Jane McIntyre
United Way of the Central Carolinas
By: Sheila Cottringer
    
                          
Carol Hardison introduced Jane McIntyre by explaining to Charlotte Rotary members that Jane was most known for her service on the school board and for her caring and giving nature within the community before she took the job at United Way. Her work with the Carolinas Healthcare Foundation and her reputation as a turn-around artist at the YWCA made her a strong candidate for the job at United Way despite her repeated declaration that she was not actively vying for the position.
 
Jane started her conversation with Charlotte Rotarians by thanking all donors to United Way. She also thanked the club for its support for one of the programs of the YWCA while she served in her position with the agency. Jane asked that all agencies represented at the meeting stand and be recognized. She then thanked them for serving the needs of our community.
 
She went on to provide a sketch of the world of health and human resources as it is today.
 
Unemployment in the five counties served by United Way of Central Carolinas is up by over 80% from ten months ago. This means over 80,000 people are now unemployed within the five-county area.
 
As of September 2009, food stamp use had increased by 34% spiked by 20,000 new households pushing the total to nearly 80,000.
 
The needs are great and the supply of monetary resources has declined. United Way has recently cut approximately 35% from the budget resulting in less staff to handle increased demand. Add to that mix fewer dollars to meet the need.
 
The United Way currently supports 97 programs and over 90 agencies that provide services to people in need within the five- county area. Last year there was $21.7M raised by the Community Care Fund and $3M was taken out of the operating budget. The current goal is to raise $22.7M in order to access the Levine Challenge which will generate $23.7M.
 
Jane stressed the strategy to improve the opportunity to raise funds would mean a change in culture both internally and externally. The first step was to take care of the United Way household by examining employee benefits, reducing costs by putting a hiring freeze on some positions and by hiring people at a good wage but not at previous levels. These changes resulted in a savings of $860,000.
 
A social media campaign has begun in an attempt to attract the younger donor and smaller groups of volunteers whose members will work together to map strategies for developing additional revenue.
 
There is a new Board at United Way. Last year's Board was made up of 63 members. This year's Board is made up of 22. Of the 22 new Board Members, only 9 of whom served last year.
 
"It is difficult to change the culture but the culture needs to change. While working to reinvent United Way, it is important," Jane said, "to recognize some of the great things about United Way."
 
She pointed out the great staff, many of whom have many years of loyal and dedicated service. The agencies that United Way represents serve the needs of so many within our communities and work to provide documentation of their success each year. The leaders of these agencies are excellent role models and serve our community well. The donors to United Way are providing an opportunity for the needs of the community to be met and the committed volunteers are all part of what is good about United Way.
 
Jane also pointed out what was not so good about United Way which included the belief donors have about being appreciated. Donors don't believe they've been thanked for what they are doing within the community. She also said there is an issue of trust internally and within the community. Trust she said must be earned. The culture must be changed and it must be changed faster, according to McIntyre. Change is definitely in the air at United Way of Central Carolinas.
   
 
Head Table: Rich Campbell, Lee Teague, John Snyder, Carol Hardison, Floyd Davis, Tom Bartholomy;
Invocation: Jim Cusson;
Visitors & Guests: Tom Bartholomy; Health & Happiness: David Erdman; Song: Terri DeBoo; Piano: Thomas Moore; Photos: Bert Voswinkel
 

• Elected to the Board: David Zimmerman, Federal Reserve; Mary Lynne Calhoun, United Way of Central Carolinas
  
• During Tuesday's invocation, Jim Cusson asked that prayers be lifted for a young cancer patient, Ellie. It so happens that in May, 2008, Charlotte Rotary funded a wish through the Make-A-Wish Foundation that provided a trip to Disney World for Ellie and her family. Ellie is Jim's next door neighbor and hero to his four year old, Emma. Isn't it a small world?

• Mark Norman has arranged for a Salvation Army Kettle (equipped with the credit card option) to be set up at the Rotary door next week. Thanks to the 48 Rotarians and lots of family members who proudly rang the bell over the last three weeks.

• Inner Wheel is the largest women's voluntary service organization in the world with around 100,000 members in over 100 countries. Founded originally by the wives of Rotarians, the organization shares similar aims to those of Rotary International. Members of the Inner Wheel will be selling tickets for a chance to win a beautiful basket on Tuesday as a fund raiser to support their current projects.           
 
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
 
• 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.
  
• Junior Achievement Biz Town: Volunteers are needed to work at JA's Biz Town on Friday, January 29 or Thursday, February 25. Contact Jay Westmoreland, jay.westmoreland@smithbarney.com, for additional information.

Should you question the eligibility of any nominee, contact the Rotary office by 12/14/2009.