Board Chair: Nancy Vincent
Campaign Chair: Kim Bergeron
Theme: In Concert
Goal: $2,261,430

The theme, In Concert, illustrated how donors, Partner Agencies, and Monadnock United Way work together "in concert" to provide critical services to people of the Monadnock Region, while giving employee groups inspiration for fun and creative campaigns - concerts with their favorite musical genre - rock to classical. The goal was reached and announced on Friday, December 28, 2007.

In 2007, Monadnock United Way collaborated with Southwestern Community Services to do a community wide needs assessment with results showing the most compelling needs not being met continue to be housing, transportation, affordable health care and childcare. Monadnock United Way and Southwestern Community Services also worked together to develop a program to address the increasing costs of gasoline, impacting the ability for people to access work, health care and basic needs. Other notable activities were the "Disaster Preparedness & Business Continuity Planning" workshops done in collaboration with the American Red Cross NH West Chapter, Cheshire Public Health Network and the Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce; the successful launch of 211 NH with United Ways of New Hampshire; a redesign of the Referral Agent Program, now the Community Resource Agent Program; and a new monthly publication- Monadnock United Way At Work.

In September, Monadnock United Way president & CEO, Katherine Snow announced that she would be leaving after 28 years with the agency. Edward J Eason was selected as successor and will begin employment January 14, 2008.

Board Chair: Dave Therrien
Campaign Chair: Linda Hakala
Theme: Chart Your Course
Goal: $2,236,393

The theme, Chart Your Course, provided employee groups with fun and playful campaign ideas - pirates, parrots, treasurer chests and exotic islands could be found throughout the Monadnock Region as donors were asked to chart the course for the region in 2007 by choosing to support this campaign. The goal was reached and announced on Thursday, December 14, 2006, the first campaign to reach goal within the calendar year since 1999.

In 2006, Monadnock United Way involved itself directly in the long-term recovery efforts following the floods of 2005. The new collaborative for long-term disaster recovery, Operation Flood Recovery (OFR), served 228 households and distributed close to $400,000.00 in donated funds, with 74 OFR registered households referred to Southwestern Community Services (SCS) Housing Rehabilitation program for technical assistance and labor to restore damaged homes.

Board Chair: Frank Dobisky
Campaign Chair: John Maclean
Theme: FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Goal: $2,188,230

The theme, Food For Thought, introduced the serious subject of the difference MUW makes in the lives of people of the Monadnock Region, while allowing for fun through materials and events featuring a diner theme. Days of Caring grew to include 93 volunteers from 17 businesses.

After the Columbus Day weekend floods, Monadnock United Way played a key role in the region’s short and long-term response to the flooding and devastation to people’s homes, businesses and community. In the earliest days of the disaster, MUW provided continuous critical and timely information to agencies and volunteers that, they in turn, passed on to co-workers, families and friends who were then able to access support services quickly. At a gathering of national, state, regional and local volunteer groups meeting to formulate disaster recovery efforts, it was the Monadnock United Way that advocated to utilize local programs already in existence to manage the long-term relief efforts. From this disaster, Monadnock United Way, Southwestern Community Services, Monadnock Collaborative and NH Bureau of Emergency Management formed a new collaborative group known as Operation Flood Recovery.

Board Chair: Frank Dobisky
Campaign Chair: Barbara Duckett
Theme: THE BEST OF MONADNOCK
Goal: $2,131,000

Using a music theme, campaign materials featuring a collection of “hits” was compiled in the image of a CD jewel case entitled The Best of Monadnock. Characteristics of what makes our agencies and the MUW "The Best" were featured: Caring, Innovative, Inspiring, Approachable, Trustworthy, Dynamic and Results Oriented. Our local campaign video also featured these seven traits which were matched with an agency representative describing their agency's services. Days of Caring involved 80 volunteers from 13 businesses, and 23 new employee campaigns were initiated, helping to make this a successful campaign.

Additional resources for management issues were provided through increased Brown Bag Workshops and the development of Perspectives, a column for the Access newsletter and MUW website. MUW also provided leadership on behalf of all United Ways of NH to the NH 211 Project and started a major upgrade to the MUW website's on-line Information & Referral database.

Board Chair: Mary Delisle
Campaign Chair: Diane Fukuda
Theme: THIS YEAR AND ALWAYS
Goal: $2,100,642

Using the reminiscent feel of a high school yearbook, this year's theme demonstrated that what you do today will make an impact "This Year and Always." A campaign video was produced featuring Diane Fukuda's personal story of her nephew who died 23 years earlier, the help that her sister and family received, and her resulting commitment to the Monadnock United Way. A collaboration with Southwestern Community Services produced a community-wide needs assessment, work with the Red Cross and local FEMA provided disaster planning training to a wider population, a semi-annual newsletter entitled "Generations" was established to increase awareness of planned giving opportunities, and the Monadnock Legislative Initiative page was added to our website to provide information on pending legislation that would impact local human services.

Board Chair: James O'Neil
Campaign Chair: Frank Dobisky
Theme: THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Goal: $2,000,434

Using the classic Wizard of OZ movie as a backdrop, the campaign theme focused on having the heart, the courage and the knowledge to make a difference in the community, creating the feeling that “There’s No Place Like Home.” General Campaign Chair, Frank Dobisky, lead the first campaign with a goal over $2 million. A weak economy challenged the success of the campaign, yet with persistent volunteer efforts, additional support from local foundations and a hiatus of funding venture grants, the campaign was announced a success on January 17, 2003.

The 50th Year Celebration of the Monadnock United Way included interviews with past and current board members and agency executive directors, radio PSAs, a weekly e-mail count-down describing events at MUW, locally, nationally and in the world, and a reception for all past and present board members on the anniversary date of incorporation, June 25th.

Board Chair: Allen Mendelson
Campaign Chair: Mary Delisle
Theme: YOU ARE NOT ALONE
Goal: $1,949,820

Focusing on how the Monadnock United Way touches everyone in the community - the person in need, the donor, the volunteer, or the agency service provider - the 2001-02 Communication Team created the theme “You Are Not Alone”, which was executed using astronaut, outer space and alien concepts. Despite slow economic conditions, and the financial impact of the September 11th tragedy, the goal was met January 10, 2002.

Days of Caring were coordinated at 7 agencies with 77 volunteers participating. Two thousand local Girl Scouts also blanketed the region with MUW information just prior to the campaign.

MUW participated in CAN-Do, a two-day total campaign analysis facilitated by a United Way of America trained professional and funded by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. The analysis showed that we are raising more money with fewer donors, yet there is great potential both within current employee groups and within groups who do not currently run employee campaigns. With these guidelines, the committee targeted thirty-four companies, making fourteen contacts. Three of these companies went on to complete successful campaigns resulting in $3,536 in new dollars.

Board Chair: Jane Gile
Campaign Chair: Jeff Spielman
Theme: EVERYBODY WINS THE UNITED WAY
Goal: $1,910,157

The Monadnock United Way Communications Committee anticipated the resurgence in popularity of the TV game show so developed a theme that allowed for education regarding United Way and local agencies in a format that was also fun and motivational for volunteers working on the campaign. The campaign was successful in reaching goal and again raising the highest per capita dollars in NH.

Following a Supreme Court ruling on the Boy Scouts of America, meetings were held to determine the practices and policies of the Daniel Webster Council. Based on their findings, the Board of Directors voted to terminate the status of Daniel Webster Council as a participating agency since BS programming was not being made available to all boys.

The TAP (Teen Assessment Project) survey was completed and results released, providing information for parents, youth, providers and funders on current attitudes and activities of the teens in the Monadnock Region.

The MUW Planned Giving Committee successfully raised $250,000 meeting the challenge extended by an anonymous donor to help develop a MUW endowment.

Board Chair: David Landry
Campaign Chair: Deborah Blanc
Theme: MONADNOCK UNDERCOVER
Goal: $1,910,960

The Monadnock Undercover theme, while based on a 1940’s style mystery, emphasized how the work of the many United Way agencies takes place quietly, without much fanfare and notice. Human service needs are provided to thousands of residents of the region day in and day out.

Community wide needs assessments were launched, including one that surveys the region’s youth population. The Planned Giving committee developed a Leaders Fund & Founders Fund as part of the $250,000 challenge grant through the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. The first Community Investor’s Profile was produced which highlights how the donor’s investment in Monadnock United Way agencies helped to benefit the community. This year the community calendar joined the technological age by being posted on the web.

Board Chair: Sylvia McBeth
Campaign Chair: Jim O'Neil
Theme: ALL ABOARD THE SPIRIT OF MONADNOCK
Goal: $1,857,571

The campaign theme “All Aboard the Spirit of Monadnock” emphasized the importance of railroads and how they tie the community together....much like the Monadnock United Way. On Monday, December 14th, the “Spirit of Monadnock” pulled into the station! Once again, Monadnock United Way was first in the state to reach goal. The Community Network Team (a project of the Monadnock Partnership) was officially up and running in February, with Monadnock United Way’s HELP-LINE serving as the “single point of entry” to social services in the Monadnock Region. A 1998-1999 Social Services Guide for the Monadnock Region was produced and distributed. The Guide also went on-line, providing internet surfers a wealth of local information at their fingertips.