My Safe Harbor

Good morning on this President’s Day. If you have the day off, I hope you’re doing something that will refresh you. If you’re working today, have a great day! Here’s the latest:

NEWS:
-Had a wonderful meeting with Sonny Scott, a general contractor, who is interested in helping us with our kitchen project. He was very knowledgeable and helpful and I think will be a great asset as the project moves along. Still waiting for HD corporate approval, but also still hoping to have word soon and the project underway before Spring Break. One thing: anybody have access to a licensed plumber who could help with the project – either pro bono or paid. What we need is minimal, but it needs to be signed off by a licensed plumber. We are responsible for the structural things that have to be done before HD can come in with the upgrade. So…we need to get on that soon.
-Spent most of last week working on a couple of grant applications and putting together a contact list for service groups in Anaheim that will join D.E.V.O.T.E in sponsoring some women in the SFI Program. If you are part of a service organization, please let me know if they would be interested in a presentation.
-SFI Graduation plans are coming along nicely. I hope you are coming (Mar 24-3:00 p.m. at AFCC) and feel free to bring someone. It will be a great intro into the ministry of MSH.
-We are making slow progress on a new cohort. I’m choosing to believe that it will happen soon…
-We are looking for another SFI coordinator who can be the “point person” for this next cohort. (Susi McLane has been that person for the first cohort). It would mean having your Tuesday evenings available from 5:30-6:30 and some additional time as needed to keep records updated and supplies replenished. If you’re interested in more details, give me a call or send me an email.

PRAYER REQUESTS:
-For the HD kitchen project. Lots of details to take care of…oh, and the small item of HD corporate approval!
-For MONEY! We have taken on an ambitious budget for this year and funding doors – and new donors – are needed. Pray for open doors and open eyes to see them!
-For the SFI women as they finish up – only two more weeks of class and then it’s the Awards Banquet and Graduation!
-For the right women for the new cohort – and patience for God’s timing.
-For the right person to be another cohort coordinator.

Thanks for your continued prayers and support.

Becky

Good Morning! Some of you have a holiday today – hope you have a great day! But we’re busy at it here at the Harbor House today and here’s the latest:

NEWS:
-WOO HOO! Made a special “thank you” presentation to D.E.V.O.T.E. last Wednesday for their $1,000 gift last year to support a mom through SFI. Two of our SFI women went with me and they were fabulous! AND (trumpet fanfare here) they voted to double their gift to $2000 in 2012! Nice!
-Had a great “meeting of the minds” at our 1st Quarter Board meeting last week. What a wise group they are! Decision making is so much easier with such a supportive team. We’re facing some real challenges this year as we try to grow our support base and get serious about the kind of funding we’ll need for long term sustainability. We’re just underway with our next Strategic Plan that will take us through 2015. Onward!
-Also had another very helpful and productive consulting appointment with MIF. It was a sobering reality check about some of the challenges we face, but it was also an encouraging time to realize we’ve got their expertise and assistance in our corner. They sure are helpful to me every time I meet with them. Here’s one of the reality checks: In 2011 we had 43 different people give money to MSH, of that 20 were “regular” – meaning multiple gifts. Only 12 of those were consistent as in monthly or at least quarterly. The MIF goal for the next two years: Take that to 250! Yikes! But, they’re right. We’ve got to find champions for MSH that will give their time, talent and treasure because they believe that this is God’s work and they want in. So…know anyone you could tell about MSH?!
-Had a helpful meeting with the MSH Community Advisory Committee and they were also helpful with insight and feedback. AND…some great ideas for recruiting. As a result of the meeting, I’m making a presentation to all the new principals and regular partners in GRIP on Thursday. They want to GRIP partners to really understand what we’re doing here and how helpful we can be.
-Speaking of presentations. We’ve put together a pretty good presentation now with our video and our SFI Grads. Do you have a service club or a group that could be a potential partner in our work. I’d love to book a presentation. Email asap and let’s set it up!
-Going to the HIU Social Justice Fair on Thursday and hoping to find some more great students like Adrian LaFarge and Sarah Yaqoot.

PRAYER REQUESTS:
-Thanks for the partnership with DEVOTE and for their generous gift!
-Thanks for a great Board of Directors
-Thanks for MIF and their insightful help
-Thanks for a wonderful CAC group that is really encouraging about our work
-For wisdom in planning, recruiting and finding the resources and people we need to build our donor side of things….and for how God wants to use you in the ministry.
-For Thursdays presentation at GRIP and the opportunity for more.
-For the day at HIU and the right people to connect with us.

Have a great day!
Becky

Good morning! Hope you all had a SUPER week-end…even if you are Pats fans. Now back to reality and another week of opportunities and blessings. Here’s the latest:

NEWS:
-Have a consulting appointment with Mission Increase Foundation today and am looking forward to moving forward with that relationship. They have already been helpful, now I’m hoping they can be the difference in the funding and sustainability pieces for our future.
-Hopefully you’ve seen a copy of the Annual Report. Lots of statistics, but also a great sense of all that we’ve been able to accomplish. If you didn’t get one, just let me know and I’ll get one to you a.s.a.p.
-Our SFI Mentors join us at class tonight as we begin the work on our Reflections Papers. For the next few weeks we’ll be following a plan to build the papers to encapsulate each woman’s experience of “this is where I was, this is where I am, this is where I want to be.” We really are on the home stretch and everyone is looking eagerly to Graduation.
-Going to attend a D.E.V.O.T.E. (city of Anaheim employees) meeting on Wednesday with some of our SFI women. They gave us our first vote of confidence in their gift to SFI last year and we’re going to make a report and see about the possibility of another gift of support this year.
-Have another appointment for the SFI cohort today. Still holding out for a cohort that can graduate before the end of 2012.

PRAYER REQUESTS:
-For real progress with MIF, D.E.V.O.T.E and our funding search.
-For all the progress we’ve made with our programs. 2011 was a banner year.
-For our SFI Mentors and their involvement with our SFI Women. And for the final stretch in the SFI process.
-For more SFI applications for the new cohort. We’re making some progress…but we’re praying it will materialize quickly now. We need to start soon to graduate this group before the end of 2012 … that window is quickly “closing.”

Have a great week and thanks for such great support.

Blessings,
Becky

Good morning! Happy end of January to you! Here’s the latest:

NEWS:
-Frantically finished printing the Annual Report this morning and it is ready to go out to donors with their year-end letters and available for anyone else that wants one… It was a little crazy trying to pull them together in the midst of everything else, but it was kind of cool, too. Lots of encouraging information in the pages and a reminder of how far we’ve come….thanks to great friends like YOU!
-We’re still in a holding pattern on the Home Depot proposal…it didn’t get submitted as soon as we thought it would, so right now it’s a waiting game. We’re hoping that we’ll still get word in plenty of time to still have it done by spring break. I suppose, to be safe, we need to remember that it has not been approved yet, but I’m hoping/planning that we’ll get the word soon and we’ll be off to the races!
-Had a wonderful time at the Worship conference in Grand Rapids last week – a VERY good time of refreshment for me and a reminder of how faithful God is and has been to me, to My Safe Harbor, to us all. The timing for it wasn’t great, but it’s probably a good thing I had to commit a few months ago – I might not have gone otherwise.
-SFI speeds on – last week we did a whole bunch of evaluation stuff and it was an interesting session. Many of these women have never done that kind of purposeful evaluation. It was both difficult and exhilarating. Trying to articulate and remember and evaluate is new, but is was also exhilarating for many of them to see how far they’ve come. The small group discussions were especially lively and such a testament to how the group has been knit together.
-Getting ready to jump into some serious Strategic Planning. Have meetings this week with Rick Olson, our new connection at Mission Increase Foundation and also with Russell Brammer, Ex.Dir. of the RAISE Foundation. He’s going to be particularly helpful in brainstorming some strategies for getting some of the other area churches involved in our work.
-Meeting with Fernando Soto today to do some of the planning for SFI Graduation. Lots of details for that and I really need his “cross cultural” viewpoint to help make it as meaningful as possible. I’m guessing I may be asking for some other kinds of help once we get some plans finished…stay tuned!

PRAYER REQUESTS:
-For the good news and encouragement in our Annual Report…and that it will be helpful to us in spreading the news of just what we do.
-For the Home Depot proposal…that it will be approved and soon!
-For our SFI women on the home stretch
-For important and insightful help on our next Strategic Plan – we’re going to try to work through 2015…that’s only 3 years away!
-For SFI graduation plans….that it will be meaningful for the women, encouraging to supporters and effective as a public relations event with future donors and partners.

Have a great week and God’s best to you is my prayer,

Becky

Good morning! It’s raining and cold, but rumor has it the sun will be out this afternoon. I’m working at being thankful I’m not where it is a really cold, snowy place today! Here’s the latest:

NEWS:
-Had another wonderful experience at a Mission Increase Foundation workshop! These people are amazing! I’ve been to more workshops than I can count over the years – many not so great. But I am thrilled with how much information and inspiration I gain every time I go to these. I’m hopeful that this relationship will continue to grow and bring us the much needed expertise and resources that are required for the long haul of our ministry. They are impressive people and I know God is using them.
-The SFI cohort started the 4th and final quarter. What a great group. It’s really wonderful to think this lively, talkative, problem solving group of supportive women was that shy, disparate group back in April. My, what a transformation! I’m really looking forward to the process they will undertake this quarter to write a reflection paper on what SFI has meant to them. I’ll keep you posted on that. Have you put Graduation on your calendar yet: March 24, 3:00 p.m. at AFCC.
-Am neck deep in the Annual Report right now pulling together statistics and reports, but also reflecting on all that was accomplished this past year. There’s just something wonderful about measuring and evaluating – it keeps us honest and focused, but it also helps us keep our perspective. It’s easy to get lost in the day to day and wonder if we’re making any progress at all. So much encouragement comes when we can step back and see how far we’ve really come. It will be out by next week, so when you get a chance to look at it, I’ll appreciate your input!
-Am reading a very interesting book right now, “Non-Profit Leadership in a For-Profit World.” It’s a compilation of 15 Christian Executives that was just recently published and dedicated to the memory of Dr. Ted Engstrom, visionary leader of World Vision. LOTS to ponder in these pages. We’re starting our 3rd year of operation (our 5th of building the vision) and now is when so much of the theory and “paper work” will bear fruit. I’m encouraged and enthusiastic about our future – even though, right now, I have no idea how we’re going to get there! It’s not the first time I’ve felt like that, but I’m glad to say that every time I have felt this way before, something has happened or someone has come into the picture to bring the direction and focus for the next step. God has been so good about that. One step at a time, one foot in front of the other. So…now I’m waiting to see the next thing He’s going to do to keep us on this journey!

PRAYER REQUESTS:
-for opportunities to maximize our relationship with MIF…and the courage to seize them!
-for our SFI ladies and the recruitment of the next cohort.
-for completion of the Annual Report and all the details that entails.
-for clarity and direction as we move on in our work

I thank God for you,

Becky

Good morning, all. Thinking about Martin Luther King, Jr. today. I was in the spring of my junior in high school in April, 1968 and it was a tumultuous time…it is still very clear in my memory. My brother was in the Navy, just missing the draft by a few weeks. The 1967 Detroit riots (which overflowed into my home town of Grand Rapids) were frightening and polarizing and left long time angst. The assassinations (King and Bobby Kennedy) were, of course, deeply affecting and led into riots around King’s assassination and again at the Democratic Convention in Chicago that summer. Fall, 1969 brought my freshman year in college and saw riots on college campuses (including burning the ROTC building on my campus) and huddling together with friends around the TV in our dorm lobby watching the first draft lottery, all made huge impressions on me. So what does this have to do with MSH? Well, I vividly remember people telling me that America was in its last days. That we could not survive this kind of turmoil and that there was a raging battle for the “soul of America” being eroded by the Vietnam War and the declining mores of our young people. Does that sound familiar? I in no way want to minimize the havoc that is being wrought on families – especially MSH families – in today’s economy; it is relentless and traumatic. But, I do believe that MSH is positioned in a particularly positive way to be an antidote to the hopeless and helpless feeling that so many are experiencing. With just a little endeavor today, but we are making a difference. I believe that God can help us get greater perspective on the social and moral landscape and am determined to be a part of the solution “for such a time as this.” Thank you for being a part of the positive things that are happening in our community. In that context, let me share the news this week:

NEWS:
-We had a tremendous Volunteer Appreciation Banquet last Tuesday night. Look at these great stats: 64 different people 64 different people gave of their time this year giving from 168 hours to 1 hour and everything in between. We had hoped/planned for 725 hours of volunteer service this year, we got over 1200. We had hoped/planned for $17,000 in “in-kind” receipts for services through our volunteers this year, we got almost $25,000. During 2011, we served over 90 women. 62 of them were “regulars” and they have 159 children among them. Several of our SFI women helped cook, serve and clean up – wow are they a great team! It was a great evening of celebrating MSH.
-We spent the morning this morning putting the final touches on the Fourth Quarter Workbook (both English and Spanish). WOW does it look good! So much work represented in the pages there and hopefully, so much help as we finish strong with this first cohort!
-Still struggling to get the next cohort full. Hoping that getting all our programs back up and running after holidays (everything starts up this week) will take us over the top and get it going.
-I’m going to another Mission Increase Foundation workshop this week and looking forward to improving our relationship there.
-We’re in the throes of putting together the 2011 Annual Report – that will be another great measure of how far we’ve come. I’ll keep you posted when it’s ready.

PRAYER REQUESTS:
-Thanks for our wonderful volunteers and a great time of celebration last week.
-Thanks for our SFI cohort and their tremendous accomplishment in reaching the 4th quarter in such good shape. They are truly on the home stretch.
-Filling the next cohort with a well chosen group and for Ruth Martinez as she prepares to facilitate it.
-For insight and wisdom as we work with Mission Increase Foundation on our funding and sustainability. This is going to be such a crucial year for our long term health. God has brought us so far and we need to be watching, listening, and working to accomplish His goals for our community.
-For an eternal perspective that will help us see past the crises of today – not ignoring them, but realizing that there is much that CAN be done – even in these difficult times.

Thanks for being a part of all this!

Becky

Happy New Year! It’s nice to be back after the holiday break… WOW has this been a crazy day! Finally, found a moment to sit down at the computer and get you caught up on the latest….

NEWS:
-We are hosting a wonderful Volunteer Banquet tomorrow night at we have over 40 people attending. BUT…we actually had 64 different people volunteer MSH in 2011 and we want to celebrate every hour! There were many who were unable to attend this year, but I’m hoping that this will become an annual event that everyone looks forward to – not just because we’re thanking volunteers, but because we’re celebrating an amazing year at MSH.
-Our present SFI cohort gets back next week and they’ll be starting their 4th quarter. I’m thrilled that we are going to actually graduate 11 women from this first group. Time has flown by and we’ve learned so much from this “pilot” group.
-We have still not filled the next cohort and are busy at work trying to do the required recruitment to make it a viable group. This is one of the “collateral damage” problems from spending SOOOO much time on the curriculum. But…it is ALL DONE!!!!! A huge thank you to Sarahy Cruz-Perez who has just done yeoman’s service in the translation department. So many little details, so much information. It’s been a gigantic project – much bigger than I had originally estimated. It looks fantastic and I’m thrilled with how it has turned out. Still a little tweaking here and there, but for the most part, complete….and comprehensive!
-Had a great meeting with Ruth Martinez who is going to facilitate the next cohort. She is the counselor who has been such a great referral partner for us. She is on staff at Olive Crest as the supervisor of the Wrap Around program there and I know she’s going to bring expertise as well as passion to our program. She’s been very gracious about the delays in getting started and is ready to go when we are. Hopefully that will be SOON!!!!
-Finally got word from the Croull Family Foundation with another rejection letter. That means we’ve heard from all the applications we put in last fall and we were only funded by one: The Lester Family Foundation. I’m not discouraged. It was a great learning experience for me and I am confident that we are making progress in finding the right blend of financial choices for us. This is the year to find the funding. There are reasons to be encouraged and hopefully, I’ll have some great information to share soon.
-Susi came in this morning and closed out the books for 2011. Our full annual report will be coming out in a few weeks, but here are a few of the highlights:
-We exceeded our income projection by $7,716.27
-We spent more than our projected budget, but did not exceed our income – like by over $6,000.
-We have been able to put together a much more specific budget for 2012 because of the close work Susi did in tracking actual expenses. Much of what we put together for 2011 was based on guessing. The good news is that we guessed pretty well!! Tracking this year will be much easier because of her work.
-We exceeded our goals in numbers of volunteers, hours from volunteers and in-kind income from volunteers.
-2011 was the year of program stability, 2012 will be the year of fiscal stability. It’s going to be fun to watch God work…again!

PRAYER REQUESTS:
-Thanks for our wonderful volunteers and their selfless generosity of their time and talent.
-For our present cohort to finish well.
-For all those who contributed to the success of the Curriculum Project
-For a new cohort to get full and start SOON!
-For Ruth Martinez as she prepares for the new cohort
-For the funding resources that we require to stabilize and grow
-For God amazing provision for our ministry every step of the year.

Thanks so much for being partners in this important work. I’m so grateful for you all!

Blessings,
Becky

Good morning…okay it’s almost 7 p.m., but I just woke up! Came home early today feeling pretty crummy and promptly went to sleep…for 5 hours!! Decided I’d better get this out while it was still Monday!! Anyway, here’s the latest:

NEWS:
-We have been blessed with several year-end gifts of late…Woo Hoo! Including a final count of $520 from the Homemade Holiday Shop and $1,000 from the Credit Union of Southern California (thanks Judy Miller, friend of Susi McLane.) Are you talking about MSH to your friends? You never know…. We are so fortunate to have so many that are investing in the future of our neighborhood. Hopefully, 2012 will bring us MANY more!
-Susi put the finishing touches on the 2012 budget today. It’s a step of faith, to be sure. But 2012 is the year for us to really solidify our financial underpinnings and work on our sustainability.
-Had a very interesting meeting this morning with several people from Bank of America. They are interested in partnering with us for some community involvement. They have a pretty cool curriculum on “Financial Literacy” and are going to send volunteers to teach that in our Electives curriculum after the first of the year. I’m hoping that we can really build on this relationship and model for some other companies in our neighborhood how great collaborative efforts can be.
-Still struggling to fill the January cohort. Everyone tells me not to worry because this is the worst time of year to be getting commitments…but MAN, I hope we can pull this together. I do remember that we were signing up women for the present cohort right up to the last day, so I’m choosing not to despair about it…yet.
-Our offices are closed from Dec 26 to Jan 2. So the next Update will come on January 9. I’ll certainly be available through email if you have questions or need anything.

PRAYER REQUESTS:
-Thanks for an amazing year – 2011 was the year of our programs – all launched, all thriving.
-For the year end gifts and votes of confidence and for more!
-For the contact with Bank of America and the potential of that partnership
-For the January cohort recruiting. We simply must fill this group!

God’s blessings for you throughout the holidays is my prayer for you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Your partnership in this important ministry is a constant encouragement to me!

Gratefully,
Becky

Good morning…er…afternoon. This is a little late because I’m just getting to my computer after a wonderful Christmas luncheon at my house for the Harbor House staff. The FRC staff is crucial to our success and of course, Shawna, Maria and our intern, Sarah have all given above and beyond to make 2011 a banner year. We just needed to celebrate! (Thanks to Sarah Steele, Sarah Navarette and Jody Shuck for covering the phones and the office so everyone could come!) Here’s the latest:

NEWS:
-We finish up our electives and Mother’s Clubs for the year this week. We’ll take a little break for the holidays and then we’re right back at it!
-We’re hard at work recruiting and reviewing referrals for the January cohort. We’re still short of a full cohort, but we’re hoping to fill that gap before Jan 17 rolls around.
-Sarah Yaqoot, our intern finishes up this week and leaves us some GREAT resources. She’s put together a small, local resource book for our ladies…and us…and has put together a map of resources that are available within a one mile radius of the Harbor House. We’ve wanted to have these for some time, but just never seemed to find the time. THANKS, Sarah! She graduates from Hope on Friday and has decided she wants to keep working with us a volunteer after the first of the year – Woo Hoo!
-We’re finishing up budget stuff – thanks Susi – in the next week or so and getting ready for starting 2012 with a bang. We’re going to end up about 12K over our projected income for 2011 and 2012 will be the year that we really put our efforts on long term sustainability.
-We’re also putting the finishing touches on all of the curriculum stuff. It’s so cool to be at the end of this year long project. You should come by some time and check out all the things that have been accomplished this year – we’d love to show you around!

PRAYER REQUESTS:
-For all the wonderful things that have happened this year and the 54 different volunteers that have ensured our success.
-For our intern Sarah and for God’s best as she graduates.
-For all the year-end details that need to be finished up
-For a FULL new cohort and for Ruth Martinez, who will be facilitating. It’s coming FAST!

Blessings on this cold, rainy day. God is good!

Becky

IT’S DECEMBER!!! And I even have a sweater on today! Brrrrr! Here’s the latest:

NEWS:
-Tonight is the end of the 3rd quarter! We’re having a very special Christmas Party that the Ladies have planned. It’s going to be a potluck – yum – and they’re doing some special things for their kids and for the volunteers that have been SO AMAZING with their kids all year. They’ve really done a great job getting organized and planning and delegating – great teamwork to pull it all together.
-Had a good board meeting last week and it was a particularly helpful time for me as I prepared all the reports. I’ve been disappointed that we didn’t get that October cohort started as planned, that we also didn’t get the third Mother’s Club going and that we didn’t get a major funder this year in the grant department…but then I started going through our 2011 Strategic Plan. WOW! Did we get a lot done this year! There are only 3 things that didn’t get finished this year – that means over 100 items in our goals and objectives section are DONE (or ongoing because they’ll never be done – things that need to continuously happen now that we’ve gotten them started). That was just pretty exciting! I love having goals and being able to measure them. Yes, we didn’t get ALL of them done, but we got pretty darn close!!
-Wish could have all been at the AFCC Youth Group last Wednesday. The Chief of Police, John Welter showed up!! The rest of the GRIP unit and the social workers from CSP were ALL there and they did a great job giving kudos to the kids for Project Turkey Leg. They all got certificates and little GRIP “Hero” Bears. But, it was also a great opportunity to talk to the Chief about what we’re doing – he asked a BUNCH of questions about MSH and I think I got his attention. We’ll see as I follow up with him.
-You should see the curriculum! It looks SO impressive. Shawna did a great job of finding all the materials and developing a system that pulls everything together. We have a little clean up to do on a few things and some holes to fill in Quarter 4, but we’re truly nearing the end…really! What a huge undertaking it has been, but what a great thing to have DONE!!!
-Susi McLane was here this morning and we put the finishing touches on the 2012 budget – and did some planning for the new year. She’s another godsend to MSH!

PRAYER REQUESTS:
-For a great end for the 3rd quarter – and continued prayers for our women and their children through the holidays
-For the accomplishments of 2011 and for our faithful Board of Directors
-For the chance to talk to Chief Welter and for doors to open because of the continuing “connections” God is bringing our way
-For Shawna and ALL she does to keep us afloat. We’ve only had her for 10 months, but she has made herself absolutely indispensable!
-For Susi and ALL she does to keep us current and compliant!

Have a great week and tell someone about MSH if you get a chance!

Blessings,
Becky