LETTERS: IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO GIVE SPECIAL AWARD TO, THINK OF NANCY JERNIGAN

To the editor:

It's not Random Acts of Kindness Week, nor should anyone wait until one special day to acknowledge any unselfish acts of benevolence or generosity. For all not-for-profit organizations like SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence, our dependence on community support goes beyond monetary giving, although that is any charitable entity's primary goal. The true spirit of giving begins in the heart. Cape Girardeau is fortunate to have a great many true-spirited human beings. But one to stand out in my mind is Nancy Jernigan, director of the Area Wide United Way.

A director of any organization, especially those affiliated with United Way, has a gargantuan job to perform. It isn't easy going out to the public asking for donations and being expected to bring it in. There are the challenges of program development and keeping staff members happy and productive. We cannot forget all the elements of reports and record keeping that must go along with local and governmental funding grants, not to mention those required by an agency's board. But for Nancy, not only must she manage one agency, she must oversee 20-plus organizations. Many agency directors have five or more staff members. Nancy has one assistant, Kathy Denton, who is her very capable right hand.

I would compare Nancy as being the female counterpart of Melvin Gateley. Need I say more? Granted, Nancy gets a salary for the work she does, but even a salary could not compensate Nancy enough for the wonderful work she does within the community. When any agency needs help, she is right there to help solve problems. She goes to each agency and takes on its problems along with her own day-to-day challenges. Each agency supported by United Way goes to her for not only moral support, but the need for increased funding for the coming year. We unload our needs onto her shoulders, and instead of being stoop-shouldered under the extra weight, she smiles and says, "It will be OK. You're doing a great job, so don't worry. I know there is an answer out there somewhere, and I will find it." Then she charges out the door with an all-knowing smile, carrying the bag of our wants and needs just like Santa Claus.

Everyone has had a glimpse of the real Nancy through the publicity and through her involvement with the closing of the local Easter Seals Child Development Center. Who was right there to shoulder the responsibilities of helping staff members, parents and children find a new home? Nancy. She is such a motivator, shaker, mover, associate, master builder, cheerleader, teacher and, most of all, friend to anyone smart enough to look to her for counsel. Nancy is a stranger to no one and a friend to everyone.

Of course, Nancy can't be everything to everyone, nor will she have all the answers when agencies go to her, and none of us expect that, but she's there for you anytime. I'm sure she must be up before the chickens every morning and up late into the wee hours of the night solving problems. Any early morning, late evening and Saturday, anybody who is anybody in town will find her at a meeting, getting involved, being on a committee and then back at her office to do her own paperwork and reports. Her energy alone, if it were bottled, could be fuel enough to run all the cars in Cape for a month. Giving to our Area Wide United Way is not a waste of your dollars. It's money well spent, and more. Nancy will see to that.

What is son wonderful about Nancy is her sincerity of purpose. She always has a kind word, idea to share and smile. She is a great lady. The United Way board, the agencies she supports and, most of all, the community as a whole can thank their lucky stars to have a second Melvin Gateley among the ranks of great people living and working in this city.

By the way, consider this a support letter for anyone out there thinking of giving away a special award to someone deserving of just about anything. Nancy should fit in there somewhere very nicely.

This letter is written with sincere appreciation for all Nancy does and will do, I'm sure.

MARYANN "MIKI" GUDERMUTH

Executive Director

SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence

Cape Girardeau