Network Connection
June 2018
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Advocacy -
A voice for low-income Missourians
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Missouri Legislative Session Recap
The 2018 legislative session concluded on May 18, 2018, and despite the unusual nature of this year's session due to the investigations into former Governor Greitens' actions, the session proved to be particularly robust. Our lobbyist, LuAnn Madsen, tracked nearly 80 bills for us this session. We were involved in three key pieces of legislation--two we wanted to pass and one we did not--and all three bills proceeded as we had hoped. Here is a brief summary of this legislation:
- PASSED: HB 11/Appropriations for Health, Mental Health, and Social Services: Missouri CAN testified this past legislative session to advocate for the transfer of LIHEAP dollars to LIWAP/Weatherization. Once again the transfer was successful.
- PASSED: HB 1625/Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (and SB 787): This legislation mandates that the state's Department of Agriculture apply for a grant under the US Department of Agriculture's Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program to provide low-income seniors with vouchers or other approved and acceptable methods of payment, including electronic cards that may be used to purchase eligible foods at farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs.
- NOT PASSED: HB 1486/SNAP Work Requirements: This legislation proposed to cut off SNAP benefits from heads of households with dependents if they do not meet cumbersome work-tracking rules or win an exemption from documenting work hours per week. Our Network spoke out against this dangerous legislation and signed off on a letter spearheaded by Empower Missouri opposing the bill alongside 150 other groups similar to our Network.
These are three legislative wins for Missouri Community Action Network!
Despite the excitement at the Capitol leading up to the special session and the ultimate resignation of Missouri's 56th governor, former Governor Greitens signed 77 bills into law before his resignation took effect on Friday, June 1. Check out that list of bills
here.
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Network Capacity -
Helping you help others
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NEW Poverty Simulation Facilitator Training Opportunity
Free Registration for Community Action Staff
A summer session of the CAPS facilitator training is now available! Due to high demand, Missouri Community Action Network added this third statewide training opportunity for CAPS facilitators, which will be held in Springfield, MO.
Come experience the Community Action Poverty Simulation as a participant, plus learn tips and tricks to conduct a successful simulation.
Register by June 15
to secure your FREE spot as a Missouri Community Action Agency staff member.
- August 2-3, 2018
- University Plaza, Springfield, MO
- Please note that all CAA employees should first login to their NEON account in order to receive the discount.
After your registration is complete for the training, reserve your hotel room with Missouri CAN’s special conference rate before July 2. For more details
click here
and see "Hotel Reservations" or contact Mary Bifulco at
[email protected]
.
Don't delay! Spaces for the CAPS summer session are filling quickly.
FREE REGISTRATION for Community Action Agency staff ends this Friday, June 15.
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Important Update for Community Commons Users
Community Commons is transitioning to a new system--CARES Engagement Network--on Monday, July 2, 2018. Here are some key things to know about the transition to the new system:
- Prior to July 2, download any maps or reports saved to your personal profile and the Hub Library to avoid loss of your personal library during the transfer.
- Your uploaded data will be transitioned to your new Hub on the Engagement Network.
- After July 2, your Hub on Community Commons will no longer be active; watch for a follow-up email with a direct link to the Engagement Network and your new Hub in the coming weeks.
- Your log-in information will transfer to the new system.
- Please contact [email protected] with any additional transition questions or for assistance with the transition.
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Missouri CAN Capacity -
Helping us help you
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Missouri CAN 2018 Annual Conference Wrap Up
Our 2018 annual conference is in the books! We are grateful for everyone who attended this event and hope you all returned to your agency with new ideas, new connections, and new excitement about how you make a difference. We'll be sharing a gallery of photos and sending award photos to each agency very soon, in addition to post-conference resources to all attendees.
Mark your calendars now for the 2019 Missouri CAN annual conference at the KCI Airport Hilton May 21-23.
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On the Road Again: MCAN's Recent Agency Visits
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Mary Mullins continues to travel across the state to aid Community Action Agencies in MIS setup. Here's where she's been the past couple of months:
- North East Community Action Corporation - April 10
- East Missouri Action Agency - April 11
- Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation - April 17
- Community Services, Inc. of Northwest Missouri - April 23
- Community Action Partnership of North Central Missouri - April 24
- Central Missouri Community Action - May 7 and May 23
Do you have an upcoming event for us to attend or training you'd like Missouri CAN to facilitate?
Let us know!
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Missouri CAN to Present at Community Action Partnership Annual Convention in Denver
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Our Strategic Communications Manager, Sarah Hackman, has been selected to lead two sessions at the Community Action Partnership Annual Convention in Denver, August 28-31, 2018. As the Partnership continues to equip Community Action professionals with communication training and tools, Sarah's two sessions, "How to Take Better Photos" and "Visual Storytelling", are designed to engage participants in aspects of visual storytelling.
Read more about the Partnership's upcoming annual convention here.
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Upcoming Events for Missouri Community Action Network
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Finance Professional Alliance Meeting
Thursday, June 21
Rescheduled: New Date TBD
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MIS Steering Committee
Thursday, June 28
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Missouri CAN Office Closed
Wednesday, July 4
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Missouri Community Action
Directors Association Meeting
Wednesday, July 11
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Missouri CAN Board Meeting
Thursday, July 12
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See the full Missouri Community Action Network calendar of events here:
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You made it to the end and are now well informed! "The Final Countdown" (within the Missouri CAN conference headline) was the reference in the previous Network Connection. Did you catch the song reference this time? Reply to this email with the correct artist and title of song referenced in this email
for a chance to win a Missouri CAN padfolio.
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