UNITED WAY PLANS 1991 GOAL; VOLUNTEERS SHOOT FOR $470,000

The 1991 United Way goal to raise $470,000 is a 5.5 percent increase over the money raised last year, but Harry Rediger, serving his third stint as campaign chairman, says this year's goal is attainable.

The 1991 goal is a $30,000 increase over the $440,000 raised last year.

Last year's goal was $500,000, a "stretch goal," United Way officials said. The goal was rolled back this year to help ensure it will be met, Rediger said.

The campaign officially kicks off Sept. 4 with a luncheon. But behind-the-scenes work on this year's campaign began in June.

"The campaign is under way," said Rediger, manager of JCPenney. "In fact we are already recruiting our workers."

For the third year, one person has been named to coordinate all United Way volunteers. Serving as recruitment chairman this year is John Mehner, a two-year veteran of United Way fundraising campaigns. Mehner works at Advanced Business Systems.

Mehner said, "The initial contacts have been made, but anyone who is interested in working should let me know. We have a job for anyone who wants to help."

In an effort to improve campaign continuity, Rediger said, a new position has been created this year chairman elect. Chairman elect this year will serve as chairman the next year.

United Way's first chairman elect is Pat Allen. Allen, a manager with Southwestern Bell, worked with United Way last year as a loaned executive and is on the United Way Board of Directors.

"So often a new chairman starts three steps behind," Allen said. "Hopefully with this program, I will start out one step ahead."

Two new agencies have been added to the list of groups to receive money from United Way, the Safe House for Women Inc., and the Eldercare Center at Southeast Missouri State University.

Rediger, along with Allen and Mehner, visited one of the new agencies last week, the Safe House for Women, Inc.

Earlier this month, the Safe House organization purchased a facility and, if everything goes as planned, will open Oct. 15.

Pat Strom, chairman of the Safe House board of directors, said: "We have applied for federal grants, which all require matching funds. The United Way money we receive will be the money for that match.

"The funds from United Way make the difference of being able to offer services or not offer services," Strom said.

Rediger said he is confident the United Way can continue to raise more money each year.

"There is a lot of potential for growth in United Way, dollar-wise," Rediger said. "A couple of keys to raising the money is getting a team of workers to make timely calls, the other is having agencies, such as the Safe House.

"The Safe House will serve the community in a needed way. So the community will want to react to support this agency, and others, when called upon."

Each year, agencies submit budget requests to the United Way Board of Directors. A list of agencies that will receive funds is determined before the campaign begins. Allocations to the agencies are made after the campaign is finished and money has been collected.