There is a new sense of excitement at the Great Neck United Community Fund these days! Brand new Executive Director Michael Larkin is off and running, and his enthusiasm is contagious! The excitement is already spreading throughout the community, as UCF reaches out to each and every one of us.

''We want to get the community excited about what we're doing,'' said Mr. Larkin, who began his new post on May 3. ''We need to re-image, to see who to fund; we need to change with the times as we go into the year 2000,'' he added, as he outlined a fresh, new approach, ''a makeover,'' for UCF.

UCF President Muriel Turk agrees: ''Michael comes at a crucial time, as we reestablish our mission in the community...as we determine a new direction and reach out to segments of the community not currently served or not currently in communication with us...''

And, Ms. Turk added that Mr. Larkin ''brings to UCF a level of professional experience we have never had before...and we hope to reap the benefits of his not-for-profit experience.''

A professional fund-raiser, Mr. Larkin was last a district director on Long Island for Muscular Dystrophy. Prior to his years with MD, he worked in media for 18 years, bringing with him not only experience in the field of charities, but a wealth of contacts and expertise in ''getting the message out there.''

In the short time he has been with UCF he has moved quickly, laying out both short-term and long-term goals, already beginning projects.

Dealing with a long list of short-term goals, Mr. Larkin emphasized that he is anxious to get the Fund ''stable, back on track, and moving ahead.'' Working with a professional community study that UCF recently commissioned, he plans to use that information---what the community thinks UCF should do and who they should fund---to ''give us direction for at least two to three years.'' Information in hand, he and the board are set to prepare a business plan which will provide the much-needed direction.

The survey was conducted by the Hofstra University Business Institute, and work on the business plan will include input and guidance from Hofstra.

Still talking short-term, Mr. Larkin has set an 18-month goal to raise more money for UCF's 18-member agencies. ''We know they're hitting shorts falls and losing government funding,'' he said.

Raising the money is a big issue, but not an insurmountable one, according to Michael Larkin. ''A major focus is to get more grants and corporate sponsorships, and I'm working on that now,'' he said, again stressing the need for a new image. ''The study showed we need to reimage, to reach out to the entire community...to younger residents who are our future...to address the cultural diversity in this community...''

As for cultural diversity, ideas abound---committees, special events geared to specific segments of the community. Most definitely, the needs of the ''entire community,'' the inclusion of the entire community, will be addressed.

UCF special events are ''fabulous,'' Mr. Larkin stated, but he says that the events need to make more money. ''We need big sponsors for each event, maybe one big company that sponsors one big event.''

Currently, UCF sponsors several major annual events, including the dinner dance, the Five Mile Run, the tennis tournament, the triathlon, and the antiques fair. In the future, Mr. Larkin would like to add some smaller events, maybe even some relatively small scale events geared to specific segments of the community. Within a year-and-a-half to two years, he would like to see monthly events.

Very appreciative of UCF's loyal group of volunteers, some of whom show up daily to do anything and everything, Mr. Larkin would welcome new volunteers too. ''There's plenty of work to be done, and there are lots of events to work on.''

Some of that volunteer work is now being done by local high school students, via intern programs. South High interns are already hard at work, and Mr. Larkin is set to contact North High next. ''And it's fun,'' he adds, ''not glamorous, just roll-up-your sleeves work, but fun...''

Along with the need for volunteers, and, of course, the crucial need for funding, UCF also needs ''in-kind'' donations. A web site designer, volunteering time and services, would be most welcome, as UCF is anxious to have its own website soon. Yet another result of the Hofstra study showed the need for a website---it would save time and money, as calls continuously come in for information or for special events applications. ''And, besides, we need to change with the technology,'' Mr. Larkin emphasized. High school interns are now beginning work on the website project.

With work already in progress along the short-term goals line, Michael Larkin is serious about addressing long-term goals too. ''Finding financial consistency'' is a major long-term goal. ''We must find ourselves enough of a base so we can expand each year,'' he stressed. Again he spoke of developing new events, community events, and of initiating ways to make more money from the fund-raisers already in place.

Continuing along long-term lines, he spoke of other charities coming into Great Neck and raising money that does not stay here. ''UCF wants to raise money here that stays right here in the community,'' he explained.

And, unlike some other charities, he further explained, ''so much of what you give to UCF goes to the agencies.'' With some charities, much of each donation goes to administrative costs, where at UCF such costs are kept down and most of each donation actually does go directly towards vital funding for a UCF agency. ''Besides,'' he added, ''I'm very used to 'running a store' (for MD)...I'm very budget-minded...we will be as frugal as possible to be able to give back as much as possible.''

Terming his new position ''a great challenge,'' Mr. Larkin is particularly happy to now be working at a ''grass roots level,'' as opposed to be working ''with the machine.'' At UCF he has the opportunity ''to work with wonderful people who share the same common goal,'' and to ''really see the fruits of my labor.''

His love of real community work, coupled with his professional fundraising background, look to be the perfect combination to bring a new life to Great Neck's one vital, all-encompassing charity.

''We have always been a grass roots organization,'' said Muriel Turk. ''We have always been people of good will and good intentions, doing the best we can.''

And now, with the addition of Michael Larkin, UCF will have so much more. The future is a bright one as UCF approaches the new millennium with a whole new look, a brand new director, and a brand new direction.

And a reminder from Michael Larkin---anyone wishing further information about the Great Neck United Community Fund, or anyone who would like to make a donation or volunteer services, can call the UCF office at 482-8101.

''Everyone seems excited about making things happen at UCF,'' says Mr. Larkin.

Contact UCF and be a part of the excitement!