LIVE UNITED Y’All!

By: Patty Belden

Did you know that April is Volunteer Appreciation Month?  Do you work with volunteers or know someone who participates as a volunteer?  If so, listen up!  Now is the time to develop your recognition plan (that is, if you haven’t already).  Take a minute to think about the impact that volunteers have in our community, our world.  Having trouble, let me help you…

According to studies conducted by the Corporation for National and Community Service…between 2007 and 2009, Kentucky residents put in 101 million service hours.  Translated into dollars…this equals $2.1 billion of service contributed!  Over the same time period, Indiana residents put in 206.1 million service hours to equal $4.3 billion of contributed service.  Way to go Hoosiers! 

I don’t know about you, but I am pretty darn impressed with these numbers.  Volunteers share their time and talents with our community everyday.  And many times these acts of kindness go un-noticed or unappreciated.  Please make a point to thank a volunteer during the month of April.  If you are a volunteer…THANK YOU!!! 

Looking for ways to thank your volunteers?  Check out this helpful website: http://www.energizeinc.com/ideas.html

Feeling inspired to become a volunteer?  Let us help!  Visit www.metrounitedway.org/volunteer.

Volunteering Indiana volunteering, Kentucky volunteering, Volunteer, volunteer appreciation, volunteer recognition, Volunteering

Just about everyone I know loves ice cream.  There are an abundance of flavors to choose from, and each one has unique and wonderful qualities.  Sometimes I like plain vanilla, especially on top of a slice of warm Dutch Apple pie.  Other times, I prefer chocolate, or dulce de leche, or toffee, or Spumoni, or strawberry, or even black raspberry.  Come to think of it, there aren’t too many flavors of ice cream that I don’t like.

When I was a kid, the only flavor ice cream I ever wanted was vanilla, and not just as a topping on my pie.  You see, I had tried vanilla when I was really young, liked it, and figured I would never be disappointed as long as I had vanilla.

I think the first time I tried a different flavor was when a neighbor was making homemade ice cream and offered me some peach flavored ice cream.   I was pleasantly surprised how great this fruit-flavored cream tasted, and from that point forward, I wanted to try new flavors all the time!

If variety is the spice of life, ice cream proves how rich our palette can be once we are open to new experiences.

I guess the same can be said about people.  As we reflect on diversity and inclusion, I never cease to be surprised by people who look differently than me.  Often, I have some judgment that they must be unlike me.  In most cases I am right – and thankfully so!  How utterly boring would life be if everyone were the same – had the same viewpoints, interests, skills, manners of expression, etc.   I think our ability to learn would be severely hampered without diversity, since different perspectives offer us new opportunities for growth.

The last couple of years I have had the distinct pleasure of delivering Christmas gifts to immigrant families in our community with my two children.  What a rewarding experience it has been!  I have been impressed by the families I have met from Burma and Cuba , experiencing a bit of their cultures, and realizing how blessed I am to be part of a community that is growing its multicultural identity.

In my limited associations, some of what I have noticed is incredibly strong family connections, a relentless pursuit of growth, a strong work ethic, and a sense of gratitude to our country, while maintaining a sense of cultural pride.  Through these experiences, I find myself appreciating my life even more, taking more pride in our great melting pot, and getting off my duff to capitalize on those things that I formerly took for granted – like giving my voice to things I feel are important.

I am convinced that any time I get discouraged about what is possible for our community, all I need to do is talk with someone from a different culture, and I gain a new perspective that continues to pay dividends.

What opportunities do you see for learning from our growing multi-cultural community?

By the way, the next time I enter the ice cream parlor, I going for Superman!

General, Volunteering diversity, making a difference, multi-cultural, Volunteer

By Jan Sherrell 

I am not one to make New Year’s Resolutions. It isn’t so much the notorious belief of ‘why bother – we’re just going to break them anyway.’  It is more that if I decide to do something differently, if I get to the point where I want to change direction of something, I am not going to wait until January 1^st to do it. 

All that said, this year I am spouting a resolution or maybe my new mission statement. I know it sounds so corporate and that is not my style. I am going to live with the statement some would call it resolution of “Make Every Moment Matter.”  

My dear sister-in-law suddenly passed away August 28, 2010 at age 46. There began my resolution to live life to the fullest. I’m working to give those hugs when the spirit moves me. I want to tell people they have done a great job raising their kids while I still have that chance. I have to push myself to some social outings and make plans to see friends and family and not let time slip pass. I want to use my time productively with no regrets. 

I’ve just recently finished my Bachelor’s degree.  I now have FREE EVENINGS! Not sure what to do with myself. “Make Every Moment Matter” resonates through my thoughts as I clean up dinner and have an evening stretching in front of me. I’m entertaining possibilities of being a Big Sister (realistically I qualify as a Big Grandma, but I don’t want to talk about it). I’m already on a Board so I really want the next opportunity to be more hands-on. I’ll find it. I’ll work to “Make Every Moment Matter.” 

Are you living your mission? Are you making every moment matter? I’m not encouraging a frantic pace; I am just suggesting you follow your heart and live with no regrets. Visit www.metrountedway.org/volunteer to explore volunteer opportunities.

General, Volunteering Live United, Volunteer

By: Kelly Thompson Garvey, Director of Engagement Initiatives at Metro United Way

(Information provided by HandsOn Network)

Did you know that Metro United Way Volunteer Connection is one of the more than 240 HandsOn Network Action Centers across the United States? HandsOn Action Centers, also known as Affiliates, Volunteer Centers, or Cares organizations, are the engine through which HandsOn Network connects thousands of volunteers to meaningful service opportunities throughout the United States, and increasingly, throughout the world.

HandsOn Network was conceived by a group of individuals that wanted to make it easier for people to get involved in building their communities and helping their neighbors. Groups of like-minded individuals in New York , DC , Chicago and Atlanta got together and decided to formalize the beginnings of this partnership by creating Hands On Network – a national organization that would focus on bringing the Hands On approach to communities everywhere. This important movement made it to the Kentuckiana area when the Metro United Way Volunteer Connection became a Points of Light Foundation affiliate in 1990, and then became an official HandsOn Network Affiliate in 2008.

The Metro United Way Volunteer Connection operates regionally (including Louisville and surrounding counties, and Southern Indiana), supporting a variety of issues and needs. We build relationships with nonprofits, school, faith-based organizations, corporate partners and others; our Volunteer Connection plays a critical role in leveraging volunteer power to the fullest effect.  We help to inspire, equip, and mobilize individuals and groups to take actions that create positive change in our community. Last year alone we helped to connect nearly 18,000 volunteers to service in our community.

The Metro United Way Volunteer Connection, the volunteer center for our region, is leading people from impulse to action, turning their ideas for change into impactful projects, like tutoring and reading to children, serving meals to the hungry, and mentoring.

By visiting our website www.metrounitedway.org/volunteer, you will find that there is truly something for everyone who wishes to engage in volunteering.  If you don’t see something you like, let us help you design, develop and manage a project that meets your need to serve.

When you think of volunteering, think Metro United Way’s Volunteer Connection!

Call us anytime, we would love to help you volunteer today. 502-292-6152

Volunteering Community, community service, HandsOn Network, Louisville, making a difference, Southern Indiana, Volunteer, Volunteering

Mary Ann Steutermann

Growing up, I was lucky to have parents and other family members interested in how I was doing in school and very supportive of my progress. Mom would give me snack when I got home from school, tell me to turn off the TV so I could get my homework done, and would check on how I did when I said I was finished. Dad was a big help with geometry and science by helping me come up with ideas for the science fair or making me practice geometric proofs even when I didn’t want to. I also had a special aunt that I go could to for support when I had personal problems that I didn’t want to talk to my parents about. Unfortunately though, not every kid has that kind of support or the parental support provided isn’t enough to meet the academic and personal challenges the kid faces. Often, something more is needed.

Youth mentoring has proven to be one of the most effective ways of improving both self-esteem and academic success for young people. But mentoring isn’t a one-size-fits-all endeavor. In fact, there are about as many different types of mentor relationships as there are caring adults out there willing to work with kids. A mentor can help with homework, shoot hoops or play baseball, take a young person to the theater, or engage in any number of activities that can help boost self-esteem and confidence.

Making a Difference

Most importantly, mentoring is effective. Students who meet regularly with a caring adult mentor are 52% less likely than other students to skip a day of school and 37% less likely to skip a class during the school day. Likewise, young people in mentor relationships are 46% less likely to start using illegal drugs and 27% less likely to begin drinking alcohol (National Mentoring Partnership – www.mentoring.org). Even more striking is the fact that minority youth are an amazing 70% less likely to begin drug use than those not in mentor relationships (Child Trends Research Brief).

Short-term gains from mentoring relationships include an improvement in the young person’s attitude about school; improved behavior at school; better relationships with parents, teachers, and peers; higher college enrollment and greater aspirations beyond high school; and improved decision-making, communication, social and relationship skills.

But the young people aren’t the only ones who benefit. Mentors report a greater satisfaction in their connection to the community and an increased sense of pride in making a positive contribution to the lives of at-risk youth. They also benefit from opportunities to develop new communication skills and further enhance their own strengths (www.nwrel.org/mentoring; Cori Brewster & Jennifer Fager, Sept. 1998).

Baby Steps

The great thing about being a mentor is that you can do it any way you like. Mentors can work through programs like Big Brothers, Big Sisters or countless agencies that pair caring adults with kids in need of a helping hand. But what if you don’t have time for that kind of commitment? No problem! You can still make a contribution. Consider asking kids in your neighborhood or you friends’ children how they are doing in school. Ask about their interests, what they are learning, and what they want to be when they grow up. Encourage them to stay in school and to go to college. If you can be a mentor through a more formal relationship, super. But if not, just showing some concern for the kids you encounter is a way to make “mentoring” part of the culture in the Metro area and to show kids that plenty of adults out there want them to be successful and are willing to help.

Education, General, Volunteering Children, Education, making a difference, mentoring, Metro United Way, reading, Volunteer, youth

One of my favorite tunes of all times is the Supertramp song that was re-made several years ago by the Goo Goo Dolls - “Give a Little Bit.”  Yeah, I guess I am showing my age here – the original goes back to 1977, but the lyrics are still relevant.  If everyone were focused on giving a little bit of their time, their voice, and their money to help others, I am convinced that many of the challenges we face would be greatly reduced.

I’ll always remember a three day weekend I spent in San Francisco back in 2004 with my buddy Ernie.  We flew to the West Coast to participate in a leadership development workshop and intentionally arrived early to soak in the beauty of the area and spend some time with the local people.

We headed to one of my favorite districts, Haight Ashbury, so we could walk in the footsteps of so many talented musicians of the sixties.  After we grabbed some ice cream and took a seat on a less-crowded street corner bench, we noticed a gray haired gentleman with very few teeth strumming some classic rock tunes on his guitar and belting out the lyrics with an amazingly clear and captivating voice.   We walked over to get a closer look, made eye contact, and smiled.  Between songs we chatted with him.

John shared his name and a little bit of his life with us.  He was homeless, living in a tent in Golden Gate Park.  He was hungry and was playing for money to buy some food.  He was trying to take care of his daughter who had recently moved to his campsite.  Baked beans helped fill their bellies.

We asked him if we could sing a little bit with him.  Ernie is a talented musician with a good voice.   I have absolutely NO musical talent (ask UPS employees) but still try, nonetheless.  Together, we must have sounded okay because a small crowd soon gathered, voiced their approval, and gave a little bit of their money.

After about five songs, John smiled at us, thanked us for joining him, and said he was going to head back to his camp.  He said his daughter’s stomach had been hurting from lack of food, and he said he had collected more money playing that short time with us than he had made in quite awhile.  He thanked us for spending a little bit of time with him, and he was going to buy some baked beans and bread.

When I reflect back on my life, some of my most fulfilling moments are times when I connected with someone who, on the surface, appeared very different from me.  The memory of being on that street corner a couple of thousand miles from home with John, someone who had obviously endured many losses in his lifetime, will always stand out for me.

My first thought about being a donor to Metro United Way and being a volunteer in our community is having a sense of fulfillement and connection.  Doing something that makes a difference in the life of another person, even something very small like the brief time I spent with John,  makes a memorable and lasting difference for ME.  “Give a little bit” – and gain a lot!

“Now is the time we need to share.”  We all see the statistics – unemployment hovering around 10%, more people in our country living in poverty now than ever before, young children entering school ill-equipped to learn and not graduating from high school on time, if at all. 

In tough economic times, for those of us who are able, we need to reach even deeper into our hearts and our wallets to help friends, family, neighbors, and even “the man with the lonely eyes.”  So join me in giving a little bit of your time, your money,  your love, to make a positive difference for guys like John right here at home. 

“So find yourself, we’re on our way back home. Going home. Don’t you need to feel at home?”

Give to Metro United Way!

Give a little bit
Give a little bit of your love to me
Give a little bit
I’ll give a little bit of my love to you
There’s so much that we need to share
Send a smile and show you care
I’ll give a little bit
I’ll give a little bit of my love to you
So give a little bit
Give a little bit of your time to me
See the man with the lonely eyes
Take his hand, you’ll be surprised
Give a little bit
Give a little bit of your love to me
I’ll give a little bit of my love for you
Now’s the time that we need to share
So find yourself, we’re on our way back home
Going home
Don’t you need to feel at home?
Oh yeah, we gotta sing

General, Giving Giving, homeless, hunger, making a difference, Metro United Way, Volunteer

Stakeholder Relationship Team shows what's important to them!

I remember as a kid there always seemed to be someone on my block who would always tell  my mother or father what I did or did not do.  That individual was called a tattle tale.  Tattle taling is passing information through “word of mouth.” The saying goes that a person will tell at least 10 other people about a good or bad experience they had with a company, organization or an individual. And more often than not, those 10 people may tell at least 10 other people. I know I have experienced both giving and receiving that type of information.

Think for a moment about “word of mouth” or WOM. The simple act of conversing with another is a powerful way to spread a message. 

The June 23, 2010 edition of The Agitator discussed how WOM is a powerful way for non-profits to spread their message and build relationships. 

 Here’s a report from Online Media Daily on an interesting Yahoo study that has attempted to drill into WOM behavior. It notes that 76% of all WOM still occurs face-to-face … however, increasingly it just might be that two individuals are sitting side-by-side talking about something they are viewing on their respective smartphones! The study says that 38% of all WOM conversations, however they occur, are informed by internet-derived content.

No one’s really examined WOM specifically as it works in the nonprofit space, but there’s no reason to expect the underlying principles would differ. In our own DonorTrends surveys, we’ve seen that 15-20% of donors self-identify themselves as individuals who have recommended a specific charity or cause group to someone else.

In building relationships we know that personal contact is the best way to increase the depth of the relationship. In today’s world of social media, i-phones, i-pads, email and yes, the old standby face-to-face conversations, their are unlimited  opportunities to talk about experiences, causes, ideas and really almost anything. 

How do we utilize our WOM opportunities to connect with people we know, meet with, talk on the phone with, Facebook with, are LinkedIn with to spread our Metro United Way message? In this past week there were at least two opportunities to WOM with others about helping others. First is the opportunity to Adopt Camp Kindergarten Schools and the second is the need for Volunteers to Drive Cancer Patients to Treatments. What wonderful opportunities to use the power of WOM.

What is the power of WOM. I think the power of WOM is best described by doing the math. We can use the earleir reference about one person telling 10 other people about an experience, idea, opportunity to calculate the power of WOM.

I tell 10 people about opportunities to adopt Camp Kindergarten classrooms and the need for volunteers to drive cancer patients. If those 10 people will tell 10 other people, we now have 111 people WOMing about these opportunities. If the last 10 we  WOM with tell another 10 we are up to 211 WOMers. This is the power of WOM and the power of 10.

As Metro United Way works to forge lasting relationships with our stakeholders, let’s use the simple act of WOMing to Change People’s Lives.  Give, Advocate, Volunteer! Be a WOMer today!

General Community, future, give, Live United, making a difference, Volunteer, youth

Let me be clear—I know that a sudden need to volunteer isn’t the first reaction most of us have to losing a job. The most typical first reaction is,

“I CAN’T BELIEVE I JUST LOST MY JOB!”

Then comes the subsequent panic of,

“What exactly do I do now?”

So now maybe you’re wondering what makes me such an authority; the fact is, it hasn’t been that long since I experienced losing a job firsthand, and I’m here to report that there usually isn’t anything inspiring or uplifting involved. Mostly, if I’m any kind of example, losing a job leads to full-on panic (i.e., How am I going to pay the mortgage?) and levels of self-doubt I hadn’t experienced since I had braces.

How will becoming a volunteer help with any of this? Consider that volunteering can help you…

1. Reclaim your sense of purpose.
Sleeping in and spending the day in your pajamas can be a welcome benefit at first, but soon, one day of scanning job listings online and eating cereal for every meal can begin to run into the next. Finding a consistent, satisfying volunteer opportunity can help you, at minimum, build structure and meaning back into your days. Being unemployed can be isolating, and volunteering can keep you connected to the world outside your computer screen, making it much easier to have a positive outlook on your future.

2. Make (and renew) connections.
It goes without saying that when you’re looking for a job, going to your network of connections is the first and best way to uncover the next opportunity. But sometimes those networks can be limited; volunteering is one of the best ways to expand your network of connections. So seek out volunteer opportunities that apply to your interests and goals, work hard, and it’s very likely that you’ll build ties that can help you move forward in your career, all while making a positive contribution to an organization or cause you care about.

3. Build your job experience.
Just because you lost your job doesn’t mean that you can’t put your hard-earned skills to work. Almost all non-profit organizations need volunteers because they have to make the most out of every penny. Chances are that your skills will be incredibly valuable to a non-profit and the opportunity to keep those skills sharp is just as valuable to you. Seek out opportunities to use, or to even improve your abilities, and you’ve created a winning situation for everyone involved.

Ready to jump in and volunteer? Metro United Way is the place to get started. Just visit our website and explore our volunteer opportunities. You can also call 2-1-1 for more information.

General, Volunteering 2-1-1. "job loss", community change, job search, Volunteer, Volunteering

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

By David Caldwell

I’ve never been a big fan of New Year’s resolutions. I always figured that if you really want to make a change in your life you should just do it – don’t wait for a “special” day to make it happen. That changed for me last year.

Since college I’ve been a non-smoker…sort of. I’ve always been that guy who might have a pack of cigarettes in his truck while he tells you he doesn’t smoke. I know how horrible the habit is for your health – I saw the black lung in science class too. I know how addictive the practice is – my dad smoked for 30 plus years. None of that ever stopped me from “kinda” smoking. I justified it to myself because I wasn’t a “real” smoker. I just smoked when I drank, or was really stressed, or it was Tuesday – you know, just a little. I was the familiar stranger in the smokers’ circle.

As the ball drops this year, I’ll be kissing my sweetheart with smoke-free breath, and celebrating 365 days without a cigarette. My goal is a lot more years of the same, but for now I’ll celebrate the first one.

So what are you resolving to do this year? If you haven’t quite decided, let me make a suggestion. Make a resolution to make a difference in the life of a child.

You could donate some books to the child care center down the street. You could volunteer to teach an art activity at your child’s school. You could find a way to be a role model for the kids across town and across the street that need a few more caring adults in their lives. You could write a check to your favorite child focused agency. You could call your legislator and tell them to make children more of a priority when they make decisions.

Think about all you’ll have to celebrate after a year of working to improve the life of a child. If you want to give, advocate, or volunteer, you can visit our website. If you want a few more ideas or some help in making your resolution a reality, let me know. Have a wonderful holiday, and ring in the New Year in a meaningful way!

Photo Credit: maxxtraffic

Advocacy, Giving, Volunteering Children, Live United, making a difference, opportunity, Volunteer