ISS.1 VOL.10 NEWSLETTER SPRING 2009

 
Dial-a-Bus Benton County logo Mission Statement
Providing for the special
transportation needs of seniors
and persons with disabilities in
Benton County

 

LINDA ELDER / DIRECTOR

Linda Elder photo Your Dial-A-Bus Contributions are safe! We want to remind you that there are many checks and balances in place to ensure that your contributions are secure. Following are a few of those checks and balances:
To encourage giving, Congress allows for tax deductible gifts to qualified nonprofit charities. The IRS determined that Dial-A-Bus qualified in 1974 and we have kept that status ever since. Our federal tax id number is 93-0627982. We also meet State of Oregon requirements since our inception in 1974. As a nonprofit agency, Dial-A-Bus is required to file state and federal tax returns each year. We have done this faithfully since 1974 and these returns show our auditors and the government that we are fiscally sound and the agency is being properly managed. You can look up our most recent Federal 990 return at www.guidestar.com. Our financial oversight is two fold. We have Anderson Group who independently monitors our dollars as well as we have a Board of Directors who monthly review profit and loss data.
So while we understand that the world is in an economical disaster know that if you are able to give to our program that the dollars are being well kept.
I continue to be grateful for many things and our Board of Directors are really right there at the top. These individuals volunteer their precious time to help keep us focused in our mission. They not only attend monthly board meetings but attend other training to help make us stronger as a program.
Grateful to our clients for their patience with our intentions and imperfections. Grateful to our staff for their commitment to our mission as well.

Until our next issue take good care, Live
flower image Simply, Love Seriously, Care Deeply and Speak Kindly.
Linda E. Elder,
Dial-A-Bus Director

Celeste Weaver de Balan photo
CELESTE WEAVER DE BALAN,
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Many of you who use our services on a regular basis have recently commented on the availability of desired pickup times. Our service is volunteer based and while we have recently been blessed with new volunteers they are taking the place of volunteers who have had to reduce their commitment to Dial-A-Bus and others that have retired. With the addition of these new volunteers we have been able to maintain service at the current level, but at the same time we are seeing an increase in demand. Therefore there is more need for the timeslots we have available. If we had more volunteers we could add more availability.
If you know someone who would like to volunteer let us know!
Our goal is to retrieve riders within 20 minutes after they call our offices for a return ride, but sometimes that is not possible with the resources available at the time. While you are waiting please keep in mind the following: Dress warmly and adequately for the weather outside. Take an umbrella if you think it may rain, If you begin to shiver it is your body's way of telling you that you are cold and need to warm up, look for inside accommodations while you wait. In the meantime we want you to e safe and reassured that we will get you to your destination, because at Dial-A-Bus our commitment is to you!

Nina Noble photo

Welcome Nina Noble as our Scheduler/Dispatcher
Drive at Large by Gary Tiedeman We've been on another trip. But this column isn't about the trip. It's about Rebecca. And the economy. Costa Rica was warm, fun, and beautiful, and we recommend it. But my wife found herself in a diabetic crisis our last night there, and it was clear we had to get to hospital emergency services. Unfortunately, our Spanish language capability is muy pequeño (very little), which presented a major problem. Until Rebecca, the vivacious young assistant manager at our bed-and-breakfast hotel, said "I'll go with them." And go with us she did, from urging the taxi driver on to even faster than usual Costa Rican driving speed to navigating and negotiating our way through a maze of hospital hallways, waiting rooms, and bureaucracy for the next 3½ hours! Libby got the treatment she needed (from a very capable medical staff), the crisis was resolved, and the three of us got back to the hotel at 2:15 a.m. Rebecca was simply wonderful throughout, and literally a lifesaver. I asked her to please think of something nice she might like to have, so I could reward her properly. And she said, "No, no, no. You are good people, and you needed help. It isn't always about money."
We will never forget Rebecca. And I can't help but recall her refreshing attitude as I consider the formidable economic crisis we all face right now. Many of us are hurting financially as we watch our savings nest eggs dwindle down further every day. And, let's face it; we may not last long enough to witness a significant economic recovery. But, by golly, Rebecca's outlook helps me feel a bit less depressed about it. We may have seen our resources clip art of car take a huge, unfair whack in the midsection, but we all retain a wealth of other blessings: in our relationships with friends and family, our hobbies and personal pleasures, our foothills and rivers, our memories, and all those other things that an economic downslide can't even begin to touch. So "Thanks, Rebecca" -- not only for rescuing us so graciously and unselfishly during one night of crisis, but for the elegant, gentle lesson about values and priorities. Now, fasten your seatbelts, and have a safe ride.
OFFICE HOURS:
Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 5:30 pm
Appointments: 752-2615
Return rides: 752-2665

SERVICE AVAILABLE:
Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 9:00 pm Saturday: 8:30 - 9:00 pm Sunday: 8:30 - 3:30 pm

ALBANY/CORVALLIS SERVICE:
Monday-Wednesday-Friday
7:30 am - 4:30 pm

STONEYBROOK / WESTHILLS
& CORVALLIS MANOR SERVICE:
Mon-Wed-Friday- 8:00 am - 9:00 pm
Saturday 8:30 am - 9:00 pm

F

Y

I

 CLOSURES
 Easter Sunday
April 12th.

Memorial Day
May 25th.

 

COAST TO VALLEY EXPRESS
Monday-Wednesday-Friday
Depart Corvallis:8:00 amArrive Newport:10:15 am
Depart Corvallis:3:30 pmArrive Newport:5:45 pm
Depart Newport:8:00 amArrive Corvallis:10:15 am
Depart Newport:3:30 pmArrive Corvallis:5:45 pm