Conflict of interest

Dear editor:
    The people of Fort Frances are a model community of givers and working volunteers.
    In my 42 years as a citizen of this community, I have witnessed and participated in many improvements that make the community a better place to live, as well as helping people who are in distress.
    However, this attitude and enthusiasm has to be sustained and improved upon by the community members who act as the administrators.
    Firstly, all property members are shareholders of this community corporation and should have access to any decision which may affect the shareholders. In short, all actions that affect the community should be subject to transparency.
    Secondly, in the case of the distribution of any charity funds, for example the Moffat Foundation, members of the committee making the recommendations for distribution of the funds should not be in competition for any of the charity dollars.
    This poses a conflict of interest.
    Furthermore, most committees that make decisions for a community have term limits for the members, which allows different people to bring fresh ideas to the committee.
    In my experience, it is the usual onus on those receiving a major charitable donation that they give a progressive and a final accounting of how the funds were utilized.
    I am speaking as a member of a local service club which has been involved in many projects, such as partnering with the Kinsmen Club in developing Kinhaven, co-sponsoring the local museum initially, initiating a workshop for our challenged citizens, assisting the Kinsmen in their swimming pool project, raising $85,000 to purchase an endoscope, $11,000 for the emergency department, and met a pledge of $50,000 for the building of our local hospital.
    Our club also obtained $35,000 for the health unit for infant hearing screening, in 1986 spearheaded a drive to raise $180,000 to improve the quality of CT scan at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, and raised $450,000 for the Lions Park and many other Fort Frances projects.
    I also was involved with the Lions Club organization on the International level as chairman of a committee with an annual budget of more than $3 million.
    For the last two years, the Fort Frances Lions Club’s goal is to raise $50,000 to provide a walkway so the physically-handicapped may enjoy the Lions Park.
    My greatest respect is for all the volunteers who assist the less fortunate and who contribute by their actions to the betterment of our lives in Fort Frances. My suggestion is to designate a special volunteer appreciation day as part of the Fun in the Sun celebration.
    The earmarking of a special volunteer day would sustain and encourage our citizens to be actively involved in volunteering, and give them a sense of ownership in the community with a level playing field.
    Thank you for the space for self-expression.
Signed,
Bud Danylchuk
Fort Frances, Ont.