Their new mission statement is “What matters is the bottom line results…the lives we change, the community we shape.” The Vision Council which now governs the distribution of funds has implemented a program where they visit the agencies who request money from United Way to determine how the funds are being used and whether or not they fit the new guidelines which are focused on making the community healthier. Agencies will not automatically receive funding simply because they have qualified before. There is also more accountability for funds dispersed, mainly based on measuring success by community impact.

The community leaders that the United Way is looking to partner with have been developed through the auspices of the Chamber of Commerce leadership training programs. Mary Marana, as a Vision Council member, explained that she was on a committee that had to evaluate 5 United Way recipients. The one she was most impressed with was not the one with the great paperwork but the one most affecting the community. Watch your newspaper next week for more information. Heidi ended the rather lengthy program with a question and answer session that brought up some of the major concerns of the community with this change process. These included a specific request to explain the cut in funds to Camp Confidence and the question of whether the actual administrative costs of United Way are at 13% or 25% (including fund-raising costs).

• And the wacky job contest goes on. Raboin is hunting buffaloes this week and Bartels is collecting social security
• Julia Sullivan has decided since she is staying at home, her new job is “domestic goddess”. I think she wins the wacky job contest this week.
• They need food at Cub Foods—actually that is the collection point for the Boy Scouts collection on Saturday. Put your non perishable food in a bag on your steps for the Food Shelves.