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Executive
director of CIEDC explains funding, senior programs
9-20-00
Dear
Editor:
I
have read with interest the letter
from Melane Coulter, former Director of the Oasis Senior
Center here in Lincoln. Since I am the Executive Director of
Central Illinois Economic Development Corp., one of the
organizations Ms. Coulter mentioned, I would like to respond.
I
have been a "fan" of the Oasis since its inception. I
wrote the initial grant to obtain funding for the Oasis kitchen
since at that time the Senior Nutrition Program was to be housed
there. I served for several years as a member of the Board of
Directors.
Ms.
Coulter is misinformed on a couple of points however. CIEDC has an
annual budget of over $5M and a staff of nearly 200. None of this,
however has much impact on Services to Seniors however. Most of
the money is specifically funded for use in the Head Start and
Energy Assistance programs and cannot be used for other purposes
such as providing meals to senior citizens, for the transportation
of older people to medical appointments or for Adult Day Care.
Government funding of these activities amounts to five percent of
the total Agency budget or about $265,000. Additionally, this
money cannot be accessed unless the local commitment of funding is
realized.
We
have no staff grant writer at CIEDC.
Programs
such as Nutrition and Transportation that receive funding
appropriated under the Older Americans Act are open to anyone over
the age of sixty. CIEDC abides by this and in some communities the
clientele at Nutrition sites are very similar to those seen at the
Oasis.
Ms.
Coulter overstates CIEDC’s involvement with low income seniors.
CIEDC states a focus on the "frail and needy" which is a
term used by Project LIFE Area Agency on Aging to describe older
persons in greatest social and/or economic need. Many of CIEDC’s
clients are the oldest of the old and without substantial
assistance would be placed in institutional care.
We
do not focus on the younger or most able seniors - the ones that
have the interest and the ability and the means to go to dinner
theaters and gambling boats. Not that there is anything wrong with
those activities, it is just not CIEDC’s focus. Many of the 500
or so seniors that we see every day cannot partake of these
adventures although some can and do. The clientele of CIEDC and
the Oasis do overlap for different services.
As
Ms Coulter mentions, CIEDC would also like to pay "decent
salaries" and to offer health insurance to its employees. I
would like to be able to charge more than two hours per week of
administrative time to these programs. CIEDC would also like
"RELIEF from constant fund raising by the receipt of local
cash that can be counted on".
We
trust the County Board will do its best.
Sincerely,
Jane
Poertner, Executive Director
Response
to 'Can we rely on the news?'
9-20-00
To
the editor:
Mr.
Doolin's letter, in my opinion, is one of the best submitted
to LDN.
I
am a POLITICAL NEWSHOUND and watch as many TV and Cable news
outlets as possible. Having said this, I have found only one that
is "fair and balanced" and that is FOX news, especially
the "O'reilly Factor". He is an independent and is tough
on all political parties. He asks the right questions, invites
representatives from both parties, and allows no "SPIN".
I
have discovered (and most have admitted in one way or another)
that ABC, CBS, NBC, CNBC and CNN most definitely lean to the left.
The iinterviewers put forth non-direct (easily misleading)
quetions to the democrats and play to their answers. Those who may
be democrats may not notice this as standing out due to the fact
that they are saying what democrats want to hear. To be fair,
radio talk shows like Rush Limbaugh go in the opposite direction
being strictly conservative. (Try changing your loyalty for one or
two days and listen to the opposite side without bias, you may
learn something you didn't know or want to know).
Political
news is confusing, and for those of us who do pay a lot of
attention because we do want to vote for the right individual
instead of simply voting the party line, are usually able to
distinguish spin from truth, fact from farce.
The
"talking heads" tend to confuse voters on purpose
stating only half truths, partial facts, and glorifying the
unglorifiable. (Most entertaining and sometimes outright
rediculous and funny)
In
my opinion, when an individual goes into that voting booth, he/she
should vote their own thoughts, from their own heart and what they
think is best for the country, not what their "party"
may dictate, not what their friends or relatives may feel or what
the spinners may spin. We are intelligent beings and must utilize
that intelligence to elect those in all political offices.
We
know that promises by politicians, local and on up the ladder, are
rarely kept. We know that megabuck contributors are the winners
and we the people usually lose out. Ask yourself what is important
to you and your family, i.e., taxes, schooling, medical care,
social security and our nation's security. It is too bad that we
cannot somehow hold all politicians to their promises. We normally
have to wait two or four years and by then we have already
suffered enough.
Another
important question, do we want another four years of same-o same-o
or do we want a change?
Most
important - VOTE.
Mr.
Doolin is to be praised for bringing up this matter at such an
important time. I suggest we all watch, listen, read and pay
attention to all views, not just one party.
George
McKinney
Pharr,,
Tx.
okihanna1@aol.com
Former
Oasis director suggests how to divide funding for senior services
9-16-00
Dear
Editor and Citizens of Logan County,
It
seems as though we have a dilemma concerning how to divide the
funds generated by the recent senior citizens referendum. I hope
to shed some light as well as suggest a formula for dividing said
funds. Three worthy agencies are competing for these limited
funds. It must be a very difficult decision for the county board.
As
a past director of the Oasis I testify to the efficiency the board
budgeted their money. You know if you have to work very hard for
every dollar, every dollar has a heightened value to you. The
Oasis is an organization unlike any other. It consists of many
dedicated volunteers, board members and staff of 1 (one). The past
15 years of the Oasis have been possible due to relentless fund
raising activities. The Oasis is in competition with CIEDC, with a
million + $ budget and 100+ employees, and the rural HealthCare (ALMH
and Health Dept.) with even bigger budgets and even more
employees. Both have staff grant writers. The director of the
Oasis, Judy Donath, does everything from answering the phone, to
volunteer coordination, daily crisis of seniors in need, cleaning
up messes, on and on. It’s not just a big job...its a huge one.
When we compare these agencies it’s like apples, oranges and a
grape. Yet with services and value the Oasis stacks up in a very
big way. Every senior is this county will at one time or another
need and use the Oasis. Even if you’re not a card player,
crafter, you’ll need to access the services the Oasis offers.
Most seniors in crisis have to start somewhere in a quest for help
and 9 times out of 10 they start by looking up the number of the
Oasis Senior Center. A senior center is the hub for senior needs.
Looming ahead in 20 short years the senior population is expected
to double.
Now
for the numbers. I looked this information up on the Internet, you
may do the same. I’ll include websites. According to data from
the Illinois Department on Aging (from the US Bureau of the
Census) The majority (67%) of the nations older Americans live in
their own family setting. There are 1,495,969 currently at 12.4%
of the population and 9% live at below poverty levels (www.aoa.dhhs.gov).
According to our Logan County Regional Planner the number of
residents in our county is 30,798. Seniors (age 60+)compromise
6,263 of that number or over 20%. If you include those 55 and
older the percentage goes up to approximately 24% of our populace.
Notice those percentages are higher than national levels? Of the
number of seniors in our county there are 605 that live below
poverty levels (www.state.il.us/aging/idoatab7.htm). That means
less than 10% live below poverty levels.
Senior
programs offered by CIEDC aren’t supposed to be income eligible,
but according to their own words they serve the underprivileged
and needy seniors. Which (see above paragraph) is less than 10% of
the senior population. Rural health care serves those unable to
access clinics and hospital for needed screenings. The Oasis
serves 100% of the senior population. I will not under rate these
fine services, and the organizations that offer them, they are
much needed and an attribute to our community.
Again,
look at the comparison of the agencies themselves, their budgets,
their man power, and the Oasis. The suggested formula; 10% CIEDC,
5% Rural Health Care, 80% Oasis and the remaining 5% to be in
reserve for future senior needs.
In
closing, allow the Oasis to pay their administration a decent
salary (like the other agencies)provide some benefits (like the
other agencies). Hire staff (like the other agencies). Give the
Oasis RELIEF from the constant fund raising, by giving them funds
they can count on. Funds that can’t be taken away. This will
give the Oasis time and resources to be what they need to be for
our community and the avalanche of us baby boomers just waiting to
retire.
Sincerely,
MeLane
Coulter
Can
we rely on the news?
9-15-00
To
the editor:
If
you listen to what the presidential candidates are saying, you
hear a lot about taxes, Medicare, education, health care, and so
on. I know it can be drastically painful to listen to the
politicians spin their own ideas. To pay any attention at any
level of detail at all is confusing, frustrating and can cause
many to become apathetic towards the entire process.
The
above situation leads many of us to monitor the political news by
catching a headline here or there. We do this by watching the
evening news, reading news online or in a newspaper, or by
listening to the radio.
However,
can we, as citizens and voters, rely on the information we here in
the news to make quality decisions when it comes time to choose
who represents us in government? I would like to hear your opinion
on the following questions:
Does
the media cover the Presidential election in an objective manner
that is not partial to either candidate?
Does
the media dig in to the issues enough so that you can make an
educated decision when it comes time to vote?
I
would simply like to ask you to pay a little closer attention to
the way in which the Presidential candidates are covered by the
major media.
I
also encourage readers to respond to the questions I have raised.
Discussion, not sparring, of the issues is healthy for the
process. Besides, it would be nice to hear what real people, not
politicians, believe.
Dan
Doolin
(217)
280-3495
dwdoolin@integrity-data.com
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Lincoln Daily News
601 Keokuk St.
Lincoln, IL 62656
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