Dear Friends of the IRC,
I am writing to let you know about some significant administrative changes the International Rescue Committee is making in Northern California. During this past year, after an analysis of our local operations, we decided for the sake of efficiency to place our five office locations here (San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Turlock and Sacramento) in a single administrative region. Previously they were divided between two regions.
Even with that change, tight budget constraints have continued to pose a challenge, as we strive to give the best possible service to the refugees we serve. Accordingly, in a further effort to reduce operating expenses associated with overhead costs of these five offices, the decision has been made to close the San Francisco office and centralize the administration of the Northern California Region in our Oakland office.
In concert with these decisions, I have decided that this is right time for me to leave the IRC. I’ve spent a whole career’s worth of time here – 31 years – and feel it is best now to let someone else write the next chapter of IRC in Northern California. An interim administration will be put in place while the search for my replacement is conducted. These changes will be effective as of August 1, 2011. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact Leslie Peterson, Deputy Director (Leslie.Peterson@Rescue.org / 510 452 8222).
It is hard to express just how much I have enjoyed my time with IRC. I feel it has been a special gift to have gotten to know so many refugees and watch them and their children grow, change, make progress, take their place as outstanding members of our local communities and ultimately, give back to help those who are coming up behind them. I feel very lucky to have been part of their journey. I have also been blessed to work with a steady stream of talented and devoted staff who help make the “work” part of IRC seem like anything but work. I am proud to note that six members of our local staff have been duly recognized for their distinguished service at the IRC national awards ceremony held each October in San Francisco.
I want to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to all of you who have supported the work of the IRC in San Francisco over the years. Without you I would most certainly not have had such a rewarding and satisfying experience at the IRC. I also want to assure you that that IRC’s outstanding work on behalf of refugees in Northern California will continue and I encourage you to continue your support for our local programs.
Sincerely,
Don Climent
Executive Director / IRC in Northern California
