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TFL News and Announcements
Calling all Photographers Everywhere!
The Second Great New England Digital Shootout is coming in June, 2010
The competition begins one minute after midnight on Thursday, June 17 and ends one minute before midnight on Monday, June 21, 2010.
Photographers will shoot digital pictures outside, anywhere in New England, during the summer solstice weekend (Friday, Saturday, Sunday and
Monday). Entrants will have one week to process images and post their best two photographs to the designated web site (entrants will be
contacted by email with details). All rights are retained by the photographer. Voting takes place over one week, and each entrant will be
allowed three votes. Prizes will be awarded. The top twenty artists will have a gallery showing at Giclee of New England, followed by a show
in the Palmer Library Community Room. Details will be posted on the website at www.topfloorlearning.org as soon as they become available.
The entry fee is $25. All proceeds from this event go to support Top Floor Learning’s adult literacy programs. If your business would like
to be a sponsor of this event, or provide a prize, please contact Nancy at goneinc@goneinc.com. For
further information, please call Margaret at Top Floor Learning: 413 283 2329.
Top Floor Learning Wins Palmer Cultural Council Grant
Top Floor Learning recently won a grant for $500 from the Palmer Cultural Council in support of the Great New England Digital Shootout
(GNEDSO) photography competition which will take place at the summer solstice in June, 2010. GNEDSO is the result of collaboration between Top
Floor Learning and Giclee of New England, and is supported in part by this grant from the Palmer LCC, a local agency which is supported by the
Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. Top Floor Learning, a 501(C)3 non-profit organization, thanks the LCC for its support for this
important cultural event.
Top Floor Learning, Inc. Wins Verizon Foundation Grant
Palmer: Thursday, September 10, 2009. Ellen Cummings, Regional Director of Public Affairs for the Verizon Foundation, presented a check for $10,000 to Top Floor Learning, a non-profit organization which provides adult literacy, GED services, and lifelong learning opportunities in the Quaboag Hills region of Western Massachusetts. TFL is delighted to note that this is the third year Verizon has publicly endorsed our work in the field of literacy.
Verizon has made a public commitment to supporting organizations that provide literacy services, recognizing that basic literacy skills and a minimum educational level of a high school diploma or GED are essential requirements for success in the twenty-first century.
TFL is a non-profit volunteer organization, supported by the community, with funding provided by individuals, corporations, organizations and foundations.
As the pre-eminent provider of adult literacy services and lifelong learning in the region, TFL offers English as a Second Language classes, citizenship preparation, Financial Literacy, Bridge to College, specialized reading/writing/math instruction, and a comprehensive GED program. A partnership between Holyoke Community College which began three years ago has evolved in to TFL becoming the only off-site GED testing center in the region. These high-quality literacy programs, in addition to a wide range of lifelong learning classes, attract participants from all parts of Western Massachusetts.
If you are interested in learning more, please visit the website at www.topfloorlearning.org, or call 413 283 2329. We are located on the third level of the Palmer Public Library, and you are welcome to visit any time. If you would like to be put on the mailing list, please call the above number. This will ensure delivery of the course catalogue, which is printed four times a year.
Click here for a PDF from Massachusetts Literacy Champions 2009 focusing on TFL.
Awards, June 2009
Monday June 1, Marsha was awarded Literacy Champion 2009. Monday June 8, TFL was nominated for Massachusetts Nonprofit Network Excellence Award for Innovation.
Margaret went to the State House in Boston to receive this award, and collected two citations, one from Todd Smola and one from Senator Brewer.
Nonprofit Awareness Day
Last year, Governor Patrick signed into law and officially recognized Nonprofit Awareness Day as an annual event, celebrated on the second Monday in June. One year later, the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network commemorated the day with the first ever annual Nonprofit Excellence Awards. After receiving nominations from many commendable individuals and organizations, the winners were selected and received their awards on Monday, June 8th at a State House Ceremony. During the event, Governor Patrick stated, "I value the awards and your contributions," while signing the legislation, which included a proclamation by the House of Representatives. Furthermore, while commenting on the current fiscal situation, Governor Patrick declared:
"We will do and continue to do all we can, having to make those very, very difficult decisions.
Let me say to you, for what comfort it may be, that I know that things are not abstractions. I understand that they are for some individual, some family, whose best chance - or only chance - is behind every single one of those line items we are dealing with.
We are at the receiving end of the very important services that you provide… If there are ways that we can help convene, if there are ways through the awards, for example - and congratulations to all of you - that we can lift up the value of the contributions that you make.
But I know that together we can and we will build a stronger Commonwealth. We will see the fiscal situation restored and thriving again and we have to do what we can right now, together, to keep this network in place and intact so that we are as strong as possible to take advantage of the return when it comes. So I want to thank you, I want to honor you, I want to also give you…a commemorative copy of this very important piece of legislation."
Top Floor Learning was nominated by Senator Stephen Brewer for the MNN Nonprofit Innovation Award. In recognition of this honor, TFL received citations from the Speaker of the House, Robert DeLeo, State Senator Brewer, and State Representative Todd Smola.
Nonprofit Leaders were addressed by:
- Speaker Robert DeLeo, affirmed, "Every day, nonprofits in Massachusetts make a difference in our state, enriching the lives of our children, our families and our communities. From caring for the sick to supporting the arts, from inspiring our young people to raising funds and awareness of eminently worthy causes our states, nonprofits play an important role in improving the lives of people all over the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I want to congratulate today's award winners as well as the numerous deserving nominees for their accomplishments this year. I'd also like to thank the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network for its commitment to the growth and success of these terrific groups. I truly look forward to celebrating the accomplishments of the Massachusetts nonprofit organizations for many years to come."
- Senate President Pro Tem Stan Rosenberg, bringing Senate greetings, acknowledged, "The Nonprofit sector and the organizations and people associated with it are the back bone of Massachusetts"
- Attorney General Martha Coakley stated, "Non profit organizations large and small play a huge role in our economy in Massachusetts, not only in the services that they provide, but also as some of our state's larges-t employers. Our office is committed to working in partnership with non-profits in Massachusetts to ensure good governance and integrity in the non-profit sector. Particularly during these challenging fiscal times, it is critical that we safeguard the livelihood of these organizations so that they can continue to enrich and contribute to our communities."
- MNN Legislators of the Year were awarded to Representative Charles Murphy and Senator Susan Fargo - Rep. Charles Murphy declared, "The Nonprofit Network, what a fabulous job! Just a great idea, because the way things get done, in any state, you just need a large voice, a lot of people behind something, because that's when people stand up and take note"
- Dave Magnani, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network states "The contributions of the nonprofit community are essential to the quality of life in the commonwealth. The winners of the Excellence Awards demonstrate the essential work and important accomplishments and services of this valuable sector. "
Selected from over 110 applications in 7 categories, the winners recognized were:
- MNN Nonprofit Advocacy Award - Dot Art
- MNN Nonprofit Collaboration Award - The Fairmount/Indigo Line CDC Collaborative
- MNN Nonprofit Governance Award - Minute Man Arc of Concord
- MNN Nonprofit Innovation Award - Community Servings
- MNN Nonprofit Leadership Award - The Pan-Massachusetts Challenge ( PMC )
- MNN Nonprofit Management Award - Big Sister Association of Greater Boston
- MNN Nonprofit Young Professional Award - Meghan Trombly of Strong Women, Strong Girls
About the MNN
The Massachusetts Nonprofit Network (MNN) is a statewide association of nonprofit organizations. MNN supports the nonprofit sector through advocacy, public awareness, and capacity building. Established in 2007, the MNN has won legislative victories, bolstered public awareness of individual nonprofits and the sector as a whole, and fostered a positive working environment for its 500+ members. Nonprofits account for 14% of Massachusetts' work force, providing necessary services and wellbeing to the state. For more information about the MNN, please contact Heather Hartshorn at hhartshorn@massnonprofitnet.org, or call 617-330-1188 ext. 240.
Special Events
GAME NIGHT!
When: Every 2nd Monday of the month.
Where: Top Floor Learning
Time: 6:00pm-7:45pm
Open to anyone 16 years and older, unless accompanied by a parent.
We will have some games and cards available, or bring your own - Scrabble, Monopoly, Chess, Checkers, UNO, Rummy, Dominoes, Bridge, Cribbage etc.
No registration required. Please call 283-2329 if you plan to attend.
LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT GIFT?
Ask about our new gift certificates! Gift certificates may be redeemed for any Lifelong Learning class.
Choose the amount you wish to spend: $10, $25, $45, $75, $100.
Purchase your gift certificate at the reception desk in the TFL office.
© Copyright 2010 Top Floor Learning.
All rights reserved in all media.
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