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October 2016

Links to Learning HB

Assistance League of Huntington Beach’s Links to Learning HB program awarded $115,370.47 to 259 teachers in Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach and Westminster. Congratulation to these deserving educators!

Fountain Valley School District - September 8

Westminster School District - September 8

Huntington Beach City School District - September 19

Ocean View Elementary School District - October 6

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President’s MessageLook where we have been! Look where we are going! We have several talented and enthusiastic new members with new ideas. The creative momentum is encouraging us all. With everyone’s hard work and ideas, our Thrift Shop sales are record breaking. This is an exciting time at Assistance League of Huntington Beach.

Our Facilities and Finance Committees are handling our building concerns and making this is very pleasant environment for us.

Strategic Planning is looking into this year and far into the future years for our needs. Yes, this is an exciting time.

You guys are awesome!

Thoughts, questions or concerns – please call! a

Marilyn J. CavenerPresident, Assistance League 2016-2017

Don’t Forget to Suggest—Your Opinion Matters! Did you know that there is a suggestion box for members to share ideas, opinions, praise or constructive criticism? It is located in the lunch room area of the Thrift Shop.

Make a difference by sharing what you think might help Assistance League of Huntington Beach grow stronger.

November 14 Monthly MeetingThe next monthly chapter meeting will be at our usual location—First Christian Church. Social at 9:30, meeting at 10:00.

Phone Calls...We do not share our members’ information with anyone. If you receive a telephone call saying they are contacting Assistance League of Huntington Beach members, you can be assured that it is not sanctioned by our chapter. Any questions, please call Marilyn Cavener 714 345-2111.

Facilities Direction 2021 At the last general meeting we introduced Facilities Direction 2021. Our goal for the project is to gather information from a range of sources so that we can make an informed decision as to whether it is in the best interest of Assistance League of Huntington Beach to stay where we are for 2-3 years or to begin consciously looking for new facilities. We will be getting back to membership as we have more definitive information to share.

If you have questions or thoughts, you are welcome to contact anyone on the committee. Chair—Joan Klubnik, Susan Bjork, Jeanne Boetto, Marilyn Cavener, Pat Guidotti, Hedy Knight, Marlene Ryan, Barbara Thacker.

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DreamCatchersDreamCatchers’ members have been busy with our programs since our last Chapter Chatter edition. Many of us are also attending several Chapter committee meetings. I attended National Conference with 16 ladies from Chapter. Even though my roommate, Diane Dwyer, and I both got colds—no, I don’t think it was because we were roommates! The hotel was freezing and understandably so because it was a 100o outside!

Alzheimer’s Family Services Center – Kudos to Cheryl Patrick for assisting Doris Morton, who is recovering from a nasty fall she experienced on her way back home from Alaska. Cheryl has been meeting with Doris and working with Alzheimer’s Family Services meeting their needs for their patients.

Silver Anchor – Kudos to Sally Valentine for hosting “trick or treat” bag preparation for the patients to be delivered before Halloween. Additional Kudos to Sally and Vicki Nierlich for shopping at Wal-Mart as well as the Thrift Shop for the patients.

Support our Seniors – Kudos to Resa Evans and her committee who have been busy purchasing items for the holiday gift bags we deliver to the Senior Center in November. It’s hard to believe that November is just around the corner already. It is way too soon for the holidays!

Teachers Assistance – Kudos to Sandee Freemon, Leona Stratton, Cindy Anderson, Lynne Wilhelm, and Ami Racin for their presentation of Staples gift cards and shopping bags full of school supplies for 31 first year teachers.

DreamCatchers’ next meeting is Wednesday, November 9.

Therapeutic Riding Center – Kudos to Wendy Sanders and her committee for getting jeans and shirts for three students at Thrift Shop. The three students were thrilled with their “new” clothing and look very handsome when they were doing their therapeutic riding.

Veterans – Kudos to Andrea Prell for attending the Goldenwest Police Academy graduation on September 16. Andrea was so honored to attend this fabulous event.

Operation School Bell – several DreamCatchers have worked all Target nights scheduled to date. It has been so rewarding to see the children so excited and anxious to wear their new clothes to school the next day.

Special Kudos to Cindy Anderson who organized to have our members at our meeting on Wednesday assist Suzann Bennett with putting Assistance League stickers on the books we will be donating to the Boys & Girls Club of Huntington Valley on October 24. Cindy is co-chairing Make a Difference Day with Michelle Mazurk. We spent an hour putting the stickers on the books and it was a great social hour with all of us working together. From the pictures Cindy showed us of the empty book shelves at the Boys & Girls Club, we are privileged to play a part in filling those book shelves for the children.

Being able to witness firsthand all of the hours our members volunteer month in and month out, I am so honored to be associated with this group of women from DreamCatchers. Everyone steps up without a second thought to help when there is an email asking for assistance. KUDOS to all of my fellow DreamCatchers! aLari ThomasDreamCatchers’ Chairman

Volunteers are not paid not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless. (Author Unknown)

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Thrift Shop NewsThe Thrift Shop once again had an increase in sales. August sales increased almost $3,000. This takes a huge team effort. Thank you to the managers, those that come in every day, weekly, or when they have a few hours. We would not have this success without you.Change is difficult, but in today’s business climate it is either change or suffer business reversals. Just ask Macy’s, Kohl’s, Sears, Kmart or other brick and mortar stores.

The board has approved ending the trial of having hours scheduled on Monday and Thursday mornings count toward members required hours. We desperately need those hours to be scheduled during the business hours of the Thrift Shop, especially as we go into the holiday season. If you have already signed up for those hours and cannot change them, we will count them but Cathy will not schedule any additional shifts on Monday or Thursday morning.

Ann Meyers and Ann Harvey still need you to volunteer for the Bottom of the Bin Mondays. I will bring pizza for the next few Mondays to get us started, so come work, visit, and eat. Harriet Ouellette invites you to join her on Thursday, 10/13, 10/20, 11/10, 11/17, 12/08 and 12/15. She will be leading the work crew from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. on those days. Thank you all for giving the Thrift Shop backroom a big push to empty those bins.

Pat Guidotti bought a beautiful aqua Suggestion Box for the counter in the backroom.

I love that some of you want to do away with the treats (do you really want me run out of town?), and others want regular soft drinks not just diet.

I need your ideas, thoughts and suggestions on how to streamline the shop, increase sales, increase the customer base, or improve our procedures. Please do not be the person that grumbles to others but never gives us feedback. Use the suggestion box, or talk to me. I will listen and share the reasons used to make the decisions and why changes were made and are necessary. Thank you, we could not run the thrift shop without each of you. a

Doris KennedyThift Shop Chairman

Operation New BeginningsONB works with 11 different agencies to provide clothing and household items to qualified men, women and children in our community. With a budget of $35,00, this dedicated committee of 30 members helps to clothe nearly 250 clients per year. Partner agencies include: Golden West College, Robyne’s Nest, Westminster School District, Interval House, Project Self Sufficiency, Beach Cities Interfaith Services, CSP Huntington Beach Youth Shelter, American Family Housing SHIP, First Christian Church, Colette’s Children’s Home, Build Futures and Huntington Beach Hospital-In Patient Psych Unit.

If you would like a more detailed list of the partner agencies, send an email to the chair of ONB, Krista Sterud: ksterud@yahoo.com. a

Krista Sterud, ONB Chairman

Facility Updates• A design engineer is working with me and

the Cty of Huntington Beach to getting the exact property lines for Assistance League of Huntington Beach so that we can decide on the placement of our new trash enclosure.

• We have the 3 bids required for the modernization of our elevator. We will have one more meeting next week with the company that the facility committee decided upon to go over the details. Lead time on equipment is approximately 10 weeks from the acceptance of the contract. Project duration is anticipated at 15 working days.

• Assistance League of Huntington Beach is waiting on Time Warner Cable to get our facility totally wired with their services. We do have their internet service up and running and are waiting on TWC to install new lines for our phone system. This is a major production because we never fully had TWC dedicated to our facility. Therefore, we wait in line. The phones do work in the building. And you do not have to use the speaker button. This hook up now is temporary. Be patient. The membership will be informed on when this project commences. a

Jeanne BoettoFacility Chairman

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Nominating CommitteeI would like to thank all the women who so graciously volunteered to be on the Nominating Committee to select our Slate of Officers for 2017-18 fiscal year.

Your committee is as follows:From Membership: Carolyn Cassell, Stacy Koressel, Teresa Clouse and Debbie Payne.

From the Board: Laura Syzdek, Jeanne Boettto and Mary Ann Chicots,

Our first meeting will be scheduled in November.

eBAY SALESWe had a great month in our eBay Sales! We grossed $650.50 selling 18 items. We appreciate all the support we have received so far but would love to get more sales going!

We handed out a sheet with what we thought was a way to take you shoppers directly to our site and see all the items that Assistance League of Huntington Beach had listed. There was an eBay “update” and all that changed. Here is the new link to our page:

http:/www.ebay.com/usr/assistance_league_of_huntington_beach

If you type this in and save it at the top of your screen as a “favorite” you won’t have to type it in every time you want to get on and take a look!

If you or a friend buy something from us and would like to pick it up at our shop rather than pay the freight just click the option that will appear at the bottom of the screen when it asks for shipping information. Then you will need to send me an email to schedule a time to make the pickup. My email is jcqbethel@gmail.com and if you lose this note, I’m in the handbook.

Happy Shopping!

2016/17 HANDBOOKSIf you have not picked up your current handbook insert, please write yourself a note and pin it on your apron to pick it up in the lunchroom when you’re working!

We will be mailing the Sustaining and Associate members but if you’re an Active Member they will remain in the lunchroom, on a shelf, all alone, just waiting. a

Jacquie Bethel

Attention All Members!Make a Difference Day, October 24, 2016 at Boys and Girls ClubThis year, our Chapter will celebrate this event by “creating a library” for the Huntington Valley Boys and Girls Club in their new location on the Golden West College campus. This organization is the largest provider of youth related service in our community.

The DreamCatchers, through the efforts of Cindy Anderson and her committee, have assembled over 2,500 books for kindergarten through middle school ages. Also, involved with this project is Chapter’s own Suzann Bennett.

On October 24 members of Assistance League of Huntington Beach will deliver the books to the Boys and Girls Club. From 3:30-4:30, members will assist the children as they stock the currently empty bookshelves and create their very own library.

Please take some time out and participate in this event. All members are asked to attend and help the children fill those empty shelves. It is sure to be a very rewarding experience!

Bottom 2 photos are from Make a Difference Day 2015

This year’s book delivery from Think Together

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Assistance League National ConferenceSeventeen lovely ladies went to Dallas Texas to attend our Assistance League National Conference. We learned new ways of doing our business and brushed up on things we already knew. There was good food and good fellowship. Listed here are the attendees so you can ask them to share their experiences.

Bert Beck, Mary Belcher, Laura Syzdek, Joan Klubnick, Carol Kiersted, Marlene Ryan, Mary Ann Chicots, Susan Bjork, Marilyn Cavener, Sandi Woest, Jean Hardy, Diane Dwyer, Jean Harduvel, Hedy Knight, Carole Viviano, Lari Thomas, Pat Calderone.

Let's all gather!Assistance League of Huntington Beach is receiving a high honor from Golden West College. We are being recognized for our scholarship support over the years. You are all

invited to attend this ceremony.

If you can make it, please wear your Assistance League shirt and meet at the designated spot (see map) between 2:00 - 2:15. Parking for this special event is free.

Assistance League® of Huntington Beach

Black Friday Special EventFriday, November 4, 2016

5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. - Food, Drinks and Fun!30% Discount - 20% goes back to Assistance League

MIMI’s JEWELRY, INC.18591 Brookhurst Street • Fountain Valley

714 964-7851

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October, November and December Birthdays!

Next Monthly Meeting: Monday,

Nov 14 at First Christian Church

GOT NEWS?Assistance League HB members who have information they’d like to announce in the January newsletter can submit via email to Ami Racin: photosbyami@gmail.com

Marilyn CavenerPresident

Hedy KnightPresident ElectCarole Daniels

1st V.P. MembershipPat Guidotti

2nd V.P. Resource DevelopmentLaura Szydek

3rd V.P. PhilanthropicBert Beck

Recording SecretaryRosanne Freilich

Educational DevelopmentSandi Woest

TreasurerMichelle Mazurk

Marketing CommunicationsJoan Klubnik

Strategic PlanningMary Ann Chicots

Finance Jeanne Boetto

FacilitiesMyrna Mandell

DreamCatchers LiaisonMary Ackman

Assisteens® CoordinatorJacquie BethelParliamentarian AUXILIARIESDreamCatchers

Lari Thomas, Chairman

ADVISORY COUNCILBruce Berman

Dr. Daniel BryanKevin ChildeIan Collins

Barbara DelgleizeBruce GreenwoodDr. Carol Hansen

Mayor Jim KatapodisSharon Maines

Shawna McKee, Attorney at LawDr. Steve McLaughlin

Dr. Cyndi PaikScott Sackin

Dr. Jennifer Shepard

Newsletter Editor Ami Racin

2016-207 Board

Diane Dwyer ............................10/1Norma Toohey .........................10/1Maggie Mihalovich ..................10/3Doris Kennedy .........................10/5Carol Dubich ............................10/6Ann Van Winkle .......................10/9Pat Hoffman ............................10/10Donna Maksimczyk ..................10/12Chrys Vollmer ..........................10/13Mary Siegel ..............................10/14Neva Koon ...............................10/14Flora McDonald .......................10/15Ann Harvey ..............................10/18Emma Willsey ..........................10/20Vicki Nierlich ............................10/20Jean Hardy ...............................10/26Pat Wolff ..................................10/26Carole Monheim ......................10/28Sherril White ...........................10/28Dana Nordholm .......................10/29Lotte Gopalakrishnan ..............10/29Lynne Brightman .....................10/29Elaine Bracciodieta ..................10/30Peggy Sloan .............................10/30Rita Sipes .................................10/30Sue Porter ................................10/30Hedy Knight .............................11/1Margie Drilling .........................11/3Sally Valentine .........................11/3Linda Haberl ............................11/4Pat Calderone ..........................11/5Gloria Bryan .............................11/6Patty Dyle ................................11/7Aimee Ruiz ...............................11/9Audrey Balthazor .....................11/10Jena Farris ................................11/10Marilynn Tom ..........................11/14Frances Fain .............................11/15

Pat Anderson ...........................11/15Beth Johnston ..........................11/17Pat Breithaupt .........................11/17Leslie Fidance ..........................11/18Betty Williams .........................11/19Carol Valcarcel .........................11/20Linda Eide ................................11/20Vickie Suarez............................11/20Leona Stratton .........................11/23Kathryn Somma .......................11/26Linda Gallagher ........................11/29Marilyn Davidson.....................12/1Pat Perez ..................................12/1Sheryl Crockey .........................12/1Elma Valdes .............................12/4Joyce Francis ............................12/5Patty Bergman .........................12/6Danielle Rivera .........................12/9Diane Young .............................12/9Marilyn Camps ........................12/10Mary Heslin .............................12/11Diane Morris ............................12/14Jeanine Benson ........................12/14Jeane Fleming ..........................12/15June McConnell .......................12/15Tina Elmore .............................12/15Jacquie Bethel .........................12/17Jeanne Boetto ..........................12/17Carol McCann ..........................12/20Nita Randolph ..........................12/20Nannette Capriccio ..................12/23Milagro Murcia ........................12/24Debbi Stewert ..........................12/25Peggy Jayne .............................12/25Wanda Hoodman ....................12/26

NEW MEMBERS: We will have your birthdays in the next newsletter!

a Mission Statement aAssistance League of Huntington Beach is a non-profit, volunteer organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for children and adults in the community.