Coaches Corner J U N E 2 0 1 2 V O L U M E 2 I S S U E 6

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS of the Mississippi Valley

Did you know that BBBSMV has accounts on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter?

Connect with us: @BBBSMV on Twitter, search for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley

on Facebook or BBBSMV1 on YouTube!

Our Community Based and Career Navigator matches will be taking a trip to Six Flags Great America on July 16th! We need a minimum of 47 matches to make this trip happen! We had overwhelming feedback that there were many interested in the trip and having this many matches attend will give us the most cost-effective pricing on both the transportation and tickets into Six Flags. Date: July 16th Time: Leave BBBS at 6:00 AM and return by 9:00 PM Cost: Includes transportation on bus, tickets to Six Flags Amusement park and Water Park, and park-ing fees. Cost DOES NOT include cost of food while in the park or while in transit. You may bring bag lunches and we will provide coolers for drinks. The cost per match is $110.00. We are asking for a $30.00 non-refundable deposit by June 8, 2012. The remaining cost can be paid for in two ways: Option 1: Match can participate in the fundraising opportuni-ties we will provide. Both Big and Little will be asked to participate. If your match participates, then the remaining cost will be paid for. We will provide 2-3 fundraising opportunities and expect that you participate in a majority of them. Option 2: Match pays the remaining $80.00 with payment due by June 15, 2012. Some fundraising options we already have lined up

are: BBBS Car Wash on June 16th at the Hy-Vee Gas

on Elmore in Davenport from 11am-3pm. River Bandits Concession Stand: Must be 16 or

older. June 4th, 15th and 30th – need to be at the stadium by 5pm. Volunteers needed for concessions and operate the Dunk Tank.

Additional opportunities are being worked out! Would you or your company be willing to sponsor one or more matches for the trip? If so, please contact Kim at kaboyure@bbbs-mv.org ASAP.

More Matches Needed for Six Flags Trip!

Coaches Corner

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS of the Mississippi Valley

J U N E 2 0 1 2

Encourage your co-workers to become

a MENTOR today! We’d be happy to set

up an employee volunteer presentation at your place of work.

Please contact Emily Jepsen at 563-323-8006

Or ejepsen@bbbs-mv.org

Match Activity—June 2012 “Camp Old Navy”

June 18, 2012 4:30-7:00 pm Old Navy, 4014 E. 53rd St. Davenport, IA

This month’s Match Activity is a job exploration ac-tivity for Littles to learn about employee expecta-tions, including interviewing, review process, atten-dance, etc. This activity is particularly geared to-ward 9-12th grade students and limited to only 10 matches, so please RSVP as soon as possible.

They will also learn about and experience the world of retail, including:

running cash registers selling products managing fitting rooms shipping logistics store organization markdown strategies marketing and signage

A pizza dinner will be provided and each Little will receive a free pair of Old Navy flip-flops. Please RSVP to Sarah Walker, 563-323-8006, ext. 200 or swalker@bbbs-mv.org by June 11.

Make a BIG Impact with Our New Impact Circles Shannon Riley Farley

Impact Circles are Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mis-sissippi Valley's (BBBSMV) newest fundraiser. Impact Circles will harness

the power of individual groups in order to raise funds to help support BBBSMV's programs. You al-ready participate in activities alone or in a group, so why not use one of your favorite activities as a way to help raise money and awareness for children in your community?

Your Circle will decide on an activity to participate in, with each individual member being responsible for getting sponsorships from their friends and fam-ily for each milestone the Circle reaches. Activity

possibilities are endless! Play, run, bike, ride, read, knit, etc.! The idea is to turn fun into fundraising. For example, if your Circle plans to run 10 miles and you get pledges from 10 people for $1 per mile that you run, each sponsor will pay $10 - leaving you with a total donation of $100 for a Circle of one, or $1,000 for a Circle of ten! Impact Circles are a fun and easy way to positively impact the lives of chil-dren in your community! Want to know the best part? 100% of the money raised by Circles goes directly towards supporting children served by Big Brothers Big Sisters in your community. Thanks to your fundraising efforts, more Bigs and Littles will be paired up, more friend-ships will be created and improved outlooks on life can be started. To learn more or to register a new Circle, visit www.bbbsmv.org/impactcircles today!

Coaches Corner

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS of the Mississippi Valley

J U N E 2 0 1 2

Rave About Your Little

Allison Green, City of Davenport Parks and Rec-reation Department

I would like to take this oppor-tunity to personally invite you to be a part of YouthFest 2012 - Zone into Healthy Living, which will be held on July 11th from 9am to 2pm. We particu-larly need extra volunteers between 7:30am and 2:30pm. YouthFest is an annual celebra-

tion sponsored by the City of Davenport Parks & Recreation Department and Davenport Community Schools to encourage youth involvement in positive summer activities. Each year over 1,000 young peo-ple participate in hands-on games, activities, and other interactive displays organized by various c o m m u n i t y v o l u n t e e r s l i k e y o u ! Depending on what resources you have available, we are looking for various community organizations and groups to come out to this year's event and provide information to the families that will be there, set up games or activities for the youth to participate in, let people know about any summer activities that you have going on, or perform rou-tines or classes in which everyone can join. We would like as much participation from the surround-ing QC area community as possible! This year we are focusing on healthy living for youth. We are incorporating the Blue Zones Project into the event, which teaches kids to make healthy practices a part of their daily routine at a young age

to ensure that they can live a long life! The Blue Zones Project pinpoints nine different life-style choices which help to promote a long, healthy life, called the Power 9. We would like each group that participates in YouthFest to represent one or more of these in their activities, games, or pro-grams. For more information on the Power 9, please visit their website at: http://www.bluezones.com/live-longer/power-9/.

This is a great, absolutely free opportunity for you to get involved with an amazing community event that reaches thousands of families every year. We can't wait to get you on board! If you would like to take advantage of this opportu-nity, please respond as soon as possible with details on what types of activities or information you are planning on providing by calling 563-326-7812. For more information, please visit our offices at 1757 W 12th Street, Davenport, IA 52804 or go online to www.cityofdavenportiowa.com/parks.

Volunteers Needed for YouthFest 2012

Londa Rodas, Big My Little is Evan. This school year he has done a great job academically. He attends Harrison Elementary as a fourth grader. He truly loves math

and reading. He just told me today that he was tak-ing his bench mark tests. I am proud of the hard work he does. Along with doing so well academically he is also involved in baseball for the summer.

Way to go Evan!!

SAVE THE DATE!

Take Your Little to Work Day

July 25, 2012 9:00 am-1:00 pm

Spend the morning at your workplace, sharing your career with your Little. Afterwards, meet with other matches to discuss and share you and your Little’s experiences over lunch. Additional details to follow in July’s Coaches Corner.

Coaches Corner

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS of the Mississippi Valley

J U N E 2 0 1 2

HAPPY MATCH ANNIVERSARY TO OUR MATCHES

8 Donavin Jay Nelson 5 Kortny Connie Mangler 3 Kylie Cara Comba 3 David Harry Coin

3 Lance Charles and Elizabeth Heston

3 Cara Angela Carnes 2 Twyla Jenessa Holz 2 Tomme Kareem Odukale 2 Nicholas Andy Miller 1 Gregory Dale Harper 1 Raymond Paul Reid

Year(s) Big’s First Name Big’s Last Name Little’s First Name

Dear Match Coach, I am a new Big and I am not sure about the cur-rent safety belt laws or the best seat to transport my Little. Would it be possible for me to get some more information on this subject? As BBBSMV covers counties in Iowa and Illinois, we will cover both sets of laws. The best option when transporting your Little is to make sure they are wearing their safety belt properly. Making sure you and your Little are wearing a seat belt is not only for your safety, but Illinois and Iowa also carry hefty fines for failure to wear seat belts. In Illinois: Children under the age of 18 must wear a

safety belt if the vehicle is moving. Children under the age of 8 should be secured

in a child restraint system in the back seat of

the vehicle. If the child is over 40 pounds, he/she can be

transported in the back seat with a safety belt. http://www.buckleupillinois.org/

Illinois_Safety_Belt_Laws.asp In Iowa: Children under the age of 18 must wear a

safety belt if the vehicle is moving. Children are no longer required to be in a child

restraint system once the safety belt fits cor-rectly.

All Children under the age of 13 must ride in the back seat and be secured with a safety belt.

http://www.iowadot.gov/curbitclickit/seat_belt_brochure.pdf

Dear Match Coach: Safety Belt Laws

Susan Skora was awarded the Big of the Year in the Career Navigator Program at our Big Impact Event in April. Susan and Mackenzie were one of the first to be matched in the Career Navigator Program over two years ago. They have been strong and consistent ever since. They attended many Career Navigator tours when they were first matched and through Mackenzie’s middle school career. However, now that Mackenzie is in high school, she is busy with volleyball, working out and ROTC. Even though they are unable to attend the tours Susan continues to support Mackenzie and pushes her to succeed in all her activities. Mackenzie looks up to Susan and all of her accomplishments. Thanks to Susan’s example, Mackenzie is excited and eager about her future!

Match Highlight: Susan and Mackenzie

Coaches Corner

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS of the Mississippi Valley

J U N E 2 0 1 2

Workshop 1: Painting Tuesday, June 19th 6:00p.m.—7:30p.m. Make colorful artworks with painting! Students will learn color mixing and texture techniques to make a variety of paintings. Bring an old shirt in case things get messy!

Workshop 2: Sculpture

Thursday, June 28th 6:00p.m.—7:30p.m.

Use quick and easy sculpture materials, including pipe

cleaners, foam carving, air-dry clay, tin foil, balsa wood,

duct tape, and more! After a demonstration of methods,

choose your own materials to make a masterpiece.

Workshop 3: Drawing Saturday, July 14th 9:30a.m.—11:00a.m. There are more things to draw with than pencils and crayons! Learn techniques with oil pastels, chalk, blending stomps, watercolor pencils, and different types of paper. Bring an old shirt in case things get messy!

Michelle Garrison is a native Quad-Citean and teaches art at Geneseo Middle School. She has led several community art education workshops with local organizations, including Quad City Arts, Moline Public Library, Blackhawk Col-lege, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. She is also a digital artist, and writes art reviews for the River Cities Reader and various blogs. These workshops are being funded by Arts Dollars. Arts Dollars help fund community-based art projects or programming. Arts Dollars is made possible by support from the Illinois Arts Council, Doris and Victor Day Foundation, and Deere & Company.

Workshops will take place at the BBBS office. Please RSVP to your match coach!

Summer Art Workshops

Coaches Corner

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS of the Mississippi Valley

J U N E 2 0 1 2

These area business sponsors have provided a high level of support for the Big Brother Big Sister programs. Without their support it would be very difficult to provide the programming we do in our region.

THANKS TO THESE GREAT SPONSORS

Summer Safety for Matches Kim Aboyure Summer brings fun and lots of opportunities to be outside and enjoy the weather! Summer also can bring opportunities for safety awareness. BBBS and your Match Coaches prioritize safety. Summer is a great time to teach your Little about Nature, healthy outdoor exercise and the importance of recycling! To help keep you and your Little safe this summer, here are some safety tips: Bites & Stings: Planning to spend time outside

means planning to spray yourself and your kids with insect repellent -- repellents don't kill in-sects, but they can help reduce bites from mos-quitoes, ticks, fleas and other bothersome bugs.

Ticks: Outdoorsy types aren't the only ones who need to worry about ticks -- you could pick one up in your own yard while gardening or playing outside. Remember –Clothing. It's smart to wear light-colored clothing and shoes during the summertime because they help keep you cooler and, as it turns out, they help you spot any ticks that may be crawling on you. Repellent - Insect repellents that contain DEET or perme-thrin can reduce your chances of tick bites. Know Your Enemy - Ticks like to hang out in grassy or wooded areas, and they are especially fond of places that are moist or humid. Be Vigi-lant with Tick Checks -Do a tick check on every-one in the family every night.

Pool Safety: This includes the level of swimming ability your Little may or may not have. Re-member the “No running” rule around the pool, this can cause a fall. Take precaution when you and your Little plan to swim – your Little should

have a private changing area. While sunscreen is a priority, ask your Little to have a parent apply the sunscreen prior to the outing or use a spray sunscreen. If neither are possible, be sure to help your Little apply sunscreen only after making certain they are comfortable with you doing so.

Safe Rides: Whether or not you wore a helmet while riding your bike as a child, it's a must for kids these days. Nearly 300,000 kids make a visit to the emergency room every year with bike-related injuries, some resulting in death or se-vere brain injury.

Heat-related Illness: Staying hydrated in hot weather can help reduce the risk of heat-related illness. Keep water or sports drinks (with elec-trolytes) on hand to maintain hydration, and try to stay in a shady or air-conditioned location during the hottest parts of the afternoon.

Have a fun and safe summer!

Info from Discovery Fit & Health website.

Coaches Corner

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS of the Mississippi Valley

J U N E 2 0 1 2

A Geneseo Match Story Becca Leathers

Little Brother David and Big Brother John have just completed their first year together in the school-based program. John was matched with another Little last year, who was in the same class as David. Throughout the year, David would often ask John, “When can I have lunch with you?” John’s daughter also happened to be David’s teacher. She told him that his parents were interested in the program, but had not completed the paper work. After John’s match had to close due to his Little moving out of town, John asked if he could attend David’s parents’ teacher conference to help get the paperwork com-pleted. A few months later, John and David were matched! When David found out, he was ecstatic! John and David have had a wonderful first year to-gether. They do a variety of activities together, but John always makes sure to spend 5 to 10 minutes working on something for school. He is in close con-tact with David’s teacher this year and will always work on whatever she suggests. Usually they work on math or a writing assignment. At the beginning of the year, she asked that he have David read a story he wrote and then jot down the words that she couldn’t decipher. John recently told me how proud he was of David after David’s teacher pulled him aside to thank him for all the time he spent with David. She told him that on David’s first three report cards, he received satisfactory in writing, but for this quarter he received excellent! One of John and David’s favorite activities to do to-gether is to read in the reading corner. John reads a book from the June B. Jones in the First Grade se-ries, while David listens and plays with his little Lego figurine. John will often ask David a question about the story to make sure he’s really listening and en-

joying it, and David will always answer correctly. They also use the story to talk about the choices the characters made and what the right choice would have been. John didn’t know how much David val-ued that time together, until their last lunch, when David handed him a handmade card. It was a pic-ture of John and David in the reading corning. John was holding a June B. Jones book, and David was holding his little Lego figurine. It really touched John to see how much it meant to David. John and David’s relationship grew over the course of the year. John is a very consistent Big Brother and puts his whole heart into the experience. He has gotten to know David so well that he is even consid-ering a bigger commitment to David by becoming a community-based match. He would like to be able to give David the attention that he knows he needs. When matches like this stay matched over the years, the impact that is made in the Little’s life is priceless: negative cycles are broken, higher goals are created, and honest and hardworking citizens are molded. Many matches in Geneseo have similar heart-warming stories like John and David’s. BBBS is so proud of our Geneseo Big Brothers and Sisters. They put a lot of effort and thought into the activities they do with their Littles. I love to hear about the fun activities like sewing, suction darts, jumping mon-keys, and foursquare, as well as the educational activities like spelling practice, flash cards, and sto-rytelling. If you ask our Littles about their Bigs, you will see their faces light up as they tell you about them and things they do together. Not only do our Littles light up though, our Bigs will tell you how surprised they are about how much they have got-ten out of the program and how rewarding the ex-perience of being a Big Brother or Big Sister has been.

Kayla Glen

This month’s activity idea is meal service and prepa-ration. Teach your Little about giving back to their community while they learn healthy cooking and eating skills all at the same time! Volunteer as a match today! One great opportunity is providing lunch for Habitat for Humanity volunteers (www.habitat.org). Each Saturday, Habitat for Humanity needs groups or in-dividuals to provide lunch at one their build sites. Rick’s House of Hope (www.rhoh.org) is another

organization that is looking for occasional meals for their support group members. Preparing and serving a meal would be great activity for a match or even a couple of matches to do together. As a Big, you can teach your Little how to prepare a healthy meal while showing them the importance of giving back to the community. If preparing a meal is simply not feasible for your match at this time, King’s Harvest (www.kingsharvest.net) also needs volunteers to serve meals to the poor and homeless of the down-town Davenport area. Volunteers are needed Wednesdays and Fridays during the lunch hour and Saturdays mornings 9-10am.

Matches Impacting the Community

Coaches Corner J U N E 2 0 1 2 V O L U M E 2 I S S U E 6

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS of the Mississippi Valley

1 2

3

4 River Bandits Fundraising

5 6 7 8 9

10

11 12 13 14

15 River Bandits Fundraising

16 BBBSMV Car Wash

17 Father’s Day

18 “Camp Old Navy”

19 Painting workshop

20 21

22 23

24 25

26 27 28 Sculpture workshop

29 30 River Bandits Fundraising

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

JUNE 2012

June Community Activities Strike Out Hunger at a River Bandits baseball game on Monday, June 4. Bring 5 or more non-perishable food items and receive a discounted ticket to the game. Call 563-332-5002 to learn more. 4-H Barbecue at Mercer County Fairgrounds Friday, June 8 at 4pm. Call 309-582-5106 for more informa-tion. Long Grove Strawberry Festival Includes a parade, petting zoo, bounce houses, performances and more! Sunday, June 10 from 9am-4:30pm at the Long Grove Community Building. For more information, call 563-285-9070.

Ride the River, Sunday June 17 Enjoy a tour of the Quad Cities along riverfront bike trails. Plus, cruise the Mississippi River aboard the Celebration Belle. Registra-tion required- visit www.riveraction.org. Jeanie B! and the Jelly Beans Children’s music con-cert. Wednesday, June 13; 9:30 am at the Deere-Wiman Carriage House. Visit www.butterworthcenter.com to learn more. Kevin Horner, ventriloquist, illusionist, and comedian. Thursday, June 14 at 1pm;Rock Island Public Main Library. Visit www.rockislandlibrary.org.

Photo Gallery: BBBS Staff & AmeriCorps Members Plant at Handicap Development Center