By Gordon Shaw, Sierra Community House Board Chair
As I step down from many years of service on the Board of the Sierra Community House and one of its predecessor organizations, I want to take the opportunity to reflect on what this time has taught me. I originally got involved way back in 2013 with the North Tahoe Family Resource Center Board, helping guide the conversion of an old motel in Kings Beach into the Community House. Next came the merger with the Family Resource Center of Truckee, Tahoe SAFE Alliance and Project MANA to form Sierra Community House in 2019, followed quickly by the challenges created by COVID. Now we face a period of uncertain (but certain to change) funding as well as increasing needs.
I am proud to have been a part of the Sierra Community House formation, which allows community members to access a wide range of services in one location, including housing support, food assistance, family counseling, legal assistance and crisis intervention. Often, a client will contact us for one issue, only for our staff to find that it is connected to other issues that we can support. Many of the roughly 8,000 community members we assist often receive help related to more than one issue, and our agency model is set up to help them solve often-complicated challenges.
Many of our peer mountain resort regions have effectively “exported” much of their social service needs by becoming only high-end enclaves. In comparison, the North Tahoe / Truckee region is a mix of all levels of society. Throughout our region, it is relatively easy to walk from the highest end homes to find people in real need. I feel strongly that this makes our region a more vibrant and interesting community. But, it also means that dealing with social issues requires facing them right here in our home.
As a numbers guy, a focus of my volunteer efforts have been directing the finances of the organization, serving as Treasurer. This was a particular challenge as we melded the four individual accounting systems into an integrated whole, as well as in the early days of COVID when community needs increased. However, we have a very professional and capable finance team on staff. Our approach of conservative fiscal management has ensured that expenses stay in balance with resources, and a transparent system of reporting and Board oversight has allowed the community (and our auditors) to clearly see our finances. Our many volunteers also play a big role in allowing Sierra Community House to provide services at minimal cost.
We are also proud of the high proportion of funds that go directly into programs. Donors can feel good that the very large majority of their dollars go directly into assisting people in need.
Support services in rural areas have always been underfunded. It is clear that we are currently in a period of reductions from the federal level. We will increasingly need to rely more on our own region to help support our neighbors facing challenges. Helping build the capacity and long-term health of local organizations is key in improving our region for everyone.
I encourage others to consider involvement in whatever element of our great community grabs your interest. I’m partial to Sierra Community House of course, but between social causes, the environment and cultural efforts, there are many non-profit efforts currently making North Tahoe / Truckee a better place. I’ve found volunteering to be personally fulfilling as well as a great way to work with wonderful people (and you know who you are!). And volunteering is an opportunity to help our corner of the world in challenging times.
It has been fulfilling to help grow Sierra Community House into an integrated social service organization of approximately 50 employees, in a solid financial condition and with strong community support. I appreciate the many board members and staff that have helped to make my work much easier. In addition, it is great to see the strong support for Sierra Community House throughout the community which has helped us maintain services through past challenges and will undoubtedly sustain us in the future. I leave Sierra Community House in very good hands with a professional and dedicated staff and a vibrant and committed roster of ongoing Board members.
Gordon Shaw is a long-time resident of the West Shore. In addition to Sierra Community House and the NTRAC, he is involved with the Truckee North Tahoe Transportation Management Association and is a past member of the North Tahoe Regional Advisory Council.
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