Entries For: 2012

What breaks your heart?  Last week I had the incredible opportunity to hear Dr. Terrari Trent speak at the United Way Worldwide Community Leaders Conference.  I learned so much but one thing will stay with me forever.  There was a moment when she was sharing a story about her village and she paused, her breath caught and she held her hand to her heart.  She said, “This, this breaks my heart.”  I’ve never heard someone speak who could both break my heart and heal it in the same speech.  She did.  She can fill your heart with joy even though she was raised in desperate circumstances in an African village.  She is the reason Oprah builds schools in Africa.

Where are we willing to draw lines in the sand over what breaks our hearts?  What does break your heart?  I hope you’ll tell me because I believe what breaks our hearts we can change.  Did you know that the US ranks 30^th in the world in infant mortality!  How is that possible?!  Did you know that 1 million, yes, 1,000,000 students drop out of high school every year in the US?  How is that possible?!  If one can’t read at 4^th grade by 4^th grade they have a 75 percent chance of being in prison?  Seriously we’ll create jobs for prison guards, construction, prison bed makers and more to create prison space instead of teach kids to read?!   One in five children in the US lives in poverty?  One in four is abused before their 18^th birthday?  What breaks your heart? 

Sometimes we see the tragedy of places away from home and feel the sorrow that is theirs because it’s safer than looking around and feeling our own sorrow.  The latest Status of Oregon Children’s book is out and the data on Jackson County is hard for me to look at.  Here’s a snapshot:

·         158 babies were born with low birthweight.

·         696 kids were in foster care at least once in the past year.

·         12 kids aged out of foster care.

·         56 percent, yep more than half, of our kids are on free and reduced lunch at school.

·         51 percent of the founded cases of child abuse and neglect were on children younger than 5.

Overall what’s worse?  Infant mortality, teen pregnancy, uninsured children, abuse and neglect victims, threat of harm victims, childhood poverty, child support payments, unemployment, 3^rd grade math proficiency, 3^rd grade reading proficiency, early prenatal care, 8^th grade math proficiency, 8^th grade reading proficiency, high school drop outs, homeless students.

Overall what’s better?  Immunizations, foster care placement stability, recurrence of maltreatment, child care supply.

What’s unchanged?  The cohort graduation rate.

What breaks your heart?  There are so many opportunities to help.  But when we work together we change things.  If you’re not involved now, why?  Is your heart protected?  Grand jury broke my heart.  It’s why I started CAN (Child Abuse Network).  What I know for sure is that we CAN change things not because we are able to, should, or must but because we CAN! There is much to do and you know what, there are many of us!  Let’s go!

Dee Anne

This week's guest blogger is a rock star mom, Day of Caring volunteer, former campaigner and still on the Board of United Way.  She always makes beautiful connections be it in thinking about the holidays or in playing games with her sons.  Welcome Diane Bennett...

I was playing the classic board game Monopoly with my son the other day and "United Way" kept coming to mind as I struggled to remain solvent through the game. As I was setting up the game and placed the "Community Chest" cards on the board, I was reminded of the campaign meeting which I sat in over 12 years ago and learned the correlation between those game cards and what was to become the United Way that grew roots in the early 1900s. One of the campaigners reminisced the days when she went door-to-door collecting for the Community Chest. As I struggled with rent and went to jail on several occasions, once after rolling three doubles in a row of all things, I was noticing how real-to-life the game was starting to feel. I had just been on a roll and now I was flat on my face. Fortunately, my mogul son was adamant about not wanting me to fail. He lent a hand by giving me his "get out of jail free" card and helped me pay my "Electric Company" bill. Because of his generosity. Because of his very big heart. I was able to make it around the board many number of times. We ended the game when I was a property owner again and had some money from passing "Go". I even got $25 from "Community Chest". It was a great way to end the game. We both won.
We all win when Diane's on our team!  Onward.

Hi all!  Welcome back!  This week's guest blogger is a remarkable leader.  Sometimes she still wonders why and none of us do.  She brings her whole self to volunteering either through her community Cave Junction or to the larger work affecting community change with us.  She's been a great loaned executive, campaign chair and now serves as United Way's board president.  She's a remarkable woman.  Enjoy her blog post and see how she makes sense of Living United!  Here's Deelia...

Several times over the past few months there have been ‘aha’ moments when I’ve either observed something that touched me or interacted with someone and I’ve said to myself, I need to share this.  And I’m not talking about major life events or anything earth shattering; no, I’m talking about everyday moments that happen to all of us, I suppose, but somehow they were significant to me. So lo & behold, here’s my chance to share after all…

I was sitting in my very warm car at the intersection of Crater Lake Ave. and Stevens St.  It was a particularly nasty, rainy day.  A mom and her two little girls walked right in front of me, the littlest one closest to my bumper looked to be about six.  She had her hood down over her face as much as she could and something about the way she held her chin up but looked so sad at the same time just went right through me, I had to catch my breath. They were walking as fast as they could in the rain and as I turned onto Stevens I thought ‘I need to give that family a ride’ but they were on the other side of the street and I couldn’t yell to them. I turned around as fast as I could but it did take a few minutes and by the time I got back I couldn’t see them anymore.  I actually drove up and down Stevens and Biddle to see if I could find them. Obviously they either caught a bus or ducked into a business in the shopping center.  But it really, really bothered me that I wasn’t able to help them, it bothered me all day.

My daughter Nisha and I had spent a lovely day together.  We went to the Cheese Festival, then we went shopping at the mall and she was really excited about her new outfits and shoes.  We stopped on the way home to do some grocery shopping and as I was putting the bags in the car, an elderly woman came up to me, excused herself, then started to explain that she needed some help getting her laundry done.  It took me a minute to understand what she meant, but it became obvious she didn’t have enough money to take her clothes to the Laundromat.  This woman was dressed very conservatively; she held her purse on her arm primly, just like someone you would sit next to in church.  I could tell it was mortifying for her to have to ask for money.  She wanted to show me the laundry baskets in her car to prove that she wasn’t making up a story. I thought, what a shame, someone’s Grandma has to take her laundry to the Laundromat. Have you been to a Laundromat lately?  It’s not cheap or convenient or pleasant in any way. Of course I helped her.  She was so surprised that I would give her what she needed, she told me, “God Bless You” with tears in her eyes and gave me a big hug.  I was speechless, it was such a little thing.  Nisha heard the whole exchange and asked me how much I had given her.  I said, “I gave her enough so she wouldn’t have to ask anyone else for money”.  My daughter said, “You did a good thing, Mom”. No, I’m the one who was blessed, I thought to myself.

And finally, last week I was in Portland visiting my oldest son and grandson.  We were at OMSI and out of the corner of my eye, I saw a woman wearing a Live United shirt. I was tickled, and pointed her out to Nisha, who also thought it was cool!  I meant to go up to her and introduce myself as a fellow United Way lifer, but I had to chase Jonah (my grandson) before he flew down the stairs, and then I lost track of her.  But how cool was that!  It still makes me smile.

I’ve heard many times (on the John Tesh radio show, no less) that people who volunteer time and/or donate to charities or live some kind of philanthropic lifestyle, modestly or otherwise, are happier with their lives and live longer than those who do not.  Well, I can’t say for sure yet about the living longer part, but I certainly agree with the statement about living happier.

A few weeks ago, my fellow board member Jon Eldridge blogged about the power we all share in our daily interactions with others. I echo his statements about the community impact our United Way makes and I couldn’t be prouder to serve on the board with so many amazing folks I’ve come to know just a little bit more. And every time I bring Nisha with me to the Day of Caring, or other UW events, I’m thankful I have those opportunities to show her that the world can be changed, little by little. I hope she grows up to be someone who wants to change the world, big and bigger!

I feel blessed to be part of the United Way family, and I thank you all for everything you do, every day.

Onward...

A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle. – James Keller

Last night I was at the latest, yes the latest, vigil in our community remembering the deaths of the two latest victims of domestic violence.  For me, it has caused many questions.  I know so little about domestic violence.  For me, I see so much pain, anger, and vigilance.  And it makes sense.  The quote above helped substantiate my own observation last night that when it came time for the lighting of the candles.  The candles didn’t lose anything by lighting other candles, if fact candles sharing light create more light.  I think people are drawn to light and putting the tragedy of domestic violence in the light removes the cloak of darkness, removes the veils of secrecy and removes some opportunities for domestic violence to happen.  In the light of day, in public, we rarely see people striking other people.  So why not?  Why not make the light so bright and so shared that it becomes harder and harder and harder still to be violent to those we supposedly love or more true those we are attempting to control.  Without the cloak, the veil and the opportunity, could we reduce domestic violence?  Could we?  Let’s try.  Dee Anne

Sometimes in the nonprofit world you're lucky enough to meet someone who cares so deeply about your work and has cared about it in every community he's lived in.  That person is Dennis Morgan.  I spoke at a 7 am Rotary meeting and he shared he'd been on the United Way board in Las Vegas and been a dedicated IBMer to United Way all over this country.  We met after that and since that day our organization has been blessed with a great board member with perspective that is rich and deep.  And I have made a friend.  Here's Dennis...

Doug was my best friend. My wife, Victoria, and I met him shortly after we moved to Las Vegas. We lived in the same neighborhood and shared many wonderful times together.
Doug owned a construction company and he was very involved in a number of community organizations. We had a bit of a game going for a while. He would get me on the board of an organization that he was involved in and I would return the favor by getting him on the board of one that I was involved in. Whenever you asked him how he was his standard reply was "Never had a bad day."
Doug sold his company is 2000, bought a hay ranch outside of Ely, Nevada and eventually moved there. My wife and I stopped by for a brief visit when we moved to the Rogue Valley in 2003.
While we stayed in contact, we missed having some real quality time together. So, in January of last year Victoria and I drove to Ely for a visit. We spent a few days on the ranch and then we all drove up to the Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada. We had glorious time!
There were numerous reasons to cancel or postpone the trip - the press of business and other obligations, the uncertainty of the weather, etcetera, etcetera. I am so thankful that we made that trip.
In May, Doug was diagnosed with t cell blastic lymphoma. He died in July just after his 61st birthday. As I was preparing his eulogy, synchronicity which often blesses me, provided these words written by Jack London that so aptly describe my friend Doug.
"I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.".
Embrace and spend time with your friends and family. Don't let the pressures of the day keep you from the quality moments and relationships in life. Live and use your time!

Thank you Dennis!

Wow, our guest bloggers are rocking these days.  If you're interested, give me a shout.  We want people to share their thoughts about how they Live United!  This week's guest blogger is Jonathan Eldridge.  Jon's a great asset on the United Way board because he's a great thinker and he's in touch with young people every single day through his work at Southern Oregon University.  Thanks Jon!  Here we go...

Although I didn't recall it, apparently a year or so ago I bought lunch on campus for a student who was struggling to find enough change at the cashier stand. But last week I was told that this student, now a campus tour guide, answers the question by prospective students and parents, 'What makes Southern Oregon University special?' with this story. She uses it as an example of the personal nature of the education and experience she gets at SOU.

I have to admit, I was a bit embarrassed for not remembering this incident. As I tried to recall it I began to consider the hundreds of interactions we all have each day--passing others on the street, greeting colleagues and friends, making transactions over phone, email, in person. Every one of these connections--even if only a seconds in length--can have ripple effects. And while we often won't ever know the impact of our actions (or inaction), the way we choose to interact with one another, however fleeting that interaction, can have long-lasting effects.

I many not remember buying lunch for this student, but I do recall times in my life where I was affected significantly by others and their words and deeds. Our attitudes, prejudices, outlooks, and even our sense of worth are massaged over time by these interactions. Sometimes we are told we can reach further. Other times we are told, perhaps implicitly, that we can't. Collected together, they all have an impact.

This is why I am so impressed and encouraged by Hope Chest, WiLL, CAN, YES, and other endeavors here in the Rogue Valley that the UWJC fosters. While each is an effort to make the whole greater than the sum of its parts relating to specific community needs, their strength really lies in the connections they make between people. Each of these efforts (and many others I haven't named here) provide something concrete--money, awareness, education, etc. But they also provide a platform for the caring people of the Valley to have pivotal interactions. And every time someone receives the message that they matter, that they are cared about, that they have worth--no matter how brief or unremarkable the interaction itself may seem in that moment--we all benefit. These organizations do great things by doing a lot of very important little things--they provide countless little pivot points for people.

This is one of the many reasons why I am honored and humbled to be on the United Way Board. And why I try every day to pay a little more attention to the quality--and potential impact--of the interactions I have.

Thanks again!  Onward,

Welcome back!  Our guest blogger this week is Kent Brown.  He's our second vice president and head of Rogue Valley Medical Center.  Kent came to us from a United Way in Florida and has been connected to United Ways for many years.  This is one of the really cool things about United Ways.  People move around our country and are able to connect to community in strong and powerful ways.  Kent is a great thinker, has a great sense of humor and at a recent board member raised money right there in the moment for racks in our storage room.  He's an all around great guy!  Here's Kent...

I was in Ohio a couple of weeks ago. You might be thinking why would anyone go to Ohio in February?! Well, that’s a story for another day but I will say this- having grown up in the Midwest and not having been back in the winter for several years makes me really appreciate how good we have it here in Southern Oregon. We are very fortunate to call this beautiful corner of the world home!

So, anyway, I was at a friend’s home in Youngstown. In some ways, Youngstown is like Southern Oregon. Much in the same way that our area never really recovered from the collapse of the timber industry, Youngstown never really recovered from the collapse of the US auto industry. In both communities, the social and economic needs are great.

On the hallway wall in my friend’s home is a photo of a billboard from a couple of years ago. The billboard shows my friend and four of her co-workers wearing Live United shirts. Every year, she organizes a group of co-workers from her hospital to participate in the Day of Caring.

I couldn’t help but think what a powerful influence she must have on her daughters. When I was their age (yeah, I know, like a 100 years ago!), my mother served as a role model demonstrating just how powerful community involvement can be. I’d like to think that at least a little of it rubbed off on me.

Whether you live in Youngstown, Ohio or Southern Oregon, when you Give, Advocate and Volunteer, you Live United. The next time you volunteer, think about including a young person. Who know? They might just end up with their picture on a billboard recognizing their volunteerism.

Thanks Kent!  Onward,

United Way is so fortunate to have so many great volunteers and even two board members who used to be employees.  Michele Jones is one of those.  After leaving United Way, she went on to serve with Rogue Valley Manor Community Services as deputy director for many years.  Michele is all about service and optimism as you can see in her blog.  She wrote this last week before the cold and snow hit and still she saw signs of spring.  Today, we can all see the crocus and the daffodils and also read this to catch Michele's remarkable enthusiasm.  Thank you Michele....

Signs of spring are all around us with a few sunny and warm days, daffodils ready to bloom, rose bushes budding out and, for those who are baseball fanatics, it also means spring training.   For me spring means hope of better things to come.

Hope is something a lot of Jackson County residents could use. For people trying to cope with the loss of job and/or home, rising prices on food, gas and other essentials or fighting addition, their outlook on life may seem pretty bleak.  My suggestion for giving hope is donating money and/or your time and talents.  I personally happen to do both.  If you can afford it, donate to United Way’s HOPE (Helping Out People Every Day) Chest, which provides emergency funds for people who have no other place to turn to keep their lives moving forward.  If not money, I would encourage finding some time, hopefully an hour or two each month, to volunteer at a non-profit organization.  This could involve working with youth, delivering meals to homebound seniors, being involved in the arts or whatever awakens your passion.  My husband tells me I need to learn to say no more often instead of complaining I don’t have enough personal time.  The needs are great and if everyone pitches in we can make a positive difference and provide hope to those who need it the most.  When a pebble is thrown into the pond, the ripples radiate outwards.  By touching someone else’s life, your involvement will help increase these ripples.  Besides, you will feel amazingly good about your efforts and studies have shown that it is good for your health. 

So here’s to giving the gift of hope and to your own good health!

Thanks again Michele.  On to a new week...

Welcome back!  Today's guest blogger is Julie Brown.  Not that one but just the same Downtown Julie Brown style.  She's the general manager of RVTD and holds in her heart all those in need in this community.  Julie is one special person.  She's a former campaigner for United Way and today she serves as a board member.  Julie Brown rocks!  Here's Julie...

The one thing I find most distressing is there is so much need in our community and so many times we feel lost in the shuffle.  Recently my grandchildren brought it into perspective.  Papa and Grrrma (that’s me) love to spend every extra minute we can with our grandkids.  Just recently my granddaughter talked us into playing the game TROUBLE.  As we took turns pushing the bubble and moving the pieces around the board I noticed our Grandson (2 years) was watching.  All of a sudden he wanted a turn.  Luke pressed real hard but couldn’t get the bubble to pop the dice.  He asked us to help and then when we told him the number on the dice he picked up the game piece and moved all around the board.  All of a sudden we weren’t playing the game by the rules but engaging in laughter and face to face communication.  Luke was so excited and was yelling yea and clapping his hands.  His joy and excitement was infectious and made me think that if I applied this little technique to someone in need (a little laughter, some one on one communication and playing outside the box) I might make the impact in their life that changes the course they were traveling on.

Thanks Julie!  Onward...

Charley Bolen is our guest blogger this week.  He's been an amazing, available and accessible and he's brilliant -- a great package in a board member.  And he's a mean fence stainer.  Welcome Charley...

As Dee Anne noted on the United Way website, this year's campaign has been incredibly successful, especially in light of our current economy.  As a member of the United Way Board of Directors, I wanted to say how grateful I am for the donations from our community, but I also wanted to thank the volunteers who made the campaign a resounding success.  Without them, there would not be a United Way of Jackson County.

Before I joined the United Way Board, I would see the end results of the campaign and I would be happy that the United Way had met its goal, or disappointed that it had not, but I really had no idea about the journey involved in the life of every campaign.  However, since joining the Board, I have seen how hard these volunteers work and the passion that they bring to the United Way.  Their dedication and enthusiasm is inspiring.  They work tirelessly in support of the United Way and its goal of improving the community in which we live.  Although the campaign officially runs from early September through November, their work never really ends.  I know that they are not given enough credit for the work that they do.  I would like to thank the United Way staff, this year's campaign chair, Marsha Billeci, her cabinet and every local employer and employee volunteer for their time and dedication.  What they have done this year will truly bring lasting change for our community.

If you have a moment, please click on the Campaign link and view the inspirational life stories from our campaign speakers.  My hope is that their stories will inspire you as much as they have inspired me.  I am so very proud to be part of the United Way and grateful that we live in a community that realizes that when we reach out to one of us, we influence the condition of all of us.

This week's guest blogger is Anne Ashbey Pierotti.  She's the new executive director of the Ashland Independent Film Festival and if you're not met her, you must.  She's brilliant, a marketing expert, social media wiz and great human being.  Being appointed executive director of AIFF allowed Anne to blend her avocation and her vocation.  We're lucky enough to have her on our board.  Here she is on gratitude.

Gratitude

 What an incredible year it’s been for our United Way! As you read in Dee Anne’s holiday post, the accomplishments this year are impressive to say the least. Add to that an incredibly successful campaign which will exceed it’s target – and we are well positioned to continue this good work into 2012. Way to Live United, Rogue Valley!

 The spirit of generosity and compassion that is evident in these success stories is what drives my own involvement in United Way. Whether through HOPE Chest or CAN, WiLL or Day of Caring, I feel blessed to have come to know many of the individuals whose tireless efforts make this work possible. Thank you for inspiring and educating me, and reaching a helping hand to those in need.

 For my annual blog reflection, I offer this video meditation on Gratitude from award-winning cinematographer Louis Schwartzberg, presented at TEDxSF: http://youtu.be/gXDMoiEkyuQ. It’s worth ten minutes of your time, and I hope it inspires you to make every day of the coming year a good day.

From Schwartzberg's Ted talk, “You think this is just another day in your life. It's not just another day. It's the one day that is given to you – today. It's given to you. It's a gift. It's the only gift you have, right now. And the only appropriate response is gratefulness. If you do nothing else but to cultivate that response, that unique gift that this day is; if you learn to respond as if it were the first day of your life, and the very last day, then you will have spent this day very well.

 Begin by opening your eyes and be surprised that you have eyes you can open, that incredible array of colors that is constantly offered to us, for pure enjoyment. Look at the sky. We so rarely look at the sky. We so rarely note how different it is from moment to moment with clouds coming and going. We just think of the weather, and even of the weather we don’t think of the all the many nuances of weather, we just think of good weather and bad weather. This day, right now, has unique weather, maybe a kind that will never exactly in that form come again. The formation of clouds in the sky will never be the same as it is right now. Open your eyes, look at that.
Look at the faces of people whom you meet. Each one has an incredible story behind their face, a story that you could never fully fathom, not only their own story, but the story of their ancestors. They all go back so far. And in this present moment, on this day, all the people you meet, all the life from generations and from so many places all over the world, flows together and meets you here, like a life giving water if you only open your heart and drink.
Open your heart to the incredible gifts that civilization gives to us. You flip a switch and there's electric light. You turn a faucet and there's warm water and cold water, and drinkable water, it's a gift that millions and millions in the world will never experience.
These are just a few of an enormous number of gifts to which we can open your heart, and so I wish you that you will open your heart to all these blessings, and let them flow through you, that everyone whom you will meet on this day will be blessed by you, just by your eyes, by your smile, by your touch, just by your presence. Let the gratefulness overflow into blessing all around you.
And then it will really be a good day.”

Thanks Anne!  Onward to a really good day!