We Smuggle Jesus in Through the Cookies

Our speaker for this past forum was Dr. Tom Osborne, Professor of History Emeritus and Deacon, Episcopal Church of America. He told us about all of the different organizations and groups  he's involved with in his community. One such group is a prison ministry group called Kairos. This group spans local, national, and international grounds. There is extensive training that goes along with this program, but according to Dr. Osborne, it is well worth it. The ministry focuses on pouring love into the prisoners according to Dr. Osborne as well. They go back for monthly visits and keep up with the prisoners to make sure they are continuing to grow and mature through the program. 

Dr. Osborne also explained to us that Kairos is an ancient Greek word meaning "special time" or "God's special time." This makes me think about how much time we have left during this semester. Time is winding down quickly, and I have no clue where it all went. It seems like not too long ago we were just moving in, and now bye-bye to Thanksgiving and hello finals, which are right around the corner...! Ahhhhhgggg!!!! (This is me screaming by the way!) Where has the chronus time gone?! But I digress...

Dr. Osborne also spoke to us about The Help Center, which is an interdenominational center that aids the Shoals. They provide direct assistance with food clothes, prescriptions, and sometimes heat/utilities. It is staffed entirely by volunteers, and they raise money from church members, and there is also an option on the bottom of people's utility bills, in the Florence Area, to pay more money on you utility bill that would go to the Help Center to aid others with their utility bill. Dr. Osborne is the coordinator of chaplains at the Help Center. The chaplains aid people spiritually when they visit. In his experience, about 80% of the people who go to the Help Center come because of the drug abuse and devastation. There is also a sister organization called the Colbert Caring Center. In the end, I would like to leave you with a few of Dr. Osborne's words... "There is a natural human reluctance to service. You won't lose the reluctance, but you will overcome it." We all know this one: "It is better to give than to receive."

Wishing everyone the best of luck this week!

<3 Lesley <3

What do you mean a PDF... Is that some satanic cult?!

Immediate past president of the Florence Rotary Club, John Rusevlyan, was our speaker for this past forum. He also owns the local Weikert Realty firm. Mr. Rusevlyan is involved in various civic clubs such as Kiwanis, Civitan, Optimist, and Lions Club, in addition to his involvement with the Rotary Club. He also explained to us that the first Rotary Club was started in 1905 by Chicago attorney, Paul Harris. This was the world's first service club. The Rotary Club is invaluable because not only does it gather people of all types for service, but it gathers people for fellowship as well. The founder stated that he started the Rotary Club "[to create an] organization where men from different professions could gather for fellowship."
The club also has standards and responsibilities that it must live up to, and they are the following:

•  Sustaining or increasing membership (because if you're not growing or maintaining, then you're dying)
• Participating in service projects
• Supporting the Rotary Foundation financially
• Developing leaders

Individual club members have responsibilities as well: service, recruitment and retention, and attendance. Not only this, but the object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the following as well:

1. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service
2. High ethical standards
3. The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian's personal, business, and community life.
4. International understanding

(Side note: I paraphrased on a couple of items on this list.)
The Rotary Club lists financially supporting the Rotary Foundation as one its responsibilities, so here seems like a good place to describe the Rotary Foundation which is a large endowment fund created to improve health, support education, and alleviate poverty. For instance, the Rotary Foundation funded Polio Plus, a movement to eradicate Polio. $1.2 billion was raised, and that allowed 2 billion children under the age of 5 to be vaccinated, thereby, eradicating Polio. Locally, the Rotary Foundation supports Shoals Scholar Dollars, which is a program that pays two years of tuition. Currently this fund is in its infancy, but it supports two years of tuition at Northwest Shoals Community College, if the student graduates fro high school with a 2.5 GPA and with no behavior problems.
In the end, Mr. Rusevlyan left us with this: "The Four-Way Test" of the things we think say or do

1. Is it the Truth?
2. Is it Fair to all concerned?
3. Will it build Goodwill and Better Friendships?
4. Is it Beneficial?

Beyond that, he also told us to get involved with things such as coaching, mentoring, church, civic groups, or business groups (like the Chamber of Commerce).
So, that's all folks! See ya on the flip side... ;) (Side note: This is for you Emily and our obsession with Bridesmaids)
<3 Lesley <3

Sandy My Darling You Hurt Me Real Bad... Oh Sandy!

This past week, our speaker was supposed to be Ms. Elizabeth Moore, director of Red Cross, but she had to cancel because of disaster relief for hurricane Sandy. For a while, we spoke about what all Red Cross does and the responsibilities of disaster relief. We also shared some of our own interactions and experiences with Red Cross. I also learned something new as well. In certain countries with different religious beliefs, the name changes. For instance, in Muslim dominated countries it is know as the Red Crescent and in Jewish dominated countries, the Red Diamond. Not only that, but Red Cross does more than just disaster relief. They also help with keeping families in touch with military family members if they are in high-risk areas or something that keeps them from communicating regularly. I did not know all of these things before last week, and that just goes to show that you really do learn new things all the time.
We also discussed all the different volunteer opportunities that people have taken part in so far this semester. Many people have done some very interesting things so far. I know personally, that I have enjoyed all of the things that I have done so far. From Lions Lend a Hand, to helping raise money for United Way, to giving candy and books for Halloween, I have had some great opportunities, and I can not wait to do more things for the people of the Shoals area. I wish everyone luck with their future endeavors and civic engagement opportunities.
<3 Best Wishes <3
Lesley

Scorched Trees, Male Models, and Civic Engagement Oh My!

Bradley Dean of Billy Reid was our last speaker for forum. He wears many hats for the Billy Reid company but I wrote down that he is the creative and digital design director. He is a UNA graduate and is very involved in the community. He's involved in many groups and committees that aim to keep the Shoals beautiful and more specifically historically preserved and clean. Mr. Dean had a very inspiring subject, even despite his nervousness and sporadic nature. He basically told us that it is our duty to go out and find out for ourselves what we need to know to get the things done that we want to see done.
Beyond that, Mr. Dean also told us it's OK not to be a leader. All of our lives we are always told to be leaders, but Mr. Dean showed us a video clip that sums up this myth quite well. A leader is just a nut job if he or she does not have any followers, so we should sometimes courageously be a first follower. Because, if not, "there is no movement without a first follower." Not only that, but one can not be a good leader without being knowledgeable; therefore, we should also soak up knowledge from elders and learn how to pitch ideas so that we can change problems where we see them. Mr. Dean did this by experimenting with growing organic cotton, joining the Heritage Preservation Inc., joining the Historical Board, and coming up with new and innovative ideas for First Fridays.
Mr. Dean gave us a lot to think about after speaking to us on Monday. I never quite looked at things the way he did, and he has inspired me to make sure I do things to the best of my ability, and be the change that I want to see.
<3 Best Wishes and Happy Days for all <3
Lesley
XOXOXOXO