Retirements making way for new leaders

Walt Smith, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Decatur, said he plans to announce his retirement plans in the next three to five months after 32 years with the organization, 29 as executive director.

"I believe it's time," said Smith, 60, who wants to work with his successor before taking his leave.

That's the way the succession is going to be handled at Dove, with its new executive director James Walters starting work Nov. 14.

Walters, 44, has been executive director the past 10 years for a Charleston-based domestic violence program called Housing Outreach Prevention and Education.

Because fundraising has become such a key part of what many social service directors do, Batman said he sees his role as providing Walters some job orientation and introducing him to people in the community.

"The truth is, Walt and I know a lot of people and it takes time to develop that," said Batman, 67, who has been with Dove all but nine of its 41 years. "But people don't donate because of the person; they give because of what the organization is doing."

In Dove's case, that includes providing domestic violence prevention and emergency assistance, among other things.

Smith said it's important to help his successor develop relationships in the community so the Boys & Girls Club continues to be seen as a viable agency serving youth. "I've devoted too much time to this organization to just pack up, walk away and say you take it," he said.

Other longtime social service directors in Decatur include Gail Evans, executive director of Decatur-Macon County Opportunities Corp. since 1974; Barbara Dunn, executive director of the Community Health Improvement Center since 1983; and Diane Drew, who's been with the Community Home Environmental Learning Project since 1985 and executive director since 1999.

Denise Smith, executive director of the United Way of Decatur and Mid-Illinois since 2007, said she's been impressed with the hires boards of directors have made. "With many people still struggling economically, there's a heightened sense of responsibility to make the right selection," she said.

Leslie Stanberry, executive director of the Decatur-Macon County Senior Center since 2006, said different directors can and do change the social service network, especially if they come from a community where collaboration isn't a given.

"Sometimes it's tough to work with a new person, and that's usually not good for the people we serve," he said.

Not only did McCammack not have the benefit of a predecessor's experience when he was placed in charge, he had to deal with some financial difficulties as well. The problems were severe enough to force the closure of the former Water Street Thrift Store the year before McCammack came on board.

Decatur Cares Rescue Ministries still has Hope's Attic thrift store and operates the Water Street Mission shelter for homeless men and Grace House for homeless women and children.

A longtime car salesman, McCammack said he was ready for the business end of the job but had some learning to do about other social service agencies in the Decatur area.

McCammack especially values the good working relationship he has with the Good Samaritan Inn, whose director Brenda Gorrell Pyatt has been leading the soup kitchen for 14 months.

Pyatt credits a supportive board and a welcoming community for helping her fulfill the inn's mission of feeding the hungry while more than 90 percent of the cost of the ministry's 18-month-old building at 920 N. Union St. has been paid off.

Other recent social service director changes include Robert K. "Bert" Gray, who took over Sept. 6 for Vincent Rodriguez as executive director of the Macon County Court Appointed Special Advocates. Rodriguez left to take a position as director of foster care for Kemmerer Village, a residential child welfare agency near Assumption, after more than doubling the number of volunteer advocates during his three-year tenure.

Gray, 58, was previously executive director of the Decatur Area Arts Council.

"It's very easy to steer the boat when it's already on a great course," he said.

Currently undergoing court appointed special advocate training, Gray added that he's getting a better handle on how serious and stressful his agency's work can be representing the best interests of abused and neglected children.

He hopes to continue growing the number of volunteer advocates because the need is great.

"We need to make sure this organization is around for a long, long time to support the volunteers we recruit and train," Gray said.