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Home My WebLink AboutA004 - Letter from Muscular Dystrophy Association sharing opposition to proposed ordinance Ames City Council Meeting Muscular Dystrophy Association Roadway Solicitation Ordinance January 11, 2000 I. The Muscular Dystrophy Association is a national health agency devoted to finding a cure for 40 different neuromuscular diseases. Our Central Iowa District Office serves more than 450 families here in central Iowa including Ames where more than 5 community members benefit from the fundraising that takes place in your community.The MDA has been working very successfully with the IAFF for 45 years.They help us make great strides in fighting neuromuscular diseases. II. The funds that the MDA raises over the course of a year are spent on fighting neuromuscular diseases. A. The MDA helps through the following means: 1. Providing free Clinic visits 2. Hosting Support Groups 3. Providing a summer camp for children ages 6-21 4. Making payments on equipment such as wheelchairs and leg braces 5. Funding research at the University of Iowa and other Universities across the country B. MDA can do many things to make roadway solicitation safe for volunteers as well as motorists. 1. Safety Gear 2. Ask that volunteers be 18 of older to participate 3. Collect on Collector Roads rather that Arterial roads 4. Collect on roads with 35 MPH speed limits or less 5. Cover participants by MDA insurance as well as naming City of Ames as "Additionally Insured" III. If roadway solicitations are prohibited in the future,the MDA will still continue to serve our families through other means of fundraising.We would like to continue through this means as well. Due to the past success that the nonprofit groups have had using the roadway solicitation method with the City of Ames,the MDA respectfully requests that you vote down the present resolution that would prohibit all roadway solicitations. In place of that we could jointly work towards finding a mutually beneficial solution for both the City of Ames and the non profit organizations involved. IV. Attachments A. Statement from Nancy Evans, Commissioner of Public Safety,Cedar Rapids,IA. For more than 10 years the Cedar Rapids fire department has been working with MDA, last year raising a phenomenal $40,000 collectively. B. Testimonial from Robert Sass,MDA Coordinator Local#17 Professional Firefighters,Davenport,IA.The Davenport Fire Department has been working with MDA for 44 years to make strides against neuromuscular diseases. C. Testimonial from Roger Gould,Transportation Engineer for Iowa Department of Transportation,Ames,IA. Roger is an Ames Citizen and an individual with a neuromuscular disease. D. Testimonial from Matt Olson,Iowa State University Student,Webster City,IA. In addition to being an Iowa State University Student,Matt is a student with a neuromuscular disorder. E, CEDAR RAPIDS City of Five Seasons Laura Vermeer MDA 5925 Council St. NE, Suite 115 Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 Dear Laura, The City of Cedar Rapids has long supported the Fire Department and their ability to raise funds with a Labor Day Boot Block. It has been a successful partnership that has been appreciated by all parties. It is staffed by both on and off duty firefighters who keep the crews and the equipment within their respective districts. We have found an incidental benefit since labor., management, and elected officials all must agree to make it happen. Sincerely, Nancy H. Evans Commissioner of Public Safety Office of Nancy H.Evans Commissioner of Public Safety City Hall • 50 Second Avenue Bridge•Cedar Rapids.Iowa 52401 • (319)286-5057• FAX(319)286-5144 Davenport Association of Professional. Firefialiters / Local 17 January 3,2000 Mayor City Council Members City of Ames Ames,Iowa Mayor and City Council Members: I am a member of Local #17 Professional Firefighter and serve the Local as Muscular Dystrophy Association Coordinator. As most firefighters, paid and volunteer,we have been part of the MDA fd ily for 44 years. Throughout the year firefighters collect money in various ways,but the number one method of raising funds is the Boot Block. The Boot Block gives the citizens of the Quad Cities and our guests a chance to contribute. In the last six years Local#17 has raised a quarter of a million dollars. This fundraising effort is done with the full support of the Davenport Fire Chief, Tom Ryan, the Mayor of Davenport, City Administrator and members of the City Council. In the past local #17 has received recognition from the Governor of Iowa for being the top Muscular Dystrophy fundraiser in Iowa. Local #17s drive begins weeks in advance of the Labor Day Weekend. First,MDA provides a million dollar insurance policy to cover Local 17 members while on the streets. Beginning with the August Union Meeting, safety on the street is made the Number One issue discussed. Again Labor Day weekend each Station is visited with safety stressed. Also, there is a diagram of each intersection indicating where companies are assigned. Companies collect donations only at intersections controlled by stoplights. Collections are only made when the traffic is fully stopped at red signals for the intersection.And firefighters return to untraveled portions of the roadway when traffic begins moving again. If you have any questions or I can be of any further assistance, please feel free to contact me at (319) 326- 7906. Sincerely, Robert E.Sass MDA Coordinator Local#17 Professional Firefighters January 7, 2000 Mayor Ted Tedesco Ames City Council 515 Clark Ave. P.O. Box 811 Ames, IA 50010 Dear Mayor and City Council Members, My letter to you is in response to the proposed city ordinance prohibiting all forms of street solicitation. I am an Iowa State University Student, so I live in Ames many months out of the year. Yet I hope I can offer a unique perspective because I am not only a student but I also utilize services that the MDA can provide from their fundraising efforts. As a student, I appreciate being unique, however as a college student I am devoted to learning, whether by example or instruction. Things I learn by instruction are usually found in the classroom. The things that I learn by example I encounter everywhere I go. That is what is great about groups like the Fire Department participating in things like Bootblocks. They are setting such an excellent example without even meaning to. Due to their generosity, students like myself can learn about citizenship and social responsibility. I realize that there has been some concern about the safety of the roadway solicitation practices in Ames. I also understand that until recently, it has been successful in the respect of few or no complaints from citizens. Undoubtedly, I believe that the city should vote against the resolution on the table that would prohibit all roadway solicitations. Cordially, /?z ev 5;. a,�., Matt Olson