COMMUNITY FOUNDATION LEADERS PARTICIPATE IN REGIONAL LEARNING FORUM

The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties’ President & CEO Peggy O’Shea and Director of Philanthropy Corinne Ribble recently participated in a Regional Learning Forum on Community Leadership at The Boston Foundation. The forum was presented by national bodies: The Council on Foundations and CFLeads. Attendees came from throughout the Northeast and consisted of more than 100 community foundation senior staff and trustees.
The forum focused on the leadership roles many community foundations are undertaking. This trend is largely due to community foundations’ unique ability to bring together representatives of not-for-profit organizations, businesses and municipalities to work together toward common goals and to provide financial support to achieve those goals. The Community Foundation has most recently played crucial roles in literacy assessments for both Herkimer and Oneida counties and a two-county community indicators project.

“In the community foundation sector, leadership efforts are becoming ever more important,” said O’Shea, “These efforts reflect a shift in how foundations collectively think and operate. Traditionally, foundations have primarily responded to requests for funding, but now more community foundations are taking the initiative to identify opportunities for positive change in their communities and convene stakeholders to collaborate in bringing about these changes.

We will certainly continue to make grants to not-for-profit organizations, but we believe that we must also use our unique perspective to work more proactively toward improving the lives of the residents Herkimer and Oneida counties. The information and guidance we received during this forum will be invaluable as we move forward with our leadership work locally.” O’Shea and Ribble attended sessions in which representatives of other community foundations shared their models and methodologies relating to their leadership projects.

The Community Foundation has been a force for improving lives and promoting philanthropy throughout Herkimer and Oneida counties since 1952. The Foundation has made more than 4,300 grants totaling over $35 million in support of causes ranging from education to health care, the arts to the environment. Grants are generated by the more than 270 funds that comprise The Foundation’s endowment, established and advanced by area individuals and families.

For more information about The Community Foundation, including Foundation-funded literacy reports, call 315-735-8212 or visit www.foundationhoc.org. Community indicators project data can be found at the Herkimer & Oneida Counties Indicators website, www.hocindicators.org.

Recap Social Networking for Nonprofits

The June 18th ED meeting, attended by 20 participants, was hosted by Utica School of Commerce in their two computer labs. The meeting featured two programs on social networking, which were offered by Vibrant Creative. The first program presentation (available here PROGRAM A: "Social media" - practical applications for the time and patience challenged) gave an overview of what these powerful tools are capable of and their importance in the marketing and communications world.

The second program (presentation available here PROGRAM B: "So you have a facebook account - now what?" - Advanced Social Media Strategy & Tactics) was geared towards organizations who have experimented with social media but have had limited or no success. The session covered building a strategy including identifying a target and establishing your message. The program also discussed the right tools for the right jo6b and streamlining management of the tools for your particular organization.

Tickets for Charity in Full Swing

The Herkimer County Courier reported that charities from throughout Upstate New York are raising much-needed funds through The Turning Stone Resort Championship’s Tickets for Charity program. This is the fourth year of the initiative, administered in conjunction with the official PGA TOUR event scheduled for Aug. 2 -8 at the Oneida Indian Nation’s Atunyote Golf Club.

Now through July 30, participating charitable organizations are selling tickets to the tournament, receiving 100 percent of the face value of all tickets sold. Good Any Day tickets, priced at $25, can be used any day during tournament week from Wednesday through Sunday. A Weekly Booklet is available for $100.

Tickets for Charity is administered by the Upstate New York Empowerment Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Oneida Indian Nation and The Turning Stone Resort Championship. Its Honorary Host Committee, comprised of community leaders from across the region, plays a significant role in the success of the Empowerment Fund by creating awareness and generating widespread support.

Ticket-buyers can support their favorite causes by purchasing directly from the charities or they can log onto The Turning Stone Resort Championship web site at www.turningstonechampionship.com for a list of participating organizations, allowing them to designate a charity when purchasing tickets online.

Get Utica Events: Offers Free Weekly Events Listings

Subscribe to the Get Utica Events newsletter. Be the first to find out about new Events listings! List your events for free.

Tour of The Observer Dispatch Tuesday June 15th

The Genesis Group of the Mohawk Valley Region
Celebrating our 10th Anniversary

Please join us ~ All are welcome to attend, Genesis Group Discovery Tour,

The Observer Dispatch - WWW.UTICAOD.COM
221 Oriskany Plaza
Utica, New York 13501

Tuesday June 15th - 6:30pm (TOMORROW)
Observer Dispatch journalists Joseph Kieta and Michael Kilian will take your questions as they lead us on a tour of the OD Newsroom. Join us for this exciting tour of THE MOHAWK VALLEY'S INFORMATION SOURCE.

For reservations, contact Genesis Executive Director Ray Durso, Jr., by calling 315.792.7187 or by email, info@TheGenesisGroup.org

RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED & SPACE IS LIMITED
Raymond J. Durso, Jr.
Executive Director


The Genesis Group of the Mohawk Valley Region
SUNYIT
100 Seymour Road
Utica, New York 13502

315.792.7187
315.797.1280 (fax)
Email: info@TheGenesisGroup.org
Web: www.TheGenesisGroup.org

Exclusive: GroWest claims millions in damages

The Utica OD reported that GroWest Inc. is initiating four separate legal actions against former agency officials and contractors, claiming that improper actions including possible fraud and negligence cost it millions of dollars in damages, court records obtained Thursday by the O-D show.

The actions bring weeks of intense speculation about an investigation of the nonprofit housing rehabilitation agency into sharper focus.

Among the defendants listed in the state Supreme Court papers: The agency's former executive director, John Denelsbeck, and its former finance director, Mary Hutton, both of whom resigned within the past two years.

In all, four separate summonses signed by Utica attorney J.K. Hage III and filed in the Oneida County Clerk's Office list various monetary damages ranging from $439,003 to $7.4 million. Hage's law firm has been enlisted by both GroWest and city government to investigate claims of “contractual improprieties” involving the use of federal and state funds by the agency over the past decade.

In an e-mail exchange, Hage said his firm expects to complete a report for GroWest and the city this month. The court actions are an attempt to preserve the legal options for the parties, if they wish to pursue them afterward, he said.

He declined further comment on the legal action, saying to do so would be to reveal elements of his strategy that he wishes to keep confidential.

The FBI has commenced a separate investigation into the matter, issuing subpoenas to the city and GroWest for records back to 2000. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which has traditionally been a sizable source of funding for GroWest initiatives, is also conferring with the various parties. Read more here.

Two Social Networking for Nonprofits Programs Offered on June 18th

PROGRAM A: "Social media" - practical applications for the time and patience challenged

Presented by Vibrant Creative

The June 18th program will feature two presentations offered by Vibrant Creative. Both programs are offered at the same time, so you must choose one to attend. Space is limited. This program is offers a broader overview of social media.

Description: An overview of what these powerful tools are capable of and their importance in the marketing and communications world. We explore how these tools can be integrated to make keeping up to date with them as simple as copy and paste. The workshop allows organizations to take information learned and start getting their feet wet in this exciting new medium.
REGISTER


PROGRAM B: "So you have a facebook account - now what?" - Advanced Social Media Strategy & Tactics

Presented by Vibrant Creative

The June 18th program will feature two presentations offered by Vibrant Creative. Both programs are offered at the same time, so you must choose one to attend. Space is limited. This program is geared towards nonprofits who have experimented with social media and are looking for more information and ideas.

Description:
The advanced Social Media tactics is for organizations who have experimented with social media but have had limited or no success. We cover building a strategy including identifying a target and establishing your message. We explore using the right tools for the right job and streamlining management of the tools for your particular organization. We will dive into an actual case study of how a local college used social media to increase awareness, build brand and reach out to an entirely new group of constituents all while only dedicating 20 hours per month to the effort.
REGISTER

Date: Friday, June 18th
Time:
9:00am to 11:00am- Program
Cost: FREE to nonprofit directors
Location: Utica School of Commerce
Computer Lab
201 Bleecker Street
Utica, NY 13501