"Thank you for doing what you do and being part of this process known as the Combined Federal Campaign," said Normal Gilchrest, director of the Greater Arkansas CFC, as he kicked off key worker training Sept. 25 at Pine Bluff Arsenal.
Gilchrest, who is retired from the U.S. Air Force/Air National Guard and the U.S. Postal Service, said that this is his third career. "I have been a part of the CFC and United Way campaigns since 1992," he said. "I was a previous coordinator for the Postal Service for the entire state of Arkansas at one point. I love doing this, and helping these agencies and helping people."
According to Laura Hiserodt, Arsenal CFC Coordinator, the goal for the installation for this year is $50,000. The campaign, which is under the CFC of Greater Arkansas/Heart of Arkansas United Way, will run from Oct. 14 to Dec. 2.
A kickoff event will be held Oct. 14 from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Arsenal's Community Center. Guest speaker will be Bridgette Williams from the American Red Cross. The Jenkins Memorial Center choir will perform and the White Hall High School ROTC will present the colors.
In fall 2013, Arsenal employees contributed $$39,138.62 against a goal of $50,000. The installation was part of the six largest campaigns in the CFC organization in Arkansas.
During the interactive training, Gilchrest outlined the mission of the CFC, part of its history as well as an organizational chart of the CFC process.
"The Arsenal is even part of the Local Federating Coordinating Committee," he said, pointing out that Jackie Flowers, chief of PBA's Internal Review and Audit is a member of the LFCC. "The LFCC acts as the board of directors for the local campaign. They approve the budget, control the spending, determine awards and control everything here locally we do for the Greater Arkansas CFC."
Forms of giving include the paper pledge cards, NEXUS online giving, and MyPay online giving. Gilchrest said that the payroll deduction method of giving is the way most people give. "The reason for this is that it is simple, effective and easy on your pocketbook," he said.
Gilchrest shared some statistics about the effectiveness of the CFC. "In 2013, CFC of Greater Arkansas raised over $920,605. In 2013, CFC Campaigns raised over $209.7 million," he said. The campaign's Facebook page can be found at CFC Greater Arkansas and their web page is www.cfcgreaterarkansas.gov
Key workers in areas around the Arsenal will be armed in the next week with the tools of the campaign -- pledge cards and charity booklets -- as well as information for personnel about the campaign. According to training information, the primary role of the key workers is to inform their co-workers about the CFC, educate them about their options in giving, distribute the campaign materials, and pick up the results.
Awards will be given to individual donors during the campaign, according to Gilchrest. These include the Patriot Giver-$120 to $249, the Supergiver-$250 to $499; the Hero Giver-$500 to $999 and the Golden Eagle-$1,000 and up.
Once the pledge cards are filled out, key workers in the directorates will collect and deliver them to Hiserodt for final tally. Workers were instructed to save up their pledges until they get a good amount and then turn them in. A weekly report will be given by Hiserodt to the commander. The final tally from PBA will be given to the Greater Arkansas CFC. A running total of giving during the CFC campaign will be posted to the Arsenal's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AmericasArsenal
The CFC, which began in the early 1960s, is one of only two fund drives allowed on U.S. Army installations during work hours. It affords all employees an opportunity to contribute to one or more charitable, humanitarian or medical research organizations at a local or national level. Federal employees continue to make the CFC the largest and most successful workplace philanthropic fundraiser in the world.
Social Sharing