Monday, September 15, 2008

WATCH THIS -

www.theshiftmovie.com

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Heartworks Monthly Meeting
August 27, 2008


In Attendance:
Lisa
Margot
Victoria
Carmel
Julie
Karen

Lisa called the meeting to order at 7:35 pm. An open discussion followed about the group’s organization with a focus on the following:
1. What is the best day and time to hold monthly meetings?
• Would a breakfast - morning meeting be more convenient for some members?
• Would 6pm instead or 7 or 7:30 be better for evening meetings?
• What day of the week works best?
• Should the day and time vary from month to month?
2. How best can we communicate with members? Many people want to be a part of Heartworks, but can’t attend meetings.
• Should we email members and/or should we have a blogspot?
• What technology is out there to best communicate to members? Blogspot? Constant Contact?
• What works for everyone?
3. Meeting formats and membership.
• Meetings should focus and follow topics such as:
Old/New Business
Treasurer’s Report
Environment
On Going Projects
Personal Space
Closing Moment
• Suggestion made that 2-3 members are responsible for each topic. Responsibility is divided and not left to just one person.
• Meeting agendas should be emailed and/or posted to blogspot before meeting.
• Heartworks could also have a kids group. The power of kids is great.
• Not every member should feel they have to help with every cause. Participation is not about the amount, it’s about the act.
4. An important realization was made that Heartworks has still reached out and assisted people without holding meetings.
• Gift Baskets and cards have been sent to people.
• Gardens have been weeded.
• Sympathy plants have been given to those grieving.







5. How should we stay in touch and follow up with recipients after Heartworks initially helps someone? How should we go forward and help the person and stay in touch with them after the first contact? There is a feeling that we lose touch and/or the person still needs our help. Here is an update on some of the people we have helped:
• Megan is in remission
• Scotty and Paul sadly passed away
• Brian is still fighting his courageous battle and just started eating
• Kami ???
• Gift basket for Melissa Reece


6. Heartworks is about giving, but also learning to receive and ask for help. Carmel discussed a book titled Year of Magical Thinking in which the point is made that if you ask people if they want something they will say no, but if you pour a cup of tea and put it in front of them they will drink it. We are not taught to ask for help; people find it awkward and embarrassing to ask. There are probably many community members that we could help and even Heartworks members, but they go under the radar because they don’t know how to ask for help.
7. A Personal Space time followed. Here is where members are given the opportunity to say what’s going on in their lives that may be of interest to others.
• Margot is having an awesome tag sale Saturday, August 30, 2008 from 8 – 1.
• Julie will be participating is a Marathon for Autism on October 23. Julie’s friend lost a twin autistic child to a drowning accident. If anyone wants to contribute to her fund raising efforts, that would be great. Julie has to raise $500.
Julie Crosier is jatraen@hotmail.com
• Lisa is participating in a triathlon for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She is holding a fundraiser at the Perfect Wife on September 6th starting at 8pm. There will be a band, Raffle and Silent Auction.
8. New Business:
• Carmel has an idea to collect and distribute clothes to families. Heartworks could organize the Community Clothes Cupboard. Based on the food cupboard, we could hold a clothes giveaway once a season. A significant amount of advertising a spreading the word to all area communities would be essential along with securing a central place to hold the give away. Carmel will look into some of the preliminaries of what such an event would entail. It looks like November 8th is the date and it will be held in the Maple street gymnasium.
• A local mother’s child, Adrianne, who attends MEMS is suffering from a rare disease. Norene Peck has taken on coordinating assistance to this cause and is planning a fundraiser. The question remains as to how Heartworks could help. Lisa will speak w/ Norene to see if we can help in any way. Otherwise, we will have a meeting Sept . 28th, send me some feedback on times. We will update the blog and let you know what the meeting will focus on – most likely – the CLOTHES give-a-way ( we need a catchy title)

A huge thanks to everyone who contributed the a great basket that went to Grace. Thanks Karen V. for organizing that one…

Respectfully submitted,


Victoria Silsby for Lisa Kelly

September Meeting

September 28th there will be a meeting at 6:30pm.
Please send me any ideas you may have ahead of time
as to what we could do as a GROUP for Graces Cause.
also, we will be talking about our CLOTHES DRIVE this fall.
thanks, Lisa

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

MEETING - AUGUST 27

WEDNESDAY - AUGUST 27TH 7:30PM IS OUR MEETING

IT HAS BEEN 6 MONTHS SINCE WE STARTED AND WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY SENT
CARE PACKAGES , CARDS , DELIVERED FOOD, HAD A FUNDRAISER, MADE CRAFTS,
CONNECTED WITH OTHERS AND EACH OTHER, AND MADE POTS FOR PLANTS, POSTCARDS..

WE ALSO HAVE GIVEN FOOD TO THE CUPBOARD AS WELL AS LEARNED SOME GOOD GREEN TIPS...

I'D LOVE SOME PEOPLE AT THIS MEETING TO HELP SEE WHERE WE GO FROM HERE! LET ME KNOW IF
YOU ARE COMING FOR SURE SO I CAN BUY THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF FOOD......

PS. THANKS FOR HELPING START SOMETHING HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY!

XO
LISA

JUNE 1ST MEETING

Heartworks
Minutes of June 1, 2008
Present: Lisa Kelly, Teresa Slocumb, Liz Williams and Irene Nadler.
Old Business
Lisa began our meeting by discussing Farm Day. As our first fund raiser it was a huge success and it also provided a piece of positive PR for Heartworks... Many families came and they enjoyed the animals, food, etc. Children ran the lemonade stand and we had tons of baked goods available. All proceeds from the event were based on donations from the families that attended and our grand total was $225.00. Thank you Julie!
One of our members, Victoria Silsby’s father passed away this week and our condolescences go out to her and her family. We will be sending plants in his memory. Victoria works at The Battenkill Realty and the office is making a donation to Heartworks in her father’s name.
Unfortunately, Paul Schwindt was one of the individuals given a basket by Heartworks and he passed away this week. On the other hand, Brian is at Mt. Sinai for an extended period receiving a stem cell replacement. Keep him in our positive thoughts.
Amy, Susan, Blake and Lisa went to the Bromley View Inn to assist with gardening for Kami and we delivered a basket to her . Kami has expressed her appreciation and would love additional gardening assistance once a month.

New Business
• Check with Kami to see what she needs specifically and we will set up a schedule for helping her.
• Lisa discussed a new person Kristen, who suffered a TIA and has three young children. Kristen wanted to set up a small vegetable garden for her family to use. Lisa, Liz and Teresa will look at the area and decide what needs to be done.
• Teresa and Liz brought up the possibility of a Motorcycle Ride as a fund raiser for our group. To be continued.
• Race for the Cure- we should be represented as a group for the walk.
• We are trying to figure out whether Wednesday or Sunday meetings work better for people. Please let Lisa know if you have a preference or should we alternate nights.
• Next meeting is Sunday, June 29th.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

June 29th Meeting - 7:30pm.

Meeting is at Maple street school.
Please come so we can work on July's
opportunites for giving! thanks...

Friday, June 6, 2008