Jim is Named “Outstanding Community Planner & Leader”

Jim is Named “Outstanding Community Leader”

Jim Chairs Orange County Housing & Community
Development Commission

Jim is Selected as Guest Editorial Writer

Jim Serves Orange County as Board Member of the
Association of Fundraising Professionals

Jim Serves as Board Member for Orange County 2-1-1
Steering Committee

Jim Commended by County Supervisor Lou Correa

Jim Serves as Chairman of Orange County Sheriff’s Department
Professional Services Reserve Program

Jim Serves Orange County Homeless as Chairman of Homeless Cabinet

Jim is the Founder of the Orange County Partnership

Jim Serves as the President of the Orange County Rescue Mission

Jim Named Rotary's Community Leader of the Year

Jim Commended by Assemblyman Chuck DeVore

Jim is Appointed to the California Mental Health Services Act (MHSA)
Steering Committee of Orange County

Jim is Named “Outstanding Community Planner & Leader”

Jim received a commendation for being an “Outstanding Community Planner & Leader” by the Orange County Board of Supervisors. On the motion of Supervisor Cynthia P. Coad, Chair of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, duly seconded and carried, the following Resolution was adopted:

“WHEREAS, Jim Palmer completed his service as the Chairman of the Housing and Community Development Department Commission for 2000, 2001, and 2002; and

WHEREAS, Jim Palmer led the process of reducing government overhead by combining the H&CD Advisory Board, the H&CD Housing Authority Commission and the H&CD Operations Reserve Board into one H&CD Commission. This action not only reduced government administrative costs but streamlined the process for citizens participation; and

WHEREAS, Jim Palmer has demonstrated his desire to make a difference in the areas of homelessness and affordable housing by volunteering hundreds of hours of leadership to the Commission and the Community; and

WHEREAS, Jim Palmer has facilitated an environment within the H&CD Department that encourages the Department Leadership to think outside of the box and increase the level of service. This increase is demonstrated by the number of affordable housing units growing from 15 units in 2000 to 683 units in 2001 and now 679 in 2002; and

WHEREAS, Jim Palmer has led a strategic approach in competition for additional Housing Vouchers for Orange County. The result has been that H&CD has been awarded 740 additional certificates in 2000 and 820 additional certificates in 2001, which allows H&CD to house more than 8,900 households; and

WHEREAS, Jim Palmer champions the use of leveraged funds and H&CD affordable housing programs have been successfully leveraged by over $115 million dollars in non-county funds in 2001.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Supervisors does hereby recognize his contributions, commends his efforts, and thanks Jim Palmer for his strong leadership role in the Housing and Community Development Commission and Department.”

Jim is Named “Outstanding Community Leader”

Jim received a commendation for being an “Outstanding Community Leader & Homeless Issues Advocate” by the Orange County Board of Supervisors. On the motion of Chairman Charles V. Smith, the following Resolution was adopted by the Orange County Board of Supervisors:

“WHEREAS, Jim Palmer serves as a community leader and voice for the homeless and low income populations of Orange County and participated as the Chairman of the Continuum of Care Leadership Cabinet in 1999; and

WHEREAS, Jim Palmer demonstrates his desire to make a difference in the lives of the homeless and less fortunate of Orange County; and

WHEREAS, Jim Palmer recognizes and supports the tremendous need for emergency, transitional and permanent housing opportunities in the community for Orange County residents who are without housing and do not have the means to acquire it on their own; and

WHEREAS, Jim Palmer has worked diligently to increase opportunities for the homeless of Orange County to receive medical, mental health, substance abuse, employment training, life skills training, transportation and other vital services that assist individuals and families to improve the quality of their lives, live more independently and become self-sufficient; and

WHEREAS, Jim Palmer showed his support and encouragement for the Orange County Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Consolidated Application in 1999 by devoting numerous hours steering the planning and development of the application through his participation on the Leadership Cabinet; and

WHEREAS, Jim Palmer champions the concerns of the homeless and low income populations of Orange County by addressing legislative issues, policies, and local governmental practices that affect the homeless; and WHEREAS, Jim Palmer as the Chairman of the Leadership Cabinet was successful in securing over $6,800,000 for homeless programs in the 1999 application award;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Supervisors does hereby recognize his contributions, commend his efforts, and thank Jim Palmer for his strong leadership role in addressing homeless issues and serving the homeless and low income populations of Orange County.”

Jim Chairs Orange County Housing & Community Development Commission

Jim has served two years as the Chairman of the Orange County Housing & Community Development Commission and Housing Authority. He currently serves as a Commissioner appointed by Supervisor Bill Campbell.

The Department offers affordable housing opportunities for renters and homeowners; community revitalization for homeowners and unincorporated communities; and community services for special needs populations such as older adults, veterans, victims of domestic violence or hate crimes, the unemployed, and the homeless. Programs for Homeowners consists of Mobile Home Exterior Grant, Roof Replacement Program, Single Family Residence Loans, Low interest Loans for Home Rehabilitation, and Rehabilitation Guidelines. Housing Finance and Policy consists of programs for Homebuyers, Developers, Renters, City/Non-profits, and Current Projects. Rental Assistance consists of programs for Renters, Landlords, and Affordable Housing.

Jim is Selected as Guest Editorial Writer

Jim was featured as the Guest Editorial writer in the November 2004 edition of the Fullerton Magazine. Thanksgiving Day at the Palmers. “...Give thanks this November by helping those in need. Yes, we do have a traditional turkey dinner at home. However, we also try to invite a few people over who don’t have family nearby or have had a tragedy and aren’t looking forward to the holiday...”

To read more, open the attached PDF with the full story...

Jim Serves Orange County as Board Member of the
Association of Fundraising Professionals

Jim is a Member and Former Two Term Board Member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) represents 26,000 members in 172 chapters in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and China working to advance philanthropy through advocacy, research, education, and certification programs. AFP believes that to guarantee human freedom and social creativity, people must have the right to freely and voluntarily form organizations to meet perceived needs, advocate causes, and seek funds to support these activities.

To guarantee these rights, AFP's purposes are to: Foster development and growth of fundraising professionals committed to the preserving and enhancing philanthropy; Establish a code of ethics and professional practices; Require member adherence to a professional code of ethical standards and practices; Provide training opportunities for fundraising professionals.; Implement programs that ensure cultural and social diversity in our membership and leadership; Collect, research, publish, and disseminate historical, managerial, and technical information on philanthropy and philanthropic fundraising; Promote public understanding of philanthropy and philanthropic fundraising; Conduct activities that maintain and develop legislation favorable to philanthropy; Enlist, organize, and support members to achieve our purposes; Foster international cooperation, knowledge exchange, and education among fundraising professionals worldwide; Use all necessary and proper means to accomplish our purposes; Provide a valid and reliable certification program for fundraising professionals.

Jim Serves as Board Member for Orange County 2-1-1 Steering Committee

Jim is a current Board Member of the Orange County 2-1-1 Steering Committee. The goal of 2-1-1 is to create a simple uniform telephone point of access to existing community health and social services information and referral programs. Local 7-digit, 10-digit, and 1-800 access numbers will be replaced with one easy-to-remember phone number. This single point of contact will simplify access to government and non-profit community services and resources by eliminating the need for people to struggle with hundreds of telephone listings attempting to find the "right" phone number for the "right" service or resource they need.

The key benefits of 2-1-1 include: Streamlined access to existing services by eliminating confusion and frustrating searches; Ease of recall and dial over traditional phone numbers; One simple number to link to essential community services for people who are most vulnerable (the elderly, disabled, non-English speaking, those incapacitated by crisis, the illiterate, migrant workers and people new to their communities, etc). Fewer calls to the "wrong" service means efficiencies throughout the network of health and human services; Efficiencies created by reducing duplication of information phone lines needed by the community to find services.

Jim Serves as Chairman of Orange County Sheriff’s Department
Professional Services Reserve Program

Jim is currently Chairman of the Professional Services Reserve Program operated by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. The Purpose of the Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Department Professional Services Reserve Program (PSR) is to recruit and train highly successful professional men and women that are forward-thinking and action-oriented to provide on a voluntary basis their leadership and professional skills as they relate to the OCSD Mission Statement. The Professional Service Reserve volunteers provide administrative and leadership support in the areas of: emerging technologies, communications, industrial relations, graphic arts, healthcare, dignitary protection, firearm safety instruction, legal and accounting services, international protocol, governmental relations, and emergency response resources.

The Mission of the Orange County Sheriff's Department is to provide a safe environment for all residents, businesses and visitors in Orange County. It is our mission to provide responsive, professional and caring law enforcement services to all people in Orange County. In pursuit of this mission, we will respond to calls for service promptly, protect lives and property to the very best of our abilities, initiate and maintain crime prevention programs, and apprehend criminals. We take responsibility for the care of inmates placed into the Sheriff’s custody as a top priority and will maintain humane facilities to ensure their safety and the safety of our employees and our communities. We will provide countywide coroner, communications and forensic laboratory services in an unbiased manner with the highest level of accuracy available. We will provide law enforcement, search and rescue, fire fighting and marine safety to the boating communities of Orange County.

The Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Department is a multifaceted, large law enforcement agency. We believe a safe community can only be developed through a partnership with our citizens. We pledge to provide all services in an expeditious, effective and courteous manner while encouraging community participation in the development of goals and objectives for our organization.

Jim Serves Orange County Homeless as Chairman of Homeless Cabinet

Jim is the current Chairman of the Orange County Homeless Issues Continuum of Care Leadership Cabinet. Homeless Prevention centrally coordinates the preservation and expansion of the County’s Continuum of Care System for the homeless which focuses on homeless prevention, outreach and assessment, emergency shelter, transitional housing, supportive services, and permanent supportive housing.

Jim is the Founder of the Orange County Partnership

Jim is the Founder and past Chairman of the Shelter & Hunger Partnership of Orange County, now known as the OC Partnership. OC Partnership is a non-profit homeless services advocacy agency that works with Orange County homeless service providers to coordinate service efforts, streamline processes, and provide a safety net for homeless persons throughout the county. We are business leaders, non-profit agencies, local and federal government agencies, concerned citizens, and other community leaders working together to bring an end to the epidemic of homelessness in Orange County.

Jim Serves as the President of the Orange County Rescue Mission

Jim serves as the President of the Orange County Rescue Mission since 1993. Under Jim’s direction, the Orange County Rescue Mission received the 211th Presidential Point of Light for program excellence and cost effectiveness for services rendered on behalf of the homeless in Orange County, California; the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions “Certified Mission” certificate, along with reaching the level of “Certified Excellence,” making the Orange County Rescue Mission one of just seven Rescue Missions in the United States to reach that level of excellence. Jim was responsible for leading OCRM as the recipient of several of Orange County’s Most Prestigious Awards: 1998 Outstanding Non-Profit Organization; 1998 Most Technological Non-Profit; The Disneyland Community Service Award, Education Category, for the most innovative and successful non-profit organization and The Publisher’s Award from The Register Charities Awards.