Agency Relations and Allocations (ARA)
The ARA Committee is made up of volunteers/donors who recommend how the money United Way raises in the future campaign will be spent; in essence, they help the Board of Directors set the goal for the upcoming campaign. In addition to the panel chairs, 170-200 people volunteer to serve as panel members.
These 8-9 panels of volunteers/donors meet with member agencies seeking United Way support. They are the eyes and ears of all our donors. It is their task to inspect, ask questions, and get answers. They make on-site visits to the agencies to assess the programs that United Way funds. They also meet with agency executives and volunteers to review the budgets. At the end of the day, it requires a decision that is often complex and always with a view of how to best serve agency clients.
The qualification to be on an ARA panel is that one is a donor to the United Way of the Ozarks. To volunteer for this rewarding experience, contact Steve Kessler, Lead ARA Staff at 417.863.7700 or skessler@uwozarks.com.
The 2008 ARA Executive Committee
- Chair: Greg Beck, O'Reilly Auto Parts
- Kim Batson Associated Electric Cooperative
- Debi Harper, ANPAC
- Carl Haworth, Retired, IBEW Local #753
- Bill Hixon, Retired Partner, BKD, LLP
- Mark McCarty, Plumbers & Pipefitters Local #178
- Jennifer Purvis, BKD, LLP
- Katie Schear, US Bank
- Ryan Stack, SRC - Springfield Remanufacturing Corp.
- Bill Zaslow, Community Volunteer