Atkins donates her 2009 pay raise

Representative Atkins presenting a portion of her 2009 payraise to DVSNs Jacqueline Apsler and Judy Liss.

Representative Cory Atkins donated her 2009 pay raise to local charities throughout her district.

On January 8, 2009, Governor Deval Patrick announced that the base pay of legislators would increase from $3,203 to $61,440. The raise came as part of a Constitutional amendment approved by voters in 1998 which was designed to remove legislative pay decisions from the political process. Lawmakers receive a pay raise or pay cut every two years that is equal to the fluctuation in the state’s median household income as determined by the governor.The volunteer-driven organization Domestic Violence Services Network (DVSN) was a recipient of $1,000. In partnership with police departments in its ten collaborating towns, including Acton, Bedford, Boxborough, Carlisle, Concord, Lexington, Lincoln, Maynard, Stow, and Wayland, Hanscom Air Force Base, and the Concord District Court, DVSN provides outreach and direct support to victims of domestic abuse from over 90 communities.

DVSN advocates are community members who have been thoroughly screened and trained to support clients in identifying their own pace for change and finding appropriate interventions that meet the needs of their specific situation and level of risk. The main outreach objectives include encouraging clients to tell their story, assess their risk, develop a safety plan that keeps them and their children as safe as possible, and connect with appropriate community resources for help. The toll free DVSN help line is 888-399-6111.

In addition, The Concord Recreation Day Camp Program received $1,000 as recent studies have indicated that structured summer activities help kids retain academic achievement levels that often decline over the summer. However, because of the collapse of the economy, recent enrollment numbers have declined 20-22 percent. Donations would be greatly appreciated and can be sent to: Concord Recreation Department, 90 Stow Street, Concord, MA 01742.