Many of you know I was a Board member, Officer, President of Friends of NCRD from 2008-2021. In 2019 I became President when tunnel vision for the pool project threatened the security of our Scholarship Program. Our newly elected board immediately rewrote our ByLaws to reflect Scholarships would be given priority funding. If you look into the Quarterly disbursements, you will discover the Youth after school program receives the majority of funding.
To be clear, I have never said the NCRD doesn’t provide Scholarships, I was a critical part of ensuring the Scholarship program remained strong. I stated the NCRD doesn’t do enough to promote Scholarships for those needing financial assistance. On the NCRD website you will see the statement ‘Scholarship assistance is extended to individuals in need of rehabilitative therapy due to injury or illness’. This statement alone implies Scholarships are exclusive, it says nothing about funding due to financial need. I also stated I would like to see user fees reviewed and the NCRD look into creating a sliding scale, creating Equity.
I hear myself in Erin’s statement of ‘not once did I ever have any feeling of un-welcomeness’. That WAS me and now sounds dismissive and promotive of the status quo. The status quo needs to change. I listen and I have heard many conversations of anger, upset and frustration. I am aware of them, the Board of NCRD is aware of them, the Friends of NCRD is aware of them and the NCRD is aware of them. I AM committed to listening for the NCRD becoming the best it can be, PERIOD! With me on the Board, we will create a safe space which will allow individuals to bring their concerns and have them addressed with honor, respect and completion, inside the context for the NCRD being the best it can be, for ALL.
My name is Constance! I ask you to vote for me, thank you.