CAYUGA COMMUNITY FUND LAUNCHING FIRST GRANT ROUND

The Cayuga Community Fund, a community endowment established in 2008, is launching its first grant rounds in 2010. The Fund is expected to award up to $25,000 in total grants over the next year to qualifying organizations headquartered in and serving Cayuga County.

Grant Information Session
The Fund’s Leadership Council will host a free grant information session to help potential applicants understand the application process on Wednesday, January 20 at the Springside Inn in Auburn from 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.

Attendees will learn about the Fund’s strategic approach to grantmaking, walk through the application process and receive advice on the types of projects that are most likely to receive funding. Interested parties may register for the event online at http://cayugajanuary2010.eventbrite.com or call Stephanie at 315-422-9538.

Applying for a Grant
A total of $25,000 is available for grants in 2010. Requests may range from $500 - $5,000. This year’s application deadlines are March 31 and September 30. The Fund’s Leadership Council, comprised of Cayuga County residents, will be responsible for selecting grant recipients.

Tax-exempt, nonprofit organizations [501 (c)(3) or other publicly supported organizations] that reside within Cayuga County may apply. Grants must directly benefit the residents of Cayuga County. Visit www.cnycf.org for a grant application and guidelines.

About the Cayuga Community Fund
The Cayuga Community Fund is a geographically specific fund, administered by the Central New York Community Foundation. The Fund was created to benefit residents of Cayuga County by serving as a source of permanent charitable dollars available to nonprofits serving residents of the County. Grants will be awarded from the endowment fund annually to aid vital programs in education, health, social services, the arts, civic and environmental concerns, as well as the preservation of historic resources in Cayuga County.

The Central New York Community Foundation has served Central New York for over 80 years, receiving, managing and distributing charitable funds for the benefit of nonprofit organizations. Grants are awarded for programs in the areas of human services, arts and culture, education, environment, health, economic development and civic affairs. The region’s largest endowed philanthropic foundation, the Central New York Community Foundation awards more than $5 million in grants to nonprofit organizations annually. The Community Foundation, with its office at 500 South Salina Street, Syracuse, NY 13202, can be reached at (315) 422-9538 or www.cnycf.org.

Onondaga Community College decides to close pool because it's too expensive to maintain

Syracuse.com reported that Onondaga Community College pool will close for good as a cost-cutting measure. As the article relates:

“I would be a lost soul if I weren’t able to continue what I started so many years ago,” Dekleermaeker said recently in the locker room after an afternoon swim. “It would be a disaster if it closed, not just for me but for many other people.”

Those people include thousands of OCC students and area children who learned to swim and dive in the college pool, and the teachers and lifeguards who have spent decades at the poolside.

“When I look at the families coming here for swim lessons, we’ve had more than 1,000 in the past year,” said Beth Maio, who runs the community swimming program. “This pool has been open for, what, 30 years? The number of people that have taken swim lessons here in this pool, I couldn’t even guess.”

The college announced last month it will close the pool at the end of the spring semester because it had simply gotten too expensive, while state aid to OCC has declined. It costs about $250,000 a year to run and maintain the pool, officials said, and the college would have to spend about $500,000 to install a dehumidifier system.

“We did a careful analysis which resulted in a decision not to re-open the pool,” said OCC President Debbie Sydow.

Bill Emm, the college’s chief financial officer, said the pool building will house heating and ventilation equipment for the arena being built next door and for office space and classrooms. Read more here.

Syracuse Common Council tables Landmark Theatre tax deal

Syracuse.com reported that the Syracuse Common Council Monday delayed voting on a proposed settlement of overdue taxes and payments with the non-profit Landmark Theatre.

The theater is seeking the deal so it can get a bank loan for a stage expansion. Councilor Lance Denno objected to the vote, which prompted the resolution to be tabled until the council’s next meeting.

Denno opposes the deal, which exchanges more than $28,000 the Landmark owes the city in back taxes and payments in lieu of taxes for the city’s overuse of the facility for free events, valued by the Landmark at about $38,000. The agreement also forgives of tens of thousands of dollars in late fees and penalties owed by the theater.

Community Foundations Share Perspective

Colgate University offered the following interview with the directors from three Community Foundations in the region.

Dunn says that Central New York has a modest foundation community, with only $400 million in assets and $20 million in annual grants. With those funds, how can we have the most impact. He has seen many encouraging conversations about sustainability in not for profit organizations in the community, and discussions about merging, sharing objectives, and regionalization. OShea says that, as the largest funder in their area, several smaller foundations have come under their umbrella as donor advised or designated funds. This enables them to have a conversation about their interests and the impact of their charitable dollars. She also stresses the importance of the indicator study as a way to articulate the needs of the community to themselves and the community. Brown does the same thing by relying on other agencies to give them this information. They are concerned with the power differential and remind themselves to remain sensitive about this. She shares an example of a cultural organization that has systemic issues. They also discuss the definition of philanthropy and the creation of the Center for Philanthropy by the Central New York Community Foundation.

Beyond Collaboration: Re-engineering for Success

Presented by Doug Sauer, CEO, New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc.

Are your nonprofit resources getting tighter while expenses are increasing? Concerned about more regulations and accountability demands being placed on you? Are you looking for solutions other than more belt-tightening, service cut backs, and ramping up fundraising efforts? Are you missing out on lost opportunities? Have you considered merging, shared services or developing an alternative legal arrangement with another nonprofit? "Re-engineering" is a serious solution to the serious issues facing today's nonprofits. Come learn about the options, the benefits, risks and processes of re-engineering.

Date: Thursday, December 17th, 2009
Time: 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Cost: FREE
Location: Oswego Metro Center
The Atrium, 2 Clinton Square
Syracuse, NY 13202

Register Here: http://reengineering1117.eventbrite.com/

If you have questions, contact Andrew Marietta by e-mail or call (607) 436-3124.

Former gym building is a sinking boat for Erie Canal Museum

Syracuse.com reported about the Erie Canal Museum's challenges with a $499,000 building they purchased previously for an expansion, now cancelled. Now the building is for sale and the museum owes Onondaga County more than half a million dollars related to the aborted project.

The museum put the building — the old Water Street Gym — on the market six months ago and plans to pay back the county with money from the sale, museum Executive Director Diana Goodsight said.

Once the building is sold, the county will set up a plan for the museum to pay back whatever remains of its $552,105 debt to the county, said Ben Dublin, county director of intergovernmental relations.

“We need to recoup that taxpayer money,” he said.

Dublin was quick to point out that the situation dates back to 2006, before County Executive Joanie Mahoney took office.

It began with a $1.2 million federal grant and the museum’s plan to expand into the building a few doors down in the 300 block of East Water Street.

The county applied for and in 2006 won the federal grant, which came through the state Department of Transportation. The money was to be used by the museum for the expansion.

When the museum killed the expansion — after it bought the building — the grant reverted to the state, but the county was on the hook to pay back the state for the grant money already spent, a total of $431,000, Dublin said.

After the county won the grant, but before the money came in, the county advanced the museum $552,105 for the project, he said. Then County Executive Nick Pirro and the county Legislature agreed in 2006 to advance the museum up to $1.7 million for the project, according to Dublin. The projected cost of the expansion was $1.7 million.

The $1.2 million grant was supposed to buy the building, replace its 1950s facade and ready the interior for use as exhibition galleries, classrooms and hands-on learning space. The museum was responsible for coming up with the other $500,000, Goodsight said.

To actually install the exhibits and finish the project would have cost at least $800,000 on top of the $1.7 million, Goodsight said.

When the economy soured, and given other projects the museum was conducting, its board decided to cancel the expansion to avoid a possible “financial mess,” she said. Read more here.

Robert Egger Speaker- Friday November 13-National Philanthropy Day

Association of Fundraising Professionals
Central New York Chapter
cordially invites you to attend the

2009 National Philanthropy Day Luncheon

November 13, 2009
12:00 - 2:00 pm
The Renaissance Syracuse Hotel
701 East Genesee Street, Syracuse

Honoring:
Sheldon & Mateele Kall, Trustees
Sam Pomeranz and Abraham Shankman Trusts
Outstanding Philanthropists

Kevin & Linda Hicks, Founders
KJs Angels Memorial Fund
Outstanding Volunteer Fundraisers

Empower Federal Credit Union
Outstanding Corporation

Keynote Speaker:
Robert Egger
Author, Begging for Change
President, D.C. Central Kitchen

Tickets $50 per person
RSVP by Tuesday, November 10, 2009 to:
Beverly Mack at 315/498-6057 or bmack5@twcny.rr.com

SU, Cornell, University of Rochester collaborate to find solutions to CNY brain drain in upcoming charrette, Nov. 13-15

Thirty-six students from Syracuse University, Cornell University and the University of Rochester will come together Nov. 13-15 for a charrette to address and work on creative solutions to one of the toughest problems facing Upstate New York: retaining smart, hard-working young people post-graduation.

The Friday through Sunday charrette, titled "Work/Play/Stay," will take place on the fourth floor of The Warehouse, 350 W. Fayette St., Syracuse, culminating with a presentation of ideas after a 1 p.m. reception on Sunday, Nov. 15.

A charrette–sometimes called a design charrette–is an intense, design-based collaborative project. Charrettes serve as a way of quickly generating a design solution through collaborative work, integrating the aptitudes and interests of a diverse group of people. For the upcoming "Work/Play/Stay" charrette, each university selected 12 students from a variety of disciplines and schools.

The idea for an entrepreneurial collaboration of the three universities came from Neil Tarallo, assistant professor of clinical entrepreneurship at SU's Whitman School of Management, who had once been an entrepreneur in the Ithaca area.

"Typically, it's industry leaders and government officials that talk about this issue, but as entrepreneurs we know that customers' opinions are very important, so it seems logical that we should ask the students what they think," says Tarallo. Read more here.

InterFaith Works: ED Search

InterFaith Works of Central New York is a non-profit organization located in Syracuse, New York. Founded in 1976, InterFaith Works brings together a diverse array of faith traditions in our community, in the belief that engagement among these different faith groups will lead to understanding, friendships and a collaborative strength to address community issues. Our work is reflected in a variety of interfaith initiatives including our five core social service programs:

· Center for New Americans – Refugee Resettlement
· Community-Wide Dialogue to End Racism
· Covenant Housing to aid those with special needs
· Senior Companion for the frail elderly
· Spiritual Care for those in area health care and correctional facilities


Our Mission remains through education, service and dialogue, to affirm the dignity of each person and every faith community and to work to create relationships and understanding among us. InterFaith Works has approximately 35 full and part-time employees with an annual budget of approximately 2.5 million. http://www.interfaithworkscny.org/

Executive Director

Description:
The Executive Director is accountable to the Board of Directors, and is responsible for general management of the organization and for financial and organizational growth and development toward the fulfillment of its mission, vision and values.

Responsibilities include:
· Establishing and maintaining relationships with faith community leaders, related community agencies, funding sources, and government bodies.
· Leading and actively supporting and participating in fund raising and grant writing activities to provide the organization with continuing sources of funds.
· Exercising responsibility for the financial management of InterFaith Works including developing and recommending an annual budget.
· Managing, leading and collaborating with InterFaith Works staff to support the organization’s mission and goals.
· Building strong staff relationships and contributing to a positive work environment.
· Developing interfaith education initiatives and leading InterFaith Works community education efforts
· Coordinating community public relations efforts and representing InterFaith Works when the opportunity arises in public venues.
· Collaborating, partnering and communicating with the Board of Directors and Executive Committee on a regular basis, including participating in all requisite meetings.
· Effectively communicating the organizations’ progress and accomplishments, as well as ongoing resource needs to staff, Board and community stakeholders
· Coordinating the recruitment and training of Board members and generally overseeing the operation of the InterFaith Works volunteer structure.
· Developing and recommending policies to guide the operation of InterFaith Works and supervising and coordinating their implementation.

Required Experience:
· Substantial experience in senior management position
· Expertise in fund raising
· Familiarity with non-profit organizations and Boards
· Demonstrated leadership ability
· Experience with operating budgets
· Understanding of the organization’s mission and work
· Significant connection to the interfaith community

Please send resume to IFW Search c/o Eric Mower and Associates, 500 Plum Street, Syracuse, NY 13204 or email to IFWSearch@mower.com.
InterFaith Works is an AA/EOE.

Oncenter audit finds sloppy financial controls, and taxpayers pay the price

Syracuse.com reported that when Oncenter officials walked into the Onondaga County Legislature chamber Tuesday, they had two uncomfortable confessions to make.

First, they were out of money. They asked for $575,000 from the county to pay their bills — on top of the $2.1 million the county gives them each year.

Second, Oncenter’s latest financial report card was the kind that gets children sent to their rooms.

A recent audit of Oncenter’s 2008 finances by independent accounting firm Testone, Marshall & Discenza concluded that Oncenter’s sloppy financial controls created “more than a remote likelihood” that significant accounting errors, or even fraud, could go undetected.

Oncenter, a nonprofit corporation that manages the county’s convention center, theaters, parking facilities and War Memorial, is required by its contract to provide quarterly financial reports to the Legislature and other county officials.

But the corporation’s finances have been in disarray for the past year during a shakeup in top management. The Testone audit of 2008 results, produced Tuesday during a meeting of the Legislature’s Ways and Means Committee, was Oncenter’s first financial report to the Legislature in more than a year.

It listed several “significant deficiencies” in the corporation’s money management, including: Read more here.

Grantmakers Forum: Nonprofit Resource

Interested in an area resource that funders are involved in? Check out the Grantmakers Forum of New York.

VISION Grantmakers Forum of New York is the primary organization for
engaging Upstate New York funders in the quest for philanthropic
excellence.

MISSION
Grantmakers Forum of New York unites and empowers funders to achieve their philanthropic aspirations. Through Grantmakers Forum, grantmakers of diverse backgrounds and experience connect to share and increase their knowledge, improve their practice, and address philanthropic opportunities that make a positive social, economic and environmental impact.

STRATEGIC INITIATIVES
A. Grantmakers Forum will operate as a statewide organization;
B. Grantmakers Forum will engage funders through meaningful programs and services;
C. Grantmakers Forum will build leadership around philanthropic issues and opportunities;
D. Grantmakers Forum will promote philanthropy throughout the region.

Click here for an overview of the organization's board and members.

Nonprofit Request: Insurance for Input

My name is Nancy Turo and I am the Controller for P.E.A.C.E., Inc. in Syracuse, NY. Our Executive Director, Joe O’Hara suggested that I contact you in regards to research we are doing on umbrella insurance coverage for our Agency. He mentioned that you have a Human Services Leadership Council email group for which I could send out a general question to other non-profits in the area.

Our agency just renewed our commercial package insurance policies and our insurance agent suggested that we increase our umbrella coverage. Before we do that, we were wondering if through the Human Services Leadership Council email listserv we could pose the question to other non-profits of how much umbrella insurance coverage does your agency carry and how large your agency’s budget is. We plan to use this information in helping us make an informed decision about whether we should increase our umbrella coverage or not.

I appreciate any help that you can give me.
Thank you,

Nancy Turo
Controller
P.E.A.C.E., Inc.
315-634-3728

Community activist needs help to save her shoestring youth center in Syracuse

Syracuse.com reported that Mary Nelson has pulled off the seemingly impossible before and is trying to do it again, this time to save her new youth center.

In 2002, starting with little more than her own drive, Nelson created an annual youth day barbecue and give-away that now puts backpacks stuffed with school supplies into the hands of thousands of kids, upwards of 9,000 this year alone.

In June, she opened the Mary Nelson Youth/Community Center at 2849 S. Salina St. in a building she rents from Catholic Charities of Onondaga County. Nelson says she serves 120 children a day in her after-school program and offers services to their families and adults. The center, open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, aims to help children and adults with their education and job skills.
Want to get involved?

You can contact Mary Nelson through her Web site: www.youthdaybarbecue.com or by calling her at 403-0220.

If the need is clear, the center’s future is not. Nelson says she’s behind on rent and out of money. To stay open she needs to come up with $4,000 a month, she said. She also needs another $7,500 to get caught up.

Nelson said she’s tried unsuccessfully to obtain grant money to run the center, and will continue to hunt for grants to stay open in the long run. “If I can get the community to help me until I get grant money coming in, I would have my goal every month, I would have what I need to keep that center up and running,” she said.

Nelson said she’s set up a nonprofit corporation through which she runs the youth barbecue give-away and the youth center.

In 2008, the ABC Television Show “Live with Regis and Kelly,” awarded her a $50,000 gift from Kmart for her work with the barbecue. Nelson said she set up the center with that money.

Nelson works as a billing representative for the radiology department at University Hospital.
No one who works at the youth center, including herself, gets paid, she said. Nelson says her landlord has been supportive as she tries to come up with the rent money.

Toni Maxwell, Catholic Charities director of development, said the center is just the kind of operation Catholic Charities wants to see in the building, but that it has a “business relationship” with Nelson. Maxwell declined to discuss specifics of the relationship. “We are very respectful of her work and we’re going to be very patient with her situation,” Maxwell said.

Nelson is hoping to have center finances in order by November. “I know once people see that I am reaching out, I believe that I’m going to have the support that I need. I believe in my community. I really do,” Nelson said.

Seventh Annual Best Practices for Nonprofits

November 19, 2009
Holiday Inn Liverpool

9:00 a.m.-9:45 a.m.
Concurrent Session 1
Section A
Panel Discussion
Mission Refinement: Program Prioritization/Program Reduction
Pat Leone, Contact Community Services, Inc.
Linda M. Wright, The Salvation Army of the Syracuse Area
Michael F. Melara, Catholic Charities of Onondaga County

Section B
Defining And Developing Your Organization’s Strategic Plan, Business Plan And Budget
Susan Burgess, MA, MS, True North Group

Section C
Panel Discussion
Forming Strategic Partnerships
Mary Ellen Bloodgood, Jewish Home of Central New York / Menorah Park
Dr. Thomas H. Dennison, Syracuse University’s Maxwell School Health Services Management and Policy
John G. Eberle, Central New York Community Foundation
Michael West, New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc.

10:00 a.m.-10:45 a.m.
Concurrent Session 2
Section D
Panel Discussion
Staff Issues In The Downturn – Compensation And Retention
Peter A. Jones, Esq., Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC
John E. Matson, Syracuse University

Section E
Exploring Funding Streams
Speaker TBD, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

Section F
Panel Discussion
Managing Volunteers From Acceptance Through The Volunteer Life Cycle/Creating “Meaningful” Work
Karen Hargrave, Vera House
Craig Collie, United Way
Nancy Stewart, Crouse Hospital

11:00 a.m.-Noon
Plenary Session
Panel Discussion
Attracting And Engaging The “40 Below” Board Member And Volunteer
Kelly Bayne, United Way of Central New York, Inc., 40 Below Civic Engagement Task Force
Sean Becker, 40 Below Civic Engagement Task Force
Brian Hoke, 40 Below, Thursday Morning Roundtable Advisory Committee
Kelly Knab, United Way of Central New York, Inc.

Agenda
7:30 am - 8:00 am
Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m.
Keynote Address
ePhilanthropy: Using the Web for Fundraising
Erica Campbell, Assistant Vice President, CCS Fundraising

LOCATION
Holiday Inn Syracuse/Liverpool, 411 Electronics Parkway, Liverpool, NY 13088 315-457-1122

REGISTRATION
November 19, 2009 Liverpool, New York
Registration Fees: $70 – BS&K/ParenteBeard LLC Clients $85 – General Public
RSVP Deadline: November 12, 2009
Please indicate which of the Concurrent Sessions you will attend:
Session 1: A B C Session 2: D E F
Register online at www.bsk.comor complete and return the registration form below.
Name:_________________________________________________Title:_______________________________________________
Organization:________________________________________________________________________________________________
Address:___________________________________________________________________________________________________
City:___________________________________ State:____________________________ Zip:______________________________
E-Mail:_______________________________Telephone:____________________________Fax:____________________________
The following people will also attend:
Name:____________________________________Title:______________________________ E-Mail:_________________________
Name:____________________________________Title:______________________________ E-Mail:_________________________
Name:____________________________________Title:______________________________ E-Mail:_________________________
Refunds will only be made for cancellations received 5 business days before event.
Register online at www.bsk.com or complete and return the registration form to:
Ms. Toko Moyo, Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC, One Lincoln Center, Syracuse, NY 13202
Fax: 315-218-8100 Questions: 1-800-339-8897 E-mail: tmoyo@bsk.com
Please make checks payable to Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC
If anyone attending needs any special accommodation, please call Liz Poda at 315-218-8526.
This seminar is intended for the invited guests of Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC, Central New York Community Foundation, Inc.,
The Gifford Foundation, ParenteBeard LLC and the United Way of Central New York, who reserve the right to deny admission to any applicant.

Gifford launches Web site where nonprofits can swap resources

Syracuse.com reported that The Gifford Foundation has launched a Web site where Central New York nonprofits can swap or sell items and services, list job openings and post information about events and programs.

Giffordslist.org is a free service for nonprofits, business and individuals who register to use it. Groups can register online.

More than 35 local nonprofits have already used the site during a two-month testing period.
“We thought it would be a great idea if the nonprofits in our community had a tool to start thinking outside the box and sharing their resources,” said Lindsay McLung, a grants manager at the foundation.

To drum up interest, Gifford is offering to provide lunch for up to 50 staff members of any organization that completes five successful exchanges on Giffordslist over the next three months.

Seward House Museum ED Search

Good afternoon,
I am contacting you in my role as a trustee of Seward House Museum located in Auburn. Seward House has just begun a search for a new Executive Director to replace Peter Wisbey, who will be stepping down at the end of the yearafter serving nine years in the position. Below is a link to the job description and application instructions. I would ask that you pass along this link to anyone you believe may have an interest in the position. Thank you for your assistance.
Dan Fessenden
www.sewardhouse.org/executivedirector

Latino Upstate Summit Set for October 23 in Syracuse

Good Afternoon,

We would like to invite you or members of your organization to attend the Latino Upstate Summit on Friday, October 23, 2009 at the Oncenter Complex from 8:00 – 4:30p.m. During these tough economic times we have allotted 20 Scholarship opportunities for students or employees of organizations that would not have the ability to attend due to financial constraints. Attached is the scholarship application and registration brochure that needs to be submitted to Shannon Ryan at execassistant@laligaonline.com no later than Friday, October 9th. If you have any questions, please contact Shannon or Rita.

The Latino community is growing nationally, and Upstate New York is no exception. The Latino Upstate Summit will offer you the opportunity to better understand the issues and trends affecting Latino’s in this region. There are many serious issues facing the Latino community. Topics such as Immigration, Youth Development, Health, Education and Economic Development are just a few of the many issues we will discuss at this event.

This forum is the ideal opportunity to enhance one’s knowledge of current issues and trends affecting Latinos and presents a unique opportunity to enhance one’s knowledge of current issues and trends affecting Latinos and presents a unique chance for networking among professionals in the corporate, government, and non-profit sectors.

The third annual Latino Upstate Summit allows Latino Community Based Organizations from Albany, Amsterdam, Buffalo, Rochester, Rome-Utica, and Syracuse to come together to discuss their concerns when serving their communities. Best practices and outcome-based interventions will be showcased.

Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with professionals who work closely with the Latino community throughout New York and to meet the “Who’s Who” among Latinos living in this region.

Shannon Ryan
Executive Assistant
Spanish Action League of Onondaga County, Inc.
700 Oswego Street
Syracuse, New York 13204
(315) 475-6153 ext. 218
(315) 474-5767 Fax

Recession delivers a double blow to many charities

The Associated Press reported that for many social-service charities across America, the recession has delivered a staggering one-two punch. Sharp drops in donations and investment income have been coupled by soaring demand for their services.

The casualties so far include countless needy clients losing assistance and thousands of nonprofit workers who've been laid off. Some local charities have shut down; even many of the largest nationwide operations have made painful cutbacks in staff, spending and programs.

"Nonprofits are generally at the whim of the economy ... but we've never seen anything like this," says the Rev. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA. "Increasing numbers of our own volunteers and employees have been forced to become clients of our services."

The cutbacks are forcing charities to rethink how they operate and make changes that are likely to outlive the recession. Nonprofits, like regular businesses, are learning to do more with less. Those that survive will emerge more efficient. Read more here.

October 13th Candidate Forum on Disability Issues

Tuesday October 13, 2009
1:00 PM—4:30PM

Candidate Discussion Topics:
• Pedestrian safety
• Inclusion of people with disabilities on county and city committees
• Accessibility of city schools slated for renovation
• Enforcement of Visitability or basic access to new home construction
• Continued funding for the Homebound Transportation program
• The need for Defibrillators in nursing homes
• The need for a county ADA coordinator
• A plan to get younger people with disabilities out of nursing homes and into community living.

Location:
Enable
1603 Court Street
Syracuse, NY

Program:
1:00pm – 2:15pm
Candidates for Onondaga County Legislature
(10 minute break)
2:25pm – 3:15pm
Candidates for Syracuse Common Council
(10 minute break)
3:25pm – 4:30pm
Candidates for Mayor of Syracuse
Questions from the audience after each segment (time permitting).

Sponsored by:
Local disability rights advocates and consumer groups, including: ARISE’s Consumer Council, ENABLE’s Advocacy Committee, and Disabled in Action of Greater Syracuse Sign language interpreter and free refreshments will be provided.

For questions or accommodations contact Sally Johnston at (315) 410-3317

State officials tout new economic development program

Syracuse.com reported that Deborah Van Amerongen, commissioner of the state Division of Housing and Community Renewal, came to Syracuse today to promote New York's "Main Street" grant program, which Gov. David Paterson recently signed into law.

The program provides money to municipalities and non-profit organizations to improve streets, renovate facades and rehabilitate buildings in downtown areas.

A pilot version of the program previously existed, but the bill Paterson signed makes the program permanent and expands its scope. Local governments, for instance, will now be able to apply for awards of up to $500,000, up from the previous limit of $200,000.

The bill was sponsored by Sen. David Valesky, D-Oneida.

Since the pilot began in 2004, the state has issued 265 grants, worth $61.3 million, in 175 communities. Syracuse and Central New York has received millions of that money.

Syracuse's Unemployment at 7.9 percent

The Central NY Business Journal reported that New York's unemployment rate climbed to 9 percent in August, up from 8.6 percent in July, according to new data the state Labor Department released today.

August's rate was the highest since April 1983, according to the department. The state's unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in August 2008.

New York's private-sector job count fell by about 2,200 in August, less than 0.1 percent, to about 7.1 million.

In Syracuse, the number of private-sector jobs fell 2.5 percent, about 6,800 jobs, between August 2008 and August 2009. The unemployment rate was 7.9 percent last month, down from 8.1 percent in July and up from 5.5 percent in August 2008.

History of Human Services Leadership Council

Below is a helpful summary of the history of HSLC. This is a great summary showing what peer support groups can accomplish and their value.

11/19/04: Pres Ex: discussion of change of name and direction
1/14/05: Voted to become Human Services Leadership Council of CNY; with new committee structure
3/11/05: Rob Simpson of MDA on regional perspective of CNY
5/13/05: Panel discussion on succession planning
9/9/05: Angela Douglas/Margery Connor: “Bridges out of poverty” conference
11/18/05: Panel on “Race and Class Issues as they affect Emergency Disaster Planning and Response” in consideration of Hurricane Katrina
1/13/06: Meeting with NYS legislators on “safety net”
3/10/06: Follow up with members regarding issues raised at the January meeting with legislators
5/12/06: Vito Sciscioli and Laurie Black “West Side Strategy”; “Bridges out of Poverty” by Margery Connor
9/8/06: Kim Scott of CNY Community Foundation on read ahead
11/3/06: Susan Horn’s facilitation of “Truth or Dare: How Are We Doing?” A consideration of (1) CompassPoint report “Daring to Lead 2006: A National Study of Nonprofit Executive Leadership” and (2) the Maxwell School’s survey “Onondaga County Not for Profits: An Assessment of Organizational and Leadership Capacity”; Kathy Goldfarb-Findling on changes in grantmaking process
1/12/07: Susan Horn’s facilitation of discussion of common themes as a follow up of the Nov 3 meeting
3/9/07: Peggy Liuzzi facilitation of panel on strategic restructuring
5/11/07: How we use technology
9/6/07: Candidates forum for County Executive race
9/21/07: One-minute reports on agency mission and general stats
10/26/07: Mission-driven restructuring forum at Genesee Grande, Doug Sauer of Council on Community Services, and many panelists
11/9/07: Mini-presentations: Advanced care planning (Dave Pasinski); Governor’s rep (Dan Young); Deborah O’Shea (Volunteer Lawyers)
1/11/08: Chat with Ann Rooney, newly appointed Onondaga County Administrator for Human Services
3/14/08: Generational issues in the workforce (Renee Downey Hart)
5/9/08: Panel on middle management training
9/12/08: Johanna Hannah on “Helping employees cope with caring for aging family members”
11/14/08: Conversations with state and federal leaders: Congressman-elect Dan Maffei, and Governor Patterson’s local rep, Dan Young
1/9/09: Conversations with state legislative leaders: impact of NYS budget proposals
3/13/09: Discussion of “Strategic Partnerships: Now More Than Ever?”
5/8/09: Presentation of “Impact of 23 Onondaga County Not for Profits”

WRVO to Host a Community Forum in Syracuse

“The Role of Higher Education in the New Economy."

WRVO will host another in a series of community forums on Monday, Sept. 14, in Syracuse. This program, which will be recorded and rebroadcast on WRVO, will allow audience members to participate in the discussion and ask any questions they may have about how higher education will be important in the new economy.

The panel will include SUNY Oswego President Deborah F. Stanley, President and CEO of the Metropolitan Development Association of Syracuse and Central New York (MDA) Robert M. Simpson, and Peggy Dudarchik, Senior Vice President of the Sensis Corporation. WRVO Morning Edition Host Jason Smith will moderate the discussion.

This event is free and open to the public! Members of the media are welcome. Please let us know if you plan to attend.

WHAT: WRVO Community Forum
WHEN: Monday, Sept. 14 at 3 p.m.
TOPIC: What is the role of higher education in the new economy?
WHERE: SUNY Oswego Metro Center
The Atrium Building
2 Clinton Square
Syracuse, NY 13202

Syracuse Mayoral Platforms

The Greater Syracuse Progressive Coalition, representing over 20 community organizations and thousands of individuals committed to the betterment of Syracuse, has been working tirelessly to create a more just, sustainable, inclusive and peaceful community. Below you will find our proposals for concrete steps the next mayor can take to carry out such reforms. Four candidates: Alfonso Davis, Carmen Harlow, Stephanie Miner and Joe Nicoletti submitted their responses on deadline (Otis Jennings and Steve Kimatian are also included). We seek to publicize the candidate responses widely and use them as the basis for a series of educational forums in September and October to provide Syracuse residents an opportunity to question the candidates (see back page calendar). “Y” denotes a “yes” response, “N” a “no” and “C” reports a comment entered. For more information and to read candidate comments, click here.

Opportunity for Nonprofit Human Resources Assistance

This email contains general information about the opportunity for class team projects in cooperation with nonprofit human services organizations in Central New York.

Service Learning is part of the curriculum in Le Moyne College's fall Compensation and Performance Appraisal class and the spring Personnel Planning and Selection (Staffing) class. Each class is divided into teams which are matched with nonprofit client/sponsors who have an interest in the class team working on a project for them.

In the case of Compensation and Performance Appraisal, the project is based on the needs of the nonprofit organization. Examples include: creating a variable pay plan design, creating job descriptions, developing pay ranges, developing a performance appraisal system.

The project for the staffing class involves developing a complete staffing strategy and process for one or two positions. This includes the concept for the position, strategy for staffing, job description, recruiting methods, assessment techniques, selection and offer process as well as orientation.

Class teams work with designated people from the agency. Final presentations are made in class with agency people present (or class team presents at the agency).

There are a couple of open projects for the fall (Compensation) and there are 4-5 opportunities for spring (depending on class size).

The Compensation Class starts on September 3d and on September 10th there is a process for matching teams with agencies. Presentations take place in late November/early December. Last date for class is December 10th.

Time requirements for the agency will vary depending on the nature of the project. There is an upfront meeting with the team and the client/sponsor (agency), various meetings throughout the semester; concluding with a 30 minute in class presentation (or presentation at the agency). I would estimate that time would be less than 10 hours.

In addition to interest for this semester, I am trying to build a list of agencies who have a future interest.

If anyone is interested in learning more, please call or email Kerry Carney (Adjunct Faculty at Le Moyne) 436 9529 carneykj@lemoyne.edu.

Thank you.

Regards,

Kerry Carney
Kerry J. Carney, SPHR, CSC
Grenell Consulting Group
315 436 9529
kerryjcarney@grenell.com
www.grenell.com

'Road Show' series to encourage business development in Onondaga County

The Central NY Business Journal reported that the Onondaga County Office of Economic Development today announced a series of meetings aimed at helping business owners make their companies more successful.

Businesses that would benefit include technology and biotech firms, manufacturers, agribusiness operations, startups, distributors, and professional services firms.

Representatives from 16 economic development organizations and government agencies will be available to answer questions about financing, work-force development, energy efficiency, and business planning.

The first session of the road show series is set for Sept. 22 at Camillus Town Hall. A second is scheduled Oct. 13 at the Salina Town Hall. The remaining two sessions are scheduled for Oct. 20 at the Orchard Valley Golf Course in LaFayette and Oct. 28 at Fire Station Two in East Syracuse.
For more information, visit www.syracusecentral.com/roadshow

Will you take advantage of these meetings? It seems now is the time for nonprofits to show up and take advantage of these services offered.

Meet the Grantmakers session - Syracuse Sept 2 FULL

We are writing to let you know that the Meet the Grantmakers Session to be held at the SUNY Metro Center on September 2nd is now FULL. There is limited room and only those who received confirmation emails will be permitted to attend.

We have received an overwhelming response to the invitation and are trying our best to respond to the demand. Some slots are still available at the Oneida session which is at 3 PM also on September 2 and we are continuing to accept reservations for this one.

Alternatively, we are also tentatively planning another Syracuse session for September 24 at 8:00 AM. If you have not been able to get in to the Syracuse session, please let us know if you would like to attend the Oneida session instead OR to be added to the waitlist for the Syracuse session on the 24th.

If we have sufficient response to the proposed Sept 24 session, we will send you an email confirmation with logistical details.

Please also note that we intend to host these sessions on an ongoing basis (at least three times a year in Syracuse) so there will be other opportunities to participate in the near future. Thank you very much for your interest!

Feel free to call Olive Sephuma at 422-9538 with questions or concerns.

Sincerely,
The Central New York Community Foundation, Gifford Foundation & Allyn Foundation

Comm.UNITY Forum: Helping With Your TO DO List

• photographer for dinner
• redesign website
• poster campaign
• fliers for walkathon
• brochure design
• new newsletter template
• create promo video

Last year, comm.UNITY helped local nonprofits by providing communication solutions. Now, we want to know how we can help your organization. We are a student-run organization at Syracuse University. Our 70+ members aim to help local nonprofits design and implement sustainable communications plans. We want you to speak up.

What does your organization need? Last year, we designed fliers and brochures, developed fundraising posters, created promotional videos and even helped publish a book.

Come to the 2nd annual comm.UNITY forum, in partnership with United Way, to see how we can check a few tasks off your list.
visit us: http://comm.unity.syr.edu/
what can we do for your To Do list?

Join Us at the Gifford Community Room, United Way, 518 James Street on:
Wednesday, September 9 9-10:30 AM
OR Thursday, September 10 5-6:30 PM
Please RSVP by September 4 to commrelations@gmail.com

Have you ever thought about facilitating a workshop?

Presented by the The Children’s Consortium
2122 Erie Blvd. East Syracuse, NY 13224
www.childrensconsortium.org

Become a Ready, Set, Parent! Facilitator!

Ready, Set, Parent! offers an 8 week Infant & Toddler Workshop Series where parents can find
support and solutions to their parenting concerns.

Ready, Set, Parent! would like to offer workshops throughout Onondaga County and are in need of qualified facilitators!

If you are 18yrs. or older, enthusiastic, reliable, have relevant experience and have a flexible schedule where you are able to facilitate regularly, we welcome you to apply!

If you haven’t done so already, you will need to enroll in a FREE two-day, October 2nd and 3rd, EPIC facilitator training.
For more information, please call: Liz Sapio at (315) 471-8331

Bringing Deaf and Hearing Worlds Together

WHOLE ME, Inc. 6th Annual Dinner
A Deaf Awareness Week Event
Saturday, September 12th, 2009
6:00—9:00 PM
Located in the Empire Room at the NYS Fairgrounds
Syracuse, NY

The keynote speakers for the evening are seven Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing high school students that will present on the topic: “Learning from the Past, Living in the Present, & Building the Future.”

Tickets for the event are $40 each.
Please mail your reservations and payment to:
WHOLE ME, Inc. 1015 State Fair Blvd., Syracuse, NY 13209. For more information please call 315-468-3275 or e-mail info@wholemeinc.com

1st Annual WHOLE ME, Inc. 5K Walk/Run Fundraiser

Sunday, September 20, 2009
5K walk/run start: 11:00am
Registration begins at 10:00am
½ mile kids’ fun run start: 10:30am
Saw Mill Creek Shelter, East Shore Recreational Trail at Onondaga Lake Park
Parking at Willow Bay Parking Lot
• Race starts at the Saw Mill Creek Shelter, down and back race.
• T-shirts guaranteed for pre-registered 5Krunners/walkers.
• Register by September 13th: 5K walk/run $20 per person,
$25 after 9/13 and day of race. Kids’ ½ mile fun-run FREE.
WHOLE ME Inc.
1015 State Fair Blvd.
Syracuse, NY 13209
For applications go to www.wholemeinc.com

CNY Latino Resource

The CNY Latino is organizing and promoting three (3) significant events,that might be of interest for you:
SYRACUSE LATINO CRUISE August 29 and September 5
LATINO POLITICAL TOWN-HALL MEETING September 4
DOMINO TOURNAMENT September 19 & 20

All 3 programs are culturally based and will bring unique and affordable Hispanic entertainment to everyone in Central New York.

For information about these events (and many other upcoming ones), reply tothis email (promotions@cnylatino.com) requesting more details, or go to www.CNYLatino.com, or call HUGO at (315) 415-8593

Meet the Grantmakers Events

Join the Central New York Community Foundation, The Gifford Foundation and The Allyn Foundation at one of two informative sessions, featuring a new interactive format.

Attendees will learn about each of the featured funders, acquire a better understanding of each funder’s strategic approach to grantmaking and network with others in the nonprofit community.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009
8:00 - 10:00 AM
SUNY Oswego Metro Center
The Atrium
2 Clinton Square, Syracuse

Presenters:
The Central New York Community Foundation
The Gifford Foundation
The Allyn Foundation

Wednesday, September 2, 2009
3:00 - 5:00 PM
Oneida Community Mansion House
170 Kenwood Ave, Oneida

Presenters:
The Central New York Community Foundation
The Gifford Foundation

Reserve your spot now!
RSVP to Theresa McNeally at (315) 422-9538 ext. 218 or Theresa@cnycf.org

Getting A Foundation's Perspective

Looking for insight into what foundations will be talking about this year? Take a look at the following announcement for the Private Foundation Summit set for September 17-18.

The Private Foundation Summit, sponsored by PESI Law & Accounting, will take place on September 17th and 18th in Seattle, WA. At the Summit, eleven of the nation's leading experts on private foundations will present effective solutions and ideas to cope with the additional demands and burdens of tough economic times!

The Private Foundation Summit will feature true thought leaders in philanthropy, including the Keynote speaker, Mr. Alex Friedman, CFO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Also featured is Mr. Matthew Bishop, Chief Business Writer, The Economist and co-author of Philanthrocapitalism: How the Rich Can Save the World. Matthew Bishop is looking forward to being a part of the Summit and stated, "As the problems facing society grow, private foundations are needed - and needed to be effective - more than ever."

Jody Blazek, CPA and co-author with Bruce Hopkins of Private Foundations: Tax Law and Compliance 3rd Edition, welcomes the resurgence of private foundations, as advisors and philanthropists realize the former advantages of donor advised funds and supporting organizations that were removed by the Pension Protection Act of 2006.

This two-day summit promises to be practical, innovative and insightful for private foundation leaders, payout and investment strategists, management and operations officers, grant makers, grantee assessors, accountants, attorneys and financial institutions. Faculty from The Gates Foundation, Clark Nuber, Blazek & Vetterling, Adler & Colvin, Foundation Source, Polsinelli Shughart, The Seattle Foundation, the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, and Davis, Wright and Tremaine, will present current issues and offer practical solutions for private foundations. They will address complex strategic issues confronting private foundations during these tough economic times.

The Private Foundation Summit offers a unique opportunity to learn, network and gain the needed tools to strategically propel private foundations forward. Jane Searing, shareholder of Clark Nuber commented, "This summit is one of a kind. It is a rare occurrence to have access to this level of private foundation thought leaders at one event."

To register for the Summit visit www.pesilaw.com or call 800-844-8260 for more information. Please call for group rates.

Keeping Kids Safe Community Forum

Join the effort, share ideas, learn more.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009 / 6p.m. -7:30p.m.
Bethany Baptist Church of Syracuse, 149 Beattie St.
Questions? call Helen Hudson 315-428-2203

Community Foundation Offers Stimulus Funds Networking Forum

Dear member of the Central New York Community,

Federal stimulus funds, both directly from Federal departments and through NYS, are being made available rapidly and often with little time between requests for proposals and due dates. Many of these funds require extensive collaborations between organizations adding further complexity to the application process.

To assist in the process of applying for funding, and to increase the overall competitiveness of CNY applicants, the Central New York Community Foundation is offering a networking forum in response to feedback we have received about the need for a medium for seeking out potential collaborators.

Federal government officials involved in the stimulus funding process have repeatedly emphasized that collaborative and focused grant applications with a regional approach will compete better than individual applications from a single city or county. One way to foster such collaboration is to offer a forum in which organizations can make their interests known to each other.

The object of this initiative is to offer a neutral space for organizations to communicate about which funding opportunities interest them and a means for identifying other organizations with which they might collaborate and or coordinate to maximize the amount of resources received by Central New York.

We invite all nonprofit, for profit and governmental organizations that are interested in pursuing stimulus funds and other federal and state monies to participate by completing the web survey at the link below by August 7th. We will then forward to you the contact information of community organizations with similar grant interests so that you may connect with each other at your convenience.

The Central New York Community Foundation will not seek to arbitrate between groups with regard to project or application choice. Rather, we seek to offer a medium for interested parties to connect with each other and find ways to collaborate.

To participate, simply click here and complete the short survey.


An extensive listing of current grants can be found at the following website (click here).

Finally, as this is an open service offered to the community, please feel free to forward this email to organizations that you feel would be interested in participating.

Sincerely,
The Central New York Community Foundation

New rules for accountants, effective Sunday, catch some CPAs by surprise

Syracus.com reported that about one-third of New York's 60,000 certified public accounts may miss Sunday's deadline to register with the state.

As part of new accounting profession regulatory reforms signed into law in January, all CPAs must register with the state Education Department and take classes each year to keep up to date.

"It's the CPA's ethical responsibility to see that they get registered," said David Moynihan, president of the state Society of Certified Public Accountants and a partner in Testone, Marshall & Discenza, a Syracuse accounting firm.

Under the state's existing law, only CPAs who do audit work must register. The new law expands the requirement to all CPAs who provide accounting, management, tax and financial advisory services. It represents the first major overhaul of the law since 1897, Moynihan said.
Read a Q&A on the changes for accountants in New York state here.

"There wasn't even a national income tax in 1897," he said. "All the other avenues CPAs have gotten into have been unregulated."

Moynihan said many CPAs are unaware of the change because they are retired or no longer living in New York state. Even retired CPAs who provide their services for free to nonprofits must register, he said.

As part of the new law, CPAs must take up to 40 hours of continuing professional education annually. Read more here.

This is an important change for nonprofits to acknowledge, especially as they explore audit services. Have additional comments? Post them here.

Syracuse Symphony Orchestra and Central New York Jazz Arts Foundation receive NEA grants

Syracuse.com reported that The Syracuse Symphony Orchestra and Central New York Jazz Arts Foundation have received money from the federal economic stimulus package.

The National Endowment for the Arts is disbursing $29.78 million in grants to 631 cultural organizations nationwide. The orchestra will receive $50,000 while the jazz foundation will receive $25,000.

These funds, part of the formally titled American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, are reserved for salary support during this time of dwindling endowments and charitable giving. Read more here.

HSLC offers insight on economic impact study

A joint meeting was held by the Oneida and Herkimer Nonprofit Executive Directors Group Steering Committee and the South Central NY Nonprofit Executive Directors Special Projects Committee to discuss the SCNY Group’s recent efforts around an economic impact study. The meeting, hosted by the Central New York Community Foundation, was attended by representatives from the SCNY ED Group, Oneida and Herkimer ED Group, and the Human Services Leadership Council in Syracuse. The main presenter and chair of the SCNY Special Projects committee was Joe Sellepack, Broome County Council of Churches Executive Director. Also, presenting was Katie McDonald, a Binghamton University master’s student working to help implement the study.

The discussion began with an understanding of why nonprofits were focusing on economic impact. In recent years, taxing nonprofits (whether by PILOT, a snow assessment fee, etc) has become an issue. With the downturn, nonprofits will be facing in more scrutiny and possible tax proposals. In response, the SCNY ED Group saw a need to communicate the economic impact of nonprofits on the local community and region. As Joe related, they also saw a need to make it more than about the numbers, and make a comparison to what the real costs would be if their services weren’t provided. The Special Projects Committee was formed, and is examining how the nonprofit sector in the Broome region shapes the community and environment through social and human services, arts and culture, and environmental services.

The Committee has been spending a great deal of time and effort looking at past studies, not only locally but nationally. Hospitals have been a good source, and two state studies, in Michigan and New Hampshire, have been good models.

The idea for the study will incorporate two streams. The first is the financial information taken from nonprofits’ 990s, while the second will be the “social capital” they contribute. The study will show how nonprofits shape and contribute to the community narrative. The study will incorporate personal interviews to help demonstrate this piece. The study will hopefully subvert the forces that want to tax nonprofits, and show their clout, but also the rest of the story. The message will be much clearer and powerful as a group.

Joe Sellepack related that the Committee under the guidance of Binghamton University and two interns has spent much time developing their study protocol. They have decided to focus on range of nonprofits, which would include only organizations that file 990s and exclude very large nonprofits (hospitals, universities, etc) that would skew the study (and already do their own studies). In a sense, the study will give a voice to the small to medium-sized organizations.

The study is slated to take about 2 years. Much of the work is being driven by Binghamton University’s interns in the Public Administration Master’s Program.

A question was asked by Darlene Ford, ED for the Mid-York Library System, concerning the target audience and overall purpose for this effort. A number of reasons were offered by Joe and other participants: showing return on investment, advocacy, use for collaboration, joint funding projects, etc. The qualitative analysis will help show gaps and overlaps in funding and can figure in ways to help address and form partnerships.

In looking at why the Oneida and Herkimer ED Group should undertake such an effort, the Steering Committee members related a number of reasons. One was the conflicting messages in the Oneida and Herkimer communities coming from nonprofits. There needs to be a clear message and story around how nonprofits help and impact the community. Also, a study would show what would happen if nonprofits disappeared.

A part of the discussion was spent on recent efforts of the Human Services Leadership Council (HSLC) on an economic impact study. Susan Horn, the ED from Hiscock Legal Aid Society, offered some of the lessons they learned in a group study. A discussion continued about the different data involved with nonprofits, including how things are reported (outcome vs outputs). Joe offered that using personal stories will help illuminate some of the challenges of data that won’t mesh. Katie McDonald added that being clear about the data collection and analysis is key. She has been developing the study’s introduction and methodology. She also is gathering social and cultural impact pieces (social network and social capital). She related that the study will include the history of nonprofits in the Broome County region (for example, what happened when IBM left), and how they’ve developed.

Overall, there was agreement that the study could be a template for other nonprofits, and the Oneida and Herkimer ED Group plans to follow up with Joe in the fall about the protocol and info they develop.

Supervisors and Middle Management Training Sponsored by HSLC

Human Services Leadership Council presents:
An all day training for Supervisors and Middle Managers
September 22, 2009
8:30-4:30 p.m.

Enable, 1603 Court Street, Syracuse, New York 13208
http://www.enablecny.org/directions/

HR & Personnel Issues for Supervisors and Middle Managers: The Legal Context
This session will provide an overview of the state and federal laws that regulate employment. Staff will gain a better understanding of the legal importance and liability risks involved in being an employer and part of management staff. The session will also address the role and importance of each agency’s policies and procedures as well as provide guidelines for hiring and firing staff.
Presenter: Dave Watson Esq., Sr. VP, Legal Accountability and Compliance Services, NY Council of Non-Profits

Roles and Responsibilities of Supervisors and Middle Managers: Supporting Employee Performance and Growth
This session will go beyond the legal context to help supervisors better understand their roles and responsibilities and identify solutions to some of the typical challenges that supervisors face. The session will provide middle managers with guidance, tools, and the opportunity to learn from the experiences of others as well as reflect on how organizational culture influences supervisory practices.
Presenter: Susan Weinrich, VP, Organizational and Community Development,
NY Council of Non-Profits

Cost: $20 includes lunch and continental breakfast

Registration is limited so please respond soon!

Fee: $20.00, includes lunch and continental breakfast
Registration Deadline: 9/11/09

Contact Wendy Powers at 315-422-5638, ext 253 or wpowers@communityalternatives.org to register

Send registration form and check payable to HSLC to:
Center for Community Alternatives
Attn: Wendy Powers
115 E. Jefferson Street, Suite 300
Syracuse, NY 13202

NYS Unemployment Continues Increase

The Central NY Business Journal related that in June, the state's unemployment rate increased to its highest level since October 1992.

June's unemployment rate was 8.7 percent, up from 8.2 percent in May and 5.3 percent a year ago. For the month, the number of unemployed state residents jumped to more than 854,000, the largest number on records dating back to 1976.

After seasonal adjustment, New York State's private-sector job count decreased over the month by nearly 18,000, or 0.2 percent, to about 7.08 million. The job total has now dropped for 10 consecutive months.

Since the state's private-sector job count peaked in August 2008, New York has lost nearly 236,000 private-sector jobs, erasing more than half of the 400,000 jobs added during the last economic expansion from 2003 to 2008, according to the Labor Department.

In the Syracuse region, the number of nonfarm jobs fell by 4,900, or 1.5 percent, and the number of private-sector jobs dropped 5,600, or 2.1 percent since June 2008. The area's unemployment rate was 8.6 percent in June 2009, compared with 8 percent in May and 5.4 percent in June 2008. Read more here.

2009 GAGE RAILWAY EXCURSION

Saturday, Aug. 22
A Train Ride Into the Past

Historical Enactors in 19th-Century Dress
Program at Women's Rights National Historical Park
Shops & Restaurants in Seneca Falls
Scavenger Hunt with Prizes

Schedule
11 am: Train leaves Finger Lakes Railway Depot in Camillus, N.Y. Depot at corner of Hinsdale Ave. and Milton Ave., inside Home Depot / Staples complex. Parking at east end of complex in front of Staples and adjacent buildings. Click here for more directions. Onboard presentations by enactors. Boxed lunch (order in advance).1 pm: Arrive in Seneca Falls. Depot is short walk from museums, shops, restaurants.
2-3 pm: Program in theater at Historical Park's main museum-short film on Matilda Joslyn Gage; display and discussion of 19th-century women's undergarments (corsets, chemises); Q & A with historical characters, incl. Sarah Loguen (daughter of Jermain Loguen of the Jerry Rescue), Elizabeth Smith Miller (active in dress reform); an anti-suffrage leader, Mrs. Justus Wells (a typical 19th-century woman), & Mrs. Gage.
6 pm: Arrive back in Camillus.
Reservations

Go to www.fingerlakesscenicrailway.com to order tickets and boxed lunches. Or call Finger Lakes Railway at (315) 209-1029 / (315) 374-1570. Walk-ups OK as long as tickets available. $25/adult, $23/seniors, $18/kids 3-14. Children 2 & under free if sit on lap. Add $10 per boxed lunch. Can bring own lunch.

Local Not-for-Profit Brings National Award Winning Program to Syracuse Hospital

Children’s Consortium and Crouse Hospital to offer parenting and literacy class

The Children’s Consortium and Crouse Hospital announced today the start of a national award-winning program called “Ready, Set, Parent!”. Ready, Set, Parent! is a national award-winning hospital-based collaboration for new parents between EPIC - Every Person Influences Children, Inc. and the Children’s Consortium.

The main objectives of the program are to reduce the risk for child abuse and neglect and help parents raise children to become responsible and capable adults.

“The Children’s Consortium is thrilled to be collaborating with Crouse Hospital on such an important program for parents in the Central New York Region. Ready Set Parent! is not only educational for parents but has a proven track record of helping them recognize the importance of literacy in children from birth on. Adults who completed the program, had increased positive feelings toward parenting their children, as well,” said Linda Cleary, Executive Director for the Children’s Consortium.

"As the region's largest provider of maternity care services, Crouse Hospital is pleased to be partnering with the Children's Consortium to offer this important educational program to new parents in Central York," says Cheryl Tibbitts, Director of Women's and Children's Services for Crouse.

Ready, Set, Parent! has three key components, Parenting, Literacy, and Health & Wellness and reaches parents in three ways:

1. Hospital Coordinators Visit parents of newborns in the hospital within 48 hours of giving birth and respond to parents’ immediate concerns. They are informed about community resources; provided information on safe sleep and car seat safety; and introduced to the Ready, Set, Parent! program.
2. While in the hospital, parents are invited to a one-hour Newborn Class to learn more about their babies’ overall development. During this time, parents develop important parenting skills, health and wellness, and literacy awareness that will benefit their baby well into the future. Children’s books are given to Newborn Class participants and parents are strongly encouraged to read to their babies.
3. Parents are invited to participate in the Ready, Set, Parent! eight-week Workshop Series designed to increase parental knowledge, attitude, and confidence. In doing so, the frequency of high quality interactions with their babies increases, facilitating the development of the babies’ cognitive, language, personal/social, gross motor, and fine motor skills. Demographic data is collected and participants receive regular updates on programs scheduled in their communities.
   
   Topics include, Tuning In To Your Baby, Coping, Establishing Routines, Learning Through Play, Setting Limits, and Promoting Literacy.
   
   Each Workshop Series includes two, 2-hour Dr. Talks on Infant Sleep/Nutrition and Safety/Childhood Illnesses.

The Children’s Consortium provides programs and services, including home- and center-based services, which empower families to reach their full potential.

State grants to help local governments study service consolidation

The Central New York Business Journal reported that Several communities in Onondaga County have received state grants to help consolidate services and explore potential partnerships across municipal lines.

The grants are among 41 awards totaling $5.2 million that Gov. David Paterson announced today. Altogether, Central New York is receiving 10 grants totaling more than $830,000. Read more here.

NYCON Launches New Interim ED Program

Are You Looking for an Exciting Opportunity to Lead a Nonprofit Organization?
Consider becoming an Interim Executive Director!

What is the Interim Executive Director Leadership (IEL) Program? The Interim Executive Director Leadership (IEL) Program is designed to help meet the needs of nonprofit agencies as significant numbers of nonprofit executives are expected to retire over the next 5 years. The Interim Executive Director Leadership (IEL) Program is a comprehensive training, placement and support initiative designed for qualified, experienced nonprofit professionals in transitional nonprofit Executive Director/CEO positions in New York State. Interim Executive Directors trained through our program will provide effective transitional leadership to nonprofits in order to strengthen organizational health and effectiveness during a time of transition.

Consider Becoming an Interim Executive Director if you are a:
Current and/or former executive director with successful experience in nonprofit executive management;
Nonprofit professional who is currently or have already served as an Interim Executive Leader who would like to be involved with this initiative and receive specialized training to augment and build upon their current skills;
Nonprofit Professional or consultant who clearly demonstrates executive leadership knowledge, abilities, maturity and effectiveness.

Program Dates & Locations: Please note that space in the training sessions listed below is limited. Registrants must complete an application process that includes submission of a writing sample and at least one reference. Candidates who successfully complete the training and secondary evaluation process may be placed into Interim Executive Director positions through this program.

• August 18th, 2009 - Albany, NY NYCON Main Office, 272 Broadway, Albany, NYTime: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Cost: $150, Training Materials & Lunch Provided

• August 20th, 2009 - Rochester, NY United Way of Greater Rochester, 75 College Avenue, Rochester, NY Time: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Cost: $150, Training Materials & Lunch Provided

For more information click here or please contact: Jennifer Lockwood, Program Director jlockwood@nycon.org(845) 454-5062 x. 102

Local Nonprofit Offers New Mission-Based Idea for Fundraising

The Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation is offering a train ride from Camillus to Seneca Falls that features costumed historical characters (like Matilda Joslyn Gage and others), and an opportunity to visit area women's history museums.

This event is a great example of an activity that is mission-based and also geared towards raising money. During these challenging times, nonprofits have to focus their efforts, especially when fundraising.

Event Details:
When: Sat., Aug. 22
Where: Leaves from Camillus, N.Y. To Seneca Falls and back.
Description: Ride the rails to Seneca Falls with 19th-century women's rights activist Matilda Joslyn Gage and other costumed historical characters. Onboard program. Train leaves Finger Lakes Scenic Railway depot in Camillus 11 a.m. Arrives in Seneca Falls 1 p.m. During 3-hr layover, passengers can visit one of the women's history museums or go to shops and restaurants. Train arrives back in Camillus 6 p.m. Passengers can order boxed lunches to eat onboard or bring their own. Lunches must be ordered when making reservations.
For reservations: Finger Lakes Scenic Railway will begin taking reservations soon at www.fingerlakesscenicrailway.com or (315) 209-1029 / (315) 374-1570. Walk-ups OK as long as tickets remain available. Ticket prices (without lunch): $25/adult, $23/seniors & kids 3-14. Children 2 & under free as long as they sit on lap; must pay if they need seat. Add $10 for boxed lunch.

Funds pledged to Syracuse's Say Yes to Education program

The Post-Standard reported that Say Yes to Education and two local companies are donating more than $2.5 million to a scholarship fund that will cover tuition for Syracuse high school graduates at public colleges and universities.

The Manhattan-based Say Yes board of directors agreed Thursday to donate $1 million to a scholarship fund set up in December by the Central New York Community Foundation, said Mary Anne Schmitt-Carey, president of Say Yes. The Community Foundation will match up to $1 million in donations to cover tuition, books and fees at community colleges and SUNY/CUNY schools for Syracuse graduates. Read the article here.

Downtown Syracuse: Arts Color Economic Growth

Will Maitland Director of the Arts & Business Council of New York will deliver the keynote address at Downtown Committees annual meeting this Tuesday, June 23rd at 8:30a.m. at the Museum of Science and Technology, 500 South Franklin Street, in Syracuse’s Armory Square district. The public is invited to attend.

The meeting is entitled “Downtown: Arts Color Economic Growth.” Jim Breuer, Chairman of the Downtown Committee, noted that the revitalization of downtown has been closely related to the expansion of arts, education and cultural attractions downtown. “The arts bring thousands of people downtown every year, and offer unique and compelling reasons why people come downtown. In Central New York, the greatest arts and cultural institutions are downtown.”

Also featured at the meeting will be representatives of arts, education and cultural institutions which will have a major impact on downtown in the coming year.

Tickets for the event cost $15 and are available by contacting the Downtown Committee at 422-8284 or through its Web site at www.downtownsyracuse.com.

Non-profits left waiting for state contracts

Syracuse's WSYR-TV reported that state comptroller Thomas DiNapoli is issuing new regulations to ensure not-for-profits are paid interest owed to them. He found that 63 percent of the time, state contracts with the organizations were approved late.

In central New York, 254 agencies were affected, amounting to $62 million in Onondaga County alone.

We're talking about almost every local not-for-profit you can think of -- the Food Bank, Arise, Home Health Aides of central New York, the National Kidney Foundation.

They may help different people, but they have a common link: They all have promised contracts with the state, but almost always have to wait for the money.

The Alzheimer's Association, for instance, had to wait to receive about $80,000, which is used for programs and services like its adult day program. They're approaching a one-year wait for some of the contracts.

According to the paperwork sent out by DiNapoli, some of the agencies who had to wait the longest include:

• The Syracuse Children's Theater, which waited 671 days to get $60,000;
• The CNY Jazz Arts Foundation waited 697 days for $75,000;
• Family Ties Network waited 432 days for $344,080 for its pregnancy prevention network;
• Liberty Resources had to wait 389 days to receive $21,847. It puts them in a pinch, and they have to find the money somewhere else.

“For us, it means having to tap into reserves,” says Catherine James of the Alzheimer’s Association of CNY.

Under the new regulations, state agencies must prioritize contracts and ensure enough resources to get them approved in time. They will also change the April 1 start date for grants, so the timeliness of the state budget doesn't affect them.

There is a 45-day comment period before the regulations may be finalized. The state was late paying out a total of $2.7 billion. See the video and read more here.

Save the Date: July 9th HSLC Social Gathering

Please “save the date” for a social gathering of HSLC leaders on Thursday, July 9; 5-7 p.m. Michael Crinnin will provide details in the upcoming weeks.

Possible Nonprofit Resource

WBOC (Women Business Opportunities and Connections) is a group for women in business in CNY. They have over 200 members and are very interested in being active in non-profits in the community. The WBOC recently held an event to celebrate the volunteers that help make the organization strong, as well as telling the membership about opportunities to volunteer in CNY. For more info about the group, contact Kathy Harter at 474-0876 or Kathy@ja-cny.org.

Kathleen Harter
President and CSO
Junior Achievement of CNY, Inc
101 Old Cove Road
Suite 112
Liverpool, NY 13090
(315) 474-0876

The Eighth Westcott Art Trail takes place June 6-7

The Eighth Westcott Art Trail, featuring over 60 area artists in 20 locations, will open its doors to benefit the Westcott Community Center on Saturday, June 6 (10-5) and Sunday, June 7 (12-5pm).

This art fair has grown to one of the finest arts & craft offerings in Syracuse. This year we are having 60+ artists, of extraordinary quality, in 20 locations around the neighborhood. The locations include artists’ homes and studios that stretch from Meadowbrook to Berkley and from Broad to Avondale. Local artists work in a range of mediums, including ceramics, glass, jewelry, fibers, painting, and sculpture. Fourteen artists will be demonstrating their craft in mediums including silk painting, henna, watercolor, ceramic wheel throwing and firing, oil painting, origami, jewelry making techniques, and others. Visitors will even be able to glaze and take home their own ceramic objects, fired in an outdoor Raku kiln.

The heart of the Art Trail, the Westcott Community Center (at the corner of Euclid Avenue and Westcott Street) will host the Lost Boys of Sudan and their ceramic cows, as well as a number of local artists. The Westcott Community Center will host a local Farmer’s Market and offer refreshments, including a selection of Cabot cheeses and a bake sale for youth programming.
Bright yellow flags mark each participating artist location. And be on the lookout for Syracuse’s own Media Unit to entertain and guide you through the Trail. Get to know your neighbors, have some fun, food, make and buy some art!

Maps listing participating artists are available at the Westcott Community Center and on the WCC’s website: www.westcottcc.org and at Googlemaps.

The Art Trail is made possible by the 2009 grand sponsors Stephanie Miner and Jack Mannion and many other local sponsors.

The Westcott Community Center has been serving the Metropolitan Syracuse Community for over 13 years, providing services and programming to all segments of the community, including monthly art shows for emerging artists in the Westcott Community Art Gallery.

Contact Steve Susman for additional information, including photographs: 315.488.8634 or steves@westcottcc.org.

The sponsorship of the Westcott Art Trail by Jack Mannion & Stephanie Miner in no way implies the support of Ms. Miner as a candidate for mayor by the Westcott Community Center.

MEET THE CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR OF SYRACUSE

Join the discussion with mayoral candidates focusing on
“HOW DO WE BUILD A SUSTAINABLE, LIVABLE SYRACUSE THROUGH CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT AND PLANNING?”
Wednesday, June 17
6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.: refreshments
6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.: program
SUNY Oswego Metro Center
Corner of N. Salina and W. Washington Streets
EVERYONE IS WELCOME

CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR – all agreed to attend:
Alfonso Davis, Carmen Harlow, Otis Jennings, Steven Kimatian, Stephanie Miner, Joe Nicoletti
Candidates will be asked to respond briefly to the following three questions, followed by an open forum.

QUESTIONS:
1) A key contributor to making a city sustainable and livable is good urban design and planning. As mayor, what principles and policies will you use to ensure that the city of Syracuse will safeguard and strengthen the elements of good urban design it already has, add more wherever possible and make Syracuse the national model for sustainability?

2) Numerous documents containing plans for sustainable development of all or parts of our city, created by citizen groups or consultants, already exist at City Hall. James Street Overlay District Guidelines and a proposal for a Director of Sustainability are examples. What will you do to recover, implement, and, most of all, enforce, what is still valuable in these documents?

3) Considering any future planning for a sustainable and livable city that might occur during your administration, how will you ensure that Syracuse residents will have ample opportunity to contribute, and that their opportunity to react and give input continues as those plans are carried out and enforced?

Sponsored by
WALKABLE EASTWOOD, GREENING USA, URBAN DESIGN CENTER, F.O.C.U.S. GREATER SYRACUSE

ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING SUBJECT:
Reviewing the implementation and effectiveness of the State's Prompt Contracting Law

PURPOSE:
To examine the effectiveness of the State's prompt contracting and interest payment requirements under Article XI-B of the State Finance Law.

Monday, June 15, 2009
Hamilton Hearing Room B, 2nd Floor
Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY
10:00 AM

ORAL TESTIMONY BY INVITATION ONLY
The purpose of this hearing is to examine the effectiveness of the State's Prompt Contracting law, which entitles not-for-profit organizations to timely renewals for their contracts with the State, and interest payments to cover their increased costs when timely renewals are not made.
Not-for-profit corporations frequently contract with State agencies to provide needed services in communities throughout New York that the State would be unable to provide without their assistance. These relationships may last many years; however, when renewals of the contracts between these entities and the State are delayed, the uncertainty and financial difficulty that may result to the not-for-profit may severely hamper their ability to provide continuous services for New York's most vulnerable, and may lead to an interruption of service and substantial financial difficulty. Article XI-B of the State Finance Law was enacted in 1991, and updated in 2007, to provide protection for those not-for-profits whose contracts have been delayed, often through no fault of their own, including reasonable interest payments to reimburse them for the loans and lines of credit they may have had to take out to maintain fiscal solvency.

The Committee will be examining the extent and length of renewal delays between agencies and not-for-profits, the reason for such delays, and whether State agencies are paying the interest due to not-for-profits under the law. The Committee will also consider potential improvements, both regulatory and statutory, to the Prompt Contracting Law and its implementation to ensure that the intent of the law is being realized.

Oral Testimony is by invitation only. Persons wishing to present a written statement to the Committee at this hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation. Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements. In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committee's interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.
RoAnn M. Destito, Chair
Committee on Governmental Operations

PUBLIC HEARING
Persons wishing to present testimony at this public hearing can find the form on the Assembly web site at http://www.assembly.state.ny.us/comm/GovOps/20090529a/

Executive Director Job – Syracuse Alliance for a New Economy

The Syracuse Alliance for a New Economy (SANE) of Syracuse, New York, invites applications for the position of Executive Director. The position will begin as part-time of 25-30 hours per week, with a goal of becoming fulltime within six months.

SANE believes that everyone in Central New York is entitled to a good job, a healthy, safe and sustainable environment, empowered neighborhoods, affordable housing, and opportunities for all. The Executive Director must have a passion for SANE’s mission.

The Executive Director must be able to work with a diverse coalition of community leaders and organizations and perform a variety of complex duties requiring independent judgment. Responsibilities include identifying unmet needs which SANE can address through Community Benefits Agreements and other activities.

An activist background and demonstrated experience in dealing with community issues and causes is desired. An ability to be the face of the organization, represent the organization, and meet with community groups to build local coalitions with like minded organizations, and then meet with developers, elected officials, and others to promote community benefits agreements, and negotiate community benefits agreements among these parties, will be a main responsibility. A second high-ranking requirement will be the ability to contact, pursue, prepare, submit, and obtain local and national grants. A third significant requirement is the ability to prepare written and other communications, such as letters, newsletters and other communications to reach persons, constituencies, and target groups.

Computer Skills
Experience with QuickBooks is helpful but not a major requirement. Should be experienced with Microsoft programs – Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook ( Access also would be helpful but not a requirement) – and the ability and willingness to learn new software products and tools

For full consideration, materials should be received by June 15, 2009.
Resume and cover letter to:
Syracuse Alliance for a New Economy
404 Oak Street
Lower Level
Syracuse NY 13203
Or email cover letter and resume to : psvobod1@twcny.rr.com

How stimulus works for Central New York

Governor David Paterson offered the following editorial published by the Syracuse Post-Standard:

In the early years of the Great Depression, New York's economy was devastated. The unemployment rate soared to nearly 40 percent. Central New York was hit especially hard. From 1929 to 1933, Syracuse lost half its manufacturing jobs.

Yet New Yorkers did not give up. We banded together to create jobs and get our economy moving again. And, slowly but surely, we succeeded.

Federal, state and city efforts - including President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Works Progress Administration - created thousands of jobs. In Syracuse, workers elevated the New York Central Railroad's tracks above street level, built the former MacArthur Stadium, restored Elmwood and Burnet Parks and more.

Today, we face the worst economic crisis our state has seen since the Great Depression. And, just like we did then, we have banded together in an historic effort to get our economy moving again.

As governor, my highest priority is to create jobs and put New Yorkers back to work - and we are succeeding.

Last Wednesday - the 100th day since Congress passed President Obama's economic stimulus package - we reached a significant milestone. We have allocated more than half of the economic stimulus funding we received for highway construction - and we have done so a full month ahead of the federally-mandated deadline.

Here in Central New York, in the weeks ahead, workers will begin resurfacing I-690, reconstructing Warren Road and repairing the bridge that carries Bartell Road over I-81.

Not only are we allocating this funding quickly, we are allocating it effectively. Funds are only being spent on shovel-ready projects - those for which work can begin immediately. Moreover, these projects have been selected by experts, such as the members of the Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council, who know the infrastructure needs of this region best.

Finally, we are upholding the highest principles of transparency and accountability. The stimulus dollars are your dollars, and you deserve to know exactly how they are being spent. Through our Web site - www.recovery.ny.gov

- New Yorkers can monitor how every dollar of stimulus funds has been spent and how many jobs have been created. We will not tolerate waste, fraud or abuse at any level of this process.

Overall, President Obama's economic stimulus plan will preserve or create 215,000 jobs in New York. Our state's management of the stimulus plan has been a model for the rest of the nation to follow. In fact, in a report released last week, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities held out New York as a model for effective management of economic stimulus funds.

In addition to projects that will create jobs in the short term, we are moving forward with a number of initiatives that will transform New York's economy and create jobs over the long term.

For example, thanks to stimulus funding, we are moving forward with a plan to build one of the nation's first high-speed rail lines in New York with a stop in Syracuse.

Stimulus funds are also bolstering our effort to make New York a global leader in the new clean energy economy. We have set one of the nation's most ambitious clean energy goals. By investing in greater energy efficiency and clean, renewable energy, we expect to create 50,000 jobs in New York by 2015.

And we are working to make New York more affordable. Earlier this month, I proposed a cap on state spending, and this week, I will submit legislation to cap property taxes. We must force government to live within its means, so families and businesses can afford to stay here, and new families and businesses can afford to locate here.

In the weeks and months ahead, we will continue allocating stimulus funding quickly, efficiently and transparently so we can create jobs and put people back to work as fast as possible. And we will lay the foundation for a new economy for New York, so we can revitalize our state for decades to come.

I am proud to be leading New York through this crisis, and I am confident that just as we have done in the past we will overcome it together.

Contact Community Services and Mental Health Association of Onondaga County

Contact Community Services, Inc. and the Mental Health Association of Onondaga County, Inc. have announced they are forming a strategic partnership that consolidates governance, management and administrative functions. This new structure will make the best use of combined resources to continue the organizations’ missions and commitments to the community, according to Robert Tyson, president of the board of directors of Contact Community Services, Inc. “Both organizations will operate in a more efficient and cost-effective manner, strengthening the capacity of both,” Tyson said. “By integrating functions, we can reduce overhead and focus more resources on programs.”

Using an integrated governance model, a single board of directors will provide the oversight and policy-setting functions for both organizations. Patricia Leone, executive director of Contact Community Services, will also serve as executive director of the Mental Health Association. The Mental Health Association will move to the Contact Community Services headquarters in East Syracuse. Its telephone number will remain the same.

Both organizations have provided Central New York with mental health support and services for decades. Established in 1971 as a volunteer-based telephone counseling service, today Contact Community Services annually serves over 30,000 people through a variety of mental and behavioral health programs, including afterschool programs, school-based mental/behavioral health services, 24-hour hotline, youth emergency services for mental health hotline, and other educational and support services. The Mental Health Association has been providing mental health information and referral, education and outreach programming, mental health advocacy and other support and assistance since 1962.

“The Mental Health Association and Contact Community Services are a good fit,” says Ms. Leone. “We both have excellent reputations in the community and have earned great respect from funders and clients. This arrangement will make us both stronger and more effective in developing and providing programming for individuals and organizations and improving the delivery of mental health services to our community. Our combined voice will be a powerful tool in advocacy."

“Given the current economic environment, this integration of governance and administration could become a model for other non-profit organizations in Central New York,” says Thomas Dennison, Mental Health Association board member and professor of practice at Maxwell School of Syracuse University. “The Mental Health Association and Contact Community Services have taken an innovative step, and I think we will see other agencies exploring collaborative models.”