Thursday, September 29, 2011

Request for Presentations (RFP) 4th Annual Adolescent Health & Wellness Conference

Request for Presentations (RFP) 4th Annual Adolescent Health & Wellness Conference
May 11, 2012
Radisson Inn, Corning, NY

Click Here for Printable RFP & Additional Information
Email mannonk@ihsnet.org for RFP in MS Word

Steuben Teen Pregnancy Prevention Task Force is on Facebook! www.facebook.com/stpptf

The annual conference presented by the Steuben Teen Pregnancy Prevention Task Force, an initiative of the Steuben Rural Health Network at the Institute for Human Services, Inc., attracts approximately 200 parents and professionals each year. Participants include school social workers, guidance counselors, teachers and nurses; adolescent parenting program and adolescent pregnancy prevention program coordinators; health educators; adolescent health clinics and councils; community development corporations; health departments; and departments of social service as well as community-minded individuals and parents.

We are seeking presenters on a broad range of topics related to adolescent health and wellness to include but not limited to teen pregnancy and STD prevention, teen parenting, obesity prevention, adolescent LGBTQA issues, drug/alcohol use among teens, mental health issues and teen consumers, etc. Participants will be interested in workshops that offer concrete ideas, methods, and resources that they can incorporate into their own programs.

Conference Location: Radisson Inn, Corning, NY
Conference Dates: Friday, May 11, 2012

Submission Process:

Please e-mail your proposal to Kelli Mannon at mannonk@ihsnet.org or fax to 607-776-9482. Call 607-776-9467, extension 226 with questions. Deadline for Submission: Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Review Process:

Upon receipt of an application package, the conference planning committee will review it for completeness and topic relevance. Additional information, such as slides from your proposed session or a list of previous presentations, may be required. Acceptance notices will be e-mailed by late November.

Workshop Format:

Each workshop session is 90 minutes long, including time for questions. (If you have a long workshop that could be offered over consecutive session times, please indicate so on your submission form.) You may present your session in lecture, discussion, or panel format. Interactive sessions are highly encouraged.

Workshop Categories:

Below is a list of topic areas that we would like to cover. The list is not all-inclusive; if you have a presentation that does not address one of these topics but that is generally relevant to teen pregnancy/STD prevention, teen parenting, or adolescent health & wellness, it will be considered by the planning committee.
Issues Affecting Pregnancy Prevention/Sexuality Education:

· HIV/AIDS/STI Education: current information as it relates to adolescents
· Media: how youth are using current media (social networking, texting, etc.)
· Poverty: poverty and its link to teen pregnancy
· Adolescent Development: teen perspectives of health and sexuality issues, abstinence, sex education; impulsive decision making
· Rural Youth: teen pregnancy in rural communities – specific needs in terms of education, culture, poverty levels, etc.

Teen Male Involvement: Sexuality education programs that work for young males, programs for young fathers, male health issues

LGBTQA Youth: How to address the needs of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth in sex education

Teen Parenting: Prevention of repeat pregnancies; housing for teen parents and their children; ensuring quality education for pregnant and parenting teens; improving parenting skills; healthy relationships; prenatal health and childbirth education; perinatal depression; peer groups; mentoring and Doula support; transitioning to independent living

Additional Areas of Interest:
Nutrition/Obesity Prevention & Adolescents
Mental Health Issues & Adolescents
Norming Positive Behavior
Trends with Tattoos, Piercing, & Body Manipulation
Alcohol & Drug Use Among Adolescents: Not Hearing “No” doesn’t mean “Yes”

Complimentary Registrations: As compensation for your time, we will provide free conference registration and attendance at all conference meals for up to two presenters.

Interested in becoming an exhibitor or sponsor? Call the Steuben Rural Health Network for details at 607-776-9467 x-226

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Panel Discussion and Exhibition for Artists

Artists Make History
Twenty-four artists gathered together for ten sessions during the winter and spring of 2011 to experience The Business of Art, a professional development program presented by Southern Tier Economic Growth (STEG) and The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes (The ARTS). With primary funding through The Community Foundation of Elmira - Corning and the Finger Lakes, the participants received advice on the promotional, legal, and practical sides of their chosen arts.

These artists are mounting an exhibition of their work at the Chemung Valley History Museum, 415 East Water Street, Elmira. The opening reception is scheduled for Saturday, October 1, from 3 to 5PM. The public is invited, and refreshments will be served. The exhibit will remain on display through October 29, free of charge to all visitors. Museum hours are Monday through Saturday, 10AM to 5PM, closed Sundays.

There will also be a panel discussion with the participants on Tuesday evening, October 11, from 6 to 8PM. The artists will describe how the Business of Art program has affected their professional endeavors.

The Business of Art program is a true collaboration within the arts community of the Southern Tier. Directed by STEG and The ARTS, and funded by the Community Foundation, the sessions were presented at five cultural venues: Arnot Art Museum, Chemung Valley History Museum, Steele Memorial Library, Community Arts of Elmira, and the Clemens Center. The program was facilitated by local artist Allen C. (Denny) Smith.

Full list of participating artists:

Vani Akula
Bill Boland
Bridget Bossart Van Otterloo
Ann Cady
Jennifer Fais
Jennifer Geck
Gretchen Halpert
Cynthia Hill
Beth Hylen
Pat Jackson
Diane Janowski
Betsy Kent
Brandon Krazinski
Karen Kucharski
Colleen McCall
James McCarthy
Paul McKinley
Vickie Mike
Felicia Poes
Jennifer Seaman
Tom Tunniclif
Debb VanDelinder
Karen Vogler
Terry Winer

Please join the artists in this celebratory commencement exhibition.

Making History - Artists of the Southern Finger Lakes

Chemung Valley History Museum

415 East Water Street

Elmira, New York 14901

607-734-4167

October 1 - 29, 2011

Opening reception: October 1, Saturday, 3 - 5PM

Panel discussion: October 11, Tuesday, 6 - 8PM

High Peaks Resort offers opportunity for non-profits to raise money


High Peaks Resort Announces ‘Spring For Hope’

- Unprecedented Assistance for Non-Profit Organizations -

LAKE PLACID (Sept. 6, 2011) – High Peaks Resort in Lake Placid is seeking applications for its Spring For Hope℠ initiative, an opportunity for non-profit organizations to be awarded free use of meeting space, accommodations, and more at the beautiful Adirondacks resort.

This unprecedented opportunity will allow two non-profit organizations to each receive free use of the entire resort for three days during April 8 to 18, 2012. Included are two nights’ accommodations (up to 133 rooms), free meeting space (up to 10,000 square feet), free audiovisual and support services, and 50 percent off all related catering. The application deadline is midnight, October 15, 2011, and winners will be announced in mid-November.

“In these difficult times, it is important to give back to our community. By helping those who help others year round, we felt we could have the greatest impact,“ said Bill DeForrest, CEO and President of Lane Hospitality, owner of High Peaks Resort.

“The quality of life in our community is directly impacted by our active non-profits. ‘Spring for Hope’ isn’t just a way to recognize them, but by providing High Peaks Resort free of charge, we can add our support and hopefully increase the good they do,” added Truett Martin, Vice President of Operations and acting General Manager of High Peaks Resort.

“This is an outstanding opportunity for the winning organizations to do whatever they want with our gift – from holding a fundraiser, offering a thank you trip to staff and volunteers, to planning an annual meeting, seminar or retreat,” Martin said.

Spring For Hope is open to all 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations actively engaged in fundraising for their organization. Participants will be judged by a panel of community leaders on their success and impact in benefiting the communities they serve.

High Peaks Resort offers the Adirondacks’ newest and most business-focused conference facilities with expansive meeting space and the latest in conference-support technology. Located in the heart of Lake Placid, overlooking Mirror Lake and steps from historic Main Street, the entire resort will be made available to the winning non-profits.

Click Here To Apply

Eligible non-profits can apply for consideration by visiting www.springforhope.net and completing the application and other requirements. For submissions, questions or other inquiries, email the application and paperwork tolfitzgerald@highpeaksresort.com with “Spring For Hope” in the subject line; or write Spring For Hope, High Peaks Resort, 2384 Saranac Ave, Lake Placid, NY 12946; or fax to 518-523-9908, or call Lori Fitzgerald at 518-523-4411, ext. 361.

About The High Peaks Resort

High Peaks Resort overlooks Mirror Lake while anchoring Lake Placid’s Main Street for an outstanding mountain getaway experience. Surrounded by the six-million-acre Adirondack wilderness park with thousands of miles of trails for hiking and biking, and hundreds of lakes for fishing, High Peak’s 133 beautiful accommodations offer direct waterfront access. Restaurants include the world-famous Dancing Bears and Outdoors at Dancing Bears - with unsurpassed views of the surrounding mountains and Mirror Lake. Other amenities include PR’s intimate lobby bar; two indoor and two outdoor swimming pools; expanded fitness center; Aveda Spa & Salon, and complimentary waterfront activities. Guestrooms feature breathtaking views, patios or balconies; European-style bathrooms with natural stone tiling and rainfall showerheads; high-quality bedding and linens; refrigerators; flat screen televisions with cable and movies; complimentary Wi-Fi, and multi-function music systems with MP3 players. For reservations, visit www.highpeaksresort.com or call 518-523-4411, toll-free800-755-5598.


Sunday, September 11, 2011

NYS Charity Compensation Probe: WSJ

WSJ.com reported that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's probe of executive pay at nonprofits is bumping up against some of the state's best-known charities with strong ties to the most powerful people in Albany, including the speaker of the Assembly and the governor himself.

Two weeks ago, a state task force named by Mr. Cuomo began asking nonprofits to submit detailed information to the Cuomo administration about their executive pay levels and compensation policies. The task force said it is collecting information on a rolling basis from all nonprofits that receive funding from the state.

But one nonprofit that had not received a request by Wednesday is HELP USA, a homeless housing group founded by Mr. Cuomo in the 1980s. The governor's sister, Maria Cuomo Cole, is the group's chairperson, and its board of directors includes Mr. Cuomo's campaign treasurer Richard Sirota and Jeffrey Sachs, one of his closest health-care advisers, according to HELP's website.

HELP operates homeless shelters and develops low-income housing around the nation and gets most of its $71 million budget from federal, state and city contracts and grants, according to its tax filings.

The nonprofit paid its chief executive, Laurence Belinsky, $546,000 in 2008—including a $157,000 bonus—and $508,000 in 2009, according to IRS filings. His salary is more than 40% higher than the median salary of chief executives of nonprofits based in the Northeast with operating budgets of more than $13 million, according to Charity Navigator, a prominent charity database.

Mr. Belinsky couldn't be reached for comment.

Another powerful group that hasn't received a letter is the Greater New York Hospital Association, which represents many Medicaid-dependent hospitals in the city region and pays its chief executive $2 million a year, according to tax filings.

After a reporter inquired about the status of data requests to HELP and the hospital association, a state official said on Thursday that the task force had mailed letters to the groups.

Meanwhile, one of the first groups to get the request was the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, a social service group run by William Rapfogel, the husband of the chief of staff to Democratic Assembly speaker, Sheldon Silver. Mr. Rapfogel received a $435,000 pay package in 2009, tax filings show.

A spokesman for the taskforce said all nonprofits that receive government money would eventually receive a request for information.

"There are thousands of not-for-profits that we are looking at, so we are sending the letters in waves on a rolling basis," said the spokesman.

Susan Lerner, the executive director of Common Cause, which advocates for transparent government, said the governor's investigation would be successful only if all charities are treated equally.

"You need an objective standard by which to judge what is or is not excessive compensation. Where are we headed with this?" Ms. Lerner said.

Jeff Stonecash, a Syracuse University political science professor, said Mr. Cuomo's probe was treading on politically sensitive ground. "There are some pitfalls here, but there's a lot of gain if he can get the right headlines," he said.

Josh Vlasto, a spokesman for Mr. Cuomo, said the investigation would be fair.

"Politics never got in the way of investigations before, and it won't now. If you think otherwise, just ask Pedro Espada," Mr. Vlasto said, referring to the former Democratic Bronx state senator whom Mr. Cuomo investigated while attorney general.

Mr. Cuomo's investigative foray into state-subsidized charities has been the object of much interest and anxiety around the nonprofit world. The governor has promised a wide-ranging review, an undertaking that could be handled by Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, whose office regulates charities.

The governor has been praised for drawing more attention to nonprofit executive pay as it has stretched deeper into six and seven figures. But, depending on how Mr. Cuomo navigates those loyalties and rivalries within the nonprofit world, the task force also carries political risk.

"I can't see that he isn't smart enough or ethical enough to see that it would be problematic to target only organizations with whom he has no connection," said Assemblywoman Deborah Glick, a Lower Manhattan Democrat who introduced a bill this year to limit compensation for hospital executives.

Mr. Cuomo assembled the task force in early August in the wake of a New York Times article that scrutinized the executive compensation of a Medicaid-financed nonprofit group that reportedly paid two of its top executives close to $1 million a year. He put two of his most trusted aides on the task force, Financial Services superintendent Benjamin Lawsky and State Inspector General Ellen Biben.

But the inquiry's goal hasn't been defined. The task force may hold hearings and issue a report, leading to potential regulatory changes and legislation.