Open House Reception for Beth Meeks

For 20 years Beth Meeks has dedicated herself to Open Arms. On December 28, 2009, she will be leaving the agency to pursue her new position as Executive Director of The Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

The Open Arms Board of Directors and Staff are hosting a public Open House Reception to show our appreciation and gratitude for the service Beth has provided to this community. Community members are welcome to join us for food and fellowship as we say goodbye to a strong community leader, a dedicated advocate of domestic violence and a great friend.

Open House for Beth Meeks

Monday, December 21, 2009
First Presbyterian Church, Great Room
2330 South Main Street, Findlay
4:00—6:00 PM
For more information, contact Open Arms

419-420-9261

Passive Fundraisers benefit Open Arms

We often have people contact us to ask how they can contribute to the programs and services we provide. Open Arms has many passive fundraisers that take place all year long. Below is a list of ways that you can be involved in raising funds for Open Arms. Every person, every dollar makes a difference!

Cell Phone Collection
Own a cell phone, but are getting a new one? Donate your old cell phone to Open Arms. Donated phones are either refurbished and given to individuals affected by domestic violence or they are recycled.

www.GoodSearch.com
If surfing the Internet is one of your past-times or even if you do it occasionally, use www.goodsearch.com as your search engine of choice. When you arrive at goodsearch.com, you will need to verify that your agency is Open Arms Domestic Violence & Rape Crisis
Services of Findlay, Ohio and each time you search, money is raised for Open Arms.

Kroger Community Rewards
The Kroger Company has announced a Community Rewards program designed to give back to each community through donations to local non-profit organizations. Every donor and volunteer of Open Arms who registers his/her Kroger Plus Card through the Community Rewards program will be donating a percentage of money back to Open Arms each and every time they use their Kroger Plus Card. Simply register your Kroger card at KrogerCommunityRewards.com, register/sign in, enter your card number and choose “Open Arms” in the search field for nonprofit organizations. Now just shop, swipe your card & earn!

Clothesline Project Jewelry
The Clothesline Project is an awareness campaign that allows survivors to tell their stories on t-shirts. Clothesline Project bracelets are a simple, wearable reminder of this moving tribute. The bracelet is comprised of tiny t-shirt beads that are individually fabricated from glass. Each bracelet is hand-made by local artists Barbara Hay and Gina Mummert, co-owners of Two Songs. Sterling Silver connects the beads, with a bundle of silver clothesline and a miniature silver clothespin charm, which is engraved with the words, “Break The Silence”. Each Clothesline Project bracelet is an individual work of art. While they share common characteristics, no two will ever be exactly alike. 50% of the proceeds go toward the Open Arms endowment account.

Children’s Survivor Art Cards
Many of the children we serve at Open Arms have expressed their feelings through artwork. We have compiled many of these pieces and created sets of note cards. These sets include 10 separate cards, including envelopes. They are a unique and innocent look through the eyes of a child.

Calling All Toys...

Open Arms Domestic Violence & Rape Crisis Services is seeking donations of gifts for children and women who have been affected by domestic violence. A Client Christmas Party will be held in December, providing many clients with food, games, and gifts for Christmas. Items needed include sports equipment, gift cards, games, cars and dolls for the children. We are also seeking bath and body type items, photo albums/frames, calendars, gas/phone/gift cards, tote bags, purses, gloves and perfume items for our female adult clients. Donations are also being sought for the Client Christmas Party, with needed items including hamburger buns, plastic silverware, baked goods, vegetable trays, chips and dip and beverages.

If you wish to be one of Santa's helpers by providing gifts or adopting a family, please contact Open Arms at 419-420-9261. All donations can be dropped off at the Open Arms Administrative Office, 401 West Sandusky Street, by December 11th. We ask that donors take care to ensure that all toys, books, games or other gifts are nonviolent. We also ask that the gifts not be wrapped in order for our staff to sort and separate the toys for age appropriateness.

Support Open Arms and Our Clients this Holiday Season

You can make a difference this holiday season with three options to support Open Arms and our clients.

OPTION 1: Donate items for the Christmas Party. The Client Christmas Party is Tuesday, December 15. Call to find out how you or your group can help by volunteering or donating tape, ribbon, toys, food or drinks for the party.

OPTION 2: Sponsor an Angel Tree. Put up a tree in your business and decorate it with names of individual "angels" (provided by Open Arms). Members can select "angels", purchase gifts and deliver to Open Arms by December 11.

OPTION 3: Adopt A Family. After registering for a family, you will be contacted and provided with information to guide appropriate purchases. Families are selected by Open Arms staff. For safety purposes, the family's name and member's identities are confidential. Gifts should be delivered to Open Arms Administrative Office at 401 West Sandusky Street before December 11. We ask that the gifts not be wrapped, as many of the moms enjoy wrapping them themselves.

If you are interested in helping Open Arms in one of the three ways above, contact our Administrative Office at 419-420-9261. We thank you for your support!

Meeks to Leave Open Arms

Open Arms Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Services announced this morning that effective December 28, 2009 Beth Meeks will be resigning her position as Executive Director after more than 13 years in that role.

Meeks has accepted the Executive Director position at The Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The Louisiana Coalition is a statewide network of 20 domestic violence agencies. The Coalition supports those organizations through resource development, allocation of funds, technical assistance and training. It also acts as the statewide voice on behalf of the domestic violence community to elected leaders at state and federal levels.

Open Arms Board President, Lonna Bruskotter, announced that Yvette Mains, a Program Manager who has been with the organization for more than 18 years, will be serving as Interim Director while a search committee locates a permanent Executive Director. ‘Yvette is very familiar with agency staff and programs. She has a long history with the organization and is respected both inside and out. We are confident that she will provide the stability and leadership we need during our search.’, said Bruskotter.

Bruskotter, who will oversee the search process, thinks the leadership role at Open Arms provides an exciting opportunity. ‘We have accomplished a lot. We own two debt free facilities and operate 6 programs with more than 20 staff. Last year the programs served more than 8,000 people.’ She says, ‘We have a really strong staff and board who operate well as a team. It will be a great experience for the right candidate.’ ‘I have learned much, been cared for and seen many positive changes and much growth in the people and community around me.’ Says Meeks, the longest serving Executive Director in Open Arms’ 30 year history. ‘It is so hard to leave. This agency and this community mean so much to me.’

Meeks will be tasked with leading the Louisiana Coalition through the five year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina which completely destroyed some of the domestic violence agencies there. Most of the agencies are reopened but in various states of rebuilding. She hopes to issue a report that provides legislators and key stakeholders a comprehensive review of the state of services in Louisiana at the five year mark.

SEVERAL HONORED AT OPEN ARMS ANNUAL MEETING

Several local volunteers were honored at the Open Arms Annual Meeting on October 20 at First Presbyterian Church. Award recipients included Dave and Erik Glass, The James H. Brannigan Unsung Hero Award; Denice Ziebold, Tom Croasmun Memorial Volunteer of the Year Award; Mark Plesec, Board Member of the Year; Larry Dunfee, Special Achievement Award; and Carol Dale Joseph, Lifetime Achievement Award. Beth Meeks, Open Arms Executive Director, was also presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award for twenty years of service with the agency. Carol Dale Joseph was recognized for six years of service as her board term expired. One new Board Member, Brian Haehl, was welcomed to the Board of Directors.

As part of the Annual Meeting, Open Arms also presented an unveiling of the NW Ohio Silent Witness Project for the first time in Findlay, Ohio. In memory of local victims, this event gave voices to fifteen women from this area who lost their lives at the hands of someone they loved. For more information about Silent Witness Project or Open Arms, call 419-420-9261 or visit us online at www.openarmsfindlay.org.