Editor's Note: This is part 14  and the final article of a 14-part series. This article completes presentations and covers The Volunteer Center and the National Center for Frontier Communities.

By Mary Alice Murphy

Sen. Howie Morales, Rep. Dianne Hamilton and Representative-elect John Zimmerman, who represent various parts of Grant County, benefit from hearing the presentations, which familiarize the legislators with the issues important to the community.

Becca Anderson represented The Volunteer Center.

"I am the director of programs," Anderson said. "We just celebrated our 10th anniversary in February. This is the Year of the Volunteer.

"Five years ago, we began a food pantry," she continued. "We have expanded it to include mobile food pantries to the Mining District and Cliff-Gila.

"The demand has increased by 50 percent, but we have seen a decrease in food availability," Anderson said. "We used to hand out 30-pound boxes. Now it's 5 1/2-pound boxes. A lot of the food is not appropriate. We get moldy breads, broken eggs, and once several cases of ketchup. The Volunteer Center has to pick up the slack.

"We are working on solutions to increase food production capacity," she noted. "This year, we grew 750 pounds of produce and we have planted 50 fruit trees. Next year, we will have a row garden. We are collaborating with local ranches to raise calves. We are working with 4-Hers' chickens for eggs.

"We request an external cooler and freezer plus the concrete pad and electrical work for it," Anderson said. "It's not in the proposal, but we could also use a back-up generator, which I think costs about $1,200.

"Do you rescue any of the eggs?" Hamilton asked.

"We separate what we can, but if the egg yolk or white touches other food, we have to throw it away," Anderson replied.

Morales asked about the backpack program (providing weekend food to needy students).

"We are successful in the Silver schools, but could not get Cobre to contribute one-half the cost, which is about $10,000," Anderson said. "Silver gives us $10,000."

"I will follow up on your concerns about the Roadrunner Food Bank," Morales said. "Is there any way we can develop a food bank in the local community, say, working with the Health Council, because Roadrunner is not meeting the need?"

"The Food Policy Council is in discussion for a rural production facility," Anderson said.

"We have no capital outlay request form," Morales said.

Priscilla Lucero, Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments executive director said: "I don't know about their fiscal agent. I'll work with Becca."

"We need the fiscal agent," Morales said. "You have until Jan. 21 for submitting."

"What did you do with the ketchup?" Zimmerman asked.

"We sent it back," Anderson replied.

Terry Anderson, Prospectors president and forum moderator said to the legislators: "By the way, we will take your notebooks away today, so we can make sure everything is up to date before we give them back to you.

Charlie Alfero represented the National Center for Frontier Communities.

"I am the director of the Center for Health Innovations," Alfero said. "We are part of the National Primary Care Consortium and the National Research Coalition.

"In 1997, we started the National Center for Frontier Communities to try to represent the most isolated communities in the nation," Alfero said. "We address a lot of issues, including PILT (payment in lieu of taxes), food issues, and delivery of food issues.

"We try to develop models for public entities and non-profits, because they have more impact on smaller communities," he continued. "In New Mexico, non-profits provide one in 20 jobs. We attract out-of-state funds.

"We are interested in maximizing the capacity of non-profits," Alfero said. "We are working on concepts and ways to support non-profits through efficiencies and partnerships with the state.

"We want to establish an interim work group to enhance non-profits to meet challenges, strengthen the community, and raise awareness of non-profits," he said. "We ask for $250,000. I am here on behalf of Susan Wilger."

"Has the request gone to the Rural Community Economic Development Committee?" Morales asked. "For the tavern license and non-profits, I think it will be a memorial."

"The most recent was a bill or memorial and a separate appropriation," Alfero said.

"It would come out of a legislative council appropriation," Morales said. "Rep. Roybal Caballero will carry it.

"I have a concern about public money for non-profits," Morales said. " But Charlie and Susan are bringing it forward as efficiencies to benefit the taxpayers."

"Meetings are being set up for statewide discussions," Alfero confirmed.

"I remember Charlie when he began Hidalgo Medical Services," Hamilton commented. "Now it's huge."

"I'm all for fiscal responsibility," Zimmerman said.

Terry Anderson ended the meeting by saying: "Prospectors will meet Monday and we will discuss our priorities and the brochure, and you will get your notebooks back."

Morales said he looks for direction on whom the legislators and Prospectors should talk to on Grant County Day.

"We will meet Monday and we will discuss that, too," Terry Anderson said.

Note: This article is taken directly from a transcript this writer is paid to deliver to the Prospectors each year for them to put the differently formatted information into the legislators' notebooks to be used during the legislative session and throughout the year.