LIVE UNITED Y’All!

Most of you are probably not aware that like so many in our community, Metro United Way experienced flood damage from the storms a few weeks ago.  I remember being at home ill that day, having tuned my television into the Weather Channel to watch what I thought would be a show about a massive hurricane hitting the Tampa/St. Petersburg area.  This was of particular interest to me 1. because I am fascinated by severe weather (tornadoes and hurricanes particularly) and 2. my brother and his family are in Seminole, Florida ( a stone’s throw away from Tampa and St. Pete).  Imagine my surprise when the scheduled program had been pre-empted by coverage of the flooding happening right in our city.  As I watched the river that was now flowing down Broadway, it dawned on me that the footage I was watching was only a couple of blocks from our office.   I turned over and immediately called the front desk.  It was then that I was informed of what was awaiting me the following morning.

The next morning the first thing I do after sitting my laptop bag down is go to the basement.  On first glance it didn’t look so bad, but the closer I examine the more uneasy I felt.  I have a slight sense of devastation and I feel somewhat overwhelmed of the task of putting it all back together.  The story I’m told as to how 4 plus feet of water ended up in the service elevator shaft and about 2 feet of water in the rest of our basement is extremely funny.  And being able to laugh about the damage was a huge plus, let me tell you.   Ultimately, the water came from  two commodes located on opposite ends of the basement.   (I have to admit I was thankful I was not there the first day to deal with what I’m sure was an unpleasant assault to the senses.)  By the time I came in the following morning the water had receded.  But now the real work would begin.

I’ve been talking about flood damage, but I as I write this I realize that this could be a metaphor for life.  Some unexpected, life altering event sweeps through and now you’re left to clean up muddy, mirky, contaminated waste. I realize having gone through this, that I have a great support team at Metro United Way.  The Building Services Staff I manage were already working on an initial clean up plan.  We had so many people in the basement looking at boilers, water heaters and pumps, electrical panels, pump motors, etc.  Everyone is hitting me from all angles with technical terms I know I don’t understand.  And all I’m thinking is “please don’t let this be some astronomical cost.”   Of course we lost some things.  Furniture, marketing material, computer/accessories, etc.  But honestly, a lot of it should have been purged a long time ago.

Like many of you, we are still recovering even today.  Our team is still working hard to complete the clean-up task and we have just begun the replacement and/or repairs to our mechanical systems.  It honestly seems overwhelming.  But like I said earlier, I have a great team working with me to keep it all going and to help us all stay on task.   That type of support and teamwork takes communication and plenty of planning.  It is building trust and being able to count on those team players to deliver on their commitments.  We had and still have quite a challenge putting the pieces back together, but the network of support we have in place will help us succeed.

I know that many of our neighbors are experiencing similar challenges as they try to recover from the flood.  And that flood could really be any number of things in their lives.  What they need is a strong support system. A team that will keep them on task and work the plan.

General flood, flood damage

Looking for something to do this weekend? What if I told you the weather forecast on Sunday is a high of 71 degrees, partly sunny, beautiful day? What better way to end the weekend than an evening at Slugger Field watching the Louisville Bats?

This Sunday, August 30, is Metro United Way Night at the Bats! Head on out to Slugger Field to show your support for Metro United Way - there are all kinds of surprises in store! The game begins at 6:15pm and the Bats are taking on the Columbus Clippers. You can purchase tickets online (between $5-$10 each, depending on your seats) or at the Slugger Field Box Office.

Come on out and join us as we cheer on the Bats – bonus points if you wear your Live United shirt to the game!

PS – Did I mention that Jake the Diamond Dog will be running the bases? I hear he is kind of a big deal. Stay tuned to see if we can get him to wear a Live United shirt…

General

To continue our series of Meet the Staff videos, I visited Lynn Smith to learn a little more about what she does in a day.

Check out her video to hear her answers to what she does, what is most challenging in her job, and when she enjoys her job the most!

General Metro United Way, staff

The first time I read a blog (that I know of) or even thought about reading a blog was two weeks ago. So naturally, when I was asked at work to join the blogging team, I laughed (to myself). And then I realized, oh, they’re serious. Crap.

Now don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the internet and can’t imagine my life without it. This isn’t because I like to keep up with the times or involve myself in social movements. No, I love the internet because I love to shop! I also love my couch, so the fact that the internet allows me to sit on my couch AND shop makes me very happy. Throw into the mix a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos, a six pack of Diet Coke, and a catheter and I may never move. This is a problem.

Okay. I like a challenge. I can do this….oh God, what I’m a going to talk about? I don’t have anything to talk about…I have no ideas…I don’t have a creative bone in my body…why I am I freaking out…calm down, its fine. WHAT? My first blog is due next week?!?! Oh God, here we go, I need an idea, something really good. Panic mode has set in.

EUREKA!!! It’s time I practice what I preach. I’m a Volunteer Coordinator…shouldn’t I be leading by example? Yes. And I do volunteer, but is it enough? No. So, beginning now, for the sake of my bank account and my thighs, I will get off the couch. I will choose a different volunteer job each month around Kentuckiana and share my experience with you. I hope to open my eyes and yours to all of the hidden opportunities in our community…I call it Adventures in Volunteering.

Stay tuned for my first adventure, “It’s a Dirty Job, But Somebody Has to Do it,” a day in life of a Flood Clean-Up Volunteer. Wish me luck…or better yet, join me!  I’ll be getting my hands dirty this Saturday August 29th.  If you’re not afraid of a little dirt, call 292-6115 and leave your name, number, and email OR sign-up at https://volunteer.united-e-way.org/muw-3/volunteer/register/

By P. Youngs

General

Okay – a minute and 42 seconds to be exact. If you’re still reading, I am guessing you do have just a minute (or two) so I am going to go ahead and introduce you to our newest series on the blog: Meet the Staff!

This is your opportunity to meet your Metro United Way staff and learn a little bit about what we do every day. And who better to start with than our President and CEO, Joe Tolan?

Check out this quick video on Joe!

General joe tolan, staff

When I first started with Metro United Way almost seven years ago, I staffed what was then the Success By 6 Child Care Action Team. This team had developed several strategies about how to support child care providers in their efforts to provide high quality child care for young children and how to ensure that working families had access to affordable high quality child care.

One of the strategies that this team chose to focus on was the promotion of Work/Life Balance and the recognition of companies that offered their employees family-friendly policies. This seemed like a good idea to me. I was on board with this strategy. I thought that it was important. However, it wasn’t until after I had my own child that I realized just how hard it is to balance all the work life stuff, and I work at one of those places that is pretty supportive of me in my role as a parent.

I’ve talked to lots of my girlfriends about this and it seems to ring true for every single mom that I know that works outside of the home. The basic problem is that you never feel like you can give enough to anything that you do.

I constantly feel guilty that I am not giving enough of myself to my son, my husband, my job, my friends, my family or myself. I worry that the time that I spend with Luke during the week is too limited and that the hours that I am home are spent preparing dinner, getting him bathed and into bed at a reasonable time. Sure, there is some time in there for us to play, read and snuggle, but it doesn’t really seem like enough time to devote to the most important thing in my life!

I also fret that I don’t give enough of myself to my work. (Trust me when I say that my husband clearly disagrees with me on this.) I think I have a really important job. It is a big goal to ensure that all of the children in our community are healthy, safe, nurtured and prepared to succeed in school. Sometimes I think that having a person in my position who could work a sixty hour work week is what is needed to actually achieve that goal.

And then there are all of the other important life factors that seem not to get the attention that they deserve: my husband (sorry honey!), my friends, my family, and not to be selfish but ME!

And here’s the thing: I know that I have it good. I am lucky to work for an organization that values its employees and their families. When I was breastfeeding, I had an office that I could comfortably close the door and pump milk for my baby. I have fantastic co-workers who I can call upon when Luke is sick and they will cover for me. I have the flexibility to schedule Parent/Teacher conferences at Luke’s school during the workday when his teachers are available. I have volunteer hours that I can choose to use by spending time at my son’s school helping out in the classroom or on Board projects.

I am grateful for the technology that is available to me so that I can check e-mail and work on electronic files from home.

I once heard a speaker refer to a study about Generation X parents like me. We don’t want to miss our kids’ soccer games or school events. So, although we may slip out of the office early for that kind of thing, we make up for it by checking e-mail or doing work after our kids are in bed. Hey, if nothing else, we recognize and strive for a Work/Life Balance in a way that many of our Baby Boomer parents couldn’t.

How’s your balance working out?

Photo Credit: James Jordan

General Life, making a difference, Success By 6

I was making my annual visit to a local summer picnic a couple of weekends ago, ready to gamble away my pocket full of dimes, when I spied a peculiar site.  Were my eyes playing tricks on me, or was that one of my “non-volunteering” type friends heartily serving up kiddie prizes at the duck pond booth? What strange collision of world events has brought this person into the realm of giving back, of service to his fellow man, of yelling like a crazed carnival barker when a kid wins a cartoon pencil?

The answer?  Free beer.

Was I shocked? No. Disappointed? Absolutely not. There are a thousand reasons why people volunteer, some may be nobler than others, but the bottom-line is that they are volunteering in the first place. Even better, I’d like to think that the free beer got him in the door and next year he might even think of doing it for the sheer enjoyment of a kid’s smile. He was obviously having a great time creating a fun environment for the kids and on top of all of that, raising money for a charitable cause. I think he was hooked.

Not too many days after the picnic our community was slammed by the August 4^th flash flood that destroyed or heavily damaged many homes in the hardest hit areas. In the days following the event I started to encounter another type of volunteer, the one motivated not by beer, but by hope. The member organizations of VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) http://www.nvoad.org/ are made up of thousands of volunteers who help with the response and recovery of disasters like the flood we had. These volunteers are helping clean-up raw sewage and black mold. They are ripping up ruined carpets and water-soaked furniture. What motivates them? I think it is their desire to restore hope.

What motivates you? Is it something other than beer or hope? It really doesn’t matter. What matters is that you find a way to help another, support a cause you believe in, and do it as often as you can.

By K. Thompson

Advocacy, Giving Disaster, Hope, VOAD, Volunteering

By Kelly Hutchinson, Donor Relationship Manager

I have been thinking a lot about the upcoming annual campaign in our community. It is what I do…think, plan, connect, encourage, communicate, review, explore, inquire, inspire, discuss and consider what will make a difference this year in someone’s workplace campaign. What is important to an individual donor? How can I demonstrate appreciation for the good works made possible by our Metro United Way corporate partners, donors and volunteers? I am also leaning into my work and trying to look at things a little bit differently this year. Quite frankly we must. You have heard it before right? If you continue to do things the same as in the past and you continue to get the same results then why does it surprise you?

My list will be kept short, but I hope you will join my conversation and share some of your idea’s on what you think is HOT and what you think is NOT.

What’s HOT:
• Making sure all children are safe, nurtured and prepared to succeed in school ( learn more about Success by 6)
• Making plans in your workplace to educate and build awareness for the work the work of United Way in our community and to Ask for participation in a company campaign where you work…WOW that’s hot!
• Serving as a volunteer Employee Coordinator for a United Way campaign and recruiting some co-worker friends to join you and help make it a success…sizzlin’!
• Sharing stories about your personal experience with United Way or how someone you work with whose life has been touched (meet someone you have helped here)
• Identifying the root causes of problems and providing solutions and support so that people can avoid some problems in the first-place…yep, it’s HOT
• Partnering with schools, service providers and community groups to improve high school graduation rates
• Saying YES when you are invited to join the United Way campaign and following up your giving by volunteering to get closer to the work you make possible and the lives you touch
Did you hear fire trucks?
• Being able to laugh at yourself and have fun while helping create opportunities for a brighter tomorrow
NOT HOT:
• There are nearly 9,000 children in JCPS who are homeless
• There are senior citizens in our community who live in fear of going outside or don’t have enough income for prescriptions and food…so they make choices
• Ice storms, wind storms, flash flooding that destroys peoples property and depletes their savings ( sign up with our volunteer center)
• An increase of nearly 40% of first time callers to 2-1-1 for assistance with basic human needs for food, clothing, shelter and necessities…a term I am hearing called “new poor” in our community
• Too many employees feel like United Way only comes around once a year when it’s time to ask for a donation. That’s not hot. There are endless possibilities and creative fun ways you can stay involved, thank loyal donors and contributors in your work and help employees understand they are making a difference 365 days a year
• Not planning ahead, setting goals or stretching yourself to do better in all that you do. Because if you don’t aim for something then you can’t be surprised when you miss the mark
• Seeing your coworkers dress up like Elvis and sing Viva Las Vegas… not hot…but a great way we added some fun to our employee campaign at Metro United Way and we are all looking forward to see who on our executive team will be donning a polyester jumpsuit next

Tried to keep it short…what’s hot where you work and what’s not?

Advocacy, Education, General, Giving, Health, Income, Volunteering campaign, Common good, community service, how to, recovery, Success By 6

By David P. Calzi, 2009 Metro United Way General Campaign Chair

I would like to take this opportunity to share some of my reflections on the 2009 Metro United Way campaign. By serving as the General Campaign Chair this year, I have had the privilege over the past few months to visit many Metro United Way agencies, meet with community and business leaders and work directly with Metro United Way staff and volunteers.

Your Metro United Way enhances the betterment of our Community by supporting organizations that are strategically focused on education, income and health. Some are strategically focused on investing for the future and many are focused on the NOW. Spending time at the Metro United Way agencies has clearly opened my eyes and heart to the critical needs that many in our community are facing NOW. There are children, adults and families who are in very difficult and frightening situations due to the economic downturn we are all experiencing. The staff and volunteers at the Metro United Way agencies are committed to delivering the best possible support and service to those who are in need.  Just knowing that children can have a safe place to go, food pantries are being made available and support is there for those in crisis situations, leaves no doubt in my mind that we must all work hard to provide the resources that will help these agencies continue their efforts to serve others.

From the time I have spent meeting with community and business leaders, I am truly encouraged and grateful that they are deeply engaged in understanding and recognizing the needs in our community. They are ready and willing to do all they can to help through their personal generosity  as well as leading the way through their employee campaigns.

In today’s world, accountability and trust are key components to the success of any endeavor. I am confident the brand of Metro United Way is strong. The accountability and trust that Metro United Way has established in our community over the years,  provides us with confidence that the dollars we provide will be put to good use in our community –  for our families, neighbors and coworkers  –  to build better lives for everyone.

Let there be no mistaken the current situation, this will not be an easy year for the campaign. I do not expect it has ever been easy. But, there is much work being done right now by a highly dedicated campaign cabinet, loaned executives, volunteers and the Metro United Way staff. We truly have the very best who understand, care and are willing to work as hard as it takes to keep our community strong. We are all touched by Metro United Way and it’s up to all of us to protect the base and increase the ability of the agencies that Metro United Way supports to do what they do best.  This means at a minimum continuing our current level of support and striving to go above and beyond if we can,  and using new ideas to spread the message that Metro United Way is  here  for everyone and needs the support of each of us.

I hope you will join me in the effort. Thanks for all you are doing to make our community the most caring community in the Nation.

Giving campaign, Community

Advocacy, General Live United, stories, success story