|
WHAT'S GOING ON ACROSS COCAA
WHAT IS THIS?
This is the inaugural issue of a weekly communication to all staff, board members and community partners in an effort to keep everyone apprised of the happenings in COCAA. Every employee or board member is invited to submit articles, updates, ask a question, etc. If you wish to submit for inclusion send to news@cocaa.org, For departments that have employees not on the email distribution list, post the email in several locations in your department.
New Board Member
Becky Stone spoke with Anita Chisholm regarding her interest in sitting on the COCAA board and then submitted her name for consideration. I met with Anita on Friday, January 7, to discuss her interest in joining the COCAA Board. Anita is very interested in becoming a member of the Board of Directors. As she would be filling the Low Income Sector position in Cleveland County, a public hearing has been set for Tuesday, January 11, at the CSBI building in Norman. Anita is retired from Oklahoma University where she taught and also served as director of several different programs. Our intent is to present her candidacy to the board on January, 25th.
What does filing the Board seat mean to COCAA
This means we have a full board roster for the first time in over a year!! It also positions COCAA to move forward on the Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) application to begin building/renovating affordable housing in our service area. More about CHDO as we move forward??????.
Stillwater Community Health Clinic
Debbie Traugott, Director, and a former advisory board member, are re-activating the Advisory Board for SCHC! Advisory Boards assist in monitoring the progress of, and making suggestions for, improving programs. The first meeting is scheduled for February 15. Great work, Debbie.
The Clinic also received an in-kind contribution of office and medical supplies from a doctor who had closed his office in Stillwater. The office supplies will be shared across the organization. If you need office supplies contact Lisa Pendleton at frontdesk@cocaa.org. Thanks, Debbie.
Clinic Services/RX for Oklahoma
Compiling year-end reports is not the most fun we ever have around here; but, when you see the results in black-and-white it is very exciting. Teresa Vieux, Director of Client Services, completed the 2010 report and couldn?t keep the great news to herself!! The RX for Oklahoma program saved our clients more than $500,000 in 2010!! Half-a-million!!! That is money they did NOT have to spend on medication, but could buy food and pay utilities!! Way to go Teresa and the ACT (All County Team)!!!
Partnership with the City of Norman
COCAA has a long-standing relationship with the City of Norman and our success from last week is just more evidence of our great stewardship and the power of collaboration. In November/December COCAA presented four grant requests to the City; (1) $1000 in funding for RSVP to pay mileage to our volunteers who provide rides to clients for medical needs; (2) $24,500 in funding for transitional housing in Norman; (3) $12,000 in funding for client services (food, utilities, rent) in Norman; (4) purchase of a 3-bedroom, 2 bath house in the amount of $10 to use for permanent housing for Norman clients.
The City awarded $1000 to RSVP; $24,500 to transitional housing, an increase of $8,500 over 2010; $10,000 to client services; and, YES ? the house!! COCAA has a great partner in the City of Norman.
Kiwanis Club in Shawnee
Jimmy Gibson, City of Shawnee Fire Chief, asked me to speak to the Kiwanis Club on January 12th. Becky Stone, Director of Grants and Development, and Cory Swearingen, Director of Operations, accompanied me. We enjoyed the fellowship and the opportunity to speak to and meet more of the Shawnee business community. Hope I get invited back!
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) is up and the volunteers are ready to go
Thixe Totty, Director of RSVP, Pottawatomie County, is the COCAA lead for the VITA program. Many citizens, including COCAA employees, are eligible to have free tax preparations. Call (405) 275-7910 for IRS income guidelines and to make an appointment. Shawnee, Norman and Guthrie have volunteers ready to assist our clients with income tax preparation. Last year at the Shawnee and Norman sites, the volunteers assisted 812 clients who received more than $824,116 in income tax reimbursements.
Go VITA! Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to save money on tax preparation.
Development/Fundraising
Becky Stone worked with the Barons Hockey Team for COCAA to benefit from their Miracle on Ice Fundraiser on February 4th. Identify COCAA as your charity of choice when purchasing tickets, as COCAA receives $4 of every ticket sold. Go to www.cocaa.org and click on the Current Events tab or go to www.okcbarons.com/miraclesonice to purchase tickets. An agent with the Barons will contact you to select seating and pricing. Or, call 232-GOAL ext 110. Or, Text: MIRACLES at 55678. Many options, so get those tickets purchased soon and plan a fun night for the whole family! See you when the puck drops on Friday, February 4th, 7 p.m.!!
This week Becky Stone also confirmed the appearance of the Harlem Ambassadors on Sunday, March 27th at 5 p.m. Watch for more news on this exciting, fun filled basketball event as we move forward in raising unrestricted funding.
Homelessness in Stillwater
Early in January a homeless man in Stillwater froze under a bridge. This was a catalysis to prompt citizens to look deeper into the homeless situation in Stillwater. Board members Aaron Cole and Gloria Hesser (Payne County Commissioner), staff members Holly Smith, Brenda Mutai-Hall, Teresa Vieux and Debbie Traugott, and I have been involved in the community meetings and discussions on how to continue serving the homeless in Stillwater and enhancing services. COCAA is taking a pro-active role in these discussions. Former Senator Ed Long, Rev. Stan Warfield and representation from the Salvation Army are leading the discussion at the January 21st community meeting. A presentation on behalf of COCAA and our services is part of the agenda.
COTS
At the urging of Stephen Lalli, Principal, Carovilli Communications, who represents the Oklahoma Transit Authority (OTA) for the State, Tina Lowery, Director of COTS, submitted the paperwork for a State award. This award is for Extended Services and Ridership. COTS has seen a significant growth in the past three years in service and ridership with more that 160% increase. Along with the prestige of winning this award comes a plaque of recognition and an article in the OTA News. Keep your fingers crossed and we will keep you updated.
Check out the continually improving website
Go to www.cocaa.org for the latest news and great stories of success. | 
