LOCAL AGENCY MEETS $500,000 GOAL

United Way officials announced Tuesday that the agency had topped its $500,000 fund-raising goal for 1995.

Contributions to the campaign totalled $500,737.72, said Donna Hanschen, who chaired the campaign.

"We collectively did it -- all of us here in Cape Girardeau and Jackson and Scott City," Hanschen said. "You're going to help those 24 agencies provide some wonderful services."

United Way volunteers and staff also recognized Dorothy Klein, who retired last month as executive director of the agency after 18 years.

"It's the volunteers and the people like you who make the United Way what it is," Klein told well-wishers. "The office can only do so much; the rest of you have to do the giving and the working."

Klein will continue to work with the United Way as a volunteer on the agency's golf tournament and doctor-lawyer softball game fund-raisers.

Volunteers and board members praised Klein's dedication to the agency.

"Due to her efforts, a lot of things have been accomplished, and due to her efforts, a lot more things will be accomplished in the future," said Richard Gross, president of the board of directors.

Pete Poe, incoming president, said Klein has helped the agency become well-respected in the region.

"I don't think we can do anything to bend or break it in the next couple of years because of Dorothy's reputation," he said.

Nancy L. Jernigan, a former Cape Girardeau native who took over as executive director Jan. 1, was also introduced at the reception.

Campaigns have fallen short in some years, she said.

"It seems to be kind of spotty, but it's always very, very close," Jernigan said.

No goal has been set for the 1996 campaign, which will be chaired by Narvol Randol Jr., she said.

"We've just had real preliminary discussions about what we're going to do," Jernigan said. "I'm of course hoping to increase the goal above $500,000, but we haven't set the goal yet."

Twenty-four agencies in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City will benefit from the funds raised in this year's campaign. They are the Association for Retarded Citizens, Court Appointed Special Advocates of Southeast Missouri, Easter Seals/Early Learning Center, Habitat for Humanity, Hoover Eldercare, Radio Information Service, VIP Industries, American Red Cross, FISH, Jackson Ministerial Alliance, Safe House for Women, USO, Salvation Army, Cape Senior Center, cancer research, Jackson R-2 Children's Fund, Jackson Senior Center, Family Learning Center, Gibson Recovery Center Inc., Lutheran Family Services, Boy Scouts/Southeast District, Cape County 4-H Council, Cape Girardeau Civic Center and Girl Scouts/Otahki Council.

Jernigan said she'll need time to learn about the community and its needs before setting too many goals for her administration.

"This might be the year of learning for me and next year might be the year of trying different approaches," she said. "I think there is a very great potential in this community for giving more."

Her goals include increasing the United Way's visibility in the community.

"I think that's the real basis for people giving," she said. "The more we can communicate, and the better job we do of that, the more successful we'll be in meeting our goals."