Former Mayor Hal Conklin Joins Hillside House Board of Directors
Hal Conklin, Santa Barbara's former Mayor, has just volunteered his time and expertise to become the newest member of the Board of Directors of Hillside House. We are delighted to have him join our team.
Hal Conklin has been a passionate Santa Barbara citizen for many years. He served as Mayor and City Council Member for the City of Santa Barbara for 18 years from 1977 to 1994. In that capacity, he spearheaded the development of the city's "Cultural District," including the restoration of Santa Barbara's historic Stearns Wharf, and the Arlington and Granada Theaters. He also served for 10 years as the Co-Director of the Community Environmental Council of Santa Barbara, one of the largest environmental teaching centers in the U.S.
Currently, he works as Executive Director of Local Public Affairs for Southern California Edison, and he keeps busy with quite a few other social action groups. As Vice Chairman of the non-profit Institute for Local Government, he is developing the "California Green Communities Program," a certification program for local governments that are developing strategies for environmental protection. He also serves as President of the California Center for Civic Renewal, which works to "renew and inspire participation in democracy." He is also a member of the national Green Seal Board, an environmental organization, and of the Board of Directors of the Santa Barbara Center for the Performing Arts, and is Co-Chair of the Environmental Media Association Corporate Advisory Board.
When asked why he chose to add the Hillside House Board to his busy schedule of volunteer activities, Conklin replied,"I was very impressed with the quality of care given to those who could least help themselves. I look forward to bringing the knowledge and resources of local government to the work of Hillside House."
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Hillside House Community Members Protest Cuts To Disability Funding
 On Tuesday, January 8, Hillside House staff members, Gail Metzger, Susan Bradford and Shawn Trujillo, along with one of our residents and about 100 local citizens marched down State Street in Santa Barbara to protest Governor Schwarzenegger's proposed budgets cuts to Medi-Cal, In-Home Supportive Services and to regional centers that fund community-based services to over 230,000 children and adults with developmental disabilities in California.
Protests have been taking place in Sacramento, Los Angeles and throughout the state.
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Community Partners: Assistance League of Santa Barbara
 The Assistance League of Santa Barbara has been one of Hillside House's most important and active Community Partners since the 1960s, when they first became our neighbors. They have been loyal friends ever since. Because of their generous support both in countless volunteer hours and as our largest donor, the residents of Hillside House lead greatly enriched lives.
The Assistance League funds Hillside House's Physical Therapy program, which plays such an important role in keeping our residents healthy, optimizing their mobility and independence, while reducing stress and discomfort in their bodies. Physical Therapy is one of many programs at Hillside House that is not funded by any government program and would not exist without the generosity of our friends. The Assistance League also provides for an annual "wish list" that includes both vital needs, such as equipment and supplies, and numerous extras, like food and tablecloths for parties for the residents. Many times over the years when an extraordinary need has arisen the Assistance League has stepped in to cover the cost with substantial additional donations. This year they have agreed to pay for the costs to refurbish our therapeutic pool, so that we can re-open the aquatic therapy program that was so popular with residents in the past.
Beyond their extraordinary philanthropy to Hillside House, Assistance League is devoted to each and every one of our residents in a very real and immediate way. They have taken the time to get to know our residents and to enrich their lives with warmth and fun. Once each month their members come to Hillside House and host an evening of entertainment. One of the most popular of these events is Bingo Night, which happens several times each year, and for which Assistance League provides wonderful prizes that are always a hit with residents. Some months they bring in professional entertainers and performers. For Halloween they join us for a lot of silliness with costumes. At Christmastime they come caroling and bringing good cheer.
Every resident of Hillside House also has a "secret pal" at Assistance League. Their pal sends them gifts for birthdays and Christmas and often little surprises at other holidays as well, and they send postcards from their travels, a lovely treat for the residents. The love and generosity that the women of the Assistance League have shown to Hillside House's residents over the years is truly exemplary. We are very fortunate to have such friends.
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Meet Evelyn Whitacre: A Good Friend to Hillside House
Evelyn Whitacre adopted Sue, the daughter of her former husband, when he passed away. Sue had been on a waiting list for Hillside House for seven years and had been living in a home in Glendora, where the daytime activities consisted solely of coloring all day. When Evelyn discovered there was an opening at Hillside House, she brought Sue to visit right away. On the visit, she asked Sue how she felt about staying here. There were tears of joy in Sue's eyes. 23 years later, Sue and Evelyn are both still delighted with the match. "Hillside House has been wonderful," says Evelyn. "They take very good care of Sue. She goes to a day program and has physical therapy. Everyone is good to her. The staff is terrific. She's very well satisfied there." 
Evelyn is a member of the Hillside House Parents Group and, with the group, hosts parties five times a year for the residents. When the Front Desk Receptionist was out on leave, Evelyn stepped in as a volunteer, coming to work at Hillside House three days each week for three months. She also served on the Hillside House Board of Directors for five years. "Being on the Board was very good for me. It helped me understand how the finances work, and I was able to give my ideas as a parent."
Evelyn and Ted Whitacre make a monthly donation to Hillside House and increase their gift each year to help us meet rising costs. This kind of reliable, loyal support is critical to our being able to keep offering the kind of home, loving care and the variety of programs we do for our residents. Evelyn understands this. When asked why she gives to Hillside House, she said, "Because I want Sue to go on having a home where she has all the things that she gets there. She has the nursing care and activities and transportation right there. I want her to be able to stay there. I wish we could give even more."
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