This article first appeared in the Wednesday, June 7, 1989 edition of the “Ojai Valley News” on Page A-3. It is reprinted here with their permission. The author is unknown.
Mashburn leaving Youth Employment Service
Arlou Mashburn, co-director of the Ojai Valley Youth Employment Service, is leaving the agency because of funding problems.
The problem came to a head earlier this week when it was learned the service’s funding request to the United Way for $18,000 would not be honored.
Instead, United Way decided to give the agency $9,500, the same as last year.
The employment service’s board of directors on Monday voted to accept Mashburn’s resignation as a cost-cutting measure. The resignation follows recommendations made by United Way.
Mashburn said her resignation is effective June 16 unless an unexpected funding source is found.
Mashburn has been with the service since the 1970s and was a longtime director.
She said one of her biggest fears is that the Ojai Valley residents may not be aware of the importance of the program to the community.
Mashburn said that not only do many young people need the money they earn on jobs provided through the agency, they need the work ethic and self esteem jobs provide.
Mashburn said she has no immediate plans for the future.
Her husband retired two years ago, but she would like to continue some form of work on a part time basis.
“I don’t think I can do for myself without doing for others,” she said.
Tim Sidoti, the other co-director of Youth Employment Service, will remain on the job.
The service makes some 1,400 job placements a year for the youth of the Ojai Valley. There is no charge to employers or job seekers for the service.
Sidoti said United Way’s low grant was unexpected.
Sidoti, who was hired in January to increase funding and recruit more young people and businesses, said he felt that the employment service has made several changes to comply with previous requests made by United Way, including the generation of funds and solicitation of help from individuals and local service organizations.
“We didn’t really expect the whole $18,000, but I really expected more than last year. I expected $12,000, or at least $10,000.”
According to Sidoti, since he took over, the agency has added five new board members, who either belong to local service organizations or are prominent business people. It has received funds from the Optimists Club and the Rotary Club and it is currently negotiating for funds from the city as well as the Lions Club. It also sent out 1,600 appeals to various businesses and private employers requesting donations.
In addition, the employment service also increased the hours it is open and has conducted a training workshop for youth on how to find work.
At Monday’s emergency meeting, the service’s board had four options — to operate with a full-time director but with no other paid staff, to have a part-time director and part-time job placement clerk, to have a part-time director with a part-time job placement clerk as needed or to close the agency’s doors.
Prior to the meeting, Sidoti had said any of the first three options would diminish the quality of service.
“Being the size of agency that we are, you have to have the personnel to put out a quality product,” he said. “I hate to use that term product, but when you are giving out that kind of expertise, it takes time and money. You just can’t do it half way. I just don’t feel it can be done half way.”