Get Tech Smart - May Hot Take by Patrick

Community Networks • May 9, 2025

Work Smarter, Not Harder: How AI Can Help You Power Up 


Running a community or voluntary organisation is incredibly rewarding — but let’s not pretend it’s not a lot. There’s the outreach, the organising, the events, the reporting, the fundraising, the thank-yous, the newsletters… and that’s all before you’ve had your second cup of tea! 


Here’s the good news: you don’t have to do it all the hard way. AI (artificial intelligence) might sound like something from a sci-fi movie, but it’s actually a super useful tool that can help you save time, cut down on admin, and get your message out faster — all without losing your unique voice. 


Admin and Comms, Supercharged 

It’s not just newsletters — AI can also help speed up your everyday admin and communications. Here are just a few ideas: 

  • Write thank-you emails to donors and volunteers 
  • Summarise meeting notes or event feedback 
  • Draft press releases or funding applications 
  • Create social media posts tailored to different platforms 
  • Translate key info into other languages 
  • Generate reports or updates for stakeholders 

 

You’re still in control, but AI takes care of the first draft — which means you can focus on adding the human touch instead of starting from scratch every time. We cannot emphasise that you need to edit/adapt/correct your first AI draft of anything you create to ensure you are creating your own authentic voice to any piece of work. 

 

Find Collaborators and Funders 


I recently attended the Hapori Communities Conference in Tauranga and wrote the following for a session on creating a ‘Braindump ideas’ document when trying to find collaborators – this can also be adapted to see where you intersect with funders too! 

 

Ideas on how to use ChatGPT to get stuff done faster in engaging other organisations:

  1. Open your browser at https://chatgpt.com/ 
  2. Type this in “Create a letter with 10 bullet points why [X organisation] and our organisation is an amazing fit to collaborate – use this from [X organisation’s website - here you copy/paste their page on their visions/goals] and this from ours [Copy/paste same thing from yours], from the point of view of a For Purpose / Not For Profit organisation talking to the CEO of business” or similar wording 
  3. The points are 
  • What you want – i.e. 10 bullet point letter; introductory letter; ‘seeking a meeting’ letter; ‘proposing an interest in collaborating’ etc. 
  • Using info from both websites to look for alignments 
  • Who’s talking – i.e. you, a For Purpose; Trust; Community Garden; etc. 
  • To whom – i.e. CEO, financial officer, grants admin; etc. this directs to what kind of vocabulary will be used. 
  • Direction/Tone – i.e. an amazing fit, how being disparate companies benefit each other; conversational tone; in the language of banks; to a crown minister; etc. 
  • You can also dictate how many words if you want 

  4. This creates, in mere seconds, a document you can use with your team or whomever to use as a springboard to kōrero around. 

  5. It’s a time-economic way to choose 10 companies who are not seemingly aligned and seeing if there’s an amazing opportunity. 

  6. ALWAYS re-edit to make sure its what YOU want. 

 

Work Smarter, Not Harder 


AI isn’t here to replace you — it’s here to support you. Think of it like a digital co-worker who’s really good at writing and organising (but doesn’t need lunch breaks). With just a bit of experimenting, you’ll find it’s an absolute time-saver.  So if your to-do list is growing longer than the biscuit queue at your AGM, it might be time to give AI a try. You’ll be amazed how much time you can save — and how much more energy you’ll have for the parts of your work that really matter. 

 

Work smarter, not harder. Your community deserves the best of you — not the burnt-out version. Let AI help you shine! 


Ngā mihi nui,
Patrick Davies, Engagement Officer.
Community Networks Aotearoa.

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Your Members Your Bricks, Be the Mortar

By Community Networks • August 6, 2025
Kia ora koutou, One of the greatest strengths of our sector is our willingness to come together, share knowledge, and lift each other up. Here at good ol’ CNA, we know from experience that strong relationships with our members help us grow and strengthen our own work. And we see our members doing the same with the networks and communities they support. We’re a network that builds capacity by engaging deeply with you—our members. Whether through our 50th Anniversary Hui, regular updates, or one-on-one kōrero, your insights help shape our direction, inform our advocacy, and refine the resources we provide. It’s through this two-way relationship that we grow stronger as an organisation—and the same holds true for you and your own networks. It’s why we bring everyone together every two years—to connect face to face, share lessons, and learn from one another. When you hear how another group has tackled leadership development or improved their financial systems, you gain ideas and inspiration to take home. And when you share your own success, you spark growth in others. From supporting better governance through our Tick for Governance Course (over 900 satisfied customers!) and strategic planning, to helping organisations improve fundraising, engaging with Banks, Select Committees, and collaboration—we all grow by reaching out and working together. CNA does this with our members, and our members do it with theirs. The ripple effect is powerful. Your network is so much more than an email list—it’s a community of experience, support, and strength. Let’s keep learning, building, and growing together. Here are 4 action points for to better engage with their members: Yell it to the Rooftops: Through newsletters and social media make sure to highlight member successes, share relevant news, and provide opportunities for feedback. Add this positivity to inspire others Throw a Party: Even if it’s a cuppa and a bikkie, these allow members to keep relationships, share knowledge, and collaborate in real-time in an easy atmosphere – we don’t’ have to be on the treadmill all the time. We are allowed to enjoy ourselves. Pick up the phone: Sometimes it’s great to get a call that’s not about an issue. Just to say ‘hello’, ‘I’m thinking of you’, ‘what’s on your mind?’. These strengthen our relationships and keep us in mind of each other, which may mean reminding each other of what we can support each other in. Share the aroha: Create spaces (online or in-person) where members can exchange ideas and experiences. When someone learns a new strategy or approach, share it widely to inspire innovation and growth across your network. Why reinvent the wheel? Take that idea and adapt it to your own organisation. These are just a few ways to increase your capacity, to deepen relationships, and to help each other upwards. Forward, Stronger! Patrick Davies Membership Engagement Officer

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