Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc.

2013

APRIL NEWSLETTER

“People Helping People”www.tvoc.org

From My View:

In This Issue:* From My View- Report from CEO Dennis P. DeMers* From My View- Continued* Upcoming Events

In This Issue:* Norman County Parent Workshop* Foster Grandparent After School Program* Katie Visits Transportation

From My View: If I were a betting man, I would put a few dollars down that we have seen the end of winter. Notice that I would only put a few dollars down. Since we have had mild winters the last few years this one seemed to last longer and take more out of us. I think that I have heard more complaints and witnessed more carping on the Internet than usual. Let’s all hope that we can now plan on warmer weather and crops getting planted in the near future. And, we must remain vigilant regarding our family, friends and neighbors as we face flooding over the next few weeks. Keep abreast of the flood predictions in your area and stay safe.

A few weeks ago we learned that Tri-Valley was selected to “negotiate,” with the Office of Head Start for our Region V and Region XII Head Start/Early Head Start grants under the Designation Renewal System. We were told to sign a document keeping our negotiations confidential and to negotiate when asked to do so. We have complied. To date we have had one conversation with Region V Head Start and are in the process of complying with the instructions we were given. We have yet to hear from Region XII regarding our negotiations. Still, we remain confident that we will be funded for a five year grant cycle for both major grants and that we will be able to look forward to an ever improving Head Start service in our pri-mary three county service area as well as within Minnesota and North Dakota for migrant and seasonal Head Start/Early Head Start services. We must commend the Head Start staff for its diligent and professional demeanor in this endeavor and thank the children, families, Policy Councils and Board of Directors for their patience and commitment over these past two years. It has been a long and challenging time for everyone involved. Sequestration will guarantee that we will face programmatic cuts going forward and we commit to mitigating the cuts as much as is possible.

This coming week is the National Head Start Conference, the Office of Head Start Birth Through Three Conference and the National Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Affiliate and Board meetings. The good news is that combining the three events together reduces the cost of airfare. The bad news is that all events are being held outside of Washington, DC and the room rates and schedules are nightmarish. Thus, we will do our best to participate in all meaningful events and to garner as much as possible from the learning opportunities made available us. I might share that I will also be getting some kind of award on Wednesday, May 1, 2013 for my leadership role in Head Start spanning more than 40 years. I am humbled and grateful that I am still kicking after these many eventful years.

At the last Board of Directors meeting a decision was made to transition the Valley Housekeeping Program commencing on or about July 1, 2013. The Senior Program leadership has initiated this transition and we are looking forward to smooth and seam-less transfer of the homemaking services to area providers. We have contacted all referral agencies, providers, and recipients of service and remain committed to quality services being continued via other sources of service delivery. This is not the first time Tri-Valley has “spun-off,” a service or program going back over our nearly fifty year history. We might note that we have also transferred programs like the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, Senior Meals, WIC and Lady Slipper Designs in the past and have done so with the best intentions of meeting the needs and providing opportunities to our communities and citizens. We have been successful in transferring these and other programs in the past and expect this change to have a positive impact upon those we serve and the communities in which they live. (Continued on Next Page)

This information is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities. Contact us at 1-800-584-7020 or by calling the Telecommunication Relay Service at 711 or 1-800-627-3529. Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer/provider. EOE/M/F/D/V

Did You Know?...* You can receive more information on Tri-Valley’s programs and services by calling 218-281-5832 or 800-584-7020.

* You can keep up with Tri-Valley news on the TVOC website at www.tvoc.org, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TVOCInc and on Twitter at @TriValley_TVOC.

* Everyone can receive the Tri-Valley Newsletter. If you know of anyone who would like a copy please have them contact Mitch Bakken at 218-281-5832 or mitch.bakken@tvoc.org.

Upcoming May Calendar Items:* May 5- Rodney Mack Philadelphia Big Brass (Crookston Civic Music League) @ 7:30 pm* May 6-10- 2013 Teacher Appreciation Week* May 13- End of the year picnic sponsored by CFSC @ 5:30 pm* May 14- Twin Valley Parent Support Group @ 6:30 pm (City Hall)* May 14- Tri-Valley Board of Directors meeting @ 7 pm* May 18- 4th Annual ECFE Rummage Sale (Sponsored by CFSC) @ 9 am* May 20- Region V Head Start / Early Head Start Policy Council @ 6:30 pm* May 22- Fosston Parent Support Group @ noon (Fosston Library)For more information on these events visit www.tvoc.org/calendar/

Tri-Valley Hosts Successful Norman County Parent Workshop

(Omitted from March’s Newsletter) Tri-Valley Opportunity Coun-cil’s West Adventure Center (WAC) in Hendrum, Minn. hosted the Norman County Parent Workshop on Saturday, March 9 at the Norman County West Elementary School. The event had sev-eral sessions and speakers with topics that were geared to both parents and children.

Workshop sessions focused on reducing stress, organization, budgeting, relaxation, fitness, and nutrition. Each session ran four times throughout the day so attendees could take part in all workshop sessions. Norman-Mahnomen Public Health and The Family Voice and Choice Network also had information at the event for those looking for more information on services provid-ed by those programs.

One attendee said, “These were all great topics to improve your family life. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to learn new things." Another stated, “Loved this. Please have again. I attended “What are we Feeding our Children”, and the speaker was excellent.”

The Norman County Parent Workshop was made possible by the Bank of the West Grant, Tri-Valley, and the Norman County West School District.

For more information on programs offered at Tri-Valley Oppor-tunity Council, Inc., call 1-800-584-7020/ 218-281-5832 or visit the website at www.tvoc.org.

(From My View Continued)- Legislation in Washington, DC is sporadic, media sen-sitive and will not (in my opinion) do much to evolve a federal budget that will be of much help to TVOC, those we serve or out communities in the short run. In-stead, we will see continue banter about “gun control,” and, I think, some positive action regarding Immigra-tion Reform. I don’t expect any material action on bud-get issues until late summer.

In St. Paul the DFL controlled House and Senate has their budget targets in place. These will be debated and ultimately resolved in “conference committees,” and I would expect that there will be some positive action on bills and budgets that impact our clients and commu-nities. The session is supposed to end on May 20th and I would expect that to be achieved this year. There will be a lot of spinning regarding an Urban versus Rural outcome. Still, when all the dust settles I remain hope-ful that we will see some positive outcomes for those we serve recognizing that it all depends upon the “eye of the beholder.” After the session is over and bills are signed I will attempt to give you a review from my per-spective.

I do not expect to provide From My View in the May edition of the Newsletter. My wife and I will be travel-ing to Europe in parts of May and June and I promised Linda that I would not bring my computer. Instead, we will travel to ancestral parts of Europe (France, Czech Republic, Germany and Austria) for both her side and my side of our family. We are a little scared, a lot excited and prepared to do a lot of walking now while our legs and knees hold out. If you can hold out for a month I will be back with an article in June.

God Bless, Be Well and Enjoy the Moment,Denny

Tri-Valley Foster Grandparent Keeps Crookston After School Program in Stitches

Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. Foster Grandparent Adeline Woinarowicz wanted to give the kids she volun-teers with a new experience. She wanted to teach them a craft, something other than coloring, something “differ-ent”. The result is an after school program that includes learning how to embroider.

Woinarowicz who has been a Foster Grandparent since 2004 teaches her embroidery skills to kindergarten through first graders (ages 5-9) at Washington Elementa-ry School in Crookston twice a week. She currently has 12 participants in the after school program which is optional for students.

“It’s good to see what they can do and it’s good to start them at a young age,” explains Woinarowicz. “I get so much satisfaction watching the kids improve and they get satisfaction learning and creating something new. They’re always asking if they can sew,” she adds.

Washington Elementary School Principal Denise Oliver enjoys the program stating, “It’s wonderful to see our stu-dents learn a craft that they will remember for a lifetime. They have learned a skill that they may not have other-wise tried without the guidance and support of Grandma Addie. We appreciate Grandma Addie sharing her gifts and talents with our students.”

For more information on Senior Programs or any pro-grams offered at Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc., call 1-800-584-7020/ 218-281-5832 or visit the website at www.tvoc.org.

Grandma Addie with some of her embroidery students.

“Katie” the Crookston Moose has been visiting the Tri-Valley Transportation offices all spring. She has be-come quite the celebrity in Crookston.

Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. (TVOC) is a community action agency headquartered in Crookston, MN. It is our Mission to provide opportu-nities to individuals and communities in order to improve the quality of our lives. In existence since 1965, TVOC provides services in 84 counties in Minnesota and Northeast North Dakota. For more information on services offered by TVOC please call 218-281-5832 or 800-584-7020.