2009 April Newsletter

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to all those who turned out to support Bowl For Kids’ Sake. This year’s event was particularly entertaining. And while the receipts are still being tallied, it looks like we are still in business J


Please consider putting together a team next year if you couldn’t this time around. In the meantime, you can warm up at our Wii Bowling tournament on Saturday, May 2nd at Buffalo Wild Wings in Forsyth. SEE BELOW.

Wii Reaaaaaaaaally Want to See ya at BW3
$20 in advance or $25 at the door will get you entered into a fabulous Wii Bowling tournament at Buffalo Wild Wings. Free t-shirts, appetizers and great drink specials will ensure everyone has fun!

NOTE: This one will be more Bring Your College Buddies and less Bring Your Little. FYI


TONIGHT!
Art with Heart Benefit Auction at First United Methodist Church. All proceeds to assist the less fortunate in our community in paying for medical needs. Bring yourself and your Little to this unique show for some art appreciation. Appetizers and refreshments will be served. No pressure to buy!
3:00 – 5:00 Art Preview/Meet the Artists
4:00 – 5:00 Stained Glass Window Tour
5:00 – 7:30 Bidding for Silent Auction
Artwork will include local, regional and nationally know artists in ceramics, woodworking, oil and acrylics and watercolor. There are also handmade items including quilting, cross stitch, wood carvings, basketry and pressed floral prints. Items are priced to start anywhere from $5 to $100….something for everyone!
Directions to the Church: Take 51 S to downtown Decatur. From the 51/36 intersection, go right (west) one block on 36/Eldorado. Turn left (south) on Church St. The church is red in color with a large dome and lit cross. It sits on the corner of North and Church Streets WITH PARKING all around. See you there!
TOMORROW!
Get into the Easter spirit with an Egg Hunt at Partnership Park. The Green Wave 4-H Club has organized an Easter Egg Party for any interested Bigs and Littles .We will start at 2:00 p.m. (Saturday, April 4th). It is rumored there will be one egg with something green inside! We hope you can join us! Call Kate Shields with questions at 855-1316.
Directions to the Park: Take 105 E out of Decatur. You will pass Tate & Lyle, Brush College Rd., etceteras and go over the lake. After crossing the lake, you will go about a ¾ of a mile up to Bender Rd. Turn left on Bender Rd. (this is where you can see the back side of the “Welcome to Decatur” sign). Take Bender (a pot-hole filled road…sorry! It’s REALLY the country :) all the way back until it dead ends into Country Club Rd. (there is no other way to turn, just follow the road as it curves left). As the road turns left, you will see the ponies on the hill…you are almost there! Drive about 50 feet down the road and park in the wood-chipped area near the yellow shed on the right side of the road. Once you find the farm you can start finding eggs!

Bring your Little over to Millikin University on Saturday, April 25th @ noon for a FREE sports camp run by Millikin student athletes. There will be athletes from the women's soccer team, volleyball, football and basketball teams. There will be snacks and hydration stations throughout the day. This is a great opportunity for kids to get out and talk with student athletes, turn off the tv and do some physical exercise and also just to have a great time!


ANY DAY YOU WANT IN APRIL!
Please REMEMBER to stop by WaldenBooks at Hickory Point Mall to pick out a book for your Little. The kid doesn’t even have to be with you! This is simple, FREE, and a great way to communicate the importance of reading over the summer months. Simply select the title, march it to the desk and announce that you are a Big Sister or Brother. They will thank you and record your Little’s name in the book. We will collect them all and present them to the kids at our annual Graduation Cookout April 30th. (See below) Thanks again to The Cromwell Radio Group and WaldenBooks for making this happen!

GRADUATION COOKOUT
If you haven’t yet, please be sure to for our annual Graduation Cookout. This year’s fun will include a visit from the official Decatur Wienie Wagon (as seen and envied at St. Teresa football games), WAND, and officials from Cromwell Radio and WaldenBooks. Who knows? You might even end up as a TV and radio star….
YOURTOURN Video Game Tournament

How good are your virtual Super Smash Brothers skills? Hit the Decatur Public Library on SATURDAY, APRIL 25th from 1 p.m. to 4 for a double-elimination tournament to find out! Top three gamers walk away with prize bags and trophies. Open to all teens with refreshments provided. We’re betting tall 12-year olds can make the cut, too…
You can walk-in to register for this free event.


JOB OPENING ~ Big Brothers Big Sisters of Macon County seeks a full-time VISTA member to fill a Case Management position beginning in November. VISTA members make a year-long, full-time commitment to serve on a specific project. In return for their service, AmeriCorps VISTA members receive a modest living allowance and health benefits during their service, and have the option of receiving a $4,725 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award or a $1,200 stipend after completing their service.

Qualified candidates should have knowledge of assessment and relationship development between child and adult populations; understanding of child development and family dynamics; strong communications skills; and flexible work hours to meet the needs of program participants. Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in social services, human resources or a related field. Must have car, valid driver’s license, and meet state required automobile insurance minimums. Please contact ZACH SHIELDS to submit a cover letter and resume. He can be reached by phone at the office (217.428.4240), email at bbbsmaconzach@aol.com or by mail: 117 N. Main, Decatur IL, 62522 (Attn: Zach)

For more information about becoming an Americorps VISTA member visit: http://www.americorps.gov/about/programs/vista.asp
If your match anniversary is in April or May, or if you know you are overdue for your match evaluation, please contact the office and schedule your meeting with your case manager. We appreciate your cooperation on these important appointments!

Theatrical opportunity

Attention all puppet fans:

 

The Cashore Marionettes are coming to Albert Taylor Hall theatre at Millikin University on April 22, 2006 at 3 p.m.  This performance, entitled "Simple Gifts," is a series of "touching character portrayals and scenes from everyday life set to a succession of original and classical music." We're not sure what that means, but it sounds fun!

 

It promises to be a great performance and it is something most of our "Littles" have never and possibly will never have another opportunity to experience. Tickets are $16.50 for adults, with your "Little" receiving a free ticket with the purchase of an adult ticket. Call Kirkland Box Office (424-6318) for tickets or our office (428-4240) for more information.

 

Enjoy!

 

Scott and Zach

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Macon County

Rod test

abcdefg

Saturday carnival

Hello Big Brothers and Sisters:

I wanted to make you all aware of a free Carnival available for the kids this Saturday, April 8th, from 10 until noon on the front lawn of Shilling Hall at Millikin (that's the big building).

There will be games, food and prizes. Children are welcome to come with their families, as well. This is sponsored by Alpha Phi Omega, the MU co-ed service fraternity). While the event itself is free, they will be collecting canned goods for needy families and food pantries. So if you can dig up some green beans in your cupboard, it's a good chance to talk with your Little about service to the community!

Hope some of you can make it. I have an appointment at the office Saturday morning, but will drop by afterwards to check out the scene.

Thanks!

Zach Shields
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Macon County

Big's Meeting

Hello mentors new and old:

Hope all of you are having fun in your matches! Just a reminder that we will be having our bi-monthly "Bigs" meeting here at the agency this Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Since we have so many new volunteers, this one will just be a fun meet and mingle with some discussion about the program and our individual matches. There will of course be pizza (as always :) If you've never been to one of these, it's a nice chance to get acclimated to our "culture" and swap war stories with other mentors. These are the only events we hold in which the kids aren't involved, so it also allows us to be a little bit more open in discussing the challenge of working in our higher-needs households.

Come one, come all -- just be sure to RSVP so we buy enough pie!

Thanks,

Zach Shields
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Macon County
217.428.4240

BigBrothers BigSisters of Macon County IL

Welcome to our BBBS blog!!

Hey everyone. We have created this blog as a forum for our Bigs to communicate with each other and to find out about the latest BBBS happenings. We do have a few ground rules and we trust that you will abide by them.

1. Confidentiality: please use FIRST names ONLY when referencing your Littles. The same confidentiality rules that you follow in your daily life apply here as well.

2. Use discretion: While we recognize that this blog will be useful for communicating ideas with other Bigs who have similar experiences, you should FIRST rely on your BBBS Case Manager to guide you through any difficult situations.

3. R-E-S-P-E-C-T: please be respectful of all fellow bloggers.

Thanks and have fun!