Good Morning, Folks-

Here are some NYSCAA News and Updates and other items you may find of interest:

 NYSCAA News and Updates

 NYSCAA Events:  The NYSCAA website is taking registrations for three upcoming NYSCAA events at http://hq.nyscaaonline.org/priweb/events.aspx.    

 Dialogue with Bob Halsch from CACDE.  Registration has started out strong but we still have space available.  Hosted by CEO for the Capital Region in Troy, NY, the session will be held on Monday, January 8th, 2:00-4:00.  It is free of charge but we do ask that folks pre-register either online or by calling Kristine Speth, NYSCAA’s Program Assistant at 518-690-0941, ext. 27.  Feel free to bring colleagues from partner organizations as well.

 Tech Day.  As you saw from an earlier email, this event has become truly “Tech” by becoming an online event.  Also free of charge, it will run Wednesday, January 31st 9:30-10:30 with additional time available if needed.  The focus of the event will be on disaster preparedness as it applies to technology.  As we have all become dependent on technology, this training has heightened applicability.  Take advantage of this no-travel training by registering online. 

 Poverty Symposium: New York’s Response to Poverty and Economic Security.  Registration is open for NYSCAA’s First Annual Poverty Symposium.  You received the Save the Date flyer earlier this week and we encourage you to book your hotel rooms early as space in Albany during the Legislative Session fills up quickly.  A full brochure will be out in late January/early February.  You may register online or by calling Kristine Speth, NYSCAA’s Program Assistant at 518-690-0941, ext. 27.

 Letter to Spitzer’s Transition Committee on Human Services.  In mid-December, NYSCAA had the opportunity to submit a letter (attached) to Governor-Elect Spitzer’s Transition Committee on Human Services.  This two page letter was submitted to the Co-Chairs of the committee, Karen Schimke and Geoffrey Canada, both of whom have had a previous relationship with either NYSCAA or FDANYS.  Due to strict time constraints, the letter was drafted by staff and reviewed by the Board’s Public Policy Committee before submission.  While it outlines some initial thoughts on how the new administration can invest in Community Action and positively impact low-income New Yorkers, it is not the final legislative agenda for NYSCAA.  We welcome your thoughts on other issues that should be addressed 

 Project Warm:  As you may recall, earlier this year NYSCAA secured $60,000 in Project Warm funds from Citizen’s Bank.  We will be reaching out over the next two weeks to those CAPs (north of NYC only) that have not vouchered for their full $1,200 with your outstanding balance.  Please submit any vouchers as soon as possible to Gary Washburn, NYSCAA’s Fiscal Director.

 Board Meeting.  Reminder that the Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 8th at noon.  Also hosted by CEO for the Capital Region in Troy.  Please let Denise know if you are unable to make the meeting or haven’t received the board packet.  Conference calling capacity will be available for the meeting.  Please also let Denise know if you will be using this option so that the additional materials distributed at the board meeting may be emailed to you prior to the meeting.

 Membership Development Committee Meeting.  Reminder that the Membership Development Committee is meeting via conference call on Thursday, January 4th at 1:30.

 Thank you!  Thank you to Dennis Brunelle and Karen Gordon for taking time to meet with me this week.   

 Public Policy

 Governor-Elect Spitzer has announced two key State Commissioner-level nominees: 

OCFS: Gladys Carrión- Ms. Carrión is currently Senior VP, Community Investment of United Way of NYC.

OTDA: David A. Hansell- Mr. Hansell is currently Chief of Staff at the Human Resources Administration in NYC.

 CAPLAW

 Join CAPLAW’s CAA Financial Network e-Forum.  CAPLAW is forming a network of CAA fiscal professionals and outside consultants who share information, provide informal peer-to-peer assistance on financial issues, and benefit from financial experts’ input using the CAA Financial Network e-Forum, CAPLAW’s financial listserv.  To join the CAA Financial Network e-Forum, please click here and click on the blue button in the upper right corner that reads “Join This Group!”  (Please note that you will need to register for a Yahoo! account, if you do not already have one, in order to join the CAA Financial Network e-Forum.)  To learn more about the CAA Financial Network e-Forum and how to join, please visit the financial network page of our website at www.caplaw.org.   

 CAPLAW Bylaws Toolkit
Just what you need to make your organization’s bylaws clear, effective, and up-to-date. This 25- page toolkit sets forth the primary issues that your CAA’s bylaws should address, as well as some common ways in which nonprofit organizations and CAAs structure their governing documents. The toolkit provides drafting tips on key provisions, such as composition and selection of directors, petitions for board representation, replacement of directors due to vacancies, quorum and voting policies, officers, conflicts of interest, and more. The toolkit is available in hard-copy or in handy electronic form. For CAPLAW Members: electronic version for $35 or the hard copy and electronic version for $45 Non- Members: electronic version for $50 or hard copy and electronic version for $60. To order, email Alina Samuels at samuels@caplaw. org with your requests or call her at (617) 357- 6915.  (Please note that all bylaws should be reviewed by an attorney experienced in nonprofit law in New York State.  Templates can be offer a starting point, but they are not specific to state law or specific to organizational needs.)

 Funding Opportunity

 Bid Profile Name: Healthy Families New York 2006

NYS Office of Children and Family Services

Application Due Date: 2/28/2007

Estimated Funds Available: $3,000,000

Objective: Start up or expansion of target service areas of Healthy Families New York Program sites to provide intensive home visiting services to expectant and new parents who reside in areas at highest risk for poor birth outcomes.  The purpose of the services is to promote positive parenting skills, better birth outcomes and optimal child health and development.

Eligible Applicants: Local Government, Non Profit 501(c)(3) (Not Higher Ed.)

Announcement Notes: A complete application must be received no later than 5:00 PM on 2/28/2007.  The closing of the RFP queries will be 1/16/2007.  A letter

of intent to file an application is due at 5:00 PM on  1/31/2007.  Failure to file a Letter of Intent does not preclude bidders from applying.

More Information: To view the complete Bid Profile and the solicitation document for this Bid Solicitation, if you have Internet access, go to

https://ocfsws.ocfs.state.ny.us/obl/index.asp?menu=28&grantid=237  .If you do not have Internet access you may instead contact Tina  Williams at (518) 402-6784 or Tina.Williams@ocfs.state.ny.us.   (If anyone would like to get together to talk about a regional proposal across CAPs, NYSCAA would be happy to host a meeting or conference call-just let Denise know.)

 Kellogg Foundation Accepting Applications for 2007 Rural People, Rural Policy Cohort Deadline: January 22, 2007

A program of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation ( http://www.wkkf.org/ ),  Rural People, Rural Policy is a multi-year national initiative  designed to energize and equip organizations and networks to  shape policy that improves the lives of rural people and the  vitality of rural communities. Visit the WKKF Web site for more information and to download application information. RFP Link: http://fconline.fdncenter.org/pnd/10005547/wkkf. For additional RFPs in Community Improvement/Development, visit: http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/cat_community_development.jhtml

Other Events

New York Association of Training and Employment Professionals Webinar. 2006 Mid –Term Elections: What It Means to Your Local Workforce System and Your Strategic Planning Efforts.  A Webinar with David Bradley  Thursday, January 25, 2007 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time).  This webinar will feature more than one-hour of presentation, followed by a 30 minute Q&A.  See http://www.nyatep.org/i4a/pages/Index.cfm?pageID=3911 for more details.

Reports

 Who Are America's Poor Children? The Official Story.  National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) http://nccp.org/pub_cpt06a.html

NCCP's new fact sheet finds that 18% of children live in families that are officially considered poor. Who Are America's Poor Children? The Official Story describes the characteristics of children who are officially poor and identifies public policy strategies for improving the well-being of children and families.

Key findings include:

  

Financial Literacy; 21st Century Challenges; Building Bridges.  Increasing Financial Literacy in America by David M. Walker, comptroller general of the United States, before the National CPA Financial Literacy Commission, in Washington, D.C. GAO-07-284CG, December 11, 2006 http://www.gao.gov/cghome/d07284cg.pdf  

 We here at NYSCAA wish all of you a safe and wonderful holiday season and we look forward to working with you in the New Year.

 Denise, Tom, Jen, Liz, Gary, and Kristine

  Denise Harlow
Chief Executive Officer
New York State Community Action Association
2 Charles Blvd.
Guilderland, NY  12084
(518) 690-0491
Fax: (518) 690-0498
www.nyscaaonline.org
 
A Member of the Community Action Partnership-Helping People.  Changing Lives.