April 2006

• Weigh In On Issues Affecting Your Community
• Spring into Campaign Season
• Are you due $4,400? Call 2-1-1
• Ron Gettelfinger receives Joseph A. Beirne Community Services Award
• Campaign Coordinator Highlight
• Suggestion Box
• Update Your Contact Information

Weigh In On Issues Affecting Your Community

United Way for Southeastern Michigan is in the midst of a massive effort aimed at enhancing our ability to address critical human service issues in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, and campaign coordinators can play a key role in the process.
 
We are taking a long look at the underlying causes of the region's current and emerging social problems, and our goal is to create lasting change for children, families, neighborhoods and health. 

To get this accomplished, the organization is reaching out to a broad cross section of metro Detroiters through interviews, focus groups and surveys -- which is where you come in.

From March 24 through April 7, United Way is conducting a survey of metro Detroiters, and we would like campaign coordinators to help spread the word. We want to hear what the public has to say about the most pressing human and social service issues in their community.

This brief survey only takes a few minutes to complete, and can easily be distributed via e-mail to colleagues, friends and family. In fact, we hope that you will pass along the survey and encourage them to forward it to individuals and groups on their respective e-mail lists as well.

We're also including a Web banner that contains a built-in link to the survey, and hope that you will consider having this graphic posted on your company's homepage and also encourage others to place it on their Web sites.

For more information on United Way's community action work, click here.

Spring into Campaign Season

Not only do April showers bring May flowers, but spring is also time to begin thinking about the new United Way campaign season.

Although the annual Torch Drive takes place in the fall, a lot of front-end work is necessary to properly prepare for a successful campaign. Over the next few months, volunteers will need to be recruited, CEO calls placed, company records updated, materials ordered and campaign events planned, just to name a few tasks.

This is a huge effort. In fact, hundreds of volunteers are needed each year to conduct this massive, regional campaign to improve lives and build stronger communities. Every role our volunteers play, no matter how small, is important to the campaign's success.

What can your company do to get ready for the 2006 Torch Drive?  Well, the following suggestions can help you get off to a good start.

For more information or assistance implementing these suggestions, please call the United Way for Southeastern Michigan campaign department at 313.226-9300. 

Are you due $4,400? Call 2-1-1

Did you know the federal government is offering working individuals and families who qualify tax refunds of up to $4,400? It's true.

It's called the Earned Income Tax Credit program, and you may be eligible, based on your yearly income. The government offers the tax break to taxpayers who are employed and who meet certain income guidelines. United Way 2-1-1 can help you find out whether you may be entitled to a credit.

In fact, by simply visiting United Way 2-1-1 online, or calling 2-1-1 (or 800-552-1183) 24 hours/seven days a week, you can determine whether you qualify, get details on the EITC, and find local tax preparers willing to help with your return for free.

Ron Gettelfinger receives Joseph A. Beirne Community Services Award

United Way of America has recognized Ron Gettelfinger, president, International Union, United Auto Workers, for his community service leadership.

Gettelfinger will receive the Joseph A. Beirne Community Services Award, given annually to a labor leader who has rendered outstanding volunteer service to the United Way movement. Gettelfinger is a longtime United Way for Southeastern Michigan supporter, and served as chair of the 2004 Torch Drive.

The award was established in 1974 to honor the memory of Joseph Beirne, considered one of the most remarkable labor leaders of all time. 

The award will be formally presented to Gettelfinger in June, during the 34th UAW Constitutional Convention in Las Vegas.

Campaign Coordinator Highlight

John Mayer, office administrator at Pepper Hamilton LLP, has been a United Way campaign coordinator for more than two decades, through job changes and a major health scare.

In fact, John's commitment to the Torch Drive is truly inspiring, although he tends to downplay the roles he has played in various campaigns over the years.

John underwent open-heart surgery in October 2003, months after joining the firm, and has since recovered. Amazingly, he says he was disappointed that his team "let United Way slip through the cracks" during the six or seven weeks he was out. He has been involved in United Way campaigns since then.

Here (in his own words) is John's story: 

"One of my earliest memories is helping my dad collate Community Chest materials walking around a table in his office (this was long before the days of copiers with collators).  He worked for the YMCA, which was a Red Feather agency, the red feather being the symbol of the Community Chest in those days.

"I was about 7 or 8 years old at the time so, obviously, he didn't pay me. But I did get to keep the red feathers that were left over at the end of the campaign. I liked that a lot. 

"Throughout my adult life, I have been a United Way contributor and enjoyed taking on more responsibility when offered, which has resulted in 26 years of coordinating a campaign."

During that time, John has helped lead United Way campaigns at the Oakland County Circuit Court, where he worked from 1971-1973, and at the U.S. District Court in Detroit, where he worked as court administrator and clerk of court from 1979-1999. He landed at Pepper Hamilton after leaving the court, and says he hopes to continue leading campaigns at the firm for years to come.

Suggestion Box

In an effort to provide employee campaign coordinators with the information and resources needed to be successful, Campaigner Connection appreciates feedback, suggestions and tips for story ideas from readers. We would like to hear from you!

You can also e-mail your suggestions and ideas to United Way campaign manager Nicole McKinney at nicole.mckinney@uwsem.org.

Keep your contact information updated

We want to make sure this publication gets into the right hands each month by updating contact information as needed. Please inform us of any changes you would like us to know about by updating the form below:

You can also e-mail your changes or additions to Ada Kelly at United Way, ada.kelly@uwsem.org, or call 313.226.9233.