FERNDALE –
Announcements of cut hours and services at Affirmations have sent shock waves through the community, leaving many to wonder what has been happening at the Center.
"Personally I am very concerned the cutbacks will affect the Center's reputation in the local community. I have already heard some of my friends express this as the 'writing on the wall' scenario," said Mark McMillan, a volunteer who also uses the center regularly. "I truly believe in Affirmations, its mission and over-all need in the community. My hope and wish going into the new year is that more and more individuals begin to rally around this very important cause and get more involved in saving the Center instead of just standing by and commenting on its slow demise." The Center has had a number of staff and board changes since moving into their 17,000 s.f, state-of-the art "green" building at 290 W. 9 Mile in April, 2007. Most recently, CEO Leslie Thompson resigned in September and Kevin Howley stepped in Nov. 1 to help the organization transition. His first job as Interim CEO was to announce that programs supporting youth, seniors, HIV/AIDS prevention and education, multicultural issues and LGBTQ family issues will continue. However, social activities and recreational activities will no longer be offered, with youth and social departments being "streamlined." The Aff. Cafe has been shut down, and the Center is now only open from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays. Three full-time employees and several part-time employees were notified on Oct. 28 that their jobs were eliminated, some effective as soon as Nov. 1. Remaining members of management took pay cuts and less hours of work.
"I think it's safe to say that everyone is unhappy about the cutbacks that were made at Affirmations," said Howley. "The response that we have received to date, however, has been extremely supportive of the actions that had to be taken. The Board and the organization would have been remiss in not addressing the economic realities that the Center is facing."
Howley blames the economy, and said that he is not there to place blame on any leadership in the past. "These cutbacks are driven by the simple fact that Affirmations has no choice but to operate on a balanced budget. The expenses related to the major facilities project left Affirmations without reserves. In fact, it's important to remind folks that Affirmations has been approaching donors during 2010 about the next phase in the capital campaign, the 'Campaign for the Future,' which was to raise $1.25 million to specifically strengthen the organization's balance sheet. A completed campaign might have provided the organization with a bit more flexibility relative to the timing of cutbacks, but it ultimately does not change the fact that your expenses have to match your revenues," Howley added.
Although Howley did not officially come on board until Nov. 1, he and the management team met throughout October to discuss how to address the immediate financial crisis.
"To be fair, the decisions around programming changes were not very difficult nor very much in need of debate," said Howley. "A significant portion of the organization's expenses are fixed; building maintenance, utilities, financial services, etc. Another significant portion of the organization's expenses are related to programming that results from restricted funding and commitments related to that funding. What remains are costs associated with programming that does not come with designated funding that one might call discretionary, including many of the social activities and events that are sponsored by the Center and the extended hours the Center is open. So, in the end, the internal discussion really did not revolve around programming. The discussions revolved around which employees would be charged with executing which programs."
Victor Walker, a Youth Staff member who was laid off with three days notice, was critical of Howley and the Board's decision. "I trust that the changes that occurred at Affirmations, that subsequently led to the layoff of several staff members, will help the organization rebound from the current situation," she said. "I was told that the logic of my being laid off was because my pay was not linked to a grant. I get that. However, Affirmations is a weaker organization as a result of it. I only hope that these choices, at some point, begin to serve the organization and the community well, or else none of it was worth it."
Downward trend across U.S.
The 2010 LGBT Community Center Survey Report, a national survey of gay community centers which included Affirmations, gives a clearer perspective of what centers nationwide are facing. The report divides centers into large and small, with an annual budget of $100,000 or more being the dividing line.
According to the report, 69 percent of small centers have no paid staff and all have fewer than five paid staff members. In large centers, 63 percent have fewer than 10 staff members. Large community centers have faced reduction in staff and budget. The 35 largest community centers that responded to both the 2008 and 2010 surveys, lost a total of 168 staff members in the past two years, and average number of operating hours went from 61 to 53 hours per week. Affirmations has cut their hours to just 28 per week.
Though there is a lot of debate about the cause of the cuts, and no clear vision yet for the future, there is hope that with a simple base of service and fresh leadership, the organization will be able to strengthen its balance sheet and grow into whatever direction the community wishes to take it.
Michael Lary, who resigned earlier this year after nearly four years as a board member, said that he saw the trouble coming. "I resigned because I was tired of banging my head against a wall," he said. Lary, who works full time as a professional event planner for The Woodward Dream Cruise, said that many organizations do well with a modestly-paid staff and volunteers. "What happened to the spirit of volunteerism? This is a community center and there are plenty in the community who would help if they felt welcome to."
"Taking a 'step back' is an understatement, wrote former staff member Sara Louise "I'm saddened to see it in a place I've called home for all of my gay days."
The Affirmations Board has selected a search committee for a new CEO to take over management of the organization. Center Partners are invited to an appreciation luncheon on Dec. 5 to discuss the future of the center, and those who are interested are encouraged to volunteer at the center or on the Affirmations Board. More information can be found at http://www.goaffirmations.org.
