Rich O'Donnell Symposium

Engaging Family Members in a Group Home Setting: A Panel Discussion

Date: December 1, 2010
Registration & Refreshments 9:00 am—9:30 am
Seminar 9:30 am—12:00 pm
Location: Enable
1603 Court Street
Syracuse NY 13208

The objectives of this training symposium are:
• To sensitize attendees to the needs and concerns of residents’ parents and other family members
• To give concrete tips and examples of successful interaction strategies
• To enhance attendees comfort when dealing with residents’ families
Panelists: Hillery Schneiderman (David’s mother), Dale Morrow (Sara’s father), Michelle Stone (Tim’s mother)
The Rich O’Donnell Symposium is a special training opportunity for direct service providers working
with adults with developmental disabilities in group homes (IRA, ICF, CR, etc.).

Space is limited! Please register by November 24.
Questions? Contact Deb Oonk at (315) 410‐3384 or doonk@enablecny.org.

The Arts as an International Force for Change

Twenty-five Chinese Ministry of Culture executives just left my office. It was exciting to learn about Chinese cultural investment in projects -- from massive contemporary visual art colonies in Beijing and Shanghai to an exploding phenomenon of cultural festivals in cities and villages throughout their colossal country. They in turn were eager to learn how the arts industry is structured and supported in the United States. As they were leaving my office, 35 French, Belgian and Spanish business leaders arrived with the cultural officer from the French Embassy. They, too, were excited to learn how the arts industry is supported in the United States.

Last month, I was brought in to speak to arts groups and government and business leaders in Amsterdam; other Americans for the Arts staff members went or will go to Brussels, London, Korea, and Germany just this fall. Each of these countries wants to learn how the arts industry in America is supported and how private sector giving to the arts works. They are especially curious about how business donations "flow" into the bank accounts of U.S. arts organizations, and to capture the compelling arguments that motivate elected officials to "shower" the arts with public dollars and supportive policymaking in America.

What is going on? World governments are increasingly excited about the economic power of the arts and the value of cultural exchange in a changing world. Because the prodigious levels of government support in Europe and Asia are diminishing, they want to better understand our American advocacy techniques. And as they observe the sea of corporate logos on the backs of most U.S. performing arts programs, they want to know America's secret to eliciting substantial business support for the arts.

However, the leaders from these other countries are often quite disappointed when I tell them that the result of our mightiest, most sophisticated advocacy efforts generates just 9 percent of the total income for U.S. nonprofit arts organizations. Equally disappointing is that private sector support in America is only 31 percent, mostly from individuals. Business support -- despite all the logos and brand recognition -- is only about 5 percent. Yet these foreign leaders and delegations keep coming because they see the breadth of creative and innovative arts organization we have here. They see the freedom of ideas, the variety and the sheer pluck and entrepreneurial spirit of America's arts community.

In September 2009, at the Sundance Preserve, Robert Redford and I convened our fourth National Arts Policy Roundtable for CEOs, elected officials and opinion leaders to discuss how the arts strengthen 21st century global communities by helping create better understanding and stronger relationships between the U.S. and the world .

Thinking about this 21st century global marketplace, four key cultural imperatives jumped out:

1. The arts are a global economic force.
2. The arts are an aggressive part of today's international competitive marketplace.
3. Improved cultural understanding is essential in international dialogue.
4. The arts make dramatic contributions to our national security.

The report complements what has been a recent growth of dialogue and interest in making a case for the strength of the arts in U.S. diplomacy and with key decision-makers. Margaret (Peggy) Ayers at the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation has pioneered groundbreaking research on our private sector's role in supporting U.S. cultural exchange. Former Congressman John Brademas, with his Brademas Center for the Study of Congress' Project on Cultural Diplomacy at NYU, is spearheading an effort to reinvigorate Congress' role in supporting the arts in our cultural diplomacy efforts.

From the Huffington Post. Read more here.

Nonprofits Have Big Role in State

As Governor-Elect Andrew Cuomo and legislators shape their plans for New York next year, they should pay close attention to the state's vibrant not-for-profit sector, as it is the standard-bearer for innovation and service to the state and its people. The 80,000 not-for-profit organizations in the state play crucial roles: leading efforts to prevent or cure disease, alleviate poverty, advance education, address environmental and social concerns, and ennoble through culture.

New York's robust charitable sector, including such powerhouses as Columbia University, Sloan-Kettering, the Red Cross, the Ford Foundation and Lincoln Center, as well as community-based organizations, such as local drug-prevention programs, small community theaters and religion-based charities, help fuel the state's economy, generating over $150 billion in revenue annually and employing hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers. Second in size only to the government as an employer in the city, the nonprofit sector provides more jobs than the financial and insurance industries combined.

Working together, state government and nonprofits can help maintain our state's primacy as innovator, incubator and magnet for investment. Here's how.

* Adjust taxes to encourage more giving. For example, reward taxpayers for increases in year-over-year charitable giving and incentivize artists to donate their work to charity auctions in support of good causes.

* Promote regulatory, administrative and legislative reforms that make it easier to start and operate nonprofits, especially in high-tech, medical research and green industries.

* Encourage and facilitate partnering among nonprofits and between them and for-profit businesses. For instance, provide a clearinghouse so that environmental groups can pair up with green-tech businesses or so arts-in-education organizations can collaborate with founders of charter schools.

* Incentivize nonprofits to hire recent college graduates to fill needed roles while they learn important lessons about professional development and social responsibility.

* Rearrange state budgets with existing charitable resources in mind. For example, recalibrate school aid and Medicaid expenditures so that public spending on students, the elderly and the disabled complements and stimulates private nonprofit resources and support.

* Safeguard against encroachments on sales- or property-tax -exemptions, which would hurt already-stretched hospitals, elder-care facilities and YMCAs.

* Promote visibility for worthy nonprofits by providing voluntary check-offs on state tax forms.

* Include nonprofit destinations in the state's promotion of tourism and convention activity.

* Make nonprofits part of New York's federal lobbying strategy.

The public's trust in state government may be at a low ebb, but public support for nonprofits endures. By recommitting himself to the well-being of our valuable nonprofit institutions, Mr. Cuomo can take important steps toward reclaiming the state's role as a national beacon and perpetuate its highest ideals.

by Lesley Freidman Rosenthal, for original article click here.

Funding Available for Park and Trail Groups: Only One Week Left to Apply

Parks & Trails New York is offering a new round of Capacity Building Grants for park and trail groups in New York State. The grants, of up to $3,000, can be used to assist with activities associated with organizational start-up and development, training, communications, and volunteer recruitment and management. The deadline for submitting applications is November 22, 2010.

For more information email Parks & Trails New York or call 518-434-1583.

Senator Gillibrand's Office: Grant Workshop Invitation

The Office Of

United States Senator
Kirsten Gillibrand

Invites you to attend:

Grants Workshop

TOPIC: How to Navigate the Federal and State Grant Process
for Non-profits and Faith-based Organizations

Thursday, November 18, 2010
10:30 A.M. - 12:00 noon

Carousel Center Skydeck
9090 Carousel Center Drive
Syracuse, NY 13290


*OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND FREE OF CHARGE*

To RSVP and for additional information please contact
Colleen Deacon or Denise Williams-Harris
(315) 448-0470 or Colleen_Deacon@Gillibrand.Senate.Gov

Join us for the Central NY Philanthropy Center Open House on December 9th

Thursday, December 9, 2010

431 East Fayette Street
Syracuse, NY 13202

Featuring
Light refreshments & guided tours 2:00-6:00 pm
Short presentation at 5:00 pm

Register Here

Please consider bringing a non-perishable food item to this event
for our holiday food drive.


Contact Us
Central New York Community Foundation
431 East Fayette Street, Suite 100
Syracuse, NY 13202
www.cnycf.org
315-422-9538
info@cnycf.org

Human Services Leadership Council Meeting Friday Nov 12th

The next meeting of the Human Services Leadership Council will be
Friday, November 12, 2010
8:00 – 9:30 AM
United Way Building
518 James Street

Human Services Leadership Council

AGENDA
November 12, 2010
518 James Street; Rosamond Gifford Conference Room in basement
(enter from rear of building)
8 – 9:30 a.m.

Upcoming meetings: January 14, March 11, May 13

Introductions (with announcements)
Main Program – Guests: Renee Downey Hart & Ron Wright (Le Moyne Kaufmann Leadership Program)

Renee and Ron are on a “Listening Tour” of non-profits as a follow-up to the leadership series that they have offered at Le Moyne over the past several months. Le Moyne has received additional funding to support non-profits, and Renee and Ron would like to hear from non-profits about needs and interests for training and technical assistance.

Update on United Way: Frank Lazarski

Chair’s report: Randi Bregman

Treasurer’s Report: Mason Kaufman

Committee announcements:

Advocacy:
Liz Nolan
Mike Melara

Community/ Business Communications:
Sara Wall-Bollinger
Michael Crinnin

Internal Communications and Networking:
Aggie Glavin

Program and Training:
Susan Horn
Marsha Weissman

Randi K. Bregman
Executive Director
Vera House, Inc.
6181 Thompson Road, Suite 100
Syracuse, New York 13206
(315) 425-0818 ex. 204
www.verahouse.org
24 hour support lines
(315) 468-3260/ (315) 422-7273