Springbrook Receives Multiple New York State Fund Awards

CONTACT:
Kira DeLanoy
Assistant Director of Marketing & Public Relations
Springbrook
105 Campus Drive
Oneonta, New York 13820
Phone: 607-286-7171 Ext. 287
Email: delanoyk@springbrookny.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Springbrook Receives Multiple New York State Balancing Incentive Program
Transformation Fund Awards

Oneonta, NY: Springbrook, the area’s leading provider of innovative supports and
services for people of all ages with developmental disabilities, has been awarded
$575,193 from the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities
through the Balancing Incentive Program (BIP) Transformation Fund. The Balancing
Incentive Program, a federal program authorized under the Affordable Care Act,
supports projects that seek to transform non-institutional Long Term Services and
Supports (LTSS) for individuals who receive Medicaid funding.

The funding will support three major Springbrook initiatives. The first project is
the creation of a Rural Support System (RSS) for area families and service providers.
The Rural Support System will replace paper-based tracking systems, used by many
service providers and families, with a coordinated electronic system that will integrate
reporting, timekeeping, online training, and billing. The new RSS will reduce
administrative costs, as well as improve support to over 110 individuals currently using
Self-Determined Services. The RSS will also provide the opportunity for supports to be
received by as many as 450 new individuals currently facing barriers to service because
of a lack of access to shared technology.

The second project is the formation of an Employment Services Consortium
made up of local businesses and service providers. The consortium will provide
technology, supplies, education, and support to the business community and nonprofits
in order to create and expand the number of real-world work experiences available to
people with developmental disabilities. And third, funding will be used to enhance
Springbrook’s Alternative Living Services program, which provides unique, supportive
living opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities in our area.

“We are extremely excited about this opportunity and what it means for the
individuals we support. These three important initiatives will touch the lives of hundreds
of local individuals and families, increasing their access to and choices for quality
services,” says Springbrook CEO, Patricia Kennedy. Kennedy continues, “Each of the
projects this funding will support was a part of Springbrook’s long-term strategic plan and
are replicable models for organizations across New York State. This is an amazing
opportunity not only for Springbrook, but for our community partners, to stand out as
state-wide leaders in support of individuals with special needs.”

Springbrook provides at-home care, residential and educational services, day
services, and clinical, therapeutic, and behavioral supports to over 850 people with
developmental disabilities from across New York State. The organization is Otsego
County’s third largest employer with over 1,200 employees.

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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.

Bright Hill Press to celebrate 20 years

The Daily Star related that Bright Hill Literary Center will celebrate 20 years:
Bertha Rogers of Treadwell has hosted readings by more than 2,000 writers and storytellers for 20 years.

But this woman of letters still has ambitious plans for her Bright Hill Literary Center.

"We're having a big year this year" to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Word Thursdays, a Bright Hill biweekly event, which features invited writers and the public reading their works aloud, Rogers said. In store are visits by local authors, a history day and a children's authors day, as well as visits by writers from around the state and country.

"We have a lot of great stuff planned," Rogers said.

Rogers is the founding executive director of Bright Hill. Bright Hill began with seven people at an open mic poetry reading one night in January 1992, in the home of Rogers and Ernest M. Fishman, Rogers said Monday.

This Thursday, Rogers will present a "strictly open mic" reading event in the center's library at 7 p.m., open to the public, "to commemorate that first open mic," Rogers said.

Rogers, who moved to the area from New York City in 1989, said she missed reading poetry out loud and hearing it read. "That was the whole point" of organizing that first open mic in her home.

"People came, and they were interested in coming back," Rogers said. "That was a good sign."

Rogers said the open mic readings, held every second and fourth Thursdays and dubbed "Word Thursdays," have gone on ever since.

"People just kept coming back," Rogers said.

Rogers said she knew many writers and poets from New York City and invited them to be featured readers at Word Thursdays. She would often let them stay in her house when they came upstate.

"It got to the point where we really needed to find another place," Rogers said.

Rogers and Fishman established the Bright Hill Literary Center in 2002, when they moved their operations to its premises at 94 Church St. in Treadwell.

Word Thursdays has featured writers from all over the United States and from around the world, Rogers said.

In 2005, the Bright Hill Community Library opened, according to the literary center's website.

Poet Annie Sauter of Oneonta will host Thursday's event.

Sauter, who was one of Word Thursdays first readers, said Tuesday, "It was really interesting to see all the different people in this area who were actively engaged in writing."

Word Thursdays "is great for writers" who want to hear high quality work, Sauter said.

"We've got some really good writers up here," she said.

Dorothy Bloom of Oneonta, who said Friday she has been a featured writer and open mic reader at Word Thursdays about a half-dozen times, said that as authors read at Word Thursdays, "they get better."

"Bertha provides an incredibly warm atmosphere of welcome to her writer," Bloom said. "There's something about being at Bertha's that makes you happy."

Nominate Your CPA Board Member for Michael Urbach, CPA, Community Builders Award

2011 Michael H. Urbach, CPA, Community Builders Award Now Accepting Nominations
Sponsored by the New York Council of Nonprofits (NYCON) and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA)

Submission Accepted through August 22nd, 2011

In recognition of the important role, talents and leadership that a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in New York State can provide as a board member for community-based charities, NYCON and NYSSCPA are pleased to announce the 8th Annual Michael H. Urbach, CPA, Community Builders Award.

The award is named in honor of the late Michael H. Urbach, CPA, former partner of Urbach, Kahn and Werlin, former NYS Commissioner of Tax and Finance and Chair of the State Employees federated Appeal, and board leader of a number of charities.

Award Criteria & Submission

Candidates must:

• Be a CPA in good standing and a member of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants;


• Have served as an Officer on at least 3 different charitable 501(c)(3) community-based nonprofits with service as President/Chair at least once;


• Have demonstrated exemplary board leadership resulting in significant and positive organizational impact including, but not limited to, financial turn-around, growth, and/or organizational re-structuring; and


• Preference will be given to nominees whose board leadership accomplishments have been with community-based charities.

Deadline - August 22, 2011
Nominations addressing the candidate's qualifications must be received by August 22nd. Nominators are strongly encouraged to address the candidate's qualifications related to the four (4) criteria's mentioned above and to include at least three (3) letters of support from the charities who have benefited from the candidate's volunteer leadership.

Send seven (7) packets of nomination materials to:
Urbach Community Builders Award Committee
New York Council of Nonprofits
272 Broadway
Albany NY 12204

or email the packet to Melissa Currado, Executive Assistant to the CEO at mcurrado@nycon.org.

Announcement & Presentation
The 2011 award will be formally presented at the Annual Member Meeting of NYCON slated for the afternoon of October 6th at Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz, New York.

The Luncheon will take place during CAMP FINANCE, a two-day retreat that provides the very best in knowledge, skill and strategy sessions for your staff and volunteer leaders.

In honor of the late Harold Mandel, a certified public accountant who worked for Urbach, Kahn & Werlin in Albany, NY and retired in West Palm Beach, FL, the 2011 Urbach Honoree has the privilege to award one (1) nonprofit executive of their choice a Camp Finance scholarship in Hal's name. In 2009, Mr. Mandel's family accepted a posthumous Michael H. Urbach, CPA Community Builders Award in his tribute.


Past Urbach Award Honorees
2010
Edward S. Mucenski, CPA of Potsdam
2009
Lewis "Lew" Kramer, CPA of Chappaqua
2008
Mel Zachter, CPA of Staten Island
2007
Eugene H. Fleishman, CPA of Poughkeepsie
2006
Craig Sickler, CPA from Kingston
2005
Paul Battaglia, CPA from Batavia

For More Information
visit NYCON at http://www.nycon.org/ or contact Melissa Currado at (800) 515-5012 or mcurrado@nycon.org

Girls program grows from 21 to 777 in decade

The Daily Star related that Girls on the Run locally started 10 years ago with 21 girls, founder Paula Huntsman said Monday, and this year, 777 girls in six area counties participated in the course to build self-esteem and encourage fitness. Last year, 426 girls signed up.

On Sunday, an estimated 1,000 to 1,200 walkers and runners _ mostly girls _ were in Cooperstown for this year's 5K event at the Clark Sports Center, said Huntsman, who will step down as council director at the end of this month. Read more here.

Nonprofit Awards 2011

Celebrate the exceptional accomplishments of the leaders driving the area’s nonprofit organizations (NPOs) by nominating someone you know for one of our Nonprofit Awards. BizEventz and the Central New York Business Journal believe that these leaders deserve to be recognized for outstanding accomplishments on behalf of their organizations. With the support of M&T Bank, on March 28th, we’ve planned The Nonprofit Awards Luncheon. Award recipients will be honored for excellence, leadership, fiduciary responsibility, management practices, creativity, impact, and business acumen.

Nominations are due February 10, 2011. Click here to nominate.

Executive of the Year: Submit nominations for nonprofit executives (president, CEO, executive director) who exhibit leadership, planning skills, strong staff growth, board development, solid fiscal management, and increased fund-raising.

Board Leadership: Nominee is a lay leader of the board of directors. He/she may be a present or past president of the board, long-term board member, and/or major contributor. Cite how the nominee strengthened the organization, implemented the corporate mission or vision, and enhanced the strategic plan.

Board Development: Nonimee is a lay leader of the board of directors, who "grew" the organization through fund-raising or through dynamic ideas, which improved operations. Nominee's efforts enhanced the board through a higher level of participation.

Impact Award: Nominee may be an employee of the NPO, a board member, or a volunteer, who created and/or implemented a new or exisiting program that not only changes the organization but also the community.

Career Achievement: Nominee is a lay leader who makes a lifetime commitment to the community by advocating for NPOs and by dedicating his/her time and resources for the betterment of the commonweal.

Luncheon Information
Date: March 28, 2011
Time: 11:00am-2:00pm
Location: Double Tree Hotel, Syracuse NY

This event is made possible by M&T Bank, Business Journal, Classic Hits Sunny 102, YNN, and Wells Fargo Advisors

OFO Head Named to State Advisory Council

Daniel Maskin, Chief Executive Officer of Opportunities for Otsego, was recently appointed to the New York State Department of State Community Services Block Grant Advisory Council.

The Community Service Block Grant funds 52 community-action agencies in the state. Council members from local government, private nonprofit providers, and the public are appointed by the governor, Senate and Assembly. Maskin was appointed by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

In addition to his work with OFO, Maskin has served as the Chief Executive Officer to the New York State Community Action Association. He is a member of the Friends of the Oneonta Community Health Center Board of Directors and the Oneonta Rotary Club.

Pathfinder Village Stories: Every family involved has their own story. We'd like to share some of them with you.

With great excitement and anticipation, I'm happy to announce the launch of our new campaign and microsite entitled Pathfinder Village Stories www.pathfindervillagestories.org. Months of work on this collaborative project have resulted in a comprehensive story that I believe is a true reflection of all that is good about Pathfinder Village, our residents and their families.

Every family with Pathfinder Village has their own story. Each of these stories come together to form the fabric of the Pathfinder Village community. While each family's story is unique; there are common threads that help to make the fabric of our community stronger.

It is my hope that other families working through their own decisions will visit and see Pathfinder Village through the eyes of our residents and their families. Words and images that only a mother or father or son or daughter could find to express why this is such a special place. I am so pleased to be able to share these stories with you and hope that you will spread the word and share our stories with others as well.

I invite you to explore the new microsite and to keep an eye out for our new campaign. This represents an important step towards our future and a great way to introduce Pathfinder Village to new families and friends.

And, many thanks to those Pathfinder families that generously offered their time and effort (and emotion) to help us complete this important project.We, quite literally, couldn't have done this without you and we look forward to continued efforts to write new, exciting chapters in the Pathfinder Village story.

Be Well,

Paul C. Landers
Chief Executive Officer
Pathfinder Village

Celebration of Women Evening October 21st

In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month:
Please Join Us!
As we celebrate our 7th annual unique event…

Catholic Charities of Chenango County
Crime Victims Program
Proudly announces our
“Celebration of Women” Evening
Our Cause: To enlighten, empower and educate women with a greater knowledge of services available to them in Chenango County

 Massage Therapy
 Hair & Nail Design
 Employment Resourcing
 Fitness Information
 Nutrition Analysis
 Housing Information
 Educational opportunities
 Home Based Business Information
 Women’s Health Resources…….and many more

Plus….Light appetizers and great door prizes
Informative speakers
Live music through-out the evening

Thursday, October 21st
Five to seven o’clock pm

Howard Johnson Ballroom
North Broad Street
Norwich, NY 13815
If you would like to participate and reserve a table for the event,
or just attend and enjoy….
R.S.V.P. 607 334-3532
attention; Maggie

Friends of Recovery of Delaware and Otsego Counties First Annual Celebrate Recovery Award Dinner

Friends of Recovery of Delaware and Otsego Counties
Invites you to
The First Annual Celebrate Recovery Award Dinner

In partnership with LEAF Council on Alcoholism & Addictions and the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council of Delaware County

Friday, September 17, 2010
6:30 pm
St. James’ Episcopal Church, 305 Main Street, Oneonta, NY 13820

Menu
Hand-carved Roast Beef & Turkey
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Seasonal Vegetables
Tossed Salad
Rolls
Celebrate Recovery Cake
(Optional Vegetarian Entrée)
$10.00 per person; children 8 and under free

Smart Casual Attire

Program
Presentation of Awards
FOR-DO Amethyst Award to Ray Hamilton
LEAF Sioussatt Award to the Oneonta Police Department
ADAC Appreciation Award to Tom and Debbie Ackerly

Entertainment
William’s Daughters- a duo giving workshops and performing their original recovery songs
in country-tinged “heart” rock

Plus a special performance of an original song created especially for this occasion by local tweens and teens who attended a song-writing workshop led by William’s Daughters prior to the dinner

For reservations, call (607) 267-4435 or email directorfordo@hotmail.com, giving name, phone number, number attending, asking for vegetarian option, if desired.

Reservation deadline – Friday September 10, 4:00 pm

The Tom Golisano School at Springbrook Groundbreaking

Springbrook held a groundbreaking for a proposed school for autistic children that will create 112 jobs, fuel the local economy and provide instruction and care for pupils sent to other states for services.

This is a $20 million expansion project.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: 2010 Michael H. Urbach, CPA, Community Builder's Award

Sponsored by the New York Council of Nonprofits (NYCON) and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA)

In recognition of the important role, talents and leadership that a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in New York State can provide as a board member for community-based charities, NYCON and NYSSCPA are pleased to announce the 7th Annual Michael H. Urbach, CPA, Community Builder's Award.

The award is named in honor of the late Michael H. Urbach, CPA, former partner of Urbach, Kahn and Werlin, former NYS Commissioner of Tax and Finance and Chair of the State Employees federated Appeal, and board leader of a number of charities.


Award Criteria & Submission
Candidates must:

• Be a CPA in good standing and a member of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants;
• Have served as an Officer on at least 3 different charitable 501(c)(3) community-based nonprofits with service as President/Chair at least once;
• Have demonstrated exemplary board leadership resulting in significant and positive organizational impact including, but not limited to, financial turn-around, growth, and/or organizational re-structuring; and
• Preference will be given to nominees whose board leadership accomplishments have been with community-based charities.

Deadline - August 30th, 2010
Nominations addressing the candidate's qualifications must be submitted in writing and received by August 30th, 2010. Nominators are strongly encouraged to include letters of support from the charities who have benefited from the candidate's volunteer leadership.

Send six (6) packets of nomination materials to:
Urbach Community Builder's Award Committee
New York Council of Nonprofits
272 Broadway
Albany NY 12204

Announcement & Presentation
The 2010 award will be formally presented at the Annual Member Meeting of NYCON slated for the afternoon of September 30th at Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz, New York.

The Luncheon will take place during CAMP FINANCE, a two-day retreat that provides the very best in knowledge and skill development sessions for fiscal and management staff, as well as board members. New this year, it has expanded to include the popular "Money for Mission" tracks that will focus on fundraising, marketing, social media, grant making (both government and philanthropic) and more!

In honor of the late Harold Mandel, a certified public accountant who worked for Urbach, Kahn & Werlin in Albany, NY and retired in West Palm Beach, FL, the 2010 Urbach Honoree has the privilege to award three (3) nonprofit executives of their choice Camp Finance scholarships in Hal's name. In 2009, Mr. Mandel's family accepted a posthumous Michael H. Urbach, CPA Community Builder's Award in his tribute.

Groundbreaking ceremony for the Tom Golisano School at Springbrook

Who Says You Can't Go Home?
Home. Funny how four little letters can carry such a powerful meaning. Songs, stories, poems and movies have been written about it. People have devoted untold numbers of hours reminiscing about it. What we have concluded is that for all of us, "home" means something different but equally powerful – and the thought of being separated from home is just too much to bear.

For too many children with developmental disabilities, however, being separated was not a choice. For them, home is in New York – but that is hundreds and thousands of miles and several states away.
Until now.

Join Springbrook’s students, families, staff and Trustees at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Tom Golisano School at Springbrook on Thursday, July 29th at 12:30pm.

Thanks to your generosity, for these children, home and family will be only a few minutes’ drive away - a few hours at most – right here in their home state of New York.

Come together for the beginning of a new era. Celebrate as we kick off construction on our $22 million autism school, houses, gymnasium and renovations. Stand with us as we proudly proclaim, "Yes! We CAN go home!"

Details
Invitation
When: Thursday, July 29, 2010 • 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Ceremony promptly at 12:30 p.m. • Free and open to the public
Tours available after ceremony

Luncheon at 1:00 p.m. for guests and press

Where: Springbrook
2705 State Highway 28
Oneonta, NY 13820

RSVP: Beth Peterson • (607) 286-7171 ext. 283 • petersonb@springbrookny.org

SUNY Oneonta earns four-star Charity Navigator rating

The Daily Star reported that The State University College at Oneonta Foundation has been honored with a four-star "exceptional" rating by Charity Navigator, the leading independent charity evaluator in America, a media release said.

The rating is based on the foundation's commitment to sound fiscal management and its ability to deliver on its mission, the release from the State University College at Oneonta said.

Charity Navigator President Ken Berger praised the foundation's ability to "efficiently manage and grow its finances."

"Approximately a quarter of the charities we evaluate have received our highest rating, indicating that State University College at Oneonta Foundation Corporation executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way, and outperforms most other charities in America," Berger said in a letter to the foundation. Read more here.

Springbrook expansion program approved

The Daily Star reported that:
A proposed school for autistic children will create 112 jobs, fuel the local economy and provide instruction and care for pupils sent to other states for services.

Springbrook's $20 million Coming Home expansion project has received final approval from the state, Sen. James Seward, R-Milford, and Patricia Kennedy, chief executive officer of Springbrook, said Tuesday. The construction and renovations are to begin in June and take about 20 months, officials said.

``The Coming Home expansion puts people first, by creating the capacity to bring children, forced out of state, back home _ this will mean a great deal to the children and their families alike,'' Seward said in a prepared statement. ``Springbrook is already Otsego County's fifth largest employer, and the Coming Home expansion will generate an additional $5 million annually.'' Read more here.

Suny Delhi Launches New Social Media Site

The Daily Star focused on SUNY Delhi's launch of their new alumni website. Grafiqa Creative Services designed, built and launched the social-media powered website at http://www.sunydelhialumni.org/ for the SUNY Delhi Alumni Association. Read more here. Learn more about Grafiqa here. NYCON members receive a discount on services.

On the Bright Side: Health center marks 1st year

The Daily Star reported that if birthday candles were patient visits, the Oneonta Community Health Clinic would have 420 in its first year.

The clinic at 22 Academy St. opened July 29 last year, and the volunteer staff will recognize the one-year mark during its hours Tuesday night.

Since its opening, the clinic has provided 420 patient visits to low-income adults who don't have health insurance. The clinic offers basic health care and referrals and also assists those eligible to apply for federal and state health-assistance programs, according to a media release. Although the target area is Otsego and Delaware Counties, individuals needing medical care are welcome regardless of their residence. The clinic is open 5:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays. Read more about the Health Clinic and its important efforts and future plans.

Catskill Center marks its 40th

The Daily Star reported that The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development will mark its founding 40 years ago with a celebration on Saturday, July 18, at the Delaware & Ulster Railroad Park in Arkville.

According to a media release, in recognition of its four decades of service in the Catskill Mountain Region, the Catskill Center will be bestowing its Alf Evers Award for Excellence on four Catskills businesses that contribute to the local economy, serve as sustainable business models and provide cultural opportunities to local residents and visitors: Apple Pond Farm and Renewable Energy Center, The Belleayre Conservatory, Merrick Tackle and Catskill Craftsman.

Headlining the festival is Grammy-nominated, kid-friendly Trout Fishing in America, followed by traditional hometown mountain music from The Tremperskill Boys. Read more here about the Catskill Center.

Richfield Springs woman named "Woman of Distinction"

Jackie Hinckley of Richfield Springs has been selected as a 2009 New York State Woman of Distinction, state Sen. James Seward, R-Milford, said.

“I am proud to honor Jackie Hinckley as a Woman of Distinction and prouder still of the recognition she has earned from her neighbors, colleagues and friends for her achievements on behalf of our community,” he said.

Hinckley was instrumental in taking the Zone Community Center in the Richfield Springs area from a dream to reality, Seward said. She helped oversee fundraising efforts that brought in over $130,000 to build the community youth center, serving on the youth center’s board of directors as president and currently as treasurer.

“Jackie is one of those success stories that we can proudly share with our daughters, sisters and neighbors and who will serve as an example for achievement and excellence for our entire community,” Seward said.