Area organizations receive funding for National Volunteer Week projects

By Article Submitted

Steuben Courier Advocate

Bath, NY —

As a part of New York State’s Volunteer Generation initiative, the Regional Volunteer Center of the Southern Tier has made available over $3,800 in grants to local organizations participating in the National Volunteer Week, a portion of which will be distributed in the Chemung, Schuyler and Steuben region. This diverse group of projects will allow organizations throughout the region to celebrate National Volunteer Week through community service, volunteer recognition, and education.
“Volunteers are one of the most valuable resources that nonprofits have. They serve on boards, provide direct services, raise money, and educate the community on the needs in the region,” explains Patrick Rogers, Executive Director of the Institute for Human Services. “We are so happy to provide this funding to allow our local nonprofits to recognize and better utilize volunteers during National Volunteer Week.”
After reviewing all of the proposals, the Steering Committee of the Regional Volunteer Center of the Southern Tier chose to fund the following programs in the Chemung, Schuyler and Steuben Region.

Chemung County:
· Chemung ARC: To have a community cookout to draw people to adopt garden beds and to become more engaged with Quatrano Park.
· Friends of Chemung River Watershed: Will lead a trash cleanup on the Lackawanna Rail Trail in Elmira.

Schuyler County:
· Catholic Charities Schuyler (Schuyler Outreach): Will have a volunteer recognition and appreciation lunch for their volunteers.
· Schuyler County Office for the Aging:  To conduct outreach events to recruit volunteers to assist in highly needed service areas.

Steuben County:
· American Red Cross – Hornell: Will have a banquet with a speaker to recognize volunteers.
· Avoca Hose Company #1: To have a volunteer recognition reception with gifts for the volunteers.
· Catholic Charities Steuben, Corning Turning Point: Will provide volunteers with lunch and a gift.
· Hornell Area Concern for Youth: To provide t-shirts to mentors for their Caring Attitudes Mentoring Program.
· Steuben Coordinated Transportation: To purchase oil changes for volunteer drivers that take clients all over the region for non-emergency medical appointments in their own vehicles.
The Regional Volunteer Center of the Southern Tier is a collaboration which promotes and enhances local volunteer efforts. Working with local nonprofits, the Center’s goal is to build the volunteer infrastructure in the region so that more people are able to make a difference. It is led by the Institute for Human Services, the United Way of Broome County, and United Way of Tompkins County. To learn more about the volunteer center or to search for opportunities dial 2-1-1 or visit www.southerntiervolunteers.org.
Funding for the National Volunteer Week mini-grants has been made possible by a grant through the New York State Office of National and Community Service.
2-1-1 HELPLINE Give Help provides support services to connect organizations and volunteers and to provide support for volunteer administrators through the Institute for Human Services.  To find hundreds of local volunteer opportunities from various organizations, go to www.211helpline.org, or dial 2-1-1 or 1-800-346-2211.
The Institute for Human Services is a non-profit management support organization founded in 1984. The Institute provides management support, information and referral, organizational development, research and technology services to planners, funders and providers serving the Southern Tier of New York State. Support for its 2-1-1 HELPLINE Give Help project is provided by the United Way of the Southern Tier. For more information, visit www.ihsnet.org.
If you have any questions about the efforts in your area please feel free to contact your local area representative.  Contact information for the Western District (Chemung, Schuyler, and Steuben Counties) is as follows:
Tess McKinley, Manager of Communications & Volunteer Support, Institute for Human Services Phone: 2-1-1 or (800) 346-2211, Email: mckinleyt@ihsnet.org.

2-1-1 Helpline Quarterly Newsletter from the IHS

It's National Volunteer Week!  "Celebrate Service" from April 21-27.  This is a perfect opportunity to recognize volunteers at various organizations, whether with a simple thank you, note, gift or even a celebratory event.     Volunteers truly help us to meet our challenges and accomplish our goals.

The Institute for Human Services is recognizing two organizations for the first annual IHS Volunteer Partner of the Year Award to commemorate National Volunteer Week 2013.  We are "celebrating the service" of these two organizations as they support hundreds of volunteers through their programs in Chemung and Steuben Counties.  A big thank you goes out to the Chemung Volunteer Action Corps and the Steuben Office for the Aging!  These organizations will be recognized at the United Way on Friday April 26 at a press conference at 9 a.m.

-Find Hundreds of Local Volunteer Opportunities
-Volunteer Conference RFP Available
-Volunteer Opportunities
-Volunteer Tidbits

and much more! To continue reading click here!

New Webinar for Spring & Summer

Know Thy Self: Assessing Organizational Readiness When Taking on the World of Restructuring [Lunch & Learn Webinar] Presented by Doug Sauer, CEO, New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc. Tuesday May 7th, 2013    11:00am to 12:30pm    Register Now      Affiliation discussions are a discovery process - uncovering and clarifying motivations, interests, organizational facts and circumstances, strengths and weaknesses. It is a process where potential partners learn about each other and yes, learn about themselves as well. Successful affiliation talks depend largely on each party being prepared, as transparency starts internally first. The more clarity your board and staff leadership can get as to the organization's true operational, fiscal, and "mission" health, the better positioned the organization will be in type of restructuring or collaboration. This webinar, led by our seasoned restructuring expert, Doug Sauer CEO, will guide attendees as to the questions that you should first ask yourselves and then extend to your potential partner.

Register Now

Explore Employee Benefits that You Can Afford! May: Spotlight on  Flexible Spending Account Program (FSA) and Life Insurance Programs  We know that the Employe Benefits "Market" can be complicated.  Our job is to help make that world more simple, and affordable for nonprofits. To help you understand each type of benefit, it's coverage features and it's costs we are rolling out a series of short 30-minute webinar spotlights on our administered programs: Health Insurance,Flexible Spending Accounts and our Vision Program - which is new for 2013!   Up next... 5/9/2013 Flexible Spending Account Prgm thru NYCON [Webinar] 5/23/2013 Life Insurance Program Spotlight [Webinar]

Social Media Myth Busting: If You Build It, Will They Come? [Lunch & Learn Webinar] Presented by Andrew Marietta, Regional Manager, Central NY Office, NYCON and Valerie Venezia, Vice President, Membership & Marketing, NYCON June 14th, 2013 11:00am to 12:30pm  Register Now Sometimes it seems like there's a new hot social media tool launched every day of the week. Figuring out what these tools do, how our nonprofit should use them, and frankly, if you need to use these tools can boggle anyone's mind. As busy nonprofit staff and board members we need to know what specific tool do we use for our specific goals? How do we measure success? This webinar will help cut through the clutter of social media mayhem and help you simplify, refocus, and target social media tools based on organizational needs and a focused message (and maybe even some actual metrics!)   Register Now

The Two Good (& Short) Webinars You May Have Missed this Month...

Last week NYCON hosted and recorded two very short, informative webinars on two very different topics. These were two great webinars that you (probably) missed. Take a few minutes and check them out when it's convenient for you!  First, our Dental Program Spotlight:  NYCON's most popular (and very affordable) employee benefit, this program provides two optoins, comprehensive coverage and a array of providers to choose from. Take a few minutes and listen to Eric Laughlin of CS Plus give a quick overview of how the program works, what it covers and how much it costs. CLICK HERE. DoGoodBuyUs Corporate Member Spotlight:Does your nonprofit have great goods to sell? Are you looking for an online marketplace to help you spread the word? Check out the 20 minute Corporate Member spotlight we did with Zach Rosenberg, Founder of DoGoodBuyUs.CLICK HERE.

SCNY ED Group Annoucing May 14th Program

Reminder for SCNY ED Upcoming Event, May 14th!  Click here to register for the event     Program Agenda: 8:30-9:30 am: Presentation by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) An overview of Southern Tier East and the Appalachian program, project funding cycle, application materials and Q&A period relating to specific proposals or concepts.   9:30-10:00 am: Business Meeting - Program Planning & Steering Committee Membership Date: Tuesday, May 14th  Time: 8:30-10:00 am Cost: FREE to nonprofit directors Location: Family Enrichment Network Conference Room (Second Floor)  24 Cherry Street Johnson City, NY The ARC has funded a wide range of projects including infrastructure assistance to municipalities and distance/telelearning to school districts and medical facilities. It has assisted not-for-profits in beginning or expanding daycare and educational improvement. Here are some recent grants made to not-for profits:  Central New York Area Health Education for a refresher course to facilitate the return to the workforce of RNs who need updated skills after a break from employment Margaretville-Arkville Project to launch WIOX, an FM radio station in the Catskill region supporting community and economic development and emergency services Center for Agricultural Entrepreneurship to provide technical assistance for small farmers in order to identify new markets and to provide business development assistance to New Americans who want to farm in the region Bassett Healthcare to improve diabetes and weight loss management in medically underserved areas The ReUse Center to offer workforce training in building deconstruction ultimately diverting the salvaged materials from the landfill and reselling them in a retail store.

Updated Economic Impact Brochure now available Click here for the final Socieconomic Impact of Non-profit Organizations brochure

RECAP Infusing Mission Value into Your Board Structure and Resources Now Available

Program RECAP Infusing Mission Value into Your Board Structure Thank You for Attending  Offered as a part of the Southern Tier Capacity Building Program Sponsored by United Way of Broome County, The Stewart W. and Willma C. Hoyt Foundation, The Community Foundation for South Central New York, and Conrad and Virginia Klee Foundation      As a recap from the recent Infusing Mission Value into Your Board Structure training, please find the presentation and support materials below.  Also, any qualifying organization (must have had a board member in attendance) can now apply for the follow up resources, which include the Southern Tier Capacity Building Mini-Grant Program and Assessment Program.  Please review the Mini-Grant Criteria below before applying.  New this year, immediate assistance is available through a new resource, which includes up to 4 hours of free technical assistance from NYCON staff.  For more information, contactamarietta@nycon.org.    Infusing Mission Value into Your Board Structure presentation Legal Responsibilities Sample Board Leadership Bylaws Sample Board Officers Job Descriptions Sample Bylaw Provision for ED Southern Tier Capacity Building Mini-Grant and Assessment Programs: Nonprofits who have a Board Member attend will qualify to apply for the 2013 Southern Tier Capacity Building Mini-Grant Program, as well as special assessment support offered directly by the New York Council of Nonprofits. The  Mini-Grant Program and special assessment assistance are supported by United Way of Broome County, The Stewart W. and Willma C. Hoyt Foundation, The Community Foundation for South Central New York, Conrad and Virginia Klee Foundation, George A. and Margaret Mee Charitable Foundation, and United Way of Delaware and Otsego Counties, Inc.   Apply Here: Southern Tier Capacity Building Criteria Southern Tier Capacity Building Mini-Grant   Southern Tier Capacity Building Assessment

FREE Training Offered June 19th: Building a Dynamic Leadership Team: Leveraging Your Management and Governance Assets Presented by Doug Sauer, CEO, New York Council of Nonprofits Offered as a part of the Southern Tier Capacity Building Program Sponsored by United Way of Broome County, The Stewart W. and Willma C. Hoyt Foundation, The Community Foundation for South Central New York, and Conrad and Virginia Klee Foundation      No matter what the mission, size or life cycle of a nonprofit is, there always is and always will be a dynamic tension between the roles and responsibilities of governance and management.  There are basic principles and parameters to guide the boundaries, but as organizational circumstances change, including  board members, officers and executives, so does the relationship(s).  The management-governance effort has a fluidity that needs to be carefully cultivated, monitored, and managed so that the leaders on both sides of the equation form and maintain an effective and successful partnership.  This session will explore, through presentation and group discussion of case scenario's, the fundamental guiding principles involved, how to prevent unnecessary issues from arising, and knowing when and how to engage or directly intervene when matters go off course.    REGISTER HERE      Date: Wednesday, June 19th, 2013 Time: 9:30am to 12:30pm Cost: Free to nonprofit directors, board and staff (Board Member must register and attend in order to qualify for Capacity Building Mini-Grant and Assessment Programs) Location: Broome County Public Library                Decker Room                185 Court Street                Binghamton, NY 13901 This workshop is supported by United Way of Broome County, The Stewart W. and Willma C. Hoyt Foundation, The Community Foundation for South Central New York, and Conrad and Virginia Klee Foundation.   Southern Tier Capacity Building Mini-Grant and Assessment Programs: Nonprofits who have a Board Member attend will qualify to apply for the 2013 Southern Tier Capacity Building Mini-Grant Program, as well as special assessment support offered directly by the New York Council of Nonprofits. The  Mini-Grant Program and special assessment assistance are supported by United Way of Broome County, The Stewart W. and Willma C. Hoyt Foundation, The Community Foundation for South Central New York, Conrad and Virginia Klee Foundation, George A. and Margaret Mee Charitable Foundation, and United Way of Delaware and Otsego Counties, Inc.

About the Southern Tier Capacity Building  Program Partners:  New York Council of Nonprofits is the premier governance, management, and support services organization serving charities in the state. NYCON has a membership of 3,200 charities of all types and has offices in Albany, New York City, Rochester, Poughkeepsie, and Oneonta.  For more Information visit www.nycon.org or contact Andrew Marietta at 607-436-3124, or at amarietta@nycon.org. United Way of Broome County works to improve people's lives in our community by focusing on the building blocks for a good life: education, income and health. As the largest non-government funder of human services in Broome County, United Way assesses the overall needs of the community and mobilizes resources to efficiently address them. This is accomplished through the direct management of several critical services, including the Susquehanna River Region 2-1-1 Call Center, and the financial support of more than 50 local health and human service programs. More information about United Way of Broome County is available at www.uwbroome.org. The Stewart W. and Willma C. Hoyt Foundation, Inc. was created to perpetuate the Hoyts' charitable interest and to use its resources to enhance the quality of life of the people of Broome County, primarily through judicious grantmaking. Stewart and Willma Hoyt's vision and funding, coupled with the prudent management afforded by a dedicated Board, has created a strong mechanism to seek solutions to critical issues facing our community. More information about the Stewart W. and Willma C. Hoyt Foundation is available at www.hoytfoundation.org.  The Community Foundation for South Central New York is now in its 16th year of encouraging and facilitating philanthropy in the region, and serves five counties including Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego and Tioga. Dedicated to being a flexible endowment fund for its communities, it receives both large and small contributions from donors (including individuals, businesses and other foundations) to form the endowment from which grants are made. Since its inception in 1997 the Community Foundation has awarded more than $7.2 million in grants to not-for-profit organizations in the fields of health, human services, education, arts and humanities and has received over $17 million in contributions. More information about the Community Foundation may be found on its website at www.cfscny.org. The Conrad and Virginia Klee Foundation is a private charitable foundation created in 1957 by Conrad Klee and his wife. Since that time it has made charitable grants to various qualified nonprofit organizations, primarily in Broome County, NY. The Klee Foundation is committed to promoting, nurturing and educating a healthy community.  Accordingly, particular focus is placed upon grant proposals seeking funding to support sustainable programs that can demonstrate how they can help to achieve that goal. More information about the Klee Foundation may be found on its website at http://kleefoundation.org.   George A. and Margaret Mee Charitable Foundation invests in projects and programs of qualified nonprofit organizations that support the communities of Delaware County, New York, Cameron County, Pennsylvania and Broome County, New York and occasionally the surrounding areas. The general categories of funding are Education, Community and Recreation, Health and Human Services and Arts and Culture. It is the Foundation's intent through such investments to assist and support the nonprofit organizations in addressing the current issues and challenges within these communities, thereby working towards positive change and impact in the lives of those they serve.  More information about the Mee Foundation may be found at http://www.meefoundation.org. United Way of Delaware and Otsego Counties, Inc. covers two large, rural Counties and assumes a pro-active role in working collaboratively with organizations to maximize the effects of limited resources in meeting Health and Human Service needs. The United Way seeks to be the leader in improving the quality of life in Delaware and Otsego Counties, particularly in terms of addressing the health and human service needs of people. Priority areas are a Community-wide needs assessment, the advocacy of issues, support for the needed programs that serve the poor and working poor, and the on-going evaluation of United Way funded programs and services. More information about the United Way may be found athttp://www.unitedwaydo.org/

From the SUDDES Group, The Daily Nuggets Blog: Just Ask

Tom Suddes

CHI (Catholic Health Initiatives) Training in Colorado on Wednesday. Also getting everything ready for a big week in Ireland.

I know our Point of View is game changing.

I know we’ve got a lot of great Framework and Processes for FI Teams.

I know if you follow the Roadmap, you have a guide for big funding boosts.

I also know that none of that means squat if you don’t JUST ASK!!!

Three PDF’s that you can print and share that might help.

1. JUST ASK. JUST ASK. JUST ASK. (An overview)

2. You’re in SALES, get over it. (Some great sales quotes.)

3. Our Just Ask Strategy, plus Call Reluctance.

To see more online click here.

The NonProfit Times Weekly E-Newsletter

IRS Reports 10,000 Fewer Nonprofits In 2012

There were 10,000 fewer registered tax-exempt organizations in 2012 than in 2011. According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Data Book for 2012, which was released Monday, there were 1,484,818 501(c) organizations for the fiscal year ending in September, compared with 1,494,882 in 2011 – a decrease of 10,064, or about 0.68 percent.Read more... Professional Development... 5 principles for ethical mentoring “I never meant for that to happen.” Just as the above lament can be the swan song for a nonprofit that doesn't follow good organizational practices, it can also be the epitaph for a mentoring partnership gone wrong. Read more... Human Resources... 15 interview questions you can legally ask There are a lot of laws these days that restrict the kind of information you can request from candidates during job interviews. Since you probably don't want to get in trouble with the law, it's important to know the questions that you can and should ask. Read more... Management... 6 reasons change is good It's usual to resist change. Those who aren't pulling their own (or any) weight know that their gigs can be threatened if they don't do a whirlwind job of convincing change agents just how essential they are. Those who are pulling their own weight (or more) know that their livelihoods are threatened because they are too busy working to prove how essential they are to the operation. Read more... To Read More Click Here

Webinars Missed from NYCON, Plus New for Spring & Summer!

The Two Good (& Short) Webinars You May Have Missed Last Week...

Last week NYCON hosted and recorded two very short, informative webinars on two very different topics. These were two great webinars that you (probably) missed. Take a few minutes and check them out when it's convenient for you!   First, our Dental Program Spotlight:  NYCON's most popular (and very affordable) employee benefit, this program provides two optoins, comprehensive coverage and a array of providers to choose from. Take a few minutes and listen to Eric Laughlin of CS Plus give a quick overview of how the program works, what it covers and how much it costs. CLICK HERE. DoGoodBuyUs Corporate Member Spotlight: Does your nonprofit have great goods to sell? Are you looking for an online marketplace to help you spread the word? Check out the 20 minute Corporate Member spotlight we did with Zach Rosenberg, Founder of DoGoodBuyUs. CLICK HERE.

NYCON Membership Benefits Orientation [Webinar] Good for Prospective, New & Returning Members! April 18th, May 17th or June 14th - Your Choice Register Now

In our "Get to Know Us" Sessions, NYCON staff will tell you a lot more about our membership benefits - and answer all the questions you have regarding our process, costs and what you get for FREE.  We will be talking about these benefits. Nonprofit Training, Education and Professional Assistance  Cost Savings Solutions for Nonprofits The Nonprofit Voice in New York State    Register Now

Creating a Strategic Culture: Going Beyond Planning [Lunch & Learn Webinar] Presented by Susan Weinrich, VP of Organizational Develoment Services, NYCON Friday, April 19, 2013 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM (EDT) Call And Login Information Will Be Sent Via Email Register Now  Developing a strategic plan is an important component of organizational success; developing strategicthinking throughout the organization, however, is what enables an organization to make timely and effective decisions before, during, and after the establishment of a strategic plan. This session will provide guidance and offer suggestions on how you can leverage the impact of your strategic plan (if you have one) and build a culture where Board and staff leadership look forward rather than backward and seize opportunities rather than manage crisis. Learn how to improve your organizational decision making and move forward with shared purpose, commitment, and vision.

Register Now

Know Thy Self: Assessing Organizational Readiness When Taking on the World of Restructuring [Lunch & Learn Webinar] Presented by Doug Sauer, CEO,  New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc. Tuesday May 7th, 2013    11:00am to 12:30pm    Register Now      Affiliation discussionsare a discovery process - uncovering and clarifying motivations, interests, organizational facts and circumstances, strengths and weaknesses. It is a process where potential partners learn about each other and yes, learn about themselves as well. Successful affiliation talks depend largely on each party being prepared, as transparency starts internally first. The more clarity your board and staff leadership can get as to the organization's true operational, fiscal, and "mission" health, the better positioned the organization will be in type of restructuring or collaboration. This webinar, led by our seasoned restructuring expert, Doug Sauer CEO, will guide attendees as to the questions that you should first ask yourselves and then extend to your potential partner.

Register Now

Social Media Myth Busting: If You Build It, Will They Come? [Lunch & Learn Webinar] Presented by Andrew Marietta, Regional Manager, Central NY Office, NYCON and Valerie Venezia, Vice President, Membership & Marketing, NYCON June 14th, 2013 11:00am to 12:30pm  Register Now  Sometimes it seems like there's a new hot social media tool launched every day of the week. Figuring out what these tools do, how our nonprofit should use them, and frankly, if you need to use these tools can boggle anyone's mind. As busy nonprofit staff and board members we need to know what specific tool do we use for our specific goals? How do we measure success? This webinar will help cut through the clutter of social media mayhem and help you simplify, refocus, and target social media tools based on organizational needs and a focused message (and maybe even some actual metrics!)   Register Now  For more click here.

The key to success for non-profits

By Matt Hicks
By Casey Killian

Binghamton, NY (WBNG Binghamton) The Greater Binghamton Chamber may serve business members, but it also shares community concerns.

Members came together Thursday to learn about the challenges non-profits face and how they can succeed.

The Executive Director of the Roberson Museum said their non-profit used an outside assessment in 2009 to launch the museum back from the brink of financial failure.

It's now a model of adaptability and success.

"Going from a point of crisis and personal anxiety on my part, to a place where I can share it with not only this community, but we're telling the story at Museum Wise Conference in Syracuse and at the American Affiliation of Museums Conference in Baltimore," said Terry McDonald, executive director of the Roberson Museum and Science Center. "It's a nationwide story. It's a good story to tell."

The New York Council on Nonprofits Inc. was the consultant that helped Roberson Museum.

It offered 21 recommendations, including selling the Decker Mansion and hiring a professional marketing staff. 

To see the video click here.

Nonprofit CEOs face pay limits in July

New $199G cap targets health, human services

After learning that two top executives at a New York City nonprofit that serves the developmentally disabled earned nearly $1 million each and got other benefits, Gov. Andrew Cuomo 15 months ago issued an executive order limiting executive salaries of organizations that contract with one or more of 13 state agencies to $199,000 a year.

The order, which also restricts administrative spending, directed the departments to issue regulations within three months. Proposed regulations came out after 90 days had elapsed and were to have taken effect Jan. 1 of this year. Due to the issue’s complexity and questions and criticism from the nonprofit sector, they were revised and the implementation date was moved to April 1. Additional changes were published in March, and the start date is now scheduled for July 1, nearly 18 months after Cuomo’s executive order.

To Read The Full Article Click Here

Greater Hudson Heritage Network Announcement

Today announces the launch of the new  

Connecting to New York's Collections website!

  www.c2cnys.org 

Last fall, Greater Hudson Heritage Network was awarded $250,000 through the fall of 2014, from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to present preservation training  in connection with the collection types identified as "at risk" in New York State: books and paper; photographic collections; digital materials; and historic objects. Training will be provided via:

• webinar series (14 in all), viewable independently or in groups to encourage discussion and networking

• web-based "How-To" video tutorials providing instruction to organizational staff and to a more general audience who may have personal collections

• circuit rider mentoring program where professionals offer 'house calls' to organizations throughout the state

• C2CNYS.org - an interactive cross-disciplinary knowledge portal website website - will serve as the 'go-to' site for collections care best practices, a 'home' for disaster preparedness plans, conservation and preservation resources, the webinar series, and the "How-To" video tutorials

To read more click here.