Octobernewsletter 2014

Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc.

2014

OCTOBER NEWSLETTER

“People Helping People”www.tvoc.org

In This Issue:* CEO News and Notes (Jason Carlson)* Head Start Works!* Head Start/Early Head Start Policy Council Executive Committee* Congratulations Grandma Dianne!

In This Issue:* Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Programs Hold Recognition Luncheon* EGF Center Playground Update* Transit Takes Part in Drive-Thru Clinic Event

It is official. Tri-Valley is moving to the “cloud” and we will be using Microsoft Office 365 to do it. Af-ter engaging in the comprehensive evaluation that has been discussed in previous newsletters the focus group met on October 24th. After individual sharing by focus group members and a presentation by Greg Dufault the conversation turned to what meeting participants needed to better do their jobs. It became clear to me that the greatest need was for a platform that was familiar to staff that should offer a smaller, although still significant, learning curve. Hence the decision to go with Microsoft. Now the real work begins. I will be working with IT and our Management Team to develop a timeline for migration from our current system to Office 365. We will also be developing the training plan for the migration. I don’t have much for details yet but you can rest assured that details will be shared as they are developed.

I had the opportunity to participate in three big events in October that I would like to share about.

The first event was the annual Senior Recognition Banquet. This is always a favorite of mine. I enjoy the opportunity to person-ally thank all of the volunteers for their service. I also get to hear the stories written by teachers and Senior Companion clients about the volunteers they work with. It is truly amazing to hear about the impacts the volunteers make in our communities. This year we were also again treated to an outstanding guest speaker. Andy Wells had the entire room mesmerized during his presentation.

The second big event of October was the fall gathering of Head Start Managers, Specialists, Center Managers, etc. This again is an opportunity I look forward every year to be able to interact with folks who I rarely get to see face to face. After I had a chance to address the group and open myself up for questions I sat in on some discussion about the program strategic plan. I am happy to report that the group makes good use of their time. It was great to see a room that large be so engaged in a process like strategic planning.

The last big event of October was the annual meeting of the Northwest Council of Collaboratives. The meeting featured a visit from Governor Dayton, a presentation about the history of the Council of Collaboratives and a very informative session on Accountable Communities for Health and other health care reforms. The meeting ended with attendees breaking into groups and creating a list of needs that will make up the work plan for the Council of Collaboratives for the coming year. I would say it was a very successful gathering.

The last item I would like to report on this month concerns Tri-Valley’s upcoming 50th Anniversary (June 8, 2015). After some discussion during their October meet-ing the Tri-Valley Board of Directors gave management some direction regarding how to mark the occasion. Instead of one large gathering in Crookston we will devise a plan to engage other communities that we serve through open houses and other gatherings. We will have an event at the headquarters office but it will not resemble the celebration held 10 years ago.

Congratulations to the new members of the Tri-Val-ley Head Start/Early Head Start Policy Council Executive Committee for the program year 2014/2015. (L-R) Lor-raine Greendahl, Ad Hoc to the Board - Crookston / Iva Baker, Vice President - Hendrum / Shephanie Vonesh, President - East Grand Forks / Angie Lindseth, Secretary - East Grand Forks

Congratulations Grandma Dianne! FRIENDS OF ED-UCATION were honored at a celebration in Thief River Falls. Lake of the Woods School Teachers picked Dianne Turgeon to receive this honor. Dianne lives in the Baudette area. She volunteers her time as "Grandma Dianne" to Kindergarten students. She enjoys listening to them read, helps them learn how to tie their shoes, and assists with getting them dressed for outside play. She has a special way to give the right amount of hugs to make them feel special. Dianne has been volunteering with the Tri-Valley Foster Grandparent Program for five years. She has impacted over two hundred students with her kind and gentle guid-ance. We appreciate her dedication to children! She also received an apple for the honor of being a "Friend of Edu-cation 2014" from the Kramer-Brown 10.

Here is the Crookston Center showing off their Head Start Works buttons!

Bloggers Needed!

If you are interested in writing an occasional blog arti-cle for the Tri-Valley blog page, please email Mitch at [email protected].

Staff at the Tri-Valley Danube Head Start Center proudly displaying their Head Start Works buttons!

Tri-Valley Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Programs Hold Recognition Luncheon

Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Programs held its annual recognition luncheon at the Crookston Eagles Club on Wednesday, October 8. The event acknowledged the hard work and dedication provided by so many generous individuals. All volunteers were recognized from new enrollees to those who have provided an outstanding 23 years of service volunteering 15 hours or more per week. In total, the volunteers accounted for over 421 years of combined experience. Last program year, Tri-Valley Senior Programs provided 72,399 hours of volunteer service working with over 800 children and 30 senior clients.

The Starfish Award was given to individuals who have been nominated by teachers or others the volunteers work with. This year there were seven recipients of this award from the Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Programs. The award is based off the story of an old man who walked up a shore littered with thousands of starfish. It goes: A young man was picking the starfish up and flinging them back into the ocean. “Why do you bother?” the old man scoffed. “You’re not saving enough to make a difference. The young man picked up another starfish and sent it spinning back into the water. “Made a difference to that one,” he said.

Recipients of the Starfish Award were Joe McKenna (Senior Companion/5 yrs), Rosemary Naeseth (Senior Companion/2 yrs), Lucille Skogstad (Senior Companion/7 yrs), Mary Thorstad (Foster Grandparent/15 yrs), Betty Floan (Foster Grand-parent/14 yrs), Gabe Amon (Foster Grandparent/11 yrs), and Imogene (Jeanie) Jacobson (Foster Grandparent/23 yrs).

Prior to the meal, Andy Wells, President of Wells Technology spoke to the group about pursuing and achieving your dreams. As a child, Wells lived from the land with his family in a one-room house on the Red Lake Indian Reservation. By the age of 45, Wells felt it was his time to make a difference. Therefore, to live his dream, he invested his life savings of $1,300 to start a new business called Wells Technology that would do manufacturing for customers and create jobs in his community. During recent years Wells has received numerous prestigious awards in recognition of his leadership in building a better America where dreams do come true. Visit http://www.wellstech.com/index.html for more information.

Upcoming November Calendar Items:* November 3- Head Start/Early Head Start Policy Council Meeting

Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. (TVOC) is a community action agency headquartered in Crookston, MN. It is our Mission to provide opportunities to individuals and communities in order to improve the quality of our lives. In existence since 1965, TVOC provides services in 84 counties in Minnesota and Northeast North Dakota. For more infor-mation on services offered by TVOC please call 218-281-5832 or 800-584-7020.

Did You Know?...* You can receive more information on Tri-Valley’s programs and services by calling 218-281-5832 or 800-584-7020.

* You can keep up with Tri-Valley news on the TVOC website at www.tvoc.org, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TVOCInc and on Twitter at @Tri-Valley_TVOC.

* Everyone can receive the Tri-Valley Newsletter. If you know of anyone who would like a copy please have them contact Mitch Bakken at 218-281-5832 or [email protected].

TRI-VALLEY TRANSIT TAKES PART IN DRIVE-THRU CLINIC EVENT

Every year Tri-Valley works with Inter-County Nursing Service to provide transportation for the drive-thru clinic in Thief River Falls, MN. Passengers are picked up at Hu-man Service Building and transported to the State High-way Building where a nurse comes on T.H.E. bus and gives flu shots. The purpose of this drive-thru clinic is to provide training and enhance quickness in the event a pandemic was to arise in Thief River Falls where shots needed to be given quickly.

A group of volunteers from the Mendenhall Presbyterian Church in East Grand Forks came to the EGF Head Start Family Service Center to paint and stain the playground. A total of 16 volunteers gave their time to make the play-ground bright again. Thank you for all of your help and hard work!

This information is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities. Contact us at 1-800-584-7020 or by calling the Telecommunication Relay Service at 711 or 1-800-627-3529. Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer/provider. EOE/M/F/D/V