Newtown Nonprofit Council hosted its first monthly meeting of 2023 at C.H. Booth Library on January 17.

The group did a hybrid option of in-person and virtual. Previously, all its meetings were conducted via Zoom.

C.H. Booth Library Reference Librarian Lily Mac Hugh led the gathering. She shared on January 23, “We had a very constructive council meeting this week, with in-person and Zoom attendance.”

According to Mac Hugh, the group brainstormed having an in-person volunteer fair to bring awareness about the organization and get more people involved.

The date and location are still pending.

“We discussed a need for better overlap and cooperation, with volunteers being encouraged to help out other organizations in the community,” she noted.

Friends of Newtown Seniors (FONS) representative John Boccuzzi, Sr, brought up his Livable Community idea. He explained that for it to be viable, though, more organizations need to see the value in it.

Mac Hugh reported, “Randy Walker of the Pootatuck Watershed Association talked about the Homegrown National Park initiative and a need and desire to get other nonprofit organizations involved and working together. This would mean providing seeds/shrubbery, removing invasive species, engaging groups like the girl/boy scouts, and working towards sustainable development.”

Another Newtown Nonprofit Council member who participated in the January meeting was Tripp Killin of the Jeniam Foundation. He spoke about how there is still an issue with people not using the Galaxy Digital, newtownnc.galaxydigital.com, platform in town.

Mac Hugh shared that Jordana Bloom of C.H. Booth Library voiced how more exposure to local volunteers is needed.

Newtown Nonprofit Council’s next meeting will be on Tuesday, February 21, at 10 am.

Everyone is encouraged to bring another representative from a local nonprofit organization. There will be coffee and doughnuts provided for attendees.

To learn more about Newtown Nonprofit Council, contact Mac Hugh at lmachugh@chboothlibrary.org.

Reporter Alissa Silber can be reached at alissa@thebee.com.