LIVE UNITED Y’All!

By Howard Mason

Although no longer affiliated with Metro United Way, the regular participants of the Social Change Book Club have decided to keep it going. This is the fourth incarnation of the book club since its initial meeting in July, 2006.

The Social Change Book Club is still open to everyone who is interested in understanding, participating, leading, or supporting social change. Each month we select a book and get together to discuss. Selections rotate among three themes: social changes, how we work with others to make change happen, and the inner qualities needed to bring change into the world.

People just show up if they are interested–no RSVP, commitment, etc. It is great when people have read the book, but that is not a requirement to come and discuss.

We got this going because there is a lot to learn about how to make social change happen and people who are interested in changing the world need opportunities to share stories and experience community with others who care.

We meet the third Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m.  Our home is Heine Bros. Coffee, 119 Chenoweth Lane, St Matthews. We are grateful for the invitation and hospitality.

Maya Angelou’s Letters to My Daughter, our February 15 book, is her first original collection of writing to be published in ten years–anecdotal vignettes drawn from a compelling life. She writes, “I gave birth to one child, a son, but I have thousands of daughters. You are Black and White, Jewish and Muslim, Asian, Spanish speaking, Native Americans and Aleut. You are fat and thin and pretty and plain, gay and straight, educated and unlettered, and I am speaking to you all. Here is my offering to you.”

Power and Love: A Theory and Practice of Social Change by Adam Kahane is our March 15 book. Kahane suggests that power, our desire to achieve our own purposes, and love, our desire to heal the whole, are complementary drives. Both are required to effect sustainable social innovation and change.

If you would like to receive news of the Social Change Book Club, send an email to socialchangebookclub@gmail.com

General, Volunteering Book Club, Community, gathering, learning, Social Change

By Angela Ditsler

No one needs to be reminded of the freezing temperatures that have been lingering outside for days. And with three inches of fresh snow on the ground, there is no doubt that winter 2010 has officially arrived! With these changes of season, I’ve noticed more stories in the news lately about people in need in our community- children in need of winter coats, and shelters in need of volunteers to feed the larger-than-usual number of homeless people that have been filling the shelters at night. Whether it’s due to the cold temperatures outside or simply the spirit of the New Year, I’ve been thinking lately that I’m probably overdue for performing one of those small acts of kindness that make a big difference.

Thankfully, a note left on our doorstep last weekend while my husband and I were out gave me an idea. A local organization had stopped by looking for donations and left their phone number on the slip of paper asking us to call if we had anything- clothes, toys, or household items- to donate. It gave my husband and me the idea to do some “winter cleaning.” By Sunday night, we had several bags of sweaters and jackets, 4 boxes of pots, pans, and dishes we don’t use, and an old vacuum cleaner ready to be given away. I them emailed a friend and former co-worker this week who works at Kentucky Refugee Ministries to see what items were on their “wish list” this month. I’ve made arrangements to drop off all those items at KRM tomorrow morning. Now, my house is a little cleaner and more organized, and more importantly, I feel good knowing I’m able to contribute some items to someone who needs them more than I do.

What small act of kindness can you do this winter season? Did you get a new winter coat for Christmas this year and can give away your old one to someone else? Can you give an hour to deliver Meals on Wheels during your lunch break one day this month? Can you carry your neighbor’s trash cans in for them from the curb so they don’t have to venture out into the snow? Did you receive an unexpected Christmas bonus at work and are willing to write an extra check this month to a local charity? Every small act of kindness is appreciated by someone, and endless opportunities for doing them are around us every day.

General Community

By Kate McNatt

Metro United Way wants to thank all the kind folks at General Electric, who just donated 4,600 portable space heaters to people in need during these cold winter months. Metro United Way will be the leader in distributing the space heaters, and the Salvation Army, a Metro United Way agency, is going to serve as the distribution site.

There are two opportunities to get involved (see below).  Volunteers will be handling boxes of heaters and should be able to lift up to 36 lbs.  Boxes may be dusty or dirty so please dress accordingly.  If you can help, please call Patty Belden at 502-292-6152 or email patty.belden@metrounitedway.org.  As always, thanks for your support!

Thursday January 14th – Distribution to Agencies

Location: Salvation Army

6709 Preston Highway

Louisville, KY 40219

Shift A: 1:00pm – 3:00pm         Volunteers Needed = 6

Shift B: 3:00pm – 5:00pm         Volunteers Needed = 6

Shift C: 5:00pm – 7:00pm         Volunteers Needed = 6

Friday January 15^th – Distribution to Agencies

Location: Salvation Army

6709 Preston Highway

Louisville, KY 40219

Shift A:  8:00am – 10:00am      Volunteers Needed = 6

Shift B: 10:00am – 12:00pm     Volunteers Needed = 6

Shift C: 12:00pm – 2:00pm       Volunteers Needed = 6

Events, General, Volunteering Community, Live United, making a difference, opportunity, Volunteer

Every year we celebrate the successes of the campaign through our many lists - our Top 25 (most dollars raised) and Terrific 25 (most dollars raised per capita) celebrate mostly big businesses, and some smaller ones, too. We also celebrate our Wow Campaigns - those with a 10% increase over last year and new campaigns.

I’d like to use this space, though, to celebrate all the truly small businesses, many of them locally owned and operated, who contribute more modest yet important amounts to our campaign. I recently put out a challenge to local busineses to give $100 and here’s who accepted. Many gave much more than this, but all who gave are appreciated:

Parsons Corporation
Amazing Products, Inc.
OVASCO Industries
W.R. Willett Lumber Company
B-Dry Systems of Louisville, Inc.
Jake’s Natural Lawn Care
LSE Engineering
US Specialties
Cox, Allen & Associates Architects
Bironas, Inc.
Embry Bosse Funeral Home
Twinbrook Nursing Home
Cecil & Cecil
UHL Truck Sales of Kentuckiana
Budget Business SErvice
Ratterman & Sons, Inc.
Old Kentucky Insurance, Inc.
Godsey Associates Architects
Klarer Construction Co., Inc.
Bob’s Deck Refinishing, Inc.
Video Kitchen
Ted McCain Company, Inc.
Spindletop Draperies, Inc.
Trinity Presbyterian Women
Mirror Glaze Distributors, Inc.
The Prudential Parks & Weisberg Realtors
A M Electric Company, Inc.
Hunt Tractor
Sparkle Brite Car Wash
ICCO
Eline Develpment Company
A.I.A. Agency, Inc.
Premium Foil Products Company
Vari-Comp, Inc.
Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of KY
A.J. Seibert Company, Inc.
Editorial Services Company
Tamplin & Company
Eyedia
Bilancia

If you are a customer of one of these businesses, please be proud and thank them for their commitment to our community!

Giving Community, Giving, small business, thank you

By Kelly Hutchinson, Donor Relationship Manager

You may modify the recipe ingredients and feel free to substitute based on your desired results and the number of people you would like serve…

1 gallon of inspiration

2 cups of determination

2 cups of confidence

1 1/3 cup creativity

1 ¾ cup of gratitude

1 ½ cup of stick-to-it-iveness

1 ounce of prevention

Smidgeon of luck

Dash of all-spice

Pinch of encouragement

Mix

Stir

Shake

Knead

Whip

Allow the mixed ingredients a brief time to stew and simmer, check on your consistency and then bake–check midway through to make sure the result is looking good.

Share with your neighbors and celebrate!

What ingredients help you to be successful in your life? Work? Are they much the same or different?

General, Giving, Volunteering Community, Metro United Way, motivation, success

Have you ever tried to do any of the following by yourself…

• Whitewater raft
• Play a game of baseball
• Put up a tent
• Assemble a play set
• Start your own business
• Care for a young child
• Build a house

Sure, you can definitely do all of these things all alone. It might take you a while, but in most cases you could likely accomplish the task.

However, for each of these examples: what would it look like if you did it with one other person? Or perhaps with 2 or 3, or maybe more. Your ability to accomplish more increases greatly; your time and talent go much farther when put together.

Take assembling a tent. We went camping over Labor Day weekend. Let me tell you…not a big camper here. But, I was determined my family was going. Pitching a tent. Well, that could be quite an ordeal…but it wasn’t as bad as I thought when we all started to work together. This person holds this piece…another person holds that piece. It actually makes the work move along more quickly and the job gets done.

Metro United Way is a fantastic example of individuals coming together for a common goal in our community. While one voice could work to advance the common good, when we are all working together towards this we are much greater.

The agencies we work with at Metro United Way have seen their needs increase drastically in the past 12 months. 91% of agencies providing housing saw an increase in need. 87% of agencies providing food saw an increase in need –with some reporting a 40% increase in first time recipients.

Your gift to Metro United Way affects many lives in the community. Our gifts together through Metro United Way impact over 90 agencies, 160 programs, and countless lives. That’s the power of Metro United Way - the power of doing it together!

I encourage you to contribute to the campaign this year by visiting Metro United Way’s online giving page.

Flickr photo: lumaxart

Giving Community, Giving

By Lincoln Crum

I first came in contact with volunteers when I was a young child on the football field. I had two coaches that volunteered their time 4-5 days a week teaching young men the fundamentals of youth football. I remember riding home one day from practice with my dad and asking him how much my coaches got paid to teach us the game. Dad kind of laughed and said, “They’re volunteers, they donate their time.”

I couldn’t get my little 10 year old mind around the concept. I was raised by a family of farmers and entrepreneurs. I had never been given the challenge of understanding what it meant to donate your time…until Coaches Phil Bates and Alvin White walked into my life. I spent three wonderful years every fall with these men, learning the basics of football. Some 30 years later I’ve come to discover that each lesson they taught me could be applied to everyday life. I see both of these men on a fairly regular basis and every time I do I make sure to thank them for the time they invested in me as a member of our community.

Progressing through the teenager years I came in contact with more and more volunteers and the concept of helping people without any hopes of monetary return on my time investment. As I became a young man I always made it a priority to find a way to give back to the community that had given so much to me.

When I was asked to write a guest blog for www.LiveUnitedYall.org I immediately started thinking about all of the different volunteers, staff, organizations and groups that come in contact with Metro United Way on a daily basis. Perusing the www.MetroUnitedWay.org website I was floored by all of the Agencies and Partners. I scrolled down the list and came across at least 10 that I’ve had an experience with, on both a personal and professional level.

The late Arthur Ashe said it best…“Success is found in the Journey, not the Destination.”

Our Metro United Way would not be able to achieve the success it has if everyone focused solely on the end result. The core element of helping one another is found in the daily routine of our lives. All of us working together, day in and day out, one foot in front of the other. The wide array of Agencies and Partnerships allow us to create a sum that is greater than its parts…thanks to the vision created and maintained by OUR Metro United Way.

- Lincoln Crum is a professional speaker, writer and 2nd generation entrepreneur based out of the Louisville, KY area.  Lincoln believes first and foremost in the power of positivity and all of the wonderful things it can do for our lives.  Contact Lincoln directly at ReachLincoln.com for information on blog posting and speaking.

Volunteering Community, journey

Today, in continuing with my series about Metro United Way’s staff and our work, we meet Vicki Jewell. Vicki works in our Finance department and is a terrific asset! But don’t take my word for it, listen to Vicki describe her work and accomplishments.

General Community, staff, work

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

By Cindy Lehnert

Can you make a difference? Of course you can! Every day you make a difference in someone’s life. And they make a difference in yours. Surprised? Don’t be. We are all connected in more ways than we know.

Most of us think our lives make sense and there is nothing more to add. We have a career plan, choose a significant other and plan to ride off into the sunset happily ever after. That’s what we dream about while we are growing up isn’t it?

We have the opportunity to do more. All of us do. We have the opportunity to volunteer in our community and make a difference for our neighbors and ourselves. The experience of volunteering can help us to realize the connection we all have to each other. It helps us to understand that change happens on a collective level, a little bit at a time, when people work together. It teaches us that everyone has a skill that they can share and that by working together we can make a difference.

Volunteering not only effects change and improves lives within the community; it changes us and improves our lives. We make connections, meet new people and enrich our relationships. We improve the community we live in and surround ourselves with new ways of viewing humanity. We believe that change is possible. We have faith in ourselves and others. We begin to know that things will continue to improve as long as we press forward a little bit each day.

It doesn’t take a lot. Find a few minutes in your day to do something for the community. Start slow and build. We can all do something.

For information on volunteer opportunities in the Metro Louisville area check out the link below.

http://www.metrounitedway.org/volunteer

Volunteering Community, Volunteer