Day Job: I'm Seeking Feedback Please

Okay, so my day-job is this: Youth Guidance, Youth for Christ Grand Rapids. What does that mean? I get to hang out with at-risk girls all the time, the more the merrier. I love what I do. But I have one constant problem. I'm asking for your opinion.

I have a support base for which I cannot be thankful enough for. Without the people who write monthly checks to YFC on my behalf, I would not be able to do what I do. It is thru their sacrifice, that I am able not only to do what I love, but to share with them all these great things that God is doing. For some of them, it is the only way they will be able to tell someone else about Jesus. Here is my problem:

Ideally, I would love to send out a newsletter once a month telling everyone what is going on. For those who write monthly checks its a reminder...sort of like a nice bill that's personal and friendly and doesn't have late fees. For others, maybe the ones that this is how they tell others about Jesus, they see the fruit of their labor. But this presents a problem: $67+ dollars a month for postage not to mention the time it takes to stuff, label, and write these things (I will mention here that I love writing them, formating them, and being able to share with everyone all the cool things God is doing). ...It is however, impractical because of the time and expense.

YFC has also developed a Calendar of sending out newsletters rotating letters directly and only from the Executive Director (ED), general YFC Newsletter...which is news/highlights from all of our ministry sites (of which we are each limited to about 250-300 words), personal Newsletters (one newsletter from each ministry site), and no newsletter at all (only twice in the year). This leaves a lot of what goes on out of anyone's ears. From my point of view, this is simply bad PR...when you don't communicate effectively and thouroughly with your supporters who DO sacrifice to give.

So now, we are looking into doing e-newsletters. Several advantages arise from doing it this way: way less expensive, way less time consuming, can be as personal or organizational as desired, and this 'instant' communication also provides means of better two-way communication. These are some of the possibilities. Some disadvantages I currently see are some who have limited or no access to internet - do we send them a snail mail one?, the slightly less personal and more spam-like looking email in the inbox - will people ignore it or pass it off as something not involving them? Okay, those are the only ones I can think of.

In other news, quick a minute before I close: Its not really an official thing yet but I like the thought of it and I like the odds of its potential. I heard yesterday that I may have an opportunity to get my masters! Not in communication (which I have a BA in) but in Criminal Justice/Youth Ministry area. Its thru a university in St.Paul Minnesota: Bethel University. Its one of those short-term, highly intense days with months of follow up. The program is currently being developed I hear. Pray for it, it would be a huge help in understanding the kids I work with.

Again, I would like your feedback on the communication thing above. If you would take a minute and let me know your preferences. I want to communicate frequently not because I like or want to be annoying, but because I see a lot of joy and I see a lot of God working and I think its important for the sake of encouragement and so much more!

Nuts and Bolts

I realize that it has been a long time since I last wrote. Not much has been happening lately. Don finally got his license about a month ago which has relieved a lot of low-lying stress in my life. My girls are growing like weeds and its so exciting. Thanksgiving was last week...Happy belated Thanksgiving by the way. I got new shoes...two pairs...one is my first pair of stelleto heels. I'm looking forward to both the end of this year and the beginning of the new one.

I'm hoping to go to our midwinter conference in February. Its going to cost about $1050 to go. Right now I just can't part with that sort of money in my YFC account. If anyone has an extra grand (or part of an extra grand) layin' around...send me a check with 'Kelly's Midwinter Conference' on it and mail it to YFC: YFC; PO Box 2678; Grand Rapids MI 49501. I know, that's not the address you're used to BUT YFC is moving yet again...the building we're leasing is sold and we sought the Lord about staying (which is our legal right) or leaving (which would promote better community relations) and we foudn the Lord to lead us away from Lousma Dr. We're happy about it and God lead us to a good place.

Since it is after Thanksgiving, I give full permission to all for the installation of Christmas Decorations if they so desire. We have now looked upon ourselves, our lives, and the world around us and found things to be thankful for so we may now look ahead to the blessing that CHRISTmas affords: the birth of our Lord and Savior. You may now commence the putting up of fancy and colorful lights, the decorating of an evergreen, the silly little mistletoes because I know you can't live without them Nae, and the building of miniture cities because you like to have control Kelly. All of your presents can be wrapped and placed under that evergreen, please refrain from putting your stockings too close to the fire. Also, be mindful of overloading sockets as is a holiday tradition for many, this is a grave fire hazzard. Don't forget that Nativity set and place it in a good place as it does keep us grounded. And for the love of Christ...Don't stand for the shift to 'happy holidays' say it with pride: "MERRY CHRISTMAS!"

(*Sigh*)

I think that's all I have. Be safe, Be good, and if that can't happen, at lest don't get caught!

Attention SUB Clubbers!!

Well, its that time of our lives where we plan reunions. What is this....it will (I suppose) be our five year reunion from most of our graduations. This MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND we are planning a reunion (Josiah and I and whoever else wants to join in). The dates are May 23-26, 2008 so mark your calendars!! We're planning on Eastern Ohio because Jo has a place large enough that we wouldn't have to pay for housing. I can bring along two tents that both sleep 8 people each (let me know if I need to bring both). So much to be had...please plan to come!! Oh yeah, and tell Alan and Carol, I hear they don't blog. They live in Southern California so stop by their place and let them know if you live in the area.

More details to come

Well, I hope ya'll had a Happy Holloween and that all the candy was safe and all. I wish to wish you a Happy Reformation Day too! ...Just as important.

Not much is going on in my life. My car payments are fabulous! ...mostly because they drive better than my non-car payments and there is an assurance that I'll never have to deal with that body shop again.

We (YFC YG) have now sold just over 200 Yonkers Community Day coupon books. For $5 you get a $10 off coupon for any single item in the store over $10, 8- 20% off coupons on various items, one $30 off Clark shoes that don't ever go on sale, and one other bonus buy of a 3-tray entertainment buffet server for $49.97 instead of its normal price of $100. Good buy eh? I might stop in and shop too! Christmas shopping on saturday is on my list of things to do.

It is my goal this year, to be done shopping by Thanksgiving. I've never been a day-after-Thanskgiving-day shopper before but last year my husband and I went just so we (I) could see the craziness. AND it was crazy! we got a great deal on a badly needed winter coat for me and him too so it wasn't all bad. We got tons of shopping done and we saved tons of money and were back in bed within an hour and a half! I was proud. Never again. Gotta do somethings once right?

Well, I should go, work becons...

Something doesn't sound right coming from...

May God bless all the people from every walk of life who are now picking up ashes of the past several days in southern California.

But truly, when you see a celebrity come on Television and say, "...you can become a part and help us rebuild our lives..." it just doesn't sound the same as the people from New Orleans saying, "...you can become a part of this and help us rebuild our lives..." Same words but coming from a celebrity, who earns millions and millions of dollars on ABC's hit show 'Ugly Betty' just doesn't seem too needy. I wish celebrity's the best, I truly do, but they have bank accounts, insurance policies, investments and assets they can dig into and have spare afterward to help their neighbor.

I would like to see how the McDonald's worker plans on rebuilding their house, or where they're going to stay until there is an apartment complex they can afford and is ready for move in. I would like to know what is going to happen to those who work three part time jobs at the mall (that burned down) for a living, how are they going to rebuild their lives, send their kids to school, pay their car insurance, etc... How are these people, without fat insurance policies, assets and investments, and heafty bank accounts going to get up on their feet again? Why not put someone we all know doesn't have a hit TV show standing in front of their ashes saying, "...please be apart of this because I had just paid my car insurance two weeks ago and I have $153.27 in my bank account and we have no food. Help me and my neighbors rebuild our lives..."