Lisa Drew - some final words from our 2010 Campaign Chair

We at United Way love the message our 2010 Campaign Chair, Lisa Drew from News570, posted on her blog this morning. With her permission, we're re-blogging it here. Lisa did a fabulous job as Campaign Chair, and we can't thank her enough for her support and enthusiasm.

I have just wrapped up my stay at the United Way of K-W and Area, as the fall workplace Chair for 2010. A huge thank you to all involved. Starting with Jan Varner.

I will never forget what I have learned, and seen, and the many new friends I have made, and their stories. My eyes were opened so much more, and like the Grinch, my heart has grown a few more sizes. And I thought I had a pretty good sized heart to begin with, and had a good handle on what is really going on locally.

Thanks for helping us spread the word, bring new community members on board, and for giving-all to make change in our community, really right here in our neighbourhood.

So many workplaces came through. Really came through. Like Jacquie and Vivian and their huge team at Equitable. The Employees and management at Economical, Sun Life, and Clemmer Steelcraft Techonologies and the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario were among those saluted on Friday for their outstanding campaigns at the Community Spirit Awards. Thanks to Chief Matt Torigian for his time and efforts, and agreeing to be toasted last fall on behalf of United Way.

Our final total? $5.2 million! Not quite hitting our $6-million dollar challenge issued last fall, but it’s still a big number. We have to be proud of that number for so many reasons. But will it be enough to carry forward close to a 100 agencies and programs? We will know in the next few months.

As United Way’s CEO Jan Varner says ” we cheer, yet worry”. $5.2 million is a great accomplishment, ...but the dollars raised are not enough to meet the social needs right here in our community.

I hope the dollars continue to come in. I know they will. And I know we living and working here in Waterloo Region can do more. As I’ve said again and again over the past few months, if you haven’t been personally touched by the United Way, there’s a very good chance that a family member, coworker or neighbour has.

We all are the United Way.

Thanks to my bosses for their support of the campaign, the extra on-air coverage, and being totally okay with my empty seat in the newsroom, many days after 9am.

James Chmiel takes over as this year’s Campaign Chair. He’s part of the United Way cabinet, a partner and President of Erb and Erb Insurance, and made this year’s Top 40 under 40 list. Let’s cheer him on.

Lisa

Happy Family Day!

So Monday February 21st is Family Day.  Hooray for a long weekend!  But shouldn’t it be more than just another day off?  Here’s the thing…I love my children and I am blessed to have teenagers who still want to spend time with me, but if all the malls are closed I can guarantee I will hear “Mom, I’m bored!” at least once.  So what can we do to make Family Day a pleasure rather than a chore?

I’d love to tell everyone to turn off the television, the video games, and the computers and spend time together doing something fun.  For some that comes more easily than others.  What if your child or children don’t want “quality time”?  What if they’d rather talk to their friends on Facebook or Twitter than their old parents?  Time for some creative thinking! 

I have learned a few things in the last 14 years of parenting.  First, I will never feel as appreciated as I would like to and I have to recognize the small gestures when they present themselves, as fleeting as they may be.  Second, the more I talk to the kids about doing something (like putting away the laundry or going to a movie) the less likely they are to want to do it.  Third, if I meet them where they’re at I get results.  Here’s my plan – it’s radical and you may not all agree, but I have tested it and it works.  I am going to hang out with my kids while they play video games and chat on Facebook and just see what happens.  I know what you’re thinking.  Trust me, this works.  I have had the best, most personal and revealing conversations when driving or doing something around the house and talking with the kids.  The secret?  Avoid eye contact.  It takes the pressure off and it’s just as meaningful.  I have even found that they start to ignore the screen in front of them as they become more engaged in the conversation.  I’m not forcing them into an awkward face-to-face conversation but I am engaging them while being physically present.

The family is one of the most important and basic units of every society.  Society is changing and so are families.  We have to learn to adapt while not giving up on core values.  Maybe we don’t sit around the table every single night to a home cooked meal, but that doesn’t mean we don’t connect as a family.  Figure out what works best for your family and before you know it you’ll be enjoying each others company.  You just never know what you’ll have to laugh about until you start talking.  Happy Family Day!!

Nancy Bird, Community Development Director