Bigger umbrellas?
May 17, 2004
By Cam Tait
One of the first fundamentals we're taught when given an umbrella is
how to operate it. Push up in the middle when we need cover, and if
the wind, rain or snow gets heavier, push all the way up. It will protect
and shield us from the elements. And, so it's been said - and with darn
good reason - that the United Way is an umbrella organization, one that
can cover numerous agencies and programs with just one gift.
If you take a look at the Charity Village news
page this week, you'll see a story about United Way in the United States.
The story says contributions are down - a slide of 2% this year. Typically,
when a gentle breeze starts twirling in the US it gathers momentum.
By the time it reaches the Canadian border, it comes across in great
gusts. Such is the case with technology, fashion, and even reality television
shows.
So what should we make of this? Can we prevent the decline in the US
from potentially blowing down years of community building and investments?
I think so.
But before we start getting out felt markers and putting Xs and Os on a sheet of newsprint, let's look at some of the reasons why alarm bells are softly ringing. Leading the list, obviously, is the number of charities there are out there every year. New charities, that is. The whole purpose of United Way, once upon a time, was to distribute one gift to a group of charities. That philosophy continues today.
Perhaps with the population explosion, there are more community needs.
Hence, the launch of new groups. It's just part of the evolution of
society. The question for United Way isn't one to be envied: where do
we draw the line and how many member agencies are too many? This can't
be answered quickly.
Moreover, people can select to give through United Way to an agency
that isn't part of the United Way family. They already embrace community
groups that aren't under their umbrella and that is certainly to be
commended.
A sluggish economy is another reason. Since United Way bakes its bread and churns its butter with workplace campaigns, layoffs aren't a positive sign. I have never been an authority on economics and I don't think this is the time to start.
I do, however, think we have to really look at competition for community
investments. Sure, competition is healthy, but when community needs
are in jeopardy of being met, perhaps it's time to call a time-out and
reassess things.
Maybe I'm getting a tad carried away here. Maybe the trend in the US
is years away from being a Canadian concern. But, in my mind, any news
that could lead to a discussion about working together for a common
goal is certainly worth the effort. I have often wondered how long we
can continue with so many hands out there asking for contributions.
Like anything else in life, there are limits.
What do we do with our umbrella when the weather becomes ugly? We open it up all the way, don't we? And if the conditions continue over a long period of time, we just might get a bigger umbrella.
[Read a response from Al Hatton, president & CEO of United Way of Canada/Centraide
Canada, on our Op/Ed page.]
Cam Tait is a sports reporter and columnist for the Edmonton Journal.
He covered community investments and volunteers for 19 years. E-mail Cam at
cam@charityvillage.com with thoughts,
suggestions or ideas.
Opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect
the views of CharityVillage.com®.
