 It
was time to learn more about the battered women’s shelter in
Brainerd. A. Louise Seliski is Director of the Women’s Center of
Mid-Minnesota which has been in existence for 27 years and has
been used by over seven thousand clients.Battered women and
children are provided with food, clothing, protection, and
professional advice on dealing with their situation. In 1994 a new
shelter was built in Brainerd through donations from private
foundations. Although most shelters try to keep their address out
of the public eye, this is almost impossible in a small town.
However, their building is very secure and the local police
respond to emergency calls within two minutes.
The other portion of their services came about due to a 1996
tragedy where two children were murdered while in the custody of
their abusive father. The people involved with the family went out
and got the Alex and Brandon Child Safety Act passed which
improved the process to get orders of protection. Then the Alex
and Brandon Child Safety Center was established to provide
supervised visits and safe exchanges. Louise remarked, “I truly
believe there is a period of time when people are “lethal” in
these situations, but this does not extend for years and children
need to see their parents.” In the past fiscal year, this non
residential facility has provided 1100 supervised visits and 400
safe exchanges. Parents who have been ordered to see their
children only under supervision give their very best to their
children at that time. The actual cost of the supervised visit is
$56. The most the center charges is $20 and the least is $5. The
funding to provide this service is one of their greatest needs.
The women’s center is funded through 70% support from the state
and the rest of their funding comes through foundation grants, and
individual contributions. |
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Thanks Pam Sachs for taking notes!!!! |
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| Announcements |
| Thanks to a Great Group of Pipe and Drape
Volunteers. President Clausen personally thanked the great
group that went to Wadena for Pipe and Drape and helped the
club to earn $1, 500. |
| Oct. 18 - Board Meeting 7 a.m.
Northwinds Grille |
| Oct. 19 - Food Shelf Day 2
Please bring 2 non perishable items to help the Salvation Army
restock the local supplies. Joyce Anderson will be on hand to
collect $2 from those who forget. We collected $133.50 plus
some food this week. |
| Nov 16 - Sertoma Meets at
Cragun’s Legacy We are planning our noon meeting around an
opportunity to enjoy the Festival of Trees. |
| Nov. 12 thru 17 - Festival of Trees Linda Twaddle presented
this year’s information on this worthwhile activity which
helps to keep many of the residents at their non profit
facility in care when their funds are exhausted. |
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| Pipe and
Drape Schedule |
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| Ceiling Dates |
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| Ticket Winner |
| Rory Coit (contributed all to the
food shelf collection) |
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| Pot-O-Gold
Winner |
| Would have been Brian Skogen |
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| Attendance |
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Guests: A. Louise Seliski
from the Women's Center and Brooke Hoheisel |
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| *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. |
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| Greeter
Schedule |
| Remember:
Greeters (Be sure to take care of your duties that include meeting
people at the door and getting the ticket money counted and
divided with half going to Tami to give away and half to Diane for
the social committee's budget). 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 and half goes to the Club President along with the
bucket of tickets. Be there by 11:45 and call somebody if you
can't. Call Patty Hartman. |
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| Oct 19 |
Rita Johnson, Stacy Johnson, Wendy Johnson |
| Oct 26 |
Milo Johnson, Scott Johnson, Bob Joyce |
| Nov 2 |
Jerry Keimig, Paul Keprios, Brian
Kirkpatrick |
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| Sertoman of
the Day |
 Bob
Nibbe was our honored Sertoman today. Those of us who have seen
the Swinging Sertomans know that Bob is an integral part of that
talented and entertaining group that raises so much money for our
community donations every year.
He and his wife Caroline have two young sons and two older ones
that are Bob’s stepsons. He is a civil engineer with Mn/DOT and
has been introduced to numerous groups as Mn/DOT’s chief Pot-Hole
Designer. He is a collector of unfinished projects. He gardens,
fishes, flies model airplanes, makes stained glass windows and
traps gophers on their 160 acre farm. They raise 80 acres of hay
and have started a U-Pick strawberry patch that will be ready
soon. They have a donkey, dogs, sheep, rabbits and chickens. He
also has a purple belt in Tae-Kwon-Do.
Bob has been a hard working Sertoma member for 14 years and his
sponsors were Bob Ehrich and Kevin Wernberg. He is currently chair
of the Heritage Essay Contest. His most embarrassing moment came
in front of a big crowd of In Fisherman folk who didn’t get one of
his funniest jokes of the many in the Swinging Sertoman program
because he told it completely wrong. The big silence that was
suppose to be filled with laughter was prolonged by his fellow
band members into an eternity.
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Of
Note |
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It is on a sad note that we say goodbye to Jeff Birks whose busy
life has gotten to full for Sertoma. Thanks for four good years
Jeff and come back any time. |
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| Rumor Corner
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- John Raboin is currently touting himself as QB for the
Vikings.
- Dick Stoltman is famous—seems he and some wildlife made the
pages of an outdoors magazine.
- The Caterer of the Year returned from Ireland to collect her
hugs for her recent honor while she chanted Erin Go Brae.
- Gene Farone celebrated his 20th anniversary today with
fellow Sertomans and got fined big time for not being with
Shelli.
- Being retired and sitting all in a group makes you a target
for Sadam Gropper and his mass fines.
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Photo's |
| Photos Photos Everywhere New photos
go up almost every week on our new MSN Community homepage. This
community is for the club, easy to join and gives you the
opportunity to add edit or delete any photos that are posted as
well as leave messages for fellow Sertomans. It is a good way to
thank someone for doing a good job or give them some positive
feedback for a big event in their life. If you wish to view the
current photographs or check out the new online directory go
to: http://communities.msn.com/BrainerdNoonSertoma/_whatsnew.msnw |
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