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Vol. 2, No. 7
August 2011
MFS CHRONICLE
MFS 2011 Annual Meeting Quickly Approaches
The 2011 Annual Meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, September 14 from 4:30-6:00pm at the Monadnock Covenant Church, located at 90 Base Hill Road in Keene. All staff are invited to attend. Light refreshments will be served. Please note that the 2011 Annual Meeting does not count towards your paid time. Should you choose to attend, please RSVP by September 9 to
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or
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, (603) 283-1558. We look forward to seeing you there!
Featured Program of the Month: Monadnock RSVP and the Volunteer Center
The Monadnock RSVP and the Volunteer Center connect volunteers from the community with opportunities at six MFS programs and about 65 regional agencies. The program staff – Geraldine Liebert, Suzette Borden, and Kathy Baird – describe themselves as matchmakers for volunteers. Last year, the services provided by the 600 volunteers to the Monadnock Region were estimated to be worth $713,190.
RSVP, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, was initiated in 1974 through a national grant. Roughly 750 RSVP projects were established across the United States. The program provided retired adults with opportunities to continue contributing to the community using their unique talents and skill sets. RSVP is funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service, and MFS acts as the program sponsor in Keene. In 1981, the Monadnock United Way asked MFS to establish a volunteer program for all ages. The result is the Volunteer Center, which is available to individuals interested in volunteering who have not yet reached retirement. As a Monadnock Family Services program, the Volunteer Center is supported through generous gifts from the Monadnock United Way and other donors.
The types of volunteer opportunities can vary. Many volunteers come to the Monadnock RSVP and Volunteer Center hoping to use highly specialized skills or interests, such as website design or teaching experience. Other volunteers want to contribute but are not sure what they might enjoy, so the program staff helps them find opportunities that pique their interest. Some volunteers want to try something completely new.
There are short-term and long-term volunteer opportunities. The Monadnock RSVP and Volunteer Center might e-mail blast volunteers to recruit help for a one-day event or to provide assistance after an emergency. Volunteers looking for long-term commitment opportunities have many options. Two examples are the America Reads program and Neighbors-In-Deed program. In the America Reads program, adults work with young children in the classroom to help them learn to read. The Neighbors-In-Deed program connects volunteers with seniors or adults with disabilities to assist them in maintaining their independence at home. Their services include companionship, minor home repairs, telephone reassurance, and grocery shopping assistance. The program enables those individuals to continue living at home longer, provides respite to caregivers, and improves the volunteer’s and the recipient’s quality of life.
The Monadnock RSVP and Volunteer Center welcomes all MFS staff, clients, and families who would like to volunteer time in the community. To learn more about volunteer opportunities that match your interests and availability, e-mail
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Family Resource Center Finds a New Home
By Annelies Spykman
The Monadnock Family Resource Center will be moving from 30 Washington Street to 64 Main Street, Keene on the second floor. The Resource Center is a base for MFS outreach and prevention programs in the community, and is comprised of Baby Time, Family Time, Parent Outreach Program (POP), Child Impact Seminars, and Wee Time Playgroups. The programs will move on August 30th and 31st. Come say hello and check out the new space one we are all set up!
What I Do for Workplace Wellness: Drinking Water at Work
As most of us know, a well-balanced diet includes eight glasses of water per day. Drinking enough water speeds your metabolism to help with digestion and burn more fat, keeps your skin healthy, gives you more energy, and reduces your cravings for junk food. Still, it can be difficult to actually drink that much water. Below are some tips for increasing the amount of water you drink at work. This month, try adding one tip to your routine every week. Your soon-to-be-hydrated body will feel fantastic!
1. Keep a pint-size (16 ounce) glass at your desk. Drink two glasses of water before lunch and two in the afternoon.
2. Drink a glass of water while you wait. Grab a cup while your coffee brews, while your lunch heats up in the microwave, while you wait for that document to come off the printer, and when your supervisor is finishing up a previous appointment before meeting with you.
3. If you are one of those people who doesn’t care for the taste of water, try adding a couple drops of lemon juice. You can buy inexpensive bottles of lemon juice at any grocery store and keep them at work.
4. Use a straw. Many people drink water more quickly when drinking through a straw rather than gulping it down.
5. Stash some bottled water in your car. Many of us spend lots of time behind the wheel, whether going to see clients or making the commute home. Having some water handy makes it easy to stay hydrated while away from your desk.
6. As we transition into fall and cooler weather, keep some herbal tea at work. You can stay warm and hydrate at the same time!
Children’s Services Hosts “TAG” Summer Camp
For the fourth year in a row, Children’s Services held a summer camp for its existing clients, called TAG. The program has grown to accommodate more children for longer sessions every year since its establishment. Approximately 35 kids were served by TAG this summer at two locations, Keene and Hinsdale. Jennifer Paone coordinated the program and supervised the camp staff, all of whom are CFSAs. Julie Cleary served as team leader for the Hinsdale group, and Isabelle John served as team leader in Keene. As team leaders, they planned and executed group activities to meet the clients’ clinical goals. Those activities included social skills and teamwork building games, swimming, hiking, arts and crafts, talent shows, and picnics.
In addition to the dedicated effort of Children’s Services staff, TAG was made possible through the support of its community partners: the Hinsdale Community Center, the Hinsdale Church, the Monadnock Covenant Church, Keene State College, and the Keene Housing Authority. Further thanks also go to several TAG supporters: Jennifer Bowler for securing the donation of tents from Job Lot and operating budget cash from the Peterborough Rotary, Forest Lake (Town of Winchester), Swanzey Lake (Town of Swanzey), Surry Dam (Town of Surry), the Mad Science Program, Stonewall Farm, and Famous Footwear.
Granite State Monarchs (GSM) and MFS Join Forces in New In SHAPE Peer Initiative
A Contribution from Christine Polito and Peter Sebert, GSM and In SHAPE Program Coordinators
It only made sense to combine the wellness programs at GSM and In SHAPE so that people who are participating in In SHAPE (or on the waiting list) can benefit from what GSM offers, and GSM can gain valuable knowledge from the expertise and years of experience of In SHAPE staff. GSM will have the chance to introduce new people to their center, so that they may learn what is available to them regarding other support groups and activities they offer through Peer Support, and their members will connect with new people from In SHAPE. Both programs are very excited to launch this new exchange of services! This is how it will work:
Every Wednesday, 11am-12pm: Healthy Lifestyles Group, facilitated by Jen from InSHAPE, will be held at Granite State Monarchs at 64 Beaver Street. Participants will explore how taking care of yourself has a positive effect on your mind, body, and spirit. Making lifestyle changes can be very difficult. This group is a way for individuals to get support, receive feedback and education, try new ideas, and develop strategies for positive change. Participants will focus on issues like exercise, becoming active, personal safety, diet and nutrition, sleep, personal hygiene, stress management and relaxation and goal setting.
Every Tuesday, 10:30-11:00am: Meditation, facilitated by Christine Polito of GSM – who has been practicing various forms of meditation for years – will be held at Granite State Monarchs at 64 Beaver Street. Each session will gently guide you through the process of meditation to gain relaxation and mental, physical, and spiritual healing. You will find there is no right or wrong way to meditate. Just be you!
Every Tuesday, 11am-12pm: Fitness and Wellness, facilitated by Christine Polito, Jodie Cota and Sarah Johnston (trained by In SHAPE) at the Granite State Monarchs at 64 Beaver Street. Regardless of what physical shape you are in, you will be supported individually utilizing stretching, warm-up, fun styled aerobics, and cool down to benefit you in every aspect of your health.
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