Friday, April 26, 2013

2013 Programs Annouced for Leatherstocking AEA Events, From NYCON

Announcing 2013 Leatherstocking AEA Programs:  Recruiting Panelists for the Events  

Program Schedule for 2013:  
- September 18th, 2013: Starting a Board Development Committee 
We are looking to attain panelists for these events. Please take the survey to help verify your qualifications if your are interested in becoming a panelist in these upcoming events. 
Click here to take survey
 

Looking for new ideas for employee benefits? 
Let NYCON help you create an extensive, affordable benefits package that is easy to comprehend and manage! 
Contact us to learn more about how we help over 1,000 nonprofits just like yours with Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, Disability Insurance, Flexible Savings Accounts, Life Insurance, Retirement Benefits, Unemployment SavingsProgram, and Workers Comp. Contact us for more information.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

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   
   
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


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. 

Monday, April 22, 2013

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.
To see more online click here.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

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.

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
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


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

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.


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   
   
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. 


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 

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!)  


For more click here.


Important Foundation training for nonprofits Register Now

PUBLICITY and GRANTMAKING 101
AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR
SANDRA BECKWITH

This half-day training for nonprofits will feature  award-winning author Sandra Beckwith in a lecture titled "Publicity for Nonprofits."  
Beckwith will provide you with the necessary tools to increase the effectiveness of your public relations and media relations strategies.

BIG NEWS IN GRANTMAKING

The program also will feature exciting information about The Community Foundation's new role in the community and changes in its grantmaking process.Nonprofits seeking grants from The Foundation won't want to miss out on this announcement and how their programs might benefit with these changes.
The event is free!

To Register Click Here

Or 

MONDAY,
APRIL 29
9 a.m. to noon
registration 8:30 a.m.

Dorothy Smith Center
(RCIL)
1607 Genesee St., Utica


Sunday, April 14, 2013

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.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

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!


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
  • 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

Local growers eye Big Apple markets

By JOE MAHONEY
The Daily Star


HAMDEN — Walter Riesen grows vegetables on Star Route Farm in the Otsego County town of Worcester.  Ken Jaffe raises grass-fed beef cattle on Slope Farm in Meredith.
Both farmers would like to sell more of meat and produce in New York City. After all, the five boroughs, with a population of more than 8 million, doesn’t have any farms.
Therein lies the opportunity for Riesen, Jaffe and other industrious farmers seeking to expand their businesses in a tough industry that doesn’t allow for many strategic mistakes.
Risen and Jaffe were among about 20 local farmers who gathered Monday at Lucky Dog Organic Farm in Hamden to consider working with the Center for Agricultural Development and Entrepreneurship (CADE) in organizing a “food hub” in Delaware County. The goal is to expeditiously and efficiently move fresh farm products to consumers and businesses in New York City.
“We have the food, and they want it,” said Rebecca Morgan, director of CADE. “The demand is there, and everyone is trying to figure out how to efficiently meet that demand.”
Rather than have each local farmer truck their farm-fresh products to New York City, CADE is hoping the farmers can work cooperatively to coordinate shipments directly to the buyers.
In some cases, those buyers are restaurants with discerning patrons who prefer to know precisely how and where the food that appears on their dinner plates was grown. CADE is also working with Greenmarket in New York City, a not-for profit operation begun in the 1970s that helps about 230 farmers, fishermen and bakers sell their products.
The mission of Greenmarket is to promote regional agriculture by providing small family farms the opportunity to sell locally grown produce directly to consumers. Brokers and middlemen are not allowed.
The local farmers who met Monday were advised that if they want to sell to Greenmarket, they must contact  the organization’s buyers and work out a price for their products.
Richard Giles, owner of Lucky Dog, volunteered to coordinate the transportation of the food to New York City.
The arrangement calls for the farmers to pay  15 percent of the gross invoice for the shipment to the customer. That would cover both transportation and loading.
“That’s how it’s going to start out,” Morgan said later. “If that works for everybody, that will be the number.”
Morgan said she hopes the shipments can begin this spring.
“We want to be able to have our system in place very soon,” she said.
Jaffe, a former physician in Brooklyn who got into farming a decade ago, said he already sells directly to markets and butchers in New York City but is interested to hear more from Greenmarket.
“Any system that makes it easier for farmers to get their product out to market is a good thing,” Jaffe said.
Riesen said reminders of the region’s past success in agriculture exist in towns throughout the area.
“When you look around at the beautiful homes and buildings and ask, ‘How did they get built?’ it was agriculture,” he said.
For instance, he noted, the community of Bovina, famous for the delicious butter produced there in the 19th century, had its own railroad spur as a result of the scores of successful dairy farms that existed there then.
Patrick Rider, owner of Greenane Farms in Meredith, said he’s excited by the possibility of having a cooperative venture wtih local farmers.
“The faster we get over the feeling that we’re competitors, the faster we will actually start to make money,” he said.
Giles, who already trucks his organic produce to New York City weekly, said local farmers can only benefit by having access to New York City.
“The market will appreciate better food at the prices that a conglomeration like this will start to provide,” he said.

Monday, April 8, 2013

Cooperstown Annual Earth Festival


Community Event

MILFORD – The 8th Annual Earth Festival will be held on Saturday, April 13 at Milford Central School and, thanks to a collaboration with Spring Garden Day and the Go Green! Fashion Show, this year’s event will be bigger and better than ever!
The traditional Earth Festival information and vendor fair will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the gymnasium – kicking off the day will be the Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society’s popular pre-festival bird walk.

Master Gardeners of Cornell Cooperative Extension Schoharie and Otsego Counties will return with Spring Garden Day in conjunction with Earth Festival, featuring classes on a wide variety of gardening topics suitable for those both new and experienced to gardening. Dr. Jonathan Comstock of Cornell University will speak at 11:15 a.m. as part of Spring Garden Day. His presentation, on climate change and its impact on the growing season and gardens, is free and open to the public. Click here for details: http://occainfo.org/documents/2013_Spring_Garden_DayRegistration.pdf .

This year, the Milford Central School Education Foundation’s “recycled fashion” show is back by popular demand! Students and adults are invited to showcase wearable art they made or embellished themselves with recycled and waste materials – anyone interested in entering an outfit is welcome. For more information about the Go Green! Fashion Show, call  (607) 286-3349 or e-mail lhenry@milfordcentral.org.

The EcoArt/Trendy Trash Contest and expanded children’s activities led by Milford Central School students will also be featured.

“Live music, great food, good company – this is truly a family-friendly as well as an earth-friendly event,” said Darla M. Youngs, Otsego County Conservation Association executive director.

Earth Festival organizers invite attendees to drop off Styrofoam (white only), bubble wrap, empty inkjet cartridges, cell phones, eyeglasses, videotapes and CDs, and used nylon monofilament fishing line at no charge, and Empire Recycling will be back with the free Confidata Shredder service from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Shoes and sneakers will be accepted at a minimal charge.

Earth Festival is an environmentally-focused, interactive event featuring exhibits, activities, vendors and entertainment, all with a fun, earth-friendly twist. Financial contributions are most welcome, and an open invitation to earth-friendly exhibitors, food and retail vendors is extended.

Earth Festival 2013 is sponsored by Otsego County Conservation Association and WildLearn.com. For more information, visit http://occainfo.org/documents/EarthFestivalInformation2013_004.pdf , call (607) 547-4488or e-mail admin@occainfo.org 

Saturday, April 6, 2013

News from NYCON

Just Like the Tournament, the Camp Finance Discount is Almost Over!
Register Before April 7th to Save... 
Are you still feeling the March Madness? The Camp Finance Team at NYCON still is... and we want to make sure the people who are "mad" about Camp Finance can save on their early registration.

From now through the end of the  "Final Four" (April 7th) you can get a $50 discount on paid Full Conference registration for Camp Finance.

Just click here and enter discount code"MarchMadness" to get $50 off of your paid Full Conference registration (Sorry, no discount applies to Day Trip Registration Rates.)  

 
Looking forward to seeing you on the mountain!
 Please note: This discount offer applies to Credit Card Online or Pay By Phone Orders Only. If you prefer to have our Staff take your payment and registration via phone please contact Amber Vanderwarker at 1 (800) 515-5012 ext. 126.
 
 
We've Got ANI!
 Welcome our Newest Conference Sponsor

ANI is an insurance company governed by nonprofits themselves. 
ANI is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit that is governed by other 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofits. They aren't just a "program" of an insurance company that specializes in nonprofits. Insuring nonprofits is their entire mission.


Explore Employee Benefits that You Can Afford!
Spotlight on our Affordable Dental Program for Employees, Volunteers & Board Members
April 11th, 2013 10am

We know that the Employe Benefits "Market" can becomplicated.  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...


4/11/2013 

Stay tuned for Flexible Spending Account & 
Life Insurance Webinars...


DoGoodBuyUs! [Corporate Member Spotlight]
Thursday, April 11, 2013 from 2:00 PM to 2:30 PM (EDT)
Online - Call And Login Information Will Be Sent To You 24-48 Hours In Advance Of This Workshop
At DoGoodBuyUs (http://www.dogoodbuy.us) they believe    consumerism can change the world so, they created the largest marketplace of charity made products.  With each purchase, 50%+ proceedsare dedicated to fighting poverty, hunger, disease, environmental degradation and other life-threatening ills around the globe! As nonprofits around the country look for ways to bolster their fundraising, 100's have turned to DoGoodBuyUs as a way to bridge the gap between causes and the consumer market.

DoGoodBuyUs works with nonprofits around the world, helping them sell the products they (and now we) have created.
DoGoodBuyUs is the newest Corproate Member* of NYCON.

On this spotlight webinar you will learn:
 
  • Why products have become a successful part of many nonprofits revenue generation strategy
  • How to get started, what the process is like, services offered and more..
  • The long term benefits
Join us on April 11th at 2pm for a quick 30 minute overview on just how DoGoodBuyUs can Do Good by your nonprofit & community. *Please note that this company is NOT a NYCON Endorsed Corporate Partner.


Presented by Cynthia Adams, Founder, Grantstaion.com
Friday, April 12, 2013 from 10:00 AM to 11:15 AM (EDT)
Call And Login Information Will Be Sent To You 24-48 Hours In Advance Of This Workshop
This webinar will take participants through the process of establishing a grants calendar for the next 12 to 18 months. Fast-paced, and filled with action steps, Cynthia Adams will discuss how to design and adopt a Grant Decision Matrix before beginning the process of building a specific grants strategy for each project. All participants will also receive a set of worksheets that they can use to create their own approach to building grants calendars and grants strategies for their organizations. This webinar is for beginning, intermediate and advanced grantwriters. 


NYCON Membership Benefits Orientation [Webinar]
Good for Prospective, New & Returning Members!
April 18th, May 17th or June 14th - Your Choice
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 NYCON empowers our members with the best practices, policies, and procedures as well as information on ever-changing regulations, funding, accountability and more.
     
  • Cost Savings Solutions for Nonprofits
NYCON leverages the purchasing power of thousands of nonprofits to bring you economies of scale on everything from Office Supplies to Fundraising Software.
 
  • The Nonprofit Voice in New York State NYCON represents our members on the local, state and national level, giving voice to small and medium sized nonprofits everywhere. 
     
    Register Now


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

Developing a strategic plan is an important component of organizational success; developing strategic thinkingthroughout 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.