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Warren, Butler United Ways to vote on possible merger

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By Ed Richter, Staff Writer Updated 10:57 PM Thursday, December 10, 2009

LEBANON — The United Way boards for Warren and Butler counties will vote next week on a possible merger between the organizations.

In anticipation of a possible merger between the agencies, Maureen Noe, executive director of the Butler County agency, and Mike Schepers, Warren County United Way executive director, both were interviewed on Tuesday, Dec. 8, for the interim executive director’s position.

The Warren County United Way’s board of directors met late afternoon Thursday to discuss the benefits and ramifications of a proposed merger with the Butler County United Way. A merger vote is set for 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, at Butler Tech, 3603 Hamlton Middletown Road in Fairfield Twp.

Dan Engen, vice president of allocations for Warren County’s United Way, said an e-mail was sent to board members a few weeks ago seeking approval for additional expenditures to investigate a possible merger. However, Engen said this has been expanded to a decision about the potential merger with Butler County.

He said one Warren County United Way employee has challenged if the boards could have preliminary discussions about the merger via e-mail. But Engen said he has not reviewed the nonprofit organization’s bylaws to determine if this is permissible.

“I am not opposed to a merger, but there needs to be full disclosure to the community’s stakeholders and volunteers,” Engen said. “The Warren County board is doing this without disclosing this to its stakeholders.”

Warren County Commissioner Pat South, a former board member, said she is among a number of people and partner agencies who are “upset” about how this is being handled and the speed of how this merger is proceeding. “There’s been no communication with them on the possible benefits and ramifications of the proposed merger,” South said. “It’s a dramatic move ... but I think it could backfire on any positive efforts that are being made by the United Way.”

South said she knows that board members are dedicated to the cause and mission of the organization, but this is a controversial move that has created a groundswell of concern in the community.

Earlier this year, the Warren County United Way voted against a merger with the Greater Cincinnati United Way which had been discussed for about three years, Engen said.

Talks also broke down about possible mergers with Butler County and Dayton’s United Way organizations this year as well.

The Butler County United Way serves the cities of Fairfield and Hamilton as well as Fairfield, Ross, Liberty, Morgan, Wayne, St. Clair and West Chester townships.

The northwest section of the county is served by the Oxford United Way, while the northeastern portion of the county, including Middletown and Trenton, are part of the Greater Cincinnati United Way.

Mike Schepers, Warren County United Way executive director, said he has not been informed as to the future of the Warren County office or staff if a merger is approved by the board and finalized by Dec. 31. He will mark six years as executive director in January.

In an e-mail sent by Schepers to some board members in early November following the Nov. 2 joint meeting of both boards, he said board president Doug Magoto replied to one board member’s concern that “we have set a fast time line so that we can get this done before it gets out to the public. Our previous meetings with the stakeholders when we were considering the regional was a circus and produced nothing, and it won’t produce anything this time around.”

Magoto could not be reached for comment late Thursday.

Bruce Jewett, Butler County’s board chairman, said both organizations are “still in the process of trying to weigh things. We’re looking for future opportunities to collaborate to see if it makes sense to combine some or all of the operations,” he said.

In the merger proposal, two to three positions would be reduced if the organizations merged.

Jewett said he was not in a position to comment on who would lead the combined organization as executive director or how a new board would be established. He said the Butler County board has a 12-member policy governance board that was adopted two years ago, unlike the larger Warren County board with 20 members.

The Butler County board also will be meeting at Butler Tech next Tuesday but Jewett said it would not be a joint meeting with the Warren County board.

Jewett said both organizations have gotten to know each other well over the past few years during discussions to create a regional United Way that also would include Dayton and Cincinnati.

As for a future merger with the Cincinnati organization if the proposed merger between Warren and Butler is successful, Jewett said it was something he “wouldn’t rule out in the future.”

Schepers said the last time the Warren County United Way met or exceeded its campaign goal was in 2007 when it raised $2.14 million, Schepers said.

He said the 2009 campaign, which will end in early March, set a goal of $2.4 million.

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The whole way this merger is being handled is disgraceful and underhanded. For clarity, the few board members who are championing this are volunteers with short tenure. Their real purpose is not clear. What incentives have they been offered to close this deal. It is not what the community wants or needs.

The United Way is nothing more than a clearing house that provides support to its member agencies. I will no longer give to United Way but will choose to give directly to specific agencies.

Concerned Giver
7:23 PM, 12/14/2009

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I think Maureen is a cutie. We need more babes like her in leadership positions.

Bootylicious
9:41 PM, 12/11/2009

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Just FYI... the UW staff members, including the president, were not informed of the pending merger. They read about it in the paper, along with everyone else. The Warren County UW staff serves their non-profit agencies and the community as a whole. The board of the UW are the ones to blame. They need to stop trying to prevent input from the stakeholders and serve the public as well. UW is an honest charity, but the board members are ruining the reputation with their personal agendas.

Get it straight
9:16 PM, 12/11/2009

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I,ll give nothing to UW. Just another arm of your corrupt politics that either prey on your fears or your guilt.

starveanation
7:50 PM, 12/11/2009

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For Clarification,what I mean by double speak is people who try to excuse actions by dancing around the issues with fancy words. I'm sure that the wall street crooks, including, Madoff, were very proficient at this. We have people out there doing worthy charitable acts without taking multi million dollar salaries and perks. Mother Theresa was a prime example and money should have been filtered to her rather than UW. Another example is the animal protection groups who take very meager salaries.

Roger Staton
6:00 PM, 12/11/2009

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