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Let's reach $125,000
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The first gifts in early 2005 were $30, $50, $25, $200, and $75 to establish Senior Wheels dba ITNCharlestonTrident. They were encouraging and appreciated as the project took shape and we paid the IRS fees for 501(c)(3) non-profit status. Actually the start-up costs for ITNCharlestonTrident (ITNC/T) are $125,000. Soon Trident United Way provided the first larger gift of $20,000, and Roper St.Francis Hospital and the Medical Association of South Carolina came through with another $20,000. Cornelia Pelzer, Director of the Charleston Association for the Blind, presented the third large grant of $20,000. So we are well on our way to reach the needed $125,000 plus the first year's operating funds of $75,000.
All contributions are welcome and, of course, tax deductible within the limits the IRS sets. Contact Trustee Chairperson, Dick Giffen 843-856-9260, or Treasurer, Jeff Yost, if you would like to support this service for seniors and the visually impaired. ITN is determined to preserve personal dignity, self-reliance, and independence for individuals while offering support and peace of mind to the families of older adults.
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| Our Story |
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| The Trident Area Agency on Aging (as part of a Silver Haired Legislature Trident Caucus meeting) invited Dick Giffen and others to attend the April 21, 2004 Geriatric Best Practice (Duke Foundation) presentation in Charleston so as to secure information about senior transportation and other issues. Among the courses offered, ITN Founder Director Katherine Freund made a persuasive presentation about the Independent Transportation Network of Portland, Maine. Freund mentioned that ITNAmerica was seeking as many as five pilot communities to replicate the ITN model. Research into various senior transportation models around the country led to the conclusion that the ITN model was the most viable.
The first "Exploratory Meeting Regarding Transportation for Seniors" was held on November 23, 2004, on the porch of the Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall and moderated by Dick Giffen. Present was Jim Dubs (Artist, retired Director of ElderLink), Kitty Farrier (GoFor Project Volunteer), Paul Franklin (Owner of Franklin Associates, Chairperson “Aging in Place Conference”), Rev. Dick Giffen (retiring Director of Shepherd’s Center of EC and GoFor Project Director and former Presbyterian Executive), Jo Anne Penington (GoFor Project Volunteer), Lola Reilly (GoFor Project Volunteer), Rev. Steve Souther (Retired Presbyterian Pastor). Out of their experience serving the homebound in the community, the participants saw the need for senior transportation and formed a non-profit organization called Senior Wheels, applying for both South Carolina incorporation and 501(c)(3) status with the IRS.
On May 13, 2005 the Geriatric Region 9 follow-up of the Best Practice Conference, funded by Trident United Way (TUW), voted to "Explore collaboration with ITN (Independent Transportation Network of Portland, Maine)." After several months of research and consultation the decision was made that Senior Wheels should apply to be an affiliate of ITNAmerica. The application was mailed on September 1. The raising of funds for the start-up costs continued and gradually sufficient resources were accumulated so that the Senior Wheels Trustees voted to guarantee the needed amount. ITNAmerica accepted the application and letter of committal and officially designated ITNCharlestonTrident as an ITNAmerica affiliate. October 20-21, 2005, Terry Brown and Paul Franklin and Dick Giffen participated in the ITNAmerica Summit meeting in Portland, Maine, receiving the start-up tools and information for the beginning stages of ITNCharlestonTrident. |
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| Board of Directors |
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Phil Avery
Paul Bolen
Barbara Camera - Secretary
Ralph Comp
Ralph is a retired Lieutenant Commander in the US Navy and served ten years as a Florida State Probation Officer. He received his BS from Florida Southern College and an MA in Psychology from Webster College. He is past Vice President of St. Vincent de Paul Society and a Life Member of the United States Submarine Veterans.
Paul Franklin - Chairperson of the Trustees
President of the South Carolina Aging-In-Place Coalition, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping seniors stay independent and age-in-place for as long as possible. Transportation has been a major focus of the S.C. Aging in Place Coalition and Paul has taken an active role in meeting and working with the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority to develop senior friendly bus routes, schedules and bus stop facilities.
Richard Giffen
Retired minister and former Executive Presbyter of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), serving 13 years with the Presbytery of Elizabeth in New Jersey. He has degrees from Pittsburgh Seminary, the University of Pittsburgh and Muskingum College. He was Director of the Shepherd’s Center of East Cooper for seven years and is Founder and Director of the Faith in Action GoFor Project, working with homebound people. In 2004 he initiated "Senior Wheels," which is now doing business as ITNCharlestonTrident.
Joe Grech - Treasurer
Phil Jones - Vice Chairperson of the Trustees
Richard Koehler
Cornelia H. Pelzer
Executive Director of the Charleston Association for the Blind, Cornelia received her BA in Mathematics and the University of Tennessee. She also served with the Historic Charleston Foundation. She has served on the Board of the Bishop Gadsden Retirement Community and other community organizations.
Janet Schumacher
Coordinator of the City of Charleston Mayor’s Office on Aging and ADA since 2004. The MOA has conducted Forums at which transportation has consistently been the most primary complaint. The Mayor’s Office on Aging has researched transportation options and best practices for the last 3 years. Prior to 2004 Janet was the City’s ADA Consultant, facilitating transportation for people with disabilities.
David Unwin
Solly Ward
Elizabeth Willis
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| Mission Statement |
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To provide dignified, reliable, and sustainable community based and community supported transportation for older adults (65+) and people with visual impairments.
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| Community |
Across America, communities large and small are struggling to meet the transportation needs of seniors. Everywhere, the issues are the same:
- How to provide the kind of door-to-door service older people want and need
- How to recruit enough volunteer drivers, and how to manage insurance
- How to arrange rides, especially in rural and suburban communities
- How to pay for it all
At Independent Transportation Network® the solution is a community-based, non-profit service that relies on fares from the people who use the service, subsidized by voluntary local community support. ITN brings families, businesses, healthcare providers and community organizations together to weave a strong, local, diversified web of support for senior mobility, without relying on taxpayer dollars for operating or capital expense.
How Can Community Organizations and Businesses Help?
Whether an organization is a church, a Friends of the Library, or an assisted senior living facility, it can participate in the ITN® through a Ride Services account, by sponsoring the March of the Members, or by hosting a Community Tea .
Community is a web, and from that web, comes strength.
Every time an older person stops driving, a business runs the risk of losing a customer. ITN® brings paying customers right to the door, then helps them with their packages as they leave. Businesses reciprocate by joining the Ride & Shop program and help to pay a portion of their own customers' rides.
How Can Healthcare Providers Help?
Just when an older person needs healthcare, they may be least able to drive. Adult children may be unable to leave work to help.
That's where the Healthy Miles™ program comes in, and ITN® does the driving.
How Can People Help
When there is an ITN® affiliate in the community, anyone can help older people stay active and mobile by becoming an ITN® volunteer. Volunteers may drive (and store transportation credits for their own future needs), they may answer phones in the office or help with mailings, or they may participate in the annual March of the Members. ITN is a membership organization that conforms to the character and personality of each local community.
Uniting Communities into a National Network
Just as ITN® unites families within communities, ITN America™ unites communities across the country. While every family and every community is unique, there are common solutions to common problems. ITNAmerica™ will support the replication of the adaptable ITN® model and link those community solutions together into one strong, national network.
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