Tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 6., the State Primary Election takes place across the Commonwealth to determine which candidates will face off in November's general election.

Make sure that you have a voice in choosing the candidates you think will do the best job of representing you and the issues you care about!

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Look up your voting location at www.wheredoivotema.com and learn more about voting on the Secretary of the Commonwealth's website.

Thank you in advance for being a voter and for voting with CareVote to support caring communities! 

Attend this interactive informational session on Thursday, Sept. 20 in Framingham!

The Providers' Council is pleased to invite you to a discussion on how we build on our tremendous successes this year and keep building a powerful advocacy movement for human service programs and workers.

During this session, you will:

• Discover how The Caring Force is empowering human service workers, program participants, and the sector
• Learn strategies for helping build The Caring Force at your agency
• Discuss how we can build on the victories of this year as we look ahead

WHAT: The Caring Force: Where We Are & Where We're Going

WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 20 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

WHERE: Advocates, Inc., 1881 Worcester Rd., Framingham

If you need directions, please call 508.628.6300 

Registration is required; please RSVP online!

Salary Reserve materials available online

The Providers' Council received notice from the Executive Office of Health and Human Services that they are proceeding with establishing the FY 2013 Salary Reserve in accordance with the language in the FY '13 Conference Budget that you helped to secure for human service workers!

Free Webinar: National Voter Registration Day is September 25 - Get Involved!

Please attend a free webinar on Tuesday, September 11 at 2 p.m. from our national partner, NonprofitVOTE, on National Voter Registration Day.

On September 25th, 2012 thousands of nonprofits, businesses, and volunteers across the country will band together for National Voter Registration Day--an effort to encourage and assist all Americans to register to vote ahead of the November 6th presidential election. It's a great one-day opportunity that any nonprofit can tap into. Find out how your nonprofit can join a nationwide network of local organizations committed to registering their clients, constituents, and community members in 2012! 

Register now! 

Council's Convention & Expo to offer great exposure for businesses, state agencies, & nonprofits!

Online exhibitor registration now open; sponsorship packages available.

The Providers' Council's Convention & Expo on November 28, 2012 at the Marriott Copley Place Hotel in Boston will bring more than 1,000 participants - including the decision-makers that you want to meet - together in one place. 

This celebration of the human service sector is the largest of its kind in New England and provides the best single-day exposure for your products and services, which is why our expo tables continue to sell out year after year.

Educational institutions, community partners and providers are invited to exhibit as well. This event provides a great opportunity to generate awareness of your programs and recruit partners and volunteers! 

Reserve your exhibit table now using our easy online registration system!  For questions about exhibiting, please email Meg Helming.

Organizations wishing to consider supporting the event and the human services sector through a sponsorship package are invited to contact Mike Ripple.

The Division of Health Care Finance and Policy has adopted amendments to Regulations 114.4 CMR 13.00: Payments for Youth Intermediate-Term Stabilization Services and has adopted Regulation 114.4 CMR 18.00: Payments for Youth Short-Term Stabilization Services.

The Division has also proposed amendments to  Regulation 114.4 CMR 17.00: Rates for Certain Elder Care Services and scheduled a public hearing on the proposed amendments.  

You may view the bulletins on the DHCFP website regulations page at http://www.mass.gov/dhcfp/regs.

If you have any questions, please contact the DHCFP help desk at 1-800-609-7232. 

Are YOU on track? 2012? 2013? 2014? If you find yourself playing catch-up following the June 2012 Supreme Court decision, you'll want to attend one of these sessions.

Guest Speakers:Richard A. Szczebak, Esq., Parker Brown Macaulay & Sheerin, P.C.

Dates available:

• Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012, 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
  The Westin Waltham-Boston Hotel
  70 Third Avenue
  Waltham, MA 02451
• Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012, 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
  1441 Main Street
  Springfield, MA 01103

Seating is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. Please RSVP at least one week in advance by emailing benefits.info@tdinsure.com. Be sure to note the date you wish to attend, your name, title, and organization.

Order yours by signing up to support voting November 6th! You can choose to receive just the poster or a full "Vote November 6" kit which includes a poster, button, and stickers to help your nonprofit promote the election.

After ordering a copy, download the poster or additional 2012 designs, available through their partnership with AIGA. Browse AIGA's full get-out-the-vote design gallery.  

Additional posters are available for purchase in bulk. Interested in other swag? Visit the NonprofitVOTE online store!

What we've accomplished together at your Council 

Each year, the Council's board reviews our strategic plan and notes our highlights. Directors requested that we share our progress related to our Five-Point Agenda for Human Service Reform to support your organization in fulfilling its mission. 

We're pleased to highlight some of the ways that the Council's members and staff have strengthened your programs, workforce, and organization over the last year. 

This summer there are lots of community outreach, advocacy, and fundraising events around the corner. Please submit your event (including organization, event title, date, time, location, link to more information, and contact person) to kgilnack@providers.org.

Key Program, Inc./Rodman Ride for Kids 11th Annual Golf Tournament

Date: Monday, Sept. 10, 2012

Where: Fall River Country Club

The shotgun start is at 8 a.m. More information about the tourney and sponsorship is available at www.key.org or from Sharon de la Vergne at 508-877-3609.

Autism Resource Center Central Mass. Tee Up for Children with Autism
Date: Monday, September 17, 2012
Location: Blackstone National Golf Club, 227 Putnam Hill Road, Sutton, MA

Tee Up For Children with Autism has been taking place for almost a decade.  This is our annual golf tournament where teams of police, firefighters, business people and avid golfers of all levels come together to not only support the Resource Center, a program of HMEA, but also enjoy a day of golf including dinner, raffle, auction, prizes and giveaways.  

NFI Massachusetts, Family Continuity, and PPAL 2nd Annual Conference on "Getting Real About Family Voice and Choice" Date: Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012
Location: Bentley University, Waltham, MA 

NFI Massachusetts, Inc, in partnership with Family Continuity and the Parent/Professional Advocacy League, invite you to attend our second annual conference on Getting Real About Family Voice and Choice Part II: Diverse Family Structures. Please join us on September 20, 2012 from 8:30 - 4:30pm at Bentley University in Waltham, MA for a day of dynamic presentations and workshops.   

Edinburg Center Rock Into Recovery

Date: Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012
Location: Waltham Common

Learn More 

Rock Into Recovery will have live music, arts & crafts, information & resources, and fun for the entire family!  

Work, Inc. Hank Cheney Golf Classic

Date: Monday, Sept. 24, 2012

Location: Black Rock Country Club, Hingham

The Hank Cheney Golf Classic to benefit Work, Inc. will help assist individuals with disabilities to lead more productive and satisfying lives. For more information, please contact Susan Buckley at 617.691.1516. 

Local & national news

• "Clubhouse" rally in Gov's office (WWLP)  
• Nonprofits groups winning fight against new tax (Eagle-Tribune) 
• Mass. gets $5.3M for homeless prevention (Boston.com)  
• A new view on mental health (Worcester Mag) 
• State rejects workers' comp insurance rate hike (Boston Business Journal) 
• The importance of the Governor's Council (WWLP)  
• How's Mass. Doing on Children's Mental Health? Um, We Don't Know (WBUR) 
• United Way of Mass. Bay Gets $1M for Youth, Adult Job  Skills (massnonprofit.org) 
• $1M grant will help at-risk vets "Solder On" (Atlanticville) 
• Dianne DeVanna Center Merges With Bay State Community Services (massnonprofit.org)  
• Is Stop & Shop barricading the homeless? (The Day) 
• Saugus library worker to plead guilty in theft case (Boston Globe) 
• Mayors Hold Unexpected Power in Casino Process (WGBH) 
• Majority of Mass. voters still opt out of party affiliation (Boston Globe) 
• Conn. (Again) Names New Nonprofit Liaison (Nonprofit Quarterly) 
• Connecticut Receives $107 Million Grant for Health Exchange (Hartford Courant)  
• HHS Announces Financing For Co-Op Insurance Startups (Kaiser Health News) 
• U.S. Permits Nonprofits to Aid Iran Quake Victims (Chronicle of Philanthropy) 
• The Fight Over Trademarking the Term "Social Enterprise" (Chronicle of Philanthropy)  
• Democratic, Republican Parties Differ on Supporting Nonprofits (massnonprofit.org) 
• Barack Obama and the Nonprofit World (Chronicle of Philanthropy) 
• Mitt Romney and the Nonprofit World (Chronicle of Philanthropy) 
• GOP Platform Vows to Protect Charitable Deductions (Chronicle of Philanthropy) 
• Biden vs. Ryan: Who Gave More to Charity (Chronicle of Philanthropy) 
• For mentally ill, a design departure (Boston.com) 
• New Mental Health Hospital Opes in Worcester (Worcester Business Journal) 
• Governor sings anti-prescription drug abuse bill (The Enterprise) 
• Lawmakers send Patrick bill to help detect, prevent prescription drug abuse (Boston Herald) 
• Feds accepting requests under immigration initiative (MetroWest Daily News) 
• Health Insurance Rates to Rise 2.1% in Quarter (Worcester Business Journal)  
• Veterans charity, fundraiser accused by AG of lying to potential donors (Boston.com) 
• Study: Nursing Homes Face Cuts (Worcester Business Journal) 
• Top Mass. hospitals will be slammed with Medicare re-admissions penalties (Boston Business Journal) 
• Patrick signs law that aims to help troubled kids (Boston.com) 
• Only nine percent of legislative primaries feature more than one candidate (WickedLocal) 

Fundraising and communications news & resources

• New Website Informs Philanthropists About Nonprofits (Chronicle of Philanthropy)  
• When It Comes to Charitable Giving, Bay State Ranks Low (massnonprofit.org) 
• The Value of Conveying Complex Ideas in Simple Terms (Chronicle of Philanthropy)  
• Baby Boomers, Older Women More Likely to Give to Charity (massnonprofit.org) 
• Older Women Are Far More Generous Than Older Men, Study Finds (Chronicle of Philanthropy)  
• Report Explores Nonprofit Social Media Trends (Nonprofit Quarterly) 
• Giving by the Rich Dropped $30-Billion During Recession (Chronicle of Philanthropy) 
• Charities Learn to Turn Away Support Offered By Donors Who Are Overcome With Sympathy (Chronicle of Philanthropy) 
• It's all about the correct attitude (The Nonprofit Times) 
• Checklist: Is My Message Relevant? (NonprofitMarketingGuide.com) 
• 12 essentials for online fundraising (The Nonprofit Times) 
• Content Strategies: Mapping and Merging (NonprofitMarketingGuide.com) 
• 11 Rules for Video Fundraising (Network for Good) 
• 10 member fundraising tips (The Nonprofit Times) 
• Asking the Right Person for the Right Amount (Nonprofit Quarterly) 
• Six Ways Social Media Has Affected Nonprofit Newsletters (NonprofitMarketingGuide.com) 
• 5 elements of a perfect event (The Nonprofit Times) 
• A Changing Conversation on Nonprofit Website Transactions (JCA, Inc.) 
• Reach Out to Foundation Program Officers (Chronicle of Philanthropy) 
• 7 functions of a website (The Nonprofit Times) 
• Great Ideas for Fundraising Propositions (Philanthropy Journal) 
• Charities Retool Their Web Sites as More Supporters Go Mobile (Chronicle of Philanthropy) 
• A gentle massaging of your website (The Nonprofit Times) 
• Creating a Listening Tab in Hootsuite (NonprofitMarketingGuide.com) 
• How much mail should you send to donors? (The Nonprofit Times) 

Management & Financial Resources

• How Do You Start Your Day? (and Why It Matters) (Nonprofit Quarterly) 
• Survey: Nonprofits Should Keep Overhead Expenses to 23% (massnonprofit.org)  
• Managing in the New Economic Reality (Nonprofit Quarterly) 
• Debate du Jour: Religion, Government Spending and Giving (Nonprofit Quarterly)  
• From Better Mousetraps to Free Kittens: Avoiding the Pitfalls of Innovation (Nonprofit Quarterly) 
• Managing Competing Demands (Philanthropy Journal) 
• Stuck in the Mud - Now What? (Philanthropy Journal) 
• 6 management reporting questions (The Nonprofit Times) 
• Nonprofit Management Isn't a Game (Nonprofit Quarterly) 
• Recruiting Competent Board Members (Philanthropy Journal) 
• 6 elements of organizational change (The Nonprofit Times) 
• Why Fiscal Controls are Good for Everyone (Nonprofit Quarterly) 
• 8 mistakes that involve ethics (The Nonprofit Times) 
• External Influences on Nonprofit Management: a Wide-Angle View (Nonprofit Quarterly)  
• How Can Nonprofits Compete for Top Tech Talent? (Nonprofit Quarterly)