The Merrill Area United Way recently held its Annual Meeting on February 5th. This meeting is our leadership transitional meeting when elections take place. It is also a meeting to evaluate our previous year and analyze and establish areas that the Board will move forward with in the new year.
Each year a third of our 21-member Board are up for election to an additional term on the Board. It is exciting when all members choose to be on the Board for another three-year term. We believe it speaks highly of the rewarding; effective work United Way is doing in the community. It also reinforces that we have a cohesive Board that works well together. Remaining on the Board for the term of 2024 to 2027 are Brian Richards, Leah Burbach, Lin Kautza, Maria Brickner, Kurt Rust, Becca Klessig, and Tom Zentner.Taking on officer roles are President Stacy Stevens, 1st Vice President Joe Breaman II, 2nd Vice President David Johnson, Treasurer Brian Richards, Secretary Jane Dehnel, and Past President Mike Ravn. On the Executive Board are Shannon Murray, Leah Burbach, Maria Brickner, and Mark Zulliger.
The 2023 Annual Report for Merrill Area United Way was distributed at the meeting. The report identifies the significant role United Way plays in the community by supporting 20 programs to help people with health, education, basic needs, and financial stability. The Annual Report highlights the activities, challenges, and successes of 2023. The Annual Report is available to the public via our website; at merrillareaunitedway.org or visit us on Face Book. In April, the Merrill Area United Way Board will hold its Annual Planning and Goal Setting Session. We will look for areas to improve upon and ways to strengthen our organization and community.
February Is the month of love. It is a time to reflect on the people and things you love. My mother used to tell me all the time “love thy neighbor as you would love yourself.” That usually came about when she was lecturing me after an argument with a sibling, a classmate, or a friend. But it is true! We need to find peace and love in our lives again. Help stop everything hateful or negative. Valentine’s Day is a special day when we show love. We need to show love year-round. Love should be what we are about all the time with our expressions of care, concern, and friendliness toward other human beings, our family, our community, our faith. It is easy to get lost in all the negativity in our society today but let us work on turning things around.
Through United Way we work hard to build a stronger, more positive, loving community, a community that cares about our fellow humankind, neighbors, family, people we know and do not know. You can show your support and help through giving, supporting, mentoring, and volunteering. Let this message be “your mantra” throughout the year. Let it be amplified during February, but then carry it forward throughout the entire year.
Donations to the Merrill Area United Way stay local and are always appreciated. If you wish to support Merrill Area United Way, then please mail donations to P O Box 813, Merrill, WI 54452.