The annual meeting of the Green County Humane Society last week showed yet again just how far the organization has come in the past year or so.
The meeting essentially completed a year of transition for GCHS, with the election of new leadership to its executive board. Paul Barrett was elected as the board's president - the organization's third in the past year. He won a close vote of 6-5 over the previous president, Yvonne Schutte.
Barrett, one of a number of members to join the board in the past year, did not want to make a big deal publicly of the leadership change. And Schutte was extremely gracious when contacted last week by the Times.
"Paul will make a great president," said Schutte, who said she plans to stay on the board to help the shelter.
Such a smooth transition of power, particularly after a close vote, may not have happened a year or two ago. It speaks well of the changing atmosphere on the board and for GCHS.
The financial news continues to be good for the organization, as well. Barrett, who had been the board's treasurer, said the humane society finished the last fiscal year with a profit of more than $27,000 - something that would have been unimaginable just a couple of years ago when the organization was having a hard time determining its financial situation let alone make money. Barrett said GCHS already is $10,000 in the budget black this year.
"We've got a good handle on our finances," Barrett told the board last week.
And there appears to be deliberate progress in the pursuit of building a much-needed new shelter for GCHS. A building committee was established last fall that includes a handful of community leaders. Steve Jacobson, a committee member, told the board last week that the group has visited other shelters and is making plans for a new building but not rushing the process.
"We're being very deliberate about this," Jacobson said.
Barrett said GCHS has about $22,000 dedicated to the project, and Jacobson said fund-raising will occur when it comes closer to time to build a new facility. With the makeup of the board, and GCHS' continued improvement in its image and finances, there's a great likelihood the community will respond and donate the funds necessary to complete the project.
One more piece of good news came during last week's meeting - the shelter adopted out more animals than it took in. Yet another sign of the turnaround new leadership and members have brought to GCHS.
To be sure, the changes have not come without controversy and without some hard feelings. But necessary changes do not come without hardships. GCHS' efforts to right what had been a perilously listing ship continue to be encouraging.
The meeting essentially completed a year of transition for GCHS, with the election of new leadership to its executive board. Paul Barrett was elected as the board's president - the organization's third in the past year. He won a close vote of 6-5 over the previous president, Yvonne Schutte.
Barrett, one of a number of members to join the board in the past year, did not want to make a big deal publicly of the leadership change. And Schutte was extremely gracious when contacted last week by the Times.
"Paul will make a great president," said Schutte, who said she plans to stay on the board to help the shelter.
Such a smooth transition of power, particularly after a close vote, may not have happened a year or two ago. It speaks well of the changing atmosphere on the board and for GCHS.
The financial news continues to be good for the organization, as well. Barrett, who had been the board's treasurer, said the humane society finished the last fiscal year with a profit of more than $27,000 - something that would have been unimaginable just a couple of years ago when the organization was having a hard time determining its financial situation let alone make money. Barrett said GCHS already is $10,000 in the budget black this year.
"We've got a good handle on our finances," Barrett told the board last week.
And there appears to be deliberate progress in the pursuit of building a much-needed new shelter for GCHS. A building committee was established last fall that includes a handful of community leaders. Steve Jacobson, a committee member, told the board last week that the group has visited other shelters and is making plans for a new building but not rushing the process.
"We're being very deliberate about this," Jacobson said.
Barrett said GCHS has about $22,000 dedicated to the project, and Jacobson said fund-raising will occur when it comes closer to time to build a new facility. With the makeup of the board, and GCHS' continued improvement in its image and finances, there's a great likelihood the community will respond and donate the funds necessary to complete the project.
One more piece of good news came during last week's meeting - the shelter adopted out more animals than it took in. Yet another sign of the turnaround new leadership and members have brought to GCHS.
To be sure, the changes have not come without controversy and without some hard feelings. But necessary changes do not come without hardships. GCHS' efforts to right what had been a perilously listing ship continue to be encouraging.
