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Be Part of the Community!

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NYSCAA has many networking opportunities, which are open to staff working at any Community Action Agency across the state. We encourage you to join one of the groups to connect with your peers to share ideas and concerns with other CA staff across the state!

The main types of networking opportunities are:

  • Affinity Groups: The groups formed based on position in CAA (HR, finance) or job responsibilities (senior services, volunteer engagement)
  • Communities of Practice: Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly. Members share a common interest, engage in joint activities, and have ongoing, sustained interaction over time.

Below, you will find a brief description of each.

Affinity Groups:

An affinity group is formed around a shared interest or common goal. NYSCAA offers the following affinity groups to all CA staff.

NYSCAA creates opportunities for members of the affinity groups to meet in person at NYSCAA in-person events, in addition to regular Zoom meetings. There is no application process for Affinity Groups.

Click here to join!

Book Club:

  • Comprised of Community Action agency staff interested in reading interesting and thought-provoking books and having lively discussions
  • Meets via Zoom monthly
  • Questions? Please reach out to: Jackie Orr at [email protected]

CAPTAIN:

  • Comprised of CAPTAIN (CAP Systems) software administrators and users
  • Exchanges ideas and questions for an immediate response via email List-serv
  • Meets via Zoom monthly
  • Questions? Please reach out to: Phoebe Schimpf at [email protected]

CAP 60:

  • Comprised of CAP60 software administrators and users
  • Exchanges ideas and questions for an immediate response via email List-serv
  • Questions? Please reach out to: Phoebe Schimpf at [email protected]
Community Action (CA) Plan Template Workgroup:
  • Comprised of CA staff interested in creating CA Plan templates to share with agencies around common programs.
  • Meets Weekly via Zoom
  • Questions? Please reach out to: Jackie Orr at [email protected]

Executive Assistants:

  • Comprised of CA Executive Assistant Professionals
  • Exchanges ideas and questions for an immediate response via email List-serv
  • Meeting schedule via Zoom TBD (new group as of April, 2022)
  • Questions? Please reach out to Phoebe Schimpf at [email protected]

Finance:

  • Comprised mainly of CA Finance Professionals
  • Exchanges ideas and questions for an immediate response via email List-serv
  • Meets via Zoom quarterly
  • Questions? Please reach out to Jackie Orr at [email protected]

Human Resources:

  • Comprised mainly of CA Human Resource Professionals
  • Exchanges ideas and questions for an immediate response via email List-serv
  • Meets via Zoom every other month
  • Questions? Please reach out to Jackie Orr at [email protected]

Information Technology:

  • Comprised mainly of IT Professionals
  • Exchanges ideas and questions for an immediate response via email List-serv
  • Questions? Please reach out to Phoebe Schimpf at [email protected]

Senior Services:

  • Comprised mainly of CA staff working on Senior Services/Programs within their CAAs
  • Exchanges ideas and questions for an immediate response via email List-serv
  • Meeting schedule via Zoom TBD (new group as of March, 2022)
  • Questions? Please reach out to Charles Barbay at [email protected]

Communities of Practice (CoP):

What do the Communities of Practice (CoP) look like?
CoP meetings take place online and include diverse staff from CAAs in New York. Each CoP meeting can be up to 90 minutes long and take place via Zoom. It is also expected that NYSCAA will create opportunities for CoP members to meet at NYSCAA events, specifically the annual Professional Development Conference.

Who can be a CoP participant?
CoPs are open to CAA staff in NY. The CoPs are developed on the belief that regardless of a person’s formal role in a CAA, we all have valuable knowledge to share and learning to do. The CoPs are designed to leverage connections and open conversations that might not otherwise occur. Those interested in participating should complete a short application. Links are provided below.