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Hi, Folks-

Here are some NYSCAA updates and other information that may be of interest.

 

NYSCAA News and Updates

 

NYSCAA Symposium on Poverty and Economic Security.  As you know, the Second Annual Symposium on Poverty and Economic Security will be held on February 25-26, 2008 at the NYS Museum in Albany.  We have 161 registrants (thank you!) as of this writing and hope to surpass last year’s number of 230.  If you have not registered, please do as soon as possible so we can get final counts. Also, if you have not booked your hotel rooms, you will want to do that as soon as possible. 

 

Speakers and Panelists include:

Ø       Secretary of State Lorraine A. Cortes-Vazquez

Ø       OTDA Commissioner David Hansell

Ø       OSCF Commissioner Gladys Carrión

Ø       Chair of the Assembly’s Social Services Committee Keith Wright

Ø       Chair of the Senate’s Social Services, Children, and Families Committee Carl Kruger

Ø       Mark Greenberg, Center for American Progress

Ø       Robert Egger, DC Central Kitchens

Ø       Trudi Renwick, Fiscal Policy Institute

Ø       Jim Masters, Center for Community Futures

 

Registration is open at http://www.nyscaaonline.org/Events_details.aspx?cnfNum=123 and hotel information is posted.  This conference is not a lobbying event and CSBG funds can be used to attend. We also have scholarship funds available if you are interested. Please contact me to discuss scholarships for staff, customers or board members. You may also contact Kristine Speth to register by phone at 518-690-0491, ext. 27, or via email at kspeth@nyscaaonline.org.

 

Scholarship Fund.  Reminder, that in lieu of gifts celebrating her retirement, Evelyn Harris has asked that contributions may be made to a scholarship fund in her name that will be housed at NYSCAA and used to support Community Action staff to pursue educational opportunities.  Her retirement reception is scheduled for Monday, February 25^th at 5:00 at the Albany Room at the Empire State Plaza in Albany.  For more information on the event and the scholarship fund, go to http://www.nyscaaonline.org/Events_details.aspx?cnfNum=142 or contact Denise at dharlow@nyacaaonline.org.

 

CSBG Advisory Council.  Reminder that the CSBG Advisory Council is meeting on Tuesday, February 26^th at 11:30 at the NYS Museum in Albany.  Please let Kathleen Hand at DOS at Katharine.Hand@dos.state.ny.us if you are planning on attending

 

Rooting Out Poverty.  The National Campaign to Reduce Poverty and to Promote Economic Security was announced on January 9^th at the Partnership’s Winter conference in New Orleans.  The report is available online, at:  http://www.communityactionpartnership.com/Rooting-Out-Poverty.asp. 

 

Public Policy Season Hits Albany.  As you know, January and February are busy policy times in Albany.  On behalf of its members, NYSCAA has offered and/or submitted written testimony as part of four recent hearings: Joint Committee Hearing on Human Services, Joint Committee Hearing on Primary and Secondary Education (includes pre-K), DHCR WAP Plan, and OTDA HEAP plan.  For copies of the testimony, visit http://www.nyscaaonline.org/PublicPolicy_LegislativeAgenda_State.aspx.  We have also attended budget briefings hosted by OCFS, OTDA and NY-Children’s Action Network.  To see highlights of the State budget go to http://www.nyscaaonline.org/PublicPolicy_Other.aspx. Please contact Denise at dharlow@nyscaaonline.org with any questions/comments.   

 

NYSCAA IT Day Announced.  Please plan to join NYSCAA staff online on March 27, 2008 for a series webinars aimed at exploring the options available to Community Action Agencies for Client Intake and Management software. These webinars are FREE and aimed at all IT staff, management, and all staff who would be involved in the decision making process. For more information, please go to  http://www.nyscaaonline.org/Events_details.aspx?cnfNum=156

 

NYSCAA IT Training.  In addition to the IT Day in March, NYSCAA is offering a series of FREE short online webinars on aspects of Word, Excel, and Access.  For more information, go to: http://www.nyscaaonline.org/Events.aspx  

 

Other Information of Interest

 

National Community Action Partnership Seeking Training Input.  For those of you who are CAP members, you may have received a survey regarding your organizations training and technical assistance needs.  We urge you to complete this survey and return it to the Partnership by February 28^th.  Please email me if you would like a copy at dharlow@nyscaaonline.org.

 

Spanish Infant-Toddler language and Early Literacy Activities and Materials Available Free.  Free and Reproducible Spanish language materials are available at http://www.walearning.com.  The development of these materials was supported by Grant H324M020084 from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. 

 

Other Events of Interest

 

NCAF Annual Legislative Conference.  March 5-7, 2008 at the Capital Hyatt in Washington DC.  See www.ncaf.org for more information.  Please let Denise know at dharlow@nyscaaonline.org if you are planning on attending.  The meeting with Senator Clinton’s office has been scheduled for Thursday, March 6^th at 2:30 and calls are into Senator Schumer’s office for a time.  Please consider joining us on these visits and please schedule meetings with your Congressional representative.  NYSCAA will provide talking points and packets at the conference and can accompany you on visits. 

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.

 

Thanks!

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

 

Register now for the Second Annual Symposium on Poverty and Economic Security to be held February 25-26, 2008 at the NYS Museum in Albany, NY.  To register, go to: http://www.nyscaaonline.org/Events_details.aspx?cnfNum=123.