Kinship's newest “Match of the Month” has just celebrated their second anniversary as partners. Congratulations to Hal, Kelli, Ben and Nikki Leland and Willie!

Kinship Partner Director David Downing joined the Brainerd Noon Sertoma group today to announce an exciting plan of action to get more mentors for the 50 or more kids waiting for a partners. The plan will start September first and is an all out campaign to get 100 new mentors in 100 days.

Kinship covers all of Crow Wing County and part of Cass so this is a daunting task. It is very necessary since new program kids wait an average of 300 days to get an new partner. The 160 kids currently matched in the program are 5-15 years of age. David encouraged us to be walking ambassadors for the program.

Send people to www.kinshippartners.org so they can see the children waiting for partners and download the forms necessary to apply. Send names of potential kinship mentors who just need that little push to get involved directly to him at mail@kinshippartners.org. David remarked, "The need is out there, do it for the kids, and make a difference in their lives!" Mentoring takes about 2 hours per week and simply involves inviting these children to participate in your daily life.

David also shared his recent experiences in the Ukraine since he just returned from there. This is his second summer helping to provide Christian education to remote villages most of whom are without electricity and running water. His most moving story about his kinship experiences concerned the effort of his family to keep in touch with a kinship girl who had lost her mentor to cancer. Most mentorship's, even though they are only a year's commitment, last at least three years.

BRODIE B. Is 13 years old and he lives south of Brainerd with his mom and his mom’s boyfriend and his family. He is in the 8th grade and attends alternative classes. He was taken out of mainstream school because he was being oppositional. He also has been diagnosed as ADHD. Brodie’s dad moved out of the state two years ago and it has been really hard on Brodie. He is somewhat quiet but becomes more talkative when he gets to know someone. He really enjoys video games, drawing, card games, bike riding, bowling and swimming. He would like to have an adult partner so that he could get out of his house once in a while and he thinks it would be fun.

GRACE B. Is 12 years old and lives in Baxter with her grandmother. She is in the 7th grade and her favorite subjects are math and multi-media. Her interests include bike riding, rollerblading, bowling, swimming, drawing, fishing, cooking, and computer and electronic games. Grace is a special needs child and would benefit from having an adult partner who is patient, understanding and who has experience with special needs children.

MICHAEL B. Lives in NE Brainerd with his mom, two older brothers and a younger sister. Michael has been waiting for a Kinship Partner for over three years. He is in the 9th grade and his favorite subjects are art, reading and phy Ed. Michael definitely is a video game guy. He loves anything having to do with Nintendo, Play Station and computer games. His other interests include fishing, swimming, sports, bike riding and playing with animals. Michael’s dad died several years ago and this has created a huge void in Michael’s life. He really needs an adult man in his life to help him deal with “guy” issues and do “guy” activities.

SHAKELA B. Lives in NE Brainerd. She is an 8th grader at Forestview Middle school. She lives with her mom and a younger brother and sister. She seems to be quite a friendly, fun-loving young girl. She loves horses and other animals. She also enjoys doing "girly" things such as shopping, hanging out at the mall, messing around with her hair and make-up and talking. However, she also loves snowmobiling and four-wheeling. She said she's doing fine in school and her favorite subject is geometry. She said her other classes are boring! Here is how Shakela describes herself. . . "I'm usually easy going and like to do fun things. I like to hang out and listen to music." She hopes to get an adult partner who also loves her kind of music (rap!).

• Wilfred Brumley returned to the fold today. He was joined by the food lady who has also been missing in action.
• Our new sergeants are definitely making no excuses for their total bias. Actually, they are already having too much fun.
• Joyce Frid got her new nickname today-Parking Hog!
• Attorney Raborn ( Pam B's new pronunciation) was fined (should have been arrested) for sticking his head out of his car window while driving and talking on the cell phone.
• Karen Owen paid a "I am buying thongs" fine. She tried to cover it up by saying "Not those kind of thongs!"
• Cathe Picek got fined for losing her guest last week when she filled in at the last moment at the brat sale.
• Bill was fond of picking on the bankers for advertising bad weather on their signs. Mary and Pam think it is ok to fine the phone company employees for wrong numbers and the dog pound for reminding Mary of her recently deceased dog.
• Bonnie Franke was promised a no fine day any time she wore her "pretty" hat. She decided to take her chances.
• Kudos to Jeff Olson for paying his dollar for not having a pin. Mary and Pam put everyone on notice--WEAR YOUR PINS OR PAY YOUR FINES! Chuck Brenny got by with using his brother as an excuse and somehow poor Missy ended up with his fine. See Tami Webb for a new pin if you need one.

Kari Barnes and her assistant Cathy Picek are the go-to folks for Pipe and Drape information.

Need awards? Did you lose your pin? Tami Webb (tjwebb61@yahoo.com) is the person in charge of awards and meeting paraphernalia.