LETTERS OF THANKS
Posted on Wednesday, September 26, 2007
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/hl/Editorial/22022/
Thanks from Manna Center
On behalf of the Manna Center and all of the needy individuals we serve, we would like to say how much we appreciate Jerry Cavness of United Way and the many volunteers who assisted with the Stuff the Bus campaign.
This project collects school supplies for the needy children in our service area. The Manna Center puts together the school packs and disseminates them.
It is important to us that every child has the supplies they need to start school and feel good about themselves.
With the collaborative efforts of United Way, Gum Springs Baptist Church, private donations and purchases the Manna Center made, we were able to give out 50 backpacks and 175 school supply packs to needy children ranging from kindergarten to 12 th grade.
Surplus supplies are given to the school district to use throughout the year. This community is so generous in helping those less fortunate and United Way plays a big part in the successful programs of the Manna Center as well. Thank you to everyone who participated with our school supply program and may God richly bless you. Jan Lynn
Director The Manna Center Disappointed by vote I was very disappointed by the city Board of Directors’ vote to refer the funds to nonprofit organizations, that serve the citizens of Siloam Springs, to a citywide vote. A concerned board should not refrain from controversy by passing the problem on to the voters after the first reading. I feel they should have heard the citizens ’ viewpoints for all three readings, then voted their conscience, for or against. Several alternatives might have been worked out after a more indepth discussion. Larry Winder
Siloam Springs Thanks to three
I would like to thank three directors of our city board – John Turner, James Fuller and Danny Wasson – who, on Sept. 18, voted against the motion to table the proposed ordinance for the funding of nonprofits in Siloam Springs.
I also would like to thank our Mayor, Moose Van Poucke, for his message to the board before they voted on that motion. I can see why he has been mayor of this city for so long. He indeed expressed wisdom to the board that they had been elected to represent and legislate for the people of Siloam Springs.
Unfortunately, four members voted instead not to exercise their obligation.
I am certain that the nonprofits in the area have no problem at all with the issue going before the people. We trust the opinions of our citizenry. The combined efforts of each of our boards, the hundreds of volunteers represented by each nonprofit organization, and all the various populations who benefit by each of these organizations will act in unison as an educational tool on how important the nonprofits are to our community.
The people will speak and the opinions of the “ fickle four” will be taken out of the equation. Siloam Springs can progress forward once again.
Gary Baird Siloam Springs Nonprofits help all Our nonprofit agencies save the city of Siloam Springs untold thousands and thousands of dollars, thereby saving money for the taxpayers. The beneficiaries of the nonprofit agencies are children and families. Witness the seasonal festivities. Medical help at St. Francis Clinic. Real work for the developmentally disabled at the Adult Development Center. A cultural center where we can witness art and stage events. A place for the homeless to get food and rest. A place for the poorer among us to get clothes, food and toiletries. Activities for our children to learn teamwork and sportsmanship. The list is too long to recount. The nonprofits promote the quality of life we enjoy in Siloam Springs. Gloria McEnroe Siloam Springs Praise for nonprofits I have, during the past 20 years or so, been involved with several of the nonprofits in Siloam Springs and can speak with enthusiasm of the good that they do. During the past few months I have had the opportunity to visit several cities of a similar size to Siloam Springs. Frankly, none of them measure up to us. We have a library, museum, arts center, Boys & Girls Club, Manna Center, Genesis House, St. Francis Clinic, Adult Development Center and many other very worthy organizations that are supported by voluntary contributions, grants and in some cases, by city contractual funds. These various organizations help to make Siloam Springs what it is today: a clean, vibrant small town that industry, education and people are attracted to. During the past year or so I have been involved with the Boys & Girls Club. Our budget is in excess of $ 300, 000 and we employ five people. We have just raised in excess of $ 1. 5 million to build [a new club house ], now under construction. We look after more than 100 children after school each day... the membership for this is just $ 10 per year. Each year when we complete our budget, we are looking at being about $ 100, 000 “ in the hole, ” but we seem to find it somewhere. I would hazard a guess that just about every nonprofit faces similar challenges. The Boys & Girls Club is only one of the several excellent organizations that survive with many voluntary contributions, and the time and efforts of a large number of volunteers. These worthy organizations could be considered a valuable extension of city services that are available at a really modest cost. Tony Barnes
Siloam Springs Learn from others The following are direct quotes from the noted articles. From the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Sept. 15, 2007: “ Springdale: ‘ Super complex’ to save district acreage, money: The ‘ super complex’ would house an elementary, middle, junior high and high school. The buildings would stand separately but would share athletic facilities.
“ The district could save at least $ 6 million by building the four schools in a group rather than on separate pieces of land. With the price of land in Northwest Arkansas, it only makes sense to optimize land usage.
“ Bentonville is the undisputed king of the ‘ super complex’ with its three-school campus. I guess it’s safe to say that the notion of the super complex has already arrived — at least in Bentonville. ”
Siloam Springs needs to consider land usage. We are hemmed in on the west [by the ] state line, to the south is difficult terrain, leaving only the east and north. From the Northwest Arkansas Times, Sept. 15, 2007: “ Fayetteville school leaders pursue ideas in Texas, Colorado: A group of citizens, consisting of school board members and administrators went on a field trip / educational journey. They were joined by representatives from the construction [general contractor ] and design [architectural ] firms that have worked on recent school building projects. ” Maybe it would be possible for Fayetteville to share with Siloam what they learned. Boyce C. McQuay
Siloam Springs