Bob Melby received Steve Chadwick Advocacy Award
Bob Melby, retired Executive Director of Inter County Community Council, was honored at the 45th Annual Community Action Program (CAP) Conference in Duluth on September 27, 2011, receiving the Steve Chadwick Advocacy Award. He was unable to attend, so the current Executive Director, Catherine Johnson, accepted the award on his behalf. The award was presented to Bob Melby by Catherine Johnson and the staff of ICCC at a later date.
The staff at Inter County Community Council (ICCC) are so excited and proud that Bob won this prestigious award. His dedication and commitment to working with low income people over the past 34 years is truly something to be celebrated.
The Steve Chadwick Advocacy Award is given each year to someone who through their work and life has emulated Chadwick’s life dream. Chadwick, a former Executive Director of the Duluth Community Action Program, and active advocate on behalf of the MN Community Action Partnership (MinnCAP) and low-income individuals/families statewide, died of cancer in 1995.
The award, based on Steve’s beliefs, is for an individual who is currently involved in a Community Action Agency either as a staff person, director or volunteer including board members. The following was written by Steve: “I am someone that wants to live his life in a way that is consistent with his beliefs. Because I see inequity, injustice and both individual and environmental degradation as parts of our daily existence, I want to see my life focused on building a community that values all people in their diversity, gives all who are able the opportunity for meaningful work that is adequately compensated, and an economy that is sustaining and renewing of the environment.” - Steve Chadwick, 1993.
The person nominated must have demonstrated the same qualities as Steve Chadwick:
1. A persistent commitment to reducing poverty.
2. An effective advocate in addressing the root causes of poverty.
3. A leader in the local or larger community.
4. Is connected to a Community Action Agency as a member of the board, staff, or program participant.
Bob Melby’s resume consists almost entirely of the time and various positions held while employed by the Inter-County Community Council, which indicates his commitment to the work of community action in general and most specifically his four-county service area. In the 34 plus years at Inter-County, he has held the positions of Weatherization Director, Energy Assistance Director, Housing Director, Administrator/Planner, Assistant Director, and for the past 24 years Executive Director. Although Melby has a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, most of his qualifications were developed on the job through various work experiences and through trainings, workshops, classes, and other staff development activities.
Melby is an unsung hero, who possesses excellent oral and written communication skills, the ability to act with diplomacy and tact in a variety of situations including working with the agency board of directors, staff, funding agencies, community partners, professional organizations, the general public, and as a representative of the agency at meetings and other functions. Melby has a real strength in financial management, at one time proposing a dues funding formula for Minnesota community action agencies, called the “Melby Compromise.” He has a working knowledge of non-profit rules, regulations and related management issues, and the ability to bring out the best in agency employees.
As the chief executive of Inter-County, Melby was responsible for oversight of all business operations including direct supervision of agency management staff and indirect responsibility for all employees, staffing levels and work assignments. He had an excellent working relationship with the Board of Directors, setting agency direction and policy development, oversight of Inter-County’s financial system, maintaining business organization and structure to ensure efficient operation and to conduct general management functions in such a manner that optimum results were achieved.
Melby was so deserving of the Steve Chadwick award because, in addition to effective management skills, he had a dedication and commitment to the purposes and goals of Inter-County in on-going efforts to improve the lives of the economically disadvantaged through education, nutrition, adequate housing, job training, emergency assistance, counseling and other types of support. Melby emulated the passion of Steve Chadwick in working tirelessly for those less fortunate. He honestly cares about people who struggle everyday to survive. He understands from first-hand experiences how difficult life can be; how families suffer as a result of life experiences in which they have no control. He has a desire to make the lives of those who suffer as prosperous and peaceful as possible. In Melby’s quiet and thoughtful manner, through his work at Inter-County, with clients, with staff, and with community partners he showed his concern for human-kind each day.
Melby began his career at Inter County Community Council in 1976 as the Weatherization Director. Moving forward through the ranks, was promoted to Director of Weatherization, Housing Rehabilitation and Energy Assistance in 1977; in 1981 was promoted to Administrator/Planner. By 1985 he had become the Agency Assistant Director and in 1986 became Agency Executive Director, retiring in May 2011.
During his years at Inter County Community Council Melby served on a number of boards. The list includes: 24 year member of the Board of Directors of North Country Food Bank including the past 11 years as Board Chairman; 24 year member of the Minnesota State Community Action Association; Including positions on the Executive Committee; 24 year member and former Chairman of the Northwest Community Action Directors Association; 19 years on the Northwest Regional Development Commission; 16 years on the Northwest Minnesota Legal Services Advisory Committee; 10 years on the Board of the Northwest Private Industry Council and current Chairman of the Operations Committee; 10 years on the Northwest Service Cooperative Advisory Committee; 3 years on the Project Reality Mental Health Advisory Board; and Volunteer Coordinator for Volunteers in Tax Assistance Program.
To further show his commitment to community he has served in many organizations, boards, committee and volunteered his time over the past 25 years by being involved. Melby served as a 25 year member and president (18 years) of the Oklee Community Club; 30 years as a volunteer referee for Junior Varsity Football & Basketball; 10 years as President of Men’s Softball League; 6 years as Vice-President of Men’s Softball League; 3 years on Church Council and 5 years as Church Financial Trustee; Chairman of Alumni Committee for All School Celebration; and Member of the Executive Committee for 2010 Oklee Centennial.
Congratulations, Bob!