Glen Vienneau
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 21/00) - The commitment of a few volunteers may bring the United Way to Yellowknife, and to the NWT, if interest warrants.

"Why is it there isn't a United Way," said Lyda Fuller of Yellowknife, who believes that may be a question on the minds of those familiar with the fund-raising agency, especially newcomers to the region.

"We are looking at, to see, if it's feasible to have a United Way operating in Yellowknife and in the western territory," she said.

As with any other organization, Fuller knows it takes time and commitment from those involved to get the wheels in motion.

Attempts in the past to form the agency have never resulted in the organization getting off the ground in this region. Setting up in Yellowknife would be the first step.

Fuller says establishing a local United Way branch would be good news for health and social service agencies that are registered as a charity.

A local branch, for example, would help ease the fund-raising workload for existing agencies and help raise public awareness of the services agencies offer. United Way will also be able to help with community planning and with "seed fund-raising" by initiating campaigns.

Yellowknife's Storefront For Voluntary Agencies also supports having a United Way branch in the region. It would prove beneficial for agencies that have to fund-raise for core operating costs.

"United Way is a great asset, said Shawn McCann, SFVA manager of volunteers.

The advantage of having a national agency is the resources available within United Way, according to Fuller.

Bringing those resources to the table with government and other agencies is another advantage of a United Way presence here, which will be able to identify the gaps in services in existing agencies, said Fuller.

A local branch of the United Way would be autonomous from the national organization, with a local board of directors responsible for fund-raising and administration. Other fees associated with membership in the United Way of Canada, all the money raised in the North would remain in the North.

As a result, these agencies will be able to concentrate on their prime mandates and make full use of their resources, said Fuller.

Those resources include advertising and marketing expertise, training resources. Another role is to assist agencies with financial accountability. United Way also has an annual national conference.

Agencies that could benefit from getting United Way started include the Yellowknife Association for Community Living, the NWT Literacy Council, the John Howard Society and the Young Woman's Christian Association.

Fuller is a typical of the volunteers trying to bring United Way to the region. Her past experience with the agency has left her with a continued interested.

The group trying to get the agency here hopes to arrange a visit from a representative at the United Way head office in Ottawa, Ont., hopefully in May or June.