The Birth of the Alliance for Resource Management

Serving as an advocacy, informational, vocational, recreational, and all ‘round supportive entity since 1952, the ARC of North Central approached the new millennium in search of new leadership. Concurrently, Matson Community Services, having provided residential, and all manner of community-based supports since 1973, was looking to strengthen its ability to provide superior quality life supports.

A committee was formed to explore the possibility of these two entities (always viewed as ‘sister agencies’) forming a formal partnership. This committee consisted of senior staff from each agency, the CEO from Matson, the former (25 year) Executive Director of the ARC, and Board members, also from each agency.

One might expect that considerable debate ensued as to which entity might maintain its identity in the event of an ultimate merger. And, as both agencies were conceived as ‘grass-roots’ movements by impassioned local movers and shakers, one might not be surprised to learn that each Agency INSISTED on maintaining its own identity!

Stalemate? Hardly. What, after all, was the goal? ‘Twas to form an alliance of the considerable resources each agency had to offer to the end of providing the best possible continuum of supports to individuals needing assistance in living, working, and ‘playing’ in the communities of their origin. It was actually Joan Driscoll, long time ED of the ARC, who suggested the name ‘The Alliance for Resource Management’ for the NEW entity incorporated to, well, manage the resources! Clever lady, she thought the acronym ARM made use of the ‘A’ for ARC and ‘M’ for Matson, as well as described the nature, purpose, and intent of the new Management entity.

Thus was the Alliance born to merge the considerable business expertise of one agency with the other, the established Human Resources department of one, the management of each and the undeniably precious resource that was the people that did the REAL work – the direct support staff of each.

The Boards merged, the Benefits merged, the cultures continue to merge, and, best of all, people in need of supports can now come to ONE real strong philosophical entity to meet all their needs or those of their person.

And that’s what the Alliance is all about.

About the Author: Jim Casperson

When Matson and the ‘ARC of North Central’ formed a strategic alliance in 1999, Mr. Casperson became the Vice President for Human Resources of the newly formed ‘ALLIANCE for Resource Management’ parent company. He holds an Associates Degree from Nasson College and a B.S. in Psychology from Fitchburg State College.