The 2009 Annual Meeting was held at First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, located at 175 E. Main Street in Smithtown, New York, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Erik Rasmussen opened the session with a thanks to the staff on behalf of the Board of Governors, and especially Tom. We received the Annual Reports, approved the slate of nominations for Board of Governors, installed the officers, approved the 2008 Audited Financial Statements with slight modification, and approved the FY 2009 LICC Budget.

Following the business meeting Tom Goodhue moderated a panel discussion. Panelists were Alan Stevens, (Old South Haven Presbyterian Church), Rev. Mark Bigelow (Congregational Church of Huntington), Jean Kelly (Executive Director of the I.N.N.), and Rev. Patrick Duggan (South Hempstead Congregational Church). Tom introduced them as leaders who know how to thrive in hard times, and asked them to share their experience and advice.

Mark Bigelow’s church membership has grown by about 10% during the 18 years he’s pastored it. His budget also rose 10%. What’s allowed his church to thrive, he said, are:

• No major conflicts.
• Inspiring worship services that include hope and inspiration, not complaints and browbeating.
• Experimental – open to new ideas.
• Inclusive.

Alan Stevens became the head of a faith-based organization two years ago that was only days from going bankrupt. It is an ecumenical human services agency in Coram that provides food, counseling, and shelter for runaway youth. Facing the crisis was the beginning of solving it, he said. The agency had received a $500,000 government grant to shelter youth, but the government did not renew it. At the same time Newsday published an article about their dire straits and need for a miracle. The article brought in $128,000. One fellow alone brought in a $22,000 check, said they needed a fundraiser, and volunteered. But he recently left. They also ran out of friends to raise. Alan thinks they need to turn over board members more often. He believes their biggest problem is that their by-laws require board members to be denominational reps.

Jean Kelly – Tom noted that Jean takes good care of own soul and encourages her staff to do the same. If you can’t care for yourself, you can’t care effectively for others, Jean said. Staff and volunteers must guard against burnout. The I.N.N. is family friendly and allows flexible hours.

Before she became executive director of the INN, she spent 20 years in the corporate world. Her background was advertising and marketing. After joining the INN, she was shocked to learn about how much poverty there is on Long Island. She finds that it’s much harder to deal with the needy volunteers and staff than to deal with the homeless. Many of the people who work at nonprofits are emotionally needy and spiritually undernourished. Jean believes we shouldn’t be concerned about running out of food, and noted that once you stop putting restraints on what people can take, they get out of deprivation mode and don’t take so much.

The INN has a “no ask policy” for their guests, do not require any documentation, and they pack the food bags according to what guests told the staff they want. Poverty does not define the guests. It’s assumed that the poverty is temporary. They never use the term “client,” but use “guest” instead, to confer dignity.

Patrick Duggan – he’s been a part-time pastor for 14 years, also has a full-time job in government, and refers to himself as bi-vocational. “What do we do with declining revenue and rising problems?” he asked. “The answer is: Head, heart and home.”

• Head: Look at your leadership. Where are their heads? Attitudes are critical. How are they equipped to lead? How do we get our heads right so we can be effective leaders?
• Heart: Be in touch with our spiritual resources, and be inspirational.
• Home: How do we help the distressed? Instead of just praying, what about bringing together all the resources in one place to collaborate so we’re not duplicating. Operations have to be well equipped, and in a modern context that speaks to the people. Use contemporary resources – it may be bible study, but if it has a different name that speaks to modern interests, people are more likely to come. Structure yourselves for success.

Further comments during Q & A: Ask for what you need. Many donors want control and that’s a problem. Then it becomes an exchange, not a gift. Many volunteers and staff get ego boosts from serving others, and think they’re so great. We have to get away from being controlling and judgmental.

Rev. Dwight Wolter asked about security issues (his secretary was beaten up by a homeless man). Jean Kelly said we need to train our people how to deal with disruptive guests. Some homeless people are very sick.

The business meeting and panel discussion adjourned, followed by lunch and presentation of awards to honorees:

• FOUNDATION OF THE YEAR: Newsday Charities
• AGENCY OF THE YEAR: Nassau County Bar Association.
• DENOMINATION OF THE YEAR: Episcopal Charities of Long Island
• CONGREGATION OF THE YEAR: Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock
• CORPORATION OF THE YEAR: TD Banknorth Charitable Foundation
• PHILANTHROPIST OF THE YEAR: Anonymous
• VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: Christine Lacy
• LIFE-TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR VOLUNTEER SERVICE: Charles & Greta Hedberg
• ADDITIONAL HONOREES:
  • Bank of America
  • Bethpage Federal Credit Union
  • CVS Pharmacy
  • Episcopal Diocese of Long Island
  • First Presbyterian Church of Baldwin
  • Garden City Community Church
  • Marian S. Hubbard
  • Roslyn Savings Foundation
  • Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church