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Community Commentary
From the Desk of the Lakes Region United Way

A reprinting of Commentaries, Letters to the Editors, and other published items from the desks of the Lakes Region United Way staff and directors.

Preparing Tomorrow's Workforce
Community Commentary by Alan Robichaud, Community Development Director
March 1, 2011

In the next four years over 4,400 students will be graduating from Lakes Region area high schools. The majority of these students will be entering community colleges, four year colleges and universities, the military or some form of employment. How ready will these students be to accept these challenges? It is the question of workforce readiness that is driving the efforts of an initiative called 200 X 2020, a collaborative project of the Lakes Region United Way, the Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce, NH Works, the Lakes Region Community College and local school districts.

Before reaching for your calculator to compute the product of what looks like a mathematical equation, consider that 200 X 2020 envisions a minimum of 200 businesses, in the next ten years will commit to fully engage students of our local schools in an effort, from kindergarten through college, to produce academic and economic success for the betterment of themselves and our community. Over the past four months 200 X 2020 has conducted surveys with Lakes Region schools. Data was collected from 25 elementary, middle and high schools indicating what level of partnership exists with local businesses. While the results are being compiled, the Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce is planning a Business Roundtable to explore future possibilities of engaging businesses with schools, paving the way for a more prepared workforce in future years.

As we travel around the Lakes Region we hear conflicting stories from "there are no jobs" to "there are no people to fill the jobs we have." What we soon learn is that there is a gap between the skills needed to fill the jobs that do exist and the skilled people to fill those jobs. If we are to prevent the loss of well-paying jobs in our region and out migration of our young people to other states and countries we must prepare our people with the skills needed to compete in the world economy right here at home.

There is nothing new about strengthening the ties between education and economic vitality except perhaps for the times in which we live. Over the years, Congress has enacted legislation in various attempts to forge partnerships between education and businesses. Such laws met with varying degrees of success and in many cases lacked staying power once federal support was withdrawn. The School-to-Work Opportunities Act signed into law on May 4, 1994 was subsequently sunset in 2001 leaving many local schools without sustainable options. To varying degrees our local schools continue to reach out to local businesses to benefit student learning; often with limited resources.

While New Hampshire leads the nation in economic recovery, more and more of our families are experiencing poverty as evidenced by free and reduced lunch enrollments. If we expect to create a vibrant community where children, families and businesses thrive, we must collectively respond to the forces that keep us working in isolation of each other. We cannot wait for a new grant to come along that will only energize us early on but not sustain our efforts over the long haul. We cannot assume that the federal or the state government will come up with the resources needed to lift people out of poverty or revive our economy. As the saying goes, "We are who we've been waiting for." It's up to us to solve our issues and if we focus our efforts, share our resources and work toward the greater good, we will find the solutions we need. If we have the will, we will find the way!

We will be asking Chamber members and other community partners to lead the way in this 200 X 2020 initiative and together we will celebrate a more vibrant community and a brighter future for children and families throughout the Lakes Region. Such a future must not be left to chance but to choice. Choose to become involved! Stay tuned to your Chamber for more information.

The Lakes Region United Way strives to advance the common good by involving all members of the community in activities, events and initiatives that promote the social, cultural, educational, environmental and economic well-being of our region. For further information on how the United Way can assist you in contributing to healthy communities, contact Alan Robichaud at 524-6864, ext. 100.

Socially Conscious Companies Foster Community-Spirited Employees
Community Commentary, by Alan Robichaud
October 5, 2010

It's hard not to be amazed at the Lakes Region when one constantly sees positive things going on all around us, all of the time. Since joining the Lakes Region United Way a short 10 months ago, I have seen more people involved in positive community building practices than my previous 54 years in the Lakes Region. Maybe that's in part due to the fact that I am now in a place where I can see things happening in a broader venue than in the past or maybe it's a sign of the times. The Lakes Region United Way is committed to building healthy committees, stabilizing family income and assuring that our children enter school ready to learn. Not easy tasks to be sure but certainly made easier by the caring and giving of those who call the Lakes Region their home.

I recently witnessed my first Day of Caring sponsored by the Lakes Region United Way from the inside. From the outside, Day of Caring might look like just another day devoted to community clean-up and volunteerism by some well-meaning citizens giving something back to the community. Well it is certainly all of that. But from the inside, it's a well-greased machine built on hours and hours of planning and time dedicated by people who have led the event for years. It takes a great deal of effort to handle the multiple tasks like soliciting agencies to offer up projects, working with companies to release their employees for the day, matching projects with the appropriate labor and then to reward the combined group with a kick-off breakfast that is no less than a small town pep rally. Finally to celebrate their work at the end of the day by sharing stories of compassion, joy, stamina and success was the perfect ending to a perfect day!

Many of the companies who release their employees to contribute to Day of Caring are in many cases the same companies who contribute annually and immeasurably to the Lakes Region all year long. These businesses give an immense amount of return to our community through their contributed talent on non-profit Boards of Directors, to donations of goods and services to needy families and children, to the ample fundraising efforts all year long, and again during Day of Caring by allowing their employees to participate in meaningful projects that would otherwise go undone. We are fortunate to live in this wonderful and caring region of the state.

The example set by our business community reaps results in many other ways as well. Employees are families and friends who live in our communities. Following their corporate example of giving back the community, these employees give back again and again through their schools, student athletic teams, neighborhood watch groups, and simply looking over their fences to see that their neighbors are safe and well. These roles are modeled for our children thus pave the way for future acts of giving, leadership, and civic preservation. Our schools, churches, civic organizations and local government entities follow examples of collaborating with others for the greater good and the community as a whole is strengthened, safer, and closer to the needs of all us.

We need to assure that Day of Caring becomes a matter of caring every day. Not a day should go by that we don't think about the children of our community - that they are well nourished and nurtured by families who love them, by schools that teach them and by communities that protect and offer them hope and aspirations. Families are supported in raising their children when their livelihoods are reinforced by vibrant communities. Businesses are prosperous when they have a reliable, well-trained workforce that meets the challenges of today's global economy right here at home.

We have much to be proud of Lakes Region. But we have work to do. Day of Caring is an excellent example of helping out the community but it need not happen only once a year. The United Way encourages all our citizens to look for ways to help out. There are many civic organizations, church groups, youth activities, and non-profit agency opportunities awaiting your time and talents. Make every day a Day of Caring. Make every day matter, for yourself and for others. If you need help in finding out how to connect with others and address a local need, give us a call at the Lakes Region United Way. Like the great Jackie Robinson once said: "Life is not a spectator sport." If you want to change the outcome of the game, you've got to be in it. So step off the bleachers in onto the field. It's your call to make! Thank to all who made Day of caring an incredible success! Thank you for answering the call!

How a Volunteer Turned Monday into Friday
Community Commentary by Jack Terrill
April 19, 2010

For the last eight years of my career, I have been dependent upon volunteers to ensure our organizational work gets done. Now when you think about that, at least on the surface, it sounds a little scary. After all, a volunteer is exactly that, someone who does not get paid to show up, and their commitment to any group is backed only by their strength of word and character. Of course, I have seen some amazing people accomplish highly impressive things in their role as a volunteer. In fact, at times the only thing holding these folks back has been me getting in the way. But I learn as I go, and along the way I have been inspired countless times by the selfless citizens we call volunteers. And we count our lucky stars everyday for the people who have worked so hard on behalf of the Lakes Region United Way. And in particular, we are very thankful for our volunteer who turned Monday into Friday…Susan Nadeau.

Susan volunteers at our office every Monday, for about 3 hours. She was originally engaged as a volunteer by the previous Executive Director, so she has been working here since before I came on board, and was also here before Judi, Alan or Kevin were on staff… so we all consider Susan to be the senior person.

Like clockwork we hear Susan's steps coming down the stairs after receiving a ride from the Lakes Region Community Services support staff, and like clockwork we go through our morning greetings. Once Susan is satisfied we are all present or accounted for, and once we have dealt with the issue of any possible upcoming holiday and what celebration we might have for that holiday, she heads down the hall to make her beloved cup of coffee. Following a few more witty observations, and a reminder that she wants a computer for her birthday, she receives her weekly assignment from Kevin. Susan does a lot of different things for us, and despite her challenges, she puts more than her share of heart into every task. More often than not, if you have received one of our thank you postcards in the mail, Ms. Nadeau was the one who put the label on it and ran it through the postage machine. There is often organizing work to do which Susan assists with, and there are always forms to be counted and stacked, which she happily tackles while keeping half an eye on a Disney movie or two. Occasionally I will ask her to do a task that doesn't quite meet her standards of acceptability, at which point she will tell me how much she misses my predecessor, Bruce. For those three hours Susan stays busy and important work is accomplished while enabling the staff to stay focused on other tasks. I say three hours, but this does not give proper credit to her lunch, which is an elaborate affair with really good food that she brings from home. She often compares her lunch to what I might be having, and she usually has me outclassed.

So Susan is driven here once a week and we get some things accomplished. But it goes much further than that. As a volunteer, she is not just functional, she is transformational. She brings us along for the ride that is Susan. With Susan, the sun is always out, the problems of the world are to be brushed off the shoulder and life is about just being here and being happy. I don't know much about her life, but I am sure she has had her share of triumph and tragedy. And while I don't know the details, I can tell you for sure that every Monday Susan takes me to school on how to deal with life. She is a ray of sunshine when she enters our office on Monday mornings. It is her outlook on life that makes her transformational, and it is her presence that makes our Mondays seem like Fridays.

Susan is a special volunteer for us, but there are many, many volunteers out in the community who are making a huge difference for their adopted causes. While there are differences between volunteers, abilities, and levels of commitment, I think it is safe to say that the collective body of volunteers for all organizations in the Lakes Region go well beyond functional to transformational. If there is any question, all we have to do is take a minute and think about what kind of a region we would be without our volunteers. So, in celebration of National Volunteer Week, April 18th through the 24th, thank a volunteer today and remember that they can take Monday and make it feel like Friday. Thank you for all that you do to make our community a better place to live, work and play!

Jack Terrill is president of the Lakes Region United Way, whose mission is to advance the common good through thoughtful and sustainable social investment. For more information you can log onto www.lruw.org, fan us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or give Jack a call at 524-6864.

Celebrate National Volunteer Week
April 18 through 24, 2010
by Alan Robichaud

As we approach National Volunteer Week, April 18 through 24, 2010, we reflect back on the incredible effort put forth by our many volunteers throughout the community. From volunteering to serve meals at the local shelter to lending one's administrative talents to a fledging nonprofit's Board of Directors many caring people willingly give their time, talents and financial resources to support the basic needs of their fellow citizens.

Most nonprofits could not exist without the extra assistance of people who serve as mentors for disadvantaged youth, advocates for abused children, people who answer phones for local emergency lines, or those who raise money to replace or support diminishing public resources. The Independent Sector rates the annual value of volunteer time by state. Values placed on volunteerism in New Hampshire in 2008 (the latest data available) rates us at $20.25/hour for individuals performing special services to nonprofits. This data becomes important when calculating the true cost of doing business as agencies would need to purchase these services if not otherwise donated by volunteers.

The value of volunteering cannot be overstated for either the agency that benefits on behalf of their clients or the volunteers themselves. Research studies attest to the fact that volunteering improves one's health by reducing the risk of illness and increasing one's attitude about themselves and those they serve. Volunteering allows individuals to express their interests and talents by providing an outlet to create, restore or rehabilitate a person, a building, or a community.

Volunteering also opens the door to meeting many interesting and diverse people that impact your life. Whether broadening one's social networks and making lasting friendships, decreasing social isolation, or presenting opportunities for career advancement, volunteering truly benefits all parties involved.

In today's economic times, the volunteer becomes a crucial element in the sustenance of our social network and sometimes the last bastion between hope and despair – the difference between getting needed support and being turned away when services end. It's all about relationships - neighbors helping neighbors. It's about connectedness and contribution. It's about thinking and giving beyond oneself for the common good. It's about creating healthy communities.

In honor of all our community volunteers, the Lakes Region United Way, along with all of our volunteers, express our deepest gratitude to all who give so generously to our community through their unselfish deeds as well as by their donations.

Happy Volunteer Week and Thank You All!

Alan Robichaud
Community Development Director
Lakes Region United Way

Appreciate the Democratic Process
by Alan Robichaud
January, 2010

On Saturday, February 13, 37 members of the Lakes Region community came together to discuss the issue of "Expanded Legal Gambling in New Hampshire." Organizers from the Carsey Institute and Cooperative Extension Services of the University of New Hampshire were pleased to see over 200 participants join the eleven groups statewide for a day-long facilitated discussion of the pros and cons of expanding gambling. Locally, the Lakes Region United Way teamed up with the Belknap County Cooperative Extension to host and facilitate the session at Taylor Community.

While it was not intended to change people's opinions on legalized gambling, the session was meant to bring together a diverse audience whose equally diverse views on the topic would be shared openly, honestly and with respect for how others feel about the issue. Evaluations on the day proved the event a success. Unlike local deliberative sessions during the town meeting season, this facilitated process allowed extended time for participants to explore the issues in greater detail, review data and policy associated with gaming issues, and dialogue with others of similar and opposing views in order to inform the Governor's Gaming Commission later this winter. By all counts, the sessions were civil, respectful and informative as each participant was invited to express her/his opinion on why they were for, against or undecided on the question of expanded legal gambling in New Hampshire.

The Carsey Institute will now compile the notes from all eleven sites and submit a summary to the Governor's Commission sometime in late March. This summary will be made available to the press and the public when it is released. In the meanwhile, those who attended the forum and anyone else who wishes to engage in this dialogue between now and when the report is filed may log onto e-Democracy a non-profit organization based in Minnesota which hosts on-line citizen dialogue on community and public policy issues. The ongoing forum will take place on a secure website. Participant names and e-mail addresses will not be shared with anyone outside the forum. To be a part of this discussion, please log onto http://e-democracy.org.

The Lakes Region United Way would like to thank our facilitators Sue Cagle, Becky Levesque and Andy Fast from the Belknap County Cooperative Extension for contributing their time and their leadership and organizational skills.

We also, and especially, wish to thank Alicia Segalini, Kyle Smith and Nicole LePage of the Taylor Community for once again extending their beautiful facility and professional talents in making our event a success. Finally, thank you to our local residents who engaged in this deliberative process. We feel that this type of discourse is much needed in today's fast-pace, technological world and offers a face-to-face opportunity for neighbors to discuss matters of great importance to our community, state and nation. We hope to continue to bring these types of forums to our communities and engage more citizens, including our young people, in discussions of contemporary issues facing our society.

Community Commentary: Nothing New About Advancing the Common Good
By Jack Terrill, President, Lakes Region United Way
January, 2010

Every once in a while someone tells me the Lakes Region United Way has changed in how we go about our business. Well, I hope so and I hope for the better. Change, as uncomfortable as it can be, is regarded as a critical tool for our long-term success as a community organization operating in the Lakes Region.

The Board of Directors of the Lakes Region United Way has spent a great deal of time over the last few years discussing our role in the community. As investors of record for our donors, the board takes seriously the challenge of meeting the goals of our supporters as well as the community at large. Our mission is to "advance the common good through thoughtful and sustainable social investment". It is reasonable to ask what specifically this might mean to those who give their time and treasure to our cause, and those who receive these resources.

Our commitments to those who support us include:

• Operating efficiently and effectively
• Understanding our community, and using that knowledge to gain the greatest return on our community investments
• Reporting our progress as an organization and community investor
• Expanding our base of supporters because we are committed to the concept of greater engagement leading to greater, more lasting results.
• Being appreciative and thankful for our supporters, and demonstrating that respect by working diligently to help improve the lives of all in the Lakes Region by listening first, acting second.

With regards to our community investment strategies, we are committed to:

• The concept of a hand-up instead of a hand-out, and to the concept of family first, process second.
• Finding common goals and common ground for the community to adopt, and work together to achieve
• Ensuring that the Lakes Region has a solid network of social services that is healthy and sustainable for years to come.
• The concept of collaboration, and working in partnership to achieve our community goals which revolve around early learning, youth development, financial stability for families and community engagement.

Any one of these bullet points have been a part of our collective conscious since I first arrived at the United Way in January of 2003. The journey to realize these aspirations has had its share of challenges and surprises, and we have often found ourselves going in directions that were not predicted or foreseen. Other actions we have taken have been simply logical outcomes based on our commitment to these aspirations. What is truly amazing is the amount of work and thought that has been invested by so many volunteers over the last 8 years to get us where we are today. Which isn't that different than it was 8 years ago. Because boiled down, we remain:

• Committed to helping people help themselves
• Committed to community partnership to make things happen
• Committed to making the Lakes Region a better place to live for all

Our partnership with community organizations has changed. We have chosen to not be a passive investor, but instead one who learns and explores with the incredible talent this community has to offer. We are looking to forge new alliances and strengthen mature ones as well, for the sole purpose of working on common goals and aspirations. And we seek to do this because we seek to find new solutions to old problems, which in turn will allow us to deliver better results to our supporters and the community.

Which sounds an awful lot like the rallying cry from 1957, when this organization was first incorporated. Of course times have changed since 1957, and while we have as well, some things don't need to change. Such as the concept of helping people help themselves.

We look forward to doing a lot more listening and learning from all who reside here in the Lakes Region. We recognize that in order to achieve great things we all need to be acting in the same movie. I think the next year or two will allow us unprecedented opportunity, and the only tragedy will be if we don't collectively seize the day. We hope you will all join us in these conversations.

In the interim, our community support and initiatives continue to the level allowed by your support. We will be completing our fundraising drive March 31st, so if you have yet to support our efforts through contributions, we encourage you to do so soon by visiting our website at www.LRUW.org. Our strength as an organization, and our ability to advance the common good, is derived directly from the collective action of the community. Thanks for all of your support over the years!

Let's Talk
by Alan Robichaud
January, 2010

Traditionally, United Ways across America have been known for their fundraising and resource distribution capacities to local non-profits engaged in helping people with various needs. While the demand for services continues to spiral out of control due to shifts in the economy and governmental priorities, we worry that the base of support for our helping organizations may erode them into oblivion. We are more conscious today of agencies merging, limiting their enrollments due to reduced budgets, or closing their doors completely. What once were mandated services now fall victim to revised eligibility criteria which screen out people from benefits once relied on to buy food, purchase medications, or access job training skills.

The donor community too has felt the strain as those who so generously give out of their own pockets to help their neighbor experience the wake of economic recession. And yet our community remains vibrant in terms of its compassion for helping a neighbor or stranger in need. In what becomes a basic economic principle - supply and demand - the demand outweighs and outpaces the supply of typical responses to meeting people's needs. Traditional ways of supporting the needs of our community have been turned upside down and we must consider other ways to address mounting stresses on our businesses – public and private – and rethink our strategies not only in scarce economies but as the new way of doing business.

We cannot expect that "if we can only wait it out things will get better." "Things" have changed and we are living with new realities. We can either wait for the landscape to fully erode or we can decide that it's time to come together and envision what we want the future to be. Nonprofits can no longer address the community's needs singlehandedly. Corporate giving is more critical today than ever before but we can no longer expect that to be the sole answer to the funding gap. Government cannot isolate itself from the people that its policies impact. It's time that we start minding one another's business and come together to address the hard issues in ways that respect the broad diversity of values, persuasions and resources that make our communities the unique settings they are. Someone once said, "The best way to predict the future is to create it."

We have the ability, if we are willing to think differently and pool our collective energy, resources and power, to make our community as healthy as it can be. We can start by coming together and having a civil discussion about some very tough issues facing our community and the people in it. We can start by understanding and respecting one another's divergent views on matters affecting the social, cultural, educational, environmental and economic fabric of our community. We can start by realizing that there is no one way to face the issues that lie before us but collectively we can meet whatever challenge comes our way by getting the most we can from what we've got.

Social capital, civic engagement, community involvement – call it whatever you will, we cannot wait for someone else to solve our problems. "We are who we've been waiting for" as the saying goes. Unless community leaders and members of the public come together and commit to a vision and outcomes we all wish to see, we will continue to stagnate and wait for things to be done to us rather than with or for us. And as for those who rely on others to advocate on their behalf, John McKnight of Northwestern University has this to say: "If you want to empower people they must be in association with others solving problems. They cannot let others take that power away from them." We cannot leave our neighbors out of this dialogue if it is to have meaning and impact.

So Let's Talk!
Lakes Region residents have an opportunity, along with scores of their peers around the state, to begin a dialogue around a very critical public policy issue. On February 13, from 8:30 to 4:00, citizens will gather at 11 sites for a day-long community conversation to address the question: "What's At Stake? Community Conversations to Weigh the Benefits and Risks of Expanded Legal Gambling in New Hampshire." To pre-register (a must as space is limited) please go to http://whatsatstake.unh.edu or call toll free: 877-338-5322.

"To Live Safely with Dignity and Respect"
by Alan Robichaud
December, 2009

The Belknap County Citizens Council on Children and Families, for the past eight years, has pursued the vision that, "children and families of Belknap County should be able to live safely, with dignity and respect." Assisted by two full-time county employees, and with the financial support of the Annette P Schmitt Fund and the Belknap County Commission and Convention, dozens upon dozens of citizen volunteers have pursued the improvement of juvenile justice and other human services in the county.

Present and past members of the Citizens Council believe that their vision for Belknap County and the Greater Lakes Region is shared by many of our citizens and needs to be pursued in the future. We believe that it will take the continuing effort of private citizens, private agencies, and all levels of government--working together in a public/private partnership--to pursue the vision in the years ahead.

Changing economic and social conditions require that existing needs and services be reassessed and realigned. An example of the need to reassess and realign is the recent agreement of the Belknap County Commission and the Lakes Region United Way to realign funding and organization of the Citizens Council and the Community Action Program's elder services. It is the expectation of those making this decision that there will be an improvement in the effectiveness and efficiency of the Council's work, within the United Way, as well as the delivery of services to the elderly. Another example of improving effectiveness and efficiency in program areas is the planned merger of the Belknap County Restorative Justice and Youth Services Bureau; two like organizations providing similar services for our youth.

The Citizens Council supports these decisions and views them as examples of how public/private partnerships can make effective and efficient human services available to the citizens of our county and region. Issues confronting today's children, families, and communities will only be adequately addressed through non-traditional thinking, willingness to break down barriers that keep systems working in isolation, and readiness to come to the table with a shared vision.

The Citizens Council believes that the changing landscape of funding for human services--from all levels--makes it imperative that all private and public stakeholders in human services envision new ways of collaborating to deliver effective, efficient, and cost-effective services, in order to have the maximum impact with existing resources. It is incumbent on the non-profit, government, and for-profit communities to collaborate in order to effectively address ongoing conditions in the community.

Lakes Region United Way
2009-10 Fundraising Announcement
Andy Patterson, Community Champion
September 23, 2009

Thank you for attending our fundraising campaign kick-off of 2009-10.

As you know, every year the Lakes Region United Way has kicked off a fundraising drive in the fall. This has been happening since 1957, and over those 50 plus years we have raised millions of dollars for the benefit of the Lakes Region. This tradition has continued through times of economic highs and lows, cultural changes, war and peace, and times of relative calm and prosperity. Today, we announce our campaign in the midst of some of the most trying economic times since World War 2. We will acknowledge the challenges this economy presents, and then out of necessity we will move forward.

Last year we raised just under $950,000. As always, the people of the Lakes Region stood tall while personal budgets were squeezed. We are in hopes this same spirit of giving that we have seen demonstrated time and again will prevail over the sense of fear that difficult economic times inspire. Creating a community that nurtures our young, engages our adolescents, supports our families, respects our elders and works together to build a better life for all does not come easy, nor does it come inexpensively. To advance the common good for all takes effort, and requires constant attention. That is why, though good times and bad, the ability of this organization to continue our work must not falter, and our commitment to our community must never waiver.

We as a community are blessed with thousands of people who every day reach out a hand to one and influence the condition of all. We see it in our schools, in our neighborhoods, at our non-profits and for-profits, and in our governments. All these efforts are backed by the generous companies that do business in the Lakes Region, and the employees that make up those companies. Today, we ask the businesses, and the employees who work there, to join us in our community effort to raise the funds we need to continue our work advancing the common good.

We acknowledge the challenges these economic times will present, and now we will move forward. We will move forward by not stepping backward. So today, I ask all of you in the Lakes Region, to accept and adopt our goal of $950,000 for this fundraising campaign, and to be an active participant in the challenging but critical task ahead to raise these funds. Thank you!

Volunteers Don't Just 'Wear the Shirt'
by Judi Taggart
September 21, 2009

To the Editor:

Over 160 volunteers from over two dozen local businesses didn't just wear their LIVE UNITED shirt…they took ACTION! The aftermath of Lakes Region United Way's 14th Annual Day of Caring is evident at 25 nonprofit organizations throughout the Lakes Region and Central New Hampshire. Buildings and walls were painted, fall flowers were planted, trails, brush and trees were cut, closets, rooms and carpets were cleaned, and office tasks were tackled. This incredible day ended with volunteers feeling tired but satisfied by a job well done. All this was only possible through the dedicated efforts and generosity of so many of those in our community.

A very special team of volunteers invested scores of hours to plan and carry out all details. Kudos go out to Co-Chairs Pam Paquette from PSNH and Cindy Hemeon-Plessner from Meredith Village Savings Bank. These two community leaders reviewed all project and volunteer requests and addressed numerous changes during the planning process. It is a huge undertaking to match volunteer skills with project requests, and then have it all fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. Tim Marchand of The Inns and Spa at Mill Falls returned this year to insure that project plans were adequate. We were very fortunate to engage two new volunteers. Brenda Therrien of WalMart spent weeks seeking community donations to obtain an array of breakfast items for over 150 guests. Molly Holman assisted with the breakfast and collected door prize donations. Randy Eifert of Cross Insurance led a team of photographers to capture the day's activities. The collective commitment of this team insured that this year's event was the most successful ever.

It is important to recognize and thank all organizations, volunteers and individuals that participated in this very rewarding day. Special thanks to Marie Cohen and Paul Gaudet at Sacred Heart Parish and Allan Beetle and the staff at Patrick's Pub for hosting the breakfast and wrap up celebrations for all volunteers.

Thanks to all the hardworking volunteers from Asplundh Tree Service, Bank of America Home Loan, Belknap County Economic Development Council, Bonnette Page & Stone, Citizens Bank, Coldwell Banker, Cross Insurance, Franklin Savings Bank, Greater Lakes Child Advocacy Center, The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls, J. Jill, Laconia Savings Bank, Liberty Mutual, Lakes Region Association, Lakes Region Community Services, LRGHealthcare, Melcher & Prescott, Meredith Village Savings Bank, MetroCast Cablevision, Miracle Farms Landscaping, Northway Bank, Petal Pushers, Pike Industries, Public Service of NH, Shaw's in Belmont, the Taylor Community, and TD Banknorth.

Work projects were organized by Alexandria Historical Society, Community Church of Alton, Baby Threads & Out of Your Attic Thrift Shop, the Historic Belknap Mill, Belmont Senior Center, Boys & Girls Club of the Lakes Region, Easter Seals Adult Day Center, Genesis Behavioral Health, Health First Family Care Center, Inter-Lakes Day Care Center, Inter-Lakes Senior Center, Laconia Area Community Land Trust, Laconia Senior Center, Lakes Region Child Care Services, Lakes Region United Way, Lakes Region Partnership for Public Health, the Mayhew Program, New Beginnings, NH Humane Society, Ozanam Place, PACT-Veteran's Park, Plymouth Regional Senior Center, Prescott Farm Conservancy, Salvation Army and Carey House, and Whole Village Family Resource Center.

Local businesses, including Appletree Nursery, Petal Pushers and more, donated materials to complete some projects.

Thanks to all breakfast sponsors and helpers: BJ's, Boys & Girls Club of the LR (Adam, Jim and D.J.), Coca-Cola, Contigiani's Catering, Dunkin' Donuts—Belmont and Union Ave & So. Main, Laconia, Hannaford, General Linen, McDonald's, My Coffee House, Oakhurst Dairy, Patrick's Pub, Pepperidge Farms, Pepsi, Shaw's, Smith Orchards, Vista Market, WalMart, and Water Street Café.

Door prizes for volunteers were provided by Bank of America Home Loan, Black Cat Café, Chili's, Hair Excitement, Kitchen Cravings, The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls, LR Floral Studio, Lowe's, Ninety-Nine Restaurant, Our Family Tree Restaurant, Sal's Pizza, Shaw's, The Soda Shoppe, Uno Chicago Grill, and Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad.

Our community is a much better place because of everyone's efforts. While the day has passed, the benefits are truly long-lasting. Volunteers completed work projects, but also learned first-hand about the nonprofits they assisted and worked side by side with individuals from other organizations. Nonprofit organizations were grateful recipients of volunteers tackling projects that otherwise would not happen. The value of this event is immeasurable to our community.

Thanks to all for advancing the common good…and Living United! I encourage everyone to go to our website LRUW.org to enjoy photos of the Day of Caring activities, and to view Living United in the Lakes Region on LRPA-TV Channel 25 to see video of our wonderful volunteers.

Meaningful Community Service.Put Your Skills to Work
by Judi Taggart
June 17, 2009

"We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee." This quote by American lawyer and social activist Marian Wright Edelman helps us realize that there are many things each of us can do that alone may seem insignificant, but collectively can change the world around us.

Through individual acts of kindness, volunteers at Lakes Region United Way become better acquainted with the place they call home. Individuals invest small amounts of time into a team approach to produce results that advance the common good for all. They also connect with those who sustain local community services in the areas of education, income and healthy communities.

We know there are folks who would jump at the chance to help out, if just asked. While we have many volunteer opportunities in the community, and we want to welcome all to share their talents, I am specifically seeking those individuals who want to become part of the team that engages the community through fundraising and special event production. You can make a meaningful contribution by helping to plan our special events (always a great time!) and with many aspects of our fundraising efforts. Each person has unique talents and interests that can be custom fit to team goals. Many volunteers over the years have connected with others they met through United Way and have become best friends. Together, we grow, laugh and share a lot, and become proud of our accomplishments.

To find out if this is something that is right for you, please connect with me to discuss your interest and answer any questions. I welcome your call at 603-524-6864 Ext. 104 or email judi@lruw.org. Our website www.lruw.org explains much more about what we offer to our community.

Lakes Region United Way
White Paper
by John Malm, Chair, Board of Directors
May, 2009

MISSION: Advance the common good through thoughtful and sustainable social investment.

VISION: A Lakes Region where we nurture our young, engage our adolescents, support our families, respect our elders and work together to build a better life for all.

FOCUS: Education, Income & Health

HISTORY: The Lakes Region United Way (LRUW) began in 1957 as the "Community Chest", or a pooled resource of funds raised by the community to be distributed to care providers focused on the social servicing needs of the Lakes Region communities' residents. While beneficial at the time, the needs have clearly outpaced the resources available. It is no longer enough to simply raise funds and direct them to caregivers. As community leaders, we have a moral obligation to demand change and require that our investors' annual support be directed towards achieving that change.

EVOLUTION: Over the past several years and under the sound leadership of the LRUW President, Jack Terrill along with the support and direction of the various Boards of Directors, a shift in our strategy has continued to evolve. That shift has created a strong foundation that is now ready to support a greater focus on resources directed towards the "advancement of the common good". This continued evolution requires bold leadership, a willingness to put "stakes in the ground", and specific and measurable goals with the ultimate purpose of reducing or even eliminating our most pressing community needs.

As an organization, we are very proud of our accomplishments as we have continued to raise awareness of the mission of the LRUW; consistently increased investments into our communities; increased volunteerism and advocacy; and continued to make the necessary changes to our organization to allow us to make these following promises:

We promise….

To put measurable stakes in the ground focusing on our three core initiatives;
Education, Income & Health
To regularly report back to our investors on the progress we are making to reach our stated goals
To invest resources into initiatives that inspire collective action to solve community issues (being catalysts for change)
To continue honoring those who Give-Advocate-Volunteer
To safeguard our donors' investments
To operate efficiently, honorably and transparently
To build relationships with partners who share our passion and will provide the expertise to help solve our community challenges

"Advancing the common good" requires that we are a community building organization and that our measurements of success are not in the number of services provided, but rather the relative health of our communities. To define a healthy community we can borrow from the World Health Organization definition:

Safe
Working families can live in the community
Work is available
Our ecosystem is balanced
Healthcare is accessible and focused on prevention
Our children are fostered from birth to graduation
People feel they are heard and can influence outcomes

We do not plan to act alone in this action, but expect to be catalysts towards achieving the goals of a healthy community. Our broad goals, strategies and anticipated outcomes within each focus area as follows:

EDUCATION
Increasing the rate of high school graduation by focusing on:
Readiness to succeed in school
Academic achievement
Productive and engaged young adults

INCOME
Reducing the number of families at 200% of poverty or below by focusing on:
Expense stabilization
Increasing income
Building savings
Gaining and sustaining assets

HEALTH
Reducing risky behaviors by adolescents and adults by focusing on:
Community engagement
Public/Private/Nonprofit interconnectedness
Access to affordable healthcare services, focused on prevention and remaining healthy

SUMMARY: We do not take these initiatives lightly and are committed to taking the next step toward community impact and creating positive social change. It is no longer enough to simply raise and reinvest funds; we are now directly involved in addressing the root causes of our most pressing social needs. In order to be successful, we will require bold leadership along with the fostering of key partnerships with other public, private and nonprofit organizations. Through the collaboration of resources and greater focus on Education, Income & Health, we will come to an agreement on what social issues we choose to measure, address and change as a community.

Business as Usual is Gone with the Wind
by Jack Terrill
May, 2009

As John Malm pointed out in the Chairman's report, we are an organization that is fluid. This is a good thing, because from this we will emerge as an even more valuable resource for the community. But, what does it mean and how will it effect how we have operated in the past? We do not know all the answers, and don't want to at this point, but here are some thoughts and suggestions regarding your United Way in the years to come:

• We will continue to rely on the willingness of our donor community to invest in our work. However, we may see more active investing of resources (time, talent and treasure) in a specific area of focus of the United Way.

• With a mission of "advancing the common good", all of our traditional methodologies will require re-examination. It will change our thought process, and therefore our actions. For example, the traditional operating support for social service agencies may not prove to be the best leverage for our funding. Could we take the funds we collectively invest in a focus area and do something even more powerful than individual silo funding? The answer I suspect is yes, but we will not make that determination without the involvement of our traditional partners.

• With a mission of "advancing the common good", we need to reconsider our own infrastructure. We have already begun various initiatives (Born Learning, 2-1-1, Volunteer Action Centers, VITA, etc) and we can expect these to grow. But if we are going to put stakes in the ground and measure our progress, we can expect more current and future positions at LRUW to be focused on community building.

• We can expect some collaborative activities with neighboring United Ways sooner rather than later.

• We have had some long and fruitful relationships with area agencies. We are proud of the role we have played in their development and success. We look forward to new and even more fruitful relationships in the future. However, it would be best to think the nature of our relationships with agencies will change. First and foremost, our agency interaction will change because "operational funding for agencies" is not our goal. Advancing the common good is. We would seek true partnership with many of the dedicated and savvy organizations that we currently fund to help us solve community issues. In these partnerships, we all are accountable for progress to the goal, and the plan for progress will be a shared one.

• Our focus in the social services has been an important piece to community wellness, but it is possible we have been too constrictive in our definition of "social". Taken alone, without the word "services", it carries a broader context. We must be willing to explore this broader context while acknowledging that we can't be all things to all people.

None of this happens over night, and indeed, we have been working on this over the last five years. One thing we know for sure is that business as usual has gone the way of the dinosaur. This goes for our non-profit world as much as it goes for anywhere else. We are in partnership with the for-profit world, and it would behoove us to recognize the changing business climate. We have a moral obligation to lead during these turbulent times, and that is how we intend to proceed. It will take us all to succeed. Thank you for your support of our organization!

Volunteers Live United
by Judi Taggart
April 20, 2009

To the Editor and Community Volunteers:

Think about it! What would our community do without dedicated individuals who commit their time, expertise and interests to local organizations and nonprofits? How would we be able to nuture our young, engage our adolescents, support our families, respect our elders and build a better life for all without this support?

At Lakes Region United Way, we are blessed with devoted volunteers who advance the common good. They serve on many committees and on our board, coordinate our annual campaign and special events, participate in our Sweetheart Auction and Day of Caring, help with office tasks, and much more. Hundreds of individuals who respond every day of the year to the Call for Action - who LIVE UNITED by giving, advocating and volunteering. Certainly, the more resources we have to work with, the more effective we can be as an organization. While this message may be short and to the point, our hearts are full of gratitude to all.

So during National Volunteer Week, we want to once again thank all community members who know, "When you reach out a hand to one, you influence the condition of all."

Lakes Region United Way
Living the Good Life!
by Jack Terrill
April, 2008

For the fifth year in a row, New Hampshire was named the most livable state in the country, as calculated by Morgan Quitno Press. Certainly this is something to celebrate! How about this? We are arguably the nicest region to live in New Hampshire so by deduction are we not the nicest area to live in the country? Why not!
A wise person once said that nothing destroys quicker than success, so our victory becomes our challenge. How do we avoid being victims of our own success? We have our work cut out for us, because resting on our laurels is not an option.

Here are three ideas we feel are instrumental to ensuring we remain a highly livable state:

1. Keep our community engaged.
There is no better recipe for a healthy community than engagement. By investing in our people, we can ensure that the Lakes Region will be a healthy, happy place to live. This requires an on-going effort, and the support of many people and many organizations. The Community Engagement Vision Council of the Lakes Region United Way is undertaking this kind of effort. The goal of this Vision Council is too create opportunities for all citizens to be engaged in the community. We are facing challenges as our demographics change. We have more retirees moving to the area, and we have more people from other countries settling here. How we integrate the new arrivals into our community will determine our success in building a stronger Lakes Region. Voter turnout, levels of volunteerism, level of advocacy, use of public space and attendance at community events are indicators of an engaged community. When citizens of the Lakes Region believe they have the ability to influence outcomes in the Lakes Region, we will have achieved our goal.

2. Invest in our children.
However you want to slice it, there is no better social return on investment than when we invest in our pre-school age kids. Like any investment, there is risk (kids won't stay in the area, bad environmental factors overpower the good influences), but if we can get our children ready to learn during the school years, we will have taken a giant step towards keeping our region the most livable in the country. Born Learning is a community outreach program designed to raise the awareness of the importance of early learning. It is collaborations such as this that will lead to positive results for us, in the form of lowered rates of juvenile delinquency and higher rates of graduation. The Vision Council for Successful Children will help steer our investments in this area, to ensure the greatest return to the donor.

3. Invest in our families.
The backbone of any community is the family unit. Many families are having a difficult time staying afloat in today's economy, and consequently many families are under heavy stress. By recognizing this and taking action to improve their ability to not only survive as a family, but thrive, is in our best interest. For those families willing to work to build better lives, it is critical to offer pathways to success. When we can move families from dependence to independence we all win. This takes a coordinated and multi-faceted approach. But whether we are making sure that families are receiving all eligible public benefits, maximizing earning abilities, or that housing costs are no more than 40% of their income, it is all part of an approach that will help stabilize the most important element in our communities. Our Vision Council on Family Stabilization will work to build an investment strategy that will do just that.

So, those are three areas we feel are critical to maintaining our quality of life. There are others to be certain, but for us, a small United Way, we feel this is where our focus should be. Of the 44 measurements used to determine livability in the Morgan Quitno report, roughly half were directly or indirectly related to the work of the United Way. Of those, all were certainly useful indicators as to the social condition of the state. I think as a community we should take great pride in the ranking of our state as the most livable state in the country.

As a community organization, we certainly are happy to see vindication of the work of so many. At Lakes Region United Way, we are particularly proud of the great work of our volunteers. Our fundraising team delivered a 10% increase over the prior year, raising $925,000. This was the largest increase out of all the United Ways in the state. This is an important indicator that we are on the right track as an organization. With the continued outstanding efforts of the volunteers of the Lakes Region United Way, we will continue to succeed, even in difficult times. We would be foolhardy to ignore the realities of our current economy, but we would be mistaken to give in to these realities. There are too many gains, too many victories and too many steps forward to go back now.

Thank you for making 2007 at Lakes Region United Way our most successful in our 51 year history!

Your Community Dollars at Work
An Overview of the LRUW Investment Strategy
by Jack Terrill
April, 2008

We continue with our current investment strategy. We have two key goals with our diversification: Keep enough investments in the community to help ensure that critical services are available at affordable prices, and invest capital in ideas that will help mitigate the need for services.

We value patience in our investing strategy, knowing that true change in our social condition is often generational. We value collaborative approaches in the delivery of social programs and ideas, and thus we seek existing partners who offer competence in a particular area rather than build something new. And lastly, we value our donors trust and accordingly, seek to bring the highest social return possible with the donor's dollar.

Organizationally, we are committed to move as many dollars possible into our investment strategies. We have demonstrated that through our reductions in operating budgets, and through our commitment to move earned income into board designated funds. We have three arenas where we focus our investments:

Successful Children: We have committed over $675,000 in the next three years to ensure that there is access to affordable child care and access to affordable out of school programming in the Lakes Region. Additionally, we are backing initiatives that will enhance our children's ability to succeed in school.

Family Stabilization: We have committed over $420,000 in the next two years to ensure that there is access to affordable housing, healthcare and family counseling. Additionally, the 2-1-1 initiative and the Financial Stability Partnership will help create systemic changes that will help more hard working families achieve independence.

Community Engagement: We have committed over $100,000 in the next year to our efforts to help integrate all of our citizens into the community. We have traditionally focused on our elderly population, but we will increasingly focus on new arrivals to the area.

Donor Designations: We have committed to about $100,000 in donor designations, dispersing funds to specified recipients as per the donor wishes.

Staff Engagement: We have committed $100,000 of internal resources towards the community building process over the next year. We are deeply involved with the 2-1-1 initiative, the Center for Non-Profits, the vision councils for Family Stabilization, Successful Children and Community Engagement, UpStream, the Parenting initiatives, Born Learning and other community activities that are designed to strengthen the Lakes Region.

In all, about 85% of our available funds are put into community building projects. An additional 8% of the funds go towards the fundraising part of our business, which last year produces $925,000. About 7% of our funding is tied directly to the administration of our organization.

Our Year in Review: April 2006-March 2007
by Jack Terrill

It has been an exciting and productive year for the Lakes Region United Way. I am pleased to say that we continue to move our organization in a direction that will lead to long-term successes in the community, while maintaining our commitment to ensure that affordable critical services are available to our residents in need. It is a delicate balance between the two, but it is an investment strategy that ultimately will lead to lessening the need for services in the long term. Under the direction of the Board of Directors at LRUW, we continue this path of balanced community investment. It all starts with the board at non-profits, and I can say I am proud to serve ours.

None of what we have accomplished this year would be possible without outstanding support from our key volunteers. A true measure of the health of a non-profit organization is the quantity and quality of its volunteers, and I can say without reservation that we have assembled the strongest team of volunteers this past year since I arrived in 2003. We are thankful for such great support and are pleased that people and companies are finding the volunteer work here at LRUW to be both rewarding and challenging. (list of key volunteer teams)

The Investment Advisory Team has worked hard at defining our investment strategies in the community. Limited resources and a seemingly endless supply of need complicate the process greatly. Our goal is a simple one: do the most with the least. Our Client Services grants are designed to address the most critical issues in the community. We recently completed our allocations to our Family Stabilization Client Services partners. These grants are for three years, enabling our partners the stability of long term funding as well as increasing their focus on the program. The IAT defined family stabilization by three key areas: Access to affordable housing, access to affordable healthcare and access to affordable family counseling. Below are the financial commitments to these key areas, from April 2007 until March 2010.

Affordable Housing & Shelter
Laconia Land Trust: $175,860
Salvation Army:       $120,000
New Beginnings:     $60,000
Bridge House:     $30,900

Affordable Healthcare
Healthfirst Clinic: $29,700
Tamworth Nurses: $22,500
Plymouth Reg. Clinic:$26,040

Affordable Family Counseling
Brian's House: $66,000
Child and Family Services: $54,000
Women, Infant and Child: $15,000

Our Successful Children Client Services program will come under review from the Standards of Excellence team of volunteers in the fall of 2008. Three-year grants will be awarded to those programs that demonstrate excellence in operations and in delivery of services. We have defined Successful Children by three key areas: Access to affordable childcare, access to affordable mentoring and access to after school programs. Below are the financial commitments to these key areas, from April 06 until March of 2008.

Affordable Childcare
Interlakes Day Care:             $31,000
Ossipee Day Care:                $20,000
Lakes Region Child Care:     $136,000
Bearcamp Valley School:      $20,400

Affordable Mentoring
Youth Services Bureau:   $43,000
Community Health:        $50,000
Mayhew Program:          $20,000
Circle Program:            $14,000
Pre-Natal:                   $10,000

After- School Programs
Boys and Girls Club:         $16,000
Pemi Youth Center:           $16,000
Kingswood Youth Center: $10,000

In the fall of 2009, our Standards of Excellence team will undertake a review of our Community Engagement Client Services partnerships.   Community Engagement is defined in the following manner: Access to the community for populations at risk of disenfranchisement. Currently our partnerships are focused on our elderly population. We expect an even greater demand as our demography of the Lakes Region continues to age. But we can also expect an increase of focus on newcomers to the area from homes abroad, as it will be critical to assimilate these new residents into the community as quickly and effectively as possible. Below are the financial commitments to our partners from April 2006 until March of 2009.

Access to the Community
Meals on Wheels:   $69,000
Rural Transport:  $22,500
Senior Centers: $45,000
Senior Companion: $21,000
Foster Granparents: $15,000
Senior Transport: $15,000
The Fix-It Program: $15,000
Community Contact: $30,000

Our Community Impact investment strategies are still unfolding, so the IAT continues to work are refining our direction. The IAT defines Community Impact investing as community based rather than client based, and is designed to have an measurable impact on the community at large. Further, our Community Impact investment strategies should do one or more of the following:

1. Mitigate or eliminate the need for client based services
2. Enhance the effectiveness of current client based services
3. Address a specific community issue and impact that issue with measurable results

In our first Community Impact Initiative we have joined with the Belknap County Early Learning Council, Lakes Region Community Services Council and the Belknap County Citizens Council on Children and Families to take a hard look at the status of early learning opportunities here in Belknap County. Through our combined funding (LRUW commitment of $25,000 to date), we have begun the process of continuing the work of building a comprehensive early learning strategy. The group is in the process of evaluating United Ways of America Success by 6 program, as well as their Born Learning initiative, to determine the effectiveness and applicability to Belknap County. The Lakes Region United Way is firmly behind this early learning effort, as the evidence of impact on children and families is indisputable.

The Lakes Region United Way has partnered with the other United Ways of New Hampshire to develop and implement our 2-1-1 initiative. The 2-1-1 initiative is designed to give access to all citizens in New Hampshire to a comprehensive information and referral service quickly and easily….by dialing 2-1-1. Given the complexities of the social service landscape, and the fragmented approach to comprehensive I and R, this is an important service that will make a difference to a huge part of our population. 2-1-1 operates in 41 states so far as a result of local United Way efforts. We have committed $15,000 to date as our share of getting 2-1-1 up and running, and we should have access to this service in Belknap County by August of 2007. As the incoming president of United Ways of New Hampshire, I look forward to the successful implementation of the 2-1-1 initiative as well as other important activities that will help strengthen the overall United Way system here in New Hampshire. Together, our United Ways invest close to $12 million annually into our Granite State communities.

Our UpStream initiative remains healthy and vibrant, with many great volunteers working to deliver the UpStream products of parenting education, community discussions on social issues, professional development and network information sharing. UpStream and its volunteers are carrying out our community engagement mission on a community wide basis. This commitment to community engagement requires about $20,000 investment per year by the LRUW, but as the initiative matures, the benefit will far outweigh the cost.

Of course, all of the above work could not happen without the stalwart support from our Lakes Region community. This year's campaign team, led by Kathleen Murphy, Joanne Dickinson and John Malm, worked diligently to ensure our work in the community is sustainable. We had an outstanding group of Loaned Executives who performed admirably. The campaign trail had many victories, as well as some setbacks this year, but in the end, we posted a very respectable 3% increase over last year's numbers. This is our fourth year in a row of record fundraising, something we are proud of as these numbers were produced during some challenging times. While the overall campaign was up 3%, it is important to note that our leadership giving (individuals giving $500 or more annually) was up a tremendous 14% over last year. This is great news for our organization. Leadership giving now accounts for approximately 30% of our total fundraising campaign. And we believe there is plenty of room for more growth in this category in the future. While our goal was a $1,000,000, and we fell significantly short of that, we will continue to strive for that number because we believe it is achievable, and we believe that our organization is positioned to reach critical mass as a change agent for the better in the Lakes Region.

While we clearly would be a shadow of current selves were it not for our volunteers, it is also true were it not for our staff. The team once again has performed admirably in their role as supporters of the effort, and they have consistently demonstrated wonderful commitment to the organization and to the community. Many thanks go to Kevin Conway, Judi Taggart and Debbie Bolduc for all that they do here at Lakes Region United Way!

I look forward to the coming year. Buoyed by the support of so many wonderful organizations and individuals, and partnered with so many deeply committed and highly effective programs, we can expect a continued resolve to building a better Lakes Region community. Thank you for your belief in our mission and your commitment to the community!

Jack Terrill, President
Lakes Region United Way

President's Report
by Jack Terrill
April, 2005

Financial Report

We begin the new fiscal year with three years of continuing improvement in our financial condition. We anticipated and achieved a record year for fundraising for FY 2005 (ending in March 2006), despite some very tricky fundraising conditions. FY 2005 showed a 65% increase in income over FY 2003. Community investment in FY 2005 showed at least a 100% increase in expenditures over FY 2003. These are positive events in the community, and a strong indication that the community recognizes our efforts to improve the lives of all residents in the Lakes Region. Our aggressive community investment strategy keeps our organization lean, with less than 10% of proceeds used for administrative costs. We are not in the business of building wealth for our organization. We are in the business of creating wealth in the community. We believe that our organization has room for substantial growth on the revenue side, which will lead to growth on the community investment side.

For a more detailed look at our financials, please visit our website at www.lruw.org. You will see audited financial statements for fiscal years March 31 2003 and 2004.

Campaign Report

Our goal this past year was to raise $850,000. Our effort did not stop to achieve this goal until March 31, 2006. Last year, $730,000 was pledged in total. The difference between the two numbers is 15%, a very aggressive goal. We ended up at $810,000! This is a wonderful and unprecedented accomplishment unto itself. Many of the employee campaigns have delivered outstanding results, leading us to be optimistic about the future. We have worked hard to earn the trust of the donor in the Lakes Region, and we will continue to work to build that trust.
Leadership Giving, a critical part of the success of the Lakes Region United Way, had a very successful year. Under the leadership of Linda Normandin, CEO Laconia Savings Bank, overall leadership giving increased by 13% over the prior year! Our mail campaign raised almost $146,000, up 27% over the prior year. And even more exciting, our de Toqueville supporters (individuals giving $10,000 or more annually to our organization) increased 50%, from 2 to 3! All of this is very positive news and bodes well for the future.
We would like to acknowledge the effort of John Malm, Vice President of Commercial Loans at Meredith Village Savings Bank, for his incredible leadership of this year's campaign. The community is blessed to have someone of this caliber so willing to work so hard to make this a better place for all to live. We would also like to acknowledge the efforts of Kathleen Murphy, Marketing Director at Laconia Savings Bank; Charleen Hughes, Branch Manager at Meredith Village Savings Bank; and Sandy Marshall, Volunteer Services Director at LRGH for their inspired efforts in support of this year's campaign.

We would also like to thank the many coordinators of internal campaigns, who give their time and effort to help make our campaign a success. So much of the success of the Lakes Region United Way can be directly attributed to the effort of the campaign coordinators. These wonderful people take time out from their own work to make sure the employee campaign is effective because they understand the important impact their campaign has on the community. Congratulations to all! Campaign updates are posted as well on www.lruw.org.

And lastly, but most importantly, we want to thank the CEO's and general managers and owners who understand that with their support the entire Lakes Region can reap the benefit of a healthy United Way. It all begins in the corner office, and we are thankful to have so many top executives who understand the importance of this organization to their workforce and to the community as a whole.

The Resource Development Team, led by John Malm and Jim Adams, had another solid year developing strategies to raise more resources, build our brand, and identify key characteristics of our organization. Through the work of this team we produced a community outreach strategy that was comprehensive, multi-media based and consistent in messaging. We engaged in a long-term partnership with Nassau Broadcasting that will effectively get the Lakes Region United Way name out in the public on an on-going basis as well as reap the benefits of the considerable expertise available from Nassau Broadcasting. We continued our great relationship with Rutter Media, as they supported us with their expertise and their time, producing and airing LRUW commercials that we think are the best in the Northeast. And, as always, we have received tremendous support from our local media outlets: John Howe and good folks at The Citizen, Ed Engler and crew at the Laconia Daily Sun, and Rich Piatt and his team at Salmon Press, and Denise Beauchaine at Lakes Region Public Access. Without these willing supporters, the capacity of the Lakes Region United Way would be greatly diminished.

Community Investment

Our efforts continue with regards to investing the resources raised. The all-volunteer Entrustment Review team worked for 3.5 months, executing our "Standards of Excellence" program with all organizations requesting service delivery funding from the United Way. We believe this is our fiduciary responsibility to the giving public and that the better job we do on the investment side, the more funding will flow to our community. We are a mutual fund for social investment and as such, we are responsible to deliver a satisfactory return on the donor's investment. The key is to be able to measure the return. United Way of America has been promoting a "community impact" strategy for community investment, and there is wisdom in their thinking. We have, as an independent organization, adopted some of the tenets of impact funding and are applying them to our own investment strategy. Some key beliefs and components, developed by the Investment Advisory Team, make up our strategy:

We recognize that for us to achieve our mission (improvement of the lives for all that reside in the Lakes Region), we need to expand beyond our funding of service programs that are reacting to the social challenges we face. Our community will always have a need for critical services, and we will always make sure those services are in existence. However, we are looking to become more proactive with some of our community investing and move away from institutional, client-based service models and towards a citizens-based model.

The goal here is to make sure critical services exist, but at the same time, work to eliminate the need for those services in the first place. We have been facing a continually expanding need for resources and programs, which has burdened the donor dramatically. To fulfill our commitment to our supporters, we need to keep focused on creating a more collaborative service delivery system designed to not only react, but to prevent. We are blessed with many community partners who are working in this direction, but ultimately the success of the prevention piece lies in the community, not in the institution.

In order for us to achieve success under the new model of community investment we need to build on our understanding of the community and our ability to communicate our findings to the community. We have engaged in a relationship with the Applied Research Center (ARC) affiliated with Southern New Hampshire University, and under the direction of Dr. Yoel Camayd-Freixas. In this ongoing partnership, the ARC will deliver to us the information we need to make informed investment decisions. They will help us communicate with the community utilizing public forums and annual delivery of the community scorecard with regards to our social condition.

Our investment work has been recently realigned to focus on three key areas: Successful Children, Family Stabilization, and Community Integration. We have chosen those three because they best address community concerns as expressed in the 2003 Needs Assessment of the Lakes Region and because we believe that investing in these areas will lead to the greatest return on investment over the long haul. For more information about these three programs I encourage you to visit our website at www.lruw.org.

The UpStream Program, under the guidance of Judi Taggart, has been fully integrated into the Lakes Region United Way, and we are working on shaping the program for the future. It is our intent to utilize the existing structure of UpStream and its over 200 members to help guide our impact movement. The three focus areas of UpStream are excellent examples of community impact investing: parenting education and leadership development, capacity building for non-profits through professional development, and information sharing. The Parenting Program, led by a very enthusiastic and engaged volunteer team of advisors and chaired by Tammy Emery, has succeeded in introducing a 12-week parenting curriculum to the continuing education program offered at Laconia High School facilitated by Tammy and Thom Linehan, UNH Cooperative Extension. The interactive educational series Parents as Leaders in Society (PALS) completed its second year under the guidance of Alan Robichaud of the Belknap County Citizens Council on Children and Families. Another committed group of parents from Belknap County completed the 5 session series. The professional development team, chaired by Natalie Allen, is planning workshops this year on a wide variety of topics for employees of non-profits designed to strengthen their ability to accomplish the job at hand. Finally we plan to improve the information sharing network now operating through UpStream and move it to the next level, with the help of David Stamps.

Our goal is to develop and operate discussion groups on the network offering a feedback mechanism to engage the community in a more interactive manner. UpStream members will participate in conversation on multiple discussion boards each dealing with a specific community issue or question. We plan to increase membership in this network, as there is no charge to be an UpStream member. We think this kind of interaction can lead to new and innovative approaches to addressing some of the challengers we have in the community.

The 2-1-1 initiative, whereby someone can dial 211 and go directly to an information and referral team to help guide them through the myriad options available today, continues under the tutelage of all the local United Ways here in New Hampshire. This is a process that demands patience, but we are encouraged with recent steps forward and look to the initiative to gain some momentum. Many states have 2-1-1 in place (including Louisiana, where it was extremely helpful during difficult times) and it is time for New Hampshire to get on board. We will see that this happens sooner rather than later.

We are moving forward and we are headed in a direction that will build a better a community for all. That is our mission, and that is our commitment.

Closing

The staff (Kevin Conway, Debbie Bolduc and Judi Taggart) has demonstrated its commitment to the organization and the community by consistently delivering above and beyond the call. Kevin completely redesigned the web site somehow among all the other demands on his time. Although we are a small organization, you would never be able to tell viewing our web site. We encourage you to check out the workmanship at www.lruw.org! Debbie joined us in the middle of the campaign and still hasn't taken a breath yet. At 16 hours a week, she has proven her ability to get a lot of work accomplished in a short time. Along with Judi's work with UpStream outlined earlier, I can assure you the community is fortunate to have such dedicated individuals. We look forward as a team to improve our skills as relationship builders in the coming year, to produce quality work and overall to make the donor and volunteer experience with the Lakes Region United Way a positive one.

We were blessed in 2005 with some fantastic supporters, both of time and money. We have seen the community shake off high fuel prices and deal with the cry for help from the gulf region and southwestern NH, and then turn around and support their local United Way at an unprecedented level.

We have seen the development and fruition of two very key volunteer teams, the Resource Development Team and the Community Investment Team. These teams of volunteers bring a level of expertise to the table that strengthens the entire organization.

We have seen the Board of Directors guide the organization through substantial changes, and prepare the organization for more to come.

In short, it has been a challenging year that has demanded the best from all of those engaged in our organization. It has been truly inspiring to see everyone respond to those challenges. And we are ready for 2006 and what it will offer!
Please feel free to contact me with any thoughts or questions you may have about the organization at jack@lruw.org or 524-6864 ext 103. Thank you for your support of our mission.

A Healthy United Way Benefits the Lakes Region
by Jack Terrill
September, 2004

Let's talk United Way, and let's talk charitable giving in general.

The coming of autumn means a whole lot of things here in the Northeast, not the least of which is the annual fundraising drive by the Lakes Region United Way. I want to take this opportunity to "drill down" a little bit into the world of voluntary service support.
I will start with some basic tenets that I believe to be true in the Lakes Region Community.

1. We are blessed with a strong network of non-profits seeking to better our world. In my twenty months on the job I have met some wonderfully inspired and dedicated people who are interested only in the improvement of the human condition here in our home. Good business practices are employed, and very often these programs operate on incredibly limited budgets, yet the services remain available. I find visiting these programs rejuvenating, and would recommend you all take a look at what goes on in the community, often below the radar screen.

2. There are more than enough resources in the Lakes Region to accomplish what the community needs. There are 40,000 jobs in the area served by the Lakes Region United Way, with an average wage of about $27,000 per year. If all of these people gave at average NH levels (which are the lowest in the country) for their income level, we would have a bounty of over $41,000,000 to share in the Lakes Region for all non-profit endeavors (health, education, environmental, social, cultural and religious). That, my friends, is more than enough to get the job done for all-and that doesn't include corporate and foundation funding!

3. The entire care-giving system in the Lakes Region, from resource development to program development, can be operationally improved. When I was at a meeting with numerous non-profits around the table not too long ago, one non-profit announced that they were undertaking a certain project and no less than three other non-profits said they were involved in doing something very similar. Meanwhile, businesses remind me constantly how many requests they receive from non-profits in search of funding. These two examples are clear indicators of something more symptomatic. With greater coordination and better communications, we can deliver more effective, seamless services to the Lakes Region in a more efficient way. It is incumbent upon us in the non-profit world to be incredibly effective with the gifts donated to us, or we can expect those streams to dry up.

4. It is in the best interest of the Lakes Region to have a strong and functional United Way. We believe the community is best served by the community, for the community and of the community. It is our contention that a strong, guiding light for the social services is critical to the ultimate goal of "moving the needle" for our neighbors in need. This is not about hand-outs, this is about hand-ups, and only when we achieve this goal can we feel the effect of positive, sustainable change in the Lakes Region. The Lakes Region United Way is an unbiased community organization, whose role should be a seat at every table discussing social concerns, and the opportunity to build a seamless network of care that will maximize the support of the community. "Day-trading" the social service investment is not a good idea. A strong local United Way can galvanize the divergent interests (whether service delivery or charitable portfolios) and help move the Lakes Region as one.

So what path do we follow? The United Way is at the mercy of the community. It is up to the community to determine the level of involvement of the United Way. We are seeing signs that indicate the importance of a healthy and involved United Way is understood. And we are beginning to see the results that community inclusion can offer. In two years, from 2003 to 2005, we have doubled the amount of money we are investing back into the community. Last year, for every dollar spent on franchise fees, $28 came back into the Lakes Region from outside the Lakes Region. We see a diverse group meeting to discuss how to make our public transportation a more effective service, and we see very positive developments within our early education system in the Lakes Region. In other words, we are seeing progress.

But many challenges remain. We must do a better job connecting with the businesses in the area who currently do not participate in our payroll deduction campaign, enhancing our ability to meet the needs of the community. We must do a better job of understanding our progress measurements, and the impact the progress has on the community. And we must do a better job connecting with the community, to ensure that we are working in concert on the issues that matter most. We must work to figure this out as a community, relying less on outside sources. And most important of all, we must make sustainable, positive change in the community a reality when it comes to the human condition.
Challenges indeed. But we believe it is certainly worth the effort and toil. We hope you do too.

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Community Commentary From the Desk of the Lakes Region United Way

A reprinting of Commentaries, Letters to the Editors, and other published items from the desks of the Lakes Region United Way staff and directors.

Community Commentary
From the Desk of the Lakes Region United Way