CEO Jeanne Gattegno and other Rhode Island Community Action leaders are meeting with our Congressional Delegation to discuss the severe 50% funding cuts proposed by the Obama Administration. It was a bit strange to hear in almost the same breath that CAPs and the military were going to have budget cuts! It’s not like we have similarly-sized budgets! CAPS already work on lean budgets, and many programs, such as low income heating assistance (LiHEAP) had a decrease in funding this year-as oil prices rose. When programs shut down when funds disappear, where do those participants go for help? They don’t disappear. The next stop is charities, and they are already tapped out and running on empty. One other big challenge non profits have (that is rarely addressed) is how to hire and pay for the staff to actually run the programs and run the agency itself. Grants and other funds that go to programs provide little or no money to pay for all of the necessary managerial and administrative functions that run and support them. As a result, many agency Admin staff work part-time with no benefits; and it’s just not feasible to expect volunteers to ‘fill in.’As usual, despite it all, we will keep plodding along focused on our core mission and continue to do what we can, because like Robert Frost once said, “The best way out is always through.” http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/r/robert_frost_3.html#ixzz1G80EwfBC
Shifting gears, URI has an interesting series for anyone bored with long nights at home: The URI Master Energy Training Program. They are introductory-level evening classes, April 4-20, that provide property owners and any interested individuals with practical information on how to save money, protect the environment and support RI’s green economy with energy efficiency, conservation, renewable energy and alternative fuels. Shut off the TV and go! http://www.uri.edu/cels/ceoc/ec/energytraining.html
What’s a Westbay blog post without mention of some farm thing? If you’re really into farm and conservation issues, you might want to make plans to be in Washington, D.C. next month for the National Agricultural Landscapes Forum, April 7 & 8. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, American Farmland Trust, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and Farm Foundation NFP invite you to participate in a forum to address the future of U.S. agriculture, natural resource conservation and rural lands. Sounds quite interesting.
