Public forum addresses questions and concerns over foundation merger

[toggle title_open=”Close Me” title_closed=”Additional Information” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]On January 10, 2012 the boards of the Dubois County Community Foundation and the Huntingburg Foundation announced they were considering a merger of the two foundations. The boards have been discussing the merger for over 12 months. The process began soon after the Huntingburg Foundation began plans for the recent launch of Emerging Leaders.

The Dubois County Community Foundation approached the Huntingburg Foundation about the possibility of a merger due to a shared vision and goal for Dubois County. Each foundation has it unique strengths and together they realized they could strengthen their efforts in creating community participation and endowments for the betterment of the Dubois County Community as a whole.

The Huntingburg Foundation was formed from an effort to save the Old Town Hall was began by concerned citizens and 1977.They formed a community endowment to care for and restore the Old Town Hall. After restoring the town hall the group was approached by Eli Lilly, who was advocating for community foundations throughout the state, to become a community foundation. The Old Town Hall rewrote their bylaws and became the Huntingburg Community Foundation in the late 80’s. The foundation focused on Huntingburg and South West Dubois County. In the early 90’s a county-wide foundation was pushed and the Dubois County Community Foundation was formed.[/toggle]

A public forum was held on Tuesday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. at the Huntingburg Old Town Hall to address the concerns raised about a merger between the Huntingburg Community Foundation and the Dubois County Community Foundation. The event was attended by Huntingburg residents and Foundation members. A panel constituted of board president Kurt Fuhs, board member Larry Fuesler, board member Sue Hubster, and board treasurer Mitch Clark represented the Huntingburg Foundation Board and answered questions from the audience.

Issues raised during the forum ranged from philosophical differences between the two foundations to the constitution of the newly merged board; i.e. how much representation would Huntingburg be allowed if the board would be located in Jasper.

Some questions about the organization of the board, the location of the offices, and the fates of the staff members were unable to be answered by the Huntingburg board at this time. It was reiterated several times that the merger would create a need for reorganization and new bylaws.

Questions about individual endowments and who would administer them were placated with assurances that existing endowments would not leave Huntingburg. Although questions couldn’t be answered about administration of the endowments, Attorney Phil Schneider stated it would be illegal to move endowments from their intended designations.

A reason for the merger that was revisited was the fact that competition for Lilly Grants exists between the two foundations. Lilly will not award grants to two community foundations in a county so each year one of the two foundations has been a recipient of the annual Lilly Grant. The merger would negate that competition and further unify their efforts.

Phil Schneider stated the two foundations are not approaching each other out of desperation, “I understand that the Dubois County Community Foundation is enamored with our model, they manage funds we (Huntingburg Foundation) manage actions and they like that and they came to us and said ‘would you be interested in talking about a merger’,” said Schneider.

Board Member Sue Hubster pointed out that the Foundation’s growth is necessary to facilitate new donors and endowments. Using the Emerging Leaders program as an example, Hubster pointed out that the members joining that group were from all over the county. The Huntingburg Foundation Program was also funded through two Jasper corporations, German American and Jasper Engines.

Rick Pflanz addressed the board with several concerns from Phyllis Menke. She and her husband Bob Menke were involved in saving the Huntingburg Old Town Hall which currently serves as the location for the Huntingburg Foundation and she wanted to know what would happen if that office was moved and how the building would be cared for. She also wanted to know if they could guarantee seats on the new board be held by Huntingburg Foundation Board members.

Larry Fuesler addressed the concern for the board by stating they would like to see that all communities are represented on the board as that is the goal of the newly formed group.

In regards the Old Town Hall Mitch Clark stated the board was dedicated to caring for the property and the endowment for the Old Town Hall is still available and can be supported through donations.

It became apparent that the boards would have to do a better job informing the public of the benefits of the merger and recognized that certain press had been detrimental in their efforts.

Del Bromm pointed out that a recent article held negative connotations in regards to the idea that the Dubois County Community Foundation would “absorb” the Huntingburg Community Foundation. Larry Fuesler stated, “That (statement) was a total misrepresentation of what is going on here and the DCCF board member involved was not of that mentality at all and was very regretful it happened.”

Jasper Councilman and Dubois County Tourism Director Kevin Manley attended the meeting last night. “I think that things are changing and there’s not enough money to go around. For us to thrive in the future we’ve got to work together. Having that voice is critical because no community wants to lose their character. We need to keep each communities voice active and work together and that’s how we’re going to thrive.”

An additional concern addressed was the Huntingburg Event Center. On Monday, Jan.30 the Huntingburg Foundation announced the mortgage on the Event Center had been paid off through a charitable donation of $235,000 and in a brief ceremony gifted the Event Center to the Huntingburg Event and Community Center Inc., a separate charitable organization (501.3c).

Hubster stated the public should take the bad and the good from tonight’s forum and come up with more questions and concerns to be addressed. The board plans on conducting more public forums throughout the process of exploring and planning the merger. Additional information will be announced as it is made available.