Who We Are
How we got here:
This organization was started in 2000. We began as a State initiative providing payee services to individuals at risk who were unable to manage their own finances. Initially there was a 1/2 time bookkeeper who handled this task. For three years Americorp/Vista volunteers worked to help get The Chapter started. They assisted in fund raising, education and development activities.
In 2002 Cindy Shott a Missoula attorney specializing in business and financial law accepted the position as the Director of the Chapter as we were known in those days.
Now:
In the fall of 2007, Cindy stepped down as the Director and is now the "In House Counsel" for the organization. The new Director, Kevin Brown, comes to the Western Montana Chapter having retired from the State of Montana as a supervisor of Adult Protective Services with 17 years of experience in that field.
Our operation:
Our mailing address is PO Box 17800 in Missoula, Montana 59808. The office number is 406-327-7886. We are open 8-5 Monday-Friday. Our web site is westernmontanachapter.org.
We are a bonded and insured 501c3 non profit registered with the State of Montana. We have a board of directors composed of members of the community. They included a current social security staff, retired state bureaucrat, local business owner, certified public accountant, bookkeeper and social worker.
Our staff includes three fulltime full time bookkeepers, who have a combined experience 44 years in the management of finances. We have two social workers in Missoula with 40 years of combined experience. We have a 1/2 case manager in Kalispell that serves clients in that area. There is an director, administrative assistant, and in house counsel.
Our principal focus is to provide a safe haven for the assets of the individuals we serve. We act as payee for persons that either the Social Security Administration or Veterans Administration has determined are in need of that support. We accept the role of court appointed conservator where a district court has found that an individual is not able to protect their own assets. The Chapter is trustee where an attorney and their client have taken legal action to establish a trust for another individual. Trusts may be standard or special needs trusts.
In all of these cases we follow the rules established by either the source of the funds, the court or the terms of the trust document. We complete and file reports as each of those entities require. Registers of any accounts are available to approved individuals within 48hrs.
We have established fees that we charge for the services provided to our clients. Those fees may be set by the source of funds like Social Security or the VA. Our own Chapter fees are established each year and approved by the board.
We have the privilege of a long relationship with the many vendors and professionals we network with to do this work. These relationships allow us to provide professional and timely services for our clients in the areas of banking, investment, real estate, tax preparation, Medicaid, and many others.
There is nothing more personal than to handle a person's money. With that responsibility comes inherent issues that may be brought up by our client, a service provider, vendor, etc. Should such issues not be resolved by speaking with the manager of that account there is a procedure to see to the resolution of those matters. All such matters are kept confidential and should be made in writing directly to Kevin Brown, Director of the organization. E-mails can be sent to:kevin@westernmontanachapter.org. All such matters are confidential.
Our goal is by providing a quality service we can avoid such issues.