Getting Started
Recent News
‘HAVE YOU RENAISSANCED TODAY’
Sullivan Renaissance Beautification Grants Awarded | Mar. 28, 2008
GREEN IS AN EVOLUTION, NOT A REVOLUTION
Builder ‘demystifies green building’ at seminar | Mar. 25, 2008
‘RURAL LIFE IN THE CATSKILLS’
Forum set for Friday, March 28th at Cooperative Extension | Mar. 21, 2008
Photo Galleries
Spring Forum
Sullivan Renaissance Grant Program is now in its eighth season
Solar Renaissance
Sullivan Renaissance partners with NYSERDA
Volunteers
Volunteers provide manpower and bring a vital community spirit to an endeavor. They are the heart of the Sullivan Renaissance program.
An effective volunteer program is essential in most community efforts. One common challenge can be to find enough volunteers to share all the work that needs to be done. The way groups recruit volunteers can vary: from asking neighbors to lend a hand; to training individuals as part of a formal program; to bringing in organized groups such as Daytop in Swan Lake or the Job Corps Center in Callicoon.
All projects need to include young people among their volunteers. Scout, school and church groups are good places to start, as are the children of volunteers already participating.
Tips for recruiting and retaining volunteers
Technical Expertise
There is no end to the technical expertise that might be necessary for a successful project: everything from landscaping and horticulture, to building renovation and repair, to community development and planning. Then there are the organizational tasks like bookkeeping, project management, fundraising, photography and documentation. Many communities have talented individuals to meet most or all of these needs. Other communities must reach out to find some of this expertise. One good place to start is with the local senior citizen organization.
Working with your Municipality
The Sullivan Renaissance Steering Committee has been holding a series of dialogues with town board members and supervisors, and with code enforcement officers and building inspectors, to explore how we can work together. The response from virtually all the municipal officials has been overwhelmingly positive. Communication between individual Renaissance projects and their town and village officials is required; good relationships are encouraged.
Sullivan Renaissance has a solid track record. The benefits of beautification are apparent and can be seen throughout Sullivan County. And the impacts move beyond appearance: residents have better attitudes about their communities, more businesses want to locate on renovated main streets, and more visitors come to the hamlets and villages. These changes improve the quality of life and increase the tax base. Beautification promotes economic development.
Suggestions for Municipal Cooperation
Fundraising
Every organization needs money to operate, so Renaissance provides seed grants to help communities get started. Most Renaissance communities also require additional funding for their projects, which can vary in cost from several hundred to several thousand dollars. Many communities are experienced in obtaining the resources they need to complete their projects and have learned how to raise funds.
Here are some general fundraising tips
For more information visit Grassroots Funding Journal