NORWICH – Though the actual campaign is still months away, the Chenango United Way Campaign Cabinet recently met to discuss plans for 2008 in hopes of recruiting more public participation right off the bat.

The CUW is looking for volunteers interested in joining the cabinet. The group, whose primary function is to make plans for the campaign and discuss ways to get more people involved, gathers for a short meeting once a month.

“Our focus is on recruiting new businesses and companies, people who have not run an internal campaign before. We’re working on setting goals and creating marketing materials,” Executive Director Elizabeth Monaco said.

Cabinet member Stephanie Barbaro, branch manager at Visions Federal Credit Union, explained that she wanted to join to show her support, as well as her company’s support, for the community. “I wanted to join in because Visions is heavily involved in any community we serve. Being new in the area, it was important to us to be part of the community and involved in the successes of a community organization.”

Another new cabinet member, Lisa Colabelli of Frontier, had a more personal reason for wanting to join the organization. “I have had different family members who have had struggles, and they were able to utilize the services of the United Way,” she said. “That was one of my main drivers. The United Way is known for going in many different ways, and I feel good about that.”