MANKATO — The Blue Earth Nicollet County Humane Society has taken the next step toward regaining community support and reorganizing operations with the selection of Shannon Sinning as its new board president.
This follows the hiring of Dede Barton as executive director on Dec. 15 and allows her and past board president, Terri Hanson, who is now shelter manager, to concentrate their efforts on operations.
Sinning brings extensive experience in lifting nonprofits’ community profile through work at Twin Rivers Council for the Arts, Open Arts Minnesota and the Carnegie Art Center, among others. He is also the Mankato Area Public Schools Board chairman.
Sinning taking over fundraising efforts will remove that task from Barton while helping bridge current budget shortfalls, Barton and Sinning said Wednesday.
“Fundraising has been a component of every organization I’ve been a part of,” Sinning stated in the BENCHS newsletter announcement. That includes helping Mankato Youth Place in its capital campaign for a new building and ongoing work at Kiwanis Camp Patterson, where he heads the operations committee.
He said he and his family love and have animals and his wife and kids encouraged him to take the position. He was brought forward by consultants who also are working with the Carnegie on improving operations.
“They just thought maybe, with my experience, that I would help if I came onto the board as chair,” Sinning said. “Maybe also build the board up with some new members over time and just allow Dede and Terri to focus on day-to-day operations.”
Board and staff turnover contributed to the nonprofit’s soft closure Oct. 22-Nov. 4, during which time it decided to end its impound agreements with Mankato and North Mankato as of Jan. 1. Work continues to find an in-house veterinarian to help reduce costs to neuter and spay cats and dogs taken in. BENCHS is a no-kill shelter.
At the first meeting this week with Sinning as president, two new board members were introduced, including one who is experienced at marketing and social media. In addition, a full slate of fundraising events — some new, some resurrected — can be found at their Facebook page.
“The garage sale is one of those,” Barton said. “It’s organized very well. We have like 15 women that have done it before. They have everything organized.” The Rummage and Plant Sale is May 29-31 at the Mankato Curling Club.
Money was raised recently at a bake sale, which will be duplicated April 13 at PetSmart, and $250 also came by providing two dogs for a Plaid Hat Management event. The property management company also will help with maintenance around the BENCHS building at 1250 North River Drive, Barton said.
A Painting for Paws event is April 24 at Jake’s Stadium Pizza, and Pints for Pets is April 26 at August Schell Brewing Company in New Ulm. Barton said each represents growing efforts to connect with area businesses to help supplement fees from services that have fallen short of expenses.
Barton said the energy around BENCHS has improved as turnaround efforts take effect. Although they needed to dismiss some staff, everyone is working to keep their sights forward to make improvements and better serve the community and animals, the Barton and Sinning said.