Steamboat Pilot & Today

Routt County — Steamboat Springs School Board veteran Millie Beall is finally going to be compensated financially for all the time and energy she devotes to the community.

"I've never really gotten a paycheck for community service," Beall said Thursday.

Effective immediately, Beall is the new executive director at Routt County United Way, and as anyone who has worked with her on the school board can probably guess, she's already got big plans.

"Only 5 percent of Routt County residents contributed to the United Way last year, and I want to see that figure increase," she said. "When everyone realizes that they ultimately are affected by the efforts of the United Way funds, I believe that they will make personal donations. United Way is an accountable conduit for the disbursement of funds that help to create a healthy community."

On her second full day on the job, in addition to poring through United Way campaign information, Beall said she already had her feelers out for new computer equipment because her desktop is too old to receive e-mail.

Through a series of fund-raising campaign presentations that she will begin immediately, Beall intends to let people know just how profoundly the community is impacted by United Way funds.

Beall said that upon learning about the number of Routt County residents who depend on United Way, she was moved to tears. She is confident that residents of what she called "a very supportive community" will share her feelings.

"The campaign is already under way," she said. "And did you see that barometer out there? I need to raise at least $275,000. You don't get anything unless you ask, and the worst thing that could happen is that people will tell you no."

Over the past 10 years, Millie has been working mainly for organizations that promote education and children.

"[N]ow it is time to expand my efforts to the broader community and to put to work all the experience I have gained through past endeavors," Beall wrote in a letter to the school board.

"This job will be really very similar to working for the schools," she said. "Again, I'll be trying to help meet the needs of Routt County citizens. And really, I'll never lose my passion for the schools."

In the process of having served the community in different capacities, Beall, who first moved to Steamboat Springs in 1971, has made a lot of connections in the area and knows a lot of the key players, which is exactly what former director Donna Horii said the United Way board of directors was looking for.

About 10 people applied for the executive director position, and all of the finalists were local residents.

Although Beall does not have the marketing background the board was looking for, she is confident her public relations skills and networking will help her get the job done.

"Plus, Donna left me in really good shape," she said.

Horii and her husband, Bruce, are moving to Breckenridge.

To reach Bonnie Nadzam call 871-4204 or e-mail bnadzam@amigo.net