Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired Receives Award

The Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired recently received an Employment Retention, Growth and Upward Mobility Award from National Industries for the Blind. The association employs people who are blind or visually impaired by providing products to the federal government. The National Industries for the Blind recognized the association's commitment to increasing employment and economic growth opportunities for people who are blind in the agency's employment and manufacturing division, Central Industries, according to a release from the nonprofit.

“Our team members who are blind represent a dedicated and loyal workforce,” said association President and Chief Executive Officer Rudy D'Amico. “We hope to serve as an example in the community of the capabilities of people who are blind while providing goods and services to federal, state and local governments, colleges and school districts.”

The Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired is a full service vision rehabilitation agency serving blind and visually impaired people of all ages in Upstate New York. The association has 163 employees and annually serves more than 1,100 people who are blind or visually impaired in its eight-county service area.

March 25th Program Panel Questions

The first program, set for March 25th at 8:30am, will focus on nonprofit economic impact. The program will feature a panel (to be announced shortly) made up of various economic agencies in the region answering the following proposed questions:

1)How do you define economic impact? How would you define the economic impact of nonprofits? Could we help nonprofits by better educating the public about their economic impact in the community?
2)Do you think there is value in nonprofits carrying out an economic impact study and would this information be helpful to your organization?
3)Have you encountered the attitude that nonprofits take funding from the community rather than giving back? How can nonprofits showcase the ways in which they generate more money for the community?
4)In the area of economic development and business attraction/retention, why are nonprofits not included in discussions of economic development such as those run by EDGE?
5)How can nonprofits position themselves as a vital part of the community and asset rather than a burden?

The Genesis Group of the Mohawk Valley Region invites people to these upcoming programs and events:

• Regional "Clean and Green" Planning Meeting
  Tuesday, March 24th - 8:00am, at Hotel Utica
  (regional clean-up effort being planned for April)

• Genesis General Meeting
  Thursday March 26th - 7:30am a Hotel Utica
  Featuring: "CollegeTown Project"
  ON THE AGENDA:
  - Introduction of College's
  - "About the CollegeTown Project"
  - Dr. Ronald Cantor, Associate VP and Dean of MVCC's Rome Campus – Corporate/Contract Course Training
  - Dr. Judith Owens-Manley, Associate Director of the Levitt Center at Hamilton College, Service-Based Learning courses
  - Utica Mayor David Roefaro, Upcoming Student Legislative Day and a Student Summit

For information on any of the above meetings, programs or events, contact Ray Durso, Jr., executive director for Genesis by calling: 315.792.7187 or by email: info@thegenesisgroup.org

Arts orgs tackle funding losses

The Observer-Dispatch carried an article today about how local arts organizations have been impacted by funding losses and how they are responding. Some ways the organization and others have been impacted:

• The Stanley Center for the Arts lost $17,300 in funding to their arts and education program because of 2008-2009 New York State Council on the Arts cuts, and the organization anticipates yet more cuts.

The funding is used to educate public school teachers about how to integrate the arts into their classrooms. The center still will host the program, but the sessions likely will be shortened, said executive director Ron Thiele.

• Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute has seen a 25 percent decrease in its endowments, which contribute 60 percent of its yearly budget. The institute’s endowments – blocks of money invested in the stock market – have been directly affected by the market’s downturn.

In 2008, its budget was about $17 million, said Anthony Spiridigloizzi, vice president and treasurer of the institute. Public programming will not be affected, but within the institute, “belt-tightening measures” have been taken, Spiridigloizzi said.

• The Rome Art and Community Center saw a 15 percent decrease in its overall funding when it lost state funding. For example, it was among the 573 arts organizations the New York State Council on the Arts cut funding to in 2009.

The arts center annually operates on a budget of about $250,000 to $300,000, Executive Director Lauren Getek said. Without that funding, the center will not be able to provide tuition assistance to students who normally couldn’t afford the center’s art classes or summer camp.

• Utica Monday Nite expects drops in corporate sponsorship and donations, but will be most affected by a reduction in city funding. The mayor’s original proposal of $50,000 has been rejected by Common Council members, some of whom want to slash funding from last year’s $40,000 to $25,000.

These organizations will respond with cuts in programs, communication, supplies, and other areas. They are also exploring different fees and approaching businesses for additional support. Read more here.

American Association of Museums Legislative Update

The following info is provided by the American Association of Museums.

Congress Finalizes FY09 Funding Levels
On Wednesday, March 11, President Barack Obama signed into law H.R. 1105, finalizing the funding levels for federal agencies for the fiscal year 2009, which began October 1, 2008. The $410 billion measure represents the culmination of more than a year of work on 9 annual spending bills that fund nearly all areas of the government. Several of these spending bills were held up by political wrangling and in the fall, Congress passed a temporary measure to level fund most of the government until this bill could be finalized.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services' (IMLS) Office of Museum Services - which supports our nation's 17,500 museums through a variety of competitive grant programs - will get a $3.7 million increase over FY08 levels.

Here are the levels that will go into effect for the remainder of the fiscal year 2009:

• IMLS' Office of Museum Services: $35 million, a $3.7 million increase over the previous year.
• National Endowment for the Humanities: $155 million, a $10 million increase over the previous year.
• National Endowment for the Arts: $155 million, a $10 million increase over the previous year.
• Arts in Education programs at the Department of Education: $38.16 million, a $660,000 increase over the previous year.
• Teaching American History grants at the Department of Education: $118.9 million, a $1 million increase over the previous year.
• National Science Foundation educational programs: $845.26 million. These funds support informal learning experiences designed to increase interest and engagement in the understanding of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
• National Park Service's Historic Preservation Fund: $69.5 million, including $20 million for
• Save America's Treasures. These funds support the preservation of nationally significant sites, structures, and artifacts.

You can read the complete text of the bill HERE.

House Votes to Protect Historic Battlefields

On March 3, the House passed two bills to protect historic battlefields. The Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Battlefield Protection Act (H.R. 146), introduced by Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ), would establish a battlefield acquisition grant program for the acquisition and protection of nationally significant battlefields and associated sites of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. The Civil War Battlefield Preservation Act of 2009 (H.R. 548), introduced by Rep. Gary Miller (R-CA), would assist citizens, public and private institutions, and governments at all levels in planning, interpreting and protecting sites where historic battles were fought on American soil during the armed conflicts that shaped the growth and development of the United States. Both bills passed the House by an overwhelming margin.

Syracuse Federal Stimulus Package TOWN HALL FORUM

Senate Majority Leader Malcolm A. Smith and the New York State Senate Invites You To:
Federal Stimulus Package TOWN HALL FORUM

FIND OUT

• How your community can benefit from the Stimulus Package
• What projects are eligible for funding
• Information about job creation and business opportunities

Syracuse

Date: Thursday, March 19, 2009

Location: Syracuse City Council Chambers

Time: 6 - 8 pm

For furthur information, please contact the office of Senate Majority Leader Malcolm A. Smith at (212) 298-5585

Economics of Nonprofits: The Impact of Nonprofit Businesses on the Local Economy

Survey Reminder: We need your input! Add your voice and data to the economic impact information being collected in this first step for Oneida and Herkimer nonprofits. Click here.

Program Reminder: The first program, set for March 25th at 8:30am, will focus on nonprofit economic impact. The program will feature a panel made up of various economic agencies in the region answering questions submitted by nonprofit directors. The survey data will be circulated at this program and next steps discussed.

Date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2009
Time: 8:30am - 10:30am
Cost: $5.00 for breakfast
Location: Rescue Mission
Rescue Mission Chapel
201 Rutger Street
Utica, NY 13501

Register Here