New director at Foothills Performing Arts Center

New managing director to step in at Foothills

By Denise Richardson Staff WriterThe Daily Star

Bill Youngs is ready to spread the good word about the Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center in Oneonta.

Youngs, 57, will start as Foothills managing director Aug. 4.

“I’m excited because it’s such a great facility,” Youngs said Wednesday.

The Foothills Board of Directors confirmed his appointment Monday after a search to find someone to succeed Huemac Garcia, who retired at the end of last year.

Carol Blazina, Foothills board president, said the board was pleased to welcome Youngs to the Foothills team. About 70 applications were received for the opening, she said. Youngs, a local community member with a good business and warm personality, was the best candidate, she said.

Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center on Market Street in downtown Oneonta presents a varied selection of entertainment, plays and performances by musicians and bands. The facility rents space for weddings, meetings and business and civic functions.

Youngs will join an office manager and facilities manager at Foothills, said Blazina, who has been volunteering as acting manager for the past seven months.

According to the job description, Foothills was looking for a managing director to provide proactive, community-oriented and visionary leadership that will allow the center to serve community’s needs.

The managing director will be responsible for daily operations and fundraising at Foothills. Duties also include care of the facility and marketing and public relations, plus involvement in producing relevant events at the center.

Youngs said he had decided to sell his business, Priority Eyewear Inc., an importer and distributor of frames, before he knew about the opportunity at Foothills. During an interview Wednesday at the business’s 32 Chestnut St. offices, Youngs said he has sold the firm to business associates and it will remain in Oneonta with its staff.

Read more here.

This Morning, NYCON CEO Doug Sauer Testifies in Front of Senate Committee

Dear Members & Friends, This morning I, along with many esteemed colleagues, will be testifying in front of the Senate Committee on Corporation, Authorities and Commissions regarding the recent proposed amendments to NYS' Not-for-Profit Corporate Law. Our testimony will be streamed live today from 10am to 12pm. I encourage you to watch it if you can. Following the oral testimony, NYCON's written remarks will be posted online both on the Senate website and our own. We encourage you to read them and let us know what you think.   In general, NYCON supports these changes. It's been over 40 years since the law was amended and certainly, we know times have changed. It's our view that the amendments should, first and foremost, enhance and simplify not complicate and protract the nonprofit community's ability to partner with NYS to deliver on mission - for basic human needs, for healthcare, for quality of life issues, for arts & culture, the list goes on and on.   As you will see many times we are in agreement - case in point, allowing board members to vote via email - however there are some areas in which we would suggest changes or additions to what has been proposed. NYCON's main concerns are regarding: Ensuring mergers, dissolutions, and other forms of corporate affiliations easier, cheaper and quicker Ensuring voting officers and board members are volunteers and not paid Addressing the misconceptions and proposed additional reporting requirements around nonprofit "excessive" executive compensation. Again, our full remarks will be posted online at the conclusion of today's hearing. We welcome your feedback on these amendments and your thoughts in general on nonprofit policy & the current state of affairs in New York. Please click here to send us your comments. Thank you for taking the time to read this today and for all the work that you continue to do in your communities. We truly do appreciate it.            Sincerely,            Doug Sauer, CEO            New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc. (NYCON) Links & Resources Public Hearing: To examine the re-codification of New York State's not-for-profit corporation law in an effort to reduce unnecessary burdens on nonprofits and to enhance nonprofit governance and oversight A.G. Schneiderman, Senate And Assembly Committee Chairs Propose Groundbreaking Legislation To Reform New York's Charities Laws Send us Your Feedback! Proud Member of  the National Council of Nonprofits

Community Foundation for South Central New York Awards Nearly $100k in Grants

By Eric Malanoski 
From the CNY News

Eleven nonprofit organizations in the region, including two in Otsego County, received grants totaling $99,648 from the Community Foundation for South Central New York in the Foundation’s highly competitive Spring 2013 Community Fund grant cycle.

Forty-three organizations submitted proposals for over $465,837 in funding requests. The successful grants, which were awarded through a volunteer panel and board review process, will be used for a variety of capital projects, operations and programs at the organizations in Otsego County

Bugbee Children’s Center at SUCO in Oneonta was handed $15,000 for an outdoor learning and play space, while Morris Central Schools in Morris received $12,211 for a summer enrichment program for district students.

The Community Foundation for South Central New York, a nonprofit organization founded in 1997 and headquartered in Johnson City, encourages and facilitates personal and institutional philanthropy throughout the region by managing funds within the foundation’s endowment that are established by donors to achieve specific charitable goals.

To see the article online click here.

Otsego gets grant to expand broadband

Otsego gets grant to expand broadband

By JOE MAHONEY

COOPERSTOWN — Residents of rural towns and villages throughout Otsego County may soon be able to subscribe to a wireless internet connection thanks to a state-granted windfall of nearly $560,000 intended to make broadband more accessible.

The Connect NY grant, totaling $558,940, is being awarded to the Otsego County Industrial Development Authority to provide so-called “last mile wireless broadband” in response to an application packaged by county economic developer Carolyn Lewis, state and local officials said.

The build-out of the network could begin in as soon as three months, said Michael Spagnola, president of Comp Direct USA, an Oneida County-based company that would act as the service provider for those who subscribe.

Lewis said the monthly fee to connect is expected to be roughly $40 a month.

She said the cost of extending hard-wire Internet service to rural communities is viewed by many service providers as too expensive based on the expected return. The state grant money will cover the cost of the build-out of the wireless system, she said.

“As the technology grows, we believe the system will grow with it,” Lewis said.

Spagnola said the company will not provide service in areas that already have access to six megabytes or more of download speed.

“At this time right now, we don’t plan to sell in an area that Time Warner is in,” he said.

Tentative plans call for the wireless service to be installed initially in Edmeston and Burlington Flats, and then to other communities, Spagnola said.

Lewis said the need for providing broadband service to rural communities was one of the most discussed topics at an economic development conference sponsored by Sen. James Seward, R-Milford, last year in Cooperstown.

“I’m optimistic we will be able to reach large numbers of people who currently do not have service,” Lewis said.

Seward said Tuesday his conference showed that the lack of broadband availability has been discouraging people from buying homes and opening businesses in rural areas.

“Obtaining this grant is a big step forward in providing those broadband services which have become so important in people’s everyday lives, and very import as well for those conducting business,” the senator said. “I really see this as a potential boon for our rural areas in terms of attracting people and economic development.”

The county IDA was among 18 broadband projects to reap a Connect NY Broadband grant.

Barbara Ann Heegan, executive director of the Otsego County Chamber, said the extension of broadband services throughout the county “will allow our local businesses to compete on a global level.”

“This is exciting new for our local economy,” she said. “It will help to accelerate business development and provide new opportunities for innovation, expansion and e-commerce.”

The announcement of the grant by the Cuomo administration was good news for a county that has not always fared well in its expeditions for such state and federal government jackpots.

In 2010, the government rejected Otsego County’s request for federal stimulus money to create a 178-mile, $7.2 million fiber-optic telecommunications loop around the county. That project was also intended to bring affordable Internet services to people and institutions in rural communities, although instead of using wireless technology, it would have involved fiber-optic cable.

Larry Bennett, spokesman for the Middlefield-based Brewery Ommegang, said while his company has already installed Internet equipment, the region will benefit by making broadband available to those living and working in rural towns. “Advanced communications is one of the things we really need here,” he said. “This is certainly good news for everybody.”

Springfield Town Supervisor Bill Elsey, who zoomed in on the need for better broadband access when he attended Seward’s economic development conference last year, said he was convinced the new service will stimulate home sales and business development.

He said many homes in Springfield — a town of about 1,300 people — lack broadband access.

To see the article online click here.

Social Media a Tool for Area Groups

Social Media a Tool for Area Groups

By Mark Boshnack

Facebook, Twitter — those are some of the social media platforms popular in today’s society. 

Most area organizations and people interviewed about the subject said that at least some form of this interactive style of communications is important to their efforts.

“We can’t be face-to-face with everyone,” but this can create the next best thing, Vibrant Creative President Chris Quereau said. The company is a brand development and advertising agency with offices in Oneonta and other locations. 

“For a membership organization it is a must,” he said.

Social media provides an opportunity to share information and communicate online, he said. Beyond Facebook and Twitter, LinkedIn is used to make make professional connections, as well listservs that allow members to share articles and comments.

To be successful on one of these platforms, an organization or business has to focus its content, Quereau said. Some make the mistake of thinking they need different material for each, he said, but sometimes the same information that appears in a newsletter can be used on Facebook. If something doesn’t work, the idea is to find the right mixture, he said.

Whatever happens in terms of popularity of a particular platform, “this type of communication is not going anywhere,” Quereau said. It’s important for businesses and other organizations to have have a “comfort level” with it. It’s not a replacement for other media. Instead, “it’s another tool in the tool box,” he said.

Kim MacLeod, State University College of Technology at Delhi director of communications and new media, said the college started working with Vibrant Creative several years ago to find better ways to use social media. It has become an important part of the college’s communications.

When it started, the college wanted to better reach alumni and increase participation in their events, MacLeod said. It now is used to reach prospective students.

The college needed some plan to reach out to alumni beyond the traditional newsletter, she said. Starting with a postcard invitation to the alumni Facebook page, it now has more than 2,000 “likes” — or followers.

Social media provides more of a “conversation” than traditional methods. She sees it as “an enhancement to what we were doing.”

The most popular form is Facebook — that was where most of the alumni and students were when the effort started. It now uses such forms as Twitter and LinkedIn.

A web engagement intern works with her to keep social media “relevant,” she said. Currently Corey LaMonica fills the post. He did a survey of incoming freshmen that showed that Instagram, that shares pictures, is very popular. “We are trying to find ways to incorporate that into our strategy,” she said.

The one person who said the newer forms of communication were not useful for her purposes was Gilbertsville and Butternuts historian Leigh Eckmair.

While she uses the Internet extensively, “I do not use any social media,” she said. She is active in historic preservation and local history but keeps in touch with contacts through phone calls and email.

“When I contact people it’s about a specific request. I’d rather talk on the telephone, I get a much better feel with the personal contact.”

Otsego Chamber Executive Director Barbara Ann Heegan said social media is an important part of the mixture of tools her organization uses to promote its activities and message. Traditional media, including newspaper and radio, will always be an important way to reach people. However, she is also using newer ways such as Facebook and LinkedIn.

As director of marketing at the Plains of Parish Homestead for five years she learned to use social media as a means to help reach people. She brought those skills to the chamber when she started last year.

Sustainable Otsego started in 2007 over a concern over environmental issues, moderator Adrian Kuzminski said. When fracking became a point of focus a year later it was a natural issue for the group to oppose.

Through its listserv, it built up a group of 700 subscribers to present news and information important to its members. The organization is tied together by the social network that allows people to share information.

He is not a Facebook user and said it was less useful for this type of organization that is more “word of mouth” and fostered by the listserv.

One of the reasons that a community effort got so big last year to help the Unatego Central School deal with tough budget issues was its Facebook page, co-chairman Florian Reyda said.

The organization had a Facebook page with 550 members. There is 41 this year.

If he had to do it all over again, Reyda said he would have made sure that ground rules were in place so negative language used on the page would have resulted in a person being removed. 

Without that, a small group polarized the discussions, and the page was taken down last spring. When it was restored this year, there were fewer people involved. That may have contributed to reduced participation this year, he said.

For the online article click here.

Opportunities for Otsego E-Newsletter

Opportunities for Otsego E-Newsletter

Energy Opportunities Program Offers Something For Everyone
Do you have icicles hanging from your roof after a big snow?  Are there drafty areas in your home?  Is your heating system or refrigerator old and weary?  More importantly, do you want to save money on your home heating costs?  If you answered yes to any of these questions, then Opportunities for Otsego’s, Energy Services Department, has a program for you.  Whether you rent or own, Energy Services can help.  Not HEAP eligible?  That’s okay; Energy Services still has a program for you. 
For more info. click here.

WIC Works!  Study Shows Children Eating Healthier Foods, Achieving Better Weights Since New WIC Food Packages Were Introduced

 

In January 2013, State Health Commissioner Nirav R. Shah, M.D., M.P.H, announced that results of a recent study show a positive connection between the new food package being provided under New York State's Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and a decline in obesity and overweight among children enrolled in the program. The study, "Changing WIC Changes What Children Eat", evaluated statewide childhood obesity prevention policies in the WIC program, and was published in the January edition of the national journal Obesity.

To keep reading click here.

Teen Dating Violence Awareness
In September 2012, 18 year old Alexandra Kogurt was found dead in her dorm room after experiencing blunt force trauma at the hands of her 21 year old boyfriend. It is important to remember Alexandra Kogurt and her story as we enter February. February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month and it is essential that we remember domestic violence not only plagues adults, but teenagers as well.

To keep reading click here.

Clarks Sharks Raise Money for the Homeless
On December 21, 70 kids from the Clark Sports Center Sharks swim team jumped in their pool and swam and swam and swam. By the end of the 90-minute swim-a-thon, they had completed a total of 4,079 lengths (more than 58 miles) to raise almost $2,000 for Opportunities for Otsego.

To keep reading click here.

Future of theater focus of meeting

Future of theater focus of meeting

By Denise RichardsonThe Daily Star

The curtain rose Sunday on efforts to save the Oneonta Theatre.
About 45 supporters stepped onto the stage of the historic venue at 47 Chestnut St. to share ideas about the future of the theater. Dressed in winter jackets, they mingled in pairs or clusters, or sat at one of nine tables, and addressed topics ranging from dance, music and youth programming to finances, fundraising and hospitality.
“Getting us back here to talk with tables according to subject was brilliant,’’ Joe Fincano of Oneonta said. Fincano said he would like the theater to continue as a showcase for music, particularly for local and regional groups.
The two-hour meeting at the theater was called by Tom Cormier, theater and building owner, and the Friends of the Oneonta Theatre, a nonprofit organization. After Cormier announced in December that he would close the theater Jan. 1, he and FOTOT members met and began on the road to find long-term viability for the venue.
On Sunday afternoon, two local women were checking into volunteer options.
“We don’t want to see the theater close,’’ Amanda Mason of Oneonta said.
“Exactly,’’ said Angela Bouchard of Oneonta.
John Gill of Maryland said he could draw on past experience in public relations to help FOTOT. Gill, a drummer and teacher, said he has performed on the Oneonta Theatre stage.
“It’s important to the community and people in the arts to have this theater as a venue,’’ Gill said.
Cormier bought the 115-year-old theater for $225,000 in June 2009. Initially, he worked with FOTOT to upgrade the building. However, Cormier, a businessman, said after he realized how long it would take the group to renovate the theater, he stepped in to make improvements and expedited the theater’s return to operations by mid-2010.
In the 675-seat theater Sunday, Macaluso reviewed the theater’s recent history using slides projected on the giant movie screen. She invited listeners to join her on stage as the screen rose, in the meanwhile explaining a project estimated at $15,000 could provide the required spray-on insulation needed back stage to prevent drafts settling into the audience area.
Macaluso praised Cormier’s rescue of the building from water damages, including mildew, and work to restore and improve the building. FOTOT members were disappointed when Cormier took over restoration efforts, she said, but is eager at this juncture to do the research and continue networking to create a not-for-profit organization that can operate the theater.
The development requires consideration of programming, hospitality, cleaning, fund-raising and other categories of operations and management, according to a organizational diagram she presented.
“At this point, we want the community to engage,’’ Patrice Macaluso, president of the Friends of the Oneonta Theatre board, told listeners seated in the theater during introductory remarks.
FOTOT and the Oneonta Theatre remain separate organizations, Macaluso said. Another key step is a study to help transform the vision into reality and gain a better sense by fall of how to use the theater.
Cormier and Macaluso, interviewed separately, described the evolving collaboration as a “win/win’’ opportunity.
Events are planned for the theater in February and March, Cormier said. In five years, he would like to see FOTOT as a solid organization that operates the theater with fine-tuning under way to make improvements, he said.
Oneonta has held its own during the recession, Cormier said, and Oneonta’s location, its college communities and development on Southside are factors supporting its economic transition and potential for growth.

For the online article click here.

Nonprofit to operate Oneonta Theatre

Nonprofit to operate Oneonta Theatre
By Richard WhitbyThe Daily Star

The Oneonta theatre will be taken over and used as a performing arts center. The theater will run on a non for profit status.

For the full story click here.

CANO announces effort to expand arts

CANO unveils new, renewed efforts to expand arts

The Community Arts Network of Oneonta announced some new and renewed programs Wednesday as it evolves from the Upper Catskill Community Council of the Arts, an arts group formed more than 40 years ago with a more recent rocky spell.

"Tonight is a celebration of the rebirth of the spirit of UCCCA," Mayor Dick Miller said. "I have great hopes."

At Wilber Mansion, the 11 Ford Ave. home of the arts organization, CANO board President Raina D'Amico spoke to a privately assembled group of artists and arts supporters about the new and continuing factors of the group.

To go with its new name, CANO has a new website -- www.canoneonta.org, D'Amico said, and CANO worked with ISD, a computer and information technology company, on the site for six or seven months. The site will serve as a database for information about local artists, she said, and as collaborations grow with area arts and cultural groups, the website will provide links to events and activities.

CANO will continue to present events such as its fundraising Chili Bowl and offer new programs, such as a "Halloween bash," D'Amico said. Plans are to paint the mansion, she said, and negotiations are under way to make the carriage house near the mansion into a teaching facility again.

Guests applauded in support of the educational programming.

D'Amico introduced CANO board members and pledged, "we will be as transparent as we can be" as the group advances.

CANO has about 300 names on its membership list, but some of those memberships need to be renewed, D'Amico said, and CANO will be seeking new members. Membership for an individual costs $25, and members can be artists or art lovers, she said.

CANO is gearing up for its next event -- the 10th annual City of the Hills Arts Festival on Aug. 4.

Miller, who introduced D'Amico, reiterated the role that the arts have in fueling the local economy and enhancing the quality of life and sense of community.

Miller, who held two arts summits and established a task force, said he suggested that as UCCCA reorganized in the past 18 months that a name change include "Oneonta" as an anchor and highlight the role Oneonta has in its efforts.

"Because I'm so committed to Oneonta, I understand how important the arts community is," Miller said. "I'm all about Oneonta."

Christine Alexander, an abstract painter from East Meredith who exhibits through CANO, said she hopes the organization restores its vibrancy and the support it offered artists in past years. Artists can benefit from formal networking programs CANO might offer, she said, and CANO can be helpful in promoting the arts in these struggling economic times.

Artists are "very hopeful and excited" about CANO's future, Alexander said after the speeches.

"An arts organization is really crucial to us.'

The Development Assessment Program: Video Now Available

Presented by Michael Stein, Vice President Development at the Bassett Medical Center

Many nonprofit executives are confronted with the challenge of leading organizational fund raising efforts without necessarily having background or experience in this most critical area. The development assessment process provides organizations with a comprehensive analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of existing fund raising programs. The assessment process focuses on how the organization can maximize current resources and makes recommendations regarding additional resources needed to attain full fund raising potential. The development assessment is worth considering if an organization:
• Is dissatisfied with current fund raising performance.
• Wants to increase Board involvement, participation and “ownership” of the development program
• Seeks comparative benchmarks by which to evaluate fund raising effectiveness
• Is looking for a strategic development plan to complement the overall organizational strategic plan.
• Is preparing for a major capital campaign.

Video Now Available:

• Fund Development Assessment and Approach
• Fund Development Assessment and Special Events
• Fund Development Assessment Implementation
• Fund Development Assessment and Who Is Involved
• Fund Development Assessment Overview: Mission and More
• Fund Development Assessment Introduction

Bugbee Children's Center earns group accreditation

The Daily Star reported: Mon Jun 11, 2012, 03:30 AM EDT

The Bugbee Children's Center recently earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the nation's leading organization of early childhood professionals.

"I am extremely proud of the hard work, time and effort that went into achieving this recognition," Bugbee Children's Center Director Marie Petta said in a media release. "It is most certainly a reflection of our long tradition of providing high-quality care to the community."

Established in 1985, the Bugbee Children's Center offers year-round child care for infants, toddlers and preschool children from 8 weeks to 5 years old.

Located in Bugbee Hall in Oneonta, the center is a private, nonprofit corporation governed by a volunteer board of directors.

Bugbee Hall is owned and maintained by the State University College at Oneonta.

Priority is given to children of SUNY students and state employees, with slots available to other community members as space permits.

To earn NAEYC accreditation, Bugbee went through a self-study process, measuring the program and its services against the 10 NAEYC early childhood program standards and more than 400 related accreditation criteria.

The program received NAEYC accreditation after an on-site visit by NAEYC assessors. NAEYC-accredited programs are also subject to unannounced visits during the five-year accreditation period.

According to a media release, about 8 percent of all preschools and other early childhood programs are accredited by NAEYC. There are two otehr NAEYC-accredited schools in the local area.

For more details, call Petta at 436-2484 or email childcenter@oneonta.edu.

CORE Upcoming Classes: Grant Writing and Personal Finance

Upcoming Classes

Grant Writing-

Date: Thursdays,  May 24^th -  June 14^th

Time: 6PM- 7:30PM

Learn an A-Z approach to grant writing. This course was developed for all who want to learn to write a successful grant. The class is for grant-seekers across all disciplines. 

·          Identifying fundable grant proposals and writing concept papers.

·          Reviewing your concept papers and finding funding sources.

·          Writing goals, objectives and work plans; and writing the grant narrative.

·          Developing grant budgets.

Personal Finance-

Date: Tuesdays,  May 1^st – May 29^th

Time: starts at 6PM -  7:30PM

Living in tough economic times makes it difficult to make financial decisions for the short and long term. We have recruited some local professionals to answer your questions about money.  The series includes the following topics.

·          Budgeting in a tough economy

·          Managing your credit and raising your credit score

·          Saving your way forward

·          Buying a Home

·          Planning for Retirement

Computer Course-

Date: TBA (check the website for updates)

Time: http://www.coreinstitute-milford.org

·          Computer terminology, components, and their functions

·          Making e-mail work for you   

·          Setting up a Facebook account   

·          Employment and the Internet  

·          Microsoft Office   

Pre-employment Boot Camp –

Date: TBA (check the website for updates)

Time: http://www.coreinstitute-milford.org

A comprehensive program which will give job seekers an advantage in getting a job. Curriculum components span self-awareness, goal setting, overcoming barriers, managing stress and wellbeing, time management, career exploration, volunteering, computer literacy, resume and cover letter development- just to name a few. This four week program is eight hours a day of interactive learning and team building. Every participant who successfully completes the program will have the chance to secure an interview with in our business partner’s network. This is a great opportunity to network, build your resume, and be a part of a program of success.

CORE is a program started in October of 2011 and funded by Appalachian regional commission with the main goal of workforce alignment.  The creators of our program developed this idea in response to the economic unrest we have seen effect small communities like ours since 2008. In an effort to achieve our goal the creators set out to ask businesses what they were lacking in employees.  Two things were made clear; Employers want people with soft skills and can’t find them and that a barrier exists between educators, businesses and job seekers.

In an effort to address these concerns CORE has begun offering classes at Milford Central School.  March 1^st and 2^nd was the launch of our first classes: an entrepreneurship class and an introductory computer class.  The classes have been well attended and we are now scheduling our next round of classes.  Those classes will include a personal finance class and a grant writing class.

We have been developing partnerships throughout the county for the past six months and have been able to work with CDO workforce, DCMO and ONC BOCES, CROP Program, Oneonta Adult Education Program just to name a few. We are interested in receiving feedback from: educators, business owners and community members about what classes would be beneficial.

In addition to offering classes, our website is a wealth of information and as it continues to evolve will be indispensable to job seekers and employers alike.  Classes and dates will be posted on the website as these are finalized.

Our website is:  http://www.coreinstitute-milford.org/

OCCA MOVES MAIN OFFICE TO MOHICAN FARM

As of Monday, April 2, OCCA will be moving its main office to Mohican Farm, 7193 State Highway 80, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Please stop by for a tour of the new site when we are settled in, on the corner of Allen Lake Road in the Town of Springfield! Executive Director Darla M. Youngs, Environmental Planner Rima Shamieh and Program Director Travis Sauerwald will be based in this new location. Martha Clarvoe, OCCA special projects manager, will retain a satellite office at 101 Main Street, Cooperstown. Our phone numbers will remain the same. Please note: We may have limited phone and e-mail access until April 3.

Darla M. Youngs, Executive Director
Otsego County Conservation Association
101 Main Street, PO Box 931
Cooperstown, NY 13326
(607) 547-4488; www.occainfo.org

Career Opportunity: CADE Executive Director position

The Center for Agricultural Development & Entrepreneurship, Inc. (CADE) seeks a dynamic and experienced Executive Director to lead the organization. CADE was founded in 1991 as a non-profit organization and is based in Oneonta, NY. CADE strives to increase the number and diversity of successful farm enterprises and related businesses in New York.

The Executive Director has the primary responsibility of managing day-to-day operations, leading the organization’s development efforts, and directing the work of staff and consultants. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director ensures that the organization is fiscally sound and that its communications, fund raising, and programming are meeting current and emerging needs of the sustainable agricultural industry.

The Executive Director will be adept at both internal management and optimizing external impact and visibility.  Successful candidates must be excellent communicators, who are able to convey effectively the mission and activities of CADE to specific constituencies, as well as to the general public. CADE offers a competitive salary and benefits package. CADE is an equal opportunity employer.  Interested candidates should send a cover letter, resume and three professional references to cadedirjob@yahoo.com by March 1, 2012.

Business Growth Workshop Sponsored by SEFCU

Are you looking to make changes to your business in 2012?

Looking to close the gap between where you currently are in your business and life and where you truly want to be? Presented by John Stahl, The Growth Coach, this workshop will help you slow down and reflect on your business, better manage priorities with a strategic plan, generate an action plan to increase revenues, and learn strategies that will dramatically grow your business.

This powerful planning retreat will help you examine your current role as an owner and adopt even more effective mindsets, strategies, habits, and areas of focus. In short, The Growth Coach will help you discover how to work smarter, not harder. This business growth workshop will put you on a path toward earning more, working less, and enjoying a richer life both professionally and personally.

When: Tuesday, February 21
Open Networking - 8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Workshop - 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Where: Country Inn and Suites
4470 State Highway 28
Milford, NY 13807

RSVP: E-mail or call Angie Erway at 607-547-6083 or aerway@sefcu.com

School program connects employers with workers

People need jobs. Companies need workers with skills.

Milford Central School is erecting a bridge, of sorts, that can help connect job seekers with employers.

Through the Career Opportunities in Rural Education program, Milford Central has established a network of adult education courses and career advancement training programs designed to help those seeking careers land jobs with local employers or start businesses themselves.

Area residents interested in learning more about CORE's initiative are invited to the official launch of the program, scheduled for 4 p.m. Feb. 16 at Milford Central.

"We find so often that kids go off to college but end up not being able to use their degrees to get jobs here, and we want to avoid that," school CORE Director Liz Rickard said. "The young people tend to leave this region because they aren't finding the opportunities here."

CORE has identified a smorgasbord of educational backgrounds and job skills that could be promoted in the region to help employers find qualified workers from the local pool of available labor, read more here

C'town Chamber names Patricia Szarpa as executive director

The Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce announced that Patricia A. Szarpa will be its executive director, effective April 1.

Szarpa joins the local chamber from her position as executive director of the Western New York Land Conservancy, which she has served since 2006, a media release issued Tuesday said.

She has more than 25 years of experience in public relations, marketing, outreach and business management and a record of community partnerships and volunteerism.

She led the nonprofit conservancy in developing a five-year strategic plan, the release said, and she increased membership and donor growth and retention.

Szarpa fills a vacancy left by Susan O'Handley, who resigned from the Cooperstown Chamber in October.

"Patricia Szarpa has an outstanding mix of skills, experience and personality to execute the goals of the Cooperstown Chamber and its members," Ken Meifert, chairman of the search committee, said in a prepared statement. "The board of directors is confident that Patricia will be a great fit, and that she will be very successful in leading our efforts to promote local business and tourism."

Szarpa and her husband, Darryl, had been planning a move to Cooperstown when the Cooperstown Chamber position became available, the release said.

"We actually had our honeymoon in Cooperstown," she said in the release. "My husband wanted his two 'loves' to meet _ his new bride and the Baseball Hall of Fame! Since then we have been here numerous times as our boys were growing up. It will be privilege to be a part of this community _ something we have talked about for a long time!"

Szarpa is a graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo and has a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and a certificate in public relations.

She also holds an associate degree in business administration from Villa Maria College of Buffalo.

"I truly look forward to my new role with the Cooperstown Chamber and the opportunity to work with area businesses and residents in growing visibility, vibrancy and sustainability of the village, awareness and overall community pride," Szarpa said.

The Cooperstown Chamber, located at 31 Chestnut St., represents more than 400 members from central New York.

This year, the Chamber restructured its membership to lower annual dues while adding significant member benefits.

Summer Opportunities Fair For Your Nonprofit: Sign Up Now

Free for Nonprofits!
SUNY College at Oneonta's 2012 Summer Opportunities Fair will be held on Wednesday, February 22, 1:00-4:00pm in the Hunt Union Ballroom. This event is open to both SUNY College at Oneonta and Hartwick College students.

This event provides a venue to learn about potential jobs and internships, career paths and organizations, and to network with employers. Student registration is not required. However, it is encouraged that students submit professional documents to CDC Staff for review prior to the event. Professional attire is recommended.

Nonprofits will find this event a good opportunity to identify candidates for internships and other summer positions. Registration is is now open. Space is limited therefore we recommend that you register early.
CLICK HERE: TO SIGN UP OR FOR MORE INFO

Interested in Promoting an Internship with SUNY Oneonta?
If you are interested in promoting an internship experience with your nonprofit, SUNY Oneonta's Career Development Center has provided the following Internship Vacancy Form to complete. Have questions or need more info, contact Megan Ackley, Internship Coordinator.

OFO to Share Key Findings

In October 2011, Opportunities for Otsego completed a comprehensive community needs assessment of Otsego County. The report analyzes key issues, population changes, demographics, and poverty relating to employment, education, housing, nutrition, income, transportation, and health. The final document is available for download through the Publications Section of Opportunities for Otsego’s website.

To supplement the community needs assessment document, Opportunities for Otsego will hold a webinar to present key findings. The online event will begin promptly at 1:00PM (EST) on Wednesday, February 15th. The event will last approximately 45 minutes, with added time for Q&A.

To register, individuals must email their name and company affiliation to Opportunities for Otsego by close of business on Tuesday, February 14th.


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This webinar is being held in partnership with the State University of New York at Oneonta, Center for Economic and Community Development.

Springbrook expands to St. Mary's site in Oneonta

The Daily Star reported that Springbrook, a nonprofit agency serving people with disabilities, will pay $2.4 million for the 55,550-square-foot property. The school closed last year because of declining enrollment.

"I am so excited about it," Kennedy said. "It will be a tremendous opportunity."

While providing more space, she said, it will actually save Springbrook money by allowing it to cancel leases and discontinue use of some energy-inefficient locations.

Springbrook is expected to take the title in mid-February to March. The space will be used to centralize many of the agency's operations and community functions from other locations, Kennedy said. It will start about a month after closing by moving the information technology department and continuing through to the preschool program in July.

The move will allow the agency's Kids Unlimited Preschool to be opened to the community, Kennedy said. It will also allow additional adult programs at the site, as well as operations such as evaluation and training of 980 staff.

Springbrook will maintain its headquarters near Portlandville. The recently expanded K-12 residential school program will continue there as well.

Agency representatives looked at the Oneonta facility in June and said they were impressed by how well it was maintained. The purchase was approved by the board of directors in December.

It will make the most of a $22.5 million capital project being completed, which is expected to result in 112 new jobs, Kennedy said.

Read more here.