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Take a Break from your Winter Blues
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If you're looking for a fun way to take a break from the winter blues, you're invited to the Second Annual United Way Beer and Wine Tasting Gala which will be held at Arrowwood Resort on Friday, February 19 from 5-7:30 pm
 A fabulous selection of wines from around the world will be available for sampling as well as a variety of specialty beers. Light hors d'oeuvres will be served at the event. Music will be provided by the Rainbow Strings.
The presenting sponsor will be Michelob. All vendors will be offering their products for sampling at the event. This will be a great opportunity to learn about each beverage and the recommended foods to serve with them. Vendors providing samples of their products include: Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center, Carlos Creek Winery, Phillips, Beverage Wholesalers, Inc., Quality Wine and Spirits, Salud America Wines, Anheuser Bush, Coors, Summit Finnegan's, Willy's Roadside Café, Elden's, and Bistro to Go.
Advance tickets are $20 per person and may be purchased by calling 763-4840 or stopping by the United Way Office at 2504 Aga Drive, Alexandria. After February 17 tickets will be $25. Tickets will also be available at the door. All proceeds from the Beer and Wine Tasting Gala will support the 2010 United Way of Douglas & Pope Counties Campaign.
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COMMUNITY IMPACT CORNER
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The Importance of Early Learning
The achievement gap for low-income young children
The achievement gap for low-income young children starts early in life and is difficult to reverse. What science tells us about brain development, along with what we know from economic analysis, makes it clear that investing in high-quality early care and learning is essential to reducing this gap. States as well as communities make important choices about how much they invest in early care and learning strategies that can improve the odds for healthy early childhood development. Research is clear that early school success for low-income young children also depends on efforts to increase family economic security. Strategies to help young children with the social and emotional, language, and academic skills they need to succeed in the early school years are critical across all early care and learning settings, starting with infants and toddlers. To learn more about the importance of early learning and the impact it has on brain development go to the NationalCenter on Children and Poverty http://www.nccp.org/ |
| New Imagination Library Arrivals |
The books listed below are the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Books for February 2010
Groundhog Gets a Say
by Pamela Curtis Swallow
The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush
by Tomie dePaola
Mama's Little Duckling
by Marjorie Blain Parker
Big Sister, Little Sister
by Marci Curtis
Gingerbread Man
by Ronne Randall |
| AGENCY SPOTLIGHT |
February 11, 2010 - 211 Day
by Diane Eggen
One free phone call and a few keyboard strokes...
 The coming year is promising to be a busy one! 211 Northwest is required to enter data according to standards set by AIRS (Alliance of Information & Referral Systems). This involves contacting each agency and service in our 19 county area to update information and ensure that it is complete.
A flyer promoting the SNAP (formally Food Support) program will be going out to many homes in our service area. SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and is a program of the USDA. We anticipate an increase in calls, as the economy continues to create challenges for many Minnesota residents.
Currently many callers are looking for free/low cost dental care for their children. The Give Kids a Smile program is very short term and many children are not able to receive services. In doing some research we found free/low cost dental care that is offered year around. This will be beneficial, as it has been difficult to find dentists that participate in the Give Kids a Smile program.
Many low to moderate income citizens need help processing their tax returns. There is help for them, as well as, the elderly and disabled. Free income tax preparation is available in most communities sponsored by various agencies. For help filing taxes should call 211 or (800)543-7709 to find information and locations.
The seven 211 hubs in Minnesota continue to conduct conference calls once per week. In this way we can keep each other up to date on concerns in other areas of the state.
Thank you for the support you provided this past year. We encourage you to call on us whenever in need of information and referral!
One free phone call and a few keyboard strokes are all it takes for callers to be connected with important community services and volunteer opportunities. This twenty-four hour, seven day a week service is multilingual and offers anonymity to callers. There are more agencies, programs, departments, and organizations available to help area residents than any one person could keep track of.
211 is more than a mandated call center. It is an important economic tool to track, and in some cases, foresee distress on a wide scale. The economy in our area has created challenges. Connecting people to public and private services can ease those struggling. Another benefit of 211 is that it relieves pressure on 911 dispatch centers by curtailing inappropriate calls. We think this is a worthwhile feature. The 911 operators need to be free to handle emergency calls as their only focus. Dispatchers also get calls for services that law enforcement can not provide, such as substance abuse problems and mental health issues.
Anyone looking for services or a place to volunteer can call 2-1-1 from any landline or (800)543-7709 from any cell phone. |
| Boy Scouts Celebrate:
100th Anniversary |
by Jim Stratton
The Boy Scouts of America believes in the youth of today.
One hundred years ago, an idea came to America by way of a Good Turn. One hundred years of Good Turns later, the Boy Scouts of America has not changed its fundamental goals. The Boy Scouts of America has cultivated a belief in service and a spirit of adventure in more than 120 million Americans. Please join the Northern Lights Council in celebrating the Boy Scouts of America's 100 years of service to the community. The Boy Scouts of America was formally organized in Washington, D.C. on February 8, 1910.
For 100 years, the Boy Scouts of America has taught timeless values, strengthened leadership skills, and guided America's youth on their journey to adulthood. The BSA connects adult leaders with talented youth, youth with their communities, and members of those communities with each other through volunteerism. With each rank advancement comes new challenges, new adventures, and new friends for all Scouts and all those who accompany them along the way. BSA alumni share memories that last a lifetime.
Scouting's contribution to society is most visible in the movement's commitment to community service. Service is interwoven into many of Scouting's honors and is mandatory for earning the higher rank advancements. Through service, Scouts demonstrate that they provide an essential function to their communities.
Scouting is about giving of yourself and helping others. The Scout Slogan "Do a Good Turn Daily" comes to life as Scouts participate in service projects. The Northern Lights Council's Scouting for Food Drive is scheduled for March 20-27, 2010.
The Boy Scouts of America believes in the youth of today because they are the future leaders of tomorrow. The purposes of Scouting have not changed over the years. Scouting still strives to build character, instill ideals of good citizenship and fosters personal fitness in young people.
Happy Birthday Scouting! 100 Years of the Boy Scouts of America! |
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GIVE.
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Sponsoring Dolly Parton's Imagination Library for just $30.00, gives a child an opportunity to receive a book a month in the mail and a jumpstart to learning.
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| ADVOCATE. |
Talk to your local representatives about the impact of reading to children and early learning. Investing $1 in a child's success early on saves $17 down the road with tangible results measured in lower crime, fewer single parents, and higher individual earnings and education levels.
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VOLUNTEER.
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Read
to a child whether it is your child, a neighbor, a grandchild, a niece or a
nephew. Children that are read to
regularly have a vocabulary of 10,000 at the start of kindergarten versus 2,000
word vocabulary for a child without this opportunity.
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SPECIAL EVENTS CALENDAR |
Friday 5-7:30 pm Arrowwood
Advanced tickets available at United Way office for $20. Tickets available at the door for $25. |
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COMMUNITY IMPACT EVENTS CALENDAR |
click to print poster
Earned Income Tax Clinic January 25 - April 15 Mondays and Tuesdays
9 am - 8 pm
Marion Building in Alexandria
For appointments call WCMCA 1-800-492-4805
click to print poster
Mobile Food Drop
February 17 & March 17
Wednesday 12pm until food runs out New Life Christian Church
1910 Hwy 27 E, Alexandria
Bring box and bags
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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
As a volunteer Steve has been a one man wood cutting business.
He has delivered more than 9
Steve Henry cords of fire wood to individuals who are on a limited income and burn wood. One lady in particular was very thankful. She had 10 logs left on a day when the temperature was in the -20's when Steve brought her much needed wood. Living United allows us to work together to help others achieve a better life. Thank you Steve for LIVING UNITED and for making our Heat a Home project so successful. Eight families in Douglas and Pope County benefited from Steve's volunteer efforts. |
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| WHAT YOUR MONEY BUYS |
$1 per week provides a backpack full of school supplies to a needy child
$5 per week provides a book each month for a year to 9 children in our community
$10 per week provides 100 children with food so they can eat over the weekend |
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EDUCATION:
* Read to children at your library or with a local non-profit engaged in childhood literacy.
INCOME:
* Bring a child on a tour of a bank and open up a savings account.
HEALTH:
* Promote tasty healthy meals and fun exercise at school. | |
HONOR FRIENDS & FAMILY WITH SPECIAL GIFTS
Memorial Gifts
Some things do last forever. By making a memorial gift you can honor a special friend or loved one even after they are gone. Their community was important to them. By giving to United Way, you honor them by supporting people who need it most in their home community. Memorial Gifts to the United Way are listed in our monthly newsletter.
Leave a Legacy
Gifts can take many forms. It can be as basic as designating United Way as a beneficiary in a will or life insurance policy. It can also be more complex, such as designating funds from a trust account. Often times, there can be significant tax advantages as well, depending on asset donated. An experienced financial planner or tax advisor can play an valuable role in determining the appropriate plan. For more information, please contact United Way at 763-4840. | | |
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