| See photos from PANO's
Nonprofit Advocacy Day 6/29/10
PANO visits federal elected officials. On Thursday,
June 24, 2010, Joe Geiger, Executive Director; and interns
Elizabeth Myers and Crystal Dargay travelled to Washington D.C.
to discuss issues that impact Pennsylvania Nonprofits. The
bipartisan visits were with Congressman Holden and his
legislative director Keith Pemrick, Congresswoman Schwartz’s
legislative assistant Brandon Casey, Congressman Pitt’s
legislative assistant Ben Stoltzfoos, and Congressman Altmire’s
legislative assistant Cara Toman, along with Congressman Dent’s
legislative assistant Kristin Dini. Mr. Geiger met with
Congressman Platts and his staff Scott Miller, Chief of Staff
and Rebeccah Wolfkiel, Legislative Director.
It is important to give special kudos to Congressman Platts
for being the first republican to cosponsor
“The
Nonprofit Sector and Community Solutions Act.” We thank
Congressman Platts and his staff for their time and support of
this essential bill that could strengthen the relationship
between the federal government and the nonprofit sector. In
addition to Congressman Platts, each of the visited legislators
was expressly asked to sponsor The Nonprofit Sector and
Community Solutions Act.
The team from PANO also addressed nonprofit capacity
building. The legislators were also asked for their support in
reauthorizing the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act that
provides $50 million and the Serve America Act that provides $5
million.
Government contracts and grants processes were brought to the
attention of the federal legislators. Specifically, we discussed
the lack of cost of living adjustments and interest payments
accrued by nonprofit as a result of late contract payments from
the government.
The PANO team additionally encouraged the reintroduction of
bills to support standardizing charitable mileage reimbursement
rates with business mileage reimbursement rates and the Public
Good IRA Act to promote older Americans to make charitable
donations.
A number of Pennsylvania constituents including nonprofit
organization leaders are still concerned about the extension of
the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage Act. Unfortunately, it
was learned that on Friday, June 25, the extender’s bill was
blocked and shut down for a lack of supporting votes in the
Senate. This represents a loss of $850 million in revenue to
Pennsylvania.
For additional information please contact Joe Geiger at:
joe@pano.org, or 717-236-8584,
x1007.
7/15/09 PANO Represents Your Organization’s Interests in
Washington D.C.
Press
Release
On July 14, Joe Geiger, Executive Director, Jennifer Ross,
CIO, and David Ross, Policy Officer, along with representatives
of other State Associations from across the country, met with
Michele Jolin, Senior Advisor for the President for Social
Innovation and Civic Participation, in the Indian Treaty Room of
the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Ms. Jolin explained
the priorities of this agency. Tim Delaney, President & CEO of
the National Council of Nonprofits, and its board members,
expressed our interest in continuing an ongoing dialog about
issues critical to the sector. We will be contacting members for
input as we receive requests from Ms. Jolin and her colleagues.
Please share feedback so your needs will be heard.

Dr. Lester Salamon, Director of the Listening Post Project at
Johns Hopkins University, also shared the findings of the
“Impact of the 2007-09 Recession on Nonprofit Organizations.” We
encourage you to review this informative research and learn more
about the Listening Post here:
http://www.ccss.jhu.edu/index.php?section=content&view=9&sub=5.
Today, PANO Public Policy Officer David Ross and Public
Policy Intern Emily Lai, are visiting with Pennsylvania’s
Congressional Delegation in Washington, D.C. as part of the
National Council of Nonprofits’ 2009 Lobby Day. This is a
vitally important opportunity for PANO to network with
influential members of state and federal government as well as
share ideas and build relationships with nonprofits from around
the country, to further amplify the voice of Pennsylvania’s
nonprofit sector.
National Council of Nonprofits’ 2009 Lobby Day kicked-off
with a policy briefing where Theresa Pattara, Tax Counsel to
Senator Charles Grassley (IA-R) and leading staff members of the
US Senate Finance Committee engaged in the critical discussion
of how Congress and the Administration can better partner with
America’s 1.4 million nonprofits, build nonprofit capacity, and
bring much needed healthcare coverage to small nonprofit
employers. Watch for more details soon about these priorities.
Following the briefing, David Ross and Emily Lai, visited 11
of Pennsylvania’s 19 Congressional offices on the issues of
health care reform, nonprofit capacity building, nonprofit
access to stimulus funds, expanding the IRA rollover charitable
giving incentive, and raising the volunteer mileage rate.
Learn more about the National Council of Nonprofits here:
http://www.councilofnonprofits.org/. Nonprofit
organizational members of PANO are also members of our National
Council.
Celebrate “Pennsylvania Nonprofit Day”-- April 17, 2008
Join PANO and Pennsylvania’s nonprofits on
April 17, 2008 on the floor of the State House in Harrisburg,
for the first Pennsylvania Nonprofit Congress.
Yesterday afternoon (4/9/08), the State Senate, in support of
PANO, NCNA and the Pennsylvania Nonprofit Congress, adopted
Senate Resolution 293
hereby recognizing that…April 17, 2008, is
"Pennsylvania Nonprofit Day" throughout the Commonwealth.
The Resolution was introduced by State
Senator Andrew Dinniman of Chester and Montgomery Counties.
Senator Dinniman and his staff are dedicated to the causes
championed by PANO on behalf of the nonprofit community and has
publicly demonstrated this commitment. He has also agreed to
serve as the Senate Chair for the Pennsylvania Charitable
Nonprofit CAUCUS, a new initiative spearheaded by PANO and the
United Way of Pennsylvania, to be launched later this year.
PANO & Coalition of Charities Hold Legislative Breakfast for New
Legislators. On January 30, PANO
leading a coalition of five statewide charities, hosted a
legislative breakfast at the Capitol in Harrisburg, honoring the
55 freshman legislators of 2007. Participants included PANO as
organizer, the Pennsylvania Alliance of YMCAs, United Way of
Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Association of Goodwill Industries,
and Pennsylvania Chapters of the American Red Cross. The event
addressed the need to establish a closer working relationship
with the legislature.
Pictures.
PANO Gears-Up for Advocacy in 2007
As 2006 draws to a close, PANO wraps-up its public policy
activities for the year, and gears-up for an exciting 2007
legislative season. PANO wishes to thank our member
organizations, our colleagues and our friends, who answered
call-to-actions, engaged in the public arena, and helped us
successfully advocate for those we serve.
2007 will be no less of a challenge, but PANO will continue
to provide members with solid public policy analysis, advocacy
and leadership. Your input is valued and always welcome. Your
involvement is crucial. Please contact David Ross PANO Public
Policy Officer at david@pano.org to ask how you can get
involved, to provide feedback and/or for more information on any
of the items below. Together we can build a stronger charitable
sector and improve the quality of life for all communities.
Town Hall Meetings 2005/2006
The Pennsylvania Nonprofit Town Hall Meeting in Bethlehem on
Monday November 7th was a resounding success. Stuart
Weiser presented the Nonprofit Employment Report and the impact
of nonprofit arts organizations as an engine for growth. Joe
Geiger presented on the role of PANO, and offered an updated of
legislative issues impacting the sector. Phil Hayne, Senior
Vice President of the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley
addressed the impact of human services charities on the
community they serve. All three presentations were informative,
engaging and well received by an audience of more than 70
representatives of nonprofits in the Lehigh Valley.
US Senator Rick Santorum was the special guest speaker. The
Senator arrived during the 10:30 am break, took the podium at
11:00 am and spoke for about 30 minutes on the pending nonprofit
reforms, charitable incentives in the various hurricane relief
acts, and the current hurdle of federal budget reconciliation.
The Senator then sat as a panelist with Joe, Stuart, and Phil,
and answered questions from the audience about nonprofit
issues.
Media in attendance included PCN, who filmed the entire 2 ½ hour
event, television channel 69, who filmed most of the event, the
Morning Call newspaper, WAEB AM radio news and their sister FM
radio station B-104 news. PCN has not yet scheduled a broadcast
time or date. We will keep you posted as to when it will air.
This event generated the type of attention and recognition that
will help promote PANO’s reputation into new markets.
PANO would like to thank Bill Kleintop, Bill Ender, Mike Wilson,
Santo Marabella (Moderator), and
Irvin Rokke, (President of Moravian
College) for their hard work and their hospitality. We would
also like to thank Phil Hayne Senior Vice President of the
United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley (Panelist) for his most
welcome assistance. We look forward to future opportunities to
build upon these new and productive relationships.
October 19, 2005 (717) 236-8584
Senator Santorum to join PANO and Moravian College for Town Hall
Meeting on nonprofit employment and legislative issues Monday November 7
in Bethlehem
Bethlehem, PA- Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations
(PANO), United Way of Pennsylvania (UWP), The Allied Art Fund, and
Moravian College Comenius Center will hold a Pennsylvania Nonprofit Town
Hall Meeting on Monday, November 7, 2005, at Foy Hall, in Bethlehem, 8:30
am – 12:30 pm.
This forum will focus on issues that impact Pennsylvania’s nonprofit
sector:
• Nonprofits have become a major economic force in Pennsylvania. 1 out
of every 9 workers in Pennsylvania is employed by a nonprofit.
• Nationwide, nonprofit arts organizations generate $10.5 billion in
Federal personal income tax revenue. In Central Pennsylvania alone,
nonprofit arts organizations generate $43 million in revenue annually.
Presenters include:
• Joe Geiger, Executive Director, PANO, will discuss how Pennsylvania
nonprofits have become a major source of employment. Mr. Geiger will also
present on current State legislation that will impact the nonprofit
sector.
• Stuart Weiser, President, AAF, will present PANO’s 2005 Nonprofit
Employment Study by Johns Hopkins University. He will also address how
nonprofit arts organizations a become an engine for regional economic
growth.
•
Phil Hayne, Senior Vice President of the United Way of the
Greater Lehigh Valley
will address the essential role of charitable
nonprofits in providing human services and promoting a healthier
community.
Special Guest speaker:
• Rick Santorum, US Senator for Pennsylvania since 1995. Senator Santorum
will present on the CARE Act, the Hurricane Relief Act, and nonprofit
reform legislation.
This Pennsylvania Nonprofit Town Hall Meeting is part of PANO’s
on-going effort to advance the work of Pennsylvania’s charitable nonprofit
sector through education and advocacy. “This is a chance for the entire
community to ask questions and voice concerns directly to leaders of
Pennsylvania’s nonprofit sector.” said PANO Executive Director Joe Geiger.
“This kind of exchange helps us better provide leadership on the critical
issues that impact Pennsylvania’s nonprofits and the communities we
serve.” "Pennsylvania’s nonprofits are a major economic force in every
region of the state,” said UWP President Tony Ross. “The fact that the
sector continues to grow is a clear indication of its significance,
influence and potential.”
The Bethlehem Nonprofit Town Hall Meeting was one in a series of five public Meetings held throughout the Commonwealth, developed by PANO and
co-sponsored by regional leaders of the nonprofit sector. Other
Town Hall Meetings included: October 21, 2005- Philadelphia, January 6,
2006- Harrisburg, January 24, 2006- Pittston, and May 17, 2006- Hanover.
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