Updated 9/24/08 at 10:45 a.m.

WCTV contacted the United Way office Tuesday afternoon and a message was taken. Our call was not returned by 10 o'clock Tuesday night when this story first aired. The president Ken Armstrong of the United Way returned the phone call Wednesday morning at approximately 9:30 a.m. Armstrong says he will send a statement sometime on Wednesday (9/24/08).

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Florida's Sunshine Laws may be scaring a major non-profit group out of a partnership that provides money to people in need.
The United Way of the Big Bend is part of the Community Human Service Partnership with Tallahassee and Leon County. The Partnership provides millions of dollars to local agencies that help needy residents. Recently the United Way suspended its membership with the partnership's planning board. Members of the board say United Way is concerned about being subject to Sunshine laws.
"It was probably appropriate to follow the Sunshine guidelines. In fact, most of us agreed that we ought to err on the side of being cautious and let's go ahead and try and live within the Sunshine rules. Well, I think the United Way felt like that was little too much for them trying to manage the process," says Bryan Desloge, a Leon County Commissioner who serves on the board.
Sunshine Laws require governmental bodies to conduct meetings open to the public.