Glad to Know Volunteers Are On the Job

A few months ago, one of the founding members of our Human Services Advisory Commission suggested we suspend formal commission meetings while evaluating our mission and duties in Rockville. We all had to dig down deep and decide if we wanted to go forward. Questioning your existence is a good process for any organization to undertake, so I welcomed the opportunity.

My response to the Commission emphasized one of our most important tasks for the Mayor and Council — visiting the nonprofit organizations which receive grant funding from the City to determine if our City funds are being handled well for the benefit of Rockville residents.

Sunday’s Washington Post article “Staggering need, striking neglect” detailed their 10-month investigation into the system which squanders D.C.’s AIDS dollars. The Post reported 31% of the $80 million given to nonprofits went to troubled agencies while some needing help died alone. The Post chronicled the corruption, such as an agency head passing money through to organizations hiring family members and the use of ghost clients.

It’s difficult not to shake your head in despair over another example of large-scale mismanagement robbing the money for services. In the City of Rockville, we make sure our grants are properly managed and we do it using volunteers. Every three years, members of my Commission and City Staff visit the nonprofit sites, see the programs firsthand, and review the record keeping.

Volunteers make sure our City’s money is being spent correctly. I know DC is a much bigger City and the funding process is much more complicated but I’m glad to work with a group of people who make sure it doesn’t happen in my backyard. The process also helps us to become much more knowledgeable about the services available and the people who need them. This knowledge then helps us to advise the Mayor and Council on issues.

It’s good to know our work is worthwhile.