Brainerd Area Sertoma Club - Brainerd, Minnesota
 
Brainerd Area Sertoma Club - Brainerd, Minnesota
Brainerd Area Sertoma Club - Brainerd, Minnesota Newsletter - Brainerd Area Sertoma Club - Brainerd, Minnesota
Sertoma Winter Wonderland Sertoma Great in 08 Convention
YE OFFICIAL SERTOMA NEWSLETTER
January 7, 2009

Sertoma Sharing Tree

 Newsletter Archives
Program 
David Downing gave us his annual update on Kinship Partners. The last time he spoke was to promote his very successful 100 mentors in 100 days push. January is National Mentoring Month. Over 400,000 people signed up to be mentors in last year's promotion throughout the country. Barack Obama's slogan is "Be the change, mentor a child."Colin Powell will be in the Twin Cities soon to promote the monthly activities. . Governor Pawlenty's proclamation was presented. The statistics presented to support mentoring were impressive. Brainerd Noon Sertoma was thanked for being so involved. Gary Walters was recognized for his role.

Kinship needs to recruit between 70-90 mentors every year to continue their program which has really grown. David challenged us to help. He also encouraged us to participate in the Thursday, January 22, Thank Your Mentor Day. Every one is encouraged to participate and thank everyone that has touched their lives. David remarked, "We do not acknowledge the people who have made a difference in our lives often enough." Kinship has a waiting list of 37 right now. More men are definitely needed! Go to Kinship.org and check out the waiting list. Everyone in the Sertoma club is qualified to be a mentor. People don't think they have enough time but they are easy to schedule around things you already do. Financially KInship tries to help with discount cards and encourage people NOT to spend a lot of money. It is very hard for the younger children on the waiting list especially if their older siblings have a mentor. Perfection is not required--ordinary peopl make extraordinary mentors if they just show an interest in the child and spend some time with them.
Our other function as Sertomans is to be ambassadors for the program in the next few weeks. Go out into the workplace and talk to people about what a wonderful program this is. David has many of the Kinship invitation cards and you can simply hand them out! Thanks to Sertoma for their financial support.
Thanks Pam Sachs for taking notes.
Announcements
Mark thanked all his VP assistants who have filled in for him during his sojourn to North Dakota. He had very positive things to say about the state of the economy based on his experiences there--very little unemployment, lots of new projects!  
Thanks to all who helped with Winter Wonderland. Numbers are looking good. Take down schedule will start next week. Steve Mau will be in charge of the week day crews, Tad Hoskins will be in charge of the weekend crew. Schedule will be in next week's newsletter and shared by email.
Bonnie announced the GEM program--a rare beautiful precious and perfect opportunity to earn an award in Sertoma. We had lovely centerpieces, see photo below. GEM stands for Good Enthusiastic Member and Bonnie encouraged all rookies to apply. She also encouraged old members who missed their first opportunity to get this award to reapply.
Brian Lehman gave us a update in Salvation Army bell ringing. The figures were a bit short of the goal at $96,000 from bell ringing and an individual donation of $10,000 of stock. Thanks to Sertoma for their continued participation in this program.
Paul Gropper got an International President's Award for bringing in a new member, Katie Imgrund.
Brainerd Area Sertoma Club Calendar
Got a big event coming up—want to let everyone know?
Please send to Pam Sachs and it will be posted.
eglponys@brainerd.net
Pipe and Drape Schedule
Ceiling Dates
 
Blue Ticket Winner
Was not claimed so President Korte donated it to Kinship Partners. Dave Clausen finally found the ticket and he agreed.
Pot-O-Gold Winner
Would have been Dallas Humphrey
Attendance                    
Members 86 Guests 2
Guests: Gabriel Williams(Nanci's son) Steve Williams (Kathy's husband)
*Everyone is encouraged to bring potential members to a Sertoma meeting with the Club picking up the cost. However, you will be billed $9.50 for any other guests.
Greeter Schedule
Remember: As greeter you have several duties. You need to arrive about 10 minutes early. It is your job to greet people, help them find their badges and sell them a ticket if they wish to participate. The money collected must be divided by the Greeters equally--half goes to the Current Club Treasurer for the social committee and half goes to the Club President along with the bucket of tickets. Be there by 11:45 and call somebody to substitute for you if you can't be there.
Jan. 14 Richard Slieter, PaulGropper,Chris Gross
Jan. 21 Bruce Heilman, Nate Grotsky, Allen Hall
Jan. 28 Nanci Hallam, Jim Hanson, Karen Imgrund
Sertoman of the Day

Becky Pakarinen is the new Sertoma member who took Sandy Kleist's place. Her husband, Seth, does lighting control systems in Brainerd and they have a two year old and are expecting another one this summer. Becky was very nervous at first but now realizes what a fun group this is. A Crosby native, she has a teaching degree that she put to use in Houston. She taught until they moved back here to be closer to the family. Her sponsor was Matt Davis. She has been participating in Rookie Party Planning, Pipe and Drape and Winter Wonderland.

Lutheran Social Services is a very large company which is located in the old mall. Although she has only worked there for 15 months, she just got a promotion. The company has many different departments and services but Becky works with mortgage and financial counseling. They provide their counseling services free of charge and in this troubled economy have plenty of work. Becky had to email her entire friends and family list to get a most embarrassing moment. Her final choice was the super bowl party in Houston where she peed in the parking ramp. Never touch the railing in a parking ramp was her motto for successful living.

Of Note
Prayers go out to David Pundt who lost his Mom last week.

From the Brainerd Dispatch Vox Pop: Thank you to the Sertoma Club for the Winter Wonderland display. Thank you for extending its run through the week of New Year's. We weren't able to make it out there until New Year's Day and thoroughly enjoyed the displays. This is a wonderful addition to the holiday traditions in our community and will be a holiday tradition within our family hopefully for a long time to come. Thank you again.
Business Notes
Lutheran Social Services is Minnesota’s largest non-profit social services agency. Their services are extended to all. They have help for children, families and older adults.
 
Rumor Corner 
  • Welcome back Mark Korte Reed Campbell, Gary Walters, Gary Phillips,Joe Schulte, Greg Straka, and all others who have been a bit AWOL.
  • What retired DNR guy was shining a bright red light at what sergeant's butt?
  • Kari Barnes is sporting a big owee.
  • According to Bonnie Cumberland attendance to be a GEM is a bit more than President Korte and a little less than the Dog Pound. She encouraged people to take home the gems if they wanted or needed them!!
  • Clausen made the bucket list when he passed his duties on to Reed Campbell. Dave was exempted from his fine for winning the blue ticket drawing because he cleaned up puke at Winter Wonderland.
  • Happy Fine-Tina Dunlap advertising the Good Samaritan Bowl
  • Jackie McCall and Les Franz had the best New Year's Resolution--being nicer to Brian. So Mary Marana and Steve Rose paid their fine.
  • Nate Grotsky and Chris Gross are going to be cage fighters.
  • Gary Walters lied about his New Year's Resolution plans (running a marathon).
  • High priestess Andy is suppose to wear more fur in the 2009 since she was especially pretty in pink today.
  • Fake fur and fancy fingernail fine for Sandy Fowler.
  • Anita Traveca paid for the big Brainerd Dispatch YMCA splash.
  • Brian Lehman paid two dollars for belching into the microphone.
  • John Raboin is giving mumbling lessons to all who sign up by the end of the month.
  • We did left right fines for those who donated blood--their neighbors paid!
  • Kudos to the gifted Bonnie Cumberland from Mike Boen.
  • Art Becker got fined for girl watching at Walmart!!
Photo's
Photos Photos Everywhere New photos go up almost every week on our new Sertoma Photo Gallery. http://sertomaphotos.brainerd.com 
Notes from your President
 
 
If you are not receiving the newsletter notification or the emails announcing special events, please contact Pam Sachs either at 218-821-1130 or eglponys@brainerd.net.
 
Sue VanWagner (suekvw@brainerd.net) is in charge of the Sertoman of the Day schedule. Contact her to take advantage of this great opportunity to share your story and get some free advertising (and no fines for the day). The form is also available here on our website.

Kari Barnes is the go-to person for Pipe and Drape information.

Need awards? Did you lose your pin? Bonnie Cumberland (bcumberland@mailstation.com) is the person in charge of awards and meeting paraphernalia.