Red Cross Coal City Illinois Deployment June 23-29

All postings, comments are my personal ones as a Red Cross Volunteer. Does not represent the Red Cross.
Permission given to post from identifiable people.

As a local Red Cross volunteer, I was notified that they needed help in Coal City, Illinois...with my Gap (training, interests, abilities).
Within a few hours, I and another volunteer were off with our ERV ( Emergency Response Vehicle).

Our deployment was for one week. This was my first deployment so was grateful for Don who had been on many deployments.  Many of us also volunteer with other organizations. See link on bottom of post.

We were  off and checked in at the Chicago Red Cross office and got our motel assignment. Another ERV and 2 drivers also arrived from the Madison Red Cross office. An hour later, we arrived at our motel...about an hour from Coal City. Closest motel they could find.

The next morning we were off to Coal City and our base of operations was the United Methodist Church. The ladies of the church did a fantastic job of providing meals for the local people who came for help. They also had a lot of inside and outside room for all the donated supplies...which we delivered to the people in the community. Water, cleanup kits, first aid kits, toots, snacks and many other supplies. We always had a third person with us in the ERV, handing out supplies from the window. We would park and walk the streets offering assistance.

People could also come to the church to pick up needed supplies

Many organizations worked together to help this community.

Everyone we met was very positive and grateful for all the help and assistance the Red Cross and other agencies provided!

Wall Mart delivered a whole semi truck load of various supplies to the High School parking lot. Clean up Kits, Tubs for people to use to store items in. Many other items. Thank you Wall Mart!

Will be updated later, but wanted to show a few pictures.

We had 2 ERV'S (Emergency Response Vehicles) from our Milwaukee and Madison Chapter.

Don,Janelle and me. Our team for going into the neighborhoods one day.
We always had a third person in our ERV who worked through the window of the ERV...handing out supplies. The 2nd driver would be out of the ERV when it stopped...greeting & talking to the residents. The 3 of us worked very well together as a team.  

A good fast way for delivering materials. Salvation Army

A local church gave space for a MARC (Multiple Agency Response Center) where about 30 other agencies on one spot gave help to local  people in need. As they left the building, the Red Cross had supplies for them.

Pastor Mark Hein from Lockport Township Fire Protection District.

http://www.lockportfire.org/Chaplains_Page.htm
Several groups came with "Comfort dogs"...great for the children.

/http://www.ignitechristianchurch.org/
A local church had an emergency response vehicle traveling the area offering help for people.
The community was well prepared and worked together.

Everyone had a positive attitude!

2 Salvation Army volunteers with Don in the center. My teammate.

 Different ways to get to people in need. Our ERV (Emergency Response Vehicle) could not go into some areas at the beginning because of downed power lines.

Our local chapter from Milwaukee had 2 ERV's helping.

My insurance company set up a spot at the local high school where their clients could get speedy help. Other companies were there also.

Long days...usually got back to our motel around 9 p.m. 

Many Red Cross volunteers also volunteer with other organizations.
Don, the other driver also volunteers with a group called SMILES.
Smiles 

You can find me on Linkedin 

Also Twitter https://twitter.com/RichardDassow

A family with a passion! Alex's Lemonade Stand raises $5,000 for Leukemia research

Read the story below;
Alex's Lemonade Stand raises $5,000 for Leukemia research http://www.jsonline.com/business/alexs-lemonade-stand-goes-up-alongside-high-rise-office-tower-b99522571z1-308425831.html …

Connecting Family, Work and Passion!

While a neighborhood-style lemonade stand might seem a little out of place at a fence gate to the busy work area at the end of E. Wisconsin Ave., to Bryce Unger, a construction project manager for the Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons development, it was a welcome sight.
That's because the more than $5,000 raised by the lemonade stand in only two hours Friday will contribute to the fight against a personal adversary for his family and many others — childhood cancer.
Among those staffing Alex's Lemonade Stand at the construction site — Alex's is a charity that supports pediatric cancer research — was Unger's 11-year-old son, Bennett, who has been battling a form of leukemia for almost two years.
"Obviously, this is a very personal thing," said Bryce Unger, who works for C.G. Schmidt Inc., one of two general contractors on the project. "And it's exciting to be able to connect the work that I do every day to help raise funds for Alex's Lemonade and childhood cancer."

Your Calling, Purpose alnd Worldview

"There are things only you can do, and you are alive to do them. In the great orchestra we call life, you have an instrument and a song , and you owe it go God to play them both sublimely."  Max Lucado
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"In his insightful and challenging book, The Call, Os Guinness defines our purpose as "the truth that God calls us to himself so decisively that everything we are, everything we do, and everything we have is invested with a special devotion, dynamism, and direction lived out as a response to his summons and service" This perspective give meaning to every moment, and it challenges us to live with integrity in every choice and relationship because we represent God at all times."

" So, does this perspective inspire you to use every part of your day more effectively as God's servant, or does it threaten you because you realize some things in your life aren't what they should be? It should do both."

Taken from Daily Insights with Zig Ziglar and Dr Ike Reighard   January 29th
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"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." Ralph Waldo Emerson

A few of the things I learned from taking the Strengthsfinder 2.0 Assessment...and how to apply to people I work with.

 Taken from the 16 page printout after taking the assessment. How to work on my "Talents" and develop them into "Strengths" 

http://strengths.gallup.com/110440/About-StrengthsFinder-20.aspx 
There are 34 different "Strengths". None is any better than another...just different. The Assessment gives you your top 5. The below comments is just given as an example of what you could experience. You can purchase the book or take assessment online. It gives you a great description of your top 5 "Strengths". Very worthwhile. 

Connectedness:

You can become adept at helping other people see connection and purpose in everyday occurrences.

Within your organization, help your colleagues understand how their efforts fit in the larger picture. You can be a leader in building teams and helping people feel important.

Help people see the connections among their talents, their strengths, their actions, their mission, their abilities, their experiences and their successes. When people believe in what they are doing and feel like they are part of something bigger, commitment to achievement is enhanced.

Your philosophy of life compels you to move beyond your own self-interests and the interests of your immediate constituency and sphere of influence. As such, you see the broader implications for your community and the world. Explore ways to communicate these insights to others.

Belief

Clarify your values by thinking about one of your best days ever. How did your values play into the satisfaction that you received on that day? How can you organize your life to repeat that day as often as possible?

Remind people why their work is important and how it makes a difference in their lives and in the lives of others.

Your Belief talents allow you to talk to the hearts of people.

 Develop a “statement” and communicate it to your family, friends, and coworkers. Your powerful emotional appeal can give them a motivating sense of contribution. Mission statement?

Don’t be afraid to give voice to your values. This will help others know who you are and how to relate to you

Relator

Deliberately learn as much as you can about the people you meet. You like knowing about people, and other people like being known. By doing this, you will act as a catalyst for trusting relationships.

Let your caring show. For example, find people in your company to mentor, help your colleagues get to know each other better, or extend your relationships beyond the office.

You probably prefer to be seen as a person, an equal, or a friend, rather than as a function, a superior, or a title. Let people know that they can address you by your first name, rather than formally.

You probably prefer to be seen as a person, an equal, or a friend, rather than as a function, a superior, or a title. Let people know that they can address you by your first name, rather than formally.

Tractor Museum at College of the Ozarks

 On our recent trip to Branson, Missouri, we visited College of the Ozarks. College of the Ozarks

Pictures above are of 3 restored tractors. Same as I had on my lettuce farm many years ago. A real surprise!

Ford 8N
Allis Chalmers Model G
International Cub

My new BLOG 

For anyone wondering what the above is all about...here is some info from my LINKEDIN profile.

 ●   With the perfection of the art and science of lettuce growing, we became the grower/supplier of choice for both Kohl’s and Sentry (Godfrey Co/Flemming Co.), the two top food chain stores in Wisconsin at the time. Marketing was not a challenge.

●   Had a high tech irrigated lettuce farm in the City of Glendale (Suburb now of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

●   Specialized in growing Bibb, Romaine, Boston and Leaf lettuce. Had the highest quality lettuce by applying foliar applications of key minor elements as needed and keeping soil nutrients and PH at optimum levels.

Attended the first Ag Expo in Tulare California in Feb 1968 to see and learn about the latest technology for growing lettuce. Also toured the lettuce growing areas from San Diego to San Francisco. Many years later attended the same event as a volunteer for Chapin Living Waters manning their booth...shared with Jain Irrigation Co. Chapin Living Waters

●   Two challenges to a profitable crop were too much or too little water.

●    As a result we designed and implemented a drainage system that drained the excess water from the soil in early spring at least 2 weeks earlier than without the system, thereby drying and warming up the soil early and producing our first crop while supplies from the South and West still had a high price.

●   For lack of rain, we had an irrigation system that supplied water when and where we needed it.

●   Designed and built 3 “Plastic Houses” so we could get a head start on the season by transplanting lettuce into the field in mid April and thereby harvesting our first crop by June 1st, favorably competing with higher priced lettuce from “warmer” climates.

●   As a result of the above, we produced two and sometimes three crops of lettuce a year!

Laying 6 inch concrete tile 3 feet under surface ...to remove excess water in spring so that soil would dry up sooner so planting could be done.

●   As a result of economic expansion of the City of Glendale, and installation of sewer and water to our property, and with high taxes, we were forced out of business.  Developed farm into Industrial Park.

The full story of our Lettuce Farm

The Key to JOY: Easter : 2016. Forgiveness

As my good friend Ron says, “It’s all about relationships”.

Over the years this seems to be one of his mantras.

Over the course of time, I have added, “Yes, and it’s all about Communication.”

Communication, Communication, Communication.

All about Relationships: Yes, with Jesus through God our Father…and then relationship with each other.

To develop any relationship, we need to communicate.

So it’s all about Communication, Communication, Communication

With God, we communicate through Prayer.

With each other, we communicate in many ways.

But in any relationship…even with the best of Relationship and communication, we mess up.

With God, we can repent and ask for forgiveness.

So, to complete the circle...I have added yes, and it’s all about Forgiveness.

Forgiveness, Forgiveness, Forgiveness!

Just as we can have a relationship with God, through Jesus Christ and with each other…We can communicate our love and needs to Him and also to each other…

We mess up and then can ask God for forgiveness…and as He has made His

Forgiveness available to us…we then also need to forgive each other.

Especially at this Easter day...2016...How can we NOT forgive others?

As we experience God's forgiveness and grace, it's then pretty easy to forgive others!

Also, don’t forget to forgive yourself…But that’s another story…

When we do that…we can truly have JOY!


Relationships, Communication, Forgiveness
Where the 3 circles intersect...there is peace and Joy!
What have you experienced?

Jesus, Others, Yourself.Where the 3 circles intersect...there is JOY!