Arc Mower County has its work cut out.

If the hard-working advocacy and support group wants to continue to make a difference in the lives of persons with developmental disabilities and their families, it will have to work even harder and smarter.

Making up a 51 percent budget loss demands that.

Arc Mower County held its 49th annual meeting Monday night at the organization's recreation center along North Main Street. Board members and clients heard Nancy Bauer and Dawn Helgeson discuss the budget crisis and announce a strategy for recouping the over $50,000 budget deficit.

Bauer, president since 1995, and Helgeson, executive director, said the loss of charitable gaming profits puts Arc Mower County at a distinct disadvantage. However, the pair believe new funding sources exist. "We're trying our best to raise new money. We have great hopes we can do it," said Bauer. "We're looking for answers and

know we have to think creatively," said Helgeson.

Beginning in 1952, when 35 parents of children with developmental disabilities assembled at the Mower County courthouse, Arc has survived and succeeded literally on a wing and a prayer.

It fostered a plan to offer advocacy and support for the developmentally disabled. Eleven male children were Arc's first clients. Today, it serves over 100 clients, ranging in age from 16 to 76 and thanks to Jamey Helgeson's recruiting efforts boasts a membership of 257.

Volunteers, the vast majority parents of developmentally disabled teenagers and adults, form the organization's nucleus.

One of the ambitious fund-raising ideas being pursued is to raise a mile of quarters: $17,150

Three long-time Arc board members, Bob Qual, Ed Bjork and Christy Hanson, are spear-heading the effort,

Helgeson and Bauer will also go to the Mower County Board of Commissioners, Mower County Department of Human Services, Austin Public Schools Community Education and local organizations to seek other funds.

There will also be car washes, rummage sales and other smaller fund-raisers to raise money to keep Arc afloat.

In other official business Monday night, Kathy Huffman and Laura Biggiers were elected to 2-year terms on the Arc board.

Awards went to Bob and Alice Qual and Dennis and Kathy Huffman as Members of the Year as well as Nancy Qual, a client.

Dawn Helgeson was named Executive of the Year

A long-time board member, James Livermore, was honored posthumously.

The evening's highlight came when Bob Qual was honored with a special award. "He has done so much for Arc and for me," said the award-presenter, Qual's daughter, Nancy.

In accepting the special award, the elder Qual endorsed the fund-raising strategy proposed by Dawn Helgeson and Bauer and said, "I believe we have the enthusiasm to get the job done."

Norma Klaehn, one of the parents who was there when Arc Mower County was born, remains active in the organization today.

The mother of a developmentally disabled son, Bob, age 50, unequivocally stands by Arc.

"It's wonderful," she said. "It offers wonderful advocacy and support for families and helps promote a better world for everyone."

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at :mailto: lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com