Landmark Society Sets Public Meeting for Ideas Around Reuse of Closing Site

On February 8, 2010, The Landmark Society Board of Trustees approved a motion to cease museum operations at the Campbell-Whittlesey house on July 1, 2010, and to begin active marketing of the property in August.

The decision to close the house museum at Campbell-Whittlesey is the end result of over five years of strategic planning and in-depth studies of opportunities for the property’s use.

We’re holding a public meeting to welcome ideas for adaptive re-use of the site. It’s important to note that we all remain committed to the exploration of viable options that support the proper stewardship and the maintenance of the integrity of this historic treasure.

The meeting is scheduled for March 4, 2010 at 5:30 p.m. We will meet in the 8th floor conference room of the Powers Building located at 16 West Main Street, in Rochester. The meeting will be facilitated by our consultant, Laura Roberts. Trustees and staff will be on hand to answer question on the process – but the main focus of the meeting will be to gather public input on the re-use of the site, while maintaining the architectural integrity of this amazing Greek Revival house.

Parking is available at the Sister Cities Garage located at 28 North Fitzhugh Street, at a rate of $1.00 an hour. Although the Powers Building has several points of entry, the only entrance provided for our meeting will be through the 3rd level skyway positioned at the southeast corner of the Sister Cities Garage. Several greeters will be strategically stationed to assist attendees with navigation to the 8th floor conference room until 5:45 p.m. Please RSVP by calling Carolyn at 546-7029 x 10 or chaygood@landmarksociety.org

The Landmark Society: Revitalizing Yesterday, Protecting Today, and Planning for Tomorrow
www.landmarksociety.org

Closure for NYS Parks and Historic Sites Proposed

The Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) today put forward a recommended list of closures and service reductions in order to achieve its 2010-11 agency savings target and help address the State's historic fiscal difficulties.

Governor David A. Paterson issued the following statement:

"New York faces an historic fiscal crisis of unprecedented magnitude. It has demanded many difficult but necessary decisions to help ensure the fiscal integrity of our State. The unfortunate reality of closing an $8.2 billion deficit is that there is less money available for many worthy services and programs. In an environment when we have to cut funding to schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and social services, no area of State spending, including parks and historic sites, could be exempt from reductions. We cannot mortgage our State's financial future through further gimmicks or avoidance behavior. Spending cuts, however difficult, are needed in order to put New York on the road to fiscal recovery. Going forward through the budget process, I look forward to a productive dialogue with the Legislature on parks and historic sites, as well as other issues."

OPRHP Commissioner Carol Ash issued the following statement:

"The 2010-11 Executive Budget included reductions to every area of State spending. As such, the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation has today put forward proposed closures and service reductions to meet its agency savings target. These actions were not recommended lightly, but they are necessary to address our State's extraordinary fiscal difficulties."

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A fact sheet on the proposed closures and service reductions is included below:

The Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) today put forward a list of closures and service reductions in order to achieve its proposed 2010-11 agency savings target and help address the State's historic fiscal difficulties. As part of a comprehensive plan to close an $8.2 billion deficit, the 2010-11 Executive Budget included necessary cost reductions to each executive State agency, as well as cuts to education, health care, social services, and every other area of State spending.

OPRHP's plan includes the closure of 41 parks and 14 historic sites, and service reductions at 23 parks and 1 historic site.

The plan also assumes $4 million in park and historic site fee increases that will be identified at a later date, and the use of $5 million in funds from the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) to finance OPRHP operations. These two actions were part of the 21-day amendments to the Executive Budget and are intended to reduce the number of parks and historic sites subject to closures and service reductions.

Specific recommended closures and service reductions are detailed here.

Oishei program focuses on basics

Buffalo Business First reported that the region’s largest private foundation has launched an initiative aimed at addressing basic human needs.

The John R. Oishei Foundation has invested $1 million in the initiative, designed to help residents find the help they need right in their own backyards.

The program will include three traveling teams comprised of nonprofit professionals with expertise in human and social services. The teams who will move throughout Erie and Niagara counties over the next two years, spending up to a month in each community.

Each team will work directly with agencies which already deliver services in the local areas to identify existing services as well as service gaps. At the end of each month in the given community, the team will hold a week-long community resource event to assist individuals and families who require human services support. Read more here.

FREE Information Sessions on Filing the 990

The NY Council of Nonprofits' national partner, the National Council of Nonprofits, is offering two FREE webinars for you and your board members!

Get Ready, Get Set, Go! IRS Filing Requirements for Charitable Nonprofits
Two national webinars: February 23 and March 23, 2010

Register Now

Are you prepared for this year's tax filing deadline? Did you know that tax-exempt organizations could have their status revoked for not filing the annual Form 990? The National Council of Nonprofits will host two free webinars presented by the IRS for nonprofit organizations to learn about the resources available and answer questions about filing your IRS Form 990.

These webinars will include:

• Critical steps to take now in order to protect and preserve your tax exemption.
• Review of the filing requirements for nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations, and the consequences of not filing (or filing an incomplete) Form 990-series return. Tax-exempt organizations now stand to lose their tax-exempt status if they do not file the Form 990, 990-EZ, or 990-N (e-postcard) for three consecutive years-these revocations will begin in 2010).

"Learn from the Experts: What Forms Must Nonprofit, Tax-Exempt Organizations File to Meet IRS Requirements and Preserve Tax Exempt Status?"

Tuesday, February 23
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm Eastern

• What forms are tax-exempt organizations required to file with the IRS annually?
• What information is required to be reported on the forms?
• Why your organization may need to file NOW, so that it won't lose its tax-exempt status
• How to file complete, accurate returns to avoid IRS penalties.

There is no charge for nonprofit organizations or their board members for these webinars. Advance registration is required by February 22, 2010.


"Hear from the IRS: What The IRS Has Learned After One Year With the Redesigned Form 990"

Tuesday, March 23
3:30 pm - 4:30pm Eastern

• What trends has the IRS observed in the first season of redesigned Form 990 filing?
• What mistakes are most commonly being made by nonprofits on the redesigned Form 990?
• What can a nonprofit do to streamline the filing process?
• What are the answers to frequently asked questions about completing the 990?

There is no charge for nonprofit organizations or their board members for these webinars. Advance registration is required by March 22, 2010.