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Office Of Community Partnerships Newsletter, April 2010, Issue 26
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Newsletter Design
by Patricia Rogers and Gabe Salgado |
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Do you want more information on community events and services? Sign up for the Office of Community Partnerships E-bulletin. Click on this link to sign up.
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MONTGOMERY COUNCIL TO HOLD 5 PUBLIC HEARINGS ON FY 2011 OPERATING BUDGET
ROCKVILLE, Md., April 1, 2010-The Montgomery County Council will hold five public hearings during the week of April 5-8 to solicit opinions on County Executive Isiah Leggett's recommended Fiscal Year 2011 Operating Budget. All five public hearings, which are expected to feature testimony from more than 140 people, will be televised live on County Cable Montgomery (CCM). Evening public hearings on April 5, 6, 7 and 8 will begin at 7 p.m. in the Third Floor Hearing Room of the Council Office Building at 100 Maryland Ave. in Rockville. On On Wednesday, April 7, there will be an afternoon public hearing beginning at 1:30 p.m. The hearings will be televised live by County Cable Montgomery (CCM-Cable Channel 6 on Comcast and RCN, Channel 30 on Verizon) and also will be available via streaming through the County Web site at www.montgomerycountymd.gov. Starting Monday, the Council and its respective committees will begin examination of the recommended budget that was transmitted to the Council on March 15. The Council is expected to adopt the budget on May 20. The new County fiscal year begins on July 1.Residents must sign up in advance to speak at a public hearing. To register, call 240-777-7803. In addition, residents can offer input on the budget by calling the Council's Budget Hotline at 240-777-7802
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MESSAGES FROM THE DIRECTOR:
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Nonprofits and the FY11 Recommended Budget
Bruce Adams
Director, Office of Community Partnerships
County
Executive Ike Leggett has long held a deep appreciation for the value
of Montgomery County's many nonprofit partners. He recognizes that the
County government cannot alone solve the myriad of problems that face
our residents. The County Executive recognizes that without our
nonprofit partners, Montgomery County would not be the just and
compassionate community it is today. He recognizes the severe impact of
the national recession on the County's nonprofit partners. He
recognizes that the demands for services on our nonprofit partners are
soaring as their revenue is falling.
To
read the full version of my memorandum on the impact of the County
Executive's Fiscal Year 2011 budget on nonprofits, please go to:
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/EXEC/partnerships/community/nonprof.asp
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Census 2010: It is not too late to help our County
Bruce Adams
Director, Office of Community Partnerships
Census Day April 1, 2010 has
arrived! We are happy to report that 59% of the households in Montgomery
County have already completed and returned their Census forms - higher than the
national participation rate of 54% and Maryland's participation rate of
56%. These numbers are impressive, but we know they are not good enough! Montgomery
County will lose thousands of federal dollars for every resident we fail to
count. The participation rates are updated each day through the end of April
at: http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/2010textview.php
It is not enough to send in your
form. We all need to be checking with our family, friends, and neighbors to
make sure they have mailed their forms back. If you or someone you know has not
received a Census form, you may call 1-866-872-6868 between April 12 and 21
for a replacement form. For those who have not mailed their completed form back
to the Census by the end of April, Census enumerators will be visiting starting
on May 1, 2010. You can find information on how to get help or find a
Questionnaire Assistance Center at: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/census.
On Saturday April 10, as part of a
national campaign, we are launching a "March to the Mailbox" campaign in 10
strategic hard-to-count locations around the County. We need your
help. The intent of the campaign is to create a positive buzz in areas
where residents may not have heard about the Census. We're looking for
high-energy volunteers to lead this event!
The 10 sites are:
1. Germantown (Up County Regional
Services Center)
2. Lakeforest Mall
3. Twinbrook Shopping Center on
Viers Mill
4. Korean Korner in Wheaton
5. Aspen Hill Shopping Center
6. Downtown Silver Spring
7. Takoma-Langley Crossroads
8. White Oak Shopping Center
9. Glenmont Shopping Center
10. Briggs-Chaney Shopping Center
We need community leaders who can
take charge of a location, recruit volunteers, and help us make April 10 a
success. Please contact Celia Scheff at celia.scheff@montgomerycountymd.gov
if you are able to volunteer in one of these locations on Saturday morning
April 10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
We are recruiting volunteers through
the 1-800 Volunteer Center Website that can be accessed at http://www.1-800-volunteer.org/1800Vol/montgomery-county/LoadOpportunityReview.do?opportunityId=341393.
Please forward this link to anyone you think may be interested in participating
in one of our April 10 events.
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EARTH DAY 2010 - APRIL 22ND
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Now is a good time for community groups to plan group service projects
around the time of Earth Day. While Earth Day is April 22nd, the
Montgomery County Volunteer Center and other organizations celebrate
Earth Day throughout the month of April.
Get your nonprofit,
school, religious, civic or other community group volunteering to
improve the environment. Park, waterway, and neighborhood clean ups,
painting and gardening are just a few ways groups can make a
difference.
Find Earth Day volunteering opportunities and
view the Earth Day Toolkit, full of ideas on how to plan and organize a
group event by visiting the Volunteer Center website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/volunteer.
If your group needs assistance, contact the Volunteer Center at 240/777-2600 or e-mail volunteer@montgomerycountymd.gov.
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FAITH LEADERS URGE "BE COUNTED"
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On Thursday, March 11th, approximately 50
faith leaders of Montgomery County met at the
Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Rockville, Maryland
to recommit themselves in mobilizing
their community members to be counted in the 2010 Census.
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BRUCE ADAMS AND REV. TIM WARNER RECEIVED JESUS HOUSE DC 10TH ANNIVERSARY BIAZO AWARDS
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 Reverend Tim Warner, Faith and African American Liaison and Bruce Adams, director of the County Executive's Office of Community Partnerships were the top honorees at the Jesus House DC 10th Anniversary Biazo Dinner Awards on Saturday, March 27, 2010. The dinner was the climax of activities started on March 1st at the Silver Spring church which featured seminars, workshops, and concert performances by national recording artists.
On Saturday, March 13, 2010, the church held it's Annual Biazo Walk-a-Thon starting from Jesus House, DC, 919 Philadelphia Avenue and covered Georgia Avenue, Wayne Avenue and Fenton Street (downtown area of Silver Spring Maryland) before coming back to Jesus House. After the walk, a Health Fair was held that provided free Health screening (including but not limited to blood pressure, cholesterol, vision, mammogram.) for the community.
The theme for the Walk-a-thon was STEPS (Support the Effort to Provide Shelter). The church raised money through the registration for the homeless in the immediate community. Proceeds from the registration went to the Silver Spring Interfaith Housing Coalition. The Silver Spring Interfaith Housing Coalition (SSIHC) builds on the strength of local congregations and the community to end homelessness by providing affordable housing, case management, resource access and mentoring support. Their affordable housing programs help to sustain healthy and diverse communities in Montgomery County where residents can learn from each other as they share their goals and dreams.
On Wednesday, March 31st the check for $7500 was officially presented to Ms Betsy Sharon (Executive Director) and Dominique Smith (President of SSIHC Board of Trustee) yesterday evening by Pastor Ghandi at Jesus House DC.
For More Information
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ARAB AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH KICK OFF
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County Executive Ike Leggett, joined by Montgomery County's Arab American Heritage Committee and Council member George Leventhal, proclaimed the month of April as the Arab American Heritage Month.
Read the press release
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RIDE ON'S GIVE AND RIDE - APRIL 11 THROUGH APRIL 17:
DONATE FOOD AND TAKE RIDE ON BUS FOR FREE
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Ride On bus passengers can help needy families and receive free bus rides by donating canned or nonperishable food during Ride On's 23rd annual food drive. Riders who donate will ride free during Give and Ride from Sunday, April 11, through Saturday April 17, 2010. If a rider is transferring to other Ride On buses, additional donations are needed in order to ride free. Read More
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2010 MONTGOMERY COLLEGE MONEY MANAGEMENT DAY
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The 2010 Montgomery College Money Management Day
Exhibitor Registration events will be held from 10 am to 1 pm on 4/5 (Rockville
Campus), 4/6 (Germantown Campus) and 4/15 (Tacoma Park/Silver Spring
Campus.) We have a scavenger hunt with
gift cards for the students at all three events. Free hotdogs will be served at the Rockville
Campus to attract the students to see the exhibit. The event is jointly hosted
by the Montgomery County Coalition for Financial Literacy and the Montgomery
College. Hope to see you at the event.
Please register here
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CAROLINA PENA WAS HONORED AT THE LATINO EDUCATION CONFERENCE
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Carolina Pena, an MC grad and soon-to-be University of Maryland, College Park graduate, will be honored for her service at today's Latino Education Conference on STEM, held at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. The Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) and LATINO Magazine co-sponsor the event. Carolina is a member of LOFT, Latinos on Fast Track. Read more
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APRIL IS ARAB AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
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Together we can achieve the mission of bridging cultures, building
awareness, strengthening mutual understanding and increasing cooperation among diverse cultures in our community.
You are cordially invited to join Montgomery College in celebrating
this occasion with a dynamic calendar of events. The celebration's theme for
this year is: "Let's Give Peace a Chance: Making a Change
for a Better World",in promoting a better understanding
in a diverse community and in honor of the Arabs, Arab Americans in our
community and the 22 Arab countries. We welcome this opportunity to honor the
Arab Americans; students, staff and faculty and their contributions to our
community.
Montgomery College's Arab American Heritage Month.
Opening Event Kick-Off April 7 at Noon
Theatre Arts Arena, Rockville Campus
"Giving Peace a Voice: Enriching Minds, Engaging Hearts, Transforming Communities"
Speakers: Dr. Hercules Pinkney, Montgomery College president; Keynote Speaker: Congresswoman Donna Edwards; and Special Guest Dalia Mogahed, senior analyst and executive director, Gallup Center for Muslim Studies and member of President Obama's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. A jazz performance by Arab American Lena Seikaly and reception will follow.
Calendar of Events- April 2010
(Some of next month's highlights)
For a printable "Save the date" flier, follow the
link:
http://cms.montgomerycollege.edu/edu/plain.aspx?id=3931#events
For more information about Arab American Heritage Month Program at Montgomery College, contact Ms. Enas Elhanafi, Program Coordinator at 240-567-1759 or enas.elhanafi@montgomerycollege.edu
Questions? Please contact Enas Elhanafi at
240-567-1759 or enas.elhanafi@montgomerycollege.edu
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MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR OF CEA
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Greetings,
As chair of the Montgomery County
Committee for Ethnic Affairs (CEA),
I would like to bring you up to date on the CEA. The CEA
is here to work together with you to ensure that your concerns or issues are
addressed as well as to help provide a forum to promote community events and to
stay informed about the issues that are of most concern to all.
I would like to share with you our
recent activities:
One of the primary goals for the
Committee is to increase communication between the many diverse communities in
the County, the County
Executive and County
Council. As such, we have developed a
Facebook page wherein residents and others can communicate on issues or
concerns, post upcoming events, or have a conversation with peers. The
address is http://www.facebook.com/pages/Committee-For-Ethnic-Affairs-Montgomery-County-MD/305944955417?ref=share I encourage you to use this new communication tool.
Also, I am so pleased to announce the first of a series of sessions
which we call "Community Conversation Series" scheduled on Monday, May 24, 2010, 7:00pm - 9:00 p.m. on the first floor
meeting room, Rockville Library (21
Maryland Avenue). I warmly invite you to join us.
The guest for this first Conversation will be Steven V. Roberts, renowned Columnist, Professor, TV and Radio Analyst,
and Best-Selling Author of From Every End of This Earth: 13 Families and the New Lives They Made
in America. Steven Roberts, Author
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Mr. Roberts will discuss his book
and join with the audience in a conversation about immigrant experiences in Montgomery County. The event is free
and open to the public. We hope you join us at this event. Attached is a flyer.
Please feel free to contact me if
you have any questions, and do use the Facebook page as a new tool to
communicate with the CEA and
your fellow County residents.
Sincerely,
Enas Elhanafi
Chair, Committee for Ethnic Affairs
Montgomery County
ethnicaffairs@gmail.com
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CVC-MC ANNOUNCES: THE SECOND ANNUAL VOLUNTEERING FOR BUSINESS DAY!
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SATURDAY MAY 22, 2010
9:00am - 1:00pm
THE MENARE FOUNDATION AT BUTTON FARM
GREAT SENECA STATE PARK
Roll up your sleeves and get to work! You will be instrumental in providing much needed help to this historic venue located right in Montgomery County. This is a great FREE team building opportunity for your company!
· Help prepare soil for planting, plant seeds, stack wood, clear trails, create signs....there is something for everyone and every bit helps!
· After completing one of these fulfilling projects, enjoy a delicious BBQ lunch generously donated by Smokey Glen Farms.
· Meet and mingle with several non-profits on site to discuss future projects or a long term relationship with your company!
The Historic Button Farm is set on 60-pristine acres inside Seneca Creek State Park, and is Maryland's only living history center depicting 19th century slave plantation life. The site features a Civil War-era Barn, Historic Outbuildings, Livestock Pens, Museum Garden, and Slave Cemetery and is home to The Underground Railroad Immersion Experience, a dramatic reenactment of the journey from slavery to freedom.
Click here to Register for this great event!
For more information contact Meghan Doolan at mdoolan@cvc-mc.org or 301-942-0921. Specifics on the event available on the registration page through the link above.
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NONPROFIT SUBSIDIZED OFFICE SPACE
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The Jim and Carol
Trawick Foundation has office space available in their "co-occupant program" at
the Foundation offices in Bethesda, MD.
The program
provides administrative office space for emerging or small Montgomery County
nonprofit organizations (arts and human services). The organizations receive a quarterly grant
to subsidize the rent. Co-occupants will
have the use of a furnished office with a desktop computer and Internet
connection, a conference room for meetings, a work room with copier and fax
machines, and a shared kitchen.
Co-occupant organizations selected for the
program will sign a two-year lease agreement with the Foundation and must agree
NOT to seek grant funding from the Foundation during the two years.
There will be two
offices available in July 2010.
Interested organizations should contact Gail Nachman, Executive Director
at gnachman@trawick.orgor
301-654-7030.
Please feel free
to share this information with other interested parties.
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NON-PROFIT ALERT: NEW IRS CHECKLIST FOR EXAMINATION OF EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS
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In December 2009, the IRS issued a new checklist for agents who examine tax exempt organizations. According to the IRS, the checklist is to be used "to capture data about governance practices and the related internal controls of organizations being examined. The data will be included in a long-term study to gain a better understanding of the intersection between governance practices and tax compliance." It is not meant to be a checklist of qualifications for maintaining tax-exempt status. Perhaps the most interesting questions on the checklist relate to the auditor's report. The checklist asks if a Management Letter was obtained, if it was reviewed by the Board or a committee, and if the organization acted on any of the recommendations. It is unlikely that these checklist questions will change what an auditor puts into a Management Letter, but it is important to note that IRS examiners may now ask more questions about what was in the Management Letter. If you have any questions, please contact us: Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman, CPAs 4550 Montgomery Ave, Suite 650N Bethesda, Maryland 20814 Phone: 301.951.9090 Fax: 301.951.3570 www.grfcpa.com |
APPLICANTS SOUGHT FOR BOARDS, COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS
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County Executive Isiah Leggett is seeking applicants to fill Boards, Committees and Commissions.
Please share this notice with anyone who may be interested. You may access vacancy announcements for boards, committees, and commissions through the following link. http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/apps/exec/vacancies/pr_list.asp Applicants of diverse backgrounds, professions, gender, geography, disability and ethnicity are encouraged to apply. An application, consisting of a brief cover letter and resume, should be sent by mail to County Executive Isiah Leggett, 101 Monroe Street, 2nd Floor, Rockville, MD 20850, or by email to countyexecutive.boards@montgomerycountymd.gov. Home and employment addresses, as well as contact phone numbers and email addresses should be included. If appropriate, applicants should indicate the position for which they are applying. Members of County boards, committees and commissions may not serve on more than one such group at a time. Members of these boards are eligible for reimbursement for travel and dependent care for meetings attended. Leggett's appointments are subject to confirmation by the County Council. Applications of those selected for appointment are made public as part of the confirmation process. Contact: Beth Gochrach, 240-777-2528 |
| OFFICE OF COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS CALENDAR |
Community Outreach Forum: Meetings third Wednesday of every month from 2 -4 p.m. at Executive Office Building Auditorium. There will be no meeting in December. Contact Karla Silvestre for more information: karla.silvestre@montgomerycountymd.gov.
Committee for Ethnic Affairs: First Thursday of every other month, 7 pm at the Executive Office Building Auditorium. Contact Lisa Austin for additional information: lisa.austin@montgomerycountymd.gov. Down County Latino Network, will meet on February 24, April 28, and June 23, at the Mid County Regional Services Center. Contact Karla Silvestre for more information at: karla.silvestre@montgomerycountymd.gov. Up County Latino Network, will meet on March 24th, and May 26th from 9:30 am - 11:30 am at Bohrer Park, Activity Room A of the Activity Center, 506 South Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Contact Karla Silvestre for more information at: karla.silvestre@montgomerycountymd.gov. |
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