Date: 03-10-2011
To: Burnis Morris
From: Kelly Christian
RE: Story Outline: Recession affects United Way funding
Subject: United Way of the River Cities Inc. received less monetary contributions in 2009 than the previous year due to the recession.
Scope: I will research the amount in contributions the United Way of the River Cities Inc. both received and disbursed during the past three years to see how the recession affected revenues and distribution of funds to area nonprofits. I will research how greatly the decrease in total revenues affected nonprofits that receive funding from the United Way and whether or not the change in funding affected services provided to individuals.
Need: The recession affected many businesses that give to the United Way, which affects how much funding the United Way can give to area nonprofits. A decrease in those funds affects services, which affects those in need who depend on the services for their livelihood.
Methods: This story can be documented by drawing together the financial records of the United Way, contacting the United Way and contacting some of the nonprofits that receive funds from the United Way. I can get a list of the nonprofits that the United Way funds now and also compare it to the nonprofits the United Way fund or didn’t fund last year to see if a significant change in the number of nonprofits funded year to year.
Sources: I will pull the amount in revenues the United Way reported on its IRS 990 forms dating back to 2008 to see whether contributions increased or decreased during the past three years, or if it was just a decrease from 2008 to 2009. I will also look at the amounts distributed to each of the organizations from the United Way to see whether funding to organizations increased or decreased. I will interview Laura Gilliam, who has been executive director of the United Way of the River Cities Inc. for five years, to get the United Way’s story of how the recession affected it and the services and funding it provides. During the interview with Gilliam, I will ask her if the organization’s operations have been affected, and if they have had to cut staff or salaries to help offset the decrease in revenues.
I will also use the information the United Way has provided the class and on its IRS 990 to see if the number of organizations the United Way funds has increased or decreased, and will ask how the recession has affected the number of organizations it can help.
I will also interview a couple of the leaders of the organizations that receive funding from the United Way to see how those organizations have been affected by the recession, and if those organizations have noticed a change in the type, quality or amount of funding and services received. If the organizations have seen a change in the type or quality of services or amount of funds they receive from the United Way, I will ask how that has affected the organizations’ ability to provide services to those depend on the organizations.
Presentation: This story is part of a series in which the class is reporting about the United Way and the organizations it funds. My story in particular covers the United Way of the River Cities Inc., which receives contributions and funds organizations in the Tri-State.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Faculty Senate meeting: March 17
A few Faculty Senate members argued about amending language in a proposed bill that would allow candidates for promotion and tenure to receive written rationale about negative comments.
Members deliberated over the language for more than half of the time of the meeting. Some members argued that language needed to be changed to either give time for those candidates to file grievances or to avoid grievances filed for the lack of providing the written rationale. A majority of more than half of the members approved the amendment, while a few opposed it. Other language was amended in the bill that changed the release of profile information by faculty from using a "valid" request to "written" request because it was unclear what would be considered "valid."
Marshall University President Stephen Kopp reported to senate members of the across-the-board raise that was given to eligible faculty. Eligible faculty only included 4-year faculty, and did not include medical school faculty, newly hired faculty and part time faculty.
Members deliberated over the language for more than half of the time of the meeting. Some members argued that language needed to be changed to either give time for those candidates to file grievances or to avoid grievances filed for the lack of providing the written rationale. A majority of more than half of the members approved the amendment, while a few opposed it. Other language was amended in the bill that changed the release of profile information by faculty from using a "valid" request to "written" request because it was unclear what would be considered "valid."
Marshall University President Stephen Kopp reported to senate members of the across-the-board raise that was given to eligible faculty. Eligible faculty only included 4-year faculty, and did not include medical school faculty, newly hired faculty and part time faculty.
Huntington City Budget proposal
To: Burnis Morris
From: Kelly Christian
Re: Story Outline: Proposed FY2012 budget for City of Huntington
Date: March 17, 2011
Subject: Proposed FY2012 budget is less than FY2011
Scope: I will examine the proposed city budget for the 2012 fiscal year and find out how much the budget has been cut and what major departments will be affected by the cuts. Departments receiving less money may have to lay off workers, as the mayor suggested in the State of the City address in January in addition to possibly cutting back some other services. I also will compare Huntington to a couple of similar cities to see if cutbacks are issues cities the sizes of Huntington in Ohio and Kentucky are facing, and other cities in West Virginia, such as Charleston.
Need: Huntington residents and Tri-State residents will be affected by cuts in the budget because less money possibly would mean less services, such as in the police and fire department, which affects the safety of anyone who lives and/or works in the city. Also, the departments affected will have an increased workload if staff is cut while attempting to maintain the same amount and quality of services.
Methods: This story can be documented by the city budget that has been proposed by Huntington Mayor Kim Wolfe. I can also examine FY2011 budget to compare how budget cuts for FY2012. I will also examine the police and fire department budgets for my side bar. I will examine news articles about Charleston’s budget and other cities in Ohio and Kentucky.
Sources: In addition to examining the proposed budget for FY2012 and FY2011 budget, I will find some background information that has already been covered. I will review Wolfe’s proposals from his State of the City address to find if any additional major budget cuts have been made. I will talk to members of Huntington City Council about the proposed budget.
To compare Huntington to Charleston, I will look up Charleston’s proposed city budget and will examine news about Charleston’s proposed budget. I will also examine news about cities in similar to Huntington in Ohio and Kentucky to compare to Huntington.
Presentation: I will present two stories – a main story about the proposed budget and a side bar about two of the city’s major departments – fire and police. I will also present charts that show the major sources of Huntington’s funding and a chart showing where the city spends the money.
Follow-up: There will be a follow-up story when City Council adopts the FY2012 budget.
From: Kelly Christian
Re: Story Outline: Proposed FY2012 budget for City of Huntington
Date: March 17, 2011
Subject: Proposed FY2012 budget is less than FY2011
Scope: I will examine the proposed city budget for the 2012 fiscal year and find out how much the budget has been cut and what major departments will be affected by the cuts. Departments receiving less money may have to lay off workers, as the mayor suggested in the State of the City address in January in addition to possibly cutting back some other services. I also will compare Huntington to a couple of similar cities to see if cutbacks are issues cities the sizes of Huntington in Ohio and Kentucky are facing, and other cities in West Virginia, such as Charleston.
Need: Huntington residents and Tri-State residents will be affected by cuts in the budget because less money possibly would mean less services, such as in the police and fire department, which affects the safety of anyone who lives and/or works in the city. Also, the departments affected will have an increased workload if staff is cut while attempting to maintain the same amount and quality of services.
Methods: This story can be documented by the city budget that has been proposed by Huntington Mayor Kim Wolfe. I can also examine FY2011 budget to compare how budget cuts for FY2012. I will also examine the police and fire department budgets for my side bar. I will examine news articles about Charleston’s budget and other cities in Ohio and Kentucky.
Sources: In addition to examining the proposed budget for FY2012 and FY2011 budget, I will find some background information that has already been covered. I will review Wolfe’s proposals from his State of the City address to find if any additional major budget cuts have been made. I will talk to members of Huntington City Council about the proposed budget.
To compare Huntington to Charleston, I will look up Charleston’s proposed city budget and will examine news about Charleston’s proposed budget. I will also examine news about cities in similar to Huntington in Ohio and Kentucky to compare to Huntington.
Presentation: I will present two stories – a main story about the proposed budget and a side bar about two of the city’s major departments – fire and police. I will also present charts that show the major sources of Huntington’s funding and a chart showing where the city spends the money.
Follow-up: There will be a follow-up story when City Council adopts the FY2012 budget.
Marshall Faculty Senate meeting: before
I plan to attend the Marshall Faculty Senate meeting March 17 as my last meeting requirement for Assignment 1 on the syllabus. I searched for the meeting's agenda and could not find one. I did find the minutes posted on Marshall's website, but the most recent minutes from the previous meeting have not been posted yet.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Cabell County Board of Education meeting - March 15
Members of the Cabell County Board of Education approved a motion allowing the installation of turf at Southside Elementary and Huntington Middle School.
The purpose of the installing the turf would replace damaged area of grass that board members said would never be able to be fixed otherwise. Board member Garland Parsons challenged the motion before voting for it. Parsons asked about a similar problem that exists at Altizer Elementary and how the board would address it.
Board members also voted to table the naming of the Central Office Executive Board Room until they researched the issue further. The family of former board president Ted T. Barr who died while serving as president of the board, made the request, but board members deliberated that other former board presidents and servants have had just as much impact and should also be recognized in some way.
The purpose of the installing the turf would replace damaged area of grass that board members said would never be able to be fixed otherwise. Board member Garland Parsons challenged the motion before voting for it. Parsons asked about a similar problem that exists at Altizer Elementary and how the board would address it.
Board members also voted to table the naming of the Central Office Executive Board Room until they researched the issue further. The family of former board president Ted T. Barr who died while serving as president of the board, made the request, but board members deliberated that other former board presidents and servants have had just as much impact and should also be recognized in some way.
Cabell County School Board - Meeting Agenda
The Cabell County Board of Education will vote on Meal Supervision Agreement Contracts that would allow school employees to either receive reimbursement for meal supervision or elect to receive a meal in lieu of pay. The Meal Supervision Agreement Contracts have been recommended by the Superintendent.
The Superintendent also recommends approval of synthetic turf at Southside Elementary/Huntington Middle School playground. The synthetic turf would replace the natural turf, which has been deemed inadequate and prevents students from going outside. The turf would be installed during summer months and cost projected is $122,987.58.
Other items on the agenda include a vote on the general fund, the treasurer's report for the month of February and vouchers payable for the month of February will be presented for approval.
The Superintendent also recommends approval of synthetic turf at Southside Elementary/Huntington Middle School playground. The synthetic turf would replace the natural turf, which has been deemed inadequate and prevents students from going outside. The turf would be installed during summer months and cost projected is $122,987.58.
Other items on the agenda include a vote on the general fund, the treasurer's report for the month of February and vouchers payable for the month of February will be presented for approval.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Huntington City Council meeting - March 14
Huntington City Council members unanimously approved the second reading of an ordinance that moves the implementation of the elimination of the business and occupation tax for manufacturers and the reduction of the tax for retail and other businesses back from April 1, 2011, to Jan. 1, 2012.
During Monday evening's meeting, Mayor Kim Wolfe said the final compilation of roads and streets will begin within the next two to three weeks.
City Council also unanimously approved a resolution to revise the general fund budget of the fiscal year 2010-2011 to increse the budgeted amounts for fuel to $76,000, for utilities to $122,000 and for salt to $79,000.
During Monday evening's meeting, Mayor Kim Wolfe said the final compilation of roads and streets will begin within the next two to three weeks.
City Council also unanimously approved a resolution to revise the general fund budget of the fiscal year 2010-2011 to increse the budgeted amounts for fuel to $76,000, for utilities to $122,000 and for salt to $79,000.
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