Westinghouse SURE has achieved sustained success as a retiree volunteer organization. The reasons seem simple enough; it features interesting community service activities, member service programs that fit retirees’ needs for education and enjoyment, and a newsletter filled with worthwhile and interesting information. The result—a self-sustaining 850-member organization that provides about 50,000 m
an-hours of help annually to its members and to the needy of Pittsburgh. Let us look inside and underneath. Mission--SURE has a clear, double-sided mission, its reason for existence, which is well understood by all. At SURE, we channel our talents and interests for the good of the community as well as for the benefit of other Westinghouse retirees in a smorgasbord of activities, and we do so in the company of old friends with similar interests. Membership--SURE’s membership is made up of retirees and their spouses from the former Westinghouse Electric Corporation and its successor companies that are located in southwestern Pennsylvania. Many spent their careers as administrative and technical employees, while others were managers and professionals. Retirees are attracted to SURE because it provides great value as a single source for their desires to “give back” of their talents and their energies with people they know and like. It also provides opportunities to learn, to travel and to keep in touch with friends and co-workers they have known and worked with over the years. It is particularly noteworthy that many SURE Volunteers are the spouses of Westinghouse retirees, and together they serve as a wonderful example of loving and devoted couples working together to make life better for those they serve. SURE Volunteers--The beating heart of the Westinghouse SURE Model is the dedicated group of volunteers whose creativity, enthusiasm and dedication is focused on improving the quality of life of their fellow retirees and those in the community around them. They do not seek awards or notoriety, preferring to go about their important work quietly. The reward they seek is the inner warmth they get from knowing that they have made someone else’s burden lighter, along with the simple smile that says thanks. When they see a need, they are more often than not inclined to find a way to lend a hand. “Don’t bother to return the favor,”, they’ll say…“just pass it on.” Without this dedicated group of volunteers, SURE would have no reason to exist. Working together, SURE members make southwestern Pennsylvania a better place. Structure--The unique structure that underpins the SURE Organization is the strong cadre of coordinators, one of whom becomes responsible for every program that is undertaken. The coordinator interfaces with the community organization to determine the needs, recruits and assigns the volunteers, records and reports their efforts, and provides all other interfaces required. No SURE project is ever undertaken unless a coordinator steps forth to lead it, and many projects have co-coordinators to provide additional support and continuity. Leadership--Annually elected officers, consisting of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Directors of Projects, Communications and Data Base, At-Large Directors and Emeritus Directors manage the organization. The latter positions are filled by SURE’s past presidents. Meetings of the Board and the Advisory Council, comprised of all Project Coordinators, are held bi-monthly to provide decision-making and to assure complete communication throughout the organization. Operation--SURE is an all-volunteer non-profit organization with no payroll expenses. Volunteer Projects--To qualify, community service projects must be non-political and non-sectarian in nature and they must benefit the community through a non-profit organization. While some of SURE’s projects result from direct requests for help, the majority are suggested by a SURE member already active with an organization and who views SURE as a source of additional volunteer support. If that individual is willing to accept responsibility as Project Coordinator, the activity is submitted for Board approval. In this way, SURE is fully responsive to members’ inputs and new ideas. Member Activities--Programs are undertaken to satisfy members’ desires for information, education needed in retirement, as well as conviviality and news about the organization and its members. A highly successful member service program has been the 240-member SURE Roundtable, which meets monthly on a topic of current financial or investment importance. Health Care Seminars, addressing nutrition, exercise and medical conditions affecting seniors are held periodically. Qualified professionals who are well recognized in their respective fields make presentations at the Financial, Insurance, and Health Care Seminars. Social Events--Annual picnic-style meetings, luncheons, golf outings and out-of-town bus tours bring members and their spouses together to get better acquainted. Such events serve to support SURE’s volunteer activities by bringing people together who know and like each other. Communications--SURE publishes its highly popular Newsletter on a bi-monthly basis. This twelve to twenty page newsletter is filled with interesting articles about completed and ongoing activities, forthcoming events, and listings of fellow Westinghouse retirees who have passed on. The Newsletter also includes articles on useful financial, consumer and health care information. A highlight of each issue is a “Spotlight” article featuring a member whose outstanding achievements are particularly inspirational. The SURE website, www.WestinghouseSURE.org, provides a description of the organization, past issues of the Newsletter, a calendar of upcoming events and other SURE information including an application for admission. Planning--At SURE, planning is an ongoing process, and a formal Strategic Plan is prepared periodically. A team generates a listing of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats from which a set of strategic programs is developed to guide the organization forward over the next several years. A thorough understanding of strengths and weaknesses is important as it provides a clear understanding of capabilities and thus avoids over-reaching and the failures that might otherwise result. Succession Planning--Since SURE’s By-Laws provide for officer and director elections on an annual basis, succession planning is an ongoing process and fresh leaders are identified and brought to the membership for election. The issue of succession has become more pressing lately since a number of our long-term leaders are aging and have encountered various health issues. SURE is fortunate to have highly qualified and committed individuals to assume active roles in carrying the organization forward. Financial Control--An Annual Budget is prepared containing sources of revenue and expenditure required to operate the organization. Because SURE does not have corporate sponsorship, careful attention is paid to revenues and cost containment. Revenues are generated from member dues of $20 per household and from member donations, sufficient to support the SURE organization without the need for outside fundraising prevalent in so many other non-profit organizations. Monthly financial operating statements are prepared and reported to the Board and Advisory Council. All significant unbudgeted items are submitted to the Board for approval prior to expenditure. Reserves are invested in CD’s and high quality mutual funds for modest growth with carefully monitored exposure to risk. SURE’s operating statements and its balance sheet are audited each year, and annual tax returns are filed with the I.R.S. Non-Profit Status--A 501 (c) 3 Determination of Tax-Exempt Status has been received from the Internal Revenue Service, enabling donors to enjoy Tax Deductions to the extent permitted by Law. Database--SURE members developed and operate a relational database employing Microsoft ACCESS software. The Database is used to track the activities of SURE’s several hundred volunteers and their spouses many of whom may be involved in several projects. Further, it is used to maintain information on all members, including dues status, address, phone, e-mail address as well as interests and skills information. The latter is particularly useful to coordinators who may be looking for specific skills of individuals living in a given region of the community. The database is also used to maintain dues and donations records and to prepare Member Directories and mailing labels for correspondence with members of the Advisory Council, Financial Roundtable and Newsletters. Westinghouse SURE’s model for success has been carefully honed over its long history. The basic structure continues to perform very well, though the model was modified from wholly supported to self-supporting upon the loss of its corporate sponsor, Westinghouse Electric Corporation. Retirees generally migrate to our membership by word of mouth from friends. As a result, SURE’s membership has remained steady, as new members have joined to replace those who have bid us farewell. The SURE model may or may not be successful in other venues, but it remains a successful force for good, and is enjoyed by its members, their spouses, and -- most important -- by those we help.
