Congratulations on Your Growth!

-Tina Zerbian, NYSCAA President

            On behalf of the New York State Community Action Association, I applaud you on your tireless efforts to provide high quality services to your WAP membership.

            It has been a remarkable, and, yes, sometimes tumultuous, year for NYSWDA!  In June of 2002, NYSCAA and NYSWDA representatives began a journey down an untrodden path, not knowing where it would lead, but having faith that it was the right thing to do.  NYSWDA had new funding opportunities and fabulous ideas, and both organizations had a strong desire to implement these ideas in a unified and supportive environment.  Fortunately, we all recognized the strength of a symbiotic relationship and knew that actions we took to benefit the Weatherization Directors would similarly benefit the Community Action Association, and our shared consumers. 

            Today, we share skilled staff and expanded resources through a management agreement.  While the document and the specifics of the arrangement have gone through a few iterations, and may undergo more adjustments in the future, this partnership represents a new and exciting way of doing business.

            So, NYSWDA’s growth and positive changes have meant change and growth for NYSCAA as well.  We felt some growing pains along the way, but our metamorphosis created a new and better way of doing business.  This brings to mind a poem by Robert Frost:

“We saw the risk we took in doing good,

But dared not spare to do the best we could

Though harm should come of it.”

            We have the good fortune of leadership in people like Ray Yehle and James McGarvey and Dan Maskin who saw the risk but did not spare to do the best they could.  NYSWDA’s eagerness and NYSCAA’s experience have created a partnership that will result in the extraordinary.   Tina...