New Faces at Monadnock United Way Office

Kelly Steiner and Kristen Beede join the staff at Monadnock United Way (MUW). Kelly fills the newly created position of Community Impact Director, and Kristen joins as Project Administrator.

As Community Impact Director, Kelly will work with staff, volunteers, residents, organizations, community leaders, and investors to develop
and implement results-based investment strategies that focus on strengthening local assets and help improve community well-being.

Prior to joining MUW, Kelly was Project Director for the Monadnock Voices for Prevention Regional Network. Kelly also serves as a Community Coordinator for PAX Program of Academic Exchange, a nonprofit student exchange program that places international high school students in American high schools and at American host family homes. In her prior role at Monadnock Voices Kelly was the recipient of the Dr. Tom Fox Scholarship award that is given to an individual who has demonstrated leadership and significant service to the delivery of alcohol and other drug prevention services in New Hampshire, and who has shown commitment to advocacy on a variety of alcohol and other drug issues at the state and local levels. Kelly is certified as a Prevention Specialist. She is member of the Northfield Massachusetts Kiwanis Club, and a past board member of the NH Prevention Certification Board, Marathon House, Breathe Easy, Teen Center and a former member of the Vermont Prevention Training Team.

Kelly is actively involved in supporting school extracurricular programs, fundraising committees and starting a food pantry in Northfield. She enjoys the outdoors, white water rafting, travel, gardening and reading.

A graduate of Hartwick College, Kelly lives in Northfield, MA with her husband Erwin (Tex) Steiner, daughter Chantelle and international student Katib.

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Kristen is the Project Administrator at MUW. Her primary responsibilities include office administration, preparing materials for the Allocations process, and is most likely the first face you'll see if you stop by the office.

Kristen has been involved with nonprofits since 1990, including stints with The United Way of Massachusetts Bay, Junior League of Boston, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Most recently, Kristen was an Account Executive with SymQuest. Kristen is a graduate of Plymouth State University. She currently resides in Swanzey, NH.

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Louise Zerba Retires from Monadnock United Way

Monadnock United Way announces the retirement of Louise Zerba. Louise began working at MUW in 2006 and served as Senior Administrative Assistant. Prior to joining the staff, Louise had served on the Allocations Committee, as a Loaned Employee, and on the MUW Board of Directors. Thank you Louise, for all your contributions to Monadnock United Way and the community.

Everyone at MUW wishes the best for Louise in her retirement.

Monadnock Family Services 11th Annual Men Who Cook

Monadnock Family Services (MFS) will be hosting its 11th Annual Men Who Cook fundraising dinner on Saturday, March 9, 2013 at 6:00 pm in the Keene State College Zorn Dining Hall.

Enjoy the delicious culinary creations of over 100 local cooks in the area. Food will be served buffet style.

Men Who Cook benefits people in need of mental health services who are uninsured or under-insured.

For more information, call 603-283-1558
or email [email protected].

Monadnock Family Services is a Monadnock United Way Agency.

Medical Transportation Expands Service

Accessible transportation to medical appointments has expanded to two days a week from Keene to White River Junction and Lebanon. The local Red Cross and Home Healthcare, Hospice and Community Services (HCS) are collaborating to provide the service, which provides rides to the White River Junction VA Medical Center and Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon. The wheelchair accessible vehicle will make the trip every Wednesday and Thursday.

Eleven passengers can be accommodated, or up to three wheelchairs. Priority seating for the trip is for veterans and senior citizens, and others may ride on a space available basis. Pick-ups can also be arranged in Walpole with advance reservations. There is no charge for the trip, but donations will be accepted to continue the service.
Reservations are necessary, and can be made by calling Gary at the American Red Cross at 352-3210 ext. 120 by the Monday before the trip. The vehicle is operated by Home Healthcare, Hospice and Community Services (HCS).

The Red Cross provides long distance medical transportation throughout the region. HCS provides the Friendly Bus accessible door to door service and the City Express public transportation services in Keene. The two agencies, working in collaboration with the Monadnock Regional Coordinating Council for Community Transportation, are teaming up to provide this service, funded by the NH Department of Transportation.

For more information, contact Gary at the Red Cross at 352-3210 or Harry at HCS at 352-2253.

The Red Cross and HCS are United Way Agencies.

Southwestern Community Services

Southwestern Community Services invites everyone to check out the SCS website: www.scshelps.org. The website lists directions to the office, any current employment opportunities, and background information on Community Action Agencies. If you are looking for information on a specific program it can be found on the website! Contacts, program descriptions, and income guidelines are included for many of the program pages. Others offer applications online that can be downloaded and printed.

Thank you!
SCS Staff

SCS is a Monadnock United Way Agency

MCVP Holding Volunteer Training

Help MCVP celebrate 35 years of volunteerism by joining their team of dedicated volunteers!

MCVP: Crisis & Prevention Center is currently accepting applications for our upcoming volunteer training starting in April. After completing the month-long, 40-hour training, volunteers can provide assistance to survivors of domestic and sexual violence in a variety of ways.

• Have a skill or hobby you’d like to share with emergency shelter guests?
• Interested in facilitating an on-going support group?
• Would you like to take shifts on the 24-hour crisis hotline?

Joanne, a MCVP volunteer since 1988, still volunteers after more than 20 years because: “I see the difference it makes in the clients and their families. We help to empower and educate…We many times see the same clients…but they get a little stronger each time…They know we’re there for them—it’s a great feeling for them and for me.”

A Volunteer Information Session will be held on Monday, February 11th at 6:00 pm. For more details or to RSVP contact Direct Services Coordinator, Jan Richards, at 352-3844 or [email protected].

Can’t make the meeting on February 11th… visit MCVP at www.MCVPrevention.org or call the office and ask to speak with Jan about filling out an application to sign up for the April training!

MCVP is a Monadnock United Way Agency

The Winchester Learning Center Breaks Ground on New Center

The Winchester Learning Center (WLC) is excited to announce it has broken ground at 109 Keene Road in Winchester to build a new center. The new center will increase capacity and allow for an infant program that WLC cannot do at present because of being located in a basement.

An existing building already on the site will be renovated and an addition will be added to allow for a new kitchen and preschool classroom. The board and staff are eagerly awaiting move in day so we can expand our services to the community.

At present WLC has 21 children on a waiting list, this does not include infants in the area waiting for care. Many generous donations from individuals, grantors, businesses, civic groups and the community have made this project possible. WLC had hoped to build without having to secure a mortgage but funding came up short, so a mortgage had to be secured to complete the project. However WLC is committed to paying this mortgage down as quickly as possible.

Winchester Learning Center is a Monadnock United Way Agency.

The Winchester Learning Center to Open a Night Care Program

The Winchester Learning Center (WLC) is opening a Night Care program. After many months planning, visioning and waiting WLC is opening a night care program for children ages 1-12. The hours of care will run from 4:00 pm-1:00 am, Monday-Friday.

The Night Care program just received a license from the NH Child Development Licensing Bureau. The program will be very much like a child’s evening might be at home. Homework will be a priority, a healthy evening meal and snack subsidized by USDA, Child and Adult Care Food Program will be provided. Children will have regular bedtimes with evening stories and regular routines. Night Care will allow parents in the community to attend night classes, work second shift higher paying jobs or work retail jobs which end when traditional day care programs have already closed. The vision really took off when the Keene Rotary Club awarded the first $5000 to support the dream of night care. WLC also recently received a $20,000 grant from NH Charitable Foundation for the night care program.

For more information, contact WLC at 603-239-3747 or email [email protected].

Winchester Learning Center is a Monadnock United Way Agency.

AIDS Services for the Monadnock Region In Search of Quilters

Quilters are needed to work with clients of AIDS Services for the Monadnock Region who wish to prepare their panels for inclusion in the AIDS Memorial Quilt from design to completion. Each 3-foot-by-six-foot panel memorializes the life of someone living with HIV/AIDS. Quilters will work individually with clients and/or possibly family members and friends. Contact Susan MacNeil, Executive Director of AIDS Services for the Monadnock Region at 357-6855.

AIDS Services for the Monadnock Region is a Monadnock United Way Agency.

12th Annual Keene Ice & Snow Festival

The 12th Annual Keene Ice & Snow Festival will take place in downtown Keene on Saturday, February 9th from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm. Competitions will include: Professional & Student Ice Carving, Snow Sculpting and Snowboard Rail Jam. Family activities include crafts for children-snowman making at Snowman Central, Lil’Tot snow slide, bonfire & s’mores, train rides, fire truck display, musical performances, magic show, character pictures with snowman and polar bar, food vendors & much more! Its a free day of Family Fun!

This years festival is produced by the Monadnock Travel Council with the Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce.

For more information contact the Keene Chamber at 603-353-1303 or email [email protected].

The Community Kitchen's Annual Dr. Seuss Breakfast

The Community Kitchen will hold its annual Dr. Seuss Breakfast on Saturday, March 2, 2013 at 37 Mechanic Street in Keene. The Breakfast will be held from 8:00 am to 11:30 am and will feature Fruity Hat Cat Stack (pancakes), sausage, yogurt fruit; other Whoville goodies and of course…green eggs and ham.

There will be special appearances by the Cat-in-the-Hat, games, raffles and readings by “Dr. Seuss”.

Suggested donation is $7.00 for ages 12 and over; $3.00 for children under 12. Proceeds to benefit The Community Kitchen Panty and Hot Meals programs.

For more information, call 603-352-3200 or visit www.thecommunitykitchen.org.

The Community Kitchen is a Monadnock United Way Agency.

The Elevator Speech

By Katie Gardella

Can you, your staff, and board describe your organization in one minute or less?

If not, it might be time to gather everyone together to brainstorm about why your organization is important to the community. Being able to succinctly describe who you are, what you do, and why you matter is a powerful marketing tool. Bringing all the major players together to discuss this—board, staff, key volunteers, major stakeholders—reinvigorates all involved. By the time the meeting is over, you will all be equipped to convey the most important aspects of your organization to the community.

Some questions to ask during the meeting:

• Why is your organization unique?
• Why is your organization worthy of community support?
• What value does your organization bring to the community?
• What need would go unmet if you no longer existed?

Break into small groups and ask each group to tackle one or two questions. Then have the smaller groups report back with ideas. Once key points have been established, have each person write their own version of what they would say if asked what your organization does. Each member can then recite their one minute statement to the group.

Now here’s an extra credit exercise: try distilling the essence of what your organization does to a five or six word tagline!

Katie Gardella is Founder and President of Prosper Fundraising Strategies, a consulting firm specializing in major gifts, board and staff development, and development planning. Please visit www.prosperfundraising.com for more information and free resources.

The Monadnock Regional Coordinating Council for Community Transportation Releases a Directory of Community Transportation Services

The Monadnock Regional Coordinating Council for Community Transportation (MRCC) has released a directory of community transportation services available in Southwest New Hampshire. This directory, which can be downloaded electronically at http://monadnockrcc.weebly.com/need-a-ride.html, contains a comprehensive, town-by-town listing of the Region’s transportation services, including public transit, volunteer driver, private-for-hire, human service agency, wheelchair and senior assistance transportation.

The MRCC created this easy-to-use guide with the assistance of the Southwest Region Planning Commission as a resource for human service providers, municipalities, employers, doctor offices and other individuals seeking information about transportation in the Monadnock Region. With generous support from C&S Wholesale Grocers and Cheshire Medical Center, the MRCC is able to make this resource more accessible in the region. Both organizations donated print services and materials to make 290 printed copies of the directory available for distribution at no cost. The MRCC plans to share copies with health facilities, human service organizations, libraries and other community institutions.

The MRCC is a coalition of transportation providers, purchasers and users working together to create an affordable community transportation system that provides all community members access to services and opportunities and improves the health and social cohesion of the Monadnock Region.

For more information, contact Tara Germond of Southwest Region Planning Commission at 603-357-0557.

Vision 2020 Breakfast with Champions

Event Offers Training to Vision 2020 Champions on Worksite Wellness

Join Cheshire County Vision 2020 Champions for an important event to celebrate accomplishments and continue efforts to become the healthiest community in the nation by the year 2020. The 2nd Annual Breakfast with Champions event is free and open to the public and will be held at St. George Greek Orthodox Church at 70 West Street, Keene, NH on Wednesday, March 6 from 7:30 am-9:00 a. For more information, call 603-354-5454, ext. 3930 or visit www.healthiestcommunity.org.

The Organizational Champions Program now has more than 70 organizations, including local businesses, civic groups, non-profits, clubs and coalitions, all a part of a grass-roots effort to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors and improve the health of our community. Champions who attend will participate in a worksite wellness training to help improve the health of their employees, staff, and members in support of our county becoming the healthiest in the nation. Organizations who have recently signed on include: Monadnock Family Services, The City of Keene, Monadnock Alcohol and Drug Abuse Coalition, Monadnock Buy Local, Hamshaw Lumber, the Keene Swamp Bats, Ted’s Shoe and Sport, Keene Kiwanis, and the Monadnock Rotary Club.

Vision 2020 is a community engagement initiative to foster and sustain a positive culture of health throughout the 23 towns of Cheshire County. The program’s emphasis is on encouraging individuals and groups to take greater responsibility for all aspects of their health and that of the greater community. For more information about Vision 2020 and to see how you can participate, visit www.healthiestcommunity.org.

The American Red Cross Heroes Breakfast

The American Red Cross New Hampshire joins service areas nationwide in a signature event that recognizes and honors outstanding individuals or groups in the state of New Hampshire. These people have made a difference in our lives by performing acts of courage, or selflessly giving their time and efforts in order to benefit others. From all walks of life, these people are proof that one person can make a significant and positive impact on the wellbeing of others.

Join the Red Cross on March 7th from 7:30 am-9:00 am at Southern New Hampshire University’s Dining Center Conference Facility to honor our New Hampshire Heroes. Tickets to the breakfast cost $25 and can be purchased by calling 1-800-464-6692 or e-mailing Stephanie Couturier at [email protected].

The Southern New Hampshire University Dining Center Conference Facility is located at 2500 North River Road in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Agency/Program Wish List

Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Western New Hampshire
Digital camera, space heater, laptop computers and a document scanner — 352-9536, ext. 106

The Community Kitchen
Delivery drivers to deliver take-home food boxes on Thursday mornings. Depending on the route, it would take 1-2 hours. Volunteers would need their own vehicle and be able to lift about 40 pounds. — 352-3200

Contoocook Valley Transportation Company (CVTC)
Volunteer drivers for the Eastern Monadnock region — 877-428-2882, ext. 5

Keene Day Care Center
Washable markers, balls (any kind) — 352-2129

Keene Senior Center
Gardening hand tools for vegetable garden, paper towels, paper napkins, disposable coffee cups, IT volunteer to help with computer problems — 352-5037

Monadnock Area Peer Support Agency (MPS)
Digital camera, someone to tune our piano, a cloth to cover the piano keys, twin-sized bed linens, towels, wash cloths, bathmat, twin-sized comforter, Nintendo Wii, jelly stretch elastic for jewelry-making — 352-5093

Monadnock Center for Violence Prevention
Personal hygiene kits: toothbrushes, deodorant, travel-size shampoo, conditioner, body wash/soap, lotion, razors and shaving cream — 352-3782

Monadnock Family Services
Baby soaps & lotions, baby food, bottles and toddler cups, teething rings, toilet paper & tissues, blankets, cleaning products, hand sanitizer/antibacterial wipes, utensils, sheets, cereal bowls, sponges, family-oriented DVDs, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, baggies etc., nonperishable food — Stefanie, 355-3040

Desktop and/or laptop computers — 283-1572

Phoenix House Keene Center
Bicycle(s) in good working condition, area rugs, towels, percussion
instruments — Mary, 358-4041

The River Center
Coats, snow pants, hats, mittens, gloves, boots (ALL sizes!!),
a good strong-working vacuum — 924-6800

The Samaritans, Inc.
Individually packaged snacks and/or beverages, crossword and Sudoku puzzle books — 357-5510

Southwestern Community Services
Plastic sealable totes with lids (large and medium), metal dressers, metal living room furniture, metal or tile tables for kitchen & living room, metal kitchen chairs, energy efficient light bulbs, personal care items, 35-gallon trash bags, twin sheets, new pillows, bath towels — Cathy Thornton, 352-7512, ext. 4295

Winchester Learning Center
Metal Tonka trucks and wagons, large and small — 239-7347