Jane Chindvall

SMILES has a new team-member!  Jane Chindvall is now part of SMILES and is already making fun happen all around us!

Jane brings a lot of energy to the programs at SMILES.  She is the new “FUN and ACTIVITIES” person, organizing parties, recreational events and running the adaptive ski program with volunteers and Mankato Area Adaptive Ski Program partners ACCESS and Mt Kato.

Skiing is still going on through March 4^th, and Jane hosted a Valentine’s Party last week in Mankato. Wow! What a turn out!  We want to thank everybody who came and helped us have a good time with face painting, crafting mobiles, pizza for supper, bingo and a lot of fun.

We asked Jane what she thought of her new experience at SMILES and she said “SMILES’ Recreation Program is an untapped resource!  Many more people need to find out about it so they can come and do recreational activities with us.”

Jane is already working on getting the Baseball season organized, because registration for our two baseball teams starts March 1^st and ends April 3^rd.  Anyone in school from 1^st grade to getting ready for graduation can be on a SMILES Baseball Team.  The season starts Thursday, May 4^th, and ends Thursday, June 28^th, with weekly practice and games from 6:00 pm to 7:15 pm.   Call Jane at 345-7139, (888-676-6498 toll free) or use this form to contact her (hotlinked to your email).

Jane is looking forward to building SMILES Volunteer coordination for coming events like baseball, and the Fairmont Fishing event on June 2^nd, water skiing and the Block Party, which will be on Tuesday, August 21, 2012.  Jane says volunteering is a huge part of the SMILES program.  She is looking forward to getting to know our SMILES volunteers and their interests and needs for volunteering.  She says, “the value of volunteering is all about making it work for both SMILES and the volunteer.  Minnesotans are very generous with their time and desire to help people. That’s what makes volunteering so rewarding.”

Jane is committed to the success of SMILES volunteers’ experience.  She is holding a volunteer Open House Wednesday, June 6^th at 5:00 pm for people to learn more about volunteering with SMILES and get connected with an opportunity that makes them happy.

What makes Jane happy?  “Having a full life is important,” she says, “and that’s different for everybody.  Knowing the person you work with and what they want and need is what makes me happy.”  We are happy to welcome Jane to SMILES.

SMILES Offices in Fairmont, Mankato, New Ulm and Waseca will close from December 26 – 29, 2011 and January 2, 2012.  We will be open December 30, 2011 and January 3, 2012.  Happy Holidays! 

SMILES offers students the opportunity to job shadow as part of career planning. Today we have a guest blogger who is exloring career options:

Today at SMILES was fun.I learned many new things. For an example, I didn’t know we had a center for independent living. I’m glad I came today.

Being prepared for harsh winter weather is important for protecting your safety.  Jerry Breitkreutz will speak on the topic this Thursday, December 8^th at the Winter Workshop hosted by SMILES in Mankato.  SMILES talked with Jerry about what we need to know to be ready for winter weather.

“The first thing,” Jerry said, “is to protect yourself so you don’t get too cold.  You have to know how to prevent things like frostbite and hypothermia, which can happen if a person gets too cold.”

Jerry says a person can protect themselves from dangerous weather by dressing properly and paying attention to what’s going on with the weather.  Heavy snow, ice and wind chill conditions are dangerous for everybody, and especially so for people with disabilities.

“You don’t notice it right away,” he says, “but it can sneak up on you!  You don’t really find out what it’s like until it happens.”

Jerry has been caught outside during a winter storm when the power was knocked out and he couldn’t get in at home.  He learned the hard way what not to do if you get frostbite.

Jerry will be sharing more of his lessons and tips at the Winter Workshop on Thursday, December 8^th at SMILES Mankato office in the Boardroom from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM.

Join us to find out what you should do prepare for if you are affected by a winter storm.  We’ll talk about what to do when you are outdoors, if you have car trouble or get stuck in the snow.  There will be handouts such as lists for what should be in your emergency kits and a free personal safety kit for the first 20 people who come to the workshop.

We asked Jerry what his best advice was: “If you’ve got a phone, you should call for help.”  Then he thought a moment and said, “Even better – don’t go out in severe weather!”

There’s still time to sign up.  Just call 345-7139 and let us know you want to come to the Winter Workshop on Thursday.  See you there!    Winter Workshop

With just under 7 1/2 hours left for this year’s statewide online giving event, nearly $9 Million dollars have been donated by more than 31,000 individuals to almost 3500 non-profit organizations… and there’s still over 7 hours to go!  Keep it up, folks, and thanks for all the support and kind words…  Here’s just a few of the comments we heard today:

What a great organization!

SMILES provides to those most in need.

We are very happy to assist this wonderful organization in our Mankato, MN community.

The employees of SMILES are dedicated to their mission in good times and bad.

Thank you all so much!

What are you doing for the “Great Minnesota Give Together?”

Wednesday, November 16th is the “Great Minnesota Give Together.”  People all over Minnesota will be giving to their favorite non profit organizations during this 24 hour online giving event.  We invite you to join in the fun.  Last year 42,000 donors logged on to GiveMN.org and donated over $10 Million for Minnesota non-profits.  You can help SMILES win $1000, $5000 or even $10,000 just by giving $10 or more on November 16th at GiveMN.org! 

Prizes will be awarded to donors randomly every hour during the 24 hour event, which runs from Midnight November 16th until Midnight November 17th.  Each winner will be able to add $1000 towards his or her donation to the non profit of their choice!  At 11:59 pm ONE lucky organization will be chosen for a “Golden Ticket” of $10,000! Your online contribution during this event helps keep SMILES on the leaderboard so we have a chance to win, too!

Get more information about giving to SMILES and the “Great Minnesota Give Together” on our website at www.smilescil.org. 
Then go online for the “Great Minnesota Give Together” on November 16th, anytime from Midnight  on and “click, contribute, change your world!”     

From Wilbur Neuschwander Frink of the Arc SW: Greetings to all of you!  I hope that you are having a wonderful day in this season of beautiful colors all around us.  Please find attached a flyer for an event coming up on Thursday, October 13th in Mankato.  Self-Advocates Minnesota SW, Arc Southwest and SMILES are collaborating on bringing a wonderful art show to Mankato on this day.  The art work features original pieces by artists with disabilities in Minnesota.  Two shows will be featured.  The first is called “Open and Shut Case”, which are sculptural pieces of art that focus on human rights and the United Nations Convention on the Human Rights of People with Disabilities.  The other show is called, “See Their Faces”, which are portraits that were rendered by artists of people who lived in Minnesota’s state institutions in the past.  The portraits were completed by looking at old photographs.  This artwork was completed as part of the Remembering with Dignity Project- the grassroots effort in Minnesota to replace numbered gravestones at institutional/Regional Treatment Center cemeteries with the names of people.

The show is open for one night only at the SMILES conference room on Thursday, October 13th from 5-7 PM.  It will then begin to travel in the southwest region.  Refreshments will be served.  Please pass this flyer on to others in our community who may be interested.  We would love to see you!  Have a great day and many thanks to you!

Best wishes,

Wilbur

Wilbur Neushwander-Frink