Brenda Schinke

From the Ladies Home Journal Website, 1/9/06

Until next time,
Brenda

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)

In 1977, a Seattle judge conceived the idea of using trained community volunteers to speak for the best interests of abused and neglected children in court. So successful was this program that soon judges across the country began utilizing citizen advocates. In 1990, the US Congress encouraged the expansion of CASA programs with passage of the Victims of Child Abuse Act.

Today, CASA has grown to a network of more than 50,000 volunteers that serve 225,000 abused and neglected children through 900+ local program offices nationwide. Advocates, also known as volunteer guardians ad litem in some jurisdictions, are appointed members of the court. Judges rely on the information these trusted advocates present.

The mission of the CASA Association is, that together with its state and local members, is to support and promote court-appointed volunteer advocacy for abused and neglected children so that they can thrive in safe, permanent homes.

Learn more at CASA’s website here: http://www.nationalcasa.org/

Emergency Animal Rescue

Emergency Animal Rescue is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) corporation founded in April of 1993. Based in San Diego California, the organization specializes in the actual physical rescue of animals that are in life threatening situations.

It didn’t take long for the public to start utilizing the Emergency Animal Rescue. In early 1994, they were summond to Los Angeles to assist in animal rescues during the Northridge earthquake, Then again in October of 1996, they flew to Texas to rescue animals in the floods in Conroe and Liberty. And again in our the Harmony Grove fire, the Viejas fire, the Pines fire and most recently, the Cedar fire. The Emergency Animal Rescue came through with the help of friends and neighbors, rescuing hundreds of animals, holding them in our receiving areas, and then returning every single one of them back to their rightful owners. They also just returned a Swift Water rescue team from New Orleans after an 11-day mission in the devastation of Hurricane Katrina where they rescued over 400 animals from the floodwaters.

Learn more at the Emergency Animal Rescues’ website here: http://emergencyanimalrescue.org/

Until next time,
Brenda

My friend was commenting over lunch about being in such a dilemma.  Crazy things have been happening to her lately and finally it came to a head.  People she thought were professional business associates were just using and abusing her good nature.  As we talked about the situations she said it doesn’t matter, it’s March 4th.  I said what does that mean.  She said don’t you see the significance.  March FORTH.  How great is it that she has chosen to move forward instead of doing the poor me.

Together we created a plan of action.  The first thing she did was to grab a notebook and jot down EVERYTHING that she needed to do.  Second, we prioritized; scheduled and set up a plan of action, since she was focused on marching forward and the things she needed to do in order to make it happen. 

1.  What is one thing in my life that I choose to move forward on?

2.  What is my plan of action and when will I create it by?

3.  How will I celebrate my decision to move forward?

Until next time,
Brenda