MHAST: Men Who Cook, Sponsorship for Mental Health, and More

Please click on the images to enlarge.

NYCON Free Training July 24: "Sustainability and Critical Decisions in Tough Times," in Binghamton

Attend Special, Free July 24 Training and Qualify for Mini-Grants! "Sustainability and Critical Decisions in Tough Times" Program in Binghamton Presented by Kelly Matthews, Chief Operating Officer; Sr. VP; Financial Accountability & Compliance Services;  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 Although the economy is slowly rebounding, times are still tough for local nonprofits. Past assumptions and the way we've always operated are driving organizations out of business. Are you, like others, finding key elements of your strategic plan are basically out the window in this downhill and uncertain economic environment? Are you finding that your strategic direction is quickly becoming one of crisis rather than growth and development? Tough times call for tough, but informed choices and the will to execute them. This lively session will explore the factors influencing and options available for nonprofits to stay afloat, navigate and perhaps change directions in these challenging waters. Although retrenchment and managing risks are the buzz words for survival these days, these strategies should not be done in isolation of what the future may bring.  Date: Wednesday, July 24th, 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 Click to Register Now 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.    Training Recaps:     As a recap from the recent program, "Building a Dynamic Leadership Team: Leveraging your Management and Governance Assets," please find the presentation and support materials below.  Here is the presentation and supporting documents from  June 19th's "Building a Dynamic Leadership Team": Building a Dynamic Leadership Team Presentation Building a Dynamic Leadership Team Scenarios Here is a recap of the presentation and supporting documents from April's "Infusing Value into your Board Structure":    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, Assessment, and Quick Assistance Programs, as well as direct support and assistance offered by the New York Council of Nonprofits. The  Mini-Grant Program, Assessment, and Quick Assistance Programs 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 Southern Tier Quick Assistance Program 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/ Board Scan Now Available In advance of theApril 10th training, aBoard Scan is being offered to help participants make the most of their participation.  TheScan offers 20 questions to help you assess your Board's functioning. Use this Scan, attend the training and strengthen your Board.  Visit the NY Nonprofit Executive Directors Network... Stay Informed. Connect with your peers. Post your questions. NYNED is your resource.  About the SCNY Nonprofit ED Group  This Groupis supported by theNew York Council of Nonprofits and offers nonprofit executive directors opportunities for networking and professional development.

Chamber Program to Focus on Non-Profit Survival

From The Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce:

The Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce will host Eggs & Issues, an educational program focusing on issues affecting the local economy. The program will be Thursday, April 11, 2013 from 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. at the Binghamton Riverwalk Hotel & Conference Center, 225 Water Street, Binghamton, NY 13901. 

The topic is “Non-Profits Against the Odds: Back From the Brink Through External Assessment.” This provocative session will explore how the process of external assessment helped one major local institution in Greater Binghamton launch itself from the brink of failure to being a model of adaptability and success.

Guest Speakers include:

· Alan Hertel, Executive Director, United Way of Broome County, Inc.
· Terry McDonald, Executive Director, Roberson Museum and Science Center
· Doug Sauer, CEO, New York Council on Nonprofits, Inc. 

Eggs and Issues is a Chamber Member program. Cost is $12 and includes a buffet breakfast. To register, contact Christine Stezzi at 607.772.8860 or cstezzi@greaterbinghamtonchamber.com or register online atwww.greaterbinghamtonchamber.com.

To see the article online click here.

Concerns raised over family planning services in the Southern Tier

The Ithaca Journal Brings: Concerns raised over family planning services in the Southern Tier

BINGHAMTON — A local family planning nonprofit on Monday raised concerns about a potential turf war for abortion services in the Southern Tier.

Family Planning of South Central New York, Inc. — formerly the local chapter of Planned Parenthood — split from the national group early this year in response to a mandate that all Planned Parenthood chapters begin providing abortion services. The local group does not provide abortion services at any of its offices, but instead refers women to nearby abortion providers.

In response to disaffiliation of its former Binghamton-based chapter, Planned Parenthood on March 29 approved a measure to have a different chapter take over its territory in Broome, Delaware, Chenango and Otsego counties.

“We believe that this is a thinly-disguised attempt to threaten the finances and mission of an established, health department-supported program simply because we left the Planned Parenthood brand,” Family Planning of South Central New York CEO Debra Marcus said at a news conference Monday.

Under the national group’s plan, family planning and abortion functions in the four-county area would be turned over to the Ithaca-based Planned Parenthood of Southern Finger Lakes chapter.

Marcus expressed concerns the move would potentially lead to duplication of services, and threaten funding sources, including the approximately $1 million in state and federal funds the organization receives annually. The nonprofit’s annual budget is slightly more than $3 million.

“I want to make clear we are not opposed to competition,” Marcus said. “We don’t want to duplicate. We want to cooperate.”

Binghamton Mayor Matthew T. Ryan and Access for Women Director Peg Johnston also spoke at Monday’s news conference in opposition to Planned Parenthood’s decision.

In a written statement, Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger Lakes CEO Joe Sammons said the organization “has a long history of working collaboratively with existing private and public family planning providers, including Planned Parenthood health centers across New York state.”

A new blueprint for Binghamton

By Matt Porter

Binghamton, NY (WBNG Binghamton) A $500,000 federal grant is awarded to Binghamton to encourage community involvement as the city creates a new comprehensive plan for the next decade.

Binghamton was just one of 27 cities in the country to receive the grant, and the only city in New York

Tarik Abdelazim, Director of Planning for Binghamton's Department of Housing and Community Development, said the plan will become the baseline for new growth and development.

"A project that when it's finished represents all that we want Binghamton to be in 10 to 20 years, that's what this is about," Abdelazim said. "It's about us opening the doors, and going out to the neighbors, and finding out exactly what residents want to see for their children and their grandchildren down the road."

The grant comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The HUD program will fund an 18-month campaign to get the community involved in creating the next comprehensive plan.

It will include multiple public campaigns to get residents involved from all parts of the city. They will launch their website this weekend, but their Facebook Page is already active.

The first chance residents will have to give their input will be Friday during the First Friday Art Walk.

City officials will staff their design studio on Main Street in the old First National Bank building from three to nine in the evening this Friday.

The center will also be open Saturday during the St. Patrick's Day parade.

To read the article online and watch the video click here

Attorney general appoints public integrity officer for Binghamton office

Pressconnects reported that a public integrity officer has been appointed for Binghamton office by the Attorney general.

BINGHAMTON -- Do you know of any public corruption in the Southern Tier?

If so, the state Attorney General's office wants to hear from you.

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman has appointed Michael Danaher, Jr., of Binghamton, as public integrity officer to serve in the AG's Binghamton regional office.

This gives taxpayers a place to go to report complaints of government corruption without fear of local politics influencing the outcome, according to Schneiderman's office.

"When it comes to combating local public corruption, the people of Binghamton deserve a dedicated 'cop on the beat.' Having a public integrity officer here will go a long way to root out corruption and address the concerns of Southern Tier taxpayers," Schneiderman said in a statement

Read more here

Report on tax-exempt property in Binghamton clears up misconceptions

The Press & Sun-Bulletin discussed a report that examined the number of properties in Binghamton that are tax exempt. Although the headline may seem to imply some kind of a problem, the article is a fair and balanced perspective. As the article relates:

About a third of the assessed property value in the city is exempt from taxes.

That's according to a recent report compiled by the city's assessor, Scott Snyder.
Total exemptions in 2011 are valued at $625,642,280 or 33.8 percent of a total assessed value of about $1.8 billion in city property, Snyder said.

That leaves a total taxable property value in Binghamton of about $1.2 billion.
Exemptions include churches, hospitals, nonprofits, schools and government buildings. In addition, the city gives property tax breaks for veterans, the disabled and low-income elderly.

Take away the exemptions for veterans, the disabled and low-income seniors, the percentage of total property tax exemptions drops to about 29 percent, Snyder said.
None of that is unique to Binghamton or other upstate cities that serve as county seats.

"The numbers for the City of Binghamton are at or below the other levels I've seen," Snyder said.

Of about 3,600 total property tax exemptions granted, 900 are for low-income elderly and about 1,700 are for veterans.

The city's exemption report is the first of its kind in recent years, said Teri Rennia, a Democrat who has represented the city's 3rd District since January 2006.

What makes it useful is it spells out just how much property is exempt. Over the years, anecdotal accounts have put that amount as high as 50 percent.
Snyder's report dispels any potential exaggerations, Rennia said.

"We've been trying to tell people this information for years. (Property tax exemptions) are not the source of our problems," Rennia said. "I'm glad the numbers are there to back it up." Read more here.