Message
from the President
Dear Friends,
We live in perilous
times-especially if "we" is young, or poor, or uninsured, or disabled, or
homeless.
In the most recent
session of the legislature, the people of Minnesota elected to weaken the
safety net for vulnerable people.
We have begun to see the
result.
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We have closed the Safe
House in St. Paul;
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We are suspending
emergency shelter services for children in the Brainerd lakes area;
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We have closed an
addiction recovery program in the same community;
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We have reduced the
number of Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion volunteers by 100,
thereby leaving unserved so many more;
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We have persuaded
communities in the poorest part of Minnesota to replace the $50,000 for
Meals on Wheels and congregate dining for older persons stripped away by
the Legislature and the Governor.
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The staff of LSS have
endured both salary freezes and layoffs.
These are obscene
realities. These are not mere inconveniences.
What happens at the
Capitol, and what happens in Washington, matter.
That's why we have an
Office of Public Policy and Advocacy.
That's why we attended more than 100 of the Town Hall meetings this
spring.
That's why we tell our story.
We had some significant
success in our advocacy. Without our advocacy, I'm quite persuaded the
outcome for vulnerable would have been much worse.
Many of our supporters
have responded to our requests and have helped to reduce the anguish. I'm
so grateful for that because generous, sometimes sacrificial, gifts have
made a difference. LSS can, indeed, chart a strong and hopeful future
because of the generosity and encouragement of donors. It's as simple as
that.
LSS
continues to be a strong organization. Our strategy going into this
year has been to stay ahead of the curve; we've done that. Our capacity to
serve remains vibrant, agile. We continue to be a movement of hope for
changing lives.
Let us not be deceived,
however. Philanthropy and volunteers, both up for LSS, will not make up
for what has already been lost. 98% of the cost of human services in
Minnesota is paid for by government. 75% of our budget is government
revenue. If philanthropy were to double in Minnesota, we would still fall
short of the cuts government has made.
We believe the citizens
of a society have a fundamental responsibility to assure that all members
of our communities have the opportunity to live and work in community with
dignity, safety, and hope; that we all have the opportunity to experience
well-being. Citizens provide that assurance through government.
We are also a community
of faith. The Lutherans in the United States have believed from the time
of their beginning here that service is a fundamental expression of faith.
The result of that conviction is that Lutheran social ministry
organizations represent the largest single charity in the country, even
though Lutherans are just 6% of the population in the United States.
We seek, then, to
partner with government in service.
We know that advocacy is
the obverse and essential side of service. We know that we are compelled
into the marketplace to declare our hopes and dreams for our society. We
know this is our calling.
I hope you will join
with us in pressing for a culture that does care, that does seek to make
things right, that knows that that is God's wish.
Mark A. Peterson
President/CEO
