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 CommonGood E-NewsWhat's happening in social justice, social action and community outreach in Dare and Currituck Counties CommonGood Web
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 Head in the Sand I'm not sure where I'm going with this. I've learned that there are people out there, including local people, who are studying, researching and teaching about environment or climate change. Of course we have to listen and think to hear and understand. Some of their work will be posted in CommonGround.
There is a lot to learn in this world. We can learn so much from almost anything if we are willing to think. A friend of mine once said We could learn a lot from crayons; some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, while others bright, some have weird names, but they all have learned to live together in the same box."
Think about that.
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Currituck County's Senior Centers
 Currituck County's three Senior Centers are a community focal point on aging. The Senior Centers plays an integral role as a resource for the entire community and assists other agencies in serving senior adults. The Centers provides services and programs and is open to all Currituck County residents age 55 and older. There is no charge or membership fee to participate in most programs provided by the Centers. Required fees for certain programs and activities will be posted. Lunchtime meals are offered at all three centers on weekdays at 12:00 noon. Participants must notify the center by 1:00 p.m. the day before. The Powells Point Senior Center  is open, Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. There are also centers in Currituck and Knotts Island. Find out more about the activities at the Powells Point Center. For more information, contact Diane Bray, Currituck Senior Center Coordinator. 252-232-3505 dbray@co.currituck.nc.usThe Senior Center, Sheriff's Department, and Communications will be working with Mount Zion United Methodist Church on a telephone assurance program. This program is designed to check on shut-in seniors each day, seven days a week. Applications are being accepted at the Currituck Senior Center or call Diane Bray.
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GEM Events in January
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Kellie & Megan McHugh, daughters of GEM Center participant Wayne Porter share their singing talents along with long-time volunteer David Spangler
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- Every Friday@ 2:00 -Exercise with Marcia Bradley Marshall (Personal fitness trainer) and her husband Greg
- Outer Banks Caregiver Issue & Concerns Group meets at the Baum Center the Third Thursday from 2-3:30
- Visits to the Dare County Center
- Visits to the Baum Center
- NEW SATURDAY HOURS 10:30-4:30 Drop-ins welcome, 2 hour minimum
Call Gail for more information at 480-3354
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Get Your Flu Vaccine Now
The flu vaccine is the best protection against the flu and vaccines are still available at the Manteo & Frisco Health Department and at other locations throughout the county. Recent county data shows that Dare County's influenza and pneumonia mortality rates are 145% higher than the state's rates. Influenza is the 4th leading cause of death in Dare," says Anne Thomas, Health Director. "We don't as yet understand all the reasons for this, but we do know that the most effective method of flu prevention is getting your flu vaccination."
The Dare County Department of Public Health would like to remind community members it is not too late to get vaccinated. Flu vaccine is recommended for anyone over 6 months old. It has long been known that routine vaccination of persons at higher risk for influenza complications can reduce serious health risks. Now evidence shows that annual influenza vaccination is a safe and effective preventive health action and benefits all age groups. The more people vaccinated, the lower the overall influenza risk in our communit y. This year's vaccine protects against three strains of influenza, including H1N1.Statewide surveillance shows that flu is now widespread in North Carolina. The southeastern United States has had most of the flu activity nationwide so far this season. Visit Flu.gov for more information.
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Volunteer Opportunities
 Volunteer at the Beach Food Pantry There are many ways to become involved in helping the Beach Food Pantry. We are open Monday through Friday from 2 pm to 4 pm. If you would like to volunteer to help clients during these hours, please contact a coordinator from a participating church listed on the Supporting Members page
Youth Partnership for Dare County is looking for caring volunteers to tutor at-risk preschool children using the WINGS preschool literacy program. WINGS volunteers will play literacy-based games at least once a week, focusing on memory, comprehension, problem-solving, creative thinking, and decision-making. The typical time spent volunteering each week is 1-2 hours. For more information, please contact Carla Heppert at 252-441-0614 or email her at wings@darekids.org. Children and Youth Partnership is a non-profit organization serving children, youth, and families in Dare County. The Partnership administers the state Smart Start program for Dare County for children birth through age 5 and is a central source of information about activities, programs and resources for children
Children at Play is currently looking for volunteers that would like to work in the museum with the children, doing activities such as arts and crafts, stories and games. Our address is 3809 N. Croatan Hwy, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949 and our number is 599 1373. Children at Play is a non profit 501(c)(3) organization.
The Dare Literacy Council is looking for volunteers to help with fundraising, administrative tasks, publicity, and tutor/student support. If you have an education background, volunteers are needed to help with assessing students and developing tutor seminars. If you are fluent in Spanish, help is needed communicating with students. The DLC is an all-volunteer organization so as little as one hour is a tremendous boost to helping the DLC continue to serve the community. To volunteer, call Marian at (252) 261-6940, email dareliteracy@gmail.com or visit dareliteracy.orgThe Senior Nutrition's Home Delivered Meals Program serves seniors 60 years or older, homebound and unable to prepare a nutritious meal. The Albemarle Commission needs volunteers to deliver meals to seniors in Manteo and in the beach area, Monday through Friday. If you can share one hour a month to assist with meal distribution, please contact Mary Jernigan at (252)475-5637 at the Baum Center or Sandra Cantrell- Bush at (252)473-9279 at the Dare County Center. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, a partnering church or civic/community organization with Respite Care, please contact, Stephanie Bowers, Program Coordinator at (252) 475-5028.
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CommonGround Updates
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FOCUS ON:
People with Disabilities
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George Graham, Director of Exceptional Children
 Not long after joining Dare County Schools as Director of Exceptional Children, George Graham began reaching out to teachers and parents of exceptional children . He maintains that when dealing with life challenges, "we should strive to maintain a positive attitude, with high expectations 'see it big.' Additionally, we must keep in mind that in order to achieve any worthy goal, we must take one step at a time to accomplish it 'keep it simple. By practicing the principle of see it big but keep it simple we can more effectively deal with stressful situations and also achieve our goals and objectives."
Graham began producing a website "Becoming Your Best." Becoming Your Best is devoted to stories of hope and encouragement from and about especially individuals with disabilities and their f amilies. "When we hear these kinds of stories, they can provide
hope for us all," asserts Graham. "Hope that things can improve and get better. All of us can truly benefit from stories of encouragement in these challenging times in which we live. An example, he recommends is this video about Nick Vujicic
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Outer Banks Birth Network offers Free Workshop for Moms and Moms-to-be
 January 13, 7-9pm Kill Devil Hills Library meeting room.
Feed Your Mind, Body, and Spirit: Ring in the New Year with tips for a healthy, happy pregnancy and birth. Nancy Gray, Registered Dietitian, will lead a discussion on the importance of optimal nutrition for mother and baby. Molly Harrison, Certified Prenatal Yoga Instructor, will speak about the physical, emotional, and mental benefits of yoga practice for pregnancy and childbirth with a demonstration to follow. If you are a new mom, pregnant, thinking about becoming pregnant, or are passionate about birth and babies, this FREE workshop is for you! (252) 207-5601or outerbanksbirth@gmail.com for more information. 
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Celebrate Martin Luther King Day
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday celebrates the life and legacy of a man who brought hope and healing to America. We commemorate as well the timeless values he taught us through his example -- the values of courage, truth, justice, compassion, dignity, humility and service that so radiantly defined Dr. King's character and empowered his leadership. On this holiday, we commemorate the universal, unconditional love, forgiveness and nonviolence that empowered his revolutionary spirit.
 Dr. King once said that we all have to decide whether we "will walk in the light of creative altruism or the darkness of destructive selfishness. Life's most persistent and nagging question, he said, is `what are you doing for others?'" he would quote Mark 9:35, the scripture in which Jesus of Nazareth tells James and John "...whosoever will be great among you shall be your servant; and whosoever among you will be the first shall be the servant of all." And when Martin talked about the end of his mortal life in one of his last sermons, on February 4, 1968 in the pulpit of Ebenezer Baptist Church, even then he lifted up the value of service as the hallmark of a full life. "I'd like somebody to mention on that day Martin Luther King, Jr. tried to give his life serving others," he said. "I want you to say on that day, that I did try in my life...to love and serve humanity
 Join friends at 11:04 on Saturday, January 15, at the Manteo Elementary School to celebrate Martin Luther King Day. This year Tom Williamson, very active in our community, will speak. I attended last year and can attest it was a great event, inspirational music, wonderful company, and fantastic food.
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Peace and Justice Interfaith Coalition Sponsor Documentary  January 15, 7:00 pm at Kelly's. In Traces of the Trade, Producer/Director Katrina Browne tells the story of her forefathers, the largest slave-trading family in U.S. history. Given the myth that the South is solely responsible for slavery, viewers will be surprised to learn that Browne's ancestors were Northerners. The film follows Browne and nine fellow family mem bers on a remarkable journey which brings them face-to-face with the history and legacy of New England's hidden enterprise. You can learn more about the film and New England's role in slavery at the OBXPeaceJustice.org website. Watch the trailer of the film.
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Deadline for Governor's Award for Volunteer Service.
 Does your nonprofit have an outstanding volunteer? Each county in North Carolina selects five individuals, businesses, groups/teams and one Director of Volunteers to be recognized for their outstanding contributions to their communites.
Deadline for nominations: January 24, 2011.
Instructions are online.
Nominees must have been engaged in volunteer activities for a minimum of one year in North Carolina and benefited a community or communities in the state in a substantial, important or unique way. Previous award recipients from within the past 10 years are ineligible. Those who received compensation for their service are ineligible, with the exception of paid Directors of Volunteers. Self-nominations are not permissible and Nominators cannot be family members. Group/team and corporate volunteerism nominations must be made by those external to the group/team or corporation/business.
We have great volunteer service in Dare and Currituck Counties. Take some time and nominate someone. Send Dare Applications to Bonnie Bennet,Dare County Friends of Youth, PO Box 1000, Manteo, NC 27954. 252-475-5753
bbfoy@darenc.com
Send Currituck Applications to Kathleen Foreman, Guardian ad Litem, 1305 D McPherson Street
Elizabeth City, NC 27909. 252-331-4755
kathleen.foreman@nccourts.org
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Nonprofit Fundraisin  g and Grant Writing No matter how wonderful your organization, funds have to come from somewhere. Donations, Fundraising Events, and Grants are the major means. The Money Tree is not indigenous to the Outer Banks (or anywhere that I know of). Several events will take place in the next months that nonprofits should pay attention to!  The Currituck-Dare Community Foundation is holding a Grantwriter Workshop on February 17, 2011, 1:30-4:00 PM, Towne Bank of Currituck, Hwy. 158, Grandy. Learn where to find grants, how to write the best applications, how to get ready, how to apply on-line, identify problems and pitfalls of grant writing. Register: to Peggy Birkemeier by Feb. 14 PH: 252-491-8166, or email: pbirknccommf@embarqmail.com. Currituck-Dare Community Foundation is an Affi  liate of the North Carolina Community Foundation. Information about the 2011 Currituck-Dare Community Foundation grants cycle will be available on March 01, 2011. Applications will be taken online. Shown to the right are 2010 grantees.  The Outer Banks Community Foundation is holding a Workshop on 'Fundraising in a New Reality' on February 2 , 8am - 12 pm, at the Ramada Inn in Kill Devil Hills. Registration Registration is required. Deadline for regist  ration is January 25, 2011 Outer Banks Community Foundation at 261-8839 or admin@obcf.org. The Outer Banks Community Foundation must receive completed applications in the Foundation office by 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011. The application process will be online. Above is grant recipient Hattaras Island Meals.
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Friends of Youth Needs Volunteers
 Dare County Friends of Youth program is one of 54 Governor's One-On-One Volunteer Programs throughout North Carolina. It is County funded as well as grant funded by the State. The purpose of the Friends of Youth Program is to place an at-risk youth between the ages of 6-17 with a caring adult volunteer to serve as a role model and friend.
 The youth involved in the program are referred to us by various community and school sources, as well as by parents. The adult volunteer provides the youth with one-on-one time, two (2) hours each week, in activities that build self-esteem, strong character and friendship, as well as strengthen ties at home & school.Gene Gallelli, Assistant Superintendent of Board of Education says: Everyone talks the talk about adults helping children grow and prosper, Friends of Youth is making it happen.
The Dare County Friends of Youth Program is currently in need of volunteers. For more information about the program and to fill out an on-line request for information,
Friends of Youth has an Advisory Board who's term runs for 3 years. They serve as a main support system to the staff of Friends of Youth program. Responsibilities include attending board meetings once a month, participate on a committee, attend at least one volunteer training and one in-service training, attend group activities when possible and assist in identifying community resources.
If you would like to speak to a representative about the program and the upcoming training, please contact Bonnie Bennett, Program Coordinator or Jennifer Wooten, Program Assistant at 475-5753.
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Over 1300 people subscribe to CommonGood E-News. People who are actively engaged in our communities by serving as volunteers and paid professionals in a wide range of nonprofit organizations and government human services. CommonGood E-News is a great way to reach these wonderful and caring people. CommonGood does not cover politics. However, it will publish information about community and candidate forums. It will publish performing and visual arts where contributions are made to community outreach organizations. Congregational activities which serve the greater good are also covered. Events and Activities listed may not represent the position of the editor, every organization, sponsor or subscriber or even the publisher. Submissions and Press Releases are welcome. Please submit articles for publications plus attached photographs to nancy@obxcommongood.org by TUESDAY prior to publication date. No guarantees on PDF files. Blessings, Nancy Proctor  This NEWSLETTER may contain copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. CommonGood is making this material available for educational purposes. I believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. |
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