Special Projects Committee Update

SCNYED Special Projects Committee
Meeting Notes – 1/9/09

Present: Joe Sellepack, Cindy Gordineer, Joe Slavik, Allison Alden, David Karre, Michelle Napolitano, Ron Charsky

Group discussed specific issues relating to doing a study on the “economic and social issues of Broome County”. Joe S. mentioned that it was important to quantify services and their value to citizens, as well as savings to local governments. Allison discussed issues that relate to these factors, including:
- Direct employment
- Purchasing by organizations
- Value-added services
- Quality of life
- Savings to governments
- Social impact
A significant discussion ensued concerning the possibility of using graduate student interns from BU’s Public Administration program, of which Allison is a member. Students should be paid a “modest stipend” for their work and it was agreed that there seemed to be significant interest from several local foundations to support such an effort. It was also noted that the project, when finished, would community co-owned so that all could use it. It was also agreed that it was a significant project, requiring much in depth work and likely a good amount of time (i.e. – it won’t be a one-semester, fast job).

It was agreed that the project is very worthwhile and needed and should go forth. Next steps identified were:
- put together project outline / concepts. Need to develop:
o goals
o purpose
o timeframe
o budget
- need a student involved in the planning process (Katie McDonald was mentioned as being very interested in this).
- we need to work on framing the “right questions”
- quantify basic data from Form 990
- identify question we want answered by the study
- get BU buy-in – Allison will work on this by around Feb. 2
- Joe S. – will talk with Andrew Marietta about using CCSNYS for blogs and consultant help for further discussion

Next meeting of the group has been scheduled for Feb. 13 at 8:30am at Broome County Council of Churches.

David Karre, “reluctant temporary recorder”.