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Chapters of The Arc Across Minnesota Announce Merger

Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families trust The Arc for information and assistance, personal advocacy, and public policy leadership to create a good life. This has been accomplished through the work of chapters of independent chapters of The Arc across Minnesota.

 

In October, 2017, chapters of The Arc across Minnesota voted to come together as one organization to help more people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Working together, chapter representatives concluded that a merger of chapters into one organization was the most promising way to provide access to quality programs and services across Minnesota.

 

The Boards and the General Membership of each chapter recently voted to participate in the merger. The new organization will become The Arc Minnesota on January 1, 2018.

 

The Arc chapters (regional location) participating in the merger include Greater Twin Cities (St. Paul), Midstate (St. Cloud), Minnesota State Chapter (St. Paul), Range (Eveleth), Southeastern (Rochester), Southwest (Mankato), and West Central (Moorhead).

 

 

The immediate goal of The Arc Minnesota will be to provide a set of consistent, essential services throughout the state. Those services will include:

 

  • Access to a toll-free information and referral phone number
  • Access to an online “Ask the Advocate” capability
  • Enhanced use of technology and virtual service delivery to connect people with information and assistance.
  • Opportunities to participate in online and in-person training events.

 

The Arc Minnesota will maintain grassroots engagement of volunteer leaders across the state to develop public policy, connect people with programs and services, and fundraise to support local needs and interests.

 

 

Neil Helgeson and Shawn Monaghan will serve as volunteer Co-Chairs of the Interim Board of Directors for The Arc Minnesota through May 2018. Kim Keprios, currently CEO of The Arc Greater Twin Cities, will serve as CEO of The Arc Minnesota.

 

 

The Arc Minnesota will be registered as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Effective January 1, 2018, the website will be arcminnesota.org.