Nominate Your CPA Board Member for the 2011 Michael H. Urbach, CPA, Community Builders Award

2011 Michael H. Urbach, CPA, Community Builders Award Now Accepting Nominations
Sponsored by the New York Council of Nonprofits (NYCON) and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA)

Submission Accepted through August 22nd, 2011

In recognition of the important role, talents and leadership that a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in New York State can provide as a board member for community-based charities, NYCON and NYSSCPA are pleased to announce the 8th Annual Michael H. Urbach, CPA, Community Builders Award.

The award is named in honor of the late Michael H. Urbach, CPA, former partner of Urbach, Kahn and Werlin, former NYS Commissioner of Tax and Finance and Chair of the State Employees federated Appeal, and board leader of a number of charities.

Award Criteria & Submission

Candidates must:

• Be a CPA in good standing and a member of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants;



• Have served as an Officer on at least 3 different charitable 501(c)(3) community-based nonprofits with service as President/Chair at least once;



• Have demonstrated exemplary board leadership resulting in significant and positive organizational impact including, but not limited to, financial turn-around, growth, and/or organizational re-structuring; and



• Preference will be given to nominees whose board leadership accomplishments have been with community-based charities.

Deadline - August 22, 2011
Nominations addressing the candidate's qualifications must be received by August 22nd. Nominators are strongly encouraged to address the candidate's qualifications related to the four (4) criteria's mentioned above and to include at least three (3) letters of support from the charities who have benefited from the candidate's volunteer leadership.

Send seven (7) packets of nomination materials to:
Urbach Community Builders Award Committee
New York Council of Nonprofits
272 Broadway
Albany NY 12204

or email the packet to Melissa Currado, Executive Assistant to the CEO at mcurrado@nycon.org.

Announcement & Presentation
The 2011 award will be formally presented at the Annual Member Meeting of NYCON slated for the afternoon of October 6th at Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz, New York.

The Luncheon will take place during CAMP FINANCE, a two-day retreat that provides the very best in knowledge, skill and strategy sessions for your staff and volunteer leaders.

In honor of the late Harold Mandel, a certified public accountant who worked for Urbach, Kahn & Werlin in Albany, NY and retired in West Palm Beach, FL, the 2011 Urbach Honoree has the privilege to award one (1) nonprofit executive of their choice a Camp Finance scholarship in Hal's name. In 2009, Mr. Mandel's family accepted a posthumous Michael H. Urbach, CPA Community Builders Award in his tribute.


Past Urbach Award Honorees
2010
Edward S. Mucenski, CPA of Potsdam
2009
Lewis "Lew" Kramer, CPA of Chappaqua
2008
Mel Zachter, CPA of Staten Island
2007
Eugene H. Fleishman, CPA of Poughkeepsie
2006
Craig Sickler, CPA from Kingston
2005
Paul Battaglia, CPA from Batavia

For More Information
visit NYCON at http://www.nycon.org/ or contact Melissa Currado at (800) 515-5012 or mcurrado@nycon.org

Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce Honors Members as Businesses of the Year

Alternatives Federal Credit Union, The Plantsmen Nursery, Ithaca College, and Finger Lakes ReUse have been named the recipients of the 2010 Business of the Year Awards given by the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce.

Alternatives Federal Credit Union was named as the winner of the David R. Strong Small Business of the Year and The Plantsmen Nursery was named the New Business of the Year.

Alternatives Federal Credit Union CEO Tristram Coffin was elated, saying, “We are thrilled and honored to be selected as the Chamber's Small Business of the Year. This recognition illustrates the power of business as a tool to make a positive difference in the lives of underserved people and communities.”

Dan Segal, owner of the Plantsmen Nursery, said, “We’re honored to receive the Chamber’s New Business Award because it validates our efforts to offer something unusual in the nursery/landscape field, and recognition from the Chamber adds depth to the growing credibility of our business. I also see it as a nod towards our genuine efforts to be a clean and green business while still managing to grow beyond a marginal enterprise. And as the award reflects on our civic involvement, we wouldn't be successful without the patronage and trust of our community, so we really enjoy supporting as many local projects as we can, as a way of showing our gratitude and giving back. It may sound corny but it's true!”

Ithaca College was named the Large Employer of the Year Award, and Finger Lakes ReUse was awarded the Not-for-Profit Organization of the Year from the Chamber of Commerce.

Ithaca College President Tom Rochon stated, “Being honored by the Chamber of Commerce as the Large Employer of the Year is an accolade that is truly shared by every single member of the Ithaca College community. Our faculty, staff, and students are constantly striving to find ways to support and contribute to the betterment of the larger community in which we all reside, and it is on their behalf that I accept this very meaningful recognition.”

As the recipient of the Not-for-Profit Organization of the Year, Diane Cohen, Executive Director of Finger Lakes ReUse, stated, “We're very pleased to receive this award from the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce; it is a great way to recognize our amazingly dedicated board of directors and hard-working staff of 13 employees; all of whom helped establish Finger Lakes ReUse as an organization with a clear and achievable mission: to enhance community, economy, and environment through reuse. We are grateful for the community support we’ve received since we opened the ReUse Center less than two years ago. We are happy to say that we have now re-purposed more than 100,000 unwanted items including furniture, housewares, building materials, computers, and electronics. We couldn’t have done any of this without key support from our volunteers, and all those who have supported our efforts from the start, particularly Tompkins County Solid Waste and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County.”

“The dozens of very qualified nominees for these awards were both a challenge and a delight. The awards committee members devoted many hours to reading the excellent applications, but it was a very real pleasure to learn more about these well-run and mission-driven businesses and organizations”, said Tompkins Chamber President, Jean McPheeters.

The Chamber Awards will be given to the recipients at two luncheons. The first will be on Thursday October 14 at the Lakewatch Inn, where Alternatives Federal Credit Union and The Plantsmen Nursery will receive their awards. The second luncheon will be on Friday November 19 at the Holiday Inn Downtown. Please go to www.tompkinschamber.org to register.

$2 million donation to help local nonprofits

WETM-2 TV reported that several local nonprofit organizations will receive a substantial financial boost, thanks to the generosity and foresight of an anonymous donor. In all, eight organizations and programs will equally share a more than $2-million bequest from an individual estate, each receiving about $250,000.

Some of the local beneficiaries include 171 Cedar Arts Center, United Way of the Southern Tier, Southern Tier Hospice, and the Southeast Steuben County Library. The organizations respect the donor's desire to remain anonymous, yet wish to publicly acknowledge the generous act.

CommonKindness Rewards Community Volunteers

CommonKindness.com is accepting nominations from the general public to enter their favorite “do-gooders” in a contest to win a 5-night Caribbean Cruise, sponsored in conjunction with Cabot Creamery Cooperative and Celebrity Cruises. Nominations are being accepted through October 31st, 2009.

Seven winners making a profound difference in their communities and the world through their good deeds will be announced on Nov. 15th to win a cruise to the Caribbean for themselves and one guest, including airfare, in January 2010.

CommonKindness.com, Cabot and Celebrity Cruises would like to encourage and reward everyday “unsung heroes” who work so hard and selflessly to make the world a better place.

Send Your Favorite “Do-Gooder” on a Caribbean Cruise for two!
(Who knows, maybe they’ll choose to bring you along!)

In every community, there are unsung heroes who quietly work behind the scenes to improve our communities and the world.

The reward for these special people usually resides in the good work they do, not in the recognition they receive. But today you can reward your favorite “do-gooder” by nominating them to win a 5-night Caribbean cruise for two!

Simply visit CommonKindness.com to enter them into a contest to win a 5-night Caribbean cruise for two, including airfare, sponsored by CommonKindness, Cabot Creamery Cooperative and Celebrity Cruises.

Entries must be received by 11:59 pm on Oct. 31st, 2009 so act now!

Seven lucky winners will be chosen on the merit of their community service and the impact it has on their community or the world.

Nominations are being accepted at CommonKindness.com through 11:59 pm October 31st, 2009. Winners will be announced on November 15th, 2009. Valued at approximately $3,244, the cruise is scheduled for January 23rd – 28th, 2010.

Remember to visit CommonKindness.com every week to save an average of $1,300 a year for your family on your groceries and other purchases. CommonKindness offers thousands of online coupons and discounts accepted at most supermarkets and retailers near you.

Best of all, every time you use a coupon or discount with CommonKindness, funds are generated to help support the charities and causes you are passionate about - at no cost to you!

Each time you use a coupon or online discount with CommonKindness, companies posting their offers pay advertising fees. CommonKindness shares 60% of its income with the causes and charities you choose from more than a million non-profit organizations already included on the site.

CommonKindness supports the charities and causes you are passionate about by putting money into your pockets instead of taking it out!

Dana Valdez
Director of Operations
CommonKindness
845-254-4535 ph
845-254-4549 fax

THE ARTS COUNCIL PRESENTS ARTS PARTNERSHIP AWARDS

The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes is proud to recognize this year's recipients of The ARTS' Annual ARTS Partnership Awards, which recognize individuals, artists, volunteers, schools, organizations and businesses that significantly contribute to the region's arts and cultural life. This year's recipients are:

• William Locke, Superintendent, Arkport Central School District, for creating stellar arts programming for the schools in his district and for being an invincible advocate for the arts in the Arkport/Hornell region in Steuben County. Locke is an actor and vocalist who has performed in many plays and musical events. He was instrumental in the creation of the Hornell Rotary Club Summer Musical Program and serves as an adjudicator for the Rochester Broadway Theatre League.

• Lynne Rusinko, Arts Advocate, Elmira, for her tireless commitment, outstanding contribution and dedication to artists and organizations in her community. Ms. Rusinko's enthusiasm, creativity, passion and skills have helped the arts thrive throughout the region. She has volunteered countless hours to the Elmira Open Studio Tour, Steele Memorial Library's Poetry Festival, Community Arts of Elmira, Festival of Women in the Arts, and the Elmira Street Painting Festival.
  

The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes will present this year's awards at its Annual Meeting on Thursday, May 21, at 5:30 pm at the International Motor Racing Research Center, 610 South Decatur Street, Watkins Glen, NY. Tickets are $20 per person and may be purchased by calling 607.962.5871 x223 - RSVP by May 15. The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes is the leading arts services and development agency in Chemung, Schuyler and Steuben counties.