SUSAN BROWNBILL-VEGA RESIGNS AS CHAIRPERSON

By Robert J. Butts 

The very troubled waters of Elmcor Youth and Adult Activities, Inc. have claimed another Chairperson.  Ms. Susan Brownbill-Vega, a very gifted attorney, has tried to steer the unsteerable organization for several years.  But the rough waters of Elmcor’s internal and external politics, coupled with demands for more and more accountability on the part of non-profit organizations, created waves that even the best of Captains would find hard to sail.  We can also guess that the amount of time required to accomplish the job was overwhelming and far more then a part-time commitment.  In a conversation with Edward Butts (Butts Realty), who was on the board several years ago, I learned that the time requirements were very demanding for a volunteer job.  On several occasions he and Von Murray, the past chairman, would lose countless hours from their businesses to go downtown to work on funding.  

Ms. Brownbill-Vega also got caught up in the politics of Elmcor, which has been quicksand for every other Chairperson.  Her father Otto Brownbill was a strong leader and major player in the early Elmcor Drug Program development.  Lou Benson and Mr. Brownbill brought a strong hand approach to the running of a very difficult program.  Mr. Brownbill’s in your face style left a lot of baggage at Elmcor which has helped in weighting down the boat.  Ms Brownbill-Vega came in carrying some of that old baggage, which further hurt developing a rescue plan for the trouble ship.  I can remember clearly her written and verbal attacks on Elmcor Alumni, Inc., which seemed to reflex that old baggage.  With all that said, I still wish her well in the future.  Ms. Brownbill-Vega came from the neighborhood and was a youth of the Elmcor program; consequently, she is still seen as family.  

The question which must be asked is what is happening at Elmcor that keeps knocking out Chairpersons and Executive Directors.  Yes, the word is out that Dr. Lawrence Miller, the executive director of Elmcor is hanging on by a shoe string.  As one looks at the problems of Elmcor, another important question will also come to mind, how can it be fixed? 

Elmcor at one time touched almost every young person in East Elmhurst, Corona and Jackson Heights.  The Elmcor Program ran from basketball to yoga.  If you wanted to learn Karate, jump rope, boxing, dance or needed a tutor for your studies, Elmcor had it. Elmcor took their kids all over the country, as well as Europe to play basketball. It gave music concerts for the community in Louis Armstrong Stadium before the USTA decided to restrict its use from the East Elmhurst/Corona community.  Elmcor at its peak had twenty-five (25) city and state funded programs in operation for the community.  For a person who grew up with Elmcor it is very disheartening to see what it has become.  We can only look at organizations like SOBO, Assisi Development Corp, Brooklyn USA or Allen AME and wish what could have been. 

Maybe it is wishful thinking, but I truly believe that Elmcor can be fixed, if all the cards are laid on the table and all of the players come clean.  The question is do all of the players in the administration and guidance of Elmcor want to come clean and fix the problem? 

Helen Marshall, Lou Benson, Cecil Watkins and Jeff Aubry are four people who are part of the legacy attached to Elmcor.  Cecil Watkins being the founder.  Helen Marshall the first political supporter with deep roots in the growth of Elmcor.  Jeff Aubry’s political foundation started at Elmcor, and along with congressman Crowley are major financial supporters.  Lou Benson has directed the drug program for years and indirectly has controlled the youth activities program in the Louis Armstrong recreational center.  It is their legacy, which we must honor and treasure while at the same time examine it.  A close examination of these legacies will show them as fetters to the development of Elmcor and its continuing growth. 

Veta Brome the new chairperson and new board member Jimmy Smith offer a great chance for the organization.  My past experiences and dealings with both of them puts forth some hope for real change.  One problem maybe, with both Veta and Jimmy will be their involvement with local community politics.  This position has excluded Councilman Hiram Monserrate from a joint community effort.  Councilman Monserrate is well liked in this community and a very important part of the new leadership needed to turn Elmcor around. 

Several years ago in an article I wrote for the Elmcor Alumni newsletter, I discuss my proposal for Elmcor.  I offered the proposal as a guideline for returning Elmcor to the dominate organization in north east Queens.  I still believe that proposal can be used as a guideline or at least a starting point for change.  Before we can look at a proposal it is important to understanding that Elmcor was a victim of growth.  So many times when we look at a trouble organization, we look for people to blame.  And I am sure if we look hard enough we can find people to blame for where Elmcor is today.  But Elmcor was a victim of its own growth, remember this was an organization create around recreation.  Cecil Watkins was the Supervisor for the Parks Department at P.S.127 Park, he had a master degree in sports management, and his forte was recreation.  Consequently Elmcor reflexes the founder’s vision combining recreation and education for youth.  The Board of Directors changed, as well as the vision, as Elmcor incorporated with the Goldenaire’s and developed a program for senior citizens.  And changed even further as additional programs were added; drug rehab, daycare and victims of domestic violence.  

It was this growth that overloaded a board of community people, who had no formal training for managing a complex unit which Elmcor had become.  Elmcor quickly moved away from its core product, which was recreation and education for young people.

  That’s why my proposal addresses a solution to bring Elmcor back to its core vision and product. 

Vision for a new Elmcor 

1. Break Elmcor up into two completely separate organizations.
   • One to handle youth recreation and education.
   • One to handle all of the other programs of Elmcor, with a business element.
2. Select a completely new  Board of Directors
3. Have an organization like Non-Profit Connection Inc. to come in and train the new board.
4. Take the three building complexes on Northern Blvd and 108^th Street and create a Charter High School, specializing in Sports and Entertainment Management.
5. Have National Pro-Am City Leagues develop an internship for students with the NY Knick's and Mets.
6. Have Adelphi Univ. and NYU develop the education program.
7. Have the building utilized after school for recreation and educational programs.
8. Move the drug rehab program to another building.
9. Have the Proposed Economic Development center created as a for profit business unit.