Greetings everyone as we enter this
Christmas season. Isn't life glorious?
I decided to do something a little different this season for my Christmas post. In actuality, I don't recall doing anything last year, so let's call it a new tradition for A Father of Many.
You see, about 2 and a half years ago, I had the opportunity to participate in this seminar called “Parent Leadership Institute”. This seminar brought 23 participants to the small but wonderful town of Edgeley, North Dakota. The organization is called Family Voices of North Dakota. In what has become an annual event, leaders from across the country present leadership topics and training sessions on a wide variety of topics. Topics such as giving testimony to leaders and policy makers, sharing your story, learning what you know, and how to find what you don't know, as well as many other topics. The staff from Family Voices help mold the next generation of parent leaders through example and by showing a selfless sense of service to others. If they aren't a model, or Servant Leadership, then maybe the model needs to be redesigned.
I decided to do something a little different this season for my Christmas post. In actuality, I don't recall doing anything last year, so let's call it a new tradition for A Father of Many.
You see, about 2 and a half years ago, I had the opportunity to participate in this seminar called “Parent Leadership Institute”. This seminar brought 23 participants to the small but wonderful town of Edgeley, North Dakota. The organization is called Family Voices of North Dakota. In what has become an annual event, leaders from across the country present leadership topics and training sessions on a wide variety of topics. Topics such as giving testimony to leaders and policy makers, sharing your story, learning what you know, and how to find what you don't know, as well as many other topics. The staff from Family Voices help mold the next generation of parent leaders through example and by showing a selfless sense of service to others. If they aren't a model, or Servant Leadership, then maybe the model needs to be redesigned.
Why is this significant?
Through the Parent Leadership
Institute, the organization works to train parent leaders as stewards
to help other parents in similar situations with their children.
Situations can be a bad word depending on your perspective, but in
this instance, it is a good word. Many families across the state of
North Dakota are experiencing what can only be called extraordinary
health issues, especially in regards to children.
The organization helps families by
providing guidance on where to go for help. Who to call for help.
Through a largely volunteer organization, staffed by regional part
time hard working parents, and one executive director who is
something of a spark plug, this organization provides support on an
as needed basis. While working with diverse populations, including
those who live on the Native American Reservations in our state, they
work with federal, state and local agencies to get the families the
support they need. And they do it on a shoe string budget.
Couple all of this energy with a
volunteer board of directors, and you have an organization that puts
the heart in the Family Voices of North Dakota logo. In our state
nearly every city is located on a crossroad. It is fitting that the
organization would take as their motto, “Navigating Crossroads to
Hope”. In part because of the hard work of the staff, volunteers
and their director, they provide hope to families from all walks of
life.
Please join me in saying Thank You to Donene and the staff at Family Voices of North Dakota. One day, your family may need the hope that they can help you find. Sometimes all it takes to make a difference are comforting voices of friendly people.
Please join me in saying Thank You to Donene and the staff at Family Voices of North Dakota. One day, your family may need the hope that they can help you find. Sometimes all it takes to make a difference are comforting voices of friendly people.
If you are of a mind, and would like
more information about the good work that this organization does,
please do not hesitate to contact me. I would be happy to answer
your questions. To be honest, it would be me giving back to the
community for all that the Family Voices of North Dakota staff have
done for me and my family.
On the same hand, if you have a child with Autism or a TBI that has been recently diagnosed, let me know, I have some experience being a parent of a child with Autism and another child with a TBI. I can offer some advice and guidance on where to get started on your quest for information.
Remember, your child's special health care needs don't have to be just physical or mental, they can be any combination of the two, or one of the two. All that is required of you is a phone call, and a few minutes of your time. Please, take a few minutes and make that call today. They can help you. Even if it is only because someone listened to you and your concerns for your child. Donene and a client did get the opportunity recently to participate in some events at the national level in Washington D.C. You can find more information about these gentle people on their website. http://www.fvnd.org
Now, I also have a motive to writing this entry. Our friends at Swanson Vitamins are giving a thousand dollars to the organization of my choice if I am lucky enough to win. You can find information about this contest on their site. Just click on the badge.
On the same hand, if you have a child with Autism or a TBI that has been recently diagnosed, let me know, I have some experience being a parent of a child with Autism and another child with a TBI. I can offer some advice and guidance on where to get started on your quest for information.
Remember, your child's special health care needs don't have to be just physical or mental, they can be any combination of the two, or one of the two. All that is required of you is a phone call, and a few minutes of your time. Please, take a few minutes and make that call today. They can help you. Even if it is only because someone listened to you and your concerns for your child. Donene and a client did get the opportunity recently to participate in some events at the national level in Washington D.C. You can find more information about these gentle people on their website. http://www.fvnd.org
Now, I also have a motive to writing this entry. Our friends at Swanson Vitamins are giving a thousand dollars to the organization of my choice if I am lucky enough to win. You can find information about this contest on their site. Just click on the badge.
No comments:
Post a Comment