SCORE HELPS FORM ALS ORGANIZATION

Sylvia Kressen with the help of active community volunteers and SCORE Counselor Bill have in only one year developed an ALS organization which is meeting the needs of individuals with ALS and their families in Northwest Arkansas.

SCORE HELPS FORM ALS ORGANIZATION

In January of 2006 several individuals in Northwest Arkansas watched their friends and loved ones die the quick and horrible death of ALS. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig Disease) is a neuromuscular disease for which there is no known cure or prevention. However according to researcher Don Cleveland “ALS has the compelling power to draw in those with a personal connection to this disease.”
One year ago in Northwest Arkansas after dealing with the grief of losing her husband Steve Kressen to ALS Sylvia knew she had to do something. “I wanted to do something to honor my wonderful husband Steve and to be there for others with ALS. I knew all too well that caring for someone with ALS is a 24/7 job and yet I recalled the love, support and friendship that helped Steve and our children through to the very end. I had to do something; I had to be there for others facing the ravages of this disease. I knew that they needed all the support they could to maintain a high quality of life as long as they could.”
Sylvia Kressen and a few volunteers who she had recruited tried to establish a Northwest Arkansas ALS chapter. The legal requirements of incorporation, generating fiscal procedures, and creating a non-profit organization were overwhelming. Some of the fledging organization’s initial volunteer leaders had to drop out for one reason or the other. While Sylvia had good business experience she had no experience with non-profit organizations.
Sylvia turned to SCORE. In SCORE Chapter 511 Sylvia found encouragement, support and a wealth of knowledge of non-profit organizations. Sylvia says “The entire Chapter deserves thanks for its willingness to help, but the counselor they assigned to help me has been so helpful. Without Bill Powell’s wisdom and in-depth knowledge we would have floundered and failed.”
Powell gently and carefully helped them to apply the key elements of simple SCORE business and marketing plans. In addition to these principles he introduced one step at a time the key elements of the SCORE presentation “Non-profit Capacity Building Strategies.” Using these SCORE tools and example after example from his decades of non-profit leadership Powell helped the Northwest Arkansas ALS Partner to organize, to incorporate, and to determine what it really wanted to become..

Kressen says “In only one year we have done so much.” One year ago there was no ALS Chapter in Arkansas now one exists. One year ago patients had no one to go to for encouragement and answers but now a Support Group meets monthly and has 30 members. One year ago ALS patients often didn’t know how specialized medical equipment could improve their quality of life or how to acquire such equipment. Now through the generous help of an Arkansas Rotary Club and the Rotary Medical Supply Network in Tulsa Oklahoma a free medical equipment loan program has been developed.
One year ago ALS patients special speech needs were not met, and now they have regular access to Dr. Barbara Shadden of the University of Arkansas Speech and Language Department.
One year ago the Northwest Arkansas ALS Chapter had no Board of Directors and no funds with which to operate. Now with the quiet help of their SCORE counselor the ALS chapter has gathered together a Board of Directors that provides leadership and personal involvement. Using basic fundraising techniques, the ALS chapter has raised funds for patient services, education, awareness, and is building its fiscal capacity so that it can employ full time staff dedicated to meeting the needs of ALS patients in Northwest Arkansas.
Sylvia Kressen says, “We would never have succeeded without the help of SCORE. When I had a question SCORE helped me find the answer. When our Board members needed leadership, our SCOE Counselor met with them one on one. When our fundraising efforts were slow to start he showed us how to be successful. Until he showed our volunteers how to do it, I had never heard about leading from the rear.”
Doug Schrantz, Board member said “Life is better for patients with ALS in Northwest Arkansas partly because of the support, the encouragement, the wisdom, and the personal commitment of our SCORE counselor. Thank you SCORE.” Christy Fournier, Board Vice-President said, “Due to the help of SCORE and knowing that I can call on our counselor if I need him I am looking forward to taking over as President in a few months.
The SCORE counselor even recruited Karen Durand, herself a SCORE counselor who is working with excited and well connected volunteers to put on this year’s Walk to D-feet ALS. Karen said “I have seen the positive impact of SCORE counselors in business after business. Somehow Bill Powell our SCORE counselor just drew me in and now I am excited about what this chapter will do and confident that our chapter will grow in service and thrive for years to come.”
Lisa Shimmelpfenning, Board member says “The entire Board of the Northwest Arkansas ALS Chapter thanks SCORE. Because of your help and encouragement ALS patients in Northwest Arkansas will have a brighter future. We hope that some day the efforts we put into helping ALS patients will no longer be needed when research underway provides a cure for ALS. Until then we will serve those who need us the most. Thank you SCORE for when we needed you the most you were there.”