Skip to main content

money

Help Volunteers for Animals Win the Shelter+ Challenge - VOTE!

By Elizabeth Downie

 

This information. and much more, can be found at The Animal Rescue Site.

To vote for Volunteers for Animals, please click HERE!


 

Hi!  I'm writing to tell you about The Animal Rescue Site $300,000 Shelter+ Challenge of 2012 - together with Petfinder.  The Animal Rescue Site is awarding $300,000 in grants to eligible Petfinder.com member rescue organizations to help animals.  The grand prize in each voting round is a $5,000 grant, and there are many other prizes!  Visit The Animal Rescue Site to vote every day and learn more.  You don't have to register, and voting is FREE!  Support your favorite shelter and vote today! 

How long is the Challenge, and how can we increase our chances?
This voting round begins on January 9, 2012, and ends at midnight (PT) on March 18, 2012. There will be other voting rounds throughout the year - more chances for your organization to win! The more friends you can rally to vote for your favorite rescue organization, the better its chances of winning. Every vote, every day counts - shelters can pull ahead even during the last few days with enough support. Get people involved! Your favorite rescue organization is counting on you!

What kind of grant could my shelter win?
Seventy (70) grants will be awarded for a total of $75,000 to eligible Petfinder.com members during the very first voting round of the 2012 Challenge. The grand prize will go to the eligible Petfinder.com organization with the highest accumulative votes for the duration of the Challenge as specified in the rules.

The Prizes Are:
Grand Prize:  One $5,000 grant!
Dark Horse Grand Prize:  One $2,000 grant!
Dark Horse Runners Up:  Five $1,000 grants.
State Winners:  Fifty-one $1,000 state grants
  (50 U.S. states and Washington D.C.)
Canadian Winners:  One $1,000 grant will be awarded.
International Winner:  One $1,000 grant will be awarded.
Weekly Winners:  Ten $1,000 grants will be awarded, one for each week of this voting round of the Shelter+ Challenge.

2011 Reach and Ripple Grant Funds Announced

By Heather Grant

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}

 BATAVIA, NY…The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council is pleased to announced that it has received confirmation of funding from the New York State Council on the Arts for the 2011 Decentralization Regrant Program, administered in Genesee and Orleans Counties by GO ART!.  A sincere thank you to our local legislators who fought for the arts during this difficult economic time. 

 GO ART! is honored to have been awarded $35,270 to regrant in Genesee and Orleans Counties as the “regular” Decentralization Program, locally known as the Reach Grant Program.  Reach Grants are available to all nonprofit organizations, individual artists and local government agencies in Genesee and Orleans Counties for community arts and cultural projects taking place in 2011.  Grants range from $400 to $5,000 through this program with the goal to extend, upgrade and increase the arts and cultural programming in our communities, determined through a local decision-making process.  The final deadline for Reach Grant applications is Tuesday, October 26th.  This is a postmark deadline.

 

In addition, GO ART! is proud to again be able to offer two Ripple Grants this year at $2,000 each. The Ripple Grant program funds individual artists in Genesee and Orleans Counties to initiate and create new projects that in some way reflect community life / culture or engage a local community in the work of the artist.  The final deadline is Tuesday, October 19th.  This is also a postmark deadline.

 

Those interested in applying must fill out an Intent to Apply form by September 20, 2010.  Information regarding both grant categories is available on the GO ART! web site at www.goart.org; click on the “Grants” tab at the top of the page.  Application forms, guidelines and instructions may be downloaded directly from the site. 


The Decentralization Regrant Program is funded by the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency, and administered in Genesee and Orleans Counties by the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council.

 

 

Tonawanda Valley Federal Credit Union "Pays it Forward"TODAY!

By Bre Roz


Visit TVFCU on Thursday, October 15th when we will be giving you $10.00, just for telling us how you would use it to help someone else! Entries will be videoed.  Finalists will be selected and posted on-line for voting. The winner will be awarded $1000 to use in contributing toward their cause. Stop by October 15th, when between 10am and 2pm, to tell us how you would Pay it Forward. Employees and their families are not eligible.

 

10 Jefferson Sq Batavia NY 14020 10am-2pm TODAY!

 

"Pay it Forward Event" Thurs, Oct 15th 10am - 2pm

By Bre Roz

I am really excited about this upcoming event in Batavia. Tonawanda Valley Federal Credit Union is going to Pay it Forward to the Batavia NY community with $10 CASH to each participant. I added a paragraph below to explain this event clearly!

Youve heard people say, a penny for your thoughts.  Visit TVFCU on Thursday, October 15th when we will be giving you 1,000 pennies - $10.00 - just for telling us how you would use it to help someone else!  All entries will be videoed.  Finalists will be selected from these entries and posted on-line for voting. The winner will be awarded $1000 to use however they wish in contributing toward their cause. Stop by October 15th, when videoing will take place between 10 am and 2pm, to tell us how you would Pay it Forward. Employees and their families are not eligible.  For more details about TVFCU Pay it Forward and voting, visit TVFCUBatavia.com or see our Pay it Forward Video and Rules.

Fear

By Lori Ann Santini

     Unfortunately as I read any paper or magazine editorial lately I am seeing a common thread. When you break it down to the lowest common denominator it equals  fear.  

    I have empathy for the employees in the area that are losing or have lost their jobs. I too am facing that situation. At first I was angry. Angry at those that I worked for, at the people that I felt started the problem and then finally at myself. I could not imagine how people could decide that a service was no longer needed or that it wasn't good enough. Then I thought about how this could ultimately take away my American dream. I cried like I have never cried before. How could I have foolishly not prepared for this? Everyone else that is facing unemployment is going through the same thoughts. It is a terrifying time. I have never "lost" my job before. I don't like it. Although it appears that some of the employees associated with South Beach have experienced this "loss" before, it doesn't make it any easier fo them either. We fear.

     The economy has tumbled. I don't need to describe what has happened to any of you. Even my children have a grasp of the problem now. My husband and I have sat down with them. We have been honest about the things that they might understand. Mom and Dad won't be able to buy this or that at the store unless we really need it. That does not mean that they will suffer. Valentine's Day will bring them cute trinkets and candy. It does mean that they won't always get a book or a toy when we leave a store. They  will learn to appreciate what they have and work for what they don't.

     I have told my oldest daughter that she must make decisions on what is more important to purchase. Does she really need the 30th notepad that she will use for a week and then lose interest in? Would it be wiser to think about  saving it to buy a friend a birthday gift later? She has been told that we will contribute 50% of the cost of a gift. She must pay for the rest. It has taught her to be more fiscally responsible.

     Straw poll time. I know how you all like them. Raise your hand if you watched your retirement account dwindle. The funny part is I don't remember spending it. Do you? My parents and yours are depending on that money to be able to live.  They aren't looking for filet mignon or caviar. They will appreciate chicken breast and vegetables. Their nest eggs are gone. They don't have the luxury of time to recoup  the losses. 

     I haven't spoken to a person that is not apprehensive about the economic stimulus package. The first stimulus package did very little to boost the economy in my opinion . This one makes the first look like the president was playing with monopoly money. How will we ever pay it back? Who are we actually borrowing it from? Look at your children, nephews and nieces or the grandchild who lives down the road to find that answer. Will it even make a difference? President Obama will either go down as a hero or a zero.

      Times are going to be tough for all of us. It doesn't matter what your age is. The kids looking for summer employment are going to have a tougher time finding work. The people my age will be worried about providing for their kids. The seniors are concerned about buying their medications and staying warm. The small business owner will have to make tough choices. Belts can only be tightened so far. 

     As I write this, I am listening to the backround noises in the house. My kids are playing with a friends' daughter. Her mom and I have made a pact. If I am not working I will watch her daughter. In return I get to torture her with my two smaller ones if she isn't working. We save a lot of money doing this. One might think that we are crazy taking on more duties but I look at it differently. My kids are playing upstairs while  I am downstairs. There is playful happy noise. Everyone is happy.

     Plant a garden this year. A few extra plants dedicated to giving away the produce won't take any longer to care for. Share the bounty with the neighbors. Years ago when I had chickens  I used to bring fresh eggs to my neighbors. In return one neighbor Charlie would supply us with raspberries and pie. How could we go wrong? You will be  teaching your children a valuable lesson. They will learn the joy of a job well done by helping others. Sharing is a valuable commodity in these times. 

     Instead of going on an expensive trip far away, look to the area around you. Go to the county park. Get a membership to Godfrey's Pond.  You can do everything there from fishing to walking the trails to looking at exotic birds or feed the fish in the hatchery. Ride bikes or just walk to the neighbors house.  Camp in the backyard under a midnight sky filled with glittering stars. Throw snowballs in the winter and chase fireflies in the summer. The ideas are endless. The internet can provide a list of daytrips for you.

     By helping each other, we help ourselves. We will get through this tough time. You  will enjoy the more simple things in life. Cherish the moments and experiences as they happen. The fear will be overcome. Life will continue and the smiles will return.

      

Save Energy, Save Dollars and Making Ends Meet Class Scheduled

By Kimberly Amey

FREE energy saving and financial management workshops will be offered in December at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County.

Save Energy, Save Dollars will be offered at 9 a.m. on December 12th and will be followed by Making Ends Meet at 11:30 a.m. The public is encouraged to attend one or both of these informative sessions.

The Save Energy, Save Dollars session helps participants learn about low-cost and no-cost ways to reduce energy bills, learn about programs that can help you afford energy-efficiency improvements with subsidies, low-interest loans, or free services to qualifying households.  All attendees receive an assortment of energy saving items.

Making Ends Meet shows participants how to develop a household-spending plan, ways to maximize resources and how to reduce energy usage. Money management kits will be provided to all in attendance.

Pre-registration required.  For more information or to register, contact Kristine Fisher at 343-3040, ext. 114 or kaf35@cornell.edu,  or stop by the Extension Center located at 420 East Main St. in Batavia.

Conversations with Calliope- Dialogue with My Muse

By Joseph Langen

 


(Lift Bridge- Brockport, NY)

var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");
document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Fine.
CALLIOPE: How did your writers meeting go last night?
JOE: I heard from several members that they could not make the meeting. However only one other member showed up.
CALLIOPE: Were you disappointed?
JOE: It was not what I expected but Larry and I had a chance to compare notes on the literary scene and on marketing in particular.
CALLIOPE: Sounds like you made the best of it. How did you do with your writing yesterday?
JOE: I had planned to do some recordings but then realized the deadline for my next column was fast approaching.
CALLIOPE: What did you write about?
JOE: Credit and cash. I think personal and government choices to live on the basis of money we hope will come in creates problems at both levels.
CALLIOPE: You don't usually address political issues.
JOE: No I don't. I didn't approach it from a political point of view but rather one of responsibility.
CALLIOPE: Were you pleased with it?
JOE: Yes. I am considering venturing out into some other politically charged issues. Talk with you tomorrow.

Authentically Local