[Faith & Hunger] Hunger Action 25th Annual Membership Meeting Mon Sept. 24 Poughkeepsie

[Dunleamark at aol.com]

Hunger Action Network of NYS
For More info: Mark Dunlea 518 434-7371 xt 1#

25th Annual Hunger  Action Meeting in Poughkeepsie on Sept. 24
ODTA Commissioner David Hansell  Keynote Speaker

Hunger Action Network will hold its 25th annual  membership meeting in 
Poughkeepsie on Monday September 24. The event will be  from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM at 
the Family Partnership Center, 29 North Hamilton  Street.

The keynote address will be by David Hansell, Commissioner  of the NYS Office 
of Temporary and Disability Assistance at 11:45 AM. Comm.  Hansell will 
discuss the Governor’s initiatives to improve the state’s welfare  to work 
programs and to reduce poverty.

Hunger Action Network is a  statewide membership organization of emergency 
food programs, anti-hunger  advocates, low-income individuals and faith 
organizations whose goal is to end  hunger and its root causes, including poverty, in 
NYS.

The recently  established NYS Food Policy Council will be the focus on a 
Hunger Caucus in the  morning (10:20 AM). Cathy Durand, Deputy Commissioner of the 
NYS Department of  Agriculture and Markets, will discuss the role of the new 
State Food Policy  Council in reducing hunger, supporting local farms and 
improving nutrition for  all residents. Other presenters will include Joel Berg of 
the NYC Coalition  Against Hunger, Fern Estrow of the Food Systems Network of 
NYS, Brian Riddell of  Dutchess Outreach and Mark Dunlea of Hunger Action.

The afternoon  workshops will include discussions on universal health care, 
food justice, food  stamps and summer meals, and welfare (TANF) implementation.

There  are suggested sliding-scale donations between $5 for fixed-income 
individuals to  $20 to non-member organizations, however, no one will be turned 
away for lack of  a donation. The donation will include lunch.

For more information,  contact Hunger Action Network at 518 434-7371.  
www.hungeractionnys.org


9:30         Registration and Breakfast

10:00   Welcome: Dennis  Hanratty, Board  
Chair, Hunger Action Network of NYS

Hunger in NY:  Causes,  Trends, & What Hunger Action is Doing to End Hunger. 
Bich Ha Pham, Executive  Director, Hunger Action 

10:20   Hunger Caucus: Attendees  will identify and prioritize issues 
important to hungry New Yorkers and develop  a hunger agenda for the Food Policy 
Council. The caucus will include information  and a discussion facilitated by 
anti-hunger policy experts.  

Food Policy Council presentation: Cathy Durand, Deputy Commissioner,  NYS 
Department of Agriculture and Markets

Discussion Leaders:  
* Joel Berg, NYC Coalition Against Hunger
*  Mark Dunlea, Hunger Action Network of NYS
* Fern Estrow, Food  Systems Network NYC
* Brian Riddell, Dutchess  Outreach

11:45 Keynote Address: 
David Hansell, Commissioner of  the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability 
Assistance (OTDA) will discuss the  agency’s priorities and key initiatives 
under the Spitzer Administration.  

12:30 Lunch
1:15   Membership Meeting
* Board of  Directors’ Elections  

1:30 Small Group  Workshops

A.  Food Stamp and Summer Food Outreach Project: The  workshop will provide 
information on how to assess a household’s potential on FS  pre-screening 
tools. We will also present on our Food Stamp pre-screening  hotline, and other 
outreach initiatives aimed at increasing knowledge of  FSP.  We will also discuss 
the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) project  in Dutchess County. 
Presenters: Veda Myers and Francisco Mercado, Hunger Action  Network
 
B. Food Justice: Learn about progressive food projects such as the West  
Harlem Community Support Agriculture (CSA) project and the Hamilton Hill Food  
Processors, a new non-profit social purpose business. Presenters: Alexis Stevens  
and Vincent Ross, Hunger Action Network
 
C. Health Care for All: NYS has commissioned independent studies of the  
merits of various approaches to universal health care. The Spitzer  administration 
has also set up the “New York’s Partnership for Coverage” to  study the 
obstacles to health coverage in the current system. Learn about these  initiatives 
and how you can help ensure Health Care for All. Presenter: Mark  Dunlea, 
Hunger Action Network 
 
D. TANF (Welfare) Reauthorization Implementation: Participants will learn  
the details about the TANF/welfare reauthorization changes and options to  
improve our current system including increasing the welfare grant, job training  
and education access. Presenter: Bich Ha Pham, Hunger Action Network
 
2:30 Full Group Workshop
* Next Steps in Moving Forward the Food  Policy Council Work
 
3:15 Adjournment / Reception
* A chance to network and meet Hunger  Action members and staff. 






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