Rodney Gaskins, F Rescue Mission, and I met for 2 hours yesterday and again for an hour or so. This is what we are looking at in a nut shell:
1. Idea One: The Rescue Mission absorbs this project of the youth shelter into a program of the Rescue Mission. They would not micro-manage, they would essentially allow us to run it, but they would have all the fiscal oversight and management responsibilities. (we would have to work out the details in an MOA)
This would more than appease the city and it would bring me/shelter manager into a strong organization that could provide an incredible amount of resources (knowledge, staff support, training, $$, etc.)
2) Provide moral support, advise, be cheer leaders, etc. be a consultant and no to any financial backing
I agree with working with option 1, mostly because working with the Rescue Mission would be a smart way to raise awareness for our project while working with an agency that is known for helping Fairbanks’ homeless population. I agree with the hesitations, but I think that they would be willing to work with the Fairbanks Youth Advocates to reach some kind of agreement of how this would move forward. Every time I’ve spoken to Rodney Gaskins or any of the other employees regarding Safe Place, they have always been willing to work with me. I realize this is a much larger project but I feel as though it would be to our benefit to have the Rescue Mission as a partner.
Given the two options I also chose option 1. But I also agree with Patricks hesitations.
from what i know of Rodney he is a hands off administrator, im sure there are things he will want us to do that may be different from how we might handle things but he appears very open to ideas, and new ways to do things, i think it will be a good connection, im sure there are anti rescue mission folks and that concerns me a bit, but something we can work out.
I think the grant will be that much stronger with them at the helm, as my fatherinlaw once said ( i think) was do you want something done and if someone else gets the credit will that stop you from doing it?? It wont stop me and i dont think any of us is that prideful that we cant get out of the way of progress,
it will be a great adventure
dave
Let me list a few the primary reasons why I’m in favor of working along side the rescue mission (besides the fact that I don’t like that name).
We are a young agency with little depth. While this is not a negative, at this point, it is a viable consideration when considering liability. For example, if Marylee would be removed from this equation, things would change significantly. Working with an established agency has merit here.
As an agency, we have no experience with operating a shelter, not that we could not learn and do the job effectively, but we would reinvent the wheel in some small degree. Having someone with this kind of experience behind them to direct it, makes sense.
The rescue mission already has an established record of donors and fundraising profile, that is a benefit.
However, there are some possible drawbacks, but they are unknown to me. Is there the same philosophy of operation happening? Do we loose governance completely at a level of decision making? I don’t know the rescue mission organization well, nor the individuals who operate it, so I just can’t comment on that.
But in conclusion, it seems to address the most important issue and this is providing a shelter for homeless youth. Not necessarily who owns or operates the shelter. There could be some degree of vision shift going on, and relinquishing a certain degree of expectation. Called on to make a vote at this time, given all the considerations, I would say yes to working with them. It appears that such an agreement may assuage the colateralization issue currently impeding the councils full support.
I also support option one. It sounds like it solves many problems for us; gives us the advantages of an established entity and takes care of the city’s qualms. I also like the idea of Christians partnering and working together.
In a nutshell, I support option #1. I will be able to address why in a more thoughtful response tomorrow. Everyone else please share your thoughts, pros, cons, and what your final opinion is on this matter.