Our Story
The advent of ITNBluegrass™ can be described with words that start with "g": grassroots, guts, grins, Generations, generosity, and "girls with grit." Or perhaps more precisely on the last one: female Baby Boomers with vision and persistence!
In mid-2006, Executive Director Gale Reece came out of a cave – literally. She was newly retired from an underground document and media storage business that she started and ran for 20 years (in a natural limestone cave!). Looking for a challenging project and with a long-standing interest in aging issues, Gale sought advice from Dr. Robynn Pease, who at the time was program administrator for Lexington-Fayette County's Office of Aging Services. Initially focused on elder housing, Gale said, "I soon realized that one of the most pressing issues facing older adults is the need for reliable and affordable transportation." With that, the two did some research and found out about ITNAmerica ®.
Older adults urgently need reliable and affordable transportation.
Dr. Pease prepared the application, and once it was accepted, Gale was off to raise the funds necessary to start a Bluegrass affiliate. Quickly realizing that raising money is far more enjoyable if you're working with someone else, she hired a small consulting firm in late 2006 to help. This is how she met Laura Dake – now ITNBluegrass' deputy director – who wrote grants and letters, ran meetings, approached businesses for donations, managed events and most importantly, recognized the necessity and value of the sustainable, community-supported ITN approach.
One of the more difficult things Gale and Laura dealt with initially was that almost no one in their area had heard much about the Independent Transportation Network®. However, their first fundraiser, the "Generations Tea and Style Show" in February 2006, not only raised money but community awareness as well with some great TV, radio and newspaper coverage.
By July 2007, "Friends of ITN in the Bluegrass" had raised almost $140,000 and became ITNBluegrass in September 2007. ITNBluegrass is truly a grassroots effort – none of its start-up money came from taxpayer sources. Gale and Laura appreciate the encouragement and generosity of individuals and businesses in the Bluegrass as well as three foundations – the Knight and Great Bay Foundations and The Retirement Research Foundation in Chicago (which awarded the affiliate $50,000).
But there was another "g" to address: government. In order to begin service, Gale and Laura had to seek an exemption to a Kentucky statute (KRS 281.605) regulating vehicles for hire. The old law – which was brought to their attention after they had raised their startup money – requires that drivers for hire use vehicles owned and insured by the organization or "certificate holder." This created an impossible situation: volunteer drivers could not drive their own vehicles, which would not allow the Bluegrass affiliate to reach economic sustainability.
Back to the "g" representing grit! With strong legislative support and much effort from our staff and volunteers, ITNBluegrass got its legislative exemption and began giving rides in July 2008. Besides Gale and Laura, it now employs two part-time dispatchers, a part-time Community Outreach Coordinator, and two college interns. As of February 2010, ITNBluegrass has about 150 member-riders, its drivers have given about 4,000 rides in Fayette County, and efforts are underway to beginning moving its service to Nicholasville in Jessamine County and Midway in Woodford County.
To find out how you can support the nonprofit service by becoming a charter member, volunteering, donating a vehicle or money or being a voice for change, please call Gale or Laura at (859) 252-8665 or send an email to info@ITNBluegrass.org.