United Auto Workers rally ahead of strike deadline

Also, Community Foundation launches non-profit sustainability program

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The members of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 1166 will hold two Red Shirt Rally events on Wed., Sept. 13, in Foster Park. All local unions and the general public are invited to attend.

The rallies take place at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., just one day before the UAW’s contracts with Stellantis, Ford, and General Motors expire. The union voted overwhelmingly in August to authorize a strike if a new agreement wasn’t reached by Sept. 14. With little progress reported, it is expected that local workers will walk off the job after that deadline passes.

The Red Shirt Rally will offer national and local bargaining updates, including speeches from UAW International President and Kokomo native Shawn Fain, UAW International Vice President Rich Boyer, UAW Region 2B Director David Green, UAW Local 1166 President David Willis, Sr., UAW Local 685 President Gary Quirk, UAW Local 1302 President Weed Widup, and UAW Local 292 retiree Bob Stephenson.

General Motors was the latest of the Big Three automakers to submit a contract proposal, but the gap between its offer and the union's demands are miles apart. GM declined to remove the tiered wage system among its workers, rejected all proposals relating to pensions and retiree healthcare, offered a 10-percent wage increase over four years, and reduced profit-sharing. It did, however, agree to recognize Juneteenth as a paid holiday.

Last week, Ford made a proposal to the union. Its terms would enable the company to convert the entire workforce to temporary status, establish a nine-percent wage increase, avoid changes to pensions and retiree healthcare, maintain the tiered wage system, and reduce profit sharing. Ford also declined to recognize Juneteenth.

In August, Stellantis made its contract pitch, expanding the tiered wage system, cutting medical benefits, reducing vacation time for new hires, and securing the right to force overtime work.

New sustainability program designed to help nonprofits

A new Nonprofit Sustainability Program will help address important financial and sustainability issues affecting nonprofit organizations in Howard County, Indiana, according to Todd Moser, president, Community Foundation of Howard County, Inc.

“The Community Foundation of Howard County has a rich heritage as a valued and trusted institution within the communities we serve,” Moser said. “In 2022, we began talking with area nonprofits about financial and sustainability issues due to a challenging economic environment.”

In February 2023, Moser said, the Community Foundation convened a half-day workshop with representatives from a broad range of nonprofits to meet and discuss ways to plan for long-term success.

As a result of that gathering, multiple nonprofit needs were identified, and a range of individual programs were developed. As the individual programs have grown in 2023, the Community Foundation saw an opportunity to put them together as a new Nonprofit Sustainability Program.

“This program is a direct outcome of meeting and talking about ways to strengthen the nonprofit community and ultimately benefit the community at large,” said Greg Aaron, special projects coordinator at the Community Foundation. “In other words, you talked, and we listened.”

The Nonprofit Sustainability Program is currently built on the following six individual programs – one a legacy program from the Foundation, and five new initiatives – for local nonprofits:

Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership Series

Developed in 2021 by the Community Foundation of Howard County, this series focuses on the fundamentals of nonprofit management and is designed to help local leaders of nonprofit organizations hone their management skills.

NEW -- Nonprofit Mini Series *Leadership Series Graduates Only

The series – a direct result from the February 2023 gathering -- will include topics like profitable nonprofit events and managing a nonprofit board.

NEW -- Grant Search Service

In partnership with the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library, grant search software and training will be offered to nonprofits in Howard County.

NEW-- Grant Writing Assistance Opportunity

A competitive grant specifically for grant writing assistance hours; offered through the Community Foundation.

NEW -- Jumpstart

A yearlong fundraising support program. The program pairs nonprofits with a personal fundraising coach, who meets with them (virtually) twice a month to help in acquiring, retaining, and upgrading individual donors. Beyond dedicated coaching, the program includes technology tools and technical assistance, and these are designed to help nonprofits execute the fundraising strategies that they build with their coach. The program is cohort-based and looks to connect local leaders during peer-learning sessions as well.

NEW -- Collaboration Grants

The Community Foundation believes promising ideas exist right here in the Howard County community that address challenges or opportunities that would require funding in excess of existing Community Foundation grant programs. In recognizing the potential impact of these ideas and continuing its efforts to promote sustainable and effective nonprofit collaborations, the Community Foundation of Howard County is creating a special allocation of funds for Collaborative Impact Grants based upon proven need. This will be a competitive grant process and match funds may be required.

For more information about the Nonprofit Sustainability Program, contact Carrie Giannakos, Community Leadership Coordinator, at carrie@cfhoward.org or call 765-454-7298.

The Community Foundation of Howard County, Inc., was formed as a not-for-profit public charity in March 1991. The Foundation seeks to serve donors and make grants to benefit the citizens of Howard County. For more information about the Community Foundation, contact Todd Moser at 765-454-7298 or todd@cfhoward.org.  Visit us at www.cfhoward.org where you will find information about making gifts to endowment funds, scholarships and grantmaking.