Dr. Anne E. Huot Joins Monadnock United Way Board of Directors

Monadnock United Way is pleased to announce the recent addition of Dr. Anne Huot to their Board of Directors.

Dr. Anne Huot has dedicated her career to the transformative power of education and the opportunities higher education presents for contributing to and bettering society. Throughout her 23-year experience as a faculty member and senior administrator, Dr. Huot has focused her attention on academic excellence as her highest priority. Her work has been directed toward developing systems and programming that encourage and support student learning and success, and preparation for active citizenship and meaningful careers. To her role as president of Keene State College, Dr. Huot brings a vision that is informed by her experience as a first generation college student, a native of New Hampshire, and an educator with extensive background in public higher education. She believes passionately in the need for accessibility to higher education for all students and the unique role, mission, and opportunities provided by institutions of public higher education.

Dr. Huot holds a PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology, and a MS in Medical Technology from University of Vermont; and a BS in Medical Technology from University of New Hampshire. Dr. Huot is highly regarded for her commitment to excellence in teaching. She has written and presented extensively on her research concerning the influence of nitric oxide on cellular response modification.

Low-Income Taxpayer Project

Project Coordinator Barbara Heggie presented a training seminar to this year’s group of AmeriCorp Victim Assistance Project volunteers on September 12. She explained the work of the Pro Bono Referral Program and its place in New Hampshire’s system of legal aid. She also emphasized the need for a wide range of legal aid services for victims of domestic violence, from eviction defense to representation before the Internal Revenue Service. In her role at the Low-Income Taxpayer Project, Barbara assists clients who suffer financial abuse from their partners. She works with the IRS to make sure there’s no lien or levy in place that would compound the victim’s difficulty in escaping the abuse. For clients able to leave an abusive marriage, the Low-Income Taxpayer Project can help prepare “innocent spouse” petitions to request relief from joint liability for a tax debt.

For more information on the Low-Income Taxpayer Project of the Pro Bono Referral Program, contact Barbara G. Heggie, Esq., Coordinator, Low-Income Taxpayer Project, Assistant, Pro Bono Placement at bheggie@nhbar.org.

NH Pro Bono is a Monadnock United Way Agency.

Home Healthcare, Hospice & Community Services Fall Programs

HCS Offers Flu Clinics

Home Healthcare, Hospice and Community Services (HCS) will hold flu immunization clinics throughout the Monadnock Region in October.

These clinics are open to the public ages 19 years or older. No appointment is needed. Medicare, Anthem BCBS, Harvard Pilgrim, and MVP insurances will be accepted, or there is a $25 fee for the vaccine. People are encouraged to wear loose sleeves. Vaccinations will be administered by an HCS wellness nurse.

For a complete listing of clinics in your area, visit HCSservices.org or call 352-2253.

Conversation Café: Preparing for a Good End of Life

Jennifer McCalley, MSW, a palliative care social worker with Home Healthcare, Hospice and Community Services (HCS) will facilitate the exploration of this very human conversation as people consider what they want, both in life and during its closure.

The Conversation Café meet in Keene on Wednesday October 29, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at HCS at 312 Marlboro Street.

There is no charge to attend, but reservations are necessary and can be made by calling Karen at 352-2253. Residents of any area community are welcome to attend.

Home Healthcare, Hospice and Community Services provides wellness services throughout southwestern New Hampshire.

HCS is a Monadnock United Way Agency.

The SCS Energy Programs

Here is some general information in regards to SCS Energy Services this year:

Fuel Assistance Program

1. We are currently scheduling and taking appointments for this heating season.

2. Each and every household that wishes to apply for Fuel Assistance will need to call one of our main office numbers to schedule an appointment. The Keene office number is 352-7512 and the Claremont office number is 542-9528.

3. Please encourage households to call the main office numbers to schedule their appointment (rather than contacting Beth Daniels directly). We have two receptionists and six intake staff available to schedule appointments. Folks may still get a voicemail but staff will call them back. They will get a voicemail if someone is with an appointment. *Please advise folks to leave only ONE voicemail message. Referring individuals to Beth directly will only delay the process if she is in Concord, Claremont, meetings, etc.

4. Households are mailed appointment packets following their call to verify the day & time as well as a checklist of what to bring with them.

5. We do not receive our funding until December 2014. We use the months of August-November to get as many applications completed as possible before the program “opens” in December.

Electric Assistance Program

1. We continue scheduling and taking appointments for Electric Assistance as well (we try to complete both fuel and electric applications at the same time, when possible).

2. The electric bill needs to be in the name of a household member in order to qualify.

3. The Electric Assistance Program provides income-eligible households with a discount off their electric bill each month for a period of 12 months at a time.

   Here is some general information in regards to SCS Energy Conservation this year:

Weatherization

1. We have extremely limited funding for weatherization activities. If you have a household that is interested in weatherization services, the first step is to apply through the Fuel Assistance Program (shared application).

2. There is a waitlist for weatherization services.

Home Repair & Replacement Program

1. We are able to help a limited number of households with their heating systems each year as well. Again, the first step is to apply through the Fuel Assistance Program.

2. We have started a waitlist for when our funding comes through in late October. We will do as many homes as possible, according to priority, but can only complete approximately 25 households each year.

Other Notes:

1. Landlords — Thank you for completing landlord forms for your tenants. We appreciate the assistance.

2. Fuel & Wood Vendors — we have most of your vendor agreements but am still waiting on a few. We will contact you individually.

3. Service Providers — Please refer households to our main office numbers.

4. If anyone (landlords, vendors, service providers) would like brochures for their office, please feel free to e-mail me and we will get you some!

5. Our website is a handy resource as well — not just for the energy programs but for all programs available through SCS: www.scshelps.org

Thank you,
SCS Energy Services Staff

SCS is a Monadnock United Way Agency.

Though many differences exist between the business world and the world of nonprofit organizations, the two industries often share striking similarities. Frequently in these two fields, many of the differences lie in the terminology used to express the goals of the mission, rather than the execution of the mission itself. Here is a close up look at the Collective Impact approach stemming from the field of nonprofits alongside the Continuous Improvement strategy adopted by the business realm. Could it be that the two are more similar than we may have thought?

Read the entire article here…

Have you ever wondered what difference your donation makes? In 2014 alone, 50 Monadnock United Way funded programs have delivered over 375,818 units of service in a six month period!

Click here to see the impact your donations are having on some of the MUW funded programs.

6-month Entrepreneur Project:
Business Start-Up Program at The Hannah Grimes Center

The next round of classes begins October 16th. Send in your application today!

$600 fee with scholarship funding available. 

The Hannah Grimes Business Start-Up Program is modeled after their proven business development program, The Entrepreneur Projects: Grow Your Business and Advanced CEO, but covers content relevant to new business owners and is six months long. You will learn the skills and receive the support you need to reach your business goals — in the company of other like-minded entrepreneurs.

The Class is limited to 8 participants. All classes are mandatory. All classes meet once a month on Thursdays at the Hannah Grimes Center in Keene and run from 10:30 am to 1:30 p.m. See more at: http://hannahgrimes.com/programs/business-start-up/#sthash.ObYO5Zs1.dpuf.

The program schedule is as follows:

October 16th
November 20th
December 18th
January 15th
February 19th
March 19th

For more information about this program or other programs offered by the Hannah Grimes Center, contact Jillian Miner, Program Coordinator at jillian@hannahgrimes.com or 603-352-5063.

CONNECT 2014

Wednesday, October 29, 2014
5:00-8:00 p.m.
Alyson’s Orchard, Walpole, NH

CONNECT is Hannah Grimes’ annual event celebrating the vital connections between business, the local economy and our community. CONNECT is a networking event: a place to share your expertise and learn from others.

CONNECT, for an evening filled with good company, delicious food and exceptional networking. And bring lots of business cards to make CONNECTions with colleagues and community members.

Explore “agile” local economies and communities with keynote speaker Don Byrne, Senior Fellow, Stephenson Disaster Management Institute, at Louisiana State University and President and CEO of Metrix411. An entrepreneur and former venture capitalist, Don brings an executive perspective to the fields of strategic management, continuity planning, and business operations. Don is recognized as a national expert on enterprise risk management, community resiliency, and business agility.

CONNECT 2014 is sure to be an enjoyable, thought-provoking evening of discussion and sharing.

Cost:
$30 per person
$240 per table of 8

The Event begins at 5:00 p.m. with ample time to network and enjoy hors d’oeuvres provided by Free Range Chick Catering, LLC. A cash bar is on site at Alyson’s Orchard.

See more at: http://hannahgrimes.com/connect-2014/#sthash.rKAEcksG.dpuf

Hundred Nights Inc. — Volunteer Needs

The Cold Weather Shelter of Hundred Nights is looking for volunteers to help with Intake and Overnight shifts between December and the beginning of April.

All volunteers are asked to attend one training session lasting 2 hours. During that time the staff will go over the procedures and rules of the Shelter, the forms that need to be filled in each night, where people are to leave their belongings overnight, where people sleep, how to assign beds and answer any other questions you may have.

When the shelter season opens, Hundred Nights hopes for a commitment from the volunteers to come in once a week, once a month or once in a while — many hands make light work! There will be a staff person on duty with the volunteers at all times.

Here are the shifts they hope to fill in a combination of ways:

6:45 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.
9:45 p.m. to midnight
or 6:45 p.m. to midnight
11:45 p.m. to 5 a.m.
5 am to 7 a.m.
or 11:45 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Training sessions for volunteers will be held on the following days and times — please pick one!

Saturdays: November 1st, 15th or 29th from 3-5 p.m.
Tuesdays: November 4th, 11th or 18th from 6-8 p.m.

All training sessions will be held at Hundred Nights, 15 Lamson Street, upstairs in the conference room at the shelter.

Hundred Nights also needs volunteers to help out with their Tailgate Dinner program on Saturdays or Sundays. Specifically, they need dinner prepared and served for about 40 people. Volunteers have brought things like a hot pasta dish, a salad and bread and butter, or a big batch of chilli and cornbread. They do have food items, such as pasta, sauce, beans, donated by The Community Kitchen, that can be utilized in the meal prep if needed. On Saturdays, dinner is from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., and on Sundays, dinner is from 5 to 6 p.m. — food should arrive about 15 minutes ahead so that the serving station can be set up. Mingling and eating with our guests is encouraged!
On Sundays there is also the opportunity to participate in an open mic if you are so inclined! The following dates are open right now: Oct 19, Oct 26, Nov 2, Nov 9, Nov 29, Nov 30, Dec 7, Dec 21, Dec 27, Dec 28, Jan 11, Jan 17, Jan 18, Jan 24.

Hundred Nights is looking for volunteers to help this year with Pumpkin Festival:

1. They need 6-10 people who can come in on Friday Oct 17th in the afternoon or evening to help make and put together bagged lunches with sandwiches, fruit, chips and a drink.
2. Also, they need LOTS of people who can spend 3-4 hours each helping with the Haunted Church at the United Church of Christ in Keene. On Friday night the spookiness will be set up in the evening probably from 6 p.m. to midnight. On Saturday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. we need many people (in shifts) to dress up and SPOOK people as they go on their tour of the Haunted Church! And after 5 p.m. help is needed to take down all the decorations and put them away. Hundred Nights will be receiving a portion of the proceeds from the money raised at the Haunted Church if they can provide about 300 hours of volunteer time! Please help and have fun at the same time!!

For more information about any of these volunteer opportunities, please call Mindy at 352-5197.

Hundred Nights Pumpkin Festival Hostel

Do you have friends coming to Pumpkin Festival from out of town? Not enough room for them? Stay in our Hostel Accommodations at Hundred Nights Inc. Downtown Keene, In the Heart of Pumpkin Feastival!

• Clean dormitory-style bunk beds, 2 private bathrooms, 1 with a beautiful new shower
• The large room has 14 bunks. The family room has 8 bunks. The little room has 2 bunks
• Breakfast included Friday, October 17 and Saturday, October 18: Bagels, Cream Cheese, Melon, Coffee, Juice
• Space is limited to 24 people per night. Reservations required

For more details please call 603-352-5197, ask for Mindy. $50 per person per night/large families negotiable. Includes NH 9% Room Tax. We accept all major credit cards.

Hundred Nights is a Monadnock United Way Agency.

Monadnock United Way On Cheshire TV

Watch Cheshire TV Channel 8 (Time Warner Cable) every Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. and see how our partner agencies, donors, volunteers, and corporate partners LIVE UNITED!

Can’t watch it on Wednesdays, or you are not a Time Warner subscriber, episodes are posted on the Monadnock United Way YouTube Channel (www.youtube.com/monadnockunitedway).

How do you LIVE UNITED? Email LiveUnited@muw.org and tell us. If your story is read on the TV show you’ll win a LIVE UNITED t-shirt!

All schedules are subject to change without notice.

Wish List

The deadline for Wish List items in the next U Review (September 2014) is Monday, August 18, 2014. Please send your Wish List updates and additions to gary@muw.org. Wish List items that have not been confirmed or updated are purged every quarter (January, April, July, and October), so please remember to keep your items current.

Hundred Nights
Large backpacks; warm socks; gently used hats, gloves, boots, coats; personal care items like shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, razors, shaving cream, toothbrushes and toothpaste, mouthwash; coffee, creamer, sugar, tea, and juices; heat and eat stews, soups; butter; peanut butter and jelly — 352-5197

Keene Senior Center
Window air conditioners for the large, multipurpose room; Card making supplies (blank cards, blank card envelopes, card stock, stamps, embossing pens, colored pencils, stencils, double sided tape, scissors, cutting board (Fiskar) and punches); Lockable filing cabinets with keys; Windows 7 or newer computers — 352-5037

MAPS Counseling Services
A decent used (or new) acoustic guitar — Gary at 355-2244, ext. 8104

Monadnock Area Peer Support Agency (MPS)
Nightstand; Bedside lamp; Toaster; Zentangle How-To Art Books; Ultra-Thin Markers (for Zentangle); Crochet Hooks; also for the Marla Stefflre Shelf, the following items are needed: Toilet paper; Paper towels; Tissues; Trash bags; Ziploc bags; Disposable latex and vinyl gloves; Diswashing gloves; Toiletries such as hand lotion, shampoo and conditioner, hand sanitizer, body wash, hand soap, shaving cream; Tampons, sanitary napkins and depends; Disposable razors (female and male); Cleaning supplies; Diapers and wipes for babies — 352-5093

Monadnock Humane Society
Dry dog food; Better-quality canned dog food (IAMS, etc.) — 352-9011

Southwestern Community Services: Housing Stabilization Services
Bike racks; Washer and dryer sets; Wooden outdoor play set; Dorm size refrigerator; Industrial broom for sweeping driveways; Weed Whacker — 352-7512