Entries For: September 2011

Sometimes I feel like I've seen our volunteers grow up which ages me and them!  Tim Clayton seems to have been here since I've been here and I've had the privilege of seeing his leadership grow and grow.  This year he's the vice chair of the campaign and next year will chair our community campaign!  He's a board member, finance committee member and campaign expert.  I remember when he went on the local CASA board and I saw the leader he'd become.  I very selfishly said, it's a great idea but if you decide you like them more than us, I'll be mad at you.  Nice, eh.  CASA's a great organization and that' why I thought I'd have to go after Tim.  Tim's still a star here!  Here are his thoughts for this week's guest blog.

Over the past couple of months, the United Way Family has been rocked by a series of personal tragedies that have affected the lives of many of our volunteers.  While this could be a faith shaker for many people, it’s encouraging to me to see the rest of the Family rally around those experiencing deep personal loss.  This year, in the midst of the campaign season when our efforts are focused on raising funds to support our partner agencies and help with our community impact work, I believe that we are providing something just as valuable to our volunteers:  a safe place and source of comfort in a time of sadness.  Our need to work for community change is ever present and at times we may be tempted to think we’re helping a faceless stranger, but this year it seems a little more personal as we are also very clearly supporting the members of our own Family in ways we may never fully understand. 

Thanks Tim!  Onward,

Lance Reyes, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon and United Way Board Member, is our guest blogger this week.  Lance is a great guy, committed, engaged and energetic.  He's the dad of two beautiful girls and was last year's campaign chair.  Welcome, Lance...

I’ve had the good fortune to work with an amazing group of individuals during the annual United Way Campaigns for the last 10 years.  As last year’s Campaign Chair I was humbled by the support of this community, we call home, during a time of critical need.  Though for the first time in a decade my work schedule prevents me from enjoying the great times had during the fall campaign, I am excited and encouraged by what I see thus far.  I’m also thrilled at the opportunity to use this forum to share my thoughts.  I’m extremely competitive by nature and I do not like to be beat, with one exception. I LOVE the fact that this years’ campaign is off to the races with extraordinary early success at nearly double the fund’s raised to date as compared to last year’s campaign!  This is a testament to the fact that every year, the right leaders return to Campaign and newcomers bring with them a contagious energy  and willingness to give of themselves and benefit others.  My office was fortunate to send one such “newbie” to volunteer as a Loaned Executive this year.  Her enthusiasm and optimism after returning from the Kick-Off day was refreshing and familiar.   I look forward to hearing of the reports of success in the coming weeks at our Board Meetings and I hope to join in the celebrations by attending a couple of the luncheons.  I consider myself fortunate to raise my family in Southern Oregon and proud to be neighbors with such a giving community.  There are so many wonderful organizations and volunteers in our valley who expend their time, energy and valuables to see to it that our neighbors in need have critical resources available.  I feel United Way of Jackson County continuously reads the pulse of this community like no other.  For this reason, I am proud to support the United Way of Jackson County.

And United Way of Jackson County is proud to have Lance!  Onward,

Kim Katic, Wells Fargo and United Way board member, blogs on Labor Day and back to school.  Well she did write this on Labor Day and is often the case with computer conversions, I've been unable to load it until now.  Enjoy Kim's perspective!  Thanks Kim!

WOW....  it's hard to believe, as I write this blog it is September 5th, 2011.  Where has time gone?  Today is the day to celebrate Labor Day, a day that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.  This is also the day before most of our children start a brand new school year!!!

As I think about my daughter, Kristina starting 5th grade, I wonder what the school year holds for her.....along with all the other children starting school tomorrow.  I think about how many children will now have at least 1 meal a day that is nutritious, how many children will be in a loving, caring environment for at least 6 hours a day--Monday through Friday.  How some children will have some very basic needs met, that they probably didn't have all summer!!! 

Then I think about all of the volunteers that United Way has, led by a phenomenal executive director Dee Anne.  I think about the passion that she displays along with each board member/committee member or volunteer, I feel honored to be part of such a GREAT organization.  When I think of CAN (Child Abuse Network) and the METH project, 2 of many projects that United Way leads/educates throughout our community, what else can I say except WOW!!!!

How can we as a community ensure that every child not only has a GREAT school year, but a loving, nurturing, caring family and community, so that way he/she can grow into the dynamic, remarkable leader that we know each child has the potential to be.  We, as a community have to partner together to ensure that happens and being a board member/volunteer with United Way, is one way that I feel I can help make that happen!!!!

So again, apologies for the delay.  It was my doing not Kim's.  Onward,