Mentoring program needs volunteers

Entry by: Amber Kiggens-Leifheit, Pathway Partners, Program Coordinator

Pathway Partners’ mission is “to expose high school students to nurturing relationships with caring adults and to the diversity of opportunities and experiences in our community. We feel that these experiences will enhance student’s life skills and enable them to make successful transitions to post high school education and employment.”

Students and mentors are matched according to similar interests, hobbies, or career paths. Pathway Partners has been mentoring students at Marshfield High School for 8 years, helping more than 540 students. We are a United Way Partner Program and also get funding from our bi-yearly fundraisers, Altrusa, Good Sheppard Lutheran Church and community donations.

The program is open to all students at Marshfield High School. We work in close collaboration with students with disabilities, students who are credit deficient and students at the Alternative High School. We have a wide variety of students, all ability levels, and many diverse interests. There are close to 100 mentor-student matches this year.

Our statistics show being mentored by an adult substantially helps students make career plans. 100 percent of the students mentored have graduated, compared to 96.3 percent of the student population at Marshfield High School. 78.5 percent went to college or technical school compared to 74.7 percent of their respective classmates.

Positive effects are seen in student grades, school attendance, behavior and reduced detentions. Other benefits include increased self-confidence, positive attitude and communication skills. In a recent survey, 100 percent of our graduates said they would recommend this program to younger students. Many commented the program improved their ability to talk with adults, offered them another perspective other than their parents and gave them confidence in their career choice so they were able to declare a major before entering college, saving them time and money.

The ratio of guidance counselors to students at MHS is 340:1. Students need more help than a guidance counselor with that kind of case load can offer. Mentors listen, give advice; often with a different perspective than the student’s parent. Mentors are an advocate for the students. A mentor’s goal is to see that the student is successful. You can never have too many people in the student’s corner.

Some studies have shown those students who are first generation; meaning that their parents have not gone on to higher education, especially benefit from a mentor who helps them to see possible alternatives. These young people do not know about all the possibilities that exist unless someone takes an interest in them. They often have trouble once they get to college, because they do not know what to expect. A mentor often helps students to reach for higher goals, encouraging them. Young women often need encouragement to strive for a higher goal.

The best way for the student to decide if they really want to pursue a career is to see first hand what goes on at a business or workplace. Mentors help students apply to colleges, wade through mountains of paperwork and apply for scholarships. Some mentors report their students really have everything figured out and they are more or less a sounding board, someone who can listen.

We ask that all mentors meet once a month for an hour with their student. Mentors could ideally work with the same student for the student’s whole high school career. Many mentors are still in touch with their students during college and afterwards, having made a long lasting friendship.

We need volunteers. We are looking for caring, responsible adult volunteers, who are willing to share their knowledge with a student. To volunteer call 387-8464 ext 384 or e-mail:
leifheita@marshfield.k12.wi.us.

Happy Hour for United Way

Gather friends and enjoy an evening out for United Way. Happy Hour for United Way, hosted by Sue Decker & guest bartender Jenny Sadauskas.

Thursday, April 26 from 6-8 p.m. at the Rose Bowl

Thursday, May 3 from 5-7 p.m. at Utopia Lounge, delicious food provided by Gianeselli’s

Wednesday, May 9 from 5-7 p.m. at Potsie’s

Volunteers hard at work during Impact Funding

Earlier this week, if you visited the United Way office, you would have been surrounded by stacks of packets and three ring binders. Yes, it’s time for our funding cycle, which means application packets from current Partner Programs and new programs.

Each year, programs put together a packet detailing their program’s missions and goals, financials, how they help people and ways they are improving our community.

Volunteers from all walks of life will review these packets, have an opportunity to speak with program representatives and then decide what funding the applicants receive. These volunteer teams will make funding recommendations and the board will review and allocate in May.

Because the campaign exceeded goal, the Impact Committee will look at needs and funding requests from last year’s application and give supplemental funding, additional to money granted for 2007, to current Partner Programs.

This isn’t the only funding process United Way has though. There are also grant opportunities in May, August and November, when funds are available. Venture funds are granted for new programs addressing community needs and supplemental funding for existing programs that have unforeseen costs.

We’re working together to touch the lives of your family, friends and neighbors throughout the Marshfield area who need help.

Companion Day Services connects children, students and seniors

By Sara Riedel, CSW, Companion Day Services Director, 715-387-4411

Taking care of a senior spouse, grandparent, parent or loved one, especially if he or she is in need of regular supervision and assistance, can be difficult. What do you do if you need to work during the week, attend medical appointments or just need time away to focus on yourself? Is your loved one able to stay at home alone? If not, Companion Day Services can help. We’ll look after your loved one when you are not able to. Let us help you get your life and the life of your loved one back.

Companion Day Services (CDS) is a Social Adult Day Service program. CDS is part of the Tiny Tiger Intergenerational Center opening soon in Marshfield. The center will provide three interacting services: child care, adult care and a Human Services Academy Charter School under one roof. The facility is designed to bring generations together to interact and support one another. We will provide “learning for all ages and care for all stages.” We will be the first in the nation to offer this combination of services.

CDS is designed to meet the needs of:
1) Adults who are recovering from a recent illness, injury or surgery
2) Frail or socially isolated adults living at home, alone or with a caregiver
3) Adults experiencing a decrease in physical, mental or social functioning (including those suffering memory loss).
Participants of CDS may be facing different challenges, such as loneliness, forgetfulness, depression or the frailties of aging. Others face obstacles like strokes, early Alzheimer’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, cognitive disabilities, Down’s Syndrome as well as other illnesses or injuries.

Participant needs will be met through our comprehensive programs designed to:
1) Help delay the progress of a participant’s existing disability
2) Preserve or improve the participants health and level of functioning
3) Maintain a participant’s level of independence
4) Establish an individual plan of care based on an assessment of personal needs and strengths
5) Assist with activities of daily living and personal care provided in a safe and secure environment
6) Provide nutritional meals and snacks.
7) Foster companionship through social interactions with other participants, children and students

If you or someone you know is interested in receiving more information about Companion Day Services, feel free to call Sara Riedel, CDS Director at 715-387-4411 or email at companionday@hotmail.com.

Thanks to our Marshfield Community for their support.

Impact Process produces results you can see across the Marshfield area

The campaign is over—but that doesn’t mean we’re not busy at United Way. The Impact Process is in full swing.

In January we met with the three Vision Councils: Community & Basic Needs, Families & Seniors and Youth Initiatives. The Vision Councils are comprised of volunteers from human service programs and other programs working day to day with the community—from teachers, police officials, housing leaders, etc.

In the community’s Impact Plan, there are two levels: Emerging Issues and Community Services. Emerging Issues are identified needs in the community that if not addressed, will have a negative impact in other areas that will affect our quality of life. Community Services are core issues and services that are the foundation of a healthy community.

Last fall, the Vision Councils evaluated the goals set in 2003 and progress that’s been made since then. They have taken their findings to update the priorities and emerging needs of the Impact Plan.

Community & Basic Needs and Families & Seniors:
· Add transportation as an Emerging Issue
· Collaborate to investigate needs in dental care

Youth Initiatives:
· Move Life Skills & Self Esteem to Community Services—because programs in our community have done a fantastic job addressing this former emerging issue by creating and expanding programming to serve youth in our community.
· Add Safe Activities for youth: birth to age 11
· Add Safe Activities for youth: ages 12+

The Vision Councils will investigate these issues throughout the year and work towards solutions to helping those in need throughout the Marshfield area.

It’s exciting to see results from the current programs and new initiatives they are undertaking. Have you seen the results? They’re everywhere in our community. Elementary students are receiving preventative dental care, youth of all ages are participating in after school activities and homebound residents are receiving daily hot, nutritious meals, to mention only a few.

This spring, we take these needs and results to Review Panels to decide funding for 2008. We are working towards providing for priority or emerging needs throughout our community, ensuring your dollars are spent carefully.

It’s an ongoing, always changing process—working all year long to provide the best services to care for our community.

If you want to be attend a Vision Council meeting or participate in the Impact Process contact Community Impact Coordinator Sarah Krenn at 384-9992 or volunteercenter@tznet.com.

4:02 on a Friday Afternoon

Happy Friday afternoon to everyone out there.... but of course if you're not reading this on a Friday afternoon Happy _________________ (insert day and time here).

It's almost 4 o'clock, and boy has this been an interesting week. We're wrapping up campaign and preparing for the Thank You event.

The office is embracing the New Year. Sarah is starting the Community Impact process, Jeanne is preparing for the audit (you should see her stacks!) and I'm familiarizing myself with my new computer and working hard to get the Thank You program done. I think I have put all the final touches on it--now it needs to be proofread a few times before I copy and put it together.

Reading through and typing names for the Marsh Society pages WAS NOT fun. When Jeanne and I proofread it, I was pleasantly surprised that I didn't make (too) many mistakes.

The program isn't that big or special, but boy, it takes a lot of work to put together.

Of course, as one campaign comes to a close, we start planning for our new year. Sarah and I are going to work together to bring you the messages of Community Impact. I also want to revamp our web site. This was a goal of mine for 2006, but it didn't come to pass. We updated it more, though (that counts for something, right?).

Neither Jeanne or myself have any formal experience in Web design--so the thought of changing what we have is a scary one. But I feel a new web site would serve the community better and be easier for us to update and use.

There really are too many things to tell you about right now ... especially for 4:00 on a Friday afternoon.

But my New Years Resolution is to bring you blogs more frequently--so hopefully you'll be reading about all our adventures in the months to come.

Benefit Concert for United Way

Guitar soloists, Tom Vinnedge and Kurt Morgan Dovenbarger will perform a mix of traditional covers and original songs at a concert to benefit United Way on Saturday, December 2, 2006, at 7:30pm at the Chestnut Avenue Center for the Arts in downtown Marshfield, WI.

Tom Vinnedge and Kurt Morgan Dovenbarger are local area residents who have recently relocated to the Marshfield area, bringing a wealth of musical experience with them.

Tom Vinnedge arrived in Marshfield from the Twin Cities. His recording credits include two LP’s. His first solo LP, "Lend Me Your Ear," was recorded at Orphane Records, and a second was recorded with Scarecrow Joe at Audio Images Studio in St. Paul.

Kurt Dovenbarger, a Marshfield native, resided in Madison and Milwaukee for the past 25 years. He has recently moved back to the area and will be performing locally.

A music school graduate, Kurt played professionally and taught private lessons in the Milwaukee area for 19 years. Working with a wide variety of bands incorporating rock, blues, country, wedding music, he has opened for such acts as Head East, Eddie Money, Joan Jett, The
Go Go’s. He is perhaps best known for his work with Three James Morgan, a Milwaukee-based rock band who released CD’s in 1999 and 2002. "There's no mistaking that these guys are ace players," exclaimed Scott Wooldridge, quoted in OnMilwaukee.com.

Kurt currently plays solo and duo acts and has established a teaching studio in Marshfield. He hopes to expand the music scene in the Marshfield area and is looking forward to meeting new musicians and local talents.

Tickets to the benefit event will be $5 at the door, with proceeds going to Marshfield Area United Way. Event sponsored by Success Realty. For more information call the Chestnut Avenue Center for the Arts at 715-389-8999 or visit www.chestnutARTS.org. The Center is located in downtown Marshfield at the corner of Third Street and Chestnut Avenue.

Thank You! from everyone at United Way

We're making great progress this year ... and we couldn't have done it without everyone's help.

Thank you to:

Volunteers
Partner Programs
Board Members
Campaign Coordinators
Community Businesses
Campaign Volunteers
Supervisors who give us time to give presentations
Employees across the community who listen to our presentations
Everyone who's contributed so far ...

On behalf of the people who you have touched in the Marshfield area ... we thank you!

Click this link to view a special thank you card http://studio.unitedway.org/thanksgiving/

2-1-1 Celebrates One Year Anniversary

Have you had a community information question that you just couldn’t find the answer to? How many phone books did you page through? You could save all that time, just by dialing 2-1-1.

United Way’s First Call 2-1-1 celebrates its first anniversary, November 1, 2006. Residents of Adams, Clark and Wood Counties are connecting to answers by dialing this simple, easy to remember number any time of day, every day of the week.

Since rollout 2-1-1 has received 2,225 calls, up from 1,378 from last year, helping people get the information they need about health and human service programs in their community. Every call is free and confidential. When you dial 2-1-1 you will speak to a trained information and referral specialist who can help you break down the situation and find the answers you need.

Available 24 hours a day, everyday—2-1-1 provides benefit to our communities by tracking community needs and identifying unmet needs.

September 11, 2001, showed a need for community preparedness and reliable information source in time of a local or national emergency. This lead to a 2003 bi-partisan effort by Senators Hilary Clinton and Elizabeth Dole to encourage a national move to make information easily accessible through 2-1-1 call centers.

First Call for Information has been available in the Marshfield area since 1981. Throughout the years it’s been growing with community needs and the transition to 2-1-1 was the next logical step for the program to continue expanding to serve the community. A listserv for professionals, civic and social organization is now available to alert users of news and material that are available. To sign up, email 211resources@uwfirstcall.org or call 2-1-1.

So the next time you’re wondering about the hours of the senior center or looking for more information about childcare—pick up the telephone and dial 2-1-1.

With the support of Marshfield Area United Way, United Way of South Wood County United Way, Black River Country United Way, Heart of Wisconsin United Way, Adams County, Saint Joseph’s Ministry Health Care Fund, 2-1-1 is available for you to get or give help.

Campaign means waiting

Yesterday was our second count. A count is when we gather all the company envelopes that have been turned in to banks and our office, check and record what they have raised. We have two finance volunteers help our two staff members count the contents of all the envelopes. We record the contributions: how many payroll deductions, checks, cash, special events, count what's in the envelope, record it on the campaign envelope, count sheet and deposit slip. Then we double check everything.

Last year, at our third count, one company turned in a special event that had a lot of coins. Counting more than a $100 worth of coins leaves an impact on you. Jeanne and I laughed at our finance member groaning each time she made a pile of 100 pennies. We both had been there ourselves. And later that morning, we had to count that same bag of coins to make sure that we recorded the right number.

A count that takes a long time has the potential to be good ... or bad. Good because it means there were a lot of donations. Bad because we didn't balance--have the same amount on our sheets compared to money in.

After our counts, it's the waiting game. Then Jeanne comes back to the office to enter all the information, calculate percent increases and losses. After each count I send an update to our campaign volunteers who distribute envelopes to businesses and a press release to the radio and paper.

Yesterday I got the "shell" ready. I laid out the basic bones of the updates, wrote what I could. But now I wait.

We do more waiting then you might think during campaign. We start preparing for campaign season in February when we discuss our theme, ideas for the year. We work on the video and program funding is decided in April and May. June and July is the heavy lifting finding Pacesetters, preparing their materials and ordering our campaign supplies. August the Pacesetters start their campaigns and we begin presentations. I spend two or three months of this time researching, interviewing and writing articles.

But now, most campaigns have started. All the materials are ordered ... we're running out of some. Once we had about eight campaign presentations a week, now we're down to maybe two.

It's the waiting game. Waiting for campaigns to come in with totals, waiting for updates about who's down and by how much--or who had a spectacular year. Each day is different.

One Executive Director from a small United Way in Illinois said through our United Way listserv during campaign time each day was like Christmas morning. I never remembered Christmas being so stressful.

Campaign is exciting ... going into companies, meeting new people, seeing fun ideas and creative events. It's also heart warming to see the effort people bring to their campaigns and their contribution. Our communities really understand the good they do by contributing. We work very hard all year long--not just during September through December--making sure we're getting results and making positive change in our community.

But today, I wait.

Recognize and tribute those who’ve experienced domestic violence

By Personal Development Center, 384-2971

October is domestic violence awareness month—a time to recognize and pay tribute to the survivors of domestic abuse. They have overcome incredible barriers in order to find safety and a path to happiness for themselves and their children. We also remember those who lost their lives at the hands of their abuser.

So far this year we have been bombarded by headlines of the violent deaths in our area. This demonstrates how widespread the problem is and the seriousness of the crimes.

A pregnant woman was murdered by her abusive partner—a violent death, having a glass candy dish shoved down her throat.

The effects of domestic violence have a high cost: in human lives and impact in our community.

The Personal Development Center continues to feel the effects of the influx of domestic violence in the communities we serve. Through the second quarter of this year, the North Wood DV Program has served 245 victims of domestic violence through our crisis and transitional services, which is up 40 people from this time last year.

The Clark County Outreach Program has served 53 participants this year, which is an increase of 37.

We continue to be saddened by the stories of domestic violence victims and their children who live in fear in homes plagued by power, control and violence. Yet we are continually amazed by the strength and determination of the survivors who are able to find their way to safety and can begin to rebuild their lives. Their success is truly an inspiration to all of us and helps us continue our mission to create a community where violence has no place.

Dr. Phil references 2-1-1

Exciting news for United Way's 2-1-1.

Dr. Phil was working with guests who are working their way out of debt. Dr. Phil announced United Way's 2-1-1 as a country-wide resource for people looking for community information.

Follow this link http://drphil.com/shows/show/773/ to check out Dr. Phil's guests and other money-managing and debt control links. This reference is a great opportunity to let our nation know about their free, confidential inforamtion and referral number.

GoodSearch for United Way

You can raise money for United Way by the click of your mouse. As simple as that, no catches, no strings, no pop-ups, only results—by contributing to Marshfield Area United Way.

How? Just use GoodSearch.com as your default search engine. Powered by Yahoo!, GoodSearch was founded by a brother and sister team Ken and JJ Ramberg, who wanted to make it easier for people to support their favorite causes. The site is dedicated to their mother, who they lost to cancer.

It works like other search engines; the difference is GoodSearch shares the revenue it generates from advertisers. So, every time a user performs a search, a portion of those ad dollars go back into the community.

And if you’re wondering how much revenue can be generated by search engines overall, consider this. Last year, search engines reportedly generated close to $6 billion in revenue from advertisers.

Each completed search raises a penny for United Way. So, for example, if 500 people search two times a day during one year, Marshfield Area United Way would receive an estimated $3,650, to help improve lives and build stronger communities in the Marshfield area.

That means having more resources to address community needs that matter most. And you can keep track of our estimated earnings by clicking on “Amount Raised” once you select Marshfield Area United Way as your organization of choice. As of September 7, searches for United Way have raised $8.79.

The more people who use the search engine on behalf of United Way, the more money we earn. So please spread the word.

GoodSearch for United Way: Donate every time you hit search! Powered by Yahoo!
1. Visit www.goodsearch.com. Where it says “I’m supporting…” Type United Way and click Verify.
2. Scroll down and select United Way—Marshfield Area. Now Search and donate to United Way for free!
3. Download the toolbar, set www.goodsearch.com as your home page or add to your favorites.

Follow Microsoft and Mickey’s lead when it comes to program branding

Entry By Stacey Oelrich, Marshfield Area United Way, Community Relations Development Coordinator, unitedway.stacey@tznet.com

Quick—think about what ABC’s (the television broadcast company) logo looks like. Can you picture it? What about Disney? Or Starbucks? Chances are you can see these logos pretty clearly in your mind if you actually think about them. And there are probably hundreds of other symbols, words or graphics that you see in your day-to-day life that make you think of their corresponding company without giving it a second thought or much effort.

And that’s exactly what they want: to be instantly identifiable. Each of these companies have an entire staff working and researching on the best way to present their company.

They call it Branding, think of it as how you present your program in the community. Microsoft’s brand is worth 65 billion dollars. While a brand doesn’t directly generate revenue, it can influence if people remember your program.

Just like the supermarket, consumers pay more or go out of their way for name brand items. They do this because they recognize the name, trust or believe in the product and think it has benefits or a higher quality than its generic counterpart.

You can use these brand concepts to work for you. By choosing a logo, graphic or brandmark that represents your program and consistently using it, you are developing your brand. If you are a local office of a state or national organization (ex: our local United Way is under the parent organization of United Way of America) utilize the national logos, and find out what rules or regulations they require you to follow—this may already be a benefit of your membership dues. This takes a lot of the leg work away from your workload. Chances are, just like Microsoft, Disney and ABC, they used their resources to research, design and evaluate the most effective look and consistent message to present.

Your goal is to have an instantly recognizable logo that brings value to your organization. As people are “shopping” for programs, you’ll only benefit if they know your logo and trust your program. That’s why we ask you to include the United Way logo on your materials. We’re working towards a consistent, valuable brand—that you can benefit from.

If you don’t have a national affiliate you can brand your organization as well. Chose a logo, colors (around three, perhaps those in or that compliment your logo). Develop a logo that can be converted to black and white and grayscale for different printing projects.

Distinguish where you will place your logo: left, right, top, bottom? Once you decide, don’t change it! Don’t switch to green because you are sick of blue—this lessens the chance that people will immediately recognize your logo—which is working against your brand value.

It takes five different experiences to recognize and remember a logo or brand, and after this, people start developing a trust and relationship with your program’s branding. So as you’re getting sick of your logo or how you phrase your message, remember many people are hearing it for the first time.

Vision Councils connect to impact the Marshfield area

Entry by: Stacey Oelrich, Community Relations Development Coordinator

Last weekend, I went to my friend’s wedding in De Pere. We checked into the hotel, and one of the first things I did was pull out my laptop, pop in my WIFI-wireless card and connect to the hotel’s wireless network.

When I lived in Green Bay, we had a wireless network set up in our apartment. I thought it was absolutely brilliant that I could search for recipes as I was getting ready for supper in the kitchen or sitting outside on our patio to work.

I rarely missed an opportunity to unplug my laptop and wander around the apartment to talk, work or just be connected to all of these opportunities on the Internet.

Networks are important. But computers aren’t the only ones using networks to share information. Networking is a way to advance careers, and they also allow the community to connect.

Sometimes in this busy world of ours it’s hard to take the time to connect. These connections make such a significant difference in our daily lives and at United Way, we think it’s important to find the time to share information, foster relationships and work together to make the community a better place to live and work.

Marshfield Area United Way hosts Vision Councils as a part of our Community Impact Process. They are a gathering of people of all professions coming together to make change because they care about making an impact in our service area.

We ask these residents and professionals to assess needs of each of our Impact Areas, which is then taken to the Community Impact Committee that reviews funding applications of programs serving the community’s needs.

Vision Councils meet throughout the year, so we are able to keep a pulse on our service area’s emerging and priority needs. Each Vision Council focuses on a different Impact Area: Community & Basic Needs, Families & Seniors and Youth Initiatives.

It’s easy to become involved in a Vision Council; you just need an interest in the community to come to the meetings. Everyone’s input and ideas collectively help the group achieve goals, find solutions and go forward on projects that may not have been possible before.

During these meetings everyone shares information about what works, events that might be fun or beneficial, and problems they may have encountered. These leaders know they need accomplish real lasting change, not settle for quick fixes.

The Vision Councils’ setting encourages people to share ideas and talk through issues. This allows participants to see the situation from different perspectives and seek opinions.

We have found in all our technological advances, the good old-fashioned meeting still helps people gather information and build connections. Together, we can do so much more than any one of us can do alone.

Working together to change lives and make the Marshfield area a better place for people to live and work … that’s what matters.

To learn more about Vision Councils and when they meet, call Marshfield Area United Way at 384-9992.

Mentors show Pathway to Success

Congratulations to Pathway Partners! Selected as Volunteer Center's Adult Group Volunteer of the Year!


Entry By Amber Kiggens-Leifheit, Pathway Partners, Program Coordinator -- Partner Program

Pathway Partners, in its eight year at Marshfield High School, is the only school based mentoring program in Central Wisconsin. Students and mentors are matched according to similar interests, hobbies or career paths.

We have been very fortunate to have approximately 100 caring, responsible volunteers who have worked more than 1200 hours to help mentor 100 students. They have met with their students at least once a month helping in a variety of ways. They listen, give advice, they are an advocate for the student. A mentor’s goal is to see that the student is successful.

The best way for the student to decide if they really want to pursue a career is to see first hand what goes on at a business or workplace, and mentors can arrange job shadows to help student gain experience. Mentors also can help students apply to colleges or for scholarships by wading through the mountain of paperwork.

Mentors could ideally work with the same student for the student’s entire high school career. Rapport and trust develops and some partners form a friendship that lasts beyond the high school years. You can never have too many people in the student’s corner!

Pathway Partners encourages all of its students and mentors to volunteer. This year Pathway Partners volunteered to help Soup or Socks with the Annual Boy Scout Food Drive. The Boy Scouts collected non-perishable food from Marshfield residents. Pathway Partner students and mentors helped sort the food as it came in, checking for expiration dates/opened items and then dating it. Then we helped box and label donations so they may be distributed to residents in need.

Our statistics show being mentored by an adult is substantially helping students to make career plans. Of the 17 graduating seniors from the class of 2005 that participated in our program 88 percent are going to college or technical schools, as compared with 76.83 percent of their graduating class. Six percent were directly entering the work force, as compared to 17.7 percent of their graduating class.

We are surveying all past Pathway Partner graduates. Of the responding graduates, 100 percent say they would recommend this program to younger students. Many commented Pathway Partners not only helped them decide what career they wanted to pursue but helped them in many other ways. The program improved their ability to talk with adults, offered them another perspective other than their parents and gave them confidence in their career choice so that they were able to declare a major before entering college.

These success stories would not be possible without our wonderful mentors. If you would like to volunteer as a mentor please contact Amber Kiggens-Leifheit at 387-8464 ext. 384 or email leifheita@marshfield.k12.wi.us

Community Impact begins with you--by lending a hand

Entry by: Stacey Oelrich, Community Relations Development Coordinator

We’re just wrapping up the Marshfield Area United Way funding process. This is when community programs fill out an application packet detailing services, goals and how their outcomes are achieving results. The packet is evaluated by a review panel. Each program then makes a presentation to the review panel to answer any questions. The end result is funding for programs that meet all of these criteria.

That’s a quick look at months of work, but what you don’t see from the process I outlined is the effect it has on the volunteers making the decisions. At a recent community event a volunteer came to talk to me about her experience on the Review Panel. “I had no idea how good I had it,” she said. “The thought of one in four people where I live needing these services is eye opening.”

The Review Panel is composed of normal people—volunteers from all backgrounds, jobs and income levels. However, they share the common trait of wanting to help their community. After these few weeks are done and they have reviewed all the packets, asked the important questions and evaluated results—the impact is more than just money.

The true impact is a genuine interest in the progress of the programs or results they can accomplish. In some cases, they find a program offering a service they were searching for in their own lives. This one volunteer experience will change how members of the review panel interact with the community and how they find solutions in their daily life.

The United Way model of Community Impact shows us the quick fix isn’t going to work anymore. We are looking at the underlying reasons of why the problem is occurring in the first place. It’s more important to make positive change than to do just enough to get by, and we realize one person or program cannot accomplish this change alone.

This mission of increasing our community’s capacity to care for one another can be daunting. One night I was watching the evening news and the two lead stories were the state of emergency in New England from rising flood waters and the deaths in Iraq for just the first two weeks of the month. I couldn’t take the bad news so I turned off the television and went to bed.

In our daily lives it is so easy for us to tune out the bad news around us, even when it is as close as our own communities where we live and work.

So my challenge to you is get involved. Don’t turn off your television or walk away. It takes all of us—from all walks of life to lend a hand to benefit the community. Invest some time and interest in a project. You can see the impact it will have on those you’re helping, but you’ll feel an impact inside yourself as well.

To lend a hand with the Impact process or for other volunteer opportunities call 384-9992.

Nations first “Share the Care Station” opens doors in Marshfield

Entry by Mindy Gribble RN, Coordinator- Circle of Life Community Coalition, Inc., Share the Care--Partner Program

• The Circle of Life Community Coalition (COLCC) began as an all volunteer effort in 2002.
• Grassroots group, composed of community members:

o Wood County Aging and Disability Center,
o Family Resource Center,
o faith communities (clergy and parish nurses),
o Ministry Home Care (hospice and home health),
o St. Joseph’s Hospital (palliative care and discharge planning services),
Marshfield clinic (community resources),
o nursing homes
o Personal Development Center,

COLCC’s Goal is: “To create a nurturing environment in which to support individuals, families and caregivers facing life threatening and end-of-life issues by offering education, resources and referral.”

A community needs assessment helped guide the Coalition to focus in three service areas: Share the Care, Caregiver Support and Advance Care Planning.

SHARE THE CARE provides a system for community members interested in organizing an efficient and compassionate support team personally designed to meet the needs of someone who is dealing with a serious illness.

In the Marshfield area, as in all communities, statistics show us three in four families will care for a family member with a serious illness. Knowing caregivers have a greater risk of both physical and emotional illness, the COLCC looks forward to walking beside the community and nurturing it's ability to care for itself with Share the Care, a positive tool for living … throughout life’s circle of seasons.

Share the Care is based on a handbook written to provide a road map on how to take a group of ordinary individuals (compromised of friends, relatives, neighbors, coworkers, faith community acquaintances) and turn them into a “caregiver family.” Several local Share the Care teams have already started and proven the value of the model in reducing caregiver stress, increasing the care recipient’s ability to stay in their own home and helping the recipient focus their energy on living to the fullest. The handbook’s author, Sheila Warnock, highlighted Marshfield in the revised edition of her book and on her Web site http://www.sharethecare.org/.

Warnock says, “Through the local ‘Circle of Life Community Coalition’ a user friendly and free ‘SHARE THE CARE Station’ has been started, providing the community with a well utilized lending library of SHARE THE CARE books, folders and videos. The Coalition has also provided the community educational presentations and coaching on the model and hopes to honor the joy of being part of a caregiving family by ‘building bridges’ to help others move from contemplating SHARE THE CARE to actively experiencing its blessings.”

Thanks to the support and partnership of Marshfield Area United Way and matching funds from St. Joseph’s Hospital and Marshfield Clinic, the Circle of Life has literally been able to “open doors” in 2006. An office space has been established, half-time Coalition Coordinator has been hired, a Board of Directors representing the community has been established, and non profit staus attained. Even as the COLCC begins to increase community awareness of it’s free and confidential services, exciting things are happening!

To CONTACT the COLCC:
Mindy Gribble, Coordinator Circle of Life Community Coalition, Inc. 101 West 29th Street, Suite 103 P.O. Box 615 Marshfield, WI 54449 (715) 305-5675 or circleoflifecc@gmail.com

Dialing 2-1-1 solves perplexing puzzle

Entry by: Stacey Oelrich, United Way's First Call 2-1-1 Program Coordinator

Passing the time one Sunday morning, I tried my hand at the latest pop culture craze. I picked up a paper and pencil and went to work on Soduko, a logic puzzle.

Soduko has nine columns and nine rows which are then grouped in three by three blocks within the large square. The object is to fill each blank cell with the numbers one through nine, without duplicating a number within each nine cell column, row or block.

I worked on this perplexing puzzle for 45 minutes before conceding defeat. There was just too much information for my mind to process and make sense of. I don’t do well with numbers, and even though this is a logic puzzle, the complexity of numbers swimming in front of me was too overwhelming.

The frustration I felt is similar to that of wading through phone books and directories looking for services for each complex problem we face every day. There are just so many options to choose from when searching for the right department or organization. But for years, we’ve had a way to bypass the tedious search for uncertain outcomes. All Marshfield Area residents had to do was dial First Call for Information’s phone number. People could make one call to trained information and referral specialists to find answers.

First Call for Information had three different phone numbers to access the same service: a toll free, Marshfield and South Wood County number. But those numbers, even the toll free option, were just too much to remember.

It’s been said we break down long strings of data into smaller, more manageable groups, so our brains will be more apt to recall it. Around the country, United Ways and call centers have adopted a new way to provide America with information and referral. Because a three-digit number is easier to remember, we have changed our number to 2-1-1.

United Way’s First Call 2-1-1 provides the same services as it predecessor: First Call for Information. With one call, you are connected to free, confidential information to answer your questions. Since the national 211 Day, February 11, 2006, 139 million Americans have access to 2-1-1 services, that’s 46 percent of the U.S. population.

Fourteen states have 100 percent coverage, with the rest in implementation or planning stages. In Wisconsin, 15 counties have coverage and the remaining counties are in the process of rolling out their new number.

Marshfield Area United Way and United Way of South Wood County partner to provide Wood, Clark and Adams counties with 2-1-1 services. Marathon and Portage counties rolled out their service recently as well.

Numbers can sometimes over complicate simple concepts. I gave up on Soduko before I found the solution. We know finding answers are hard enough without struggling with confusing numbers. Dialing 2-1-1 or visiting http://www.uwfirstcall.org/ will connect you to answers in one simple call.

And 2-1-1 has been 24/7 since December … now there are numbers I can handle.

What's going on at the office this February

Entry by: Stacey Oelrich, Community Relations Development Coordinator

Though we aren't as crazy as we were during campaign time, the Marshfield Area United Way office is really busy.

Our fearless leader and Executive Director, Kim Baltus is

• Helping with Community Foundation
• Working with the LIFE Book committee to produce our Wood County LIFE Book
• Board trainings, Executive committee meetings
• Working with the Mental Health Collalition -- another partnership with many area organizations
• And helping Sarah, Jeanne and I with our various projects while zipping through her other To Do's and piles on her desk

Sarah Krenn, our Community Impact/Volunteer Center Coordinator has mutiple projects zipping around her office ... She's

• Putting together her Community Impact Committee for the Impact-Allocations process coming this spring.
• Organizing and re-vamping the 2007 Application for funding.
• Calling together Vision Councils coming towards the end of February.
• Planning the Volunteer Recognition event, partnering with Gannett foundation
• National Youth Service Day
• And she's working on many more things

Jeanne Denk, our Administrative Assistant ... but she's so much more than that ...

• Keeping everything with CDs and bank authorization up-to-date
• Working on the audit
• Helped me update our Web site
• Working with United Ways across the country for designations
• Forgive me ... Jeanne does so much that keeps us running ... I couldn't possibly recap it all for you!

I'm gradually progressing through my piles too... as your Community Relations Development and First Call 2-1-1 Coordinator I am ...

• Trying to implement the new ideas from our Communication Strategic plan
• Creating a Partner Program e-newsletter
• Fax Facts to our community CEOs
• Collaborating with our regional United Ways for our upcoming 2006 Campaign
• Meeting with our 2-1-1 Committee and Michelle Hartness
• Creating the Community Focus newsletter
• Creating the Retiree-Senior newsletter

It's always a relief once the newsletters are printed and ready to be sent! I always have such anxiety about them in the time between our office's final proofreading session and sending it to the printer.

This is just sample of what all of us are doing. Each day is something new and we continually work together within this office, our Partner Programs, the community and our state and national United Way network!