Becoming more efficient and delivering more services that help lift people out of poverty by encouraging self sufficiency is the direction Joe Mann is steering NEON. From the Hour:

“We’re trying to move forward and we have a good board that is going to do that,” said NEON President Joseph Mann.

Mann said he hopes the leaner board will run efficiently and make progress in the fight against poverty.“We’re trying to make good in the community and press forward,” he said. “People depend on us in Norwalk and other towns.”

NEON approved changes to its bylaws in November and used the revised bylaws to trim its board from 33 members to 18. The Connecticut Association for Community Action, the agency that oversees NEON, approved the whittling of the board.

“I’m sure there’s some folks that don’t want the bylaws to change,” said Mann in an interview prior to the meeting. “As far as I’m concerned, the bylaws are the bylaws.”

Mann gave the board a report on the agency, highlighting NEON’s advancement in his tenure as president and the agency’s strong standing with financial-backers.

“There’s a lot of people who depend on NEON,” said Mann. “Whatever we can do affects lives immediately.”

The president briefly touched upon the agency’s strategic action plan, which outlines the agency’s goals in the community. The incomplete plan addresses NEON’s ultimate goal of moving clients to self-sufficiency.

source: The Hour, NEON looks to future with new board, By STEVE KOBAK, January 10, 2007