The Logan County Community Fund (LCCF) has set its annual budget for the six agencies it will be providing assistance to this year from the 2010 campaign.

Several months ago the newly revived LCCF kicked off its first annual campaign in over a year after being dormant for some time when longtime director Marietta Elliot had retired.

Well respected local attorney Robert Ilderton kicked off this year's fundraiser and announced the goal of raising $100,000 to assist several local charities through donations and payroll deductions.

Ilderton and other division chairs from the LCCF have been successful at gathering donations and contributions to the tune of $25,000 so far, nearly one fourth of the goal for this year, noted LCCF board chairperson Bea Orr.

Orr and David Godby have also been busy meeting with board of education employees to get contributions and deductions.

Justin McAllister discussed recommendations from the finance committee about the budget and the six agencies which had returned paperwork requesting financial assistance on time.

The six agencies are:

• The Red Cross — $30,000.

• Special Olympics — $15,000.

• Tug Valley Recovery Shelter — $7,500

• Black Diamond Girl Scouts — $5,000.

• Buckskin Council Boy Scouts — $5,000.

• USO —$1,000.

Payments to the agencies will be made monthly as funds come in. McAllister noted that the Red Cross had agreed to assist the LCCF with paying half the rent on their new third floor office at the Chase Bank on Stratton Street.

Orr and other members discussed the absence of the Salvation Army from the list, noting that it had long been a part of the Community Fund. Elliot noted that the Salvation Army did not apply for assistance this year and McAllister pointed out that the LCCF’s bylaws require agencies to return paperwork on a specific date. Several board members also noted that there were questions about whether or not the LCCF could fund an agency which no longer has a community advisory board.

Orr expressed concerns that as some division chairs had begun soliciting donations for the LCCF and stating that the Salvation Army was a recipient that some donors might be upset. One board member asked about setting up a contingency fund if there is more than $100,000 in donations that could be used to assist the Salvation Army or Red Cross in the event of fires, floods or other major natural disasters.

McAllister noted that the Salvation Army had four weeks to apply and return the paperwork and that it was unfair to other agencies which had met the deadline. If the Salvation Army completes its paperwork next year, it can be included for funding. In the past, the LCCF has funded the Salvation Army to the tune of $30,000 per year when funding was met.

Board member Harold McMillen asked about funding for the local Boy Scouts noting concerns that if the local Scout camp in Chapmanville closed that funding raised for Logan Countians in Logan County might be used elsewhere. McMillen noted that the camp had been a vital part of scouting and the community since his own childhood and that he felt it would be a shame if it closed considering how much local people and the Logan County Commission had done to keep it going through the years.

"I was wondering about that myself," Orr admitted.

LCCF Executive Director Theresa Maynard said funding going to Charleston from the LCCF to the scouts is supposed to come back to Logan County.

In other LCCF news:

• Board members discussed different divisions which may need assistance and areas in the county which are not well represented on the board. McAllister said there are still two seats left on the board and members noted that it would be nice to have board members from Man and the Omar area.

• Orr said she would like to challenge the mayors of Man, Logan and Chapmanville to begin campaigning in their cities for the community fund to work up a healthy competition that would benefit the LCCFs six agencies.

The LCCFs next meeting will be on Feb. 16 at 3:30 p.m. at the Chase Bank.