Monday, November 22, 2010


I want to thank everybody who participated in this years’ Charitable Contributions Campaign and made it a success! I am proud to say that almost 47% of Commerce employees made a pledge and together we were able to raise $15,404.78 to different charities! Collectively Utah State Employees donated over $400,000.

I want to congratulate the division of Property Rights Ombudsman for 100% participation. Also, congratulations to Corporations where 29 out of 31 employees made a donation! What a great accomplishment. Su Chon (OPRO) and Mike Olsen (CORP) won gift baskets including gift certificates to Christopher’s Steak House.

Mike with his gift basket.

Participation percentage:
OPRO 100%
CORP 93.55 %
DPU 83.33 %
Admin 70%
Securities 52.17%
Real Estate 42.31%
OCS 28.57 %
CP 20%
DOPL 19.15%

The winners for the crossword puzzle were:

Peter Anjewierden (Admin)

Mary Price (Corp)

Jackie Betts (Corp)


Each of them won a free meal from Café Rio.

A big thank you also goes to all of the Committee members who made our campaign possible. I especially want to thank Valeri Stewart who put together all the wonderful gift baskets and was always ready help and share her ideas and positive attitude.

“Giving Today Makes…A Brighter Tomorrow”

Mia

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Bikers Against Child Abuse

They wear leather, ride loud motorcycles and travel in packs. Many have tattoos, piercings and gruff exteriors. But each member of this motorcycle gang also has a heart of gold.

BACA was founded by John Paul “Chief” Lilly, a licensed clinical social worker and part-time faculty member at Brigham Young University. It started as an idea to help one wounded child. This child was eight years old at the time, and was so frightened of his perpetrators that he would not leave his residence. Chief, having had kind and loving experiences with bikers in his youth was moved to include this boy in his biker circle.

Within weeks, this boy was seen all over town riding his bike and playing with other children. The idea to rally the biker community in defense and in support of children was actualized in 1995 when the first ride was held to visit wounded children and adopt them into the biker family.

From there it was only a matter of time before the word spread quickly about what was happening in Utah. Shortly after forming the first chapter in Utah, another chapter was formed in Utah, then Oklahoma and Texas. BACA now has 139 chapters in 31 U.S. states, as well as six chapters in Australia. A new chapter in Italy may soon form, and BACA is looking to start another chapter in South Africa.

All potential members must have FBI background checks, attend 80 percent of BACA meetings and events during their first year, and receive unanimous approval from the board of directors before becoming a patched member.

Members of BACA work strictly on a referral basis. They will not approach a victim or their family unless the authorities have been contacted, the case is being processed within the justice system and the family approves. When they do receive a referral, a BACA liaison contacts the family and an initial ride to the child’s house is organized. Neighboring chapters are invited, which has meant 70 or more riders showing up at the child’s house.

The child is given a vest with a BACA patch sewn on the back, bumper stickers and other gifts. The child is also given the name and number of two nearby BACA members who act as primary contacts. The child is instructed to call anytime they may feel scared or need the presence of their BACA family — always with their parent or guardian’s knowledge. The bikers will go to the child’s house to provide any necessary reassurance to feel safe and protected. They are available for support at court and parole hearings. If asked, they will attend interviews with them or stay with them if they’re alone and frightened. BACA members will also escort children to school or on other errands. Once a child feels confident and safe again, interaction with BACA usually slows to semiannual parties — one at Christmas and one during the summer — or occasional phone calls.

BACA works with police and the court system, as well as organizations like the Division of Child and Family Services, filling a niche that no one else can. Any money BACA does receive through donations is used to print flyers, cover the cost of gifts for children, and occasionally to pay for therapy.

No man stands so straight as when he stoops to help a boy. ~Knights of Pythagoras

Website: http://bacaworld.org/

Charity Code:
1008 Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA) Wasatch Chapter

Utah Emergency Animal Response Coalition



UEARC






The Utah Emergency Animal Response Coalition (UEARC) was established to provide information, training, and equipment for “animals in disaster and emergency situations in Utah”. UEARC was formed after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 had proven that there is a real need for animal safety and protection.


UEARC’s Goals:

1. Facilitate a prompt and effective response to animal emergency issues in Utah in a manner consistent  with the National Incident Management System and the Utah Emergency Operations Plan.

2. Reduce threats to the health and safety of humans and animals during an emergency.

3. Minimize the economic impact of animal issues during emergencies.

4. Maximize resources available for recovery efforts related to animals and animal agriculture.

5. Be a resource for training to local emergency personnel.



One of UEARC’s intent is to have functioning Community Animal Response Teams (CARTs) in all areas in Utah. In July 2009, Iron Country Area Livestock Rescue Group (Iron County’s CART team) was able to evacuate over one thousand head of livestock out of the way of a raging wildfire near New Harmony. They were also able to provide care and housing for dozens of pets and horses for 5-7 days while people were evacuated from their homes and had no other option to care for their beloved pets.  During the Mill Flat fire the team was able to save 22 horses, three llamas, a goat, and a couple of dozen cats and dogs.


The group is also trained to rescue animals from overturned trailers, stranded on cliffs, or suffering from neglect. In September UEARC assisted Salt Lake Animal Services providing a temporary shelter for pets that were displaced in the Machine Gun fire in Herriman. The animals were taken to a LDS Ward House where UEARC helped the owners to take care of  the animals until they were relocated to another shelter or returned to their homes.

One of UEARC’s missions is to help raise pet owners’ awareness how to provide a plan for themselves and for their pets in a case of a disaster. They also organize training for large animal rescue. UEARC uses the donated funds to train volunteers and to purchase equipment that can be used in the emergency situations.

Please visit www.uearc.org to help you plan for an emergency, to find out more about UEARC, or to volunteer.

Useful links:
Dog and Cat 72 hour emergency Kit: http://www.dogmode.com/pdfs/uearc_72.pdf
How to care for your pets and livestock during a disaster: http://www.dogmode.com/pdfs/uearc_family.pdf

 
Charity Code: 1120




Why Giving Makes You Happy

Read an article

Why Giving Makes You Happy

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

How You Can Help The Homeless

Picture taken in front of Heber Wells Building, Oct 2010

What do you do when you see a homeless person? What if they approach you holding a sign or ask for money? Do you give them some? Do you feel guilty if you don't? Or do you pretend not to see them?

Nobody likes to be confronted by the homeless. Their needs seem so overwhelming. Yet they deserve to be treated kindly. Here are some simple guidelines from The Rescue Mission of Salt Lake to really help the homeless people you meet.

1. Don't give them cash. If they are hungry, buy them a sandwich or a beverage. Too often well intended gifts of cash to the homeless are converted into drugs or alcohol--even when the "hard luck" stories they tell are true.
2. Homeless people are not all the same. The person you meet may be a battered woman, an addicted veteran, mentally ill, a con artist, or someone who's lost a job. Refer them to someone who is trained to deal with their problems.
3. Talk to the person with respect. Many of the homeless are consumed by isolation, depression and paranoia. If a homeless person approaches you, a friendly response (even when saying "NO") can help restore a degree of respect.
4. Be cautious and alert when you talk to someone on the street. Stay in areas where others can see you, and don't take unnecessary chances. Don't feel that you are being uncaring if your personal safety is in question.
5. Encourage the homeless to get help. Free meals, shelter and medical care as well as rehabilitation programs are available.
6. Donate to a cause to support the homeless.
7. Check out the website: http://www.endpanhandling.com/

Charity Codes:
1014 Crossroads Urban Center is a non-profit, grassroots organization which assists and organizes low income, disabled, and minority Utahns to meet basic survival needs and to address essential issues affecting the quality of life. The Center was instrumental in establishing homeless shelters and the statewide Food Bank.
1118 Fourth Street Clinic is a comprehensive medical home providing coordinated primary care, behavioral health, and pharmacy services.
1037 Rescue Mission of Salt Lake City provides: A free, whole person, 1 year New Life Residential Recovery Program
An "open door" breakfast six days a week
An "open door" dinner every night of the year
Food baskets for families in need
Emergency sleeping accommodations in our overnight Dorm for up to 50 men every night
A Baggage Room where men may check in their baggage
A Message Board where we post telephone messages for guests
Mail reception
Free clothing distribution
Access to our Dorm facility three days a week for men to shave and shower
Day Room open during the winter months and during inclement weather.

7556 The Road Home is a private non-profit social service agency that assists individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Salt Lake County and along the Wasatch Front. Our mission is to help people step out of homelessness and back into our community. Originally established in 1923 to assist stranded travelers, the Road Home has grown to address a spectrum of needs that people experiencing homelessness encounter as they work to restore their lives. In addition to operating the largest shelter in Utah, the Road Home has developed a comprehensive housing program that helps people move into housing as quickly as possible.


"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door." -Emma Lazarus


Monday, November 1, 2010

Gift Certificate Winners!

Congratulations to David Thomson from Public Utilities who won the $100 gift card to Fleming's Steakhouse!





Kathy Berg from Corporations won a gift certificate to The Old Spaghetti Factory


Carlos Alamilla from Real Estate won a gift certificate to Cafe Rio.


We have some great prizes left for this week including gift cards to Christopher's Steak House, Benihana, and more Cafe Rio meals.

How you can win prizes:
1. Donate to your favorite charity/charities (http://www.usecf.state.ut.us/)

2. Turn in the "Charitable Campaign Puzzler" by Thursday

3. Have your Division win with highest percentage of participants

As of today, these are the percentages:

Corporations 93.55%
Public Utilities 83.33%
OPRO 75%
Administration 60%
Real Estate 38.46%
Securities 34.78%
Consumer Protection 20%
OCS 16.67%
DOPL 11.7 %

So far about 40% of Commerce employees have made a donation through the Charitable Contributions Campaign. A big thank you to all who have donated and please know that your donation will make a difference!