a space for individuals to grow, learn, experiment, and do their own thing. Based on the concept of Radical Inclusion and personal development, this idea became The 501c League.
While both were great ideas, and I think noble experiments, the world is not always ready for “something completely different” (as the Monty Python Troupe might say). There was support and interest in both companies but then we were all hit by THE LOCKDOWN OF 2020.
That crucial first year of growth was erased, like it was for many people in the business world. The environment was not nurturing for new ideas or new organizations. We learned a lot of lessons and came to realizations about a few things:
In times of crisis, we stick to what we know and what gives us comfort. Unusual ideas need to be put on the shelf until their time comes again (like groups described as “part experimental theatre, part think tank”). You can’t experiment if you are distracted by uncertainty.
The last thing the world needs is another membership organization. What it needs is community that is supportive and focused on quality content and personal/professional development.
If you have two companies, one will always suffer. Duplicating your efforts doesn’t serve anyone well.
As “The Woman Behind the Curtain” of both Rogue Tulips Consulting and The 501c League (come on, you knew the whole time!) I have decided to revamp both companies and to merge them into ONE.
The first step in this merging process is to move to one newsletter that will cover all the content of Rogue Speak and The 501c League. While the League will no longer be its own company, and will no longer be a membership organization, it is not going away: it will become the education/content development arm of Rogue Tulips Consulting where we will continue to offer high-quality CAE courses and content, along with other education for the nonprofit community.
A new brand for the League will be debuted in early 2022, along with the slightly revised logo for Rogue Tulips. Watch for the next steps in the evolution of Rogue Tulips, The 501c League, and the Woman Behind the Curtain.
Thanks for your support and for spending time in our part of the world. We look forward to seeing you after the holidays. Yes, because we are dropping this big announcement and going on Holiday Break.
We here at Rogue Tulips and The 501c League wish you very happy holidays and a fantastic New Year.
