Sunday, June 18, 2000
Sharing office no problem for husband, wife team
By Erik Burriss
Staff Writer
Dan and Eldora Orwig are not only married, they perform the same job for two of the city's philanthropic organizations.
Eldora is the agent for the Thomas Connor Memorial Commission, answering the phone and keeping office hours at City Hall two mornings a week.
Dan does the same thing for the Julia M. Weller Memorial Commission one afternoon a week.
"We share an office and it works out real well," Eldora said.
Eldora is in it Tuesdays and Thursdays, while Dan is in on Mondays.
The Connor Commission's trust fund was established with more than $79,500 worth of bonds from the Joplin (Mo.) Water Works Co. from the estate of Thomas Connor, who died in 1906.
A 1913 City Council ordinance established a commission &emdash; which makes annual reports to the council &emdash; to oversee the trust.
After the water company bonds bonds matured, commission funds have been invested in U.S. Treasury notes.
The commission's goal is to help the poor of Tiffin, "those who fall through the cracks," Eldora said.
In 2000, that means providing assistance for food, rent, utilities and medical bill payments. However, while the goal has always been the same, in the early years the methods were different.
"They bought a lot of coal," Eldora said. "They bought shoes for the children and schoolbooks."
After 86 years the funds assets have grown to more than $140,000. Most of that is principle and cannot be spent since the commission uses the income on its investments to fulfill its mission.
"Because of low interest rates, our income has dropped," Eldora said.
Currently the commission can spend about $5,000 a year to help the city's disadvantaged. In 1914, the commission provided $1,542.92 worth of assistance.
While a $200-per-case cap has been set, a typical assistance payment is between $50 and $75. In 1999, the commission took on 83 cases and spent $4,428.84.
"It has slowed down considerably," Eldora said. "I think more people are getting jobs."
Julia Weller left $62,297.43 to create a trust modeled on the Connor Commission. The purpose of the trust is to help crippled children and the blind, Dan, who is the commission's secretary-treasurer and a board member, said.
The Weller Commission was established in 1936 by City Council.
The commission now has assets of $194,350. Of that sum, $96,699 is available to provide assistance.
"Most of it is invested in local banks in CDs," Dan said.
Since there are a variety of organizations to aid crippled children, the commission has focused on buying glasses for Tiffin residents.
In 1936, John E. Borer was the first person helped by the commission. He received an $8 pair of glasses. Sixty-four years later, applicants over 13 years of age can receive up to $150, while those 12 and under can get up to $130.
Dan said the commission helps between 55 and 60 people a year.
"Back in the Depression years it was probably higher," he said.
Both trusts use the federal government's Home Energy Assistance Program's criteria to establish eligibility for aid. The Connor Commission's office hours are 9 a.m.-noon, Tuesday and Thursday, while the Weller Commission's hours are 1-4 p.m. Monday. The phone number for both is 448-8872.