Stories from

Press release:

Genesee County has been chosen to receive $2,800 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county. The selection was made by a national board that is chaired by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and consists of representatives from American Red Cross; Catholic Charities USA; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA; the Jewish Federations of North America; The Salvation Army, and United Way Worldwide.

The local board was charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the country. A local board will determine how the funds awarded to Genesee County are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service agencies in the area. The local board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive these funds and any additional funds made available under this phase of the program.

Under the terms of the grant from the national board, local agencies chosen to receive funds must: 1) be private voluntary non-profit or units of government, 2) be eligible to receive Federal funds, 3) have an accounting system, 4) practice nondiscrimination, 5) have demonstrated the capability of deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs, and 6) if they are a private voluntary organization, have a voluntary board. Qualifying agencies are urged to apply.

Genesee County has distributed Emergency Food and Shelter funds previously with Community Action, The Salvation Army, and Ministry of Concern participating. These agencies were responsible for providing meals and lodging.

Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds must contact Major Patricia Kurtz at patricia.kurtz@use.salvationarmy.org or phone 343-6284 for an application.

The deadline for applications to be received is Thursday, March 7, 2013 by 3 p.m.

Beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23, Genesee County 4-H will be holding annual public presentations at Byron-Bergen Middle/High School. There will be more than 80 youth participanting from across Genesee County, ranging from ages 5 to 18.

They will give public presentations in front of their peers and a panel of volunteer judges. Presentations will include everything from illustrated talks to live demonstrations and even impromptu topics. Each presentation is at least five minutes, but no longer than 15 minutes.

By participating in this event, 4-H youth improve their public speaking skills while developing self-confidence, poise, self-esteem, stage presence and knowledge, giving them an advantage over their peers in this lifetime skills area. These skills will be useful in their future social, educational and career pursuits.

The public is welcome. The school is located at 6917 County Road 31 in Bergen.

Tonight at 6:30 at the Coffee Culture in Downtown Batavia, the Genesee County Libertarian Committee is holding its biweekly formation meeting. Come out and join with fellow Libertarians to continue the journey of establishing the first-ever Genesee County Libertarian Party!

Sick of the way things are, but you're not sure that you're a Libertarian,  or just not sure what we're about? You are warmly invite to attend the meeting, ask questions, and get to know us and who we are! Coffee Culture is located at 6 Court St.

Check out our Facebook page @ http://www.facebook.com/GCLP.NY

Take the world's smallest political quiz! @ http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz

Tonight's agenda includes:

Elected Board Updates --

• Process to create bank account
• Finances
• Bylaws

Committee Updates --

• Membership
• Candidate vetting
• Convention

Ideas from the General Body

(choir members and/or anyone that loves to sing)

    Come and join a community ecumenical choir to present Joseph Martin’s, “Song of the Shadows,” a cantata – a poignant service of tenebrae – to be performed, Wednesday, March 27, at 7:00 P.M. at the Batavia First United Methodist Church, 8221 Lewiston Rd, Batavia and at 7:00 P.M. on Good Friday, March 29, at the LeRoy United Methodist Church, 10 Trigon Park, LeRoy.

   Rehearsals are Tuesday evenings, 6:30 – 8:00 P.M. at the LeRoy First Baptist Church, 5 East Main St., LeRoy and Wednesday evenings, 8:00 P.M. – 9:30 P.M., at the Batavia First United Methodist Church.

  Interested participants should plan to attend one rehearsal each week but are welcome at both. Each person may choose to perform in one or both presentations.

   Questions, concerns, comments? Contact Carol Weidman, 716-542-6098 or cweidman1@rochesterr.rr.com.

Press release:

The Genesee Community College Multicultural Communications Club, a Toastmasters International Club, is generating a lot of buzz for its significant accomplishments. Five members of the mostly student group have received Toastmasters International certification in communication and four of those five earned leadership certification as well.

Earning the communication certification is no small feat. Members must give 10 presentations from the Toastmasters International Competent Communication Manual. Each one focuses on a specific area. Among them:

*    Introducing oneself

*    Getting to the point

*    Organizing a speech

*    Using body language

*    Using visual aids

*    Giving a persuasive speech

*    Giving an inspirational speech

In addition, the Leadership Certification involves 10 projects completed at meetings. Members may act as Toastmaster, timer, grammarian or may bring someone new to the club. Serving in different club roles gives them practical leadership experience in using people skills, being decisive and authentic, and moving the club forward.

"Earning the certifications takes a high level of commitment from both the students and the faculty advisors," said Club Co-advisor Jacqueline Di Bella, adjunct professor of Humanities at GCC. "The students we have are so motivated and committed to the discipline of communication and leadership. We are happy to support their efforts."

Di Bella also serves as the club's vice president of education.

The Toastmasters Club started in March 2011 and currently has 22 members. Toastmasters International is a nonprofit education organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills. At meetings, members act as evaluators, offering feedback on speeches to help other members improve.

"It's known as the 'feedback sandwich'," Di Bella said. "First you praise, then you recommend how the speaker can improve and you finish with praise. It's a very supportive environment that generates great results."

"To have these students achieve this designation so early in their academic and professional lives is amazing," Di Bella said. "It will open many doors for them in the future."

Press release:

Genesee Community College is pleased to announce Kirsten Tedesco has been named February 2013 Employee of the Month. Kirsten is a Business Training specialist in The BEST (Business and Employee Skills Training) Center, managing grant-funded training programs and ensuring client expectations are met.

Her job involves everything from scheduling to invoicing and lots of trouble-shooting in between – prompting her to describe her position as "professional juggler." She manages a heavy workload with organization, a positive attitude, and an ever-present smile. She also serves on GCC's Diversity and Creativity Committees.

Tedesco joined GCC two and a half years ago with a wide range of experience. She's been a financial consultant, a legal assistant and a teacher. She earned her business degree from SUNY Empire State College and an MBA from New York Institute of Technology.

There are many things she enjoys about her position at GCC, mostly the team she works with at The BEST Center, which she says provides "non-stop support and encouragement." She also notes, "GCC encourages employees to serve together on committees, making them a part of a larger group beyond their normal team. I love working in an environment that matches my passion for providing workforce development and training services to adult learners."

A resident of Amherst, Tedesco is passionate about her family outside of work. She is engaged to David Regan, has two daughters and two future stepdaughters who she enjoys spending as much time with as possible.

Genesee Community College is also pleased to announce Samantha Callisher has been named the February 2013 Student of the Month. Samantha, 20, is the daughter of Arthur and Pamela Callisher and sister to Jessica. She hails from Batavia and graduated from Batavia High School in 2011.

Callisher is studying Fashion Merchandising Management. A recipient of the President's Scholarship, she chose GCC because of its fashion program. Once she completes her studies here, she plans to go on to a university fashion program and eventually earn a master's degree in business. Her ultimate career goal is to become a fashion buyer for a successful retailer.

She can't say enough about what she's learning at GCC. "[Professor Rick] Dudkowski...has given me so many great opportunities and I have gained many lifelong connections from him that are going to make me into that successful buyer."

Currently, Callisher has a mentorship with NYC merchandiser Maria Pesin and is active on campus in Phi Theta Kappa and the DECA Club. She also gives back to her community by volunteering at Jackson Elementary School, the Batavia Nursing Home, and GCASA (Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse).

Press release:

The Veterans One-stop Center of Western New York, Inc., (“One-stop Center” or “VOC of WNY”) announced Tuesday that it will open a “one-stop” veterans advocacy and service center at 1280 Main St. in Buffalo in April.

VOC of WNY is intended to serve the seven counties of WNY, including Genesee County, which is estimated to have a veterans population of more than 4,500.

The VOC of WNY is an independent, nonprofit collaborative, that will offer U.S. veterans, service members, and their families the convenience of a barrier-free “one-stop” location to access coordinated, individualized and integrated social, health, educational, economic, and supportive services.

The “One-stop Center” will feature the comfort of a “home base” environment to welcome, affirm, and respond to each individual veteran’s specific needs. A variety of services will be provided by existing, independent providers working together in a coordinated, seamless way to provide programming to assist veterans and their families in developing wellness, successful achievement of their goals, realization of their full potential, and reintegration into the community.

Services include: accredited benefits counseling; employment resources and services; peer mentoring; readjustment, behavioral, and mental health counseling; legal services and veterans treatment court mentorship; financial counseling and coaching; education resources services; and housing and emergency services.

The VOC of WNY will be able to tailor all services to have a male, female or a family-specific focus.

The Veterans One-stop Center of WNY has launched a Web site, Facebook page, and Twitter account that contain additional information and provide the opportunity to support the initiative. They can be found at  www.vocwny.org, www.facebook.com/VOCofWNY, and on Twitter at @VOCofWNY.