NVCC Center Receives Silver Seal of Transparency

The Navidad Valley Community Connections (NVCC) board of director’s has now grown from eight to 12 community leaders. They have started work on the strategic planning process with Vicki LaRue, an active board member from the Round Top Family Library, as facilitator. The community support has been a catalyst for NVCC.

NVCC welcomes community input, along with community involvement, as well. You can be part of this positive change by providing feedback, by serving on a committee and by helping develop goals and objectives with action plans and deadlines. There will be accountability and leadership opportunities.

The Navidad Valley Community Connections Senior Center has been awarded a Silver Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. As NVCC celebrates this accomplishment, NVCC is currently reaching for the Gold Seal, which should obtain within the next three months.

NVCC is proud of this award because it will add credibility, integrity and transparency to its operations and programs, as well as building confidence with donors, sponsors and funders who support the NVCC Senior Center’s mission within our communities.

When grants written to request funding from a donor, especially foundations, they typically go to GuideStar to check on an organization’s transparency and dedication to mission, then from here, they determine whether or not to even look at the request for funding. If an organization is not on GuideStar, then their grant may not even be looked at or considered for funding. When individuals look up the center, they will find a Silver Seal of Transparency, which means NVCC is diligent about presenting the organization in the most positive and professional manner.

NVCC is now working on a sponsorship program for specific needs that have been identified. NVCC is enhancing its physical site and now have a separate restroom to maintain, and is searching for the “right person” to start out in a part-time capacity with the spirit and energy to work up to full-time status within a year to focus on the day-to-day operations, member recruitment, and program development.

Have you, your organization, or your company been a Lunch and Learn Series speaker at the Senior Center? As a Lunch and Learn Series speaker you will highlight what services you provide, how you have developed in the area and how our communities benefit from your services. Members are curious about new companies coming to town and want to know what they do and who they provide services for. This is a great way to showcase your company, its accomplishments, and how your company makes the community a better place to live, work, and raise a family. Give Cindy Villarreal a call at (979) 743-3227. Speakers come in on Monday at noon to give a short presentation and provide clarity with a question and answer session.

Most recently, NVCC had Debbie Blansitt, Director of the Schulenburg Area Food Pantry, come to speak members. She gave a great history of how the pantry developed over time and how they manage the distribution of food to people in need. It seemed like everyone knew Debbie and she knew so many of the folks at the center as well, so everyone was comfortable and receptive to the information she provided.

NVCC had a speaker from the Fayette County Democratic Party, Kirk Pate, to speak to members. He gave a great overview of what they do, how the Democratic party stays active throughout the year, not only at election times, and how they can be a resource in our area.

Next on the list was the Fayette County Republican Party, who was represented by Deborah Frank. She presented an awesome overview of their focus and how the party works within Fayette County. Members were really enlightened by both of these speakers and commented on how appropriate these speakers were for them.

Both Kirk Pate and Deborah Frank complimented the Fayette County Elections Office and Terri Hefner, Fayette County Elections Administrator, and her staff for always being poised to provide assistance with any questions or concerns when it comes to voting in Fayette County, specifically mail-in ballots. The Elections Office can be reached by phone at (979) 968-6563 or email terri.hefner@co.fayette.tx.us for questions.