New Group forming for Solo-Preneurs

If you work alone or with a partner, that makes you a Solo-Preneur, the fastest growing business segment in Connecticut. The Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce recognizes your unique challenges and offers support through a new initiative, the Solo-Preneur Council. This group will meet monthly to learn, to share resources and ideas, and to network. You are invited to the innaugural meeting on Monday, January 22, 8-9:30 am, at 900 Chapel St. FREE for GNHCC members/$10 nonmembers. Registration is required, online at www.gnhcc.com or contact Paul Tommaselli: (203) 782-4342 or ptommaselli@gnhcc.com.

Our Water, NOT Brrrrroadwater Polar Plunge Jan. 7

Connecticut Fund for the Environment will sponsor Our Water, NOT Brrrrroadwater Polar Plunge on Sunday, Jan. 7, at 1 pm, at Branford Point Beach on Harbor Street. All Plunge donations will benefit Save the Sound's communications campaign and legal efforts to stop Broadwater Energy's proposed floating, liquefied natural gas (LNG) industrial facility in Long Island Sound.

The last round of public hearings on Broadwater will begin the week of Jan. 9 (see http://www.cfenv.org/media/events/index.htm for meeting dates and locations).

For more information about the Plunge contact Michelle at (203) 787-0646 x104 or visit http://www.savethesound.org/broadwater/images/plunge_faqs.pdf.

Submitted by Connecticut Fund for the Environment

Volunteers Needed for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)

You don't have to be a tax specialist, just good with numbers and able to give 4 hours of your time a week from January-April. Please consider becoming a VITA volunteer and help New Haven's working families get the tax refunds they have earned.

Free training and flexible hours! For information about the VITA program, please contact Rick Kaiser at 946-8605 or rkaiser@newhavenct.net.

Women of Innovation Awards Dinner on January 25

Leading women technology managers, leaders, researchers and academicians will be honored at the third annual Women of Innovation Awards Dinner on January 25, 5-9:30 at The Waterview in Monroe. Keynoter is Rebecca Rhoads, CIO of Raytheon Co., and radio and television personality Diane Smith will MC.
2007 finalists for this award are:
Leslie Abi-Karam, Executive VP & President, Document Messaging Technologies, Pitney Bowes
Amy Arnsten, Professor of Neurobiology & Psychology, Yale
Laurie Aylsworth, Project Director, Northeast Utilities
Lucy Baney, President & CEO, Access Technologies Group
Laurine Bow, VP for Research, Hartford Hospital
Cynthia Brandt, Assoc. Professor, Yale Center for Medical Informatics
Antoinette Bruciati, Assist. Professor, Education, Sacred Heart U
Maricate Conlon, student, Newtown High School
Erin Duffy, Senior Director - Structure Based Drug Design, Rib-X Pharmaceuticals
Kate Emery, President, Walker Systems Support
Mary Kay Fenton, VP & CFO, Achillion Pharmaceuticals
Patricia Fisher, CEO & Founder, JANUS Associates, Inc.
Heidi Gold-Dworkin, President, Little Scientists
Nancy Golden, Founder & CEO, Golden Consulting Group, LLC
Jane Goldsmith, Manager of Proposals, Sonalysts
Monica Goldstein, Ex. VP, CAPS Business Recovery Services
Jennifer Good, President & CEO, Penwest Pharmaceuticals
Kristyn Greco, graduate student, UConn School of Pharmacy
Tracy Hall, Project Leader, CAPS Business Recovery Services
Julie Henion, student, Watertown High School
Abby Ilumoka Nwabuzor, Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering, U of Hartford
Melody Johnson, student, UNH
Beth Joseph, Assoc. Director, Clinical Ops., Pulmonary, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Pratisha Koirala, student, UConn
Ann Kraft, Ex. Senior Director, Purdue Pharma L.P.
Darcy MacClaren, VP Sales, Process Division, Infor
Nita Maihle, Professor, Yale School of Medicine
Susan Masino, Professor of Psychology and Nueroscience, Trinity College
Kathleen Maurer, Medical Director, The Hartford Insurance Group
Ivana Milanovic, Assoc. Professor & Chair, U of Hartford
Chris Morello, Extended Learning Coordinator, Norwich Public Schools
Amy Moriarty, Senior Manager, Aetna Inc
Deborah Moss, Chair, Chief Marketing Officer and Founder, Avalence LLC
Kristin Muschett, CEO, HABCO, Inc.
Jean Nocito-Gobel, Assist.Professor & Faculty Advisor to the Freshman Program, UNH
Sylvia Ounpuu, Director, Center for Motion Analysis, CTChildren's Medical Center
Jennifer Panosky, Principal Engineer, Electric Boat Corporation
Sister Mary Jane Paolella, Assist. Principal, Sacred Heart Academy
Susan Portwood, VPMarketing & Sales, Comcast Cable Communications, Inc.
Elaine Price, Founder, CEO & President, Phoenix Systems Integration
Mary Pugh, Owner, The Sono Group
Heather Sherman-Bond, President, Hydrofera LLC
Harmeet Singh, student, Seymour High School
Jannah Stanley, Principal Engineer, UTC Otis Elevator Company
Kristin Sullivan, Workforce & Professional Dev. Section Chief, CT Dept. of Public Health
Jahala Swan, Owner &Chief Operating Officer, Shoreline Technologies
Jordan Taylor, student, Berlin High School
Debora Volansky, CEO, CX2 Global
Mei Wei, Assist. Professor, UConn
Patty Williams, President & CEO, Telesis LLC
Quing Zhu, Assoc. Professor, UConn

Details: (860) 289-0878 or info@ct.org

New Haven Independent announces 2006 Man Of The Year

In a year when shootings left New Haveners feeling despair about how to address youth violence, Dixwell beat cop Shafiq Abdussabur offered inspiration. How he got to be a cop -- and in a position to make a difference -- offers another inspiring tale, about how to build a true "community policing" force.

Story at http://www.newhavenindependent.org

NHSO ANNOUNCES 39 FINALISTS FOR ITS ART VIOLIN PROJECT

The New Haven Symphony Orchestra (NHSO) is pleased to announce 39 finalists in three categories– design, decorate, and deconstruct–for the Phase One judging of its Art Violin Project. Due to continuing interest on the part of artists, the NHSO has decided to have a Phase Two judging of additional entries, with application deadline of Jan. 15. Details at newhavensymphony.org.

The 39 Phase One Finalists are:

DECORATE
Ben Ahles Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT
Margaret Dean Branford, CT
Karen Keane Milford, CT
Sandra Kensler Madison, CT
Rolandas Kiaulevicius New Haven, CT
Scott Tao Hartford, CT
Derek Leka West Haven, CT
Angela Leone New Haven, CT
Fair Haven Middle School New Haven, CT
Kristine DiGrigoli Paige Ridgewood, NJ
Mark Patnode New London, CT
Juliette Pelletier New York, NY
Amy Claire Russell Milford, CT
Caroline Hana Salant North Haven, CT
Jeannie Thomma Oxford, CT
Donna Lee Woolcott Northford, CT
Linda Hali Zucker New Haven, CT

DECONSTRUCT
Robert Dancik Oxford, CT
Guido Garaycochea New York, NY
Dawn Bisharat McDonald Madison, CT
Amy Mielke Farmington, CT
Karen Rand Mitchell S Stonington, CT
Caitlin Brennan Murphy Bethany, CT
Oscar Recalde Fairfield, CT
Alan & Sheri Snedeker Farmington, CT
Michale J Sweeney Middletown, CT

DESIGN
Michael Bradford Orange, CT
Rob Bunting Guilford, CT
Donald Anthony DeLuca Guilford, CT
T. Kinney Frelinghuysen Richmond, MA
Sarah Mahan Danbury, CT
Maryann Meken-Silvestri Danbury, CT
Bruce Oren New Haven, CT
Sharon Ritz Cherry Hill, NJ
Janet Robinson New Haven, CT
Susan Rosano Cromwell, CT
Sid Werthan Madison, CT
The William School Digital Imaging Classes A1, D1 New London, CT

Peabody Museum's 11th Annual FREE MLK Celebration Jan. 14

On January 14 and 15, the Yale Peabody Museum will honor Dr. King and his efforts to ensure environmental and social justice with the 11th annual MLK festival featuring world-class performances in music, poetry and dance and fun and educational activities for visitors of all ages and backgrounds. Participants will explore the history and writings of Dr. King , the civil rights movement, and the environmental justice movement.

Dr. King strove to raise awareness about public health concerns and urban environmental issues that disproportionately affect minority and low-income communities, a movement now referred to as environmental justice. Peggy Shepard, Heinz Award for the Environment recipient, presents the 6th Annual Arnold J. Alderman Memorial Lecture, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Legacy of Environmental and Social Justice 2007, on Sunday, January 14, noon-4:30 pm, and Monday, January 15, 10-4:30 pm.

Festival activities include storytelling, informational booths, video documentaries, performing artists from the New Haven community and around the world, a participatory drum circle, "Hip Hop Café" with live music and dancing , and the famous Peabody INVITATIONAL POETRY SLAM. The Museum will host activities relating to topics such as lead poisoning prevention, asthma, community gardening, and urban access to outdoor recreational opportunities like canoing.

For more information contact Melanie Brigockas, 432-5099.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance at New Haven Public Library

VITA tax services will be offered Jan. 22 through April 15 at two branches of the New Haven Public Library. Please call 848-6967 x213 for details.

GET YOUR FREE CREDIT REPORT

Paul Richard, executive director of the nonprofit Institute of Consumer Financial Education in San Diego, Calif. says:

Since the fall of 2005, consumers nationwide have been eligible to
obtain a free copy of their credit report every year from each of the three main
credit reporting agencies -- Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. There's a Web site, www.annualcreditreport.com, but we recommend that people call the toll-free number, 877 322-8228. That's because there are about 50 impostor Web sites out there -- most of them selling subscription credit services -- so it's important that people who want to use the Web site type the name correctly.

We suggest that people order a different one every four months. That way
you're checking your credit year-round. If there are mistakes or inaccuracies,
notify the credit bureaus right away. They could be depressing your credit
score, which means you may be paying more to borrow than you should. Also look for suspicious activity. It could be an early sign of identity theft.'

source: NYTimes.com

January is National Mentoring Month

The Connecticut Mentoring Partnership was created in 1997 by The Governor's Prevention Partnership when the Governor challenged business leaders to help create a statewide mentoring initiative as a prevention strategy to protect youth from drug use, school failure, and other related problems. Since 1997, The Connecticut Mentoring Partnership has created over 200 new programs and over 3,000 new mentoring relationships. Since 2001, 70 schools and businesses have joined the Partnership's School Business Mentoring Alliance.

For information about mentoring opportunities throughout Connecticut: http://www.preventionworksct.org/aboutcmp.html

Community Fund for Women & Girls

Organizations that create and support opportunities for the economic, educational, physical, emotional, social, artistic and personal growth of women and girls are encouraged to apply for grants. Applications are available from lhiggins@cfgnh.org or from Sarah Fabish (777-2386 x234) and are due by Jan. 19, 2007. www.fundforwomenandgirls.org.

Highlights of the recent report, The Economic Impact of the Arts, Film, History, and Tourism Industries in Connecticut are available at http://www.cultureandtourism.org/cct/lib/cct/Econ_Summary_Web2_(2).pdf

Thinking about Donating Time or Money To a Local Soup Kitchen?

Community Soup Kitchen, 84 Broadway, New Haven 06511--624-4594
Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen, PO Box 1478, New Haven 06506--624-6426
St Ann's Soup Kitchen, 930 Dixwell Ave., Hamden 06514--562-5700.
Call 211 to locate the closest soup kitchen or food pantry.
source: NH Register, 12/13/06 p A3

Train Station in Milford or Orange?

There will be a public hearing on Thursday (Dec. 14) at 7pm, at the Savin Rock Conference Center, West Haven, to discuss plans for new train stations in Milford and Orange. 1000 Friends of Connecticut encourages you to attend or submit written comments to the Department of Transportation. Comments are due December 29. It is as important to weigh in on what the stations will be as where they will go. This public hearing allows us the opportunity to encourage the towns to plan for comprehensive transit-oriented development, which creates a vibrant mix of jobs, shops, and housing choices all within walking distance of the station. To learn more about transit-oriented development, please visit: http://www.reconnectingamerica.org/html/TOD/index.htm.
Submitted by
Heidi Green, President
1000 Friends of Connecticut
PO Box 1988
Hartford, CT 06144-1988
(860) 523 0003

Saturday Hours at New Haven Museum and Historical Society

New Haven Museum and Historical Society announces new library hours: Tuesday through Friday, 10-5 and Saturday, noon-5. Admission is free to members and $4 for nonmembers. 562-4183.

Whole Foods Market supports local food producers

Whole Foods Market Northeast Region (NY, NJ, CT) will host seminars describing their long-term, low-interest loan program for small-scale agricultural producers. For details, call Jeff Turnas at (201) 969-0444 x331 or local.farms@wholefoods.com.

Regional JOBS in Nonprofit Sector
email new job openings to nprc@nhfpl.org

CT Campus Organizer-Work for a Better Future with U.S. PIRG. Salary: $23,750 - $25,000. Details and to apply: http://www.idealist.org/match/29740501-180 .

Christian Community Action (CCA) in New Haven has two openings: 1)Director of Development to direct fundraising efforts. The ideal individual should have experience in coordinating fundraising efforts, maintaining fundraising database, writing and disseminating quarterly newsletters, preparing press promotional materials, including press releases and brochures. Send resume by December 19, 2006, to CCA Executive Director, 168 Davenport Avenue, New Haven, CT 06519. 2) Case manager to work with families in its transitional housing program. Ideal candidate will have good case management skills, college degree, demonstrated computer skills, knowledge of social services and good communications skills. Send resume by January 2, 2007 to SSTHP, 168 Davenport Avenue, New Haven, CT 06519 .

Multicultural Leadership Institute is seeking f/t Training and Technical Assistance Coordinator, responsible for delivering Cultural Competence-related educational training and technical assistance activities and resources. Working knowledge and experience in Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Abuse (ATODA), co-occurring disorders and/or general mental health prevention or treatment topics. Required: working knowledge of the spectrum of cultural competence and diversity issues; strong written and oral communications, education and training skills; skills in MS Word package, internet, and basic research. In-state travel required. Full job description from tpetro@mli-inc.org, or fax (203) 281-1386. Website: www.mli-inc.org. No phone inquiries please.

Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven is seeking a f/t Program and Development Assistant for program, administrative and development support; reports to Executive Director. Responsibilities: general administrative activities, data entry, program assistance and support of the development functions. The ideal candidate will have effective written and oral communication skills, well-developed interpersonal skills, knowledge of the New Haven community, and strong management and organizational skills. Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. Please send resume to info@lvagnh.org.

United Way of Greater New Haven (UWGNH) seeks Director of Civic Engagement, a new position responsible for fostering and enhancing civic engagement and volunteerism in our region. Develop and implement civic engagement strategies for UWGNH; expanding annual Day of Caring; promoting civic engagement and volunteerism in the community; lead Volunteer Link, UWGNH’s web-based volunteer opportunity database; providing assistance to organizations seeking volunteers and volunteers seeking projects; and managing select annual fundraising campaign accounts. The ideal candidate believes in the power of people working together to strengthen the community, is high energy, works well with diverse populations, thrives in an atmosphere that requires multi-tasking, and possesses strong computer skills and excellent verbal and written communication skills. BA/BS required, MA strongly preferred. Experience in volunteer management, community organizing, and civic work highly desired. The Director of Civic Engagement reports to the Vice President for Community Leadership and will be part of the Community Impact Team. The position will require some evenings and weekends. Please send cover letter, resume, and a writing sample to Kathleen Norwood via email at knorwood@uwgnh.org or by mail to UWGNH, 71 Orange St., New Haven, CT 06510.

Get your passport at the Milford Public Library

Just in time for a law that requires a US passport for travel to and from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean as of late January 2007: Milford becomes the third library in the state to issue passports (joining Stamford and Hartford). For information, call 783-3290.

I discovered this late in my email...

As we prepare for Thanksgiving, each of us thinking about our family, home and all we have to be grateful for I urge you to take a moment to view a brief video about the status of housing in Connecticut by visiting: http://www.homeconnecticut.org . The introduction by the chairmen of Webster Bank makes it clear, affordable housing in Connecticut in no longer just about helping the poorer among us; middle class, two income families are being cut out of the “American dream” in most cities and towns in Connecticut.

HOMEConnecticut provides an overview of Connecticut ’s pressing housing affordability problem and its impact on Connecticut ’s workers, businesses, economies, families, seniors and communities.

Lee Cruz < lcruz@cfgnh.org >
Community Foundation for
Greater New Haven
203.777.2386 x237

December Fundraising Workshops at CT Association of Nonprofits

WRITING FOR FUNDRAISING: ADAPTING STYLES TO THE AUDIENCE
Get acquainted with the basic kinds of writing used by fundraisers including letters of inquiry, proposals, gift acknowledgements, grant proposals and reports, direct mail appeals, brochures, and case statements.
Wednesday, December 6 9AM-12PM, CT Nonprofits Member: $60 / Non-member: $100

REINVENTING FUNDRAISING
Learn the secrets of high-performing nonprofits. Explore :
…Three things that motivate every donor.
…High-engagement philanthropy that works well for the donor and nonprofit.
…How your Board can own and drive the individual giving program.
…Using technology to truly engage a community of givers.
Tuesday, December 12 9AM-12PM, CT Nonprofits Member: $60 / Non-member: $100
Reserve your seat by calling CT Nonprofits at 860-525-5080 or contact rcretaro@ctnonprofits.org.

LAST Call for the New Haven Symphony Orchestra’s Art Violin Project

Deadline extended to December 9! Artists compete for $1,000 first prize in three categories: design, decorate or deconstruct.

* Design an artistic representation of a violin out of any material such as clay, metal,
plaster, etc.
* Decorate a violin in any manner or style
* Deconstruct a violin and rearrange it in any way, shape or form

All media--Anything that represents a violin: paintings, drawings, pottery, glass, metal or knitting etc. Applications must be postmarked by December 9 with the design proposal. For more information, or to receive an application, please call the New Haven Symphony at 203-865-0831 x21 or visit newhavensymphony.org

Grant Opportunities from International Association of New Haven

The International Association of New Haven is a cultural, educational and social organization dedicated to supporting and strengthening mutual understanding between the people of Greater New Haven and the rest of the world.

They invite grant proposals from non-profit organizations for innovative projects that support the international community of Greater New Haven, and foster global education. For more information, please visit http://www.ianewhaven.org.

Cat lovers please take note

The Greater New Haven Cat Project will sponsor two holiday fundraisers to help spay/neuter homeless and abandoned cats in our region. Dec. 9, noon-3, please bring cat food donations to Petco in the Hamden Plaza. Stop by the Hamden Wal-Mart on Dec. 10, 10-2, for a holiday bake sale. Online donations always gratefully received at www.gnhcp.org. Details: (203) 782-CATS.

Barnes & Noble voucher to support Civic Orchestra of New Haven

The Civic Orchestra of New Haven is partnering with Barnes and Noble to fundraise for the spring concert featuring a performance of Carmina Burana with the Norwalk Symphony. Please support the Orchestra by using a Civic Orchestra voucher for purchases at Barnes and Noble between December 6 and 10. A portion of your purchase will be donated to the Orchestra.

Thanks for your support! For details:

Jennifer Weymouth
Associate Philanthropic Officer
The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven
phone: 203.777.2386 Ext. 252