VISTAs of UWWC Put Their WHOLE Heart Into It

This spring the Kids Care Clinic is implementing the fourth BOUNCE program with the help of VISTA,

Annmarie Blodgett, which will be offered to Centennial, Dos Rios, and Maplewood elementary students

with BMI’s greater than 90%. Childhood obesity has been a growing concern over the last thirty years,

the clinic created this program to address this growing epidemic. VISTA, Annmarie’s role in the

program has been to coordinate presenters and volunteers, search and solicit resources and equipment,

work with the providers to create the curriculum, and to create a manual to ease the planning and

implementation of future BOUNCE programs.

Annmarie has worked with the PE teacher at Centennial elementary to share resources and information

to enhance the program such as using the gym and cafeteria at Centennial on Wednesday afternoons for

the class, including their extensive exercise and activity equipment supply. This allows BOUNCE to

expand the activities and lessons facilitated with children and families. They are using the “fitness

grams” conducted by the PE teacher, which includes the children’s height and weight, to eliminate the

need to repeat the same fitness testing during valuable class time. The BOUNCE kids are also allowed

to have an afterschool snack before class with the other students participating in afterschool clubs and

activities. This is funded by a grant the school received, so it is incredibly generous of them to allow the

students to participate in the afterschool snack program.

Annmarie is also reaching out to the UNC Exercise Science and Dietetics departments for volunteers as

well as the wonderful VISTAs. Together Annmarie and her Supervisor submitted a Special Project Grant

Proposal to receive $2,500 to purchase exercise equipment, incentive prizes, t-shirts, water bottles, and

nutrition and fitness education materials. We are all crossing our fingers that they will receive the

funding! GREAT JOB ANNMARIE!

Interested in learning more? Contact: VISTA Project – United Way of Weld County 814 9

th Street

Greeley, CO 80631

PO Box 1944

Greeley, CO 80832

P: 970-353-4300 ext 2570

F: 970-353-4738

Email: erika@unitedway-weld.org

February 2011

Vol. 2 Issue 2

The VISTA Verse

The VISTA Verse

February 2011

Vol. 2 Issue 2

Helping Refugees in the Community

VISTA, Alexandra Walker at Global

Refugee Center (GRC) assisted in developing an

educational event for the refugees called, "Getting

Connected: Workshops for Healthy Living and

Parenting," This event brought in legal, medical and

human services professionals to educate the refugees

on the services each offer, how to navigate each

system, and making the systems accessible for the

refugees.

There were six workshops running

simultaneously with small groups and a translator

rotating throughout the day. Refugees learned about

healthcare, women's health, insurance, human

services, parenting, and the legal system in Greeley.

More than 160 people attended this event. Alexandra

recruited three VISTAs in their off-time, Sarah,

Lauren and Aylin, and 10 other volunteers to acts

guides and manage registration.

Alexandra has been working extensively

with volunteer information and creating databases.

Recently, she made a complete annual report

compiling data about demographics, reasons people

come to the GRC, and numbers of new students,

students in class per month and new volunteers.

She also has updated the power point presentation

and assisted with writing a 13 page volunteer

orientation manual detailing any and everything a

volunteer at the GRC needs to know.

Currently she is enhancing an existing

system of tracking volunteers by consistently

recording volunteer hours to better see the immense

time and effort volunteers put into the GRC. This is

important not only for our GRC’s records but also in

showing the community how many people and man-

hours are put into this valuable organization.

So Long, Farewell

This month we say goodbye to two VISTAs members, who are

completing their one year commitment to AmeriCorps. We want

to thank Lindsey Distler and Alanna Gauthier for their dedication

and all around great work this year! These members are gearing

up to finish strong and leave behind a great legacy.

Lindsey Distler has done some incredible work while serving as

a VISTA with Youth and Family Connections. Some of her

accomplishments have included organizing youth discussions to

better understand Youth and Family Connections clients,

planned and implemented special events such as the Heroes

Celebration, and assisted in research for the RITE (Reaching

Independence Through Education) program.

Alanna Gauthier has brought an innovative view as a VISTA at

Greeley Transitional House. A few of her successes include

enhancing the Volunteer Program and improving recruitment

rates, organizing and implementing fundraising events, creating

a greater awareness in the county, and researching potential

grant opportunities for Child/Adolescent Program and Follow-up

Program. We thank them for all their hard work and wish

them the best of luck in their future endeavors.

IMPORTANT & INTERESTING DATES!

Black History Month

02/02 Ground Hog’s Day

02/14 Valentine’s Day, Single’s Awareness Day &

National Organ Donor Day

02/16 Bridges of Hope 6:30pm 1321 9th Avenue

02/18 Valentines Sale at Habitat ReStore

02/20 President’s Day – Federal Holiday

02/21 Mardi Gras

02/23 Monthly VISTA Meeting

02/29 Leap Day!

Love Doesn’t Cost A Thing

The biggest holiday for February is Valentine’s Day and VISTAs

should show themselves some love on this day! Here is a nice

loving meal on a budget complete with a dessert you won’t want

to share!

Italian Stuffed Shells

-1 package jumbo shells-cooked

-1 jar marinara or your favorite sauce

-1 container Ricotta cheese

-2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese

- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

-2 eggs

-2 tbsp. Parsley

DIRECTIONS: Mix Ricotta, Mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese, 2

eggs and 2 tbsp. Parsley. Next stuff shells with cheese mixture.

Arrange in a 13x9 inch baking pan. Pour sauce over pasta; top

with 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese. Cover and bake at 350° for 50

minutes until hot and bubbly. Uncover, let stand 10 minutes

before serving

Thin Mint Fatties

1 small container vanilla ice cream

Caramel or butterscotch

8 Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies

DIRECTIONS

Step 1

Lay out the Thin Mints. Put a tbsp of vanilla ice cream on each

cookie. Heat up the caramel/butterscotch in the microwave or on

the stove, and then drizzle a little on half the cookies. Finally

press the cookies together like two lovers. Serve them like you

mean it! *This dessert was NOT approved by the Girl Scouts of

America.

V^3: Very Valuable VISTA Kristy Gallegos – North Range Behavioral Health

1.) If you had to live off of one meal for a year, what would

you pick and why?

Pho. No contest. With spring rolls of course. Mostly because it's

the best thing I've ever tasted in my life

2.) What’s your greatest fear?

Heights. Seriously, I get vertigo standing on a chair.

3.) What is something interesting about yourself that one

wouldn’t know just by looking at you?

I am a Tetris master.

4.) If I were to look at your web browser, what site would

show up most often in your history?

Normally it would probably be something like Tumblr

/Pinterest/Facebook, but lately I've been psychotically putting

books on hold at the library. I probably have about 20 books

waiting for me. Addict.

5.) If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?

Liger. It's pretty much my favorite animal.

6.) Where is your favorite place on Earth?

New Mexico, it's beautiful. The art, culture, food and landscape

are all stellar. I took a trip there with my family when I was a kid

and it was hands down, my favorite vacation including

Disneyland... and that time we went to Dollywood.

7.) Why did you become an AmeriCorps VISTA?

I've always felt a strong connection to my community and I

wanted a way to give back in a different capacity and get a chance

to work with strong leaders in the community and my experience

hasn't disappointed me. I've met all kinds of amazing people that

have inspired me and given me new perspective.

8.) What do you miss most about home?

I actually grew up in Weld County, and live about 5 minutes

from my mom, but I do miss my dog, having a yard and always

having milk.

9.) What do you love the most about being in Colorado?

I love traveling but I have a feeling that I'll always find my way

back to Colorado. There's just something about always being able

to look at the mountains to avoid getting lost, I also love our

corny local commercials, American Furniture Warehouse, I've

only been skiing twice in my entire life, but if I ever get the

inkling, perfect powder is only a quarter tank of gas away and the

weather I mean, only in Colorado do I get an opportunity to wear

my snow boots in May or shorts in January.

The VISTA Verse February 2011

Vol. 2 Issue 2

What’s Happenin’ - February February 2011

Vol. 1 Issue 3

What’s Happenin’ - February February 2011

Vol. 2 1 Issue 2

All Events are FREE unless marked otherwise 02/16 Free Ice Skating 2pm – 9pm, Ice Rink at the Promenade Shops at Centerra 02/16 UNC International Film: A Woman Like That 7-10pm Lindou Auditorium, lower level of Michener Library, on the West Campus of UNC.$3 for non-students 02/17 A Very Potter Poetry Slam 7-9:30pm at Your Place Coffee House 02/17 Cosmic Skating 7:15-8:45pm Greeley Ice Haus multi-colored lighting effects and great music! 02/18 Greeley Winter Farmer’s Market 9am – 12pm Atlas Church 709 16th St Greeley 02/18 Belly Gras Trois 5:30-8:30pm Church 709 16th St Tibe Sidysan belly dancers, feel free to dress up and participate 02/19 Free Movie 7-8:30pm at the Kress Cinema 02/22 Jazz Night 7:30 – 9:30pm at Cheba Hut, live music 02/23 Brown Bag Series 12pm – 1pm Greeley History Museum Community Room (Learn about Greeley during lunch) 02/24 FREE Movie at the Kress Cinema 02/27 Open Mic Night 10pm – 2am at the Jager 02/29 Irish Sing-a-long 9:30 – midnight Patrick's Irish Pub Come join the fun and sing some Irish songs!

AmeriCorps VISTA’s are extremely important to their agency sites, offering capacity building and sustainability. These individuals are able to recruit volunteers, develop systems, improve strategies, and increase awareness of their programs. Make sure you are getting recognized for all of your hard work by through some of these tips:

1. Attend Staff meetings: If you have staff meetings at your site, make time to attend a few of them. You can update the staff on what you are doing as a VISTA or just use it to meet people and make connections.

2. Pass out your VISTA Verse newsletter: The “VISTA Verse" usually includes updates of what each VISTA is doing or has done, taken from your monthly progress reports. Feel free to contribute your own articles as well, just send them to erika@unitedway-weld.org

3. Business cards: Do you have business cards? Be sure to pass them around! Ask your site if they are able to print these for you or there are sites that will print them for free. You can create business cards on Vistaprint.com and just pay for them to be shipped.

4. Your site’s web page: Many sites list their staff on the web page, make sure your name is there. You can talk to your sites webmaster or tech department about getting your name up as well as information about your sites VISTA project.

5. Bulletin boards at work: use your work bulletin board to post announcements about upcoming events or work that VISTAs have done. This helps promote all VISTA events and recruit volunteers!

6. Site's newspaper/newsletter: If your site has a newsletter or newspaper, consider asking for space to do a bi-monthly VISTA column. It helps remind staff and community members about events, shares resources, and uses the time to talk about the importance of your program!

7. VISTA Project of UWWC: We have our own website for the project, feel free to use it in your email signature! It includes

information about our project, your VISTA bio, and where you are located. http://www.weldvistas.webs.com/

Better Recognize! - How to get your work known at your site