Browse archives: 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995

Published on 11/03/1999 All articles from this issue

New exec director looks to take CSA higher

printer friendly version

By Clyde Noel

Special to the Town Crier

After working three days at the Community Services Agency (CSA), newly-appointed Executive Director Tom Myers noticed the deep working commitment of the staff and active volunteers.

"The people working at CSA are professional, caring and qualified individuals who are committed to provide assistance when necessary and help clients retain their independence," Myers said.

CSA is going through a transition period. For more than 40 years, CSA has provided vital social services to residents of Mountain View, Los Altos and Los Altos Hills. Brown Taylor Jr., board president for 1999-2000, said that during those 40 years, CSA has grown in sophistication in providing those needed services. The board also has grown in sophistication because of professional volunteers.

"The time has come when we need to promote what CSA is famous for" said Taylor. "I retired from civil service four years ago and I ran across a lot of people who needed help. The only place to get immediate help for distressed people was CSA, even at three in the morning."

The CSA board's new perspective came about through several retreats at the United Methodist Church in Los Altos. Taylor said the seeds for program development and direction were sown under Ken Kaye's presidency.

"The role of the board is not to manage programs, but to set policy and work through the executive director and provide superior service," Taylor said. "We are moving out of the realm of day-to-day operations. In our executive search, we found Tom Myers, who will lead us into marketing and developing resources for CSA programs with a look to the future."

One of Myers' first responsibilities will be to market CSA programs, including holiday sharing, emergency assistance, senior services, the Food and Nutritional Center, and Alpha Omega programs.

Myers comes to CSA after eight-and-a-half years at AIDS Resources Information and Services of Santa Clara County (ARIS) where he was associate director of development and public relations. Myers was responsible for maintaining a high profile for ARIS through communication channels and is expected to do the same at CSA.

Myers' roots run deep in the Mountain View/Los Altos community. He has served on a variety of non-profit boards and committees, including the Mountain View Human Relations Commission. He has been involved in numerous arts, health care, human rights and social services programs. As a member of Christ Episcopal Church in Los Altos, Myers has spoken to numerous other communities of faith in the area.

According to Taylor, Myers is the type of individual who knows his home ground, and can bring a personal perspective to CSA.