THE FEDERATION
OF NEW YORK HOUSING COOPERATIVES
42nd ANNUAL SEMINAR AND TRADE SHOW
On Sunday, February 7th, 1999, the Federation of New
York Housing Cooperatives (FNYHC) held New York's longest running
seminar and tradeshow. That Sunday, in the middle of winter, sunshine
and warmth filled the air and Queens College. The show opened
its doors at 8:15 in the morning. The hundreds of participants
snaked through the aisles inspecting the exhibition booths. The
vendors at the show reconnected with some old friends and established
new leads. All aspects of the building industry from suppliers,
service and professional exhibitors were represented. A tradeshow
geared to the Board Directors, the building decision makers, was
appreciated by the vendors.
The morning seminars opened with such topical subjects as the occupancy agreement under the microscope to the developing saga of disability discrimination. After a break, the participants visited the trade booths and clamored for the vendor raffles.
Midmorning more seminars were held. Updates on the New York tax abatements and the first of the very popular, "ask the attorney round table", were given. After the participants received a head full of information, it was time to visit the vendors and get a chance for more vendor raffles. Before you could complete your rounds of vendors, it was time for lunch.
Federation President Greg Carlson welcomed all to the scrumptious lunch. Greg expressed his thanks to his fellow Board members and acknowledged each of the directors, Al Volpe, Michael Wegielski, Mona Shyman, Harvey Rubin and Al Pennisi. Greg also thanked Eva Rappaport for continuing as Executive Director and keeping the momentum of the Federation going.
From the Federation's sister organizations, the Council of New York Cooperatives' Executive Director Mary Ann Rothman and the Council of Coordinwating Services' Vice Chairman Ed Yakar accepted recognition from the luncheon crowd. Also in attendance was Judy Sullivan, Director of Governmental Relations for the National Association of Housing Cooperatives (NAHC), the national organization that is our voice on the hill in which the Federation plays an important part.
Mr. Carlson gave a short speech noting some of the highlights of the previous year, including the end of Section 277 audits and tax due letters, STAR information and the unveiling of the new "Federation web site" (FNYHC.ORG).
Included in his duties, Mr. Carlson presented the "CHARLES RAPPAPORT, DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR" award. This prestigious honor was given as a memorial to the late Charles Rappaport, long acknowledged as a cooperative leader in New York City. This year there were two recipients, one for a cooperative director and the other for a condominium director. The condominium director to receive this honor was Andrew Rifkin, President of Bay Club Condominiums in Eastern Queens. Mr. Carlson spoke of the great accomplishments, both financially and community wise, Andrew has brought to the sprawling complex of more than 1200 units. The Cooperative Director to receive the honor was Larry Roher, President of LeHarve Owners Corporation aka "LeHarve on the Water". Mr. Carlson spoke about saving the 32 building, 1021 unit complex sight line to the waterfront in which the original sponsor wished to develop. Larry, through his negotiating skills, purchased the property for less than half of the appraised value. Julie Mader of Bay Terrace Section 8 Inc. was given a certificate of appreciation for her many skills and ingenuity as Secretary for the cooperative.
Assemblyman Mark Wepern, addressed the luncheon crowd, and pledged his support to the needs of cooperatives and condominiums. He spoke of the need for continuing contributions to finish up the work on fairness of property taxes.
Mr. Carlson continued
speaking about the challenges facing cooperative and condominium
communities on all levels of government, federal, state and city.
"The road that Charles Rappaport paved must not be forgotten.
The Federation will be driven on, in the memory of the ideals
of Charlie," stated Mr. Carlson. He then reminded the Federation's
members, Board and guests, of Eva Rappaport's great efforts for
the Federation. Greg ended the luncheon by reminding the participants
that without the exhibitors, the Federation would not be able
to put on this great show, so please patronize and support those
exhibitors who support the Federation.
The afternoon was capped off with an excellent attorney's round
table, session two, as well as building inspection (New Local
Law 11) and energy conservation seminars. When those afternoon
sessions ended, attendees stayed to see if they won the spectacular
door prizes. A great time and learning experience was had by all.
NORC'S
The NORC (Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities) Supportive
Services Center, Inc. (N-SSC) was founded in 1996 by a group of
leaders in the fields of housing, medicine, social services, law,
mental health, education, gerontology and other professions and
interests. This followed on a period of extensive development
of several NORC supportive service programs as part of NORC housing
sites founded in New York State.
The Board of Directors of the N-SSC are recognized leaders who
are committed to further development of this unique enterprise
as an important new organizational tool to assist housing developments
in responding to the special needs and problems of senior citizens
in their housing.
The N-SSC is a non-profit organization structured as a cooperative
enterprise which offers technical consultative services to housing
companies, both public and private, throughout the USA. Efforts
are made to assist such housing companies, towns and other municipalities
to develop supportive service programs for their senior citizen
residents. Housing organizations have taken an equity stake in
capitalizing the organization.
The services offered to the seniors through these unique programs
make it possible for seniors to remain in their existing housing
which most seniors prefer and benefit from surrounded by family
and friends in a familiar environment. Since NORCs are intergenerational
communities, these programs tend to strengthen services for families
and children as well as seniors.
The N-SSC provides educational seminars, information materials
and training programs to housing companies or other entities which
express an interest in meeting the social and health needs of
seniors and wish to strengthen their communities by provision
of much needed on-site services and programs.
The NORC Supportive Services Center provides the following services:
Develop and administer
an assessment survey to determine physical, social and community
health and social services needs of those living in their housing
units.
Develop professional services program in response to needs resulting
from above survey.
Develop funding plans for support of the proposed services program.
This will include staffing requirements and need for other resources.
Assist Board of Directors or owners in selecting a community services
agency as a provider of services for an on-site social and health
services program.
Assist new NORC program in budget development and monitoring of
budget. Assist in developing IRS status as a 501 (c) (3).
Assist organization in program evaluation.
Provide on-going consultation to NORC organization and on-site
staff.
Provide total project management.
For further information or to set up an appointment call Nat Yalowitz,
President and CEO at 212-673-3901.