New ED at Catskill Center for Conservation and Development

Alan White of Halcott Center became executive director of The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development on Monday.

Board President H. Claude Shostal said White was selected following an extensive search involving numerous qualified candidates.

White was formerly the Catskill Mountain director for The Nature Conservancy, and was also employed by Sullivan County Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Watershed Agricultural Council. He is a Halcott Town Board member and is on the Catskill Landowner Association board of directors.

The Catskill Center is located in Arkville and recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. The mission of the Catskill Center is to support appropriate economic and cultural development while preserving open space and protecting natural resource in the Catskill region, according to a media release.

Glimmerglass Opera General & Artistic Director to Leave at End of 2010 Festival

Cooperstown Chamber reported that:

GLIMMERGLASS OPERA GENERAL & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR TO LEAVE
AT END OF 2010 FESTIVAL

COOPERSTOWN, NY – Michael MacLeod, General & Artistic Director of Glimmerglass Opera, will leave the company at the end of the 2010 season after five years with the upstate New York summer opera festival.

“I am extremely proud of the company’s artistic achievements under my leadership, and I am especially gratified that we were able to sustain support and create a solidly-balanced budget for 2010 without sacrificing artistic quality or the number of productions or performances,” MacLeod said. “This is a remarkable accomplishment today, and I am pleased that I am able to leave the company in good shape.”

The Executive Committee of the Glimmerglass Opera Board of Trustees anticipates a successful transition of company leadership.

“Michael has brought a wonderful and stimulating artistic vision to Glimmerglass, and he will be missed,” said Elizabeth Eveillard, Glimmerglass Opera Board Chair. “Because of the company’s legacy, we have been able to move forward quickly with a succession plan.”

The new director will be announced in the coming weeks, in time to plan the 2011 season.

A celebration of MacLeod’s tenure is being planned.

General Liability Insurance Basics for Your Nonprofit

This information is provided by Council Services Plus (CSPlus), the insurance brokerage subsidiary of the New York Council of Nonprofts. CSPlus works solely with nonprofits across NYS to provide competitive and cost saving insurance assistance.

What is GL? Commercial General Liability & Property Insurance provides coverage for lawsuits filed against the Nonprofit and it representatives. It protects the nonprofit against liability for property damage or bodily and personal injury that it allegedly caused.

Understanding the key components
Bodily Injury: Insurance that protects the insured organization and its representatives against allegations of negligence that results in bodily injury.
A GL policy might cover:
1. A slip and fall on the nonprofits' premises; these "slip and fall" types of policies generally exclude coverage for allegations of wrongdoing where physical injury cannot be proven (i.e. mismanagement, conflict of interest, or harassment).
2. Products & Completed Operations Liability: Protects the organization from suits for bodily injury or property damage caused by a product if it is manufactured or sold, or from a job it has completed. Or if your nonprofit conducts fundraising endeavors, it has an exposure to products liability claims.

GL policies: generally provide a defense, regardless of whether the claim is true, and pay any judgment or settlement up to the policy limit. (In its purest form, GL covers the insured for claims resulting in bodily injury.)

Property Coverage: Insurance that provides coverage for office equipment and/or buildings. In many cases Property Coverage is more cost effective if packaged within a General Liability policy.
Some types of coverage might be:

• Coverage against loss of a building owned by the insured.
• Glass and Signs
• Business personal property (contents: computers and other office equipment).
• Water (water damage to another tenant's property caused by an employee's failure to shut off a faucet).
• Fire
• Theft
• Fine Arts and Collectibles

Special Events Coverage: If your nonprofit sponsors a fundraiser or other events, you must ensure that each event or activity is covered by the insurance program.

Additional Coverage to a GL Policy: Some examples of additional coverage that can be requested under a GL policy are: Professional Liability, Auto; Hired and Non-owned Auto, WC, Abuse and Molestation, Umbrella coverage (provides additional limits of liability above those furnished by the basic liability policy, and will "drop down" to provide liability coverage in an area where the basic underlying policy does not cover the risk because the organization does not normally have an exposure to that type of claim).

*Exclusions: As in any type of insurance, there are exclusions to GL coverage. Not every exposure may be insurable. Some exclusions include: an act of war, nuclear explosion and electrical power surge damage.

There are many variables to a GL policy and it is important that the insured read their policy carefully.

(Note: General Liability should not be confused with Directors and Officers Liability (D&O) coverage. D&O insurance indemnifies an organization and its officers for allegations for wrongful acts resulting from the "management and governance" of an organization.)

Have questions about your gl insurance policy? Looking for a quote to compare to your current coverage? Contact us at 1-800-515-5012 ext 141 or amarietta@councilservicesplus.com for more information.

CSPlus Can Offer:

Your Organization

• Directors & Officers Liability
• Fiduciary Liability Insurance
• General Liability, Property & Auto
• Crime Insurance (Fidelity Bonds)
• Professional Liability Insurance
• Insurance for Special Events

Your Employees

• Health & Dental Insurance
• Short/Long Term Disability
• Section 125 Services
• Workers Compensation
• NYS Statutory Disability
• Group Life Insurance
• Retirement Programs

Your Volunteers

• Accident
• Medical Reimbursement
• Liability Insurance
• Excess Auto Liability
• Disability Benefits
• Vision Discount Program

FREE Webinars Offered on IRS Filing Requirements for Charitable Nonprofits

The NY Council of Nonprofits' national partner, the National Council of Nonprofits, is offering two FREE webinars for you and your board members!

Get Ready, Get Set, Go! IRS Filing Requirements for Charitable Nonprofits
Two national webinars: February 23 and March 23, 2010

Register Now

Are you prepared for this year's tax filing deadline? Did you know that tax-exempt organizations could have their status revoked for not filing the annual Form 990? The National Council of Nonprofits will host two free webinars presented by the IRS for nonprofit organizations to learn about the resources available and answer questions about filing your IRS Form 990.

These webinars will include:

• Critical steps to take now in order to protect and preserve your tax exemption.
• Review of the filing requirements for nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations, and the consequences of not filing (or filing an incomplete) Form 990-series return. Tax-exempt organizations now stand to lose their tax-exempt status if they do not file the Form 990, 990-EZ, or 990-N (e-postcard) for three consecutive years-these revocations will begin in 2010).

"Learn from the Experts: What Forms Must Nonprofit, Tax-Exempt Organizations File to Meet IRS Requirements and Preserve Tax Exempt Status?"

Tuesday, February 23
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm Eastern

• What forms are tax-exempt organizations required to file with the IRS annually?
• What information is required to be reported on the forms?
• Why your organization may need to file NOW, so that it won't lose its tax-exempt status
• How to file complete, accurate returns to avoid IRS penalties.

There is no charge for nonprofit organizations or their board members for these webinars. Advance registration is required by February 22, 2010.


"Hear from the IRS: What The IRS Has Learned After One Year With the Redesigned Form 990"

Tuesday, March 23
3:30 pm - 4:30pm Eastern

• What trends has the IRS observed in the first season of redesigned Form 990 filing?
• What mistakes are most commonly being made by nonprofits on the redesigned Form 990?
• What can a nonprofit do to streamline the filing process?
• What are the answers to frequently asked questions about completing the 990?

There is no charge for nonprofit organizations or their board members for these webinars. Advance registration is required by March 22, 2010.

Early Childhood Conference March 10th

Invitation to the Early Childhood Conference
Child Welfare: Securing the Future – A Dialogue for Meaningful Action

Wednesday, March 10, 2010
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Bouck Hall Ballroom

The conference will highlight the problems of orphaned children in South Africa and work that is being done to educate and care for them. Effective strategies that benefit the welfare of children at global, national and local levels will be shared by South African and American participants.

There will be keynote presentations, discussions, and cultural exhibits featuring quilts, songs, and dance.
Merle Hodges, Director of International Affairs at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology; South Africa, Palesa Tyobeka, Deputy Director General of the General Education Branch, South Africa; and Karen Brackett, director of the Early Childhood Center at Skidmore College, will serve as keynote speakers. Ms. Brackett will show 8 large quilts made with South African children. Panel participants are Flick Asvat, South African social strategist; Doris Hill-Wyley, director of Early Education and Reading Initiatives at the NYS Department of Education; Kristen Kerr, executive director of the NY Association for the Education of Young Children; Rachel Sperry, a national trainer of Infant Mental Health; and Melodie Swanson, director of Child at Risk Response Team of Schoharie County. Two South African government ministers will also be in attendance.

Who should attend:
People interested in advocating for the welfare of children at global, national and local levels.
Public and private school teachers, administrators, childcare providers, students, individuals
and educators interested in forming child welfare initiatives and a partnership to implement
action.

Continuing Education Units will be issued.
Hosted by SUNY Cobleskill’s Early Childhood Department and the Office of International Programs in partnership with the New York State National Guard and University at Albany’s Schools

For more information call the Office of Extended Learning at (518) 255-5528

Chenango County Historical Society: Museum Director Job

Museum Director Needed

Seeking a director to lead and support the advancement of research, education, preservation and enjoyment of Chenango County’s history. Prefer a candidate with a bachelor’s degree in business, education, history or a related field. Experience in museum operations is desirable with an understanding of budgets, grant writing and fundraising. Must be computer literate.

Full time salaried position (some weekends and evenings required)

Please forward your resume with salary requirements by Monday, February 22nd, 2010.

Attn: Museum Director Search Committee, 45 Rexford St., Norwich, NY 13815

DELAWARE COUNTY NY CONNECTS: CHOICES FOR LONG TERM CARE

To College Professors & Students,

This letter is an introduction to a project sponsored by the Delaware County NY Connects Advisory Board. The Board has been meeting over the last few years to identify gaps in service in Delaware County. One of the gaps identified was services in regards to geriatric mental health. That is why we will be hosting a series of trainings around this subject starting with the first training Tuesday, March 2nd at SUNY Delhi, MacDonald Hall. The speakers will be Dr. Michael Friedman from the Geriatric Mental Health Association and he will do a presentation on Geriatric mental Health 101. We will also have Philip McCallion from the School of Social Welfare at the University at Albany and he will be do a presentation on the Coming of the Elder Boom and the impact it will have on the healthcare system. We welcome your attendance to these events. A brochure is included with this letter. Feel free to make copies. Seating is limited to the first 120 registrants.

Sincerely,

Laura Stewart
Long Term Care Coordinator

Registration Form

Name: __________________________________
Title: ___________________________________
Organization: _____________________________
Street: ___________________________________
City: ______________________ State: _________
Zip: _____________ County: _________________
Phone: _________________ Fax: _____________
Email: ___________________________________
Will you be joining us for lunch? YES NO
Let us know if you require a special diet. Do you have any special accommodation needs?

Fees:
Delaware County Resident $10
Out of County Resident $25
Check enclosed $ _____________
(Payable to Office for the Aging )
Paying at Registration _________

Please mail payments by February 24th to:
Office for the Aging
6 Court St.
Delhi, NY 13753

For additonal information please contact:
Laura Stewart
607-746-6333
or fax registration to 607-746-6227


Speakers Schedule
8:30– 9:00 Registration
9:00 – 9:05 Welcome
9:05 – 11:30 Lack of Readiness to Meet the Challenges of the Elder Boom
Philip McCallion, Ph.D. ACSW
Lisa A. Ferretti, LMSW

This presentation will review the changing profiles of the Nation’s & New York’s aging population and the trends likely to influence aging services in the decades ahead. Differing expectations, experiences with service agencies, desire for community and self-managed care and readiness to advocate among these new or growing populations for aging services will be discussed, as will strategies for agencies and practitioners to successfully meet the challenge.

11:45 – 1:00 Lunch and Exhibits
1:00 – 3:00 Geriatric Mental Health 101
Michael B. Friedman, LMSW

This presentation will provide an overview of the mental health needs of older adults, and will particularly focus on the coming mental health needs of the elder boom generation. Information about common late life mental disorders and their treatment will be provided. Participants will also learn about the importance of creating effective programmatic options for meeting the mental health needs of older adults and will learn how they can become involved in creating sound mental health polices for elders.


Philip McCallion, PhD. ACSW is a professor in the School of Social Welfare at the University at Albany, a Hartford Geriatric Social Work Faculty Scholar and Mentor and is Director of the Institute for Social Services Research and Development. Within the newly formed institute, Dr. McCallion directs the Center for Excellence in Aging Services and the NIDA – funded Child Welfare, Drug Abuse and Intergenerational Risk Research Center.

Lisa A. Ferretti, LMSW is the Director of Operations for the Center of Excellence in Aging Services at the University at Albany School of Social Welfare. Ms. Ferretti develops and conducts trainings for the New York State Office for the Aging and the New York State Office of Children and Family Services as well as local offices for the aging and NY Connects.

Michael B. Friedman is the founder and Chairperson of the Geriatric Mental Health Alliance of New York and Director of The Center for Policy, Advocacy, and Education of The Mental Health Association of New York City. In addition, he teaches courses on health policy and social advocacy at Columbia University School of Social Work as well as a course on mental health policy at Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health.


Future Programming

The Delaware County NY Connects Advisory Council identified the need for educating long term care professionals on the needs of the aging population and mental illness. We will have four trainings with both a morning and an afternoon session to be held in Delaware County. These trainings are being partially funded by the Delaware County Rural Health Alliance.

Series as follows:

March 2rd, 2010
Lack of Readiness to Meet the Challenges of the Elder Boom & Geriatric Mental Health 101

May 2010
Therapeutic Techniques of Validation & Understanding the Pain/Depression Dyad Among Older Adults

July 2010
Elder Abuse and Mistreatment & Out of the Shadows: Documenting Elder Abuse Prevalence & Implications for Policy Services

September 2010
Solution Based Treatment Therapy & Stigma, Ageism and Ignorance about Mental Illness and its Treatment

This event was made possible in part by funding from Delaware County Rural Health Alliance.

National Soccer Hall of Fame to Change Operating Model, Relocate Exhibits and Archives

The National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum announced its plan to change its current operating model to address its financial challenges while enhancing its ability to promote the history of soccer to the growing community of fans across the nation.

As part of the operating change, the Hall of Fame will close its Oneonta facility and relocate the collections and archives. Preliminary plans include distributing permanent displays for exhibition in several locations nationwide, while elements of the Hall’s archives not on display will be preserved in storage facilities provided by one of the Hall’s longtime corporate sponsors, Eurosport, located in Hillsborough, N.C.

The annual election process will continue without interruption, and the location of specific induction ceremonies will be planned with consideration to the U.S. soccer calendar, the fan base of respective inductees and any other circumstances unique to a given year. Although specific details have not yet been decided, planning for the 2010 Induction is under way with an event anticipated for late summer. The U.S. Soccer Federation will assist with the execution of the annual election and implementation of the Induction event, as well as the relocation of the archive.

In January, the Hall announced the election of Thomas Dooley and Preki Radosavljevic as Players and Bruce Arena as a Builder. The Veteran Player will be announced in the coming weeks.

“We remain as committed as ever to honoring the history of the game and preserving the legacy of the sport in the United States for many years to come,” U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati said. “As we transition into a new and more sustainable operating model, we will continue to promote and celebrate the Hall of Famers and their accomplishments and look forward to the 2010 Induction later this summer.”

As the relocation process begins, the Hall will seek to transfer title of its 62-acre campus to the Otsego County Development Corporation, a nonprofit entity that promotes commerce and civic improvement. This transfer, pending approval by key New York state agencies and the New York State Supreme Court, will require that soccer programs continue to occur at the complex, but will also permit the building and grounds to otherwise be used to serve the highest and best interests of the local community.

“The vision for the National Soccer Hall of Fame, its birth and the majority of its support has, for nearly 30 years, originated in Oneonta,” stated Hall of Fame Board Chairman Doug Willies. “In recognition of these unprecedented contributions to the promotion of soccer in the United States, the Board of Directors of the NSHOF is pleased to return at no cost to the community the entire campus and facility”.

The Hall will continue to occupy the facility until the relocation of collections and archives is complete. To facilitate the transition, a contract has been established for the Otsego County Development Corporation to immediately assume management responsibilities associated with the property.

“The National Soccer Hall of Fame is saddened to be closing our doors in Oneonta, a city and region that has showed great support for both the museum and the sport long before we opened here,” Hall of Fame President Jonathan Ullman said. “Ultimately, we need to move forward in a manner that maximizes our resources and provides the greatest possible access by the public to the history and heroes of the sport, and this is the first step forward in that process.”

Additional details will be provided at a press conference scheduled for Thursday at 3 p.m. at the National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum.

For more coverage on this announcement, visit The Daily Star's website.

The True Impact of a Small Nonprofit on Business

The Daily Star reported on the recent news that the owner of the Oneonta Theatre has joined forces with a talent promoter to present performances, concerts, touring groups, community events and fundraisers on the historic stage at 47 Chestnut St.

This partnership replaces original plans for the Friends of the Oneonta Theatre to operate the facility, pay rent and utilities, fix up the facility and offer programs. Read the article here.

This development should not come as a surprise with the current funding environment and challenges arts and cultural nonprofits are having in raising operating dollars. Could this small, volunteer group really operate and renovate this building at full capacity? Could they have brought it up to full operation quickly, bringing new business to downtown in the next couple of months? Probably not, but even if they could in the short term, the future sustainability would have been in question. With so many arts and cultural nonprofits struggling in the region, the capacity for support and fundraising is strained.

But what should be recognized is what a group of grassroots supporters accomplished that no one else seemed to be able to do. Friends of the Oneonta Theatre should be credited with the redevelopment of this important property, and helping kick start this new business partnership. Their volunteer efforts, fundraising and advocacy are a clear demonstration of the positive and essential impact nonprofits can have on downtown Oneonta and the business community. Have your own thoughts, share them here or send them by e-mail.

March 18th Cooperstown Chamber Seminar: Using the Internet for Meetings, Calls, and Chat

March 18 Networking Lunch & Seminar at Tunnicliff Inn

Where:
Tunnicliff Inn, Pioneer Street, Cooperstown
34 Pioneer Street
Cooperstown, NY 13326
When:
March 18, 2010 at 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Please join us for the next installment of our 2010 Networking Seminar Series.

Using the Internet for Meetings, Calls, and Chat
Did you know that you can talk to almost anyone on the planet that has a computer for free? Have you ever needed to share a presentation and collaborate on documents without expensive or time-consuming travel? Do you understand how "chat" is different from e-mail and why chat is a considered a great customer service tool? We will look at web-based communication tools, like Skype, DimDim, and various chat platforms. We will discuss how to use them, what's free and what's not, and how they can support customer, employee, and partner communication. Lunch and networking opportunities included.

The presenter for the series is Chamber Member, Devin Morgan, a dynamic local attorney and founder of Three Blazes Innovation which provides business and entrepreneurial guidance. Devin is an enthusiastic user of web 2.0 technologies and lends real world advise on applications that can support businesses.

Funding to support the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce 2009/10 Business Seminar Series is provided in part by Otsego County Office of Economic Development.

Click Here for Registration!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at (607) 547-6015.
Thank you for your interest, I look forward to seeing you in March!

Sincerely,

Susan O'Handley, Executive Director
Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce
susan@cooperstownchamber.org
607 547 6015

Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce 31 Chestnut St. Cooperstown NY 13326