Herald - Lantern - Dispatch 12 February '86 25

County United Way: What's the Problem?- /

(From page 1) President and Campaign Director Thomas P. Byrne BYRNE SAID it takes more than 50 active volunteers to run an effective campaign. Radio and newspaper advertising got only "one or two responses," he said, and those people ended up not volunteering. Representatives from three outside, and the national. United Ways all said volunteers should be solicited on a personal, one-on-one basis. "The key is just to go out and ask people to help and get involved in a project," said Ray Jacoby. executive director of the Atlantic County United Way "Then you give them something manageable to work on — you can't overload them — and you've got to thank them and reward them." ATLANTIC COUNTY, which has a 12-month economy, collected $1.8 million in 1985. Based on its population of 162,000 that averages $11.30 per person. "We would like to have someone responsible for an area who knows the area, its people and businesses, and have them solicit volunteers," Budd said. "But we just don't have the manpower." Budd said the agency has a list of potential workers. When contacted, she said, they refused to volunteer. "IT'S DEFINITELY time for reevaluation and talking good, civic-minded people to come with us." Budd said. "We have ( volunteers ) now who have been doing this for a while. You begin to wear people out. "We need community leaders who have contacts and can set up a structure in the community." she added. "It's those people ' we're going to have to get for fresh blood." Budd said the lack of community leader-

ship has hurt fundraising, community 1 awareness and public relations. Only 8 to 10 people attend its meetings, which are held every other month, Budd said At the monthly executive committee meetings, only about 15 attend. The United Way list of officials contains 34 names. "OUR BOARD MEMBERS are not as attentive as they should be," said Assistant Treasurer Marion E. Olson "You've got to get community leaders involved, so people believe in the product." said Dan Howell, executive director of the Lower Eastern Shore (Md. > United Way. "If you can get the mayors involved, that's all for the better." Howell's territory includes Worcester County, home of Ocean City. Like Cape May County, Worcester has a three- or four-month tourist economy. There, about 100 volunteers collected $60,000 from a population roughly onethird the size of this county. Worcester has a year-round population of just under 34,000; Cape May County's is just under 100,000. HOWELL SAID his agency put together a steering coqimittee comprised of community leaders. Each committee member then selected five or six people they thought worth recruiting and personally contacted them. Those contacted then selected five or six more, and so on. "People tend to select people from their level and one level below," Howell said. "It's a step-procession." Howell said the local agency may need another full- or part-time employe Although Budd is a full-time employe, she splits her time between United Way and its First Call For Help referral service.

THIS YEAR, the local United Way had two officers resign on the eve of the campaign. leaving Byrne to double as president and campaign chairman, and Budd to serve as executive vice president and director of Communications and Public Relations. "When there'is a paid staff, there is the tendency for continuity." Howell said. "You can't ask for volunteers if you don't have a program. Budd said a major problem in this county is that there is no industrial base, and the billion dollar tourism industry is uncooperative. "Summer businesses and tourists have been loath to respond for any efforts we made, even when we made strong efforts," she said. "It's difficult to get people to give their time and money in the summer months." BY THE TIME its campaign gets going. Budd said, people are either leaving town or going on unemployment. Attempts to run two summer campaigns, in 1983 and 1984, both failed because there weren't enough volunteers to contact the estimated 15,000 resort establishments in the county. Payroll deductions are the backbone of the United Way system. Budd said, and people have to work from January to December to make that program work effectively. Budd said more one-time donations are needed to compensate for that, and the lack of an industrial base. This year, because of a change in «he Public Employes Charitable Fund Raising Act, United Way is only now beginning to contact public employes about payroll deductions. Unlike previous years, the agency was required to advertise for other charitable organizations that wanted to be on its pledge card. Advertising finished last Friday, Budd said, and the local Red Cross and United Negro College Fund responded MUNICIPAL and school employes will be contacted, but Budd said neither are traditionally strong contributors. Neither is county government, the county's biggest employer, she said. In 1984, county government employes contributed only $1,220 in payroll deductions, Budd said. "I don't think that many people fclve that much money that they can do anything extra with it.' Budd said. "The average person employed in Cape May County is not employed at a very high wage." But. excluding Social Services, the county's $14.4 million payroll includes 1,035 people. ALL FOUR United Ways agreed that the local agency should contact the national group or a larger United Way in the area for help. Both Fred Cerny, the consultation and technical assistant for the United Way's Small Cities Program, and Jacoby said they would be willing to come here and offer advice or assistance But Budd said the local hasn't reached that point yet. "We're not in serious trouble, we're just feeling the strain on our manpower," she said. Budd said the agency has contacted

some large businesses, like South Jersey Bell and Atlantic Electric, and asked them to loan the agency an executive to work during a busy time of the campaign. ALTHOUGH it was too late to get help during this campaign. Budd said several businesses expressed an interest in that suggestion The Atlantic County United Way had a similar arrangement with the United Parcel Service last year, she said "Although we didn't generate any volunteers, the response was favorable." Budd said. "It will give us additional staff support and out-in-the-field support " Budd said the businesses have requested more advanced notice for the coming campaign The executive would be paid by his , employer, but work in a United Way office or solicit donations The agency is also working on getting someone on its board of directors with strong public relations or media skills. Budd said UNITED WAY proceeds help to support 12 family and community service agencies. This year. 34 percent will go to Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts; 33 percept for the mentally retarded, job training for the handicapped and medical health counseling. Another 17 percent will go to family services such as the Salvation Army and Jersey Cape Visiting Homemakers; eight percent to emergency and legal services for low-income families; and eight percent for the county-wide First Call For Help information service and USD work for servicemen. About 90 percent of every dollar raised goes directly to the agencies. The other 10 percent goes to defray campaign costs. Since 1979. $518,000 has been allocated, according to its campaign brochure

Some Succeed; Some Don 't

( From page 1 ) special projects such as bazaars, flea markets, bake sales, raffles and Christmas house tours. « Its yearly goal is usually $35,000, but Director Fred Armand said it is seldom met. In fiscal year 1985, $16,912 was 1 donated and $3,374 came from special projects. Since November, countians have ' donated $3,655 to the national emergency disaster fund. 1 Armand said the Red Cross has about 100 "good, solid" volunteers, but always 1 could use more. Getting volunteers is 1 usually not a problem, he said, because 1 they are given hands-on work to do: mann- i ing bloodmobiles. teaching CPR, first aid and water safety courses, babysitting and \ working in hospitals and nursing homes. THE AMERICAN Cancer Society 1 received just under $97,000 from countians ' in 1985 and approximately $75,000 in 1984. ' This year's goal is $108,000, with almost ! $20,000 collected to date. Helen Pulaski, executive director of the Cape May County unit, said her group I "will do anything for a buck." Donations 1 come through memorials, special gifts. ' clubs and organizations and special fund- 1 raisers such as casino trips, raffles and flowers and baked goods sales. I Pulaski said her organization has 30 or . 40 full-time volunteers, a number that • swells to nearly 500 when special events ' are included. Fifty percent of the donations stay in the I county for education and support group 1 programs. 40 percent goes toward I research and 10 percent to administrative costs. « Pulaski said the typical volunteer is so- < 1 I

meone who has had cancer interfere with his life. ANGELA DIGIUSEPPE. branch director of the New Jersey Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society, could not estimate how much countians give to its program, but did say it actively solicits in schools, bars and other places where large groups congregate. The MS READaTHON, in which sponsors pay kids for each book they read, is popular in area schools. The UGLY Bartender Contest takes over in the sumpier, and adults donate money to see their favorite bartender immortalized. UGLY stands for "understanding, generous, you." The society also runs a "penny-a-vote" contest at Ocean City High School. Students, teachers and administrators are urged to pay one cent per vote for a football player to represent the school on the MS all-star team, which comes from its seven-county area, the top 11 money - getters make the team and the school with the most donations wins a prize. JACK W'HISLER. executive director of the South Jersey chapter of the Leukemia Society of America, said residential mailings result in about $10,000 in county contributions. Also, the society runs a "Fish for Life" program in Atlantic City and the South Jersey Marina in Cape May. The South Jersey Marina sets up the tournament and the entrance fee is $1,750 per boat. in 1985, $70,800 was raised, according to Office Manager Kathy Berry. Entrants three days and prizes are awarded for the biggest fish caught of certain species Also, approximately 300 volunteers i solicit doo-to-door and collect leukemia coan boards. Whisler said the society is | planning to follow itsinroads into the county and set up a local office. i Whisler said his society is in the process | of setting up a committee of 24 from the political arena and area businesses to ✓] coordinate its efforts. | BESIDES SERVICE organizations i residents have an unlimited number of < things to give money to: churches. Little * Leagues, hospitals, nursing homes, school < bands, veterans groups, fire halls, police groups civic organizations, etc. i Certain holidays also prcynote giving, ^ especially Thanksgiving and Christmas. < People at these times are busy donating canned food and turkeys for the elderly t and low-income families. And responses to individual tragedies | are sometimes overwhelming. Two years t ago, when a family of nine was burned out of their trailer home, countains flooded t them with donations, and one person gave s them a house. Free. i (

Upper Fills Vacancies TU^KAHOE — Upper Township's i Committee filled the following vacancies ( recently: Victoria Lehman was appointed < to fill the spot on the township Zoning Board created by Bruce Breunig's resignation, Robert Schultz was named as a zoning board alternate, filling a seat f left by Ruth Lorenzo's resignation; Mayor Daniel Beyel appointed Marion ( Friedbery as an alternate to the township . Planning Board; George Plewa was named township grantsman and Linda D. { Force was named dog warden. Lehman . and Schultz's terms run through Dec. 31 ; J Friedbery 's two-year term begins immediately. t

Officials Listed The Cape May County United Way 1985-1986 officials: Executive Committee: Thomas P Byrrie, president and campaign director; Robert A Grace, allocations vice president; Nelson Amey, secretary; Pamela D Eaves, treasurer; Marion E. Olson, assistant treasurer; and Virginia B. Budd. executive vice president and communications and public relations. Board of Directors: Nelson Amey. Mark Eric Bailey. Virginia Budd. Thomas Byrne. Fred Coldren. Dan D'Amico. Grant Decker. Patricia Devaney. Pamela Eaves. Richard Ferry. Robert Grace. Dr Theodore Johnson. Ann Magee. George Neidig. Marion Olsen. Joseph Kodgers. Freeholders William E Sturm. Jr . and Gerald M. Thornton, John Veldhoven, David Von Savage. Nevin Wampole and Rev Richard Wingate Resource Committee: Dot Armand. Fred Armand. Bruno Dahlhausen. Nathan Katz. Alexandra Packer. Robert Patter son. Robert Ressler, Ted Roman, Robert Scully. Jr . Walt Smith. George Snyder and Herman Tolz

Key Lincoln Decision Made Here

(From page 1 ) wife. Philadelphia " Thus Lincoln joined the ever-increasing list of the lesser and greater dignitaries from across the nation who journeyed 'o the healthy climate of Cape Island WHILE HAVING an uneventful and peaceful stay. Lincoln received work from President Taylor that he had been denied the land grant post, which went to his competitor. Justin Butterfield. However Lincoln felt at the time, in fact. f he had escaped a major disaster in his life. Lincoln would have languished for four never-ending years behind the bureau desk of the Interior Department. Instead. President Taylor offered Lincoln the position of governor of the Oregon Territory, newly created in 1848 Oregon soon to become a state and Lincoln would have represented a new state in Congress. ALTHOUGH NOT recounted by the of Lincoln or of his wife. MaryTodd Lincoln, an interesting story was later recalled by Henry Irick. the then- 16-year-old son of John Irick. Lincoln, receptive to the idea of accepting the Oregon position, asked his wife if she would go with him to the Oregon Territory.

"No, I will not."' Mrs Lincoln replied She was willing to live in Washington as the wife of a land grant officer, but not in sparsely settled, wild territory as the wife of a governor MARY TODD LINCOLN'S steadfast and. indeed, decidedly strict personality, was w*|l known It is rumored that Lincoln once siid of her, "Even God only spells his name with one 'd' and my wife spells her name with two Lincoln knew better than to press the issue He surrendered his dreams and returned to Springfield, III., to continue his law practice. Had Mary Lincoln approved of her hus band's offer, the American people could, and more likely would, have lost their 16th. and most would agree, one of their greatest presidents It may be no exaggeration to say that the future history of the United States was decided by a wife's curt answer in life drawing room of Cape Island's Mansion House (ED NOTE: Merrill, of North Cape May. teaches social studies at Lower Cape May Regional High School and periodical ly writes a column. " Historically Speak ing." for this newspaper.)