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More Matches Needed for Six Flags Trip! Our Community Based and Career Navigator are: matches will be taking a trip to Six Flags Great BBBS Car Wash on June 16th at the Hy-Vee Gas America on July 16th! on Elmore in Davenport from 11am-3pm. River Bandits Concession Stand: Must be 16 or We need a minimum of 47 matches to make this older. June 4th, 15th and 30th – need to be at trip happen! We had overwhelming feedback that the stadium by 5pm. Volunteers needed for there were many interested in the trip and having concessions and operate the Dunk Tank. this many matches attend will give us the most Additional opportunities are being worked out! cost-effective pricing on both the transportation and tickets into Six Flags. Would you or your company be willing to sponsor one or more matches for the trip? If so, please th Date: July 16 contact Kim at kaboyure@bbbs-mv.org ASAP. Time: Leave BBBS at 6:00 AM and return by 9:00 PM Cost: Includes transportation on bus, tickets to Six Flags Amusement park and Water Park, and parking fees. Cost DOES NOT include cost of food while in the park or while in transit. You may bring bag lunches and we will provide coolers for drinks. The cost per match is $110.00. We are asking for a $30.00 non-refundable deposit by June 8, 2012. The remaining cost can be paid for in two ways: Option 1: Match can participate in the fundraising opportunities we will provide. Both Big and Little will be asked to participate. If your match participates, then the remaining cost will be paid for. We will provide 2-3 fundraising opportunities and expect that you participate in a majority of them. Option 2: Match pays the remaining $80.00 with payment due by June 15, 2012. Some fundraising options we already have lined up
Did you know that BBBSMV has accounts on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter? Connect with us: @BBBSMV on Twitter, search for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley on Facebook or BBBSMV1 on YouTube!
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS of the Mississippi Valley
Coaches Corner JUNE 201 2
Match Activity—June 2012 “Camp Old Navy” June 18, 2012 4:30-7:00 pm Old Navy, 4014 E. 53rd St. Davenport, IA
They will also learn about and experience the world of retail, including: running cash registers selling products managing fitting rooms shipping logistics store organization markdown strategies marketing and signage This month’s Match Activity is a job exploration activity for Littles to learn about employee expectations, including interviewing, review process, atten- A pizza dinner will be provided and each Little will dance, etc. This activity is particularly geared to- receive a free pair of Old Navy flip-flops. ward 9-12th grade students and limited to only 10 Please RSVP to Sarah Walker, 563-323-8006, ext. matches, so please RSVP as soon as possible. 200 or swalker@bbbs-mv.org by June 11.
Make a BIG Impact with Our New Impact Circles Shannon Riley Farley Impact Circles are Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley's (BBBSMV) newest fundraiser. Impact Circles will harness the power of individual groups in order to raise funds to help support BBBSMV's programs. You already participate in activities alone or in a group, so why not use one of your favorite activities as a way to help raise money and awareness for children in your community?
possibilities are endless! Play, run, bike, ride, read, knit, etc.! The idea is to turn fun into fundraising. For example, if your Circle plans to run 10 miles and you get pledges from 10 people for $1 per mile that you run, each sponsor will pay $10 - leaving you with a total donation of $100 for a Circle of one, or $1,000 for a Circle of ten! Impact Circles are a fun and easy way to positively impact the lives of children in your community!
Want to know the best part? 100% of the money raised by Circles goes directly towards supporting children served by Big Brothers Big Sisters in your community. Thanks to your fundraising efforts, more Bigs and Littles will be paired up, more friendships will be created and improved outlooks on life Your Circle will decide on an activity to participate can be started. in, with each individual member being responsible for getting sponsorships from their friends and fam- To learn more or to register a new Circle, visit ily for each milestone the Circle reaches. Activity www.bbbsmv.org/impactcircles today!
Encourage your co-workers to become a MENTOR today! We’d be happy to set up an employee volunteer presentation at your place of work. Please contact Emily Jepsen at 563-323-8006 Or ejepsen@bbbs-mv.org
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS of the Mississippi Valley
Coaches Corner JUNE 2012
Volunteers Needed for YouthFest 2012 Allison Green, City of Davenport Parks and Rec- to ensure that they can live a long life! reation Department The Blue Zones Project pinpoints nine different lifeI would like to take this oppor- style choices which help to promote a long, healthy tunity to personally invite you life, called the Power 9. We would like each group to be a part of YouthFest 2012 that participates in YouthFest to represent one or - Zone into Healthy Living, more of these in their activities, games, or prowhich will be held on July 11th grams. For more information on the Power 9, please from 9am to 2pm. We particu- visit their website at: larly need extra volunteers http://www.bluezones.com/live-longer/power-9/. between 7:30am and 2:30pm. YouthFest is an annual celebration sponsored by the City of Davenport Parks & Recreation Department and Davenport Community Schools to encourage youth involvement in positive summer activities. Each year over 1,000 young people participate in hands-on games, activities, and other interactive displays organized by various community volunteers like you! Depending on what resources you have available, we are looking for various community organizations and groups to come out to this year's event and provide information to the families that will be there, set up games or activities for the youth to participate in, let people know about any summer activities that you have going on, or perform routines or classes in which everyone can join. We would like as much participation from the surrounding QC area community as possible!
This is a great, absolutely free opportunity for you to get involved with an amazing community event that reaches thousands of families every year. We can't wait to get you on board! If you would like to take advantage of this opportunity, please respond as soon as possible with details on what types of activities or information you are planning on providing by calling 563-326-7812.
This year we are focusing on healthy living for For more information, please visit our offices at youth. We are incorporating the Blue Zones Project 1757 W 12th Street, Davenport, IA 52804 or go into the event, which teaches kids to make healthy online to www.cityofdavenportiowa.com/parks. practices a part of their daily routine at a young age
Take Your Little to Work Day SA July 25, 2012 9:00 am-1:00 pm
Spend the morning at your workplace, sharing your career with your Little. Afterwards, meet with other matches to discuss and share you and your VE TH Little’s experiences over lunch. Additional details to E DATE follow in July’s Coaches Corner. !
Rave About Your Little Londa Rodas, Big My Little is Evan. This school year he has done a great job academically. He attends Harrison Elementary as a fourth grader. He truly loves math
and reading. He just told me today that he was taking his bench mark tests. I am proud of the hard work he does. Along with doing so well academically he is also involved in baseball for the summer. Way to go Evan!!
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Match Highlight: Susan and Mackenzie Susan Skora was awarded the Big of the Year in the Career Navigator Program at our Big Impact Event in April. Susan and Mackenzie were one of the first to be matched in the Career Navigator Program over two years ago. They have been strong and consistent ever since. They attended many Career Navigator tours when they were first matched and through Mackenzie’s middle school career. However, now that Mackenzie is in high school, she is busy with volleyball, working out and ROTC. Even though they are unable to attend the tours Susan continues to support Mackenzie and pushes her to succeed in all her activities. Mackenzie looks up to Susan and all of her accomplishments. Thanks to Susan’s example, Mackenzie is excited and eager about her future!
HAPPY MATCH ANNIVERSARY TO OUR MATCHES Year(s)
Little’s First Name
Big’s First Name
Big’s Last Name
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Donavin Kortny Kylie David
Jay Connie Cara Harry
Nelson Mangler Comba Coin
3
Lance
Charles and Elizabeth
Heston
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Cara Twyla Tomme Nicholas Gregory Raymond
Angela Jenessa Kareem Andy Dale Paul
Carnes Holz Odukale Miller Harper Reid
Dear Match Coach: Safety Belt Laws the vehicle. Dear Match Coach, I am a new Big and I am not sure about the cur If the child is over 40 pounds, he/she can be rent safety belt laws or the best seat to transport transported in the back seat with a safety belt. my Little. Would it be possible for me to get some http://www.buckleupillinois.org/ more information on this subject?
Illinois_Safety_Belt_Laws.asp
As BBBSMV covers counties in Iowa and Illinois, we will cover both sets of laws. The best option In Iowa: when transporting your Little is to make sure they Children under the age of 18 must wear a are wearing their safety belt properly. Making safety belt if the vehicle is moving. sure you and your Little are wearing a seat belt is not only for your safety, but Illinois and Iowa also Children are no longer required to be in a child restraint system once the safety belt fits corcarry hefty fines for failure to wear seat belts. rectly. In Illinois: All Children under the age of 13 must ride in the back seat and be secured with a safety belt. Children under the age of 18 must wear a http://www.iowadot.gov/curbitclickit/ safety belt if the vehicle is moving. seat_belt_brochure.pdf Children under the age of 8 should be secured in a child restraint system in the back seat of
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS of the Mississippi Valley
Coaches Corner JUNE 2012
Summer Art Workshops Workshop 1: Pa inting Tuesday, June 1 9 th 6:00p.m.—7:30p Make colorful art .m. works with painti ng! Students will color mixing and learn texture techniqu es to make a vari paintings. Bring ety of an old shirt in ca se things get me ssy! ulpture Workshop 2: Sc .m. 6:00p.m.—7:30p th 8 2 e n u J y, a d Thurs ls, including pipe a ri te a m re tu lp u asy sc foil, balsa wood, Use quick and e tin y, a cl ry -d ir a , rving tion of methods, ra cleaners, foam ca st n o m e d a r e ft ore! A masterpiece. duct tape, and m a ke a m to ls a ri mate choose your own Workshop 3: Dra wing Saturday, July 1 4 th 9 :30a.m.—11:00a There are more .m. things to draw w it h th crayons! Learn te an pencils and chniques with oil p a blending stomps, stels, chalk, watercolor penci ls , and different types of paper. B ring an old shirt in ca messy! se things get Michelle Garrison is a native Quad-Citean and teaches art at Geneseo Middle School. She has led several community art education workshops with local organizations, including Quad City Arts, Moline Public Library, Blackhawk College, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. She is also a digital artist, and writes art reviews for the River Cities Reader and various blogs. These workshops are being funded by Arts Dollars. Arts Dollars help fund community-based art projects or programming. Arts Dollars is made possible by support from the Illinois Arts Council, Doris and Victor Day Foundation, and Deere & Company. Workshops will take place at the BBBS office. Please RSVP to your match coach!
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS of the Mississippi Valley
Coaches Corner JUNE 2012
Summer Safety for Matches Kim Aboyure Summer brings fun and lots of opportunities to be outside and enjoy the weather! Summer also can bring opportunities for safety awareness. BBBS and your Match Coaches prioritize safety. Summer is a great time to teach your Little about Nature, healthy outdoor exercise and the importance of recycling! To help keep you and your Little safe this summer, here are some safety tips:
have a private changing area. While sunscreen is a priority, ask your Little to have a parent apply the sunscreen prior to the outing or use a spray sunscreen. If neither are possible, be sure to help your Little apply sunscreen only after making certain they are comfortable with you doing so. Safe Rides: Whether or not you wore a helmet while riding your bike as a child, it's a must for kids these days. Nearly 300,000 kids make a visit to the emergency room every year with bikerelated injuries, some resulting in death or severe brain injury. Heat-related Illness: Staying hydrated in hot weather can help reduce the risk of heat-related illness. Keep water or sports drinks (with electrolytes) on hand to maintain hydration, and try to stay in a shady or air-conditioned location during the hottest parts of the afternoon.
Bites & Stings: Planning to spend time outside means planning to spray yourself and your kids with insect repellent -- repellents don't kill insects, but they can help reduce bites from mosquitoes, ticks, fleas and other bothersome bugs. Ticks: Outdoorsy types aren't the only ones who need to worry about ticks -- you could pick one up in your own yard while gardening or playing Have a fun and safe summer! outside. Remember –Clothing. It's smart to wear light-colored clothing and shoes during the summertime because they help keep you cooler and, as it turns out, they help you spot any ticks that may be crawling on you. Repellent Insect repellents that contain DEET or permethrin can reduce your chances of tick bites. Know Your Enemy - Ticks like to hang out in grassy or wooded areas, and they are especially fond of places that are moist or humid. Be Vigilant with Tick Checks -Do a tick check on everyone in the family every night. Pool Safety: This includes the level of swimming ability your Little may or may not have. Remember the “No running” rule around the pool, this can cause a fall. Take precaution when you and your Little plan to swim – your Little should Info from Discovery Fit & Health website.
THANKS TO THESE GREAT SPONSORS These area business sponsors have provided a high level of support for the Big Brother Big Sister programs. Without their support it would be very difficult to provide the programming we do in our region.
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS of the Mississippi Valley
Coaches Corner JUNE 2012
A Geneseo Match Story Becca Leathers Little Brother David and Big Brother John have just completed their first year together in the schoolbased program. John was matched with another Little last year, who was in the same class as David. Throughout the year, David would often ask John, “When can I have lunch with you?” John’s daughter also happened to be David’s teacher. She told him that his parents were interested in the program, but had not completed the paper work. After John’s match had to close due to his Little moving out of town, John asked if he could attend David’s parents’ teacher conference to help get the paperwork completed. A few months later, John and David were matched! When David found out, he was ecstatic! John and David have had a wonderful first year together. They do a variety of activities together, but John always makes sure to spend 5 to 10 minutes working on something for school. He is in close contact with David’s teacher this year and will always work on whatever she suggests. Usually they work on math or a writing assignment. At the beginning of the year, she asked that he have David read a story he wrote and then jot down the words that she couldn’t decipher. John recently told me how proud he was of David after David’s teacher pulled him aside to thank him for all the time he spent with David. She told him that on David’s first three report cards, he received satisfactory in writing, but for this quarter he received excellent! One of John and David’s favorite activities to do together is to read in the reading corner. John reads a book from the June B. Jones in the First Grade series, while David listens and plays with his little Lego figurine. John will often ask David a question about the story to make sure he’s really listening and en-
joying it, and David will always answer correctly. They also use the story to talk about the choices the characters made and what the right choice would have been. John didn’t know how much David valued that time together, until their last lunch, when David handed him a handmade card. It was a picture of John and David in the reading corning. John was holding a June B. Jones book, and David was holding his little Lego figurine. It really touched John to see how much it meant to David. John and David’s relationship grew over the course of the year. John is a very consistent Big Brother and puts his whole heart into the experience. He has gotten to know David so well that he is even considering a bigger commitment to David by becoming a community-based match. He would like to be able to give David the attention that he knows he needs. When matches like this stay matched over the years, the impact that is made in the Little’s life is priceless: negative cycles are broken, higher goals are created, and honest and hardworking citizens are molded. Many matches in Geneseo have similar heartwarming stories like John and David’s. BBBS is so proud of our Geneseo Big Brothers and Sisters. They put a lot of effort and thought into the activities they do with their Littles. I love to hear about the fun activities like sewing, suction darts, jumping monkeys, and foursquare, as well as the educational activities like spelling practice, flash cards, and storytelling. If you ask our Littles about their Bigs, you will see their faces light up as they tell you about them and things they do together. Not only do our Littles light up though, our Bigs will tell you how surprised they are about how much they have gotten out of the program and how rewarding the experience of being a Big Brother or Big Sister has been.
Matches Impacting the Community Kayla Glen This month’s activity idea is meal service and preparation. Teach your Little about giving back to their community while they learn healthy cooking and eating skills all at the same time! Volunteer as a match today! One great opportunity is providing lunch for Habitat for Humanity volunteers (www.habitat.org). Each Saturday, Habitat for Humanity needs groups or individuals to provide lunch at one their build sites. Rick’s House of Hope (www.rhoh.org) is another
organization that is looking for occasional meals for their support group members. Preparing and serving a meal would be great activity for a match or even a couple of matches to do together. As a Big, you can teach your Little how to prepare a healthy meal while showing them the importance of giving back to the community. If preparing a meal is simply not feasible for your match at this time, King’s Harvest (www.kingsharvest.net) also needs volunteers to serve meals to the poor and homeless of the downtown Davenport area. Volunteers are needed Wednesdays and Fridays during the lunch hour and Saturdays mornings 9-10am.
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS of the Mississippi Valley
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June Community Activities Strike Out Hunger at a River Bandits baseball Ride the River, Sunday June 17 Enjoy a tour of the Quad Cities along riverfront bike trails. Plus, cruise the game on Monday, June 4. Bring 5 or more nonperishable food items and receive a discounted ticket to Mississippi River aboard the Celebration Belle. Registration required- visit www.riveraction.org. the game. Call 563-332-5002 to learn more. 4-H Barbecue at Mercer County Fairgrounds Friday, June 8 at 4pm. Call 309-582-5106 for more information.
Jeanie B! and the Jelly Beans Children’s music concert. Wednesday, June 13; 9:30 am at the DeereWiman Carriage House. Visit www.butterworthcenter.com to learn more.
Long Grove Strawberry Festival Includes a parade, petting zoo, bounce houses, performances and Kevin Horner, ventriloquist, illusionist, and comedian. more! Sunday, June 10 from 9am-4:30pm at the Thursday, June 14 at 1pm;Rock Island Public Main Long Grove Community Building. For more information, Library. Visit www.rockislandlibrary.org. call 563-285-9070.
Photo Gallery: BBBS Staff & AmeriCorps Members Plant at Handicap Development Center