Creative Arts Workshop Call for Artists

CAW's second biannual show, Cultural Passages: Identity Made Visible, celebrates the history, personal experiences, and rich heritage of individuals in Greater New Haven from May 18–June 22. Deadline for entries: March 16 (slides)/March 18-20 (delivered). Details: (203) 562-4927. Download prospectus at: http://www.creativeartsworkshop.org

Special offer from TechSoup for Telosa Basic! Exceed fundraisingsoftware

On Wednesday, January 31 only:
Eligible nonprofits will be able to place orders for Telosa Exceed! Basic fundraising software for only $90. After the special offer ends, standard fee of $299 will apply. This offer will be open for 8 hours only on January 31, from 11 am to 7 pm.

Learn more about this special offer at http://ga0.org/ct/LdAoXN41pExq/.
submitted by Rebecca Masisak, http://www.techsoup.org/stock

Got 2500 words about creativity in museums?

The American Assn. of Museum's Brooking Paper is an annual writing competition to reinforce awareness of creative, innovative accomplishments that produce new ways of thinking and seeing within the museum field-- education, collections, finance, exhibitions, community relations, staff structure, leadership and everything in between. The entry deadline has been extended to March 1; previously unpublished pieces only, of approximately 2,500 words describing examples of creativity, innovation and imagination in any aspect of museum operations.

First-prize paper will be published in the May/June 2007 Museum News and the first-prize winner will receive $500 and travel expenses to the AAM Annual Meeting in Chicago, May 13-17. Museum professionals and volunteers inside and outside the United States are eligible to enter. Details: http://www.aam-us.org/getinvolved/nominate/brooking.cfm

Part-time positions at Wilton Library

The Wilton Library Association seeks two energetic, service-oriented individuals to begin part-time employment in February. One position requires weekday mornings and early afternoons, and one Saturday morning a month, 9-12 hours per week. The other position requires weekday afternoons and evenings, and one Saturday afternoon every four weeks, 8-18 hours per week. Candidates must hold or be working to obtain a high school diploma and should able to deal simultaneously with multiple tasks and customers; have excellent phone, computer & interpersonal skills. Details: Melissa Friedman, Circulation Manager, Wilton Library Association, 137 Old Ridgefield Rd, Wilton CT 06897-3000.

Public Housing Tenants Offered Training To Begin New Careers

A new job training program will begin at Farnam Court in New Haven to train approximately 80 residents for careers in the building trades, including plumbing, electrical work, and painting. Each of the four classes will consist of 20 people and will last for 8 weeks. Upon completion, graduates will be qualified to begin apprenticeships and apply for high quality jobs, some with the city’s school construction program. Full story at http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/Mayor/PressReleases.asp

Kevin Bacon is six degrees from your favorite charity

Not just for fun, but for good: Kevin Bacon connects celebrities with charities, and charities with donations: http://www.sixdegrees.org

New initiatives at New Haven Symphony

The NHSO has been awarded a grant of $50,000 from The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven which will fund several new initiatives, including: the CT Youth Orchestra Festival, a state-wide Young Artist Concerto Competition, an expanded format for the Young People’s Concert Series, and a multi-disciplinary project combining photography, creative writing and music. A year-round internship program will also be established for undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in local colleges and universities. Details: newhavensymphony.org

S.I.S.T.A Project to combat AIDS

African-American heterosexual women ages 18-49 are invited to a women's discussion group that addresses dating and healthy secual practices. The S.I.S.T.A. project is a peer-led program sponsored by AIDS Project New Haven. Details: Julie Anderson 624-0947 x239.

VITA begins at Two New Haven Library Branches Jan. 29

The Main Branch (133 Elm St.) and Wilson Branch (303 Washington Ave.) will host Volunteer Income Tax Assistance programs starting Jan. 29. Please call 946-8482 for details and to schedule an appointment (walk-ins are OK, but an appointment will save you time waiting!)

2007 New Haven Scrabble Tournament set for April 25

Wednesday, April 25, 5:30 pm--top floor of the Knights of Columbus Building. Presenting Sponsor is The Knights of Columbus. Honorary Co-Chairs: Bob Lane, Knights of Columbus and Kevin Walsh, New Haven Register. For information about becoming a sponsor for this annual event to benefit Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven, please contact DossVenema@lvagnh.org. And save the date for this fun evening!

View Coliseum implosion from Artspace

The night before the implosion of the Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum, Artspace and the City of New Haven offer an extraordinary opportunity to witness history in the making. Artspace will stay keep its exhibit Don't Know Much About History open all night from Friday Jan. 19, 8pm through Jan. 20, closing at 8pm, with the possibility of a view of the Coliseum's implosion at 7 am Saturday. The public is invited for an evening of reflection on the Coliseum and history, with coffee and tea courtesy of Moka following the implosion. Free parking at the Shartenberg lot, corner of Chapel and Orange streets. Details:laurel@artspacenh.org or 772-2709.

Casey Family Services 2007 grants program in New Haven

The Annie E. Casey Foundation and its direct service agency, Casey Family Services, announces the fourth year of its annual grants program in the city of New Haven. Nearly $250,000 will be awarded to a wide range of not-for-profit and community-serving organizations that work directly with disadvantaged children, youth, and families in New Haven. In 2007, 10 to 15 grants between $2,000 and $20,000 will be awarded, as well as two $50,000 grants for two or more organizations that collaborate on improving the economic futures of families. For more information, contact Casey Family Services at 401-6900 or visit www.caseyfamilyservices.org.

Why the Fishing Lure Won't Reel in Much Online Profit

To make money selling tangible goods online, aim for an order size of at least $20 -- hopefully substantially more. It costs as much time to process a $5 order as it does a $50 order, but with a $50 order at least you have some profit to cover your time and advertising costs and still get ahead.
From Why the Fishing Lure Won't Reel in Much Online Profit by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson, Editor
http://www.wilsonweb.com/ecommerce/fishing-lure.htm

Broadwater Rally & Public Hearing Jan. 16

Save the Sound (http://www.cfenv.org) is offering free round-trip bus transportation to those in the southern part of the state who are interested in attending the final public hearing concerning the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's Draft Environmental Impact Statement on Shell and TransCanada's proposal to build an LNG storage tanker in the middle of Long Island Sound.

The bus will depart at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16, from the commuter parking lot off Exit 18 of I-95 in Westport. The lot is easy to find and parking there is free. The bus will pick up more passengers at 4:45 p.m. at the commuter lot off Exit 40 in Milford. Reservations are required and seating is limited. To reserve a seat, e-mail Terri Kinney at tkinney@cfenv.org, or call (203) 787-0646.

The final destination is Branford High School, for a rally that will begin at 6 pm. The return trip to Milford and Westport begins at 9:30 p.m.

(source: http://guidezilla.com/event.asp?id=4025)

How to Go to MIT for Free

MIT offers almost 2000 courses, without charge, through their OpenCourseWare. Students have access to complete reading lists, syllabi, homework, video lectures, and other visual materials, but not to teachers. Complete information is available online at http://ocw.mit.edu/index.html.
Source: www.utne.com

GNH Chamber of Commerce Business EXPO next Wednesday

Don't miss out on the seminars and exhibits at the Chamber's Expo next Wed. 1/17 at Science Park, New Haven. The luncheon will feature Dean Joel Podolny from Yale School of Management and Joel Schwartz from the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute($45).
Seminar topics include:
Procurement Strategies in the Global Economy
Energy Efficiencies
Strategic Alliances
Your Brand and Identity Define You
Metrics that Matter--Measuring Marketing Success
A Healthy Workplace
Details at www.gnhccexpo.com.

Jewish Family Services New Haven has openings

P/t (19 hours)Post Adoption Coordinator - Responsible for developing community resources, providing individual and family support, increasing community awareness regarding adoption and assisting families to community support, while meting the needs of families who have adopted children from DCF’s legal custody. BSW, MSW or degree in related area, exp. working with adoptive families, exception oral/written/interpersonal communication skills, computer literacy, ability to work flexible schedule, reliable trans./valid driver’s license. Responsibilities include intake and referral, development of community resources, case management, individual and group support, education and outreach, administrative tasks and attendance at community meetings. Email resumes to byellen@jfsnh.org or JFS, 1440 Whalley Ave, New Haven, CT 06515 EOE
Per diemClinicians/Social Workers - to provide clinical services to children. Email resumes to byellen@jfsnh.org or JFS, 1440 Whalley Ave, New Haven, CT 06515
Primary Service Manager – FT case management position in busy statewide welfare-to-work, home based services program in a New Haven based family service agency. Must be willing to work non-traditional hours; Bachelor’s degree in social work, human services or related field preferred and/or relevant case management experience; have reliable, available transportation; and be willing to travel in our region. Bilingual a plus. Competitive salary and benefits. Email resumes to byellen@jfsnh.org or JFS, 1440 Whalley Ave, New Haven, CT 06515 Targeted Recruiter wanted for DCF children in conjunction with our permanency placement program. Per diem approximately, 10 hrs. per week. Email resumes to byellen@jfsnh.org or JFS, 1440 Whalley Ave, New Haven, CT 06515
P/t Respite Child Care Workers - 2-28 hours per week to provide respite to children. May include community, recreational and educational activities. Experience working with children required. Ability and desire to attend periodic training sessions, Valid driver's license and current automobile insurance with reliable vehicle. Ability to document visits and submit report as necessary. $10-$13 per hour dependent on experience and education. We will match respite workers with children and families referred through the Department of Children and Families and area collaborative agencies. A complete respite plan is defined prior to respite visits. Apply in writing to Diane Stahnke, Jewish Family Service New Haven 1440 Whalley Ave., New Haven, Ct. 06515 or email dstahnke@jfsnh.org

Tax Savings Just Increased for CT Commuters

As of January 1, employers can offer their employees up to $110 per month in pre-tax commuting benefits toward monthly fares for trains, buses and vanpools, and up to $215 per month for qualified parking. The Commuter Tax Benefit program (previously known as DeduCT-a-Ride) is managed by CT DOT.

Employees in Greater New Haven can choose from a variety of convenient transportation options, such as the Shore Line East Commuter Rail, New Haven Line (Metro-North) trains, CTTransit buses, DATTCO buses and Easy Street and employer vanpools.

The Commuter Tax Benefit program offers significant and cost-effective company benefits while encouraging more environmentally friendly commuting. The program is easy for employers to set up, often at little or no cost. Employees save on payroll and income taxes, and employers gain a business expense deduction. Win-win!

For details on the Commuter Tax Benefit program contact Brooke Hoberman at bhoberman@rideworks.com or 1-800-ALL-RIDE (800-255-7433 x129). For information on other transportation alternatives, call Rideworks at 800-ALL-RIDE or visit www.rideworks.com.

Silvermine Call for Entries

Silvermine Guild ArtsCenter invites New England artists to submit entries in all media for consideration in 58th annual Art of the Northeast exhibition scheduled for May 1-June 8. Deadline for all entries is March 2; $20 entry fee. Details at www.silvermineart.org or call (203) 966-9700 x26.

Women's Business Dev't Center offers grants to entrepreneurs

CT residents or businesses are eligible for tuition assistance for 8-week WBDC FastTrac Programs. New Haven classes start Mach 15. Visit www.ctwbdc.org for details.

Housing/transportation costs average 57% of income for working families

By moving farther away from their jobs in search of more affordable homes, Americans spend as much as or more on the longer commute than what they save in housing costs, a new report from the Center for Housing Policy finds. Funded by the MacArthur Foundation, A Heavy Load: The Combined Housing and Transportation Burdens of Working Families (32 pages, PDF) identifies trends in twenty-eight metropolitan areas and offers a number of policy recommendations to address the housing-transportation trade-off.
(source: www.foundationcenter.org)

Volunteering Goes Virtual

You might be having trouble attracting volunteers to help in the office or at events, but how about asking for virtual help? Your members and supporters might welcome the opportunity to become more active if they can do it from their home computer. And so many activities can be accomplished online, including grant seeking, proposal writing, outreach and marketing, research and donor solicitation. It's a cost-effective way to boost staff support--but be mindful to maintain necessary oversight.

(See Rebecca Gardyn's article, Volunteering Goes Virtual, in Chronicle of Philanthropy, 1/26/06. http://www.philanthopy.com)

Why should companies support nonprofit work?

Because it's good for business--say corporate leaders! 9 of 10 multinational firms say that supporting charities and community groups helps generate business opportunities. 2/3 say that good corporate citizenship is becoming more important. Corporate-giving interests include addressing concerns in the communities where they make and sell their products and overarching issues like the environment and global warming. Full report at Reward Trumps Risk: How Business Perspectives on Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability are Changing, available free to Conference Board members at (212) 759-0900, or read the news release on the Conference Board website at http://www.conference-board.org/utilities/pressDetail.cfm?press_ID=3005.
(source: Simone Joyeaux's Fundraisers Newsyletter at www.simonejoyaux.com)