Hi, Folks-Here are some NYSCAA updates and other items that you might find of interest.

 

NYSCAA News and Updates

 

New Staff.  NYSCAA welcomes Patty Barnes as our New Finance Manager.  Patty has nonprofit association experience and will be with us 28 hours a week.  She starts today (11/19) and can be reached at pbarnes@nyscaaonline.org or 518-690-0491, ext. 41.  We are excited to have her on board!

 

Symposium on Poverty.  Please mark your calendars for the 2^nd New York State Symposium on Poverty and Economic Security, February 25-26.  Mark Greenberg of the Center for American Progress will be our keynoter and we will also hear from Robert Eggers, author of Begging for Change.  OCFS Commissioner Gladys Carrión, Esq. has confirmed as has Trudi Renwick of the Fiscal Policy Institute.  The cost will stay the same as last year at $100/per person.  Registration will be open soon.  We will update you on other speakers as they confirm.

 

Walk a Mile Progresses.  NYSERDA has successfully arranged for several NYS Assembly Representatives and Senators to participate in the Walk a Mile project.  A full day of training will be provided on November 30^th for CAA staff who have been identified by their CAA to be the liaison between NYSERDA and the low-income family that is participating. The training will be held in Albany with web casts available in NYC and Buffalo.  I have reached out to those of you located in one of the identified districts and hope that your CAA will be able to participate.  If your county is on the list but you have not heard from me, please let me know.  So far, representatives from these counties have volunteered to participate: Nassau, Suffolk, NYC, Albany, Schenectady, Saratoga, Fulton, Onondaga, Erie, Ontario, Seneca, Cortland, Cayuga, Steuben, Yates, Dutchess, Ulster, Delaware, Orange, and Rockland. 

 

Financial Education and Asset Development Training.  NYSCAA is pleased to offer these sessions as part of our new OCF grant for EITC and Other Asset Development Activities.   These sessions are open to ALL CAAs and other human service providers interested in providing financial literacy services. In cooperation with Chautauqua Opportunities and other trainers from across the state, NYSCAA is hosting five FREE workshops this December.  These one-day workshops will include sessions on the following:

Ø       How to bring financial education opportunities to your customers AND make sure they participate.

Ø       How to recruit and work with volunteers to conduct financial literacy and asset development training.

Ø       How to approach financial institutions to assist with setting up bank accounts and opening Individual Development Accounts (IDAs).

Ø       How to successfully use the Money Smart curriculum

The workshops are scheduled for the following dates in December.  Specific location and registration information will be posted soon.  Workshops are free and lunch is included but pre-registration is required.  Please go to http://www.nyscaaonline.org/Events_Trainings_NYSCAATrainings.aspx to register.

Dates and locations at which the sessions are offered: 

Ø       Monday, December 3rd (Rochester, NY)

Ø       Tuesday, December 4th (Syracuse, NY)

Ø       Monday, December 10th (Poughkeepsie, NY)

Ø       Tuesday, December 11th (Schenectady, NY)

Ø       Friday, December 14th (Corning, NY)

Ø       Monday, December 17th (Corning, NY - snow date for Rochester/Syracuse/Corning training)

 

NYS Budget Hearings. Governor Spitzer’s budget office is hosting a series of Town Hall meetings on the NYS Budget.  To learn more and to register, go to http://www.budget.state.ny.us/pubs/press/2007/townHallMeetings/townhall_budgethearings.html.  The Buffalo and Rochester sights are not accepting any more registrants.  I will be attending the Utica session on November 27^th to discuss issues related to low-income New Yorkers.  I welcome any input that you would be willing to share.

 

Appointment.  Denise Harlow has been appointed Co-Chair of the Economic Security Committee of the New York Children’s Action Network (New York CAN).

 

Presidential Veto.  As you know, the President vetoed Labor-HHS this past week and Congress failed to override the veto by 2 votes.  We will keep you apprised of any updates that we receive and encourage you to read David Bradley’s blog at www.NCAF.org regularly.  NYSCAA did submit and had a letter to the Editor printed in Sunday’s (11/18/07) Albany Times Union regarding the veto.  To read, go to http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=639847&category=OPINION&newsdate=11/18/2007

 

NYSCAA Audit and Finance Committee.  The committee will meet Tuesday, November 20^th at 8:30.  Please call 1-866-680-1500 and enter code 3162050# at the prompt.

 

NYSCAA Governance Committee:  The committee will meet Tuesday, December 4^th at 10:00.  Please call 1-866-680-1500 and enter code 3162050# at the prompt.  We will be discussing potential bylaws changes. 

 

Other Items and Events of Interest

 

New Spotlight on Poverty Website.  A new website has been launched to inform the public as the views and plans the Presidential Candidates have to address poverty.  Go to http://www.spotlightonpoverty.com/ to learn more.  If you SIGN UP you will get the latest news about poverty developments around the country as the news breaks.   This is a great way to know what is happening as it happens.

The Community Action Partnership’s Winter Conference.  WORK HARD IN THE BIG EASY!  January 9-11, 2008 at the New Orleans Marriott.  Click here to see the array of training intensives, panels, and activities we have planned for the 2008 Winter Conference. Meeting in New Orleans is an emotional return for the Community Action network and a fitting location for the release of the “Community Action Plan to Reduce Poverty.” We will hear from the New Orleans and Gulf State CAAs on their rebuilding efforts. The intensive training sessions cover relevant topics such as Housing Tax Credits, Maximizing CAA Resources, By-Laws and Board Best Practices and much more! Register today and reserve your room at the newly renovated New Orleans Marriott at a fantastic rate of $159 single or double.  Please complete and return the registration form (click here). Registration is $395. Current members pay only $345.

Low Income Forum on Energy Conference.  Mark your calendars for the annual LIFE conference that will be held May 20-21 at the Marriott in Albany.  The Walk a Mile project will be highlighted at the conference as well as a diverse array of workshop topics.

Family Development Association of New York State (FDANYS).  Mark your calendars with a save the date for FDANYS’ annual confernce scheduled for May 21-22 at the Desmond in Albany.

 

 

We at NYSCAA wish you and your families a happy Thanksgiving!

Denise

 

 

Denise Harlow, CEO

New York State Community Action Association, Inc.

2 Charles Blvd.

Guilderland, NY  12084

518-690-0491, ext. 24

FAX 518-690-0498

dharlow@nyscaaonline.org

 

Join the Call for a Statewide Commission on Poverty and Economic Security.  Learn more and add your name and organization to the list of supporters at http://www.nyscaaonline.org/FirstPageNewsArticles/StateWidePovAndEcoSec.aspx.