Annual Conference

Session Descriptions

SESSION I

Responding Responsibly with Disaster Volunteers
Greg Jenkins, COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disasters)

What do you do when a disaster happens and volunteers are looking to you to help their community? This session deals with best practices on directly and engaging volunteers following a disaster. tr>

Electronics Recycling
Fred Parody, Universal Recycling

Did you know that there is significant money to be earned by collecting electronics? NYS has established a ban on electronics in the landfills which will be implemented soon. You can assist your community and your ReStore income by collecting these materials. Learn how this program works and how your ReStore can participate in this new and exciting program.

Preventing and Resolving Board Conflict
Kerri Reeves, HFHI

Do you have conflict at your Board meetings? Do you have too much or too little disagreement? If so, this session will give you strategies to minimize tension and create productive meetings. You will hear how other affiliate leaders have tackled their board challenges and gain ideas for overcoming your own. Note, this workshop is primarily designed for board presidents, other board members, and executive directors.

So You Want to Open a ReStore
Tim Murphy, HFHI

This session will guide affiliates through the process of evaluating their readiness for their first store and discuss the resources required. Additionally, it will guide affiliates through the actual process of opening a new store. Finally, it will provide alternatives to ReStores for affiliates that aren’t quite ready to make the leap.

The Four “W’s” of AmeriNational Mortgage Transfer Program
Val Sherwood, HFH-NYS
John Ellis, HFH-NYS

What, Why, When and Where - An informational session to assist affiliates in better understanding the process of preparing their mortgage portfolios for the transfer to AmeriNational.

SESSION II

Partnerships & Resources in Long-Term Disaster Recovery
Giovanni Taylor-Peace, HFHI

This session deals with how affiliates can efficiently and effectively be a part of a community’s efforts to recover from a disaster.

Resources for Your ReStore
Tim Murphy, HFHI

This session will cover the resources available to ReStores, including My Habitat, trainings provided by HFHI, consulting services, and others. In addition, we will share ways that ReStores can work together state-wide and/or regionally to share costs and resources, maximize purchasing power, and leverage the size and power of their brand.

How HR Outsourcing Can Reduce Your Employer Liabilities and Administrative Workloads
John Bradley, Alcott Group

Administering Human Resources, Employee Benefits, Payroll and Workers’ Compensation in today’s climate of increased regulations and enforcement takes you away from your HFH mission. Outsourcing these functions to a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) can: increase your compliance, reduce your workloads, improve your employee benefits and reduce your employer liabilities. This session will address the issues affiliates face as they add employees to their organization.

Engaging Volunteers through Student Build and HYP (Habitat Young Professionals)
Lindsey Ross, HFH Suffolk

Habitat Suffolk has been successfully utilizing volunteers in student groups through our Student Build program for many years and we’ve recently taken on the Habitat Young Professionals initiative to help bridge the gap between student volunteers and corporate groups. Explore the resources that we’ve collected, and resources we’ve put together on how to run a successful student build program and Habitat Young Professionals group.

Capacity Building Workshop
Vernell Jones, HFHI

NEW workshop focus this year! Participants in the workshop will gain a better understanding of the Capacity Building Grant program as well as HFHI and federal requirements; discover additional materials and planning required to complete the Capacity Build application; learn next steps for affiliates interested in applying; and review the Capacity Building Field Guide.

SESSION III

Fall Prevention During Homebuilding Projects – What Affiliates Need to Know
Fred Champion, CHUBB Group of Insurance Companies

OSHA has revised the residential construction fall protection regulations and vows to step up enforcement. This session will explore the changes and impact of these regulations, how to improve volunteer safety, and how to avoid OSHA citations.

ReStore Real Estate Evaluation and Selection
Tim Murphy, HFHI

This session will provide Boards and EDs with a comprehensive process to evaluate and select real estate for their ReStore. Attendees will be able to properly select a cost-effective site for their ReStores. Attendees will understand the basics of lease negotiations and will learn the benefits of leasing as opposed to purchasing.

Affiliate Disaster Preparedness Planning
Giovanni Taylor-Peace, HFHI

Does your affiliate have a plan in case disaster strikes your community? Come and learn how to use a simple template to quickly put your plan in place for the worst.

Small/Rural Affiliate Roundtable
Judith Nelson, HFH-NYS
Valerie Sherwood, HFH-NYS

This roundtable will focus on defining the needs unique to the small and rural affiliates and identifying the most important ways in which HFH-NYS can assist in addressing these needs.

AmeriCorps Team Meeting
Mary Vivona, HFH-NYS

SESSION IV

Building a HFH New York Preparedness & Response Network (brainstorming & action-oriented session) Roundtable
Giovanni Taylor-Peace, HFHI

During this session we want you to join us as we plan how affiliates can help each other in times of disaster around the state and how the HFH network can coordinate/communicate/ collaborate to help carry out our mission following a disaster.

ReStores and Affiliates: Bridging the Culture Gap
Tim Murphy, HFHI

We will discuss ways in which affiliates and ReStores can work together to maximize their partnership and eliminate the inherent tensions that can come from running a retail operation inside of a non-profit organization.

What’s New with Quality Assurance?
Kerri Reeves, HFHI

Learn why quality assurance is important to your affiliate and how to protect your good standing status with HFHI. This session will cover how to use the Quality Assurance Program and Checklist to minimize risk and promote quality operations. You’ll have a chance to ask questions about U.S. policies and standards and receive updates on national and statewide trends.

Family Selection Roundtable
Valerie Sherwood, HFH-NYS

Families in need of affordable housing are out there….. Discussion to include how to find good, qualified habitat homeowner partner families and get them into a safe, affordable home.

Grant Research: A New Service from HFH-NYS
Marylee Cochardo, HFH-NYS

FoundationSearch is the first fully searchable, online database of foundations for the serious prospect researcher, containing over 100,000 US foundations. It provides the specific information you need to approach the most qualified prospects with compelling reasons why your project fits their vision. Use of this software is a benefit to HFH-NYS member affiliate. Join us to see how it can support your affiliate’s fundraising goals. [Please note: initial users will be limited to those attending this class.]