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 Happy Spring! Next month marks the first anniversary of this newsletter. It was designed to share valuable information with the various segments I work with--readers, writers, teachers, students, and non-profit organizations. In addition to helpful tips for each of those groups, I also wanted to share the fascinating information I come across each month in the areas I care most about--WWII history, writing and the arts, education, and community. Lastly, it was designed to keep you abreast of what's going on with my company--where I'll be speaking and presenting, when the next show performances will be, what types of sponsors we are seeking for our projects, etc. That's a lot to pack into one newsletter, so my biggest challenge was to find a way to segment the content so that you could quickly and easily access the information you needed. Constant Contact doesn't like our formatting, though. It's been known to change font sizes, spacing, and even delete our spell-checked words after we send it out. Alas. I would very much appreciate your comments on how we are doing. We'd like this newsletter to be as useful to you as possible without having to go toward more frequent posts. We're all busy these days and inundated with e-mails, so we had hoped to keep our communication with you down to a minimum. Please do let me know how we could serve you better or if you like the newsletter just fine. Did You Know: I was speaking to a former Red Cross worker the other day. She shared some fascinating stories of her years of service and also mentioned that 246 Red Cross workers died during World War II. That led me to a page on the Red Cross site that lists some startling statistics, like these: "At the peak of Red Cross wartime activity in 1945, 7.5 million volunteers along with 39,000 paid staff provided service to the military. Throughout the war years, the Red Cross served 16 million military personnel, including one million combat casualties. By the time the war ended, the American public had contributed over $784 million in support of the American Red Cross. To learn more about the Red Cross during WWII Click Here Did You Know: There's a hot, new documentary called Waiting for 'Superman' available on DVD. In it, Davis Guggenheim takes a look at what he feels is failing in the public education system. While I disagree with some of his findings and even, somewhat, with his approach, I think documentaries like this can spark some great discussions. And this is a topic we need to be discussing. Did You Know: In February, I had the distinct pleasure of speaking at our local National Charity League's Mother/Daughter Tea. As someone who promotes interaction between the generations, I was pleased to be speaking to a group of mothers and daughters who engage in community service together. Every year, the mothers and daughters of National Charity League donate almost one million hours to philanthropic causes. To learn more about this unique organization Click Here .................................................................................................................................. |
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Readers
And Writers
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Readers:
New Merchandise from TFC!
Click here to see our new t-shirts, posters, notecards and more!
Gift for Teachers:
My Home-Front Heroes Teacher Kits make a great year-end gift for your child's 4th-7th grade teacher. Each kit includes a copy of one of my Home-Front Heroes books, lesson plans, student activities and a gift from me. To learn more or to order a kit, Click here
Announcing my
new E-Book Versions!
I'm super excited to report that
Dancing in Combat Boots and
Remember Wake are now
available as e-books on Kindle and Nook readers or for download to your computer. Watch for them soon on iPad and Sony readers as well! Thank you to Brian Schwartz at KindleExpert.com for his help with the conversions. Click Here for a link to his page. Tell Brian you read about him on my newsletter and you'll get quick and accurate service.
Tell Me Your Stories:
Readers, please don't forget to send me your stories or your family's stories from World War II. We've made it super easy for you to submit your short memories or anecdotes from the war to my website. Simply visit my Readers Stories page.
We have numerous stories currently posted, so please feel free to visit my site to read these very special remembrances. . |
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Writer's Tips
That Book Inside You!
My Most Popular Workshop:
Saturday, April 9
It all starts with an idea--a middle-of-the-night brainstorm or a concept that's been building--and you know you've got a book inside you. But how do you begin? Click here for more information on this popular, one-day workshop and to sign up.
Teresa's Quote of the Month:
"Writers Should Play to Their Strengths":
Every writer has strengths and weaknesses. Some excel at character development, others at plot. Some write dialogue that is spot on, some write descriptive passages that make you sigh.
The point is to know your strengths and your weaknesses and work around them. Click here to read more
Best Writing Blogs:
Check out this website page which lists the top 100 creative writing blogs according to Best Colleges Online.Some great blogs in here, but I'm sure there are more. Let me know if there's a blog you really like.
Send Me Your Writing Questions:
And I'll do my best to answer them in this column. Your questions can be on the craft of writing or the business of publishing or the challenges of marketing or anything in between. I'm eager to hear your questions!
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Educators
And Students
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Educators:
Sponsored Author Visits and School Kits!
Book me soon for an author visit to your school next fall! I know recent cuts have reduced speaker budgets, but we are partnering with the Fort Collins Lions Club on a new sponsorship program that can bring me to a limited number of schools for free. Meeting and hearing from a live author, one who is also a practiced speaker, has numerous benefits! Click Here to learn more.
Or sign up to be sponsored to receive a Do Your Part School Kit, which includes 30 copies of my books, lesson plans and student activities. To learn more, click on the video link to the right.
Educator Activity:
Spring Fever
April is the month of "spring fever"! Here is a great lesson to do with your students to bring in some history and get down and messy!
A Victory Garden is plot of land where one can grow produce for the purpose of quantity and the welfare of many. Victory Gardens were also called War Gardens or Food Gardens for Defense. Usually fruit, vegetables and herbs were grown and planted at private residences, on rooftops, in vacant lots and even public parks. This was done during World War I and World War II to help with the shortage in the public food supply caused by the war. These gardens were considered "morale boosters" because they empowered people through their contribution of time and labor as well as the food that was grown.Victory gardens became a part of daily life on the home-front.
Today many people are undertaking the challenge of cultivating a healthier lifestyle. Some community gardens' sole purpose is to feed people in need. Current Victory Gardens, such as the one promoted by First Lady Michelle Obama, have the goal to feed the poor, teach good nutrition and promote environmental understanding.
Whether it is growing tomatoes in a modest container, harvesting a full-fledged garden or helping a community garden that feeds the poor... being part of this process is a great way to do your part! Click here to learn how to make your own Victory Garden. |
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Students
Learn to Play Jacks:
Find out why this classic game was so popular in the 1940s! It doesn't require much to play: a little bouncy ball, at least 10 jacks, and a hard, level playing surface.Click Here to learn the rules.
Mind Bender:
Keep a look out each month for a mind bender. It could be some sort of activity or a trivia question. Check out the next month's newsletter for the answer. Good luck and have fun!!
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Pass It On!
Every month we work hard to include as much helpful information as we can for teachers, parents, homeschoolers, and students. If you like the activities you see here, please pass this newsletter on! To see our archived activities Click Here. |
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Contact Us
Teresa Funke & Company
116 W Harvard Suite 1
Fort Collins, Colorado 80525
970-223-4484
tfcinfo@teresafunke.com |
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News
And Events
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Events:
Dancing in Combat Boots:
Our March Women's History Month performances went very well. Thank you to all those who attended and who shared their stories with me. And thank you for bringing in eyeglasses for my See to Read campaign. The eyeglasses will be donated to the Fort Collins Lions Club, which redistributed over 14,000 glasses to those in need last year. |
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Sponsor News:
Boys & Girls Clubs:
In January, we launched our new Read A Hero Literacy Program through Boys & Girls Clubs in Larimer, Weld and Pueblo counties. We are so pleased to be working with this amazing group of kids and helping to fill their after-school hours with reading, writing, history, art, and so much more! If you'd like more information about this program or are interested in sponsoring our summer literacy program through Boys & Girls Clubs, please contact me by clicking here Teresa or by calling 970-215-4155.
Sponsorship Opportunities:
Contact me to find out how you can team with Teresa Funke & Company and our partner organizations to help improve literacy, education and the arts in 2011. Our innovative programs bring new solutions to old problems.
Programs like:
The Read A Hero Literacy Program
The Do Your Part School Kit Program
The Teresa Funke School Visit Program
The Great Book Giveaway
The Teresa Funke & Company Arts Appreciation Program
And more . . .
If you are looking for ways to benefit your community and get good exposure for your group or business, I'd be happy to send you our Partnership Opportunities packet. Join us in making the things that matter, matter. |
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Sponsor Thank Yous
Dancing in Combat Boots :
Special thanks to Goes Funeral Care and KUNC for sponsoring my March 9 & 10 performances of Dancing in Combat Boots, and to Bas Bleu Theater for hosting the event! And thanks to the Loveland Museum/Gallery for hosting our March 25th show!
Do Your Part School Kit Program:
A HUGE thank you to North Beach Dental for sponsoring TEN school kits into schools in Fort Collins, Wellington and Loveland! I've been so pleased to partner with North Beach on several projects. These amazing professionals offer quality and consistent dental care to patients on Medicaid and CHP+ insurance. They also provide free dental care to pregnant women. Thank you, North Beach!
Thank you to those who donated to our school kit fund in March. Your donations helped us provide a kit to a Longmont school! |
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Catch Me At:
April 2, 2011
Panelist
Mountain of Authors Event
Pikes Peak Library District
Colorado Springs, CO
April 23, 2011
Mother's Day Spa &
Craft Shoppe
Fort Collins Senior Center
10 am- 4 pm
To see details on these and other speaking engagements, check out my events page. |
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Teresa Funke & Company provides book, programs, and resources to Readers, Writers, Teachers, and Students. Teresa is a Speaker, Presenter, Writers coach and author of five books based on true stories from World War II. To learn more, please visit www.teresafunke.com | |
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