LIVE UNITED Y’All!

I recently helped my daughter move back into the dorm for her third year of college.  As we loaded up the truck with her belongings early in the morning, the next door neighbors were all waiting anxiously on the front porch for the school bus to come.  It seemed it was not only my daughter’s first day back for the semester, but also the first day of preschool for the four year old next door. 

As I watched one of the cutest little boys I have ever met excitedly climb aboard for his first day of ‘big school’, as he calls it, with the whole family there to cheer him on and wave goodbye, I couldn’t help but think back to when that was me tearing up as my own daughter went off to face the world without me.

I thought about the first day of child care, how I was a mess and she was fine, and how on the first day of kindergarten, my tiny little five year old climbed aboard the school bus without even looking back.  She was fine.  I was not.  In thinking back, I realized that I was always the one who was not ok.  She was always fearless and charging forward.

I thought about the slumber parties growing up, overnight field trips in elementary and middle school to Gatlinburg and Space Camp in Alabama, long hours at band competitions and week long trips out of state to perform in high school.  I thought about moving her into the dorm for the first time and the panic attack I had when she called to say she was going to the Bahamas to stay on a sail boat for a week and scuba dive the reefs as part of her last short term class.  Again, she was always excited and ready to embark on a new adventure.  I was the one having a hard time letting go. 

Then I realized.  That’s my job.  It is my job to do my best to prepare her and then to let go.  I will always worry and I will always be there just in case, but I know in my heart she will flourish.  It is hard, very hard sometimes, but it is my job and I will always find a way to let go so she can fly.  I know there will be more times when I will need to let go in the future and they will always be difficult, but they will also be worth the reward as I see her succeed.  I will be the best parent I can be.  I will let go.

General Children, parenting

Who doesn’t love a big bowl of chili when the weather starts to cool? This year Metro United Way is planning a Chili Cook-Off to benefit our internal campaign. Metro United Way staff will serve as the chefs, and everyone is invited to join in the feast! Details are below:

What: Metro United Way Chili Cook-Off!

When: Oct. 16, 2009

Time: 11:30-1:30

Where: Metro United Way, Training Rooms A and B

Who: All staff are invited to participate in the competition, EVERYONE is invited to eat!

Why: To benefit the 2009 MUW internal campaign

How it will work:

· Staff interested in entering a pot of chili in the competition need to complete an entrance form and email it back to Angie NO LATER THAN October 1, 2009

· Each entrant is responsible for making enough chili to serve at least 8-10 servings.

· Each entrant is also responsible for providing their own “garnishes” such as: spaghetti, crackers, cheese, etc. to be served with their chili (optional), as well serving utensils.

· Entrants must have their chili set-up and ready to be served by 11:00 a.m. on the designated tables in TRA and TRB.

· Diners pay $5.00 at the entrance to try as many “tastes” as they want (small cups will be provided).  Diners can go back to purchase a whole bowl of their favorite chili for an extra $2.00 (large bowls will be provided).

· Before diners exit, they may cast a vote for their favorite chili (tickets will be provided).  All votes must be cast by 2:00 p.m.

· The Internal Campaign Committee budget will cover the cost of drinks.

· Those interested in participating, but who do not have a famous chili recipe at home can participate by bringing a dessert to share instead.  Please see Angie to get the form to complete for this, as well.

· Agency executives, MUW Board of Directors, volunteers, and MUW staff, friends, and family are invited to participate.

· The chef of the winning chili will win a much-desired prize (TBD)

Events, Giving campaign, chili, cook-off

The 2009 Metro United Way Community Campaign Kickoff is here, and we’re presenting it live and online from UStream.tv!

Join us on September 9, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. with M.C. Terry Meiners as we officially kick off this year’s Campaign, present our goal, recognize the many years of support from UPS and celebrate the successes of this year’s pace-setter campaigns.

On September 9th, all you need to do is visit our channel at UStream.tv or come back to this post to watch below at 10:00 a.m.!

Note – If you join us by viewing the stream on this post, be sure to hit the reload button (looks like a circle with arrows) at 10 a.m.!

Free TV : Ustream

Events, Giving campaign, community campaign, kickoff

I know I’m not the only one who loves a coupon, with rising prices and economic uncertainty. We all are looking for a deal and making tough choices.

A while back, I mentioned here that the LIVE UNITED Club would be a new feature to the 2009 campaign.

So many people in our community step up year after year and we not only want to thank you but make it a little easier to keep giving. You can be a member if you

• Give a minimum of $156/year (or $3/week through your workplace) to Metro United Way and
• Provide your home address and personal e-mail address.

If you don’t already, visit Metro United Way’s website to give $156/year (or $3/week through your workplace) and join the LIVE UNITED Club!

Beginning in January, you will be e-mailed a pdf of your own LIVE UNITED Club card for you to print and place in your wallet. Simply show this card at participating local businesses… like Wick’s, Fantastic Sams, Republic Bank and many more…. to receive your discounts.  Check out the LIVE UNITED Club web page to see the great offers we’ve already lined up for you from local businesses that want to thank you for helping your community.

You will also receive discounts from national partners when you provide your personal e-mail address. You will be sent an access code for mycaringclub.org to receive special offers from national merchants. These discounts will be available only through this web site. Depending on the retailer, discounts may be printable coupons for in-store use or a promotional code for on-line use. Current discounts will be good through February 2011 and will be continually updated.

General, Giving Economy, Giving, Live United, LIVE UNITED Club

By Kerri Cokeley

This past January, my Grandmammy passed away. This was a hard time for me. I had spent the previous ten years helping care for her, and though her health was not the best, her death was quite sudden. As I sat at the funeral home preparing the arrangements the following day, I realized that I was so thankful that I had no regrets. I cared for her the best that I could, I learned as much as I could from her, and every time we saw each other we expressed our love for one another.

The feelings that have sunk in for me following her departure mostly relate to the recognition that I have lost all four of my blood grandparents. A whole generation is now gone from my family. Am I prepared to help fill this void?

Just as I finally start to come to the conclusion that, yes, I am ready and able to step up, I get hit with another blow. A text message came with the news that Helen, a second mother to me as a teenager, had passed away. How can this be? I’m just barely able to step up to the loss of my grandparents, I’m definitely not ready to start losing the next tier, my parents.

I expect that it will take a very long time for me to cope with and be ready to fill the void that will ultimately be left by the loss of the immediate next generation. However, it takes me to a new reflection. When I am gone, what will I have accomplished? I’ve thought about this many times before, but not in such a desperate, mortal kind of way.

Even several days later as I re-read Helen’s obituary, my eyes swell up at the third paragraph. Despite the unfortunate health situation that had plagued her for many years, she still found a way to make the world a little better than she found it. I hope that I can do the same. Don’t you?

Helen Frances Graber

POSTED: August 18, 2009

Helen Frances Graber, 49, of Matlacha, FL died at her residence on Aug. 14, 2009 after battling 20 years of illness and pain.

She was born to William G. and Kathleen F. (Preston) Graber on Feb. 2, 1960 in Louisville, KY. Helen moved to Matlacha in 2003 to be close to her only child and her grandchildren.

She was formerly from Clarksville, IN. where she spent many years working as an LPN caring for others. Her caring did not stop with her work, she was known for her open heart and open door policy. Many times she provided a needed refuge for countless teenagers that had nowhere else to go and no one else that cared. She made sure all had a warm place to stay, food to eat and most of all someone who cared.

She is survived by her daughter, Michelle Lynne Scalf, son-in-law, Stephen S. Scalf, grandchildren, Ashlynne Jade Scalf and Stephen Sebastian Scalf, of Bokellia. Other survivors include brothers, Norman D. Graber of Tuscon, AZ. and George P. Graber of Matlacha and a sister, Patricia L. Murphy also of Matlacha. She was preceded in death by both parents and a brother, Billy (Apple) Graber who died in 1979.

General Change the World, community service, future, making a difference