Archive for December, 2008
Some ways to support Turning Point in 2009
1) Sign up for a small, regular donation. Visit our website and click on the “Donate Now” button. Sign up to make a monthly donation. $10 a month means skipping two of those big frothy espresso drinks a month and diverting that money to Turning Point. At the end of the year you will have donated $120 to TP. That can make a big improvement in the life of a victim of Domestic Violence.
2) Tell a friend. Write a quick email about Turning Point to a friend and ask them to join you in supporting us. Invite them to check this blog for news and information. Bring up your support of Turning Point at a family gathering or party. Bring a friend to a Turning Point event during 2009.
3) Tell a few strangers. Write a letter to the Northwest Herald in support of Turning Point. It’s easy to do- go to their website and they tell you how. A few lines is all it takes- tell why you support Turning Point and ask others to do the same.
4) Donate your cell phone. When you get a new phone in 2009, drop the old one off at Turning Point. We recycle the phone for you and profit from any valuable parts that can be reused. It keeps that old phone out of a landfill and helps to fund out technology needs.
5) Volunteer your time! Call Jennifer at (815) 338 8081 and talk to her about volunteering at Turning Point! From yard work to answering crisis calls- everyone has a part to play.
A very happy new year from each of us at Turning point!
December 30 2008 | Events and Fundraising and Volunteers | No Comments »
The Northwest Herald has yet another excellent article about domestic violence. This one is about the new Illinois state law that goes into effect this week requiring electronic monitoring for some abusers.
“Like many other laws protecting victims of violent crimes, it came at the expense of someone’s life. The successful Senate Bill 2719 is named after Cindy Bischof, who was gunned down this year in front of her Elmhurst real-estate office by an ex-boyfriend who then shot himself. He repeatedly had violated the orders of protection that Bischof had against him.”
You can read the story here.
December 29 2008 | In the news | No Comments »
The Chicago Tribune ran a great article about Turning Point in the Christmas Day edition. That’s a great day to be in the paper- It’s one of the bigest selling issues as people pick up a paper to check the Post-Christmas sales. The complete article is here.
“When it showed up, I would talk myself into staying by saying, ‘I have a good life,’ ” Carolyn Cox said. ” ‘Don’t give it up. It’s not going to happen again.’ “Turning Point, a domestic-violence agency where counselors gave her the strength to testify at her husband’s trial, and helped her rebuild her life and understand why she had stayed with an abusive man for years. The Woodstock agency offers comprehensive victim support and emergency services and is supported by Chicago Tribune/WGN-TV Holiday Giving, a campaign of Chicago Tribune Charities, a McCormick Foundation Fund.”
But in 2004, her husband was charged with hitting her with a blunt object, dragging her through their Bull Valley mansion and locking her in a carbon monoxide-filled garage. Billy Cox was convicted of attempted murder and aggravated domestic abuse last year and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
December 29 2008 | In the news and Programs | No Comments »
Due to the weather, Turning Point will close at 2 PM today. There will be NO evening groups tonight.
Even though the office is closed, you CAN get help 24/7: Call the McHenry County Crisis Line at 800-892-8900.
December 23 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments »
Yes, indeed! Today’s NW Herald has a great letter to the editor here by and about two great friends of Turning Point. The letter is about Pam Althoff and by Rosemary Kurtz. Give it a read.
Letters to the Editor are a great way to get the word out about Turning Point. Even people who only glance at the front page news read those letters from top to bottom. It only takes a moment to write a letter- let the world know you support Turning Point!
December 23 2008 | In the news | No Comments »
Turning Point was closed during Friday’s blizzard! We don’t close very often, but when weather makes it dangerous to be out on the road, we will close the office. In the event of an emergency closing, we will notify our friends at Star 105.5 and the Northwest Herald to be added to the area closings. You can find them online, also, at www.Star105.com and www.NWHerald.com. When in doubt, call ahead (815) 338 8081.
Turning Point will be closed Christmas Eve and Day this week, and New Years Eve and Day next week. But, help is always available- call the McHenry County Crisis Line at 1-800 892 8900 any time day or night and you will be able to talk to a Turning Point advocate.
December 22 2008 | Programs | No Comments »
TP volunteers will be wrapping gifts at Barnes & Noble in Crystal Lake again THIS Sunday (12-21) from noon to 4 PM. Stop by and get your purchases gift wrapped in exchange for a donation to Turning Point!
December 18 2008 | Events and Fundraising | No Comments »
Turning Point's Mary Denny (Left) meets with Prosecutor Nicole Owens and State's Attorney Louis Bianchi
On December 4th, Kevin Lyons wrote a column in the Northwest Herald (This article is currrently off-line- I will add the link when it returns) about “Evidence-based” prosecution of domestic violence. State’s Attorney Louis Bianchi and his office are “Changing the rules of the game” according to Lyons. “By using 911 tapes, police reports, photographs and officer testimony, prosecutors have twice been able to obtain domestic battery convictions without direct testimony from a victim. It doesn’t work all of the time, but the threat alone is enough to put offenders and defense attorneys on notice.”
In many Domestic Violence cases, the victim will refuse to cooperate with the prosecution of their abuser, sometimes out of fear, or because the perpetrator has convinced them they’ve changed and the abuse won’t happen again. But, as domestic violence experts know, this “honeymoon” phase is part of the “Cycle of Violence” that often becomes more intense and destructive the longer it continues. By using this new prosecution technique, McHenry County is holding abusers responsible and convicting perpetrators, allowing the victims to break that cycle and get the help they need to stop the violence in their homes.
Turning Point works closely with law enforcement. Through the Law Enforcement Advocacy Program, 14 police departments and the Sheriff’s department work with Turning Point to help officers to be better equipped to address the needs of the victims of domestic violence. Turning Point’s courthouse office writes orders of protection, which may forbid any further abuse or threats of abuse including harassment, physical abuse, stalking, neglect or exploitation and order the abuser to stay away from the victim(s).
December 18 2008 | In the news and Programs | No Comments »
This letter in yesterday’s Northwest Herald got us thinking about mailings, fund raising and mailing lists. Turning Point tries to stay away from direct mail appeals, mainly because they are so expensive. But, sometimes, direct mail is the best way to reach prospective donors. If it didn’t work, we wouldn’t do it. We do an annual Holiday appeal (and have for many years) and it has consistently been one of our biggest fund raisers. We are quite fortunate that the printing and processing of this annual mailing is donated to us by Landfear Communications and Dahlgren’s Mailing Service. We mail only to those who have supported Turning Point in the past, so we don’t get many requests to be removed from our mailing list, but if anyone does ask, we certainly do- there is no sense writing to people who don’t want to hear from us. We hope his blog and a monthly E-Mail newsletter (starting in January) will help us to cut down an the few mailings we do: Electronic communication is less expensive and better for the environment.
And incidentally, Turning Point never sells or trades the names and addresses of it’s donors.
December 17 2008 | Fundraising | No Comments »
Turning Point depends on community support. One way that you can maximize the impact of your donation is to make regular donations that we can count on each month. Did you know that you can visit the Turning Point website and set up a regular donation from your checking account using your debit card? It’s easy! Click here and then the donate now button. You can choose to make one gift or schedule a monthly gift. You could give $10 a month which would be a very nice $120 gift by the end of 2009.
December 17 2008 | Fundraising | No Comments »
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