United Way has new digs! We’ve moved from our River and 13th location to 2340 S. Vista about a mile from I-84. And though some of us are just now getting Internet and phone connections back up, we’re settling in quite nicely into our new space. Drop by and we’ll make you help us unpack give you a tour!
Posted by Neva Geisler, Director, Volunteer Engagement
United Way President Sally Zive became an all star hall-of-famer last week at the Smart Women, Smart Money conference when she received the Hall of Fame award, sponsored by Citi. The award recognizes outstanding women in Idaho who exemplifies a high degree of moral character, entrepreneurship, community involvement and leadership.
Sally was recognized for her 20 years of service to community through her work with United Way, and specifically her work on issues relating to financial stability and independence.
Under Sally’s leadership, United Way has partnered in providing free tax preparation to low-income individuals and families, with a special focus on the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).
This partnership with Idaho State Treasurer Ron Crane, the Coalition for Economic Improvement, AARP Tax-Aide, the IRS, 211 – Idaho Careline, Bank of America and others, resulted in a public outreach marketing campaign to promote 21 free tax sites run by hundreds of trained volunteers across the Treasure Valley.
The results were outstanding. In just one tax season, 7,170 individuals and families filed their federal and state tax returns for no cost; and $6.9 million in federal tax refunds that claimed $1.7 million in Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC) came back to the Treasure Valley where they can help those among us who need it most.
U.S. Census data shows that EITC lifts more children out of poverty than any other single program or category of programs available today. This is real change for lasting results.
Rock on Sally. You make us proud.
Idaho State Treasurer Ron Crane; United Way President & CEO, Sally Zive; Citi VP Public Relations & Communications, Laura Cobb
Posted by Neva Geisler, Director, Volunteer Engagement
Scott Simplot, chair of the Company’s board of directors, kicked off their campaign by discussing his dad:
“My dad was like most of you. When he got a request for money, his reaction a lot of the time was, ‘Oh no, not another request.’ Most of the time, it took him awhile to decide. When he liked something, eventually he’d come around to making a donation. He would say something like, ‘I have no argument with that organization. It is a good way to give back to the community.”
“In this case, the United Way is truly beyond argument. It is THE good way to give back to our community, and I hope our employees will consider participating in the 2008 campaign.”
And give they did.
The Simplot folks’ campaign goal was an 8% increase over last year; good by anyone’s standards. But the Simplot employees took that challenge and ran with it. By the end of their two week campaign they had shattered their previous giving record, well past the 8% goal.
Simplot increased their giving by 25% over last year.
Simplot has always been one of our biggest supporters. And as a long time Corporate Champion, they have demonstrated their commitment to making sure that every dollar that comes from the community campaign goes to work in our community.
But a 25% increase over last year?!?! Now that’s a whole other level.
Thank you Simplot. You’ve done yourself proud.
Posted by Neva Geisler, Director, Volunteer Engagement
A few weeks ago, our staff participated in a Persogenics Workshop, led and sponsored by Carl Arriola, CEO of Tates Rents. Carl is on our Board and is the Chair of our Community Impact Council. Carl is a very smart guy, and an outstanding leader, so when he suggested the training we jumped at the opportunity.
If you’re not familiar with Persogenics, it’s much like a Myers-Briggs type of exercise, only this one is specific to your style of communication. There are four basic patterns: Dominant, Expressive, Amiable and Analytical. The names are fairly descriptive of the types. Most people have a primary pattern and a secondary pattern.
It goes without saying that knowing yourself is very helpful in matters of work. You know your strengths, weaknesses, and you get better at what you work at. But knowing your communication style as well as those of your co-workers is tremendously useful. In fact, it was so helpful to us, that we all put our Persogenics style on a name tag outside our door: Neva Geisler, Express/Dominant.
About half of our office are Expressives, which makes sense, as Expressives are very people oriented. They are constantly ’selling’, selling their ideas, their passions, themselves. Being out in the community, working with others to improve the quality of life for all people in the Treasure Valley, is a natural fit for an Expressive. In fact, it’s a kick in the pants.
The other half of our office fit in other styles, but most commonly they are Analytical. Here is the description of the Analytical Pattern, as provided by Persogenics:
“Analytical Patterns are task-oriented. they are careful to be certain that the job gets done right the first time. Analyticals focus on facts and details…are thorough in their work…and might seem more concerned with information than with people.”
No surprise–our Expressives work on the campaign/community engagement/communication side of UW, and our Analyticals work on the finance/data management/administration.
I’m an Expressive. According to the Persogenics people I ‘prefer to deal with the big picture rather than supporting details’ and ‘have an aversion to activities and tasks of a routine, meticulous nature.’ This shouldn’t excuse my lack of ability with numbers, or my disinterest for the little details of a big project, but it did provide a complete AH-HAH! moment for me at UW.
When UW pledges come through our front door, here’s what happens:
Connie, Resource Development Coordinator (Analytical) puts it in an envelope and seals it and records where it came from and the amount. That envelope then goes to Anita, Finance Associate (Analytical) or Susan, Office Manager (Analytical) who open the envelope and verify the contents. Then the envelope goes to Joyce, Administrative Associate (Analytical) and it is entered into our database.
From my Expressive Big-Picture Lovin’ perspective, this process always seemed a little on the inefficient side. I mean, why should we bog down this process by having three people do what one person could do in half the time? All I could see in this was that it seemed to slow down what I thought we should be racing to do, which is to recognize and thank the donor for the gift.
But then I sat in this year’s audit report meeting (UW is audited every year) and heard the auditor’s glowing report of our clean audit, specifically that our separation of duties assures high standards of internal control procedures, and thought, heyyyy, wait a minute…then I began to understand. What seemed a weird process to me was the very thing that makes UW a trusted place to donate money to–the donor’s money is meticulously sheparded to ensure the utmost stewardship. In short, the donor’s money is the donor’s money. The donor says where it’s going to go, and the process it goes through to get there is protected, checked and double checked.
So at the Board meeting when our Board Treasurer, Kevin Andersen of Eide Bailly LLP gave us accolades for our finances, I finally got it. I was going to try and blog about what he said exactly, only I can’t remember because there were too many details, but here’s the basic idea, as told from the Expressive perspective:
“GOOD JOB ON THE FINANCIAL STUFF!”
Read the UW audit (if you’re into that kind of thing).
Post by Tom Old, Owner, Alta Vista Consulting and Member, United Way Board of Directors, Volunteer Engagement Chair
What are you doing when you grow up? Have you ever heard those words? I have, several times in my life. I remember those words in high school then as I finished college, after my military service and several times in my work. When I left a major electronic company three years ago – I again heard those words.
As I started the second-half of my work career, I took a new look at what was important and what did I want to do when I grow up? A few years ago I was reading a magazine from Trout Unlimited and I noticed an advertisement about giving back:
“We make a living what we get …We make a life by what we give.”
Winston Churchill
So what does this mean to me? For me, I have found more satisfaction from giving back to my community and family. I have found new friends and rewards that are thank-you smiles than I saw in my corporate life. There are many needs in this valley and state that need not only your financial support; they also need your time and talent! If you would like some help in finding one of these opportunities, the volunteer center can help you find one!
I have found my life more rewarding by giving back!
What would make your life more rewarding?
PS: I have also found it is more fun to go fishing that to read the magazines.
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