Archive for April, 2012
A suicide leads one Sioux City paper to decide enough is enough:
The entire front page of Sunday’s Sioux City Journal is devoted to an editorial about bullying by youths.
A northwestern Iowa high school student, Kenneth Weishuhn of Primghar, committed suicide last week. A month earlier, he had told people he was gay, and school officials and other students said he had been bullied, online and in person, ever since.
Saying such cruelty is common, Journal editorial writers urge school officials, parents, and anyone else who witnesses bullying to take immediate action to stop it, instead of downplaying and ultimately perpetuating it.
Like most American newspapers, the Journal rarely publishes its unsigned editorials, which are intended to represent the view of the newspaper, outside of pages designated for opinion pieces. It’s even more rare for a whole front page to be devoted to a single topic.
“We must stop bullying. It starts here. It starts now,” the editorial declares in large capital letters below a cartoon by Brian Duffy.
The nationwide release of the documentary “Bully” has helped bring prominence to bullying recently, particularly in Sioux City, because the film features a bullied Sioux City middle school student.
People have a habit of looking the other way when it comes to bullying, the Journal wrote, but that cannot continue.
“It is the business of all of us. More specifically, it is our responsibility. Our mandate,” the editorial says.
You can read the text of the editorial here.
April 23 2012 | In the news | No Comments »
As part of their Silver Star Award, Sarah and Alyssa and their troop made and delivered these great “Birthday in a Bag” kits for our Turning Point kids. They even wrote this press release to explain what they did. Thank you so much,
Birthday in a Bag Girl Scout Silver Award helps Turning Point!
Sometimes when families struggle with money, having a birthday party for a child may be tough. When Sarah and Alyssa from Girl Scout Troop 210 discovered this, they decided to connect with their community and take action! Their group, Birthday Bling, is currently helping children from low income families in our community, by making Birthdays in a Bag. They are collecting all of the necessary items to help a child have a pleasant birthday. Children receive a decorated bag filled with plates, invitations, balloons, streamers, and lots of other necessary things needed to make their birthday special. The girls are currently trying to earn their Silver Award project, which includes 50 hours of community service.
Are you looking for a way to give back to your community? Do you have a birthday coming up but just don’t know what to ask for? Ask for the items in a birthday bag. When you receive them, put together a Birthday Bag and deliver them either at the Turning Point or another program. It’s a great way to get involved in your community, it’s easy, and it’s fun! Think about how good you will feel knowing that you used your special day to make another child’s birthday special too.
The Girl Scout program is all about leadership and teaches girls to take action with the things they believe in. That’s why they feel the need to help the kids in their community. “By doing this I feel like I am really making a difference” says Sarah, age 12. And as Alyssa states, “As long as the kids are happy, we’re happy.”
April 23 2012 | Volunteers | No Comments »
A letter to the editor of the McDonough Voice from the daughter of a woman killed in a domestic violence incident:
Dear Editor,
My name is Kiryn Evans, the only daughter of Kathryn Baxter Simmons, a fatal victim of domestic violence. I used to live in Nauvoo, IL and had my name changed from Kristi Simmons to Kiryn Evans in 2005, after the trial was over. My mother was a registered nurse at McDonough District Hospital (MDH) in Macomb, IL for twelve years before her death in 2003. She had struggled with domestic violence for over twenty five years and succumbed to it on March 26, 2003. It had started long before she married Kevin Simmons in 1978; he unfortunately is my biological father and is now serving a 45 year sentence at Pontiac Correctional Facility for first degree murder. Domestic violence often starts in the dating years before marriage and children. My mother was taken to Carthage Memorial Hospital where she was unconscious; she was then flown to OSF Medical Center but the medics had to stop at MDH to allow for emergency surgery. She later died at OSF, where I now work as a RN.
I write this every year for many reasons-my own healing journey, to take a stand against domestic violence, and to hopefully give at least one person strength to leave and save themselves or their children. There are some who say I do it to gain sympathy because I just want people to feel sorry for me and I need to just let it all go. As many mental health therapists know, my husband included, is that trauma and abuse are not just let go. Abuse can be processed, dealt with, and have a place found for it or it can be denied, shoved aside, and never dealt with. I chose to deal with it at age 19, when I put myself in therapy for the first time after I had a flashback at work of Kevin sexually abusing me. That was the start of a very long journey for me. I chose to get help and address the abuse so that I would not end up a fatal victim like my mother; I chose to fight it and speak out against it, not shove it aside and “let it go.” I am now a registered nurse, completing a master’s degree in nursing to become a nurse practitioner and also completing training to become a sexual assault nurse examiner. How does any of that indicate I want people to feel sorry for me?
Domestic violence does not exist or occur in a bubble, as many think or want to think it does. Many people do not want to acknowledge that domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual abuse occurs in every single community in this country; some of those homes it occurs in are prominent members of society and no one wants to believe that. Domestic violence is not just a family problem-it is a societal and community problem and everyone needs to help fight it. Communities need to take a stand against all types of violence, help those who are suffering, and hold the perpetrators responsible!
“One in three women may suffer from abuse and violence in her lifetime. This is an appalling human rights violation, yet it remains one of the invisible and under-recognized pandemics of our time. Violence against women is an appalling human rights violation. But it is not inevitable. We can put a stop to this.” - Nicole Kidman.
I always end with one of Maya Angelou’s quotes; she was also a sexual abuse survivor. “Surviving is important, thriving is elegant.”
Kiryn Evans, RN, BSN,
Graduate Student
Peoria
April 23 2012 | Programs | No Comments »
Ever wonder what a wheel barrow full of chocolate looks like?
It’s here! Friday, April 20th–it’s the Turning Point Auction!
Here’s our “Live Auction” items that will be going home with some lucky bidders!
Our Live Auction Items
A Pig Roast for 100 Guests
Graduation? Family reunion? Maybe even a wedding!? Carvetti’s in Lake Geneva Wisconsin will throw you a pig roast for 100 guests on their outdoor deck overlooking the river. It will be a party you never forget!
Donated by Carvetti’s Value $2500
Abundance of Wine
The members of our Board of Directors each pitched in a couple of favored bottles to put together this wine basket- fill your wine rack with an assortment of reds, whites, everyday delights and special occasion vintages!
Donated by the Turning Point Board of Directors
Abundance of Chocolate
The Turning Point staff each donated their favorite “Chocolate Delivery Device”! It’s an assortment of chocolate from all over the world- Supermarket check-out candy bars to select European chocolates! Perfect for an office treat or maybe for dessert at your pig roast?
Donated by the Turning Point Staff
Yard Clean up
Light of Christ Lutheran Church in Algonquin has been cleaning up the Turning Point grounds every spring for several years now. Now, your lawn can look good too! The Small Men’s Group from Light of Christ will spend a Saturday Morning in your yard mowing, raking, trimming, edging, and weeding!
Donated by Light of Christ Small Men’s Group (Value $600)
HIS Fitness package
A pair of Lunarglide 3 running shoes (Size 10.5), a Sphere SS Running Top, Total 90 Laser III FG Soccer Shoes (Size 11.5), a FFF Home Replica Jersey (Size Lg) and so so much more- including a Five Week Boot Camp at EW Training and a $100 Nike.com Gift Card!
Donated by Nike and EW Fitness (Value $799)
HER Fitness Package
A Pair of Lunarglide 3 running shoes (Size 8), Nike running shirt, pants and socks, a Nike duffle bag to keep all that (and more!) in and a Centegra Fitness basket that includes a THREE MONTH membership at Healthbridge Fitness Center!
Donated by Nike and Centegra (value $835)
Pearl & Silver Necklace
From our Friends at Dalzell Jewelers, we have a beautiful pearl and silver necklace- dressy enough for a big night out but so beautiful you’ll want to wear it every day
Donated by Dalzell Jewelers (Value $650)
“Log Cabin” Quilt
A Beautiful Log Cabin style quilt made from all-cotton Civil-War era reproduction fabrics. Machine washable (cold) Full/Queen sized quilt would look stunning on a bed or displayed on a wall.
Donated by Renee Shopp (Value $500)
Cubs Tickets
Always much in demand, we’ve got 4 (FOUR) Tickets to see the Chicago Cubs play the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field on Thursday September 20th 1:20 PM.
Donated by Steve Browne (Value $250)
A Golfer’s Delight
A one of a kind custom built driver, filament wound, with 9-4 Titanium head. Built to promote Breast Cancer Awareness with a distinctive black-and-pink grip this club will certainly be the talk of the fairway. And you can show it off at three of our best local courses because we have foursomes at Crystal Lake Country Club, Cary Country Club, and Plum Tree National.
Donated by Jason Hiser, Crystal Lake Country Club, Cary Country Club and Plum Tree National (Value $1250)
April 19 2012 | Events | No Comments »
Thanks to First Presbyterian Church in Woodstock for coming out and having a clean-up day at Turning Point this weekend! They did yard work, cleaned the agency and provided shelving for our children’s advocate office. The whole place looks great- especially our Playground!
April 17 2012 | Volunteers | No Comments »
The Light of Christ Crew during one of their Clean-Up Days at Turning Point!
Here’s another great item going up for bids at our Auction Friday night:
Yard Clean up
Light of Christ Lutheran Church in Algonquin has been cleaning up the Turning Point grounds every spring for several years now. Now, your lawn can look good too! The Small Men’s Group from Light of Christ will spend a Saturday Morning in your yard mowing, raking, trimming, edging, and weeding!
Donated by Light of Christ Small Men’s Group Value $600
April 17 2012 | Uncategorized | No Comments »
Today is Equal Pay Day- a “Holiday” that reminds us that men and women are not paid equally in the United States. The Chicago Sun-Times has the story:
This 108th day into 2012 marks how many days into the year a woman has to work to earn what a man earned the previous year, according to Chicago-based Women Employed and other women advocacy groups.
With women in the spotlight of the presidential campaign, local women’s organizations and civil rights groups will hold a rally here Tuesday, Equal Pay Day, to call for support of national legislation to help eliminate the gender pay gap.
In Illinois, women were only paid 76 cents to every dollar paid to a man working full-time in 2010 — 1 cent wider than the nationwide gap of 77 cents to every dollar, according to a report from the National Women’s Law Center. For Illinois women that means they are paid $11,911 less per year than men, the National Partnership for Women & Families said in a separate report.
If the gap were eliminated, full-time working woman in the state could afford to pay for groceries for more than two years, buy more than 3,100 gallons of gasoline, pay mortgage and utilities for seven more months, pay rent for 14 more months and buy family health insurance premiums for three more years. That is according to data in the National Partnership report.
“Families are increasingly relying on women’s earnings,” said Melissa Josephs, director of equal opportunity policy at Women Employed. “In most two-member households, both people are working inside and outside the home, and women are the primary or co-breadwinners in two thirds of families. So what they’re making, they need enough to support themselves and their families.”
The wage gap is wider for minorities. While white women in Illinois were paid only 73 cents to every dollar paid to a white man, black women were only paid 64 cents and Hispanic women were only paid 48 cents, the National Women’s Law Center report showed.
The gender pay gap is based on 2010 median earnings of full-time, year-round workers reported by the U.S. Census Bureau last year.
The wage gap, which has changed little in recent years, persists at all levels of education and across occupations, the National Women’s Law Center noted.
The rally, to be held at noon at Daley Plaza, is taking place, “to remind people about the continuing problem of pay discrimination against women (and) to help people understand that there are things we can do about this,” said Women Employed Executive Director Anne Ladky.
Women Employed representatives and others will be advocating passage of the national Paycheck Fairness Act at the rally. The act would amend the federal Equal Pay Act to prohibit employers from retaliating against workers if they share salary information with each other at work. It also would increase the damages allowed in equal pay lawsuits. Right now, winners of such suits can receive back pay. Under the Paycheck Fairness Act they also would be able to receive compensatory and punitive damages.
Critics of the act, have said pay disparity is linked to individual choices made by female and male workers, such as women often choosing to take time off of work to have children or care for elderly parents.
April 17 2012 | In the news and Women's Issues | No Comments »
Turning Point is an organization that would not exist but for volunteers- it was founded by a group of women who volunteered their time to start a “Help line” for abused women. Today’s Northwest Herald pays tribute to volunteers in our county:
We’ve long been supporters of volunteering and encouraging local residents to volunteer.
In this space and in our news pages, we like to recognize individuals who go above and beyond to help others who might be less fortunate than themselves.
These volunteers do not donate their time for the recognition. They do it for the simple joy of knowing that they helped others. And that’s what makes them special.
This past February, we dedicated an entire magazine edition to special volunteers. In “Everyday Heroes,” we profiled 50 local residents who were nominated by their peers for special recognition.
Today, we revisit the topic of volunteering in recognition of National Volunteer Week, which began Sunday and concludes Saturday. This is a week that is set aside to honor the many people in our communities who donate their time and expertise to help their neighbors.
But it’s also a time to encourage others to volunteer.
According to the National Services Resource Center, National Volunteer Week, established in 1974, is about “inspiring, recognizing and encouraging people to seek out imaginative ways to engage in their communities.”
There are thousands of different ways that local residents can volunteer their time – at schools, churches, youth athletic programs. There also are dozens of local nonprofit agencies in McHenry County that need volunteers to help provide services to the county’s most at-risk members.
The United Way of McHenry County has a website – www.volunteermchenrycounty.org – that provides a long list of ways that local people can donate their time.
If nothing else, we encourage our readers to do two things this week.
1. Thank a volunteer you know for his or her service.
2. Consider ways that you can give back by volunteering your time and resources.
April 17 2012 | In the news and Volunteers | No Comments »
The Northwest Herald has a wrap up on The Human Race! Thank you to the over 78 runners who turned out to support Turning Point!
Nearly 900 participants stepped up Sunday for the second annual Human Race 5K.
McHenry County residents ran or walked for their choice of 43 local charities. The race was put on by the Not-For-Profit Resources organization, whose mission is to build the capacity of the nonprofit organizations in McHenry County.
“The Human Race is a great avenue for charities in McHenry County to network, build awareness and raise money,” said Not-For-Profit Resources President Molly Walsh.
Not-For-Profit Executive Director Rebecca Stiemke said the turnout was bigger than last year and 43 charities participated as opposed to 40 in 2011. Stiemke said last year’s race raised $71,000, and the organization would be ecstatic to hit $50,000 this year.
Participating in this year’s race was mother-daughter duo Therese and Corey Hinga of McHenry. This was Corey Hinga’s first 5K, and she said she was looking forward to raising money for Helping Paws.
“My mom talked me into it,” Corey Hinga said. “It’s a good way to give back to the community, and I’m hoping if I keep signing up for races, it will keep me running.”
Therese Hinga chose Free Guitars for Future Stars for her charity.
“It seems like the word really got out this year,” Therese Hinga said. “It’s great to have all of these people come out and support the community.”
Meghan Sullivan, president of participating charity the Garden Quarter Neighborhood Resource Center, ran for the second year in a row. Sullivan captured fourth place in her age group.
“It’s a great race because it brings together all sorts of people from the community and allows them to become familiar with one another and get their name out there,” Sullivan said. “It’s also a great excuse to get active.”
The Hoglund family of Spring Grove participated as a unit, but all seven members picked a different charity.
“It was pretty unique,” Laura Hoglund said. “We all picked our own charity, and we ended up all over the board with charities from hospice to sexual assault to autism.”
Nine-year-old Madison, the youngest member of the Hoglund clan, ran for Helping Paws. When asked about her motivation, her answer was simple. “Because my mom wanted me to,” Madison said
April 16 2012 | Events and Volunteers | No Comments »
Auction Time! We’ve got a lot of great items for you to bid on at our annual Auction- perhaps you’d like this lovely Pearl and Silver necklace donated by Dalzell Jewelers, displayed here by Turning Point’s Betsy Cosgray! You can call Turning Point for tickets 815 338 8081.
April 13 2012 | Events and Fundraising | No Comments »
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