The Reality Party Became A Reality...........a thank you to the students, our panel members, and the PCDFC volunteers!

This is an e-mail that was sent to me and many others by Sandy Poe, chair of the Pontotoc County Drug Free Coalition.

Dear PCDFC members and friends,

What an exciting and inspirational evening in Pontotoc County……the Reality Party became a reality!  Please accept this letter as a thank you to all who made it happen and as a tribute to the students and our panel members who so willingly participated and shared their talents.

The Ada High students who participated in the Reality Party did  a tremendous job and also provided a valuable service to the community.  Their maturity, enthusiasm, talent, and passion for the event contributed greatly to its success.  Our panel members offered the gift of their presence to validate the credibility of the content of the Reality Party and also shared their expertise in an authentic and sincere manner.

Following the 5 performances (5 tours of groups who viewed the Reality Party), the panel members and the students met to review the evening.  Our panel members included:  Officer John Roberts of ECU,  Cheryl Yott of Citizens Bank (parent), Gwynn Busby of Area Prevention Resource Center, Regina Folger, the abstinence instructor from the Chickasaw Nation, Sheriff John Christian, Tammy Hughes (Crime Analyst) and Officer Harper of the Lighthorse Police, Detective Kathi Johnston of Ada PD, Vicki Orsburn of Ada Area Chemical Dependency, and Calvin Prince of Families First. The students included:  Samantha Cannon, Julia Smola, Julie Krause, Bayli Hobson, Brady Bowers, Steffani Silva, Cole Townsend, Colin Earle, Stephen Miller, Sethariah Windsor, Niklas Muller, Madysson Morris, and James Tillison.

In the dialogue that took place between the panel and the students, there was a powerful exchange of ideas of how to build awareness in the community of the serious underage drinking and drug problem in Pontotoc County.  The panel members assured the students that the scenes that they portrayed were “reality” and that they deal with very similar scenarios in real life on a regular basis.  Each panel member thanked the students for taking a stand and being willing to be leaders among their peers; the students were also recognized as offering a service to the community that was most effective being performed by them.

The students each had the opportunity to share how they felt about the experience and what they learned from the process.  All of the responses were positive and also addressed what they had learned.  For example, several of the students shared how the party was so much fun in the first scene and how quickly the party changed to serious drama when overindulgence occurred, when drugs were mixed with alcohol, when students passed out, when fights broke out  and when the conditions for date rape were evident.  In their own words, they articulated how dangerous the underage drinking and drug culture was for all citizens and that parents and teens had to work together to change the mindset and attitudes of the community.

Please join me in thanking the Ada High students and the panel members for their service and in celebrating the success of the Reality Party in our community.  This event required the collaboration of many partners in the community.   This thank you also gives me the opportunity to give a major tribute to Sara Morgan (Area Prevention Resource Center) who has been the leader of this project from its onset and who also served as the Tour Guide for the Reality Party.  Her leadership and deep commitment for this project was an inspiration to all of us.  Also, the Chickasaw Nation’s Meth Suicide Prevention Initiative (MSPI) grant provided incentives for our students.  Finally, all of the volunteers, students and panel members were extremely grateful to Citizens  Bank,  Vision Bank  and the Girl Scouts for providing food, drinks and snacks for the event.

By working together and sharing time, energy and talent, a goal of awareness was achieved.  This is one giant step in creating awareness throughout the whole community.

Sincerely,

Sandy Poe

President, PCDFC

Successful week in our area!

Last week (Monday) began with arriving back in the United Way office after being out for several days with presentations and community projects.  Like most; upon my arrival I looked at the overwhelming amount of work that sat upon my desk and wondered how I would ever "catch up".  I took a breath and began with one thing at a time, patiently remembering that last week was great and well worth coming back to the office to all this insurmountable work.  I was amazed that by 4:00 p.m., I had accomplished everything on my "to do" list.  Somehow when we take time out of our busy lives to perform tasks that are important to the community at large, the next step seems to go smoothly.  Ending a busy Monday at the office I prepped for Tuesday.
Tuesday was our monthly "save the world Tuesday" meeting day.  The day began at the office and then moved to all the meeting events.  1st meeting was that of Systems of Care Executive Team meeting.  Next a meeting of the Pontotoc County Systems of Care/Turning Point/Community Council Coalition.  One of the guest highlights was a representative discussing the TSET grant.  She asked us to tell her about our community and we proceeded to do so.  It is always fantastic when we all voice the accomplishments of our wonderful community!  The next meeting moved to the Pontotoc County Drug Free Coalition where we invited the students who played the role of the attendees of the Reality Party.  I was amazed at how mature the students were in their discussion of how they felt they had made a difference by portraying the roles.  They stated that they truly want to play the part in more Reality Parties and want to volunteer where they can really make a difference.  How wonderful to know that our community has up and coming volunteers to continue the work that others have begun.
Wednesday included meeting with several others to organize and deliver an anonymous food donation to our area.  This task was so exciting knowing that food assistance has become one of the top needs in Pontotoc County and those providing assistance continually run short of fulfilling the needs.  I personally assisted one of our local churches by using my vehicle to transport food to the church.  Much to the surprise of all, there was so much food to go into the freezer that the churches freezer was not ample.  I assisted one of the ladies in transporting the refrigerated items to her personal freezer.  She actually moved her food out to make room for the donated food.
Thursday included meeting with the interview committee taking part in the selection of a full time staff member to oversee the TSET grant that was just awarded to Pontotoc County Turning Point Coalition (PCTPC).  This FTE will be housed at the Pontotoc County Health Department as they are the fiscal agent of the grant.  I used to think that I had to suggest to the Board of Directors of Ada Regional United Way that we volunteer to be the fiscal agent in grant such as these; however, I have come to realize that we in Pontotoc County have numerous partners to share tasks.  I have all confidence that the Health Department was the best choice by the PCTPC for hosting this grant.  Following interviewing two more applicants, the committee review.
Friday, I finally had time to update our Face Book fan page will all the great photos from the previous and current week.  This day included finalizing the mail out to individuals with a follow up letter regarding how a donation to Ada Regional United Way is utilized in a day.  The week ended as successful as it began.  My desk is almost clean.  If it were completely clean; something would be very wrong.

Be sure to check out the page Ada Regional United Way.  You do not have to be on Face Book to view the page.

Garage Sale was a huge success!

I want to thank everyone who made donations to our Ada Regional United Way garage sale.  Also, thanks to those who stopped by and purchased items.

In only 4 hours a total of $910 was added to our annual campaign!

I always find it amazing that we all tire of our personal items; however, if we simply take time to find those in need of those unwanted items we can make a difference.

There was so much donated that there was no way to sell all of it.  The folks from Re Run Junction came over and picked up everything that remained following the sale.

We chose this entity to take the remainder of the items because our local agencies have stated many times that Re Run Junction is a true partner to our local community.

So, thank you all again that played a part in this community partnership to raise a little more funds for our local agencies providing assistance for local folks in need!

And the thermemeter continues to rise...

Our community is well on the way to a successful campaign goal.  The Board of Directors of Ada Regional United Way voted to set a very conservative goal for this year's 2011 Campaign.

We have completed our Pace Setter Campaign with Ada Evening News, Citizens Bank, Peoples Electric Coop and Thompson Agency making a huge difference in holding an early employee campaign.

Several local volunteers worked on the annual Busy Blitz including the small businesses in our area.  The volunteers visited these businesses during the 2nd week of September.

Several additional businesses and organizations have made donations since then.

If you have not had time to contribute, please take a minute and send in your donation.

You can make a huge impact on the entire community by making a difference in one person.  No matter how large or how small - your contribution makes a difference.

Busy week @ ARUW

This is Friday, September 10th and it is almost the end of a very busy, but very productive week at the United Way office.
Tonight, I have the honor to partner with a lot of great community members during the 1st Ada High School football game.  Board of Directors assist with this evenings activities including: passing the buckets for donations which typically bring an additional $600 -$900 into the annual campaign from basically "pocket change", the throwing of mini-footballs and Frisbees and to end the festivities a t-shirt cannon is used to launch a few United Way LIVE UNITED t-shirts into the crowd.  Overall a great way to end a great week.  

Next week is our annual Busy Blitz which may prove to be even busier than this week, but hopefully will bring in additional funds from local volunteers contacting local small businesses for donations.  Annually, this three day project can bring in as much as $8,000 from small businesses making donations of $5.00 up to $300.00.  You know it does not matter what you give, only that you give. All contributions no matter how small or how large are all combined to make an impact on our local community.

Jet McCoy speaks at United Way

Jet McCoy speaks at United Way

Life happens...and then we go on living!

Well, the previous post was on the day I look my mom to a doctors appointment to find out exactly what was going on.  It is now August, that was February.  This post is a little different than my previous posts.  While much of my life consists of United Way activities.. the past few months have been involved with my family.  Mom after many doctor appointments, visits to the ER and all kinds of tests, was diagnosed with cancer.  In April when the diagnosis occurred, we really were not sure she would make it through the summer, but it's August and she is doing well.
Times like this make us (me) stop and realize that life happens no matter if we are ready or not.
Just before all this with mom happened, I was so overwhelmed with everything thinking that I made a difference and if I took a break....well things might not get done.  I have over the past few months "gotten over myself" :) We all make a difference, but not alone.  I have learned to ask for and accept help.  Try it as it is wonderful. People only ask if you need help if they really want to help.
Many personal things have changed in my life.  I have spent much more time with my parents over the past few months.  I have let go of what I should have let go along time ago. I have actually smiled more in the past three months that in the past three years.
We all make a difference, but we cannot make it by ourselves.  Take my well learned advice. Trust others, hold onto family (especially, if you have as great a spouse as I) and let life happen.  Personally, prayer does help. But again, I had to listen to the answers to my prayers.
This is my personal comments on life and that life happens, not the position necessary of United Way and/or the board.  Please take the comments as they were meant.  Life happens.. and then we go on living! But we have to be able to accept life.
Thanks for listening and look forward to more post ---regarding Ada Regional United Way of course, not my personal life.