ACHANGE July 2012 Newsletter

Volume 2, Issue 5

IS YOUR ORGANIZATION READY FOR THE DIGITAL AGE?

JULY 2012 1

Volume 2, Issue 5

IN THIS MONTH’S ISSUE ACHANGE’S MISSION:

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Time for ACHANGE!

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Chairman’s Corner

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Building a Stronger Nonprofit, pt. 4

To collectively promote quality affordable housing and community 6 economic development in Arkansas.

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August 14 meeting news Federal News

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Coming Attractions

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Digital Resources

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Executive Committee/ Contact Info

Pictured on cover: Fox16’s Donna Terrell is live streamed by Connect Arkansas during HouseAbou t’s 3rd annual Small City Economic Leadership and Empowerment Summit.

HOW CONNECTED IS YOUR ORGANIZATION? LET US KNOW!

Complete a short online survey by clicking here!

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Volume 2, Issue 5

TIME FOR ACHANGE! The technology geek in me had a wonderful time on Friday, July 27, thanks to ACHANGE member HouseAboutIt, Connect Arkansas, and Apple. Thanks to this threesome, I was able to attend the 3rd Annual Small City Economic Leadership and Empowerment Summit in two ways—simultaneously. Even stepping out of the room, I didn’t have to miss a thing. Why? Thanks to a little thing called “live streaming” and ConnectARTV, I was able to watch a live broadcast of the afternoon’s session on my phone.

We live in exciting times! Now, with the mere swipe of a screen, you can chat with each other, receive training, watch an event live while commenting on it (yes, I had to try that feature out too!) and download apps and books as soon as they are mentioned. As soon as Connect Arkansas mentioned that “there was an app for that”, I downloaded that app and watched some of the sessions on my phone. I was also able to get some great screenshots from there as well (thanks Apple!).

How connected is your organization? Does your organization have the tools it needs to be an active digital participant today? How much have you kept up with what’s available out there?

Does anyone on your staff have the skills to keep your organization in the fast lane?

It might be time to have a look at that.

That’s why it’s time for ACHANGE. WebEx anyone?

Debra Banks Program Manager 3

Volume 2, Issue 5

CHAIRMAN’S CORNER IT’S GREAT TO BE A MEMBER! One of the great things about membership with ACHANGE is the opportunity to network with great members! Our members have a wealth of information to share, and being a member of a state association is a wonderful way to get the information that you need.

ACHANGE is growing, and to ensure that those networking relationships remain strong, we conduct bi-monthly meetings. Those meetings provide us with the opportunity to learn and grow together while we network.

I urge you to join us on August 14 and meet some of our newest members. You can also learn more about how members can contribute to making ACHANGE even better! You are an integral part of helping families have decent, safe, affordable housing. You are also an integral part of ACHANGE’s growth and sustainability!

There is still much to do, but together, we can get it done.

I value my membership with ACHANGE, and I hope that you do too!

See you on the 14th!

Karen Phillips ACHANGE Board Chair

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Volume 2, Issue 5

Building a Stronger Nonprofit Foundation Pt. 4: Building Your Best Board Nonprofit organizations must be governed by a board of directors.

Building the best board for your organization requires that you consider factors like roles, composition and structure, functioning and the relationship with the CEO. 1. Roles The organization should have current articles of incorporation and bylaws in place that are reviewed and carefully followed. Basic policies should reflect the distinction between the management role of the CEO and the boards’ role. Board member roles, responsibilities and expectations should be clearly described.

2. Board Composition and Structure Before selecting new board members, set criteria that will ensure that the board has the necessary diversity, representation and special skills needed. Does the number of board members allow the board to perform committee assignments? No more than one paid employee can serve on the board, and the majority of the board is not connected by relationships that might impair independent judgment. The board should have term limits.

Board committees duties do not mirror staff responsibilities. The CEO, Board Chair and Treasurer must be held by separate persons.

3. Board Functioning Does your board meet at least four times a year? Is there a board education plan in place with orientation for new board members? Is the performance of the board assessed? Is there a conflict of interest policy in place, and how often is that policy reviewed?

4. Board-CEO Relationship The CEO is hired by the board, and the board annually assesses the CEO’s performance. The board also sets reasonable compensation levels in compliance with IRS rules.

Want to learn more? Read more on the Diamond Standards by visiting the Arkansas Coalition for Excellence’s website at www.acenonprofit.org and clicking on the Diamond Standards tab.

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Volume 2, Issue 5

Have questions about ACHANGE? We've got answers!

It's time for an ACHANGE Members' Meeting!!

August 14, 2012 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Federal Reserve 111 Center Street Little Rock AR 72201 _______________________________________________ 

All About ACHANGE: Membership and Marketing will tell you everything you want to know about ACHANGE, from the mission and vision to what you can do to make it even better!

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New to You: Meet our newest members and hear about the work that they do!

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Having Your Say: What would you like to see in the future?

How can we make your membership more valuable to you?

Share your ideas, then let's roll up our sleeves and make it happen!

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Volume 2, Issue 5

FEDERAL NEWS FY 2013 THUD Appropriations Bill Passed By House.

On June 29, the House of Representatives passed the fiscal year (FY) 2013 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations Bill (H.R. 5972). Most of the FY 2013 funding levels for key affordable housing and community development programs remained equivalent to levels approved by the House Committee on Appropriations on June 19. Amendments offered by Representatives Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Hansen Clarke (D-MI) to increase FY 2013 funding for Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) by $2 million and Homeless Assistance Grants by $5 million were successfully adopted. Also adopted, a 20% increase for the HOME Program over budgets presented by the President and passed in the Senate. Although the Livable and Sustainable Communities Grant programs were zeroed out in the FY 2013 House Appropriations Committee bill, the House adopted an amendment offered by Representative Morgan Griffith (RVA), which prohibits any funds appropriated in H.R. 5972 from being used for new grants under these programs.

The House also passed an amendment offered by Representative Scott Garrett (R-NJ) regarding fair housing. In November 2011, HUD issued a proposed rule on the Implementation of the Fair Housing Act's Discriminatory Effects Standard, which recognizes disparate impact (policy or procedure that is neutral on its face, but in practice has discriminatory effects) as a viable theory of liability, and provides guidance on how to prove it. The House amendment prohibits funds from being used to finalize or enforce HUD's proposed rule.

For a complete overview of funding levels in the House passed FY 2013 THUD Appropriations bill, view the FY 2013 Federal Budget Chart on the Enterprise Budget and Appropriations webpage.

House Considers Eliminating Census Bureau Survey That Determines Key Funding Levels. During debate on H.R. 5326, the Fiscal Year 2013 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill, the House cut $116 million from the President's funding request for the Census Bureau. Most of the cut comes from the account covering the decennial census, American Community Survey (ACS), and 2012 Economic Census. The reduced funding level would force the Census Bureau to cancel the ACS, which replaced the decennial census long form in 2005. The ACS provides consistent, comparable, valid, and objective data about population and housing for every community in the U.S. Without the ACS, Congress would lose ACS data used to allocate at least $450 billion annually in federal aid to state and local governments. A majority of states use ACS data, directly or indirectly, to set tax and spending limits. A new Census Project report documents the national and state effects of eliminating the ACS.

Resource information collected and reported by www.naceda.org  7Â

Volume 2, Issue 5

Free Community Stabilization eLearning Courses NeighborWorks is able to offer our community stabilization-related eLearning courses – a $195 value – free of charge until December 31, with support from FDIC. Choose from REO Acquisition, Rehab, Disposition and Management, Fundamentals of Asset Management, Counseling Buyers of REO Properties (code: FDICHO260a), Counseling Clients Seeking Rental Housing, or Stabilizing Neighborhoods in a Post-Foreclosure Environment (code: FDICHO265a). For the last two courses, enter the FDIC code; for the others simply select your course, and the tuition that will appear is $0. The courses may count toward a professional certificate. Learn more.

Training Scheduled for August August 22, 2012— 2012 Annual Meeting “Working Together for a Better Arkansas” William J Clinton Presidential Center 1200 President Clinton Avenue 10:00 am—3:00 pm For more information, visit www.acenonprofit.org The 2012 Low Income Advocates Leadership & Community Development Conference is scheduled for September 20-21, 2012.

Featured speakers: Dr. Fitz Hill, Arkansas Baptist College Paul Clayton, P.E. Clayton and Associates Julie Munsell, Entergy Arkansas Glendell Jones, Jr., Henderson State University For more details soon at www.cadc.com 8

Volume 2, Issue 5

DIGITAL RESOURCES FOR HOUSING PROFESSIONALS Highlighting the tools that can help you succeed in the digital age

Building Your Presence with Facebook Pages: A Guide for Nonprofits, If your organization is not on Facebook, this guide will help you get there. This 10 page document hits all the high points, including how to create a page, develop a plan for posting, growing your audience and optimizing performance. Short, informative read—especially if you are new to Facebook.

Affordable Housing Resources Pro If you have ever wished that you could have affordable housing guidance, tools, news and links in a nice, portable package, there’s an app for that! The AHR Pro app for iPad has the 8823 Guide, Technical Advice Memos, Income Limit, Census Tracts, HUD Press Releases, Twitter links to IRS News, National Association of Home Builders, and links to HUD USER, the National Fair Housing Alliance, and so much more—even a State Development Authority directory! Now you can take a great deal of info with you. Available for iPhone too!

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Volume 2, Issue 5

ACHANGE Executive Committee Board Chairman—Karen Phillips 1st Vice Chairman—Susan Forte 2nd Vice Chairman—George Holcomb Secretary— Frances Newsome Treasurer—Cathy Carlock Associate At-Large Board Member—Martie North At-Large Board Member—Darryl Swinton Program Manager—Debra Banks Committee Chairs Education and Training Committee Chairman—Roma Isom Finance Committee Chairman—Cathy Carlock Membership & Marketing Committee Chairman—George Holcomb Public Policy Committee Chairman—Darryl Swinton Resource Development Chairman—Charles Vann Ad-hoc Committee Chairman—Martie North

At ACHANGE, your membership matters.

Come grow along with us!

Follow ACHANGE on Facebook by clicking the logo or by clicking here!

401 Main Street, Suite 206 North Little Rock, AR 72114 501-766-3941 Fax: 501-244-9670

Follow ACHANGE on Twitter by clicking the logo or by clicking here!

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