Charlotte Rescue Mission and
United Family Services Collaborate
By: Bob Barber
    
                          
President John opened the meeting of the Rotary Club of Charlotte and after the invocation and introduction of guests and visiting Rotarians, Trent Merchant inspired us with philosophical thoughts for 2010. Jessica Graham introduced Jeffrey Braaten, a member of the cast of the CPCC Opera Theater's upcoming production of Pirates of Penzance, who delivered a wonderful performance of one of the solos from the opera.
 
Chris Thomas introduced Mark Pierman, CEO of United Family Services (UFS), and Tony Marciano, Executive Director of Charlotte Rescue Mission (CRM). Mark and Tony delivered a very interesting "tag-team" presentation on the plans that their organizations have for collaboration on greatly expanded facilities for the residential treatment for homeless and substance addicted women and women (and their children) who are in crisis.
 
Tony Marciano opened the presentation by quoting from the renowned management expert, Peter Drucker, to the effect that the product of not-for-profit social agencies is "a changed human being." That is what Charlotte Rescue Mission attempts to do for homeless and substance addicted women. Their program and facility is the only long-term treatment center for women in the Charlotte area.
 
Tony said that "hurt people attract hurt people" and that 99 percent of the homeless and substance addicted women that they help have a sexual abuse history. The CRM's 120-day residential program has a very high success rate compared to the national averages for 28-day programs. CRM has a program completion rate of 50 percent, compared to 18 percent nationally, and after 1 year, 50 percent of their completers are clean and sober, compared to 25 percent nationally.
 
Often overlooked is the effect of parental substance addiction on their children. Even if the children do not drink or take drugs, they still grow up damaged as adult children of alcoholics. They constantly question themselves as to what is "normal behavior" and they have a hard time having fun. They are handicapped by having had to shoulder excessive responsibility while growing up and have a strong sense of loyalty, even when that loyalty is undeserved and unrewarded.
 
Mark Pierman reminded the meeting that United Family Services has been in Charlotte for over 100 years. Their mission is to help people in financial crisis, emotional crisis, marital crisis, domestic violence crisis, or sexual assault crisis. In 2009 UFS served over 1,600 women at its shelter for battered women, and helped 3,500 women get protective orders against their abusers. More than 2,000 additional women were turned away due to lack of capacity.
 
Obviously, the need is great but UFS is only able to assist a small fraction of those needing help. The UFS shelter was built in 1979 with a capacity for 29 women and children. The Charlotte and Mecklenburg County population has more than doubled since 1979, but the capacity of the UFS shelter has only grown to 33.
 
Together, the CRM and UFS are developing an 11.5 acre site on West Blvd that, when complete will include a new 90-bed facility for CRM's program for homeless and substance addicted women and a new 80-bed shelter for battered women and their children. Through their collaboration in the joint development of the site, the agencies expect to save about $500,000 in development costs.
 
The collaboration between the two agencies has also facilitated fund-raising and they hope will become a model for other communities, demonstrating collaboration among not-for-profit social service agencies. CRM and UFS have each embarked on campaigns to raise $10 million capital for their respective facilities. Thanks to generous contributions from the Leon and Sandra Levine Foundation, both agencies have made very good progress on their capital campaigns: UFS has raised $4.2 million of its $10 million goal and CRM has raised just over $6 million of its $10 million goal.
 
Ground breaking is scheduled for summer 2010 and construction should take about one year.
  
 
Head Table: Harold Cogdell, Pam Jefsen, John Snyder, Chris Thomas, Tony Marciano, Mark Pierman, Mark Erwin;
Invocation: Catherine Browning;
Visitors & Guests: Bob Webb; Health & Happiness: Trent Merchant; Piano: Thomas Moore; Photos: Bert Voswinkel
 

• Several in our Rotary family are ill or have undergone surgery: John Johnson had surgery at Presbyterian Hospital on the 12th and his condition will be updated as soon as a report is available; Richard Bailey will have surgery at CMC on the 27th; Sylvia Van Hoy is expected to be in CMC for several days. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
   
• Meghan and Pat Gray are proud to announce the birth of Patrick Gray, III on January 12th; Arch McIntosh was back at Rotary and looking well from hip replacement surgery.
 
• ROTARY DISTRICT CONFERENCE 2010 will be held in Wilmington April 23-25. All Rotarians and their families are invited to attend. Reservations can be booked at the Hilton Riverside, 910-763-5900. Prior to March 22, the rate will be $169 per night. Conference registration rates for Rotarians: $175 (by 2/23), $195 (by 3/22) or $225 (by 4/16). Guest registration: $155 (by 2/23), $175 (by 3/22), $195 (by 4/16). The registration covers 4 meals: Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast & dinner, and Sunday breakfast. Registration can be handled on the District database (dacdb.com) 
                        
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
     
• Junior Achievement Biz Town: Volunteers are needed to work at JA's Biz Town on Friday, January 29. Contact Jay Westmoreland, jay.westmoreland@smithbarney.com, for additional information or signup HERE.
  
• Levine Children's Hospital Tour: BG Metzler is coordinating a tour of Levine Children's Hospital on Thursday, January 28, 2010. The tour will take about 45 minutes and you have your choice of attending at 10:00 AM or 2:00 PM. Contact BG at bobnbg@earthlink.net.

The club's 75th Anniversary book listed the Senior, Senior, Charlotte Rotarians as members that have shared the Rotary spirit for 40 or more years. As 2010 gets underway, look at how many members are at and beyond the 40 year mark.