Ned Erickson

SNOW MUCH FUN!

The Fellows brought the house down at Redeemers Got Talent Sunday night

For those of you out of towners - last week Winston-Salem got 14.5 inches of snow. It had been 90 years since Winston had more than a foot of snow in a day. Needless to say, plans had to be adjusted. But there was plenty of fun to be had!

We canceled Round Table Monday Night.

The girls made a snow man

The Ericksons built a snowman

Things didn't get remotely normal until Wednesday. By then, most of us were getting a bit stir crazy.

Leader Lunch with Dr. Nathan Hatch was a welcome return to reality.

Dr. Hatch and the Fellows

Dr. Hatch was peppered with questions ranging from leadership to diversity and inclusion to the price of higher education to millennials and the challenges they face but also the inspiration that they are.

Dr. Hatch did an outstanding job weaving in his story and experiences with his insights about life and vocation.

A hearty THANK YOU to Wake Forest for allowing us to meet with your president!

Afterward, we split up for a short time for guys and gals small groups. Because there was no school, we didn't have community service. In its place, we celebrated this guy:

The Andrew Miller

It was Andrew's birthday. The gals got him a cake.

We only could find three candles though

We let them eat cake

As is our tradition, the Fellows went around and shared the things they loved about the birthday man.

We decided Andrew was like an artichoke because after you peel back the layers there is this awesome heart inside.

FRIDAY we had out last two classes of the year. Clay and Giorgio received resounding applause.

If you remember the weather was about as crappy as weather could be.

Fortunately, we had a warm place to go for our Fellows Christmas Party.

AKA My house! We had soup and sandwiches.

Christian goes down to Summers level to greet her

While I was cooking, the Fellows made ornaments for one another.

Working away

Tim hangs his finished product

Shannon Rainey was a tremendous help

Soup and sammies

No two ornaments were alike

After lunch we played an all out game of Christmas charades and then handed out presents. A good time was had by all.

SATURDAY David and I helped out at the Christmas Gift Mart

Love this dude

Shout out to Christie Williams and team for putting on such a wonderful event

That night, Lia and I joined in the F3 five Year Celebration.

I am known as "Shakes" to these people

The Kelly Martin

So proud of this girl for getting back to running after major knee surgery.

Kelly and Host Family Crossing the finish line at the Piedmont Land Conservancy 5k

SUNDAY NIGHT Abby, Laura and Bryan emceed Redeemers Got Talent.

the Twelve Days of Christmas a la Muppets

High Top and Low Top

Love this gang

Back stage with the stars

Ready for action

Laura and her host dad

GIVE TO THE FELLOWS! WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Please help the Winston-Salem Fellows be all it can be. With your financial support, we will be able to finish out the year strong. Your support will free up our time to make this program even better in the future.

As you consider year end giving, consider contributing to us. Every little bit counts!

Send checks to
Winston-Salem Fellows
851 W. 5th St.
Winston-Salem, NC 27101

Or give online at
wsfellows.com/give

THANK YOU

View from Crossnore

A LOOK AHEAD

MONDAY - The ANNUAL FELLOWS CHRISTMAS PARTY!

TUESDAY - Fellows will be helping out at the ANNUAL CLEMMONS ROTARY CHRISTMAS PARTY AND FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS EVENT at AGAPE FAITH CHURCH

WEDNESDAY - Fellows Love Feast

THURSDAY - CHRISTMAS FOR THE CITY!!! EVERYONE IS INVITED!!!!!!

Everyone means you!

Benton Convention Center 4-9pm BE THERE!

FRIDAY - NCS Love Feast and beginning of Christmas Break!

Celebrating my grandparents would be 77th Wedding Anniversary

Let's get fired up Fellows

Christmas Gift Mart

One of Morgan's Street School Students

High Top and Low Top

Is there such a thing as too much love?

David is on the photo for the Blue Ridge Summer Camp Flyer!

Llama time

Chanice, Tim and Trent

Do you want to know the way to a Fellows heart? KITTENS!

The Memphis barbeque wasn't bad either!

Thank you Tripp and Patricia for a delightful and delicious Fellows Round Table Monday night!

I can't tell if Trent or this Kitten is in heaven - I guess the answer is both!

More Kitten Photos at the end.

FYI - I learned this week that the Humane Society of Forsyth County has partnered with other local not for profits as well as animal control and the county government to work toward becoming a 90% save rate city by 2023.

Their efforts are working! In 2016, our save rate was 39%.

Last year, after the partnership began, our save rate grew to 70%.

How cool is that?

What's the change? A big part of it is folks like Patricia Wilson who foster dogs and kittens.

Beware there are things such as Foster Fails! Which means you end up adopting! (I thought it meant something different - so I was glad they explained!)

On Wednesday, we visited Garrett Briggs at his place of work to hear Dr. Tony Atala share his story and teach us about the purpose behind regenerative medicine.

Dr. Atala is the guy in the lab coat

What a lunch!

Dr. Atala shared a lot of insights with us, including his three rules for life. Here they are!

1. Always try to do the right thing.

2. Always do your best.

3. Obey the golden rule.

There you go. Now, you too can be like Tony!

Thank you, Dr. Atala for spending so much time with us. It was a distinct honor.

A Public Service Announcement from the Fire Department and Police!

Trey Mayo and members of his team

Chief Thompson and Assistant Chief Louder and LWS Program Dir. Katherine Perry

Did you know that over half of house fires are caused by stoves? I didn't. Who knew cooking was so dangerous?

Also. Did you know that the police department sends out a tweet at 9pm every night to remember to lock your cars and doors? Now I do.

Thanks guys for an enlightening lunch!

ISSUES!

Friday we had back to back classes where the Fellows wrestled with several modern day issues. It was pretty intense. My brain for one was whirling. Thanks Clay Cooke and Giorgio Hiatt for bringing the hear.

Before class, I met with this amazing young man named David Deerin from Wake Forest. I was about to offer him a spot for next year's class right then and there without even applying. It was just then at that moment that he told me he was only a junior! Doh!

Next year, David. Next year.

Candle Tea - A Winston Classic

We met up with the Greensboro Fellows for the Candle Tea. I ended up meeting up with them just to stand in line for an hour. It wasn't moving fast!

It was great to see them. Plus! Who was in line right next to us? Alan Wright, one of my favorite people! We had been trying to get together for a year. And God put us together in line for an hour. What a gift!

The Calm Before the Snow

The Ericksons on our way to get our Christmas Tree

We had a short trip up to the mountains to pick out our Christmas tree for the season. On the way, we hiked up to our secret cave where we place wishes for next year.

We almost lost Salem! The dog don't heel! Yikes!

One tired dog

Lia's hopes and dreams for 2018

David had a sleepover.

Anna Rose passed D3

Lia had a successful year at work.

Ned is still looking for a friend...any takers?

Time to chop down that tree

One of our better ones, I'd say.

What a difference a day makes!

Sunday morning

Home sweet hoe

More photos later.

Recruiting!

Keep in mind that you all are great recruiters! As much as we love our current crop of Fellows, it is already time to be reaching out to next year's batch.

Please be on the look out for great candidates - and send them our way.

Shout out to Cynthia Tessien and Kim Ickes for doing just that last week. Y'all rock!

Giving!

Christmas is a great time to send financial love to the Fellows. Please consider a year end gift.

On line donations can be made at

wsfellows.com/give

Mail in donations can be made at

Winston-Salem Fellows

851 W. 5th St.

Winston-Salem, NC 27101

The only bad way to give is to not do it. So don't give the bad way!

Thanks!