Dear ,
Normally, I write a greeting each month for The Center Now newsletter; however this month I wanted to share a letter from a former client who this year is giving back to a current client and her family ensuring that they have a very happy Christmas morning. She captures the spirit of the season and the importance of the work we do here at The Center far better than I could convey. Happy Holidays to each of you and thank you for your ongoing support.
Peace~
Matt
Matt Huckabay
Executive Director
P.S.
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A New Twist on a Holiday Tale
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The lights are a-twinkle as we wait to begin,
The Adopt-a-Family program for clients' families & kin.
We are overwhelmed by the generosity of folks this year!
The Grinch is nowhere to be seen around here!
The kindness of strangers stuns one and all,
As many good people answered the call.
People from churches and clubs and even a school,
Donated with their hearts open... which is pretty cool!
They came with bicycles, roller skates, dollies and drums!
With checkerboards, tricycles, popcorn and plums!
They came with hop-along boots & stockings filled to the top,
With choo-choos and lollipops and weasels that go pop!
Santa left his workshop to drop by,
And got here as fast as his reindeer could fly!
The tots were in awe as Santa pulled up in his sleigh,
He brought lots of candy canes and gave them away!
Tomorrow clients will be singing & enjoying a feast,
Made of sugar plums, pudding and roast-beast!
And tonight they'll snuggle in comforters of down,
Knowing there are folks that care about them all over town!
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We'll Have A Blue Shield Christmas...
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In the spirit of the season, our partners at Blue Shield of California in El Dorado Hills, rounded up the reindeer and loaded several sleighs with lots of goodies for not only our clients, but for The Center as well!
The Center has a wishlist of items that we need for general operation throughout the year. Everything from post-it notes and pens to microwaves and computers are on the list.
Every year around the holidays Blue Shield  organizes a scavenger hunt for items on our wishlist. They create teams out of the different buildings and floors and assign a point value to the items and then they turn their employees loose! The winning team gets an ice cream social or other goodies, but it seems that the competition is enough to get them digging through the bargain shelves.
This year Blue Shield collected two large vans full of items! We got DVD players for our groups, art supplies for clients' children, journals, blankets, bathrobes, slippers, sweaters and pajamas for our clients, microwaves, paper, pens, coffee, envelopes and a whole host of other office supply items.
If you or your business would like to donate items from our wishlist, please contact the Center at (530) 626-1450 or visit our website for the list of items that are needed at www.thecenternow.org.
We are truly grateful for everything Blue Shield does for us throughout the year and especially for their donations each holiday season. Without the generosity of Blue Shield, we truly would have a blue, blue Christmas. |
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like 2012
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Well the New Year is upon us and along with it come lots of changes... including changes in the laws surrounding domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.
The California Penal Code (PC) forms the basis for application of criminal law here in California. There are several changes to the Penal Code that  begin in January 2012 that might be of interest to our readers.
For most of us regular folk, laws can be confusing and it's easy just to stick our heads in the sand when it comes to all that legal jargon. Hopefully, we can break through some of the technical stuff and give you some information that you can use or pass on to friends.
The first change we'll tackle is an added section to PC 136.2 that provides that a Criminal Protective Order in domestic violence cases can be issued by the criminal court for a period of up to 10 years. This order follows the perpetrator to jail or prison.
So, you say, what the heck is a Criminal Protective Order (CPO)? Well CPO's are court orders granted to protect the victim of a crime from the perpetrator; or in the case of domestic violence, the survivor from the abuser. The CPO states that the abuser may not go near the victim or the children of the relationship, nor have a gun. If the abuser violates the CPO, he/she can be arrested.
The new section also allows the court jurisdiction (a big fancy word that basically means the court has the authority to impose laws on a person/entity or case) over the perpetrator even when he/she is in jail.
Before this section was added, some restraining orders were terminated once the perpetrator was sentenced to prison and so the protection ended for the victim. This then allowed the perpetrator to call and otherwise harass their victim from prison.
The second change we'll look at deals with the termination of a lease for a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking. This law comes from the California Civil Code which deals with laws that pertain to individuals or organizations and are not criminal in nature. Things like landlord/tenant disputes, wills, trusts, contract disputes, etc.
 Under this new law, victims can give a landlord written notice within 180 days of a police report or the issuance of a restraining/protective order and terminate their lease after 30 days of the written notice. The current law only gives the victim 60 days to give notice to the landlord after filing of a police report or protective order. The tenant will not be responsible for the rent past the 30 days, but the security deposit situation is handled as if the lease term had ended.
This change also states that if a tenant gives landlord written notice and a copy of either a restraining/protective order or a police report on a sexual assault, domestic violence or stalking case, that landlord has 24 hours to change the locks for entering the dwelling. If the landlord fails to change them, the tenant is within their rights to change the locks themselves.
We hope that you have found this article easy to read and informational. If you'd like more information on the laws surrounding domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking please visit the website for the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault at www.calcasa.org and the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence at www.cpedv.org.
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Public Service Announement
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The California Car Seat Law changes as of January 1, 2012:
- Children must remain in a child safety
 seat/ booster seat until they are at least 8 years - A child who is under 8 years but is 4' 9" or taller may ride in the back seat with a lap/shoulder belt
- The "6 years or 60 pounds" rule no longer applies to car safety seats
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The Center for Violence-Free Relationships is dedicated to building healthy relationships, families and communities free from sexual assault and domestic violence through education, advocacy, and services in western El Dorado County.
The Center is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. All contributions are tax deductible and vital to continue our services.
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THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
  
 
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The Center's Board of Directors
Joedda Wick
President
Client Services Manager
DST Output
Barbara Bossung, RN
Vice President
Community Activist
Elizabeth Zacharias
Secretary
VP Human Resources
Aerojet
Francie Heim
Treasurer
Retired Deputy Superintendent
El Dorado Office of Education
Althea Hurley
Community Activist
Jan Coffrini
Community Activist
Robert Geyer
Senior VP Customer Operations
Blue Shield of California
Doug Hoisington
IT Consultant
John Moalli, Sc.D.
Executive/Engineering Consultant
Exponent, Inc.
Lecturer - Chemical Engineering
Stanford University
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Domestic Violence
Sexual Assault
24/7 Crisis Help Line
530-626-1131
916-939-6616
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| Support The Center | |
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CENTER'S SUPPORT GROUPS
Domestic Violence Support and Education Groups:
Tuesdays 5:30-7:30 pm
Wednesdays 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
CAP - Women's Changing Abusive Patterns
Peace First - Men's and Women's Workshops on Improving Relationships
MAAP - Men's Alternatives to Abusive Patterns(English and Spanish)
For more information on these groups call
(530) 626-1450 or
(916) 949-4464
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THE CENTER'S CALENDAR
January is
National Stalking Awareness Month
January
Intro to Nonviolent Communication
Wed. Jan. 18, 6-7:30 pm
Nonviolent Communication Foundations
( 8 week series)
Mon, Jan. 23-Mar 19
6-8 pm
For more information on these classes, please contact
Eddie Zacapa at
(530) 295-4210 or EddieZ@thecenternow.org
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In a world that keeps telling us that there must always be more, it is hard to ever feel like WE are enough, like we have enough, like we do enough, like there will be enough when all is said and done.... Especially at this time of year when MORE MORE MORE seems to be the constant screaming message, trying to drown out the simple beauty of what the season is all about. Just rest in the truth, dear friend, that you are enough right now. You have done enough today , and you did enough yesterday. You have enough today and you had enough yesterday. There is enough love to go around and there is enough success to go around and there are enough dreams to go around. There are enough ideas to go around. There is enough for everyone...including you. This is a stressful season for many people... because they need to be reminded that enough is enough. You know the truth, dear friend... so don't let the lie of NEVER ENOUGH destroy what should be a beautiful season for you... and since you know the truth, you can let others around you know that they are enough too. Rest in the truth..... breathe it in.... pass it on. Spread the kindness message of ENOUGH, everywhere you go... but most of all, let it penetrate into your heart. Give yourself some grace, and give all the grace you can to those around you. Receive the grace, too .... And always seek out and go where the peace is. Reprinted from The Brave Girls Club at www.bravegirlsclub.com |
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Domestic Violence
Sexual Assault
24/7 Crisis Help Line
530-626-1131
916-939-6616
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Make a vehicle donation and help The Center!! When you donate a car, truck, boat, motorcycle, or RV through Your Donations, Inc., it will directly benefit The Center and the work we do. Get rid of an unwanted vehicle and help The Center at the same time. With free towing and no hassle paperwork donating your vehicle is a breeze. Not only do you get the satisfaction of helping The Center and our clients, your donation may qualify you for a possible tax deduction (consult your tax professional). Get started today and begin the vehicle donation process today! Call 1-888-736-6283 or click here to get started today!!
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