May 2014 - Assistance League of Tulsa

Caring and Commitment in Action
Assistance League®
of Tulsa
Tulsa
MISSION : Assistance League of Tulsa is dedicated to clothing disadvantaged students and
meeting essential needs of the most vulnerable in our community.
May 2014
Volume 39, Issue 9
Fantasy Fashion Show Spotlights
Bargains Finds
By Dayon Smith
Modeling above are Jan Fox and her granddaughters, Bella and Mia Blake, Anne Quint, Audrey Kiittelson, Travis Chambers and Edie Slack. Thank
you to all the models, Karen Larsen for being the emcee and Nevin Loerke and Marsha Darden of the hospitality committee. Well Done!
The Fashion Fantasy Show was held
April 25 at Indian Springs Country
Club. A full house of 200 members
and guests enjoyed the event, emceed by KJRH Channel 2 News Anchor, Karen Larsen. Seventeen models paraded ensembles pulled from
the racks of Bargains Resale Shop,
each depicting some dream event in
their personal lives, as the theme
based on the 50’s and 60’s. ’I
Dreamed’ ad campaign of Maidenform
Company was carried out. Providing
beautiful background music on the
piano was Joe Wilkinson.
Fashion show and hospitality committees worked closely with the club staff
to provide a delicious luncheon in a
lovely springtime setting. Also, for
the first time, a mini boutique and
jewelry sale was added to the days
activities. It was a chance to showcase Bargains merchandise to those
who were unaware of the store and
the many wonderful things to be
found there. Total sales of $1598.18
made it a most successful addition.
It was a day of fashion, food and fun
for the enjoyment of our many dedicated members and a chance to introduce Assistance League® of Tulsa
and our many worthwhile causes to
potential new members.
Assistance League® of Tulsa
2013-2014 Officers
President: Pat Erickson
President-elect: Kathleen Moss
Vice Presidents:
Philanthropic Programs: Ora Harrison
Resource Development: Farryl Stokes
Membership: Donna Spielman
Operations/Crisis Response: Glenna Morrison
Public Relations: Elaine deJongh
Education: Janet Main
Elective Officers:
Recording Secretary: Marilyn Brill
Finance: Pat Holder
Treasurer: Ginny Thomas
Elective Committee Chairs:
Orientation: Kathy Harper
Bargains Resale Shop: Deni Phillips
Operation School Bell®: Sussie Hyden
Strategic Planning: Sue Christmann
Appointive Officers and Chairs:
Parliamentarian and Bylaws: Ginny Barrow
Business Administration
Computer/Office: Patty Evatt
Recorder of Service Hours: Mary Sue Whitney
Assistant Treasurers: Patty Evatt/Carole Hale/
Eddie Slack
Thank you to Joe Wilkinson
for the beautiful music for our
Fashion Fantasy Show!
Membership
Placement: Carmen Kinsey
Yearbook: Mickie Davidson/Martha Nichols
Public Relations
Newsletter Editor: Marinee Ricks/Marianne Pickering
History and Archives: Deloris Taylor
Philanthropic Programs
Betty Bradstreet Assistance Fund: Nancy Kirby
Senior Programs: Ginny Greek
Mini Programs: Judy Roberts/Nancy Ferguson/
Sharon Kauffman
Assistance League® of Tulsa Advisory Council
Resource Development
Phyllis Dotson, Chairman
Daniel J. Moore
Buddy Estrada
Susan Neal
Julie Gustafson
Steve Turnbo
Care and Concern: LaVerne Beene
Dr. June Holmes
Larry Vorba
Hospitality: Marsha Darden/Nevin Loerke
Jeff James
Mollie Williford
Luncheon: Deloris Taylor/Linda Vorba
Elizabeth Johnson
Paula Wood
OSB Letter Campaign: Lynne Hoe, Martha Nichols
Grant Writing Committee: Marilyn Nance
Social/Relationships
Page 2
President’s Message
Since this is our last newsletter for this fiscal year, I must tell you all what a great
pleasure and privilege it has been to serve
as your President the past year. I keep
getting asked if I will be relieved to pass the
baton but to be totally honest, I have enjoyed working with all of you as we all serve
the Tulsa Community and I have such total
faith in our incoming President, Kathleen
Moss, that it will be my pleasure to continue working for Assistance League® of Tulsa
as we continue to fulfill our mission.
Our Fashion Fantasy Style Show was an
outstanding success! It was so amazing to
see so many of our members and to see so
many guests (and possible new members).
It was a great day of smiles and laughter
and we thank Dayon, Deni, Marsha, Nevin,
and so many others who made the day very
special.
Volume 39, Issue 9
By Pat Erickson. President
a Little Dream…(or a Big One). Children
are good role models when it comes to
believing in possibilities. We rarely see
a child who isn’t curious and eager to
explore the world and solve its puzzles.
They usually impatiently look forward to
the next activity or adventure because of
the promise it holds. And they are willing to dream! As adults, we often have
to accept that the world is filled with myriad challenges and problems we can’t do
anything about. Of course, we can’t take
on every issue that faces us, but we can
strengthen our belief that no problem
facing us is insurmountable.
The question should be, is it worth trying
to do, not can it be done.
As we begin our new year, I would like you
to focus on possibilities and maybe “Dream
Allard Lowenstein
Pat Erickson at the Fantasy Fashion Show
in April
→
Care and Protection of Children
This has been a banner year for the
“care and protection of children program”, formerly called mini programs.
We started off with our membership
raising money, be it from Bargains, grant
writing, or letter writing. What a wonderful group of women, all of whom can
really make it happen! Then the finance
committee funded us as requested, and
By Judy Roberts
we went about town spending it all, and
getting it delivered to TAPC and EIS.
Asking these agencies for a “wish list”
helped and made us realize how very
basic their requests were...think underwear! So, from pak-n-plays to car seats
to booster seats to underwear, we did
it all. Many thanks to so many members for their roles in our money mak-
ing endeavors and to the committee members who did the shopping and delivering.
These agencies have once again been overwhelmed by our generosity.
Slate of Officers for 2014-2015
The Nominations Committee presents a spectacular slate of officers for the upcoming year. They are:
President – Elect – Mary Sue Whitney
Education VP- Pat Erickson
Philanthropic Programs VP – Ora Harrison
Finance Chair – Pat Holder
Resource Development VP – Sharon Coffman
Treasurer – Ginny Thomas
Membership VP – Sue Warner
Bargains – Martha Nichols
Public Relations VP – Donna Spielman
Operation School Bell – Loretta Raschen
Operations VP – Marianne Pickering
Strategic Planning – Sue Christmann
Secretary – Deanna Mendenhall
Orientation Chair – Nancy Sacra.
A big thanks to the nominations committee for a job well done. The committee members were: Deanna Mendenhall,
Donna Spielman, Sue Warner, Judy Roberts, Ginny Greek, Ora Harrison and Pat Holder. We send a special thank you
to Judy Roberts who opened her home for our meetings. She always had drinks and snacks available for us.
Page 3
Assistance League® of Tulsa
Betty Bradstreet Assistance Fund
On Thursday, April 24th, Pat Erickson,
Glenna Morrison and Nancy Kirby
visited Penn Elementary. Kandis Bardell is the music teacher who
received a grant in the amount of $785.22 to purchase Music books,
titled Essential Elements books, reeds and instrument maintenance
materials necessary to keep the instruments they have in working order.
Kandis told us that as a result of her success receiving our grant, she
wrote and received other grants. She and her principal decided to pursue changing the focus of their school to become, Penn Performing
Arts Elementary School. We were very excited to learn that we were
making a difference in the direction of this school!
We met Principal Brandie Berry and she advised that she had received the green light from her boss, although money and space issues need to be addressed. She hopes to add three new teachers in
support of the arts for art, dance, drama and debate and perhaps a
fourth teacher to focus on music with Kandis.
We were reminded that even a small Betty Bradstreet Assistance
Fund grant can make a big difference in Tulsa Schools.
By Nancy Kirby
Students at Penn Elementary learn music fundamentals with
materials from the Betty Bradstreet Assistance Fund. ↑
Keyboards Foster Achievement at Will Rogers High
By Judy Thomas
Karen Miller’s BBAF grants in 2012 and 2013 funded six full
sized keyboards plus benches, music and keyboard stands at
Will Rogers College High School. The keyboards have
weighted keys and are full sized giving students the feel of a
real piano so they can play more advanced pieces. They also
aid in composing and music theory.
The benefits of studying piano include:
Most of Karen Miller’s students have never played a piano
and do not have a piano or keyboard at home. Often after
completing the beginning piano class, students request that
their families purchase a piano. One young man was inspired
to practice at home all summer after his family purchased a
piano. When he returned to school in the fall he was able to
play very complex and difficult music.
* performing in front of students, faculty and parents
in recitals results in recognition and encouragement,
Karen Miller teaches piano and vocal music at Will Rogers
College High School. Betty Bradstreet Assistance Fund committee members have visited her class both years she received grants. She is an outstanding teacher, knowledgeable
in her subject area and very organized to maximize her instruction time with her high school students.
Page 4
* for some students this is the reason to be at school
every day,
* as students become proficient at playing piano selfconfidence increases,
* playing and reading music enhances understanding
patterns that also are found in math, reading and science. This strengthens academic skills.
* This may provide scholarship opportunities.
Assistance League® of Tulsa
thanks the following people so
very much for their generous
contributions to
Operation School Bell®
in April 2014.
Public Relations
Volume 39, Issue 9
By Elaine dJongh
Apache Corp
Grace and Franklin Bernsen Foundation
George Kaiser Family Foundation
Michel and Barbara Nelson
U.S. Payments LLC
↑ Mark Davis, Mental
Health Association in Tulsa, and Elaine deJongh
prepare for our new chapter video. Melanie Wignall
and crew from Wignall
Productions spent two
days filming interviews
and ALTulsa activities for
the video that will premiere
at our June luncheon. ←
Serving as Public Relations VP for Assistance League® of Tulsa has been a very
rewarding experience for me. You are
the greatest people to work with and together we took the opportunities to promote Assistance League® of Tulsa! We
had articles written about us in the Tulsa
World and other print media, some TV
coverage and we made the big push to
use social media.
You enthusiastically participated in our
new chapter video which should be ready
for viewing at our June luncheon. Our
website will be redesigned and I am excited that more information about what we
do as a chapter will be continuously updated for all to see.
I am very proud to be a member of Assistance League® of Tulsa and as I finish
this month serving as VP of public relations I will always have very fond memories of working with a wonderful group of
women who are so dedicated to helping
our community.
I can assure you that public relations will
continue to grow and seize every opportunity to keep getting the word out about
us.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity
to serve in this position.
Book Fair
Union High School percussion students display Brazilian
percussion instruments purchased with funds from
the Betty Bradstreet Assistance Fund. ↓
By Mary Sue Whitney and Janet McCoy
A Scholastic Book Fair will be on site
in Operation School Bell the last week
in May. A committee will select and
purchase books for OSB on Tuesday,
May 27. The Fair will be open for
members to shop Wednesday, May 28
and Thursday, May 29 10:00 –
2:00.There will be a large selection of
books for all reading levels and interests at reasonable prices. We will receive 10% of everything
you spend in “book bucks” to purchase additional books for
OSB PLUS for every book you purchase, an additional one
of equal value may be selected free of charge. You may
choose to donate the free book to OSB or the National
Make A Difference Day project or keep it to delight your special grandchild! Sales will be credit card only. Come take
advantage of this opportunity to do some Birthday or early
Christmas shopping while helping to boost
the OSB book inventory.
Page 5
Assistance League® of Tulsa
Bargains
By Deni Phillips
Spring has come to Bargains! On April 7, we had a
work day where we removed all of the winter merchandise from Bargains and replaced it with our
new Spring and Summer merchandise. We worked
hard, laughed a lot, and had lunch. Altogether a
very rewarding day, and our customers were
thrilled. The new merchandise has stimulated
sales and we expect to have another very good
sales month. Bargains clothing has appeared in
three style shows = Mental Health Association in
Tulsa, Kiwanitas at Montereau, and the ALTulsa
Style Show at Indian Springs Country Club. We set
up boutiques at the Kiwanitas and ALTulsa shows,
and sold over $1000 at each event.
A special thanks to the class of new members, who
have been wonderful in coming to volunteer at Bargains in various capacities.
We have been very fortunate in having several estate sale deliveries, and the clothing coming in to
Bargains is increasing. We thank our very generous donors, but could use extra help in getting the
merchandise out to the floor. If you have even a
Sara Duncan introduced models at the Kiwanitas Fashion Show at Montereau Resmall amount of time you could give to Bargains,
tirement Community. Models were Jo Ann Smith, Kay Owens, Diane Rodehaver,
we would appreciate in it very much.
Jan Branson and Gloria Wehrenberg from Kiwanitas and Barbara Meyer, Susan
Mickie and Sylvia Dean, from Montereau. Gloria Wehrenberg is a former AL Tulsa
member and Sylvia Dean is a former AL Tulsa president.. Carole Hale and Janet
Davis designed an on-site Bargains boutique so residents could shop. Ester
Sanborn was invalabule as cashier assisted by Deni Phillips.
Be a Bell Ringer
By Martha Nichols and Lynne Hoe
Bargains Resale Shop sparkles and shines at recent sale
featuring silver and crystal. Like us on Facebook to find
out about future special events!
Page 6
Chairmen Lynne Hoe and Martha Nichols celebrate this year’s “Be a Bell
Ringer” letter campaign. Over $104, 818 was raised for Operation School
Bell®. Many thanks for everyone’s help and their generous donations.
Caring and Commitment in Action
Tulsa
President: Pat Erickson
Newsletter Editors: Marinee Ricks
and Marianne Pickering
W E ARE ON THE WEB!
W W W . A LT U L S A . O R G
Assistance League® of Tulsa
Vision:
Assistance League® of Tulsa aspires to meet the needs of
the most impoverished in our community.
Mission:
Assistance League ®of Tulsa is dedicated to clothing disadvantaged students and meeting essential needs of the most
vulnerable in our community.
Core Values:
Commitment-showing compassion for all
Accountability-being fiscally responsible to our donors and
our community
Pat Holder, Mary Sue Whitney and Kathleen Moss join Ken Levit,
Director of the George Kaiser Family Foundation, at the Tulsa Public
School Art Show. The amazing giraffe was created by students at
McClure Elementary with the support from the
Betty Bradstreet Assistance Fund.
Leadership-demonstrating professionalism that is visionary
and ethical
Respect-appreciating and considering others
Self esteem-enhancing success in the people we serve