Big Brothers/Big Sisters board ousts director

As United Way of the Ozarks moves through its annual two-month fundraising campaign, one of its member agencies is searching for a new director.

The board of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Ozarks asked its executive director, Louise Henson, to resign Sept. 19.

Nobody is saying why.

_Any personnel issues, that is private information, and we can_t discuss any type of personnel issues,_ Board President Robin Robeson said.

United Way President/CEO John Rush said he simply hasn_t been informed and would rather not know.

_I really don_t know in that case,_ Rush said, adding that personnel issues for United Way agencies are kept confidential. _From what I can gather, there was no scandal involved._

Henson declined to say, only referencing the difficulty nonprofits have in generating dollars.

But Robeson ruled out financial matters.

_I can tell you unequivocally that this was not a decision that was made for financial reasons because we are filling the position,_ Robeson said. _It_s not an elimination of a position or anything like that. We are hiring a new executive director._

An executive search committee hasbeen formed; board member Jean Twitty is committee chair. Robeson expects the organization to name a new director in about six weeks.

_Big Brothers/Big Sisters is actively seeking a new executive director to take our organization forward. Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America is growing and we have every intention that our agency here locally will continue to grow and prosper and serve the at-risk children that is the whole purpose of why we are in existence,_ Robeson said.

Henson joined Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Ozarks September 2001, after working more than 10 years as executive officer of the Home Builders Association of Greater Springfield. Big Brothers/Big Sisters links children to volunteers who act as mentors.

_The board made the decision, and we have to go with that,_ Henson said. _Big Brothers/Big Sisters will go on, and so will Louise._

United Way _03-_04 campaign

In the meantime, Big Brothers/Big Sisters must endure its annual blackout period: during the annual United Way campaign, member agencies aren_t allowed to solicit funds.

The United Way campaign kicked off Sept. 9, announcing its goal of $3,307,863 _ it_s largest ever. The campaign ends Nov. 7. Rush said 30 percent of the goal has been received to date.

United Way of the Ozarks raised $3,305,939 against a goal of $3.3 million in 2002. Rush is optimistic, based on last year_s outcome. Despite the fact that 2002 nationally was considered _one of the worst years in fundraising in two or three decades,_ Rush said local giving to United Way was up.

_While we were going up last year 3.3 percent, other United Ways_ national average was going down 1.6 (percent),_ he said. It was the first year since 1995 that United Way giving was down nationally.

On a whole, giving to charities was down 0.5 percent, according to Giving USA 2003, an annual philanthropy report.

Local United Way contributions have grown more than 3 percent each of the past three years, Rush said.