HEALTH, HOUSING, AGING,

EDUCATION, WORKFORCE,

IMMIGRATION, DISABILITY

TRANSPORTATION,HEALTH,

HOUSING, AGING, EDUCA-

TION, WORKFORCE, IMMI-

G R A T I O N , D I S A B I L I T Y ,

TRANSPORTATION, HEALTH,

HOUSING, AGING, EDUCA-

TION, WORKFORCE,

IMMIGRATION, DISABILITY

TRANSPORTATION

ACS 2009-2010

Report to the

Community

Association of Community Services

10480 Little Patuxent Pkwy. Suite 920 Columbia, MD 21044

410-715-9545 info@acshoco.org www.acshoco.org

COMMITTED TO

HOWARD COUNTY-

HUMAN

SERVICES

Howard County’s human services and nonprofit community rely on ACS for

education, training and networking opportunities. ACS makes sure that these are not

only of the highest quality, but accessible both in cost and scheduling.

In 2009-2010 ACS’ training and education programs were complemented with

expanded members-only sessions which not only provided additional skill-building

and networking opportunities, but offered timely information in areas ranging from

social media to public policy issues.

Monthly Meetings

A mainstay of ACS’ community efforts, free General Membership

Meetings in 2009-2010 presented information on issues ranging

from the new health care policy, to the changing media, and

initiatives designed to move people from homelessness to self-

sufficiency in our county. An average of 60 people attended

each month.

Trainings: Strengthening Organizations

More than 220 members and non-members took advantage of ACS Training

Programs in 2009-2010. These offered in-depth opportunities to help

human service providers deliver their services and manage their

organizations. Trainings included “Finding Funders and Winning Grants,”

“Cultural Connections: Reaching Culturally Diverse Communities,” and

“The Management Equation: Customer Service + Staff + Volunteers.”

More for Members: Strengthening Staff and the Organization Hot Topics

Seven sessions with more than 95 attendees ranging from Board members,

to volunteers to staff reflected the increased popularity of these members-only

meetings. Hot Topics coupled informal presentations with discussions of new

products, services and initiatives as well as timely topics of interest to human

service providers. 2009-2010 topics included “Overcoming the Language Barrier,“

“Advocacy,” “Connecting Clients with their Social Security Benefits,” “Promoting

Financial Literacy,” “Preventing Compassion Fatigue,” “Making the Right

Referral,” and “Immigration Status and Its Implications.”

Back-Office Group Eight Back-Office Group sessions complemented the Hot Topics but focused on more hands-on

demonstrations and discussion of new technology and ways to streamline operations. Topics included

effective website design, augmenting staff with volunteers, accounting software, open-source technology, and

organizational Facebook Pages.

Expanded Networking For Leaders

The Gavel Group and First Fridays, the latter in partnership with the Columbia Foundation, offer Executive

Directors and Board presidents the opportunity to share leadership strategies and discuss organizational

issues.

Helping Members Do Their Jobs Better

During 2009 – 2010, ACS continued to play a significant role in addressing

human services needs in Howard County especially for those whose house-

hold income is less than $50,000 for a family of four.

ACS continued strong advocacy for the needs of underserved

populations through participation on the Howard County Board on Self

Sufficiency.

In partnership with the Policy Analysis Center, ACS updated the Self

Sufficiency Indicators for Howard County .

Through the Nonprofit Resource Development Council ACS continued

its collaborative efforts to find practical solutions to the pressing

problems facing the human services community in both service delivery

and operations..

Meetings with legislators and the County Executive offered opportunity for

community education, and also on issues such as the Hardship Indicators

report.

Priority Issues

ACS focused efforts on three priority issues developed in this year: housing,

human services delivery infrastructure and work support.. The housing initiative concentrated

on securing funding for a housing trust fund for affordable housing in Howard County. The

human services infrastructure explored the feasibility and appropriateness of co-locating

human services. The work support initiative studied ways to improve access to training

opportunities for students and entry level workers.

Legislative Highlights

ACS successfully advocated to preserve human services funding in the County budget in-

cluding the Community Partnership grants. ACS monitored approximately 40 State and

County bills providing testimony on more than half of them, including the Columbia Village legis-

lation and FY 2011 operating budget. ACS representatives met with the State Delegation to protect fund-

ing for human services from State budget cuts and with the County Executive to discuss specific concerns

regarding human services.

Improving Human Services In Howard County

Reaching Out Recognizing Excellence In 2010 the Audrey Robbins Humanitarian Awards celebrated its 35th Anniversary. This year we not only rec-ognized this year’s honorees, but cele-brated the more than 70 exceptional volun-teers, institutions, and service teams in the human services com-munity, who have con-tributed so much to Howard County.

2010 Audrey Robbins Humanitarians. Back row, standing: Terry Owens, Emcee; Janet Edelman, NAMI-

Howard Country, President, Volunteer Team of the Year; Donna

Wells, Howard Country Mental Health Authority, Employee of the

Year; Jay Blackman, ACS President. Front row, seated: Nancy

Huggins, Audrey Robbins Awards, Co-Chair; Susan Rosenbaum,

Lifetime Achievement Award, Kathleen Dugan, Center for Adop-

tion Support and Education (C.A.S.E.), Volunteer of the Year .

In 2010 ACS

expanded its

outreach. In

addition to

our electronic

newsletter,

we continued

to distribute

print copies of

our popular Directory of Ser-

vices: Looking for Answers, and plunged into Social Media.

We established a Facebook

page that featured ACS news, news on

developments of importance to ACS members, and

interesting resources, and regularly posted on Ho-

CoMoJo. The Business Monthly in February 2010

again featured ACS and its members.

OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2009-2010 President: Jay Blackman

Vice-President: Harry Schwarz Secretary: Jodi Finkelstein

Treasurer: Debra Popiel

Dick Barnard Peter Beilenson

Rene Buckmon

Bob Causer

Vidia Dhanraj

Lisa Dolce

Kari Ebeling

Jackie Eng

Steve Girard

Mickey Gomez

Mary Lorsung

Dave Michener

Jessie Newburn

Debra Popiel

Dave Roura

Caroline Sherman

Kelli Shimabukuro

David Shippee

Laura Smit

Sue Song

Rev. Robert Turner Anne Towne, Executive Director

Dick Barnard

Jay Blackman

Gail Doerr

Vidia Dhanraj

Lisa Dolce

Steve Girard

Mary Lorsung

Jessie Newburn

Laurie Remer

Mary Schiller

David Shippee

Laura Smit

Sue Song

Rev. Robert Turner

Cathy Yost

2010-2011 President: Harry Schwarz Vice-President: Jackie Eng Secretary: Debra Popiel

Treasurer: David Shippee

ACS’ membership increased almost 10%, to 150

partners, community advocates and

organizational members.

Members benefits included monthly meetings,

listings in the annual directory, and on the ACS

website, a monthly e-newsletter, members-only

events, access to Board Development Programs,

insurance savings and discounted rates for

Education and Training events, and the annual

Audrey Robbins luncheon.

ACS also sponsors The

Gavel Group, and First

Fridays, which

attract substantial

numbers of Executive

Directors and Board

Presidents.

Our investment in the

Wild Apricot website

system also paid dividends in 2010. ACS Mem-

bers now register for events, renew memberships

and update profiles, enhancing both our produc-

tivity, and ability to maintain timely,

up-to-date member information.

ACS Annual Report

FY10

Expenses $134,654

Administration $34,168 (25.5%)

Education and Training $30,176 (22.5%)

Member Services $55,574 (41.4%)

Advocacy $14,195 (10.6%)

Revenues $136,025

Membership Dues $38,777 (28.5%)

Partnerships $17,925 (13.2%)

Grants $50,000 (36.8%)

Audrey Robbins Luncheon $10,849 (8%)

Education and Training $6,114 (4.5%)

Other $12,360 (9%)

F U N D I N G M E M B E R S H I P

Association of Community Services 10480 Little Patuxent Pkwy. Suite 920Columbia, MD 210-410-715-9545 info@acshoco.org www.acshoco.org