A couple of messages posted here recently have been removed due to foul language and hateful intent of a former member of this forum.

This is a family oriented website and these types of messages will not be tolerated. Often, discussions can get heated but we all must be aware of the content we post.

Please excuse this intrusion, freedom of speech is one thing, abuse and foul language is quite another.

I wasn't going to come back, but I felt like I needed to ask some questions and make a few points. From what I understand, the steering committee has to have power, that is, resources and the authority to make things happen. Does the committee have these sorts of members? Has there been the involvement of the State AG in the formation of the steering committee? Power and resources are important. For instance, Debra Shuman represents the News Star on the Chamber BOD, but she does not have decision making power and could never actually commit the resources of the newspaper. Also, is the steering committee going to have input on the budget, where the money is allocated and for which projects? Who is going to be your fiscal agent? Again, this is very important. Do you really want the fiscal agent to be the some government agency, or is there a non-profit in town with a good reputation for fiscal management (United Way, perhaps, or a Faith Based organization with a track record in grant management). As I have stated in this forum before I was forced out, I think the money - that is CONTROL of the money - should stay in the community and the steering committee should provide fiscal oversight of expenditures. Has the steering committee had any input on the grant application, is it being drafted now ( it should be, since a draft must be in the state AG office on 11-10 and this is a complex application). Is someone taking your committee through the exercise of creating the programs, determining the outcomes and devising a system to track the number of people served and level of success? You need to have that in order to figure out where to allocate resources. And, if you don't have these in place, some grant writer will use another communities plan and write one for you - one that you may not want. Maybe I am totally out of touch and this has all been taken care of, but I wanted to comment because I fear one of two things will happen, either the committee is just window dressing and a budget will be created to heavily benefit police or these details will be left to the last minute and then pulled together to create an application that doesn't address the real needs of the community. Okay, I am ready for the attack this time.

Posted By BSG on 20 Jul 2009 05:54 PM
I wasn't going to come back, but I felt like I needed to ask some questions and make a few points. From what I understand, the steering committee has to have power, that is, resources and the authority to make things happen. Does the committee have these sorts of members? Has there been the involvement of the State AG in the formation of the steering committee? Power and resources are important. For instance, Debra Shuman represents the News Star on the Chamber BOD, but she does not have decision making power and could never actually commit the resources of the newspaper. Also, is the steering committee going to have input on the budget, where the money is allocated and for which projects? Who is going to be your fiscal agent? Again, this is very important. Do you really want the fiscal agent to be the some government agency, or is there a non-profit in town with a good reputation for fiscal management (United Way, perhaps, or a Faith Based organization with a track record in grant management). As I have stated in this forum before I was forced out, I think the money - that is CONTROL of the money - should stay in the community and the steering committee should provide fiscal oversight of expenditures. Has the steering committee had any input on the grant application, is it being drafted now ( it should be, since a draft must be in the state AG office on 11-10 and this is a complex application). Is someone taking your committee through the exercise of creating the programs, determining the outcomes and devising a system to track the number of people served and level of success? You need to have that in order to figure out where to allocate resources. And, if you don't have these in place, some grant writer will use another communities plan and write one for you - one that you may not want. Maybe I am totally out of touch and this has all been taken care of, but I wanted to comment because I fear one of two things will happen, either the committee is just window dressing and a budget will be created to heavily benefit police or these details will be left to the last minute and then pulled together to create an application that doesn't address the real needs of the community. Okay, I am ready for the attack this time.

 

BSG, great comments, questions and there will be NO attacks!!!

Posted By BSG on 20 Jul 2009 05:54 PM
I wasn't going to come back, but I felt like I needed to ask some questions and make a few points. From what I understand, the steering committee has to have power, that is, resources and the authority to make things happen. Does the committee have these sorts of members? Has there been the involvement of the State AG in the formation of the steering committee? Power and resources are important. For instance, Debra Shuman represents the News Star on the Chamber BOD, but she does not have decision making power and could never actually commit the resources of the newspaper. Also, is the steering committee going to have input on the budget, where the money is allocated and for which projects? Who is going to be your fiscal agent? Again, this is very important. Do you really want the fiscal agent to be the some government agency, or is there a non-profit in town with a good reputation for fiscal management (United Way, perhaps, or a Faith Based organization with a track record in grant management). As I have stated in this forum before I was forced out, I think the money - that is CONTROL of the money - should stay in the community and the steering committee should provide fiscal oversight of expenditures. Has the steering committee had any input on the grant application, is it being drafted now ( it should be, since a draft must be in the state AG office on 11-10 and this is a complex application). Is someone taking your committee through the exercise of creating the programs, determining the outcomes and devising a system to track the number of people served and level of success? You need to have that in order to figure out where to allocate resources. And, if you don't have these in place, some grant writer will use another communities plan and write one for you - one that you may not want. Maybe I am totally out of touch and this has all been taken care of, but I wanted to comment because I fear one of two things will happen, either the committee is just window dressing and a budget will be created to heavily benefit police or these details will be left to the last minute and then pulled together to create an application that doesn't address the real needs of the community. Okay, I am ready for the attack this time.

 

Good Points BSG

First off thanks for asking these questions.  I will answer everything in blue print.

I wasn't going to come back, but I felt like I needed to ask some questions and make a few points. From what I understand, the steering committee has to have power, that is, resources and the authority to make things happen. Does the committee have these sorts of members? Yes we have these members.  They are individuals from many different organizations that are important to Lehigh Acres Weed and Seed; Frank Mann, county commissioner, Karen Hawes, Director of Lee County Human Service (interim county manager), US Attorney's Office.  These are only a few of the members who have power and resources. Has there been the involvement of the State AG in the formation of the steering committee? Power and resources are important. For instance, Debra Shuman represents the News Star on the Chamber BOD, but she does not have decision making power and could never actually commit the resources of the newspaper. Just so that the facts are correct.  Debra Shuman is not on the Chamber of Commerce Board.  I know you where only giving an anology but I wanted to make sure you knew the truth.  Also, is the steering committee going to have input on the budget, where the money is allocated and for which projects? The steering committee and hopefully along with the community will decide how the funds are used. When we are awarded the funds, they are broken out over a 5 year period that totals $1,000,000. Fifty percent of the funds has to be used on the weeding aspects and 40 percent for the seeding aspect which includes prevention, intervention, treatment and neighborhood restoration.   Who is going to be your fiscal agent? Again, this is very important. Do you really want the fiscal agent to be the some government agency, or is there a non-profit in town with a good reputation for fiscal management (United Way, perhaps, or a Faith Based organization with a track record in grant management). As I have stated in this forum before I was forced out, I think the money - that is CONTROL of the money - should stay in the community and the steering committee should provide fiscal oversight of expenditures. We, the steering committee as a whole are the stewards of the funds.  It is controlled by us the people of Lehigh.  Lehigh Acres citizens make up the majority of the steering committee. Has the steering committee had any input on the grant application, is it being drafted now ( it should be, since a draft must be in the state AG office on 11-10 and this is a complex application). Is someone taking your committee through the exercise of creating the programs, determining the outcomes and devising a system to track the number of people served and level of success? The steering committee is very fortunate to have two different people that have worked with and were awarded the weed and seed contract. We the steering committee are involved in the application process at every level. You need to have that in order to figure out where to allocate resources. And, if you don't have these in place, some grant writer will use another communities plan and write one for you - one that you may not want. Maybe I am totally out of touch and this has all been taken care of, but I wanted to comment because I fear one of two things will happen, either the committee is just window dressing and a budget will be created to heavily benefit police or these details will be left to the last minute and then pulled together to create an application that doesn't address the real needs of the community. We understand the uniqueness of Lehigh Acres and we want this application to be the right one for Lehigh Acres. A portion of the funds that Lehigh Acres' receives will have to go to law enforcement.  That protion is less than 50%.  Okay, I am ready for the attack this time.

I hope that I answered your question correctly.  You can always come to our steering committee meeting or contact me if you want.  You can reach me at 239-340-8658.

Thanks, Bo

 

BSG,

Bo has responded to your questions but as I read his answers there was one thing I wanted to respond with more information. You asked about Debra Shuman or a "media representative".  Bo reponded correctly in that Debra is not on the steering committee. Deron Snyder with the News Press was on the Steering Committee and we expected great input and support form his organization but I believe Deron has left the ews Press for another position. I think I read that in the paper. His lack of presence on the steering committee needs to be filled. I'm sure that vacancy will be addressed soon.

Please feel free to ask questions and keep the dialogue going.

Damon Shelor

The analogy I was making using poor Debra was that though she was always a great representative for the News Press, but they never gave her the power to commit NP resources to the Chamber of Commerce, the way an executive director or business owner has the power to do. Nothing against Debra, she is a great person and community minded person. But, the steering committee needs executive directors and owners, heads of organizations, etc. who can commit their finances, volunteers, support of their organization, etc. Why in the world would you have Deron Snyder on the committee? Wasn't he a Naples resident? Why not fill the vacancy with someone from Lehigh Acres? I have a suggestion. Randall Laws. Retired Army. I think he also was in law enforcement. Member NAACP. Local Landscaping business owner. Really great guy and very concerned about crime in Lehigh Acre. I also think he is a relative of Veronica Shoemaker.

Hmmm. Let me get more specific:

1. You said that the community will decide how to allocate 40% of the funds. From what I understand, you should be making the decision about how you want the money spent NOW, not after you get the money. You tell the funding agency how you are going to use the money before they award it to you. Right?  

How much of the $1m is match from the community and will that be provided with cash or in-kind?

2. If the community is awarded $200,000 the first year, 25% of that will be required to be provided in match (can't remember if it is 20% or 25%) but about $50,000. That leaves $150,000 for weed and seed. The steering committee makes the decision on how to spend 40%, or $60,000. How is this going to be allocated the first year? Does the committee have a plan yet?  That is not a lot of money for programs. 

3. Who is the applicant on the proposal and who will be the fiscal agent? If you have had input in developing the proposal, you should know the answers to these questions.

4. You say that the committee is acting as "steward" of the money. What does that mean exactly? Has the steering committee set themselves up as a 501c3 so that it can actually serve as the ficsal agent? In other words WHOSE BANK ACCOUNT WILL GET THE DIRECT DEPOSIT FROM THE US GOVERNMENT? The government is not going to divide the grant up before sending out the money. They will send it to one agent who will be ultimately responsible to account for how the funds are spent. 

3. If you are involved with the application at every step, then tell me, what programs are planned with the $60,000 of seed money for the first year? In other words, which groups from Lehigh Acres will be receiving funding with this grant money and for what programs? Are the potential recipients of the grant money serving on the steering committee? ( BTW, I think that enhancing already existing programs is preferable to building something from scratch and think the actual recipients of grant money should be on the steering committee. Don't think I am critical of this. Those are also the groups that can provide "match" in the form of facility use, volunteer time, etc.)

4. You say a portion of the funds that "Lehigh Acres receives" goes to law enforcement. Bo, I don't think that Lehigh Acres CAN receive the money, because it is not a city. That is why I keep asking the question about who will be the fiscal agent, who will actually get the money deposited into their account?

5. FYI, whoever is the fiscal agent will expect a portion of the grant money to go to them for administering the grant and reporting periodically to the government. This could reduce the amount of money in the community by 8% - 10% . Can anyone tell me who is the fiscal agent on this grant application? 

Thanks,

BSG  

Posted By BSG on 23 Jul 2009 11:47 AM
The analogy I was making using poor Debra was that though she was always a great representative for the News Press, but they never gave her the power to commit NP resources to the Chamber of Commerce, the way an executive director or business owner has the power to do. Nothing against Debra, she is a great person and community minded person. But, the steering committee needs executive directors and owners, heads of organizations, etc. who can commit their finances, volunteers, support of their organization, etc. Why in the world would you have Deron Snyder on the committee? Wasn't he a Naples resident? Why not fill the vacancy with someone from Lehigh Acres? I have a suggestion. Randall Laws. Retired Army. I think he also was in law enforcement. Member NAACP. Local Landscaping business owner. Really great guy and very concerned about crime in Lehigh Acre. I also think he is a relative of Veronica Shoemaker.

I'm with you. I'm not sure how Deron was put onto the committee, he was there when I got drafted. The points you make are good. I don't know Randall but I'll pass along your thoughts and comments.
 

I'm really new in Lehigh Acres, BSG, and have to tell you how happy I am to read your posts. You are seeing the things that most concern me. I keep getting the impression that the community leaders are looking at Weed and Seed as a program focused on "weeding". I do not see it that way.

I have already experienced a community's efforts to emphasis weeding without first garnering the support of the majority of residents. It failed. Turning things around were long and slow, but they were eventually turned around and the program has achieved real change in the portions of the community where the neighbors banned together and made it happen through their own personal efforts with very little grant monies.

The sweet part at this point in time is seeing so many agencies, governmental, faith-based and non-profit, joining the effort WITH major money because there are pockets of real success and there has been the kind of careful record keeping that BSG is indicating must happen.

Please keep talking, BSG. You have much to say.

Thanks, Jmullikin. I have also lived in areas where service providers and charities, community organizations, and faith-based organizations worked together because they understood that it was the key to increased funding for their programs.

The program part of the grant is important. I asked a lot of questions about specifics that no one has answered. Is that because there is no answer, or because these issues haven't been addressed yet? If your group has input into the grant application, then specific programs and outcomes and key stakeholders should already be defined.

The best way to do this is for members of the steering committee that already provide services to get together to create a strategy targeting a particular group.  This is just an example, but one goal ( out of several) may be to reach single mothers in the targeted community, and that program would include a faith-based organization that offers mothers morning out program, a non-profit that provides parenting education, a literacy program, the food pantry at a faith based organization, nutrition classes at another agency, the library's pre-school reading program. Kind of a package of programs with providers working together and making referrals to other members.  One outcome is that the parent develops a connection to the community and creates contacts with stable people in the community. These are the kinds of programs that get funding.

Also, you don't want to stop with the Weed and Seed grant. Once you have the programs in place, then you want to use those same strategies to get additional funding from private foundations and state and local government.  Last year, before I was beat (verbally) into submission by opposing forces, I had been researching private foundations in Florida that offered grants for small town beautification, some for youth programs, and literacy programs.  I served two years on a grant review board for Lee County and saw a lot of grants get funding but never saw an application from a Lehigh Acres charity. I always thought it was such a wasted opportunity, since almost all the programs that applied received some level of funding.  

 

I am so glad you have started posting again BSG. I always thought your comments were very thought provoking, to the point and showed great insight. Your last post, outlinging some of your background, explains why your comments have been so "on target".

Many of the programs you mentioned in the previous post regarding faith based initiatives and services are gaining greater organnization. The Prevention, Intervention and Treatment (PIT) sub committee is working on several of the things you mentioned. Team Rescue, a group originally sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, Community Council and Lehigh Community services, has been meeting to coordinate and improve services here in Lehigh. There are approximately 40 organizations talking with each other to provide more efficient service and better awareness of the variety of services avaiable.

Your experience and knowledge would be a great asset to several of these efforts, Weed and Seed in particular. I sent you a PM and I very much would like to talk with you regarding these projects. Please contact me.

 

PS I see you are a "night owl" also.

I had the pleasure of meeting Randall Laws this week and think he is an excellent choice. He is retired Air Force after 41 years of service.

 

Here are your answers.  I hope this helps.

I am sorry for anyone that takes a verbal beating. I have been on the receiving end of a few “beatings”. I have learned that anyone that is getting beaten is usually doing some good out there and the nay-sayers need someone to talk about.   

 

Sincerely,

Bo

Thank you for the insight, Bo. It really helps a new person get a feel for what has been accomplished and what areas are still to be developed. I noticed that LeeMedic has posted about getting the young people involved. Here's some things I've seen work:

1. Children are going to naturally discard their trash wherever they finish with the item. If they see their elders doing the same thing it becomes a permanent habit. In order to make the young more conscious of trash, we created a trash art competition. On a hot summer day, 2-3 preteens were enlisted to gather a group of children living in an area and comb the street and the alley for trash. After they had gathered their bounty, they created a display on a chain link fence. Some of the groups came up with really interesting trash art displays. This was picked up by the media and resulted in a local artist writing for a grant to cover the cost of supplies so local artists of all ages could paint murals on privacy fences in he alleys, culminating in a guided "alley art tour".

2. Community Services was awarded a grant for a Teen Career Coaching Program. It was held for two hours twice weekly during the school term. It included mentoring, tutoring, visiting colleges, community service work, resume writing and job interview prep. After measurements such as school attendance and grades, etc., showed positive improvement the project was extended this summer to a 20 hour per week program with the students actually receiving hourly wages for the hours spent in community service work. These teens are being asked to perform real manual labor such as painting and repairing playground equipment, weeding public space and removing underbrush near waterways.

3. Also very popular is the recycled art program where a group completing a sculpture out of recycled materials, which is suitable for park and right-of-way display, wins them a $400 grant.

A child who is conscious of community commitment will be more likely to be a lifelong volunteer, don't you think?

1. The funding agency (CDDO) does not distribute the money, except to the fiscal agent. It is the fiscal agent who will disburse the funds. Okay, so the money will go into Lee County's bank account. They will also be the main point of contact for the grant because they are the only ones able to enter into contracts with the federal government. The county is the applicant, on behalf of the Lehigh Acres Weed and Seed project, and they are also the fiscal agent.

Glad to hear that they are not charging for administering the grant. Will they be hiring a project manager?

2. So, 25% match on an actual award of $175,000 will be about $53,000. That means the local community
(and the LCSO) will have to come up with $53,000 of cash or in-kind donations for the project and the budget will have to detail actual costs of $228,000. I question the expectation of increased funding from the CDDO. From what I read, $175,000 is the maximum request each year. But, you may know something about the funding that I couldn't get from reading the application.

The budgeted amount for the project may go up each year, but the government's portion of that funding will be expected to decrease. Right?

My question about funding is, will the US government actually provide $1m over 5 years, or is it a $1m project with the government providing up to 75% of the money over 5 years, or is there another answer to this question that is somewhere in between?

3. I understand that the Steering Committee has input on projects and programs, but 60% of this money will ultimately go to policing and that is the LCSO ( which, by the way, should be asked to come up with 60% of the match). This is fine, since the goal is to get more police presence into Lehigh Acres. I am just looking at how much money is left for other projects that the community will be expected to provide in order to get the award.

There are a lot of social programs that will be asked to provide services without much compensation. And, that is my point. Let's be realistic about how much the community is going to be asked to provide and how much money will actually be available for these programs. That is why I suggested using existing programs and asking for money in the budget to expand, enhance, or coordinate these.

4. Here is just a thought. Why not either form a 501c3 or use an existing 501c3 in Lehigh Acres - a member of the Steering Committee with a good track record in fiscal management - to help you leverage this award (if it is approved) into more grant money that will come directly to Lehigh Acres? Foundations and government agencies only award funds to a 501c3.

Then you can apply to the Publix foundation in Clearwater ( among others) for a $5000 grant to enhance one of your weed and seed projects targeted at youth. I think the committee's long term goal should be to get more money into the community and local control of that money. This would be a way to do it.

Those recycled art projects could probably get funded through a private foundation. (Thanks, JMullikin).

5. I am not criticizing you, Bo, for not answering my questions with specifics nor was I implying that you lacked knowledge. I do not want to make you think that I am trying to argue for the sake of arguing or to provoke a confrontation.

I just worry, as I have said before, that if the committee doesn't define, very specifically and very early in the development of the proposal, what they want to fund with the "seed" money, then I am pretty sure the LCSO has some ideas of how to spend the money on their own LCSO - directed projects and Lehigh Acres will be left providing support programs and in-kind match with very little compensation.

Just call me suspicious.

FY 2010 Funding For Weed and Seed Program In Danger of Severe Cuts. Don't know that there is much that can be done about this at this late date, but it is something to keep an eye on.

June 23, 2009

The Senate Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) Subcommittee on Appropriations is scheduled to mark up its version of the FY 2010 CJS Appropriations Bill, which contains funding for the Weed and Seed program, tomorrow. Although the President's FY 2010 Budget Request contained a level of $25 million for the program, the House passed-version of the CJS bill only contained a level of $15 million. This level of funding would be detrimental to the Weed and Seed program, and would not allow any new grants to be awarded.

Posted By BSG on 24 Jul 2009 05:13 PM
FY 2010 Funding For Weed and Seed Program In Danger of Severe Cuts. Don't know that there is much that can be done about this at this late date, but it is something to keep an eye on.

June 23, 2009

The Senate Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) Subcommittee on Appropriations is scheduled to mark up its version of the FY 2010 CJS Appropriations Bill, which contains funding for the Weed and Seed program, tomorrow. Although the President's FY 2010 Budget Request contained a level of $25 million for the program, the House passed-version of the CJS bill only contained a level of $15 million. This level of funding would be detrimental to the Weed and Seed program, and would not allow any new grants to be awarded.

 

Well that just let some air out of my balloon!

I was just sending a message to Damon about the possibility of turning the Steering Committee into a permanent community partnership that would identify community needs and funding resources. Damon, if you think that is something that could be valuable for Lehigh, and want to share that message here, I do not mind. BSG

 

This is from the SW Florida Community Foundation. Are there any non-profit members who would profit from this?
CAPACITY GRANT CYCLES
The Community Foundation's new quarterly Capacity Grants of up to $1,500 support training seminars and other staff development activities, the hiring of organizational development consultants, small equipment expenditures, and emergency needs of local nonprofits.

Deadlines: March 15, 2009; June 15, 2009; September 15, 2009; December 15, 2009

Posted By BSG on 24 Jul 2009 05:13 PM
FY 2010 Funding For Weed and Seed Program In Danger of Severe Cuts. Don't know that there is much that can be done about this at this late date, but it is something to keep an eye on.

June 23, 2009

The Senate Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) Subcommittee on Appropriations is scheduled to mark up its version of the FY 2010 CJS Appropriations Bill, which contains funding for the Weed and Seed program, tomorrow. Although the President's FY 2010 Budget Request contained a level of $25 million for the program, the House passed-version of the CJS bill only contained a level of $15 million. This level of funding would be detrimental to the Weed and Seed program, and would not allow any new grants to be awarded.

 

http://capwiz.com/cadca/issues/aler...d=13608076

 

Posted By LeeMedic on 24 Jul 2009 10:21 PM

Posted By BSG on 24 Jul 2009 05:13 PM
FY 2010 Funding For Weed and Seed Program In Danger of Severe Cuts. Don't know that there is much that can be done about this at this late date, but it is something to keep an eye on.

June 23, 2009

The Senate Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) Subcommittee on Appropriations is scheduled to mark up its version of the FY 2010 CJS Appropriations Bill, which contains funding for the Weed and Seed program, tomorrow. Although the President's FY 2010 Budget Request contained a level of $25 million for the program, the House passed-version of the CJS bill only contained a level of $15 million. This level of funding would be detrimental to the Weed and Seed program, and would not allow any new grants to be awarded.

 

http://capwiz.com/cadca/issues/aler...d=13608076

 

This is being reported by the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America. At the bottom of the article you can fill out a form that will send a form letter to your Congressional leaders for your district.