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.

National Council of Nonprofits: Nonprofit Knowledge Matters

Building a better budget (even if you are allergic to numbers) During an interview with staff members at the New York Council of Nonprofits, Jenny Chandler, Vice President at the National Council of Nonprofits, learned how to build a better budget:   In an effort to get over my allergy to numbers, I spoke with the terrific team of Kelly Mathews (Chief Operating Officer), Michelle Jarvais (Chief Fiscal Officer), and Elizabeth Mathews (Senior Accountant), who shared with me their “6 P’s” approach to nonprofit budgets. See if you can find the “P’s” in their advice!   Jenny: When you work with nonprofits to build a “better” budget, what are your goals?   Michelle: We’re going for a strategic process that helps you plan – not just taking last year’s numbers and updating them. We encourage nonprofits to look a few years ahead and take a multi-year approach because that will result in a better budget.   Kelly: In my work with nonprofits I often see folks not thinking through the long-term effects of short-term decisions. An example would be a simple cost-of-living adjustment. It’s great in the year it’s given – it bumps up salaries and boosts morale. But has the nonprofit projected out the impact of that adjustment for the next few years? It’s going to change the revenue requirements for many years to come. That could be huge.   Michelle: We encourage nonprofits to think of their budget as a living, breathing, guiding document. Your budget is not something that’s approved by the Board of Directors and then locked in stone for the rest of the year. It’s never going to be static. It’s going to change month-to-month. It’s normal for the actual numbers to turn out differently than you projected when you drafted the budget, so a “better budget” is one that changes with the nonprofit’s experience.     Jenny: It sounds as if you are suggesting that the board-approved budget should be formally amended throughout the year?   Michelle: Perhaps. Many organizations approve at least one budget revision annually. But sometimes adjustments are anticipated and reflected in the budget narrative so that a formal amendment isn’t necessary. If the narrative is thoughtfully drafted it will explain potential variances and alert the board to alternate scenarios.   Jenny: Wait a minute. You just said, “narrative” – You mean budgets aren’t just numbers on an Excel spreadsheet?    Read more from this interview...     Changing the Culture on Costs, One Community at a Time Most nonprofits know the problems caused when governments, funders, and the public incorrectly assume that only program costs are well spent and that overhead costs are undesirable. Some nonprofit leaders in Napa Valley, California are doing something about those attitudes, and providing inspiration for the rest of the nonprofit community.   Read more…   Subscribe here to receive your free copies of Nonprofit Advocacy Matters (every other Monday), where this article was originally published.        And now for something fun: A summer celebration of charitable nonprofits! Sit back in your chair, let yourself relax for two minutes to enjoy this short “Motion Graphic” about how nonprofits are essential to the quality of life in our communities. Brought to you by our member State Association, the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands.      Resources to help your nonprofit develop a budget   Budget Best Practice Tips (NYCON)   Financial management resources (National Council of Nonprofits)   NYCON’s Budget and Cash Flow Toolkits: Comprehensive, step-by-step guided & easy to use ● Take a tour ● Information & Online Order Form ● Contact your state association of nonprofits to inquire about a discount.     Advertisement   Worth Reading   Is Strategic Philanthropy Yesterday’s News? (Nonprofit Quarterly)   Build a board culture that advances fund development (Cause Planet)   Preventing fraud in the cash disbursement process (Tate & Tryon)   Author Interview: A Board Member’s Easier Than You Think Guide To Nonprofit Finances (Andy Robinson and Nancy Wasserman)      Your Voices Last month, we asked how often your board reviews financial reports. Here's what you said:     This month's poll: What do you think of crowdfunding as a fundraising strategy?   Tell us in this quick, one-question poll and look for the results in next month's Nonprofit Knowledge Matters.       Worth Noting   Beware of a current government grant scam   Free program: Everything you always wanted to know about Grants.gov (June 25, 1 pm Eastern)   © Copyright 2014 National Council of Nonprofits. All rights reserved  1200 New York Avenue, NW | Suite 700 | Washington, DC 20005 | www.councilofnonprofits.org

Upcoming Events & Webinars

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Medicaid Compliance...(But Were Afraid to Ask)  A special four-part NYCON "Lunch & Learn" Webinar Series brought to you by the Experts; FREE for NYCON Members. Non-Member Nonprofits are $75 per session or $275 for series.  If you would like to attend all four,please choose "Series" Ticket type.You will be automatically registered for each session through June. All webinars are from 11am to 12:30pm. Register Medicaid Compliance... Medicaid Compliance Plans ... Medicaid Self Auditing...Medicaid Self-Disclosures... Medicaid Audits ... Medicaid fraud, waste and abuse...Office of the Medicaid Inspector General ... OMIG...If these words and phrases are part of a typical day at your nonprofit, we have designed the perfect series of webinars for you. Participants will hear directly from experts in the field (including David Ross, former Acting Medicaid Inspector General for the State of New York, and David Rottkamp, CPA and leader of Grassi & Co.'s not-for-profit practice area) and get the practical information they need to provide appropriate oversight and management of Medicaid-funded programs, understand the role of the Office of the Medicaid Inspector General, and much more.   Next Webinar: Know Thy Compliant Self: How to Conduct a Medicaid Self Audit May 15th, 2014 11:00am to 12:30PM Presented by David R. Ross, Esq, and David M. Rottkamp, CPA Register Part of any provider's compliance program is their compliance plan, and the key part of any compliance plan is the concept of risk assessment and self auditing. This means identifying where errors are most likely to be made, and then reviewing your Medicaid claims and documentation for compliance with applicable requirements. Hypotheticals for risk assessment and self audit will be discussed. As participants will hear, self auditing can be the best preventative medicine. A question and answer period will be provided. Complying with the Nonprofit Revitalization Act:  Practical Webinars for New York Nonprofits Presented by David Watson, Esq, Sr. VP of Legal Accountability Services, NYCON and Michael West, Esq., Legal Advisor, NYCON May 20th and June 26th, 2014 Webinars are held from 11:00 am to 12:30pm The Nonprofit Revitalization Act is a landmark change in the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law of the State of New York and will usher in a modern era for the operation and governance of nonprofit corporations starting July 1, 2014. As always, here at the New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc. (NYCON) your one-stop tool box and soap box we eagerly anticipated the updated statutes and have prepared a practical webinar series to address your immediate needs in the updating of your bylaws and governance materials. We encourage all of our Members to take advantage of these webinars. Part 1: New York Nonprofit Revitalization Act Part- Steps To Compliance - An Overview A comprehensive overview of the Act to take place with a plenary Q/A portion to be held in February, April & June. This offering will provide you with an overview and a practical set of actions to take to amend your bylaws to meet the new standards of the Act Part 2:  New York Nonprofit Revitalization Act: Implementing Your  Compliance Checklist - Whistleblower, Conflict of Interest, Committees & Executive Compensation These webinars will be held In March and May will be a more detailed and focused on the various topics included in the Act that are new and have implications on Board governance in general and your operations specifically. Click here to register. Dates: May 20th   Cost: FREE & Open Only to current NYCON Nonprofit Members. All webinars are from 11:00am to 12:30pm. .  Date: June 26th Membership Benefits: Get to Know Us! [Webinar] May 30, 2014 2:00 pm Register In our "Get to Know Us" Sessions, NYCON staff will tell you a lot more about our membership benefits - and answer all the questions you have regarding our process, costs and what you get for FREE. We will be talking about these benefits... Nonprofit Training, Education and Professional Assistance NYCON empowers our members with the best practices, policies, and procedures as well as information on ever-changing regulations, funding, accountability and more. Cost Savings Solutions for Nonprofits NYCON leverages the purchasing power of thousands of nonprofits to bring you economies of scale on everything from Office Supplies to Fundraising Software. The Nonprofit Voice in New York State NYCON represents our members on the local, state and national level, giving voice to small and medium sized nonprofits everywhere.

Upcoming Event Listing How to Conduct a Medicaid Self-Audit Nonprofit Revitalization Act Webinars Membership: Get to Know Us Fundraising Breakfast Roundtable Webinars & Events from Our Partners Southern Tier Workshops Fundraising Breakfast Roundtables For Mid-Hudson Valley Nonprofits  Part III: May 22nd, 2014   8:00am to 9:30am Creating A "Planned Giving Culture" at Your Nonprofit   FREE RSVP TODAY NYCON is pleased to bring a series of three exciting, interactive discussions on fundraising to Mid-Hudson Valley nonprofits this spring. NYCON staff expert Audrey Grifel, with 25+ years of practical experience working with nonprofits on fundraising and donor management, will be facilitating these exciting discussions with our special guest speaker, philanthropist Nick Preddice. Mr. Preddice will give you a rare glimpse into the world of a major donor - sharing his expertise and advice.  Other Upcoming Webinars & Events from NYCON Partners....  Telling Your Story with Blogs, Photos, and Videos  FREE: 10 Tips for Measuring Programs Through Data     Before You Install: Selecting Software That Suits Your Needs   Southern Tier Capacity Building Mini-Grant and Assessment Programs: Resource Development & Fundraising 101: Building Relationships and Moving People to Act [Binghamton] July 10, 2014 9:30am-1:00pm  Strategies for Not Just Good...But Great Governance![Binghamton] August 6, 2014 9:30 am-1:00pm

Keep Going, Your Hard Work is Paying Off!

Good News to Report, Thanks to You   You Made the Difference!  Last Tuesday, NYCON met with the offices of Assemblymember James Brennan and Senator Michael Ranzenhofer , bill sponsors for the Nonprofit Revitalization Act, to further discuss the need to delay the effective date of the Act. We're pleased to inform members that both Brennan and Ranzenhofer's offices understand our perspective and are now working with NYCON and our members to delay the Nonprofit Revitalization Act's effective date. This is great news- but we still have work to do! NYCON is working with both offices in drafting a bill to amend the Act to ensure that nonprofits in New York State have the appropriate amount of time needed to comply. After the bill is placed into session,  we will be asking members to send letters and contact legislators to support the bill, we hope to have your support in the coming weeks!    NYCON wouldn't have been able to take this step without the tremendous assistance from our members communicating to their offices and own local elected officials, signing our petition, and providing us their testimonies - so this first (huge) step is thanks to you. You can still help now - and it's easy. If you haven't already please sign this petition and consider forwarding it to your nonprofit colleagues via email and your social media network. We need more nonprofit voices at the table. Thank you for your continued support! If you have any questions about this or any other public policy issue, please feel free to our  Program and Policy Associate, Amber Vanderwarker.

57 Days Left Until the Effective Date! Sign Our Petition  We're now at 150 signatures on our petition!  We know there are still many more out there who have not yet, so please join our efforts by signing our petition. Please Sign Our Petition!

2014 Summer/Fall Grant Opportunities from CFSCNY

Community Foundation for South Central New York Announces Grant Opportunities and Technical Assistance Training Calendar for Summer/Fall 2014 CFSCNY Technical Assistance Training Calendar Summer/Fall 2014 The Community Foundation for South Central New York is helping organizations to put their best application forward. In 2014 we will be offering smaller, more frequent workshops in each of the counties we serve. These workshops have been designed to help organizations develop their grant applications and to provide information about the Foundation's competitive grant opportunities. Please follow the link to choose the workshop that will work the best for you and call Program Officer, Tina Barber at 607-772-6773 to register. CFSCNY Training Calendar   2013 grantee the Magic Paintbrush Project. Community Fund Fall 2014 Guidelines Include an Option for Early Childhood Providers! The Community Foundation for SCNY will be offering two options for the Fall 2014 cycle. The first option will include our traditional categories of funding and will be open to all eligible applicants. Our second option offers operating and capital assistance for Early Childhood Providers. Find the complete set of Community Fund Fall 2014 Guidelines here. The deadline for applications isTuesday, September 2nd at 4PM.    Please continue to utilize the Uniform Grant Application for requests that are over $2,500 and the Small Grants Application for requests that are $2,500 and under.   In the VINES garden. 2014 Women's Fund Deadline Reminder The Community Foundation for South Central New York will be accepting applications to the Women's Fund from qualified organizations until Friday, June 13th. The Women's Fund was established to promote the health and well-being of women and girls in the Community Foundation's 5-county region. Find the complete set of guidelines and application here. Tina Barber, Program Officer Community Foundation for South Central New York 520 Columbia Drive; Suite 100 Johnson City, NY 13790 607-772-6773 tmbarber@stny.rr.com All organizations MUST call the Program Officer before submitting an application to any fund!