It's Spring and We're Back in the Blogger Game!

Our website is under re-construction, our summer kids program is filling up fast, we're planning our Sept 17 fundraiser, our cow has been re-homed, our garden is underway, we've got new volunteers, and SO much more!!! Watch for updates!

2009 Already! Eeeeekkks! :)

I always say that this is going to be a quickie, and this one really is!! As you can see, time got away from us and we never got the Xmas blog announcement into the email.
So here it is (hopefully very soon) and you can read this quickie as well as the Xmas blog that precedes it.
Oh, and PS: We're having a contest (with an actual prize to be awarded) for who can come up with a name for Light Center "blog readers." I keep calling you "bloggers" and it seems a bit impersonal when I know you are devotedly following our little blog. So put your thinking caps on and let me know at our email: TLCinUnion@aol.com. Example: "TLCoggers" ooooo..... that's bad!!! Send me a better one, PLEASE!!!!!!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jan :)

Happy Holidays from the Farm!

Happy Holidays, Bloggers! As I sit here writing, we're anticipating the arrival of a big snow storm~ And as I look up, I see the first flakes are just beginning to fall. I imagine it will be pretty as the day goes on, and luckily Tuesdays are a short day for participants, so the kids should all be off the roads already. So enough on the snow; I just thought it would set the stage for our holiday message~

Well, it's hard to believe yet another year has gone by… Someone was just here writing a newspaper article about us, and they were asking the ages of the animals and how long we'd had them etc. When I began calculating, I was astounded to realize just how long we've been sharing this journey. Babs the sheep is officially our longest resident, having been born in the spring of 2000 and living at the Light Center continuously. CeCe the quarter horse, and Rosie the Morgan will both turn 21 this spring. And here's a really interesting fact, these two horses share the exact same birthdates, May 17, 1988. They were not acquired at the same time, nor did they come from the same place. But as long as they've lived here, people have commented how much they resemble each other, despite being different breeds. "Bookends" we call them. Two horses of different breeds, on different paths, who look alike, and share the exact same birthday; who end up devoting their lives to work with the same batch of kids. We see miracles everyday, so it doesn't come as a surprise to us; but you must agree, it's a wonderment~

And as to other things of wonderment, let's talk about the last year… You may remember that early in the summer we were getting pretty glib about the future of this place. The economy was crashing, donations were drying up, agencies were in crisis, and retaining qualified staff had become a revolving door. To add insult to injury, someone even stole one of our beloved and original animals, Clover the bunny. We were devastated.... So what did we do?? Well, first we asked ourselves if all the effort was worth it… Luckily, one look in the eyes of our kids answers that question every time. Next, we asked, "so where do we go from here?" And that's where it becomes another wonderment…

Despite losing our devoted bookkeeper, Irene, (who is soon returning to the real world of corporate America,) we've managed to regroup and attract our most qualified and versatile team ever. And a new team somehow attracted new agencies. And new agencies prompted new programming development. And new programming prompted new resources, improved record keeping, new procedures, and the list goes on and on. So what happened??? We think the Light Center just wasn't meant to curl up and die. Yes, it's certainly a wonderment…

As the director, I am always indebted to the donors who keep our doors open. But on this soft snowy day I want to also thank the wonderful staff who made this fall one of my most rewarding ever. To Bette who I'd take back in a heartbeat despite her recent move to Wisconsin, to Kristen who brings energy, youth, and an educator's perspective, to Julie who brings a great sense of humor and her mental health expertise, to Carla who wears so many hats we've lost track, and does it despite her mounting pile of bills, to Karen who stepped-in when Irene left and kept stability in the books while still serving as instructor and horse specialist, to Juan and Brooke who hold down the animal kingdom 24-7, through rain, sleet, snow, and ice, and to Susan who returned to us as an instructor and animal care specialist, but mostly just because she loves this place. These people make our programs work, and they do so with cooperation and a common vision. As for me, I can only say that I may still be busy, but these days I'm busy moving in a forward direction. And as for this positive movement at a time when we were close to throwing in the towel, I am very thankful!

So to each and everyone who follows our little blog, we wish you peace and good fortune in 2009! Happy Holidays!!! Jan, Susan, Karen, Carla, Julie, Kristen, Juan, and Brooke, and our Critter Staff; Rosie, Foxey, Rhett, CeCe, Toto, Nellie, Diamond, Daisy, Kali, Babs, Thomas, Percy, Caramel, Moe, Angel, Leo, Thumper, Coty, and all our feathered friends!

#16 September Blips

Hello bloggers! It's busy, busy, busy in the Light Center office with September programming well underway. I figured I'd save a little time by simply dividing the blog by topics.

Fundraising~
Lots of people have been asking me, "who won the Corvette??" Well, if you're asking that question then you can join the ranks of everybody at the Light Center because none of us won it either! :) The lucky winner of the 1961 Red Corvette was Jason Ballard of Canton, IL. And no, we don't know him so a ride is apparently out of the question too. Oh well...there's always next year!
And if you unfortunately missed our Anvil Club event Sept 7, then you missed an absolutely lovely day in the picturesque Anvil Club Veranda. Without a doubt, this was one of the nicest and easiest events we've ever done; cocktails and conversation, sunshine and shade in equal amounts, hors d'oeuvres and happy people~ What more could one ask for?? Whether you joined us or not, thank you, thank you to all who participated in our recent events!

Animal Farm~
I've also had a lot of inquiries regarding our new mini-mule, "Nellie." To date, Nellie has adjusted well, is taking carrots from staff and participants alike, and follows Toto around throughout participant sessions. She even lets kids pet her gently, although she's not quite ready for the big hugs Toto allows and shamelessly solicits. I can honestly say, Nellie seems happy; and after all the abuse and neglect she suffered, that is huge in itself.
Oh, and if you're a Carmel the goat lover; our poor little guy is dealing with a broken jaw most likely the result of a kick from one of the horses. We've always said he doesn't stay where he belongs, so chances are he ticked off somebody in the field. The vet's been here and we've figured out a whole recuperative plan; most of which Carmel is not too hot about... It's amazing how fast an injured goat can run when it's time for an injection! Anyway, he's hopefully on the mend so we'll keep ya posted!

The kids~
Yes they're back and we're busier than ever! We've recently added new staff so many kids and instructors are still getting acquainted. The animals are such good buffers and they give everyone a common starting point, so dealing with change at TLC is usually a no-brainer. And speaking of change, our whole gang is involved with the production of a new "transitions" unit that will hopefully be ready for marketing sometime in 2009. Most of the plans will remain "top-secret," but rest assured TLC is really marching to the economic drummer of the times!
As to actual sessions; in the field today, one of our more docile boys decided today was the day he was going to catch and halter our pony Daisy. (This kid barely moves, much less runs..) Apparently, (and completely out-of-character,) he chased her down the fence line throwing his arms around her neck to slow her down. And low and behold, he caught her, haltered her, and proudly brought her back to the barn!!! This may not sound like a big deal to you, but for him it was unbelievable!!

Staff
This one is happy/sad.......After 5 years of dedicated service to TLC, our bookkeeper and administrative assistant, Irene Zelasko,is leaving us to explore the "post-little-kids" job force. With their 2 boys now in high school, Irene and husband Walt agreed it's time to get serious about upcoming college tuition. Although I knew this day was always coming, the sting is still painful. Irene and I have shared a brain in so many ways throughout TLC's developmental years; it's hard to imagine she won't be (literally) behind me when I swivel my chair. Irene will be genuinely missed, but from the heart we wish her well as she (like our kids) "transitions" into a new phase of life. Ok, enough~ It's hard to type through tearful eyes. We'll all miss her~

Join TLC~
This one's a plug for your help... If you know someone looking for a great part-time job, lives close to Union, and loves kids and horses; drop me a line! We're currently reorganizing and have a number of positions available. This is perfect for a licensed counselor who wants to get out of the traditional rut. Our current counselors love this work, so the job comes well recommended.
We're also looking for experienced horse people that have a background in either social service work or the education field.
And ALWAYS... talk us up for donor support and help us spread the word about our unique services. Many of our referrals come from folks like you who mention us during other conversations. Word-of-mouth is our best resource and we hope you'll help us keep up the dialogue!

Well that's about it for now~ Whew! This got long!!!! Recruitment is the word of the day so jump in and help us round out our terrific staff! Working here isn't a job; it's a passion!
Jan :)

Hey, look at this - It's a 1961 Charity Corvette!!!

If you watch any TV at all, then you know by now that it's getting pretty tough to keep the doors open for small not-for-profits. But, it's a beautiful day outside and the last thing we need to worry about is the economy! ...We're just not going there! So instead, lets look at three really exciting things that you may not have heard about. First off, the Light Center is raffling off a 1961 Red Corvette Convertible!!! Yes, you heard it right~ A CORVETTE!!!

Now you may be wondering how that's possible if we're truly struggling and here's the answer. Out there in the great big world of NFP's, there's another great agency whose mission is to rescue Basset Hounds and find them new homes. Guardian Angel Basset Rescue has nothing to do directly with the Light Center, but at GABR they've figured out what we've known for a long time; we all need to work together! Each year, GABR invites a number of smaller NFP's to connect with their annual auction to raffle off a great prize that would otherwise be completely out of reach to smaller organizations. And in doing so, they sell more tickets which helps their cause. It's a wonderful win-win. GABR sets up Light Center's own link to the raffle and TLC gets to keep 50% of all its own ticket sales. And the best part of all, it's all handled right on the internet, through a secure server; charged right to your credit card! REALLY SIMPLE!!! So if you haven't had a chance to check it out yet, DO IT NOW!! You could be driving around in a gorgeous 1961 Corvette convertible by Fall!! Someone has to win; why not you?? Or even better, how about me?? :) Also, we've heard that a lot of the raffle notices we sent out went to SPAM. (....rrrr AOL!!) If this is all a big blur to you, you probably got spammed, so go to the following link and GET THAT CORVETTE!!!! :)

www.corvetteraffleonline.com/LCFI

Also, if you're one of our online Highlights Newsletter readers and you didn't get a notice, the summer issue is out. Go to www.TLCinUnion.org and hit the NEWS button on the left. Then go to the Newsletter. Just FYI, you may need to download a new version of Adobe Reader, (I did) but then it came up beautifully from then on. It's quite pretty so check it out! And don't forget to read about our Sept 7 celebration at the Anvil Club. Bad economy or not, "1000 Kids" is a lot to celebrate!

Finally, our new little donkey, Nellie is doing just beautifully! Many have asked about her and she's settling in nicely. Again, if you haven't heard about her, go to the Highlights Newsletter for the full story. Little Nellie was badly abused in her past life and will now spend the rest of her days in the love and warmth of the Light Center farm. She will be a sweet and gentle reminder to our kids that happy endings are possible.

And speaking of the kids, the new school year is underway and new contracts are signed and ready to roll. We'll be looking at a lot of familiar faces, and many brand new. We've spent some of August meeting with principals and other directors and everyone is looking forward to the start of a fresh new year at the farm. Also, we're still looking for a number of part-time instructors, so if you know any horse and/or animal savvy folks with a teaching degree or an active LCSW certification, send 'em on out! The pay stinks but the rewards are priceless! And where else can you work in the great outdoors with such a great cast of characters!

One last note~ Volunteer assistance and donor support are a never ending need. No crabbing here; just fact. We need to work together to keep this great program in the hands of the kids. Enough said? Now go win that Corvette! I'm off to see a horse about a man!
Jan :)

# 14 Ha! NEW WEBSITE And they said we wouldn't get it done!

I'm quite certain that our new web site is finally up and running!!! I worked on it for months last fall, and finally turned it over to Pat Stoiber after the holidays. So Pat tells me that it's finally ready to roll! Yea!!!!!! If you get a home page with the red barn, it's the old one... If it's bright green and looks all shiney and new; that's it!!! CHECK US OUT!!!! :)
Also, from time to time we get visitors at the farm who want to write stories about our work... Sometimes this process goes well, and other times we've been greatly misquoted and/or misrepresented. So I just thought I'd take a minute to send kudos & thanks to Becky Monroe for her efforts in capturing the true essence of the Light Center in her recent article. You can click the link below to preview the posted article, or you can wait for a coffee break and catch it reprinted in our upcoming newsletter.
http://network.bestfriends.org/illinois/news/25438.html
Becky Monroe is a news writer for the Best Friends Network - "Connecting people through kindness to animals." You can visit the Best Friends site @ http://www.bestfriends.org/
And thanks also to TLC instructor, Susan Taney, for hooking us up!

And talking about the essence of TLC, I got a call this week regarding a 6 year old with low self-esteem. Now you have to ask yourself... "what goes on in a kid's life that causes him or her to dislike themselves when they're barely old enough to know their own name??" I got another call from a social worker with a 12 yr. old who's parents "literally" hate him. And another 12 year old who's mastered the "mom" role while her mother's been in-and-out of rehab her entire life. Now, the mom (clean and sober) wants to be the real mom.... See any problems with that relationship??? It's all in a day's work here on the farm~

On happier thoughts, I also want to send a special thank you to one of our board members, Shawn Stahmer, who is spearheading our strategic planning committee. Strategic planning is an exciting process and we are so lucky to have Shawn's expertise to guide us. At our recent meeting, the committee was picking my brain (a scarey place, indeed!) to figure out the thought processes that brought about the Light Center. I can't tell you how much fun I had answering their questions; they asked great stuff that no one else had ever asked! Things like, "...what kind of picture was in your mind's eye when you first incorporated??" Of course, they were totally at my mercy when I actually started telling them what goes on inside my head!! :)

Anyway, we're also finishing up the newsletter which should wrap up by Monday. Remember, if you're on our mailing list and want to help us save a few bucks, just ask to have your name moved to the email list and get your "Highlights from the Light Center" newsletter via the internet. Also, if you opt for snail mail your copy comes "Black Tie," and if you bring it up online, you get the full color version!

Last, but not least, we're searching for one great, wonderful, truly dedicated volunteer who is Ebay savy, currently has an Ebay sales account, and has the time to sell a couple of items for TLC from time to time. We already have a number of items on-hand that are potential money makers. What we lack is someone with the time and talent to photograph them, list them, track them, package them, and mail them. To be honest, I love Ebay and wish I had the time to tackle this myself! I was the Queen Mother of Ebay this past Xmas; shopping for American Girl doll clothes and accessories for my grandaughters. However, since the gals in my office seem to have some issue with the Queen Mother image, I guess I'd best hang on to my day job!!

Until we meet again~ sign me TLC Queenie, look'n to pass the Ebay torch!

#13 Yes, We're Still Here!!!

I can't tell you how many people have asked when the next blog will post! And keep in mind while you're reading that our dedication to serving challenged and at-risk youth never wavers... EVER. I say that because I'm about to sound very whiny about the ups and downs we've had for the past 3 months! :) And for those of you who understand Light Center lingo, we'll be the first to admit that we've done our share of "corrective thinking" to keep our wits about us!!
So here it is, the complete explanation for why there's been no posts since Xmas~

Right before the holidays we had some unanticipated personnel changes... So Jan returned with a big recruitment agenda on her "to do" list. Well, no big deal... change is a good thing and we've been blessed to pick up some really great "newbees"! Danielle, Karen, & Pat all joined on, volunteer Dee Oliver became an instructor, and we're thrilled to announce the return of Susan Taney to our ranks!! Adding the continuation of Jill, Irene, Brooke, Juan, and Jan to the mix; we've really rounded out the team.

In the mean time, Jan & Irene have been busy with year end reports, the annual audit, the United Way request application, and the development of an entirely new case management system. Not to mention that there's always kids to see and animals to feed and it was 40 below; forever!!! (ok that's a slight exaggeration, but almost true!)

Now wouldn't you just know... in the midst of all that, we were already one computer short, the printer was dieing, Google locked us out of Blogger somehow, we're in the middle of updating our website, and Jan's computer decides to corrupt every single file in the Light Center section!!! Yes, oh woe are we, and feeling pretty far down in the manure!!!!

Well, as good fortune would have it, (as it always does around here) a couple of donations arrived in the nick of time, we found computer equipment in our price range, a great guy (Dave from Harmony Computers- plug! plug!) offered to finish our previously unfinished network setup, a great new pony was donated, and a whole lot of calls started coming in for spring programming. And (here's the really good part,) right in the middle of all that, we discovered that we'd just enrolled our 1000th participant!!!!!!!! Yee Ha!!! Talk about a shot in the arm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So there you have it! We weren't blogging because we've been working our horsey tails off! And the way I look at it, that should make all our supporters really happy! :)

And PS... There's another blog coming out just around the corner so keep your E-eyes open~ The spring newsletter is also coming together nicely and we've got a 3 day workshop out here this week, but we're on our game and you'll hear from us soon. So blog, blog, blog, we're still here!

Like a soap opera, you can sign us: "As The Manure Piles" ...but still smiling!"

#12 Ho Ho Ho!

My grandson, Tristan, lovingly calls Santa, "Ho Ho".
It's not that he can't say "Santa," it's just that at 2 1/2, Tristan calls it as he sees it~ To Tristan, the fat guy in the red suit is "Ho Ho" and that's that.
Wouldn't it be nice if it were always that simple to call it as we see it? Recently, I was reading an article that claimed that there are 3 main reasons why people don't fund not-for-profits; reasons that seemed well considered, but failed, I thought, to let people just call it as they saw it. The reasons listed were that the organizations were either anonymous, irrelevant, or that their results were immeasurable. In the big scheme, for big organizations, those things may be true. But for little not-for-profits like ours, it seemed that it ought to be more simple; like "Ho Ho."
We at the Light Center knock ourselves out to deliver a program that is neither typical, nor easy to explain. And yes, the Light Center does keep a very low profile in the community... Our kids are often wards of the court, mentally challenged, coming from homes in crisis, or plagued with a long list of other "unpublishable" traumas and drama. You don't find the faces of Light Center kids plastered on the front of newspapers, and you seldom see them in our own newsletter. As best we can, we try to respect the confidentiality of the families we serve. So are we anonymous?? Perhaps to a certain extent... As to whether our job is worth doing, I can only say that our society is really in bad shape if the day should ever come where reaching out to help kids in trouble or need becomes "irrelevant." It doesn't matter where these kids come from, it doesn't matter how old they are, what color they are, or what their family background is... Heaven help us all, the day we call the taxpayers, voters, and potentially troubled adults of tomorrow, "irrelevant." Which then brings us to "measureable," to which I would ask, "how do you measure where self-confidence will take a kid in later life?" How can we tell if a kid's lack of anger today, will translate into one more anger-less day tomorrow?? When will we know if the gentle care a young girl shows to a helpless bunny will keep her from abusing her infant a few years from now? And how do we measure that moment of self reflection when a 10 year old bully realizes that 800 lbs of horse doesn't care how tough he thinks he is??? Immeasurable? I see the yardstick as clearly as I see this desk in front of me; I hope others do as well.
So where is all this taking us? Well, perhaps I'm just hoping that when you think of the Light Center this holiday season, you'll simply think "Ho Ho". The kids are here, the program is here, the animals are here, and our small but dedicated staff is here, day after day, one-day-at-a-time. And we do it because we know we make a difference. We don't give up on kids because it gets tough, and unfortunately, we don't have time for great introspection on the whys and wherefores of donor support. Big agencies have big budgets, fancy brochures, and cash to spend on staying in the limelight. And others, like ours, just call it as we see it~ We are "the little red barn with the great big heart." "We use rescued animals to rescue kids." And we love our donors who recognize us for who we are. Like "Ho Ho," we hope your eyes light up when you see us, because, quite simply, "to know us (we hope) is to love us!"
And PS: Irene swears that each year we have a Xmas Miracle, and when I think back, I believe she may be correct. There was the year an entire box of new tack for the horses showed up at my door on Xmas Eve. And there was the year a guy called my home while we were opening packages and told us he wanted to donate $500. because he liked kids and horses. Yesterday, in the midst of bill paying, Irene and I remembered we had not yet made final arrangements for locating an accountant to conduct our '07 end-of-year audit. This audit, I might add, goes up a considerable amount annually, and was projected to hit us for about $4000. this year.... Now here comes the good part~ Within the hour, we get a call from a CPA that had been recommended to us, telling us that he'd love to help us out but he couldn't possibly think of charging us, as he's heard we're doing such a great job!!! He's doing our audit for free!!!!!!! Xmas Miracle? You can decide for yourself, but we think this great guy knew a good thing when he saw it; he saw the shining light of "Ho Ho!"
So, from all of us to all of you, we wish you the happiest of holidays and a year full of the simplicity and peace of Ho Ho!
Love, Jan, Irene, Kristen, Dee, Jill, Juan, Brooke, our great board of directors, and our faithful menagerie; Foxey, Rosie, Rhett, CeCe, Toto, Daisy, Kali, Babs, Caramel, Thomas, Percy, Angel, Clover, Cody, Thumper, Larry, and the rest...
"Merry (unpolitically correct) Christmas to all!"

# 11 Turkey Time and Winter Chills

Well it's Turkey Time and the rest of the holidays are just around the corner! It would be nice to think that the holidays bring some down time for the farm, but that's never really the case. In the last few weeks we've been busy with fall clean-up and winterizing. You'd be amazed how much care and thought goes into planning for the long winter months when you've got 30-some animals to worry about. Straw bedding needs to go down for warm sleeping, and straw bales get moved into place to cut the wind. Stalls that are normally open and breezy have to be outfitted with large sections of plastic sheeting to keep the rain, sleet, and snow from burying our furry friends. Summer buckets need to be swapped out for electric freeze proof buckets, and all the fans, garden tools, rakes, etc. get moved to the attic for winter storage. Even the horse barn gets a thorough prep to insure that water lines are secure from freezing, the furnace is ready to ignite, and ever present thawing buckets are all in place. A couple of weeks back, the fine folks from Baird Warner Crystal Lake came out to give us a hand and still managed to get a fresh coat of winter paint on many of the stalls.

If that isn't enough, we also hosted the Crystal Lake Dawnbreakers Rotary who joined us to begin installing our much needed and greatly appreciated new fence. The fence materials were purchased with a generous grant from the Dawnbreakers, and with half the job finished to date, we couldn't be happier!!! We're still hoping to get the remaining post holes dug before the snow flies, but I'm thinking I may be a bit too optimistic. Even unfinished, our kids have already begun enjoying the new pasture areas. Not only are the horses contained and safe, the kids can work in multiple areas and easily flow from one area to the next.

And speaking of kids, we're happy to announce that we're adding the Clay St. School from Woodstock School District 200 to our cast of youthful characters! Welcome to the farm!!!

New kids are sure to put a smile on the face of Babs the sheep who is just recovering from a foot injury. Dr. Bill's been diligently nursing her infected foot back to health and recently surprised the rest of the gang (perhaps not favorably) when he arrived with fall shots for everyone! So again… there's always something to do on a farm!

And, with the arrival of a number of new kids, we've got new staff as well! Deanna (Dee) Oliver has been a volunteer for the past 2 years and joins us now as an animal activities facilitator. Along with semi-newcomers, Jill Browne and Kristin Miller, Candi's got a full table over in the instructor's pod! And, with a helpful assist from Diane Wlezien, who recently gave up her day staff status only to return as a late afternoon contract facilitator, we've got plenty of action in our little one room office! Of course, desk huggers Irene and I are also holding down the fort, so there's never a dull moment at TLC!

Going back to the kids for a moment, I want to share some of their recent thoughts on how one goes about "taking responsibility for one's own actions." Their answers: "expressing feelings in an appropriate manner, talking your problems out, saying your sorry, no whining, (from a whiner!) not blaming others, forgiving others, admitting to your mistakes and faults, being on time, getting up on time, following directions, being appropriate, not provoke others or animals, no stealing, treat others and animals as you want to be treated, cooperation, tell the truth, team work, good manners, appropriate social skills, empathy & putting yourself in someone else's shoes, self appreciation, and learning from your mistakes." So are we making a difference?? It would sure appear so and we're thrilled with their responses!

Well this blog is getting long, (do we see a pattern here??) so let me close with a friendly holiday reminder about our animal adoption program and our ongoing acceptance of scholarship donations. Many of our kids come from troubled homes with very limited means. Our scholarship program allows them to come to the farm for up to 16 weeks, free of charge. And if animals are your thing, adopt one of ours!! When you adopt a Light Center critter, we'll send you a history and a semi-annual update on what's been going on in their world. And new this year, you'll find the words "Loved by" preceding your own name on your adoptee's stall or cage. And not to leave out the good 'Ol Light Center itself, operating funds are always needed and immensely appreciated! When you're thinking of things you're thankful for, think of our kids who are thankful for the Light Center. Our doors stay open because you care!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Jan

#10 Thoughts on transition~ When staff move on.

Change in life is inevitable and often serves to bring new ideas, a fresh perspective, and opportunities for growth. When a staff member leaves, however, I am often asked the question, "So, what really happened???" And personally, I find this question disturbing.

Statistics bare out the fact that in today's work force most people don't stay in one job for any great length of time. Turn-over, like all change, is inevitable, and staff will come and go. Like the seasons, people go through phases in their careers. And, also like the seasons, some days are bright with promise and others are clouded with frustration and restlessness.

Last year, our devoted animal-care manager, Susan Taney, moved on. I know that the vast majority of Susan's days were bright and rewarding. But like any job, occasional storms inevitably pass through. And when various challenges arose, Susan's days became clouded with frustration. Susan knew when it was time to move on as surely as the seasons change. Yet, to this day, I continue to be asked "for the real scoop." Well the scoop is, Susan is alive and well and frequently meets me for breakfast. Did she move on? Yes. Is it "Ok"? Yes from me and Yes from her.

Now you may be asking yourselves, "Why is Jan bringing up old news?" Well, the simple answer is that people continue to "move on", and it's ok.

In early September, our barn care assistant, Fernando, moved on. And like those before him, Fernando had seen both sunny and cloudy days in his time with us. Remember, seasons change! Fernando moved on when he felt the need for change, and we wish him well! And I'll say it again, "it's Ok." In fact, he is soon to be a new papa; and starting a sleepless season for certain!

Two weeks ago, our long time instructor and program coordinator, Diane Wlezien, resigned from her position. Diane gave five dedicated years of service to TLC, for which I will always be grateful. Together, through all the passing seasons, we've laughed, we've cried, we've dreamed, we've argued, we've planned, and we've both grown. And, as her time to move on has arrived, she will always be remembered as a key player in the early years of the Light Center. In her new position, Diane will get "financial benefits," a commodity not to be taken lightly. But as this Light Center "season" passes, she'll also take "benefits" with her; the benefit of knowing that she has touched the lives of hundreds of kids. It seems to me that this is a commodity of equal value, and I believe she would agree!

So, in closing these random thoughts, I want to say that everything really is "Ok." There's no need to ask about "the real scoop." The whole world is spinning just as it should and the seasons are changing. When Diane leaves, we'll face some new challenges, but we also face an opportunity for new growth. As I look out the window, it looks like rain… And as they say, "we can curse the darkness or light a candle." Well, I'm sitting here in the "Light Center" so I guess I'll find a box of candles. It may be a long winter season... Or the "Light" might be just around the corner!

With great thanks, we wish Diane joy, fulfillment, and peace!

Jan

#9 So Much to Write About, So Little Time!

Doesn't it seem like yesterday that we were writing about washing the sheep??? Well time flies, and animals roll in the mud... it's a life cycle of sorts! Today, Kristen & Candi washed sheep with 3 boys from NW Academy... The sheep, (Percy, Thomas, and Babs) are all beautiful but our instructors look like they've been dragged behind the horses! One of our boys has tremors that make it difficult to even hold a pencil. Needless to say, holding the garden hose brought new meaning to communal bathing! Although normally difficult to raise a smile, this young man was belly laughing so hard that anything that had a chance of staying dry was equally soaked! Lucky for us, we've got instructors who are equally as easily entertained. Even their NWA teacher, Sarah, got drenched when the sheep did the ever popular dog shake! :) Water and suds everywhere, our volunteer Gloria, raised a concern that the sheep may not be rinsed well enough.... Since the yard looked like an Ivory soap commercial, complete with 3 foot suds, the vote was unanimous that the sheep were JUST FINE & finished!!!
As to other happenings, instructors Candi, Jan and Jill Browne have just returned from a 3 day corrective thinking certification. This curriculum, called Truthought, is used in correctional facilities across the country. Research has proven its tremendous value in working with both juvenile and adult offenders, and the gals predict that it may be equally as useful in managing the home front!! :) If you're interested in more info, talk to Rogie Spon at www.Truthough.com. As for future staff improvement, TLC will be hosting the equine-assisted psychotherapy founder, Greg Kersten, for a 1 day "taste of" workshop on March 28, and a 3 day certification training on May 8, 9, and 10. For information on these great workshops go to www.OkCorralSeries.com. And if you see volunteer coordinator / equine specialist, Candi Bowersox, be sure to congratulate her; she's just been promoted to the Light Center position of Associate Director. Kudos to Candi!!!
October proves to be a busy month as the farm hosts service days from both Dawnbreakers Rotary and the Woodstock Baird Warner volunteer gang. Our new fence materials have all arrived and we hope to be looking at the brand new configuration by months end. YEAH!!!! Our 4 legged friend, Rhett, has also returned to us from equine boot camp, so the new fencing will hopefully keep him reasonably distanced from his harem of equine lady friends. Ok, maybe we'll let one go to his side of the fence to play, but only one!!
On other kid news~ One of our hyperactive 8 year olds gleefully announces to her grandmother that she's "going to her job" when she arrives for programming. Her high energy makes her the perfect little "employee!" One of our boys, 11 year old Stu, says he plans on being our new park district spokesperson because he's the only kid who's officially "graduated" from our program. Of course he just can't stay away, so we hear he'll be coming back to actually ride the horses in the near future! Clare Woods primary kids have just completed the first 4 week rotation of the 2007-2008 school year, and we'll be seeing the high school vocational kids for the next 4 week rotation. However, rumor has it that the primary teacher is not eager to be giving up her spot and isn't moving over quite graciously. What was our spotlight word this week??? "Sharing???" Ha! Just kidding! Anyway, they had a great time and we're all looking forward to the next gang.
And less we forget, we've got a special thank you for Doris Dickerson from Hubbs Nursery. Doris is always generous in helping with our garden needs and has recently done a great deal of leg work in researching just which plants will work best for dried flower procurement. Not to mention donating a bunch of the plants for our fall planting! This is part of our new plan for next year's garden, so watch for updates for the '08 dried flower sale!
Well, I'm sure I've forgotten tons, so keep watching~ Blog #10 is sure to be just around the corner! I think I'll get Candi to spotlight our volunteer force in the next issue; you know, they are the unspoken heroes of TLC!
Keep smile'n,
Jan

#8 Our heart belongs to Rotary!!

Well, I told you I'd come back today with something more uplifting!! And our big news of the day, (...of the year!!!) is that the wonderful folks at the Crystal Lake Dawnbreakers Rotary have awarded the Light Center a sizable contribution; enough to replace our completely worn out fences and a bit more for animal care!!! This is SO needed, and SO very appreciated!!! You guys out there in blogger land have no idea how badly our fences needed replacing! In 2000, when the Light Center building was constructed, we inherited about 4 acres of fenced grazing land on which the fences and posts were already showing a great deal of wear and tear. Since then, we've hammered and pounded, and painted and repaired; but alas, there's very little still intact. It's been lucky for us that our animals really do love to stay around our little Club Med for critters! I can't tell you how many times we've had to shag them back into their enclosures because they walked out through broken boards. The funniest time; 1 Shetland, 2 donkeys, a goat, and a miniature horse were all heading cross country with John hot on their tail in a golf cart. Poor Fernando, the animal caretaker, was running cross country with a can of grain shouting out orders to Jan (me) to block off the northern pass!! I swear we looked like we were making a joke cowboy movie complete with a mini stampede!!! Anyway, whether its been the big horses or the little guys, we've had our fill of break outs and can't be more pleased to have the funds to correct the problem. Without our animals we have no program... And our kids need to see that all living things are worthy of care and safety. So again, HUGE cyber Hugs and Kisses to the Dawnbreakers Rotary!!! You ARE the heroes of the hour!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jan :)

#7 (Animal Cruelty Content - You may choose to skip this one.)

Recently, I emailed an article to many of our supporters regarding the high correlation between violent criminal behavior and people who have been accused of animal cruelty. In response, my cousin, Judge Margaret Noe, a family court judge in Adrian Michigan, sent me the following note...

(It's a pretty gruesome account of animal cruelty, so I'd truly advise dumping blog #7 if you're weak of heart.) For those of you who choose to read on; I can only say that her note serves as yet another confirmation that the work of the Light Center must continue. Although these two kids live in Michigan, they could just as well live in your backyard~

Margaret wrote: Jan, these stories are heart breaking. A reality check...this past week I had a 5 year old and a 7 year old in my Court. The crime: they poked the eyes out of a cat with a stick, then turned their bicycles over, stuck the cat's head into the spokes and spun the wheel. It is terrible. I locked them down for an hour so as to compose myself and then ordered they be given psychological testing. I see people, including children at their worst. This is a sad condition which we must not ignore. We need to continue to work with these children so we don't lose the war! Prayer helps too. Keep up the good work. Cousin Margaret.

As for my copying her note, I apologize that the contents are not uplifting like most. But as Margaret said, "it's a reality check." Our range of participants is wide, but make no mistake, these are Light Center kids even if they don't come to us... It's just different kids in different states. The stories are the same.

So now you have a choice.... You can read this and think, "what a Monday morning downer!" Or, you can read it and think of our blog as Light Center hope shining through for even the most troubled kids! It's all in the perspective, but my guess is that you've already made the right choice because you're reading this in the first place!

We'll lighten it up in # 8, I promise!

Jan

#6 Mary Edwards & Kathee Michalski, this one's for you!

After taking the time to write these things, I must admit that I wondered if there was anyone out there who was actually reading them..... Wow, was I thrilled to find out we've actually got a little following!!! I went to a family reunion over the weekend and a couple of cousins (who unfortunately, I rarely see) were asking me when the next blog was posting! You could have knocked me over!!!!!!!!!!!! Mary says she actually gets a cup of coffee and sits down for a read! Way to go, cousins!!! You made my day! :)
Anyway, back to TLC, we're floating away out here at the farm! Like most everywhere in these parts, the rains just won't quit. Lucky for programming we can always see the kids inside, but we are called the "Light" Center and needless to say we're always looking for the sunshine! This week, many of our kids are off for a break between summer and fall sessions. We've got a number of individual participants, but overall it's a quiet, wet week.
Last week the NISRA summer camp was out and we spotlighted the word "Communication" for the whole week.
Both the younger kids and the teen group concentrated on non-verbal communication and what we can learn from the animals. We practiced making (and reading) faces; happy, sad, surprised, frightened, and we talked about animals that don't have facial expressions like our own bunnies and our silly goat, Carmel. We were also so very fortunate to have a well respected artist, Gerardo Trigueros of Costa Rica, work with us for 2 days. Gerardo showed the kids how to draw animals using circles, triangles, ovals, etc. And he brought in samples of his specialty, his own fantastic paintings of animals! Gerardo, was great with the kids and we often overheard him (in his heavy Spanish accent) gently saying things like, "sweet boy, watch how I do this... then we'll try this together." Gerardo has also volunteered to continue working with TLC throughout the next year. We are very fortunate! Anyway, back to the kids... We finished the week with a trip to Corbin's Exotic Pets in Marengo. One of our "Noahs" (we had two) couldn't get enough of the big snakes despite the fact that he wouldn't touch a single animal as the week went on! It was too funny to watch his unexpected fascination with his slithery new friend! The other kids had a grand time as well, with a particular intrigue for the tortoises and marmoset monkeys. Plus, Corbin's is wonderful for letting the kids touch and handle the animals. One of the teens was having a conceptual snag when Mark Corbin tried to get the parrot to say "hello." Each time Mark said, "say hello," the teen would reply "hello" while the parrot looked on in (I swear) silent amusement! Yes, it was non-verbal communication at its best and the bird was completely entertained by the humans!
Anyway, if the rains don't stop we're readying the barns to start marching our animals two-by-two! So until next time, or until you see a really BIG big boat floating away in western McHenry county... We're all here; waiting for the sunshine!
Jan

#5 Rubber Duck Launch and More!

We've had a few technical difficulties lately, so this blog is a bit delayed.... Now that I've figured it out, however, we're back in business and I'll be posting two blogs back to back. So stay with us for the continuing saga of (this is Candi's famous quote:) "as the manure piles!" :)

Duck Launch~

July 28 was the big day for the Light Center Rubber Duck Launch. Actually, it ended up more of a rubber duck "float" as all the ducks were dumped into a large plastic pool to the delight of about 30 kids who stirred them up and then helped choose the winners! The “dunk” took place right here at the Light Center barn and was held in conjunction with a private party hosted by Team Reil, the park and playground company owned by Jan's husband John. John generously offered to showcase the Light Center and its raffle for the opportunity to allow his corporate party goers to visit the barn. The partiers loved the chance to learn more about the center and visit the animals, and they bought lots of tickets to show their thanks! (We loved that part!!!)

After the big dunk, all the kids were invited to stir the “duck soup.” If anyone has a thing about making sure raffle numbers are well mixed, have no doubt about this one!! With about 60 arms in the pool, the ducks were definitely well stirred!!! When the stirring was finished, 25 kids lined up shortest to tallest, to pick the 25 lucky winners. The real treat came for all of us when first prize winner Barry Borchart of Landmark Construction, returned his $1000. winnings to the Light Center program, as did 2^nd place Chuck Ruth of Alliance Contractors, and 5^th place party host, John Cederlund. Way ta' go, guys!!!

In total, the “dunk” took in about $7,000. which made all of us in the barn way happy! As for the Hoe Down, staff and volunteers were all invited to party on with Team Reil! With food, music, dancing, lots of beer, and great conversation, you'd think it was a full service party already. But come nightfall, the skies lit up with an absolutely dynamite fireworks display! I do have to admit, I'm adding the dynamite part based on the rave reviews that continue to come in. As for the show, Candi, Shawn, and myself missed it when barn duty called. Two of TLC's horses, Rosie and CeCe, were displaying their utmost discontent with the booming and banging of the fireworks and needed some major TLC of their own. Go figure!! I guess they didn't get the big bang memo!

Anyway, special thanks go out again to everyone who supported the duck launch, all those who helped out all night in the barn, Barry Borchart, Chuck Ruth and John for their generosity, and most of all to Team Reil for letting us be a part of Hoe Down 2007!

PS: One final note~ Thanks also to Grandpa Mike Sawa who bought our mascot mama duck, "Duckweena" for his granddaughter. If you missed it, he was the guy with a cocktail in one hand, Jan's cowboy hat on his head, and a three foot yellow duck under his arm.
...........ok, you couldn't have missed him!!!!

Till next time, take care Light Center fans~ We'll be in touch!
Jan

#4 It's August Already!!!

Today was weirder than most... Candi Bowersox tacked up her horse Dually and said I WAS going riding! I may be around horses all day, but it's been 11 years since I've been on top of one! And I admit it, it was a fun way to end a very busy day and Dually was a perfect gentleman! Thanks, Candi! You know, me on a horse is such a rare site, we should have made it the next Highlights Newsletter cover!!
Anyway, back to the program~ We've had a number of particularly good sessions this week thanks in part to some great energy from new instructor, Bruce Army. Bruce comes to us from an education background and doubles as a western horse show judge. He's been a great addition to the instructional team, and we hope to be picking up 2 more instructors in the next few weeks.
Many of our school kids are just finishing up their summer session and plans are already underway for fall programming. We also hope to be picking up another school contract this fall after having a wonderful visit from a local principal who loved our program. She had a chance to observe one of our more difficult boys groups and we're proud to say that they totally wow'd her! We're also pleased to say that we've got 3 returning schools, increased use by a number of other agencies, and more individual participants all the time!
Our staff has also been doing some in-service work on goal setting and behavioral objective writing. It was a hard sell at first, but it sure improves our planning and makes our sessions even more productive. I do believe our staff is actually coming to enjoy the process!
Last night we had our August board meeting and the discussion really drove home our need for corporate sponsorship. The Light Center is a GREAT organization and we SO want to be adopted by some caring corporate supporters! We've been really blessed to have a long stream of devoted donors who have brought us this far, but our needs have outgrown our finances and for us, there's no turning back... We've got kids who have come to depend on this program and we just can't let them down. If you know anyone who works for a community minded business, please pass on our name, pass on our web site, and please put in a couple a'dozen good words about us!
One last thing, before I go... I want to send out a special thanks to our college gal, Leslie, who worked with us all summer. She's fantastic with the kids and we'll miss her a lot now that she's returning to school. Good luck this fall Leslie! We'll look for you at Xmas!!!
Tune in later this week for the scoop on our Rubber Duck Launch and the Team Reil party~
It'll take a whole page in itself!! Have a great night!
Jan

#3 Spring Cleaning in July... and a call for a special volunteer!

Saturday was spring cleaning; slightly delayed! On hand were Janet, Dennis, Paul and Corey Bershers, the Cheryl Niemo family, Dave Swanson, Candi Bowersox, Rick Mullen, Diane Wlezien, Shawn Stahmer and daughters, and John & Jan Cederlund. A special thanks goes out to the Bershers for renting the power washer. Handling the gusher, slicker suit and all, was faithful volunteer Dennis B. Thanks also go out to John for having our leaky water heater repaired. Yeah!! No more wet dry wall in the bathroom!! It was a dirty day for sure, but somebody's got to do it and we got it done! Anybody know the magic for keeping it that way??????????????

Hey somebody out there.... We're looking for one great volunteer to pick up a load of dirty towels once a week and run them up to the laundromat. We'll even supply the coins! There must be someone who doesn't like kids, animals, hay, or office work and still wants to help out the Light Center! Think of it as "Me" time... a good book, a cup of coffee to go, the schlop, schlop, schlop sound of the washers doing there thing... Ahhhh.. Perhaps bunny towels are your calling!!
Call Candi B to answer our plea!
Later!
JC

Day 2 - Wow, we're blogging maniacs!!

Hi Again!
If you didn't read yesterdays Blog, please backtrack and read it first. (It was much better! Ha!)
I know I won't be able to get to this everyday, but I did want to add a hearty THANKS to our new board member, Shawn Stahmer, who helped get the Blog up and running. I really do need all the tech help I can get!! Hopefully we'll have our brand new web site up and running very soon too!
I'll be talking about the kids (a lot!) in weeks to come, but for the moment I just want to also throw out a couple of commercial messages.
First - We are looking to add staff, so please help us spread the word. Preferably, educators or therapists with strong horse or animal backgrounds. We work days, so people with flexible schedules are a good match.
Next - Our duck raffle and coffee sale continues. If you haven't bought a Lucky Duck yet, call 815-923-2613 before July 28!! ( There are cash prizes and lots of pizzas and stuff to give away; grand prize is $1000!) And the Light Center Blend coffee is the BEST; and compared to Starbucks at $22./Lb., we're a real bargain at $15!
Also - We are always looking for good volunteers! Got some time? We've got work! Call us!
Last of all - Our staff is undergoing "staff and program development." What that means is that we're brushing up our skills and our activities to make the Light Center program even better than ever. But with that comes increased hours and increased dedication... This staff, all of them, put in volunteer hours as well as compensated time; it holds down costs and makes for a dedicated team. So needless to say, your support is always critical to our success. Someone at the Green Chimneys Residential Center in New York said, "the pain these kids carry is like a monster inside of them. Our job is to help them tame the monster without hurting them anymore. These kids have been hurt enough." Most of the kids that come to the Light Center are hurt just as much... Your support helps us help them! Ok, the commercials are all over. It's raining right now, ok it's pouring right now, so I'm ought'a here! Have a great night bloggers!
Jan

Light Center's first post!

Hello blog world! This is our first post and a big day in our little corner of the world. As you can see from the posted bio about us, we work with special needs kids... and horses, and donkeys, and goats, and sheep, and ducks, and...well you get the picture. If you're reading this and you've never been to our web site; you can visit us at www.TLCinUnion.org. We are always looking for instructors, volunteers, horse handlers, and the ever popular donor with deep pockets! Just kidding about the deep pockets, but we survive on donor support and do our very best to always make our donors proud of our efforts. The kids we see have learning disabilities, developmental challenges, and behavioral disorders. Many have been the victims of physical or sexual abuse and come from homes where drug and alcohol abuse are the norm. Others have been in juvenile detention or are well on their way. We see about 200 kids a year, and all of them learn far more from the animals than they'll ever learn from us! It rained today so the boys group practiced remembering and following 6 steps to good horse grooming. Despite the rain, the horses look great and the kids had fun. Yesterday, our young gelding, Rhett, left for "camp", or at least that's what we told him! He's actually gone off for some retraining and will hopefully rejoin us in a few months with some greatly improved manners! Tonight we're painting (on a horse) good behaviors on one side and bad behaviors on the other. I'm not sure if the horse will love the activity, but we sure do. Good luck with that one kids! We'll let you know how it went tomorrow! Good night Blog world! See ya tomorrow!