As far as programs go, our club will be starting the new year off with a bang. An informative, two-part series on “Effective Use of Social Media”  featuring local marketing experts starts this Wednesday.  Be sure to bring your phone.

On Jan. 3, Brandon Porter will discuss how to use social media to grow your business, and the differences between social media platforms. While he’ll touch on other platforms, the emphasis will be on Facebook and how to use it more effectively.
 A bit of background on Brandon: He graduated from George Fox University in 2012 with a psychology degree. He’s a licensed real estate broker in the state of Oregon, focusing on growing his business in Newberg.  He and his wife Danika live in Newberg, where she serves the older adult population as Administrator over Friendsview Retirement Community’s in-home care program. They have an almost-2-year old daughter named Tilia.

On Jan. 10, our speaker will be Ashley Mumm. In her presentation, Ashley will be touch on the importance of branding and marketing, and how they affect your appeal to your target market. Come prepared with questions and your laptop if you’d like to take notes.

Both sessions will be open to the public, so please consider inviting a friend or co-worker.
Wrapping Up 2017
For our last meeting of the year, two representatives from United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley updated us on the organization’s role, focus and activities.
Elizabeth Schrader, director of resource development, and Cassie Cruze, development coordinator, explained that the organization serves Marion, Polk and Yamhill Counties. United Way has been city-centric in the past, but is now reaching out to rural areas.

Elizabeth Schrader.

Its focus is on three main areas:

  • Fighting childhood poverty
  • Capacity building for area nonprofits
  • Emergent needs in the communities

“To live better, we must live united,” said Cassie. ” We must stop talking and start doing.” In the area of childhood poverty, she said there are significant challenges facing many youth, such as hunger and homelessness. “We are trying to address the most pressing needs.”

Cassie Cruze with United Way.

“What we do is change the odds,” she continued.  “We’re learning more how the impact of poverty upon education shows a measurable and long-lasting detrimental effect on students’ cognitive performance.  Through our ‘United for Classrooms’ program, we give every student the best possible chance for success. Teachers are the first responders for our children. They are the ones who help the child who comes to school with duct tape around their shoes, or the one who didn’t have breakfast. Teachers are paying out of their own pockets to meet student needs. That’s why this Kindergarten through Grade 5 program aims to give $200 in financial assistance to each classroom within our service area.”

To help small, local nonprofits, United Way provides grants for outcome-based programs and collaborative projects that address core needs. Over $65,000 was given to area organizations last year, including $10,000 to Yamhill 211.  According to Cassie, United Way is working to increase awareness of this phone number as a resource for folks who need social services.

In the area of emergent needs, United Way stands ready when a natural disaster such as an earthquake or other unanticipated crisis hits. “We work together with businesses, government agencies, schools, faith groups, individual community members and nonprofits. In that case, it takes the whole community to get the kind of results we need,”  Cassie said.

For more information, or to donate, go to unitedwaymwv.org.

Time to Order Your Club Shirts! 
Have you ordered your club tee and polo shirts yet? If not, you’re lucky–  the deadline has been extended to Jan. 10.  Please find the email sent to all club members recently with the order form. Fill out and email the form to Marge O’Connell at: [email protected]. The form asks for the following types of information:
Type of shirt: tee or polo or both
Quantity: number you wish to order
Gender: men’s or women’s
Regular or customized (customized features our club name above the Rotary logo)
Size: wide range of sizes available; see email
The actual cost of the shirts will be determined by the number ordered, but will be in the neighborhood of $13.95 for a regular tee; $18 for custom, and $34.95 for a regular polo; $38.95 for custom.
 Many thanks to Marge for offering to coordinate the orders.
Guests
Orion Burnard, aka “Constellation Man,” attended to support  Elizabeth and Cassie from United Way.