By Sharon Salyer
Herald Writer
The United Way agencies in Snohomish and King counties have been discussing the possibility of a merger for several months, officials said yesterday.
If approved, the change likely would occur in the first half of 2003, said Jon Fine, president and chief executive officer of United Way of King County.
"We’re considering the pros and cons," Fine said. "We’re more concerned about doing the right thing than doing something rapidly."
Brent Stewart, president of United Way of Snohomish County, said he first met with his counterpart in King County a little more than a year ago to talk about "things we can work on together that would benefit the people of both communities."
"Jon and I got pretty excited about the opportunities and decided to start talking with our respective boards and volunteers about it," Stewart said. "We’re still kind of far away from deciding if there are more benefits to combining than risks."
Snohomish County Executive Bob Drewel co-chairs a 15-member committee of United Way volunteers in both counties that is analyzing how the two organizations could work together.
"We’re not operating on an assumption," Drewel said, adding that before any recommendation is made on bringing the organizations together, contacts would be made with local organizations and supporters.
"If we get a resounding ‘no,’ I don’t believe the respective boards of the organizations would allow it to happen," Drewel said.
One of the worries is that supporters in both counties might feel that their respective organizations would lose their local feel and focus.
"That is our greatest fear," Drewel said. "To lose that community touch is certainly something that everybody was concerned about."
Stewart acknowledged that if it seems to make sense to combine both organizations, it would be natural for employees to wonder about their future.
"It would not be our intent to reduce staff right away," he said.
Asked if he had worries that he might lose his own job, Stewart responded: "Right now, I haven’t thought about that. … I can’t allow my personal interest to get into it."
Fund-raising is one example given by Stewart and Fine as an area where it might be beneficial to combine efforts.
"If we could combine and coordinate a little better, it will benefit Snohomish County and King County as well," Stewart said.
Snohomish County is the home of another major social service organization, Volunteers of America, that combined with its King County affiliate in January 1999 and now serves all of Western Washington.
"There were not jobs lost as a result," spokesman Shelby Sutton said.
Linda Carl has headed the United Way campaign for Edmonds employees for three years. Since so many city workers live in one county and work in the other, "it strikes me as a workable idea, something to look into," she said of the possible merger.
"I think this initially does sound like an exciting concept," Carl said. "I would be very curious how it might work out."
You can call Herald Writer Sharon Salyer at 425-339-3486
or send e-mail to salyer@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
