VCN Online Gazette

October 19, 2006
Online Gazette

Hello Vernon Community Network members!

We hope that your summer has been a good one.

Just a quick reminder to make sure that you have our next Vernon Community Network meeting on your calendars for Friday, September 22, at 9 AM at the Vernon Senior Center, 2nd floor auditorium.

This e-news letter is a new initiative. The VCN Executive Committee invites you to comment. Please tell us what information would be interesting for future bi-monthly VCN Online Gazette publications. Here’s what we put together for the September edition:

We’re finding that the Network has been accomplishing its original goal: to foster “networking” between agencies and groups. Too often we become immersed in the day-to-day operation of our respective agencies and this can result in a “silo mentality” leaving little time to network and collaborate. The vision for the VCN was to open up those doors, learn from each other, help each other by sharing ideas and ultimately being able to better serve our clients and targeted audiences in our community.

Already some important results have been happening for our members because of the VCN collaboration. We’d like to have you, our membership, share your successes with us so that we can provide examples to the greater membership. In these times of shrinking budgets, we all need to be more creative, network more often, and think outside the box (or silo!) to better serve our clients and the Vernon community.

For example, recently Chris Malis Director of “The Lodge” was able to apply for emergency funding through the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving after he attended the VCN annual meeting and learned about the availability of emergency funds. Angela Atwater had invited Lillian Cruz as the keynote speaker at the VCN annual meeting and Ms. Cruz assisted Chris in his application for funding. This had a major effect on his non-profit’s ability to help the homeless by providing emergency financing to re-open “The Lodge.” This networking opened the doors and can continue to flourish when we begin to learn about the needs of each of our members and the expertise and experiences of other members are put to good use. Congratulations to Chris and many thanks to Angela!

Here’s where we could really use your help! Please let us know what you’re doing! It’s that simple. If you have upcoming events to publicize, tell us! If you think other agencies will benefit from something you’ve learned, tell us! And most importantly, tell us about your recent successes or even your recent disappointments - we can all learn from these important experiences!

Another way you can help is to recommend other potential members to join us. They can come to the next meeting and then later decide to join or not. We’re only as good as the sum of all of our parts!

If you would like an article on you agency to appear in the next Online Gazette, please send your submission to: bryanflint@aol.com. As always, all of this information can be found on our website at RockvilleCT.com. Just click on the VCN logo!

Attached to this e-mail are a few items that you want to have

1) Meeting agenda for 9/22/06

2) A short survey as to what your organization is using or could use for training sessions.

3) Minutes of the last meeting

You can also visit us on the internet at www.RockvilleCT.com/VCN.htm When you click on VCN Online Gazette, the three forms above are available along with membership applications, invoices and a copy of our By-Laws.

We also want to mention that a new Fiscal year has just started. Many of you early birds have already paid your membership for FY 2006-2007. Those names are listed in the Treasurer's report. If your name isn't on the list, but your group has paid this year’s dues, please e-mail aatwater@kidsafect.com, Angela Atwater, our Treasurer.

Thanks everyone!

VCN Executive Committee