UPDATE - Week of June 19

Post Baptism Hugs in the Jordan River

It has been a relatively quiet week here at the Winston-Salem Fellows. Part of that is due to it being summer, part being that my very talkative daughter was at camp, and part being that the Fellows are moving on to bigger and brighter things. 

Here is an Update on the Inaugural Class

Alex Loy

Alex has taken a job in Nashville with a company called Houzz Interior Design Ideas. It is an app that helps you design your home with furnishings, accessories, lighting and remodels created by local contractors and designers. It is a fast growing company that started in San Francisco. Nashville is their newly created eastern headquarters, so there is lots of growth potential as they move into a new market.

Camille Stogner

Camille continues to love her work at Salemtowne. This summer she will apply to the nursing program at WSSU with the hope to earn her degree and work in geriatrics.

Campbell Anderson

Campbell is returning from vacation with his family as he awaits to hear back from a few job opportunities. He is eager to put his energy and commitment to work. His desire is to stay in Winston-Salem long term, which thrills his Fellows Director. 

Christina Sandstedt

Christina is currently doing environmental research in the Black Hills of South Dakota with a team from Wheaton College. In the fall, she will be returning to Winston-Salem to work as a consultant with Pilot Environmental, Inc. as she awaits to hear from the Coast Guard' s Officer Candidate School. 

Dakota Lee

Dakota has received an offer to work at PENTA Facial Plastic Surgery. However, it will not begin until August, so he is currently free agenting while he lives with his host family who is refusing to let him move out. 

Jessica Kok

Jessica is currently on holiday in England as she prepares to return to work at Senior Services. Before leaving town, Jessica and Julia Lovett moved in with a third roommate into a house in West Salem. 

Julia Lovett

Julia is looking forward to having her new roommate return from England. She continues to work at Crosby Scholars and is excited about growing community across race and culture and investing more in the city of Winston-Salem.  

Rahel Tafese

Rahel is moving east to Durham to enter a Masters in Hospital Administration program at Duke University before she enters medical school the following year. 

Reese Schaffner

 Reese is in job hunting mode. Last week, he received an offer, but he is also in the running for a few other opportunities. In the meantime, he is painting interiors and exteriors of houses, and has suddenly discovered that his skills are high in demand.

Sean Henderson

Sean has stayed on with Fleet Feet Sports. He had a phone interview with a potential employer last week that went FANTASTIC in the words of that potential employer. So we shall see. Sean has a passion for coaching and education, so if things do not work out, this year he will likely get his teaching certification. His long term goal is to take my job, which I'm fine with.

Will Troxler

 Will will be entering Wake Forest Masters Program in Management in a few weeks. Currently, he is working in Black Mountain at Camp Timberlake. We are excited to have both Will and his girlfriend Mary Page here next year.

INCOMING

Things are coming together as well for our incoming class. One story. Our Fellow, Grace Mezzy, seen here:

Grace

I cannot wait for her to get here! Seriously. She rivals me in her positivity, and if there was a way I could hire her to work for the Fellows, I would. Unfortunately, for me, Grace is gifted in a myriad of ways, particularly in the world of design.

I contacted my friends at Salem Sports about her. They were intrigued, and as it turned out, they were in need of a designer. After a phone conversation, I sent Kim Ickes Grace's resume as well as some other pertinent information. Grace interviewed the next day, and now my wait is over. Salem Sports wants her to come in early!

As of this morning, about half of our Fellows are spoken for employment-wise. we are following some promising leads on the rest. But if you or your company are interested in a talented, hungry, male or female of outstanding character, contact me TODAY!

Eli loves being a Host Family kid

I had a great exit interview with Lucho and Liz Soto this week. They were one of our host families last year. A young couple with no children, they were not the people I imagined when I first thought about host families, but they were open to it and we didn't have a ton of options!

As it turned out, the experience went beyond their best hopes. "We lucked out on Alex." They told me. Lucho really appreciated our pre-training and they both felt well-prepared as they headed into the year. Woo-Hoo!

Being a Host Family is another way to support the Fellows. If you are interested, whether you are a couple with young children, old children, no children, or maybe you are single - we would love to talk to you about being a Host Family. Contact me TODAY!


THANKS

Thank you Fellows community for all your support. I had a couple take Lia and I out to lunch last week because they wanted to tell us that they would like to increase their financial support of the Fellows! WOW!

We need it!

We need lots of help. If you know me, that comes as no surprise! Ha!

Shout outs to Fil Anderson, Stephen Edwards, Caroline Bell, Julia Lovett, Fred and Belinda Jorgenson, Mike Campbell and the team at Habitat for Humanity, Dan Powell and Theo, Chuck Spong, Paul and Jennifer Briggs, Shannon Rainey, Petey Crowder, Liz and Lucho Soto, Garrick Throckmorton, Rich Garrison, Gardner Barrier, Crick and Kim Watkins, Tripp Sanders, Joe Peele, Brett and Emily Anderson, Blair and Katie Whitworth, Barnes and Elizabeth Harris, Steve and Sarah Kearns, Dave and Christina Anderson, and others. A great week.

- Pray for the Fellows
- Ask the Lord how He might want you to play a part this year.
- Let me know what He tell you!

Thanks all. Keep spreading the love.

Update Week of June 12

This week has been a bunch of organizing and planning. As seen above, I have been updating our website. In the next few weeks, I'll be posting updates on the Class of 2016-17 page as well as adding in a Class of 2017-18 page!

I have also added in a What Sets Us Apart. Check it out and explore! wsfellows.com

Turning the page

I took a big step this week and erased the whiteboard.

 

For those of you who wonder what a Fellows Director does in the summer - that's quite a visual!

Fortunately, I am not alone in getting it done. We have got a great program committee and lots of friends. But don't be surprised if you get a call from me!

The Truth

David, Noah, and Ned left to right

I had a lot of fun getting interviewed by two great guys, Noah and Davis, at Stu Epperson Jr.'s Truth Network Radio Station.

I don't think it has been broadcasted yet. I'll let you know!

Thanks Stu for the radio time!

(He won't want me to tell you this story but last week Stu was in the Dollar Tree and saw they were selling Bibles. He got so fired up about a Priceless Book being sold for a dollar - he bought all of them. And then gave them away! Ha! Love that man.)

Recruitment Update

As sad as I am to see our inaugural class move on, I am excited about this new class coming in. Right now, we are awaiting to hear back from what we hope is our eleventh Fellow. We will take one more - so if you know anybody - please get them in contact with me.

Program Update

We have had some great developments, curriculum-wise. Dr. Jack Wilkerson and Dr. Clay Cooke have both re-upped for this year. We are also looking to add in Nigel Alston (for Leadership), Joe Moore (for Spiritual Formation), and Rob Alexander (for Theology of Work). See Bios Here

We are also re-committing to the Center for Creative Leadership after making some enhancements that we are very excited about. And just today, I learned that Fil Anderson is interested in teaching as well! Oh man! This year is going to be incredible!

The Triple

We had a triple birthday party on Saturday, celebrating Sean Henderson, Dakota Lee and Julia Lovett, all June birthdays.

Somehow I was permitted to share the couch with the birthday people. What an honor!

On the Home front

Grace, Georgia, Anna Rose and Olivia

Anna Rose is in heaven this week, also known as Camp Cheerio, with some of her best friends. Back at home, it is very quiet. Ha!

Lia and I continue to do well. We had one of our new Fellows babysit for us Saturday night. Extremely excited that Natalie Bayer is here and already settling in. 

For me, I had the chance to meet with some great people. Shout outs to Stu Epperson Jr., Sam Best, Dakota Lee, Jonathan Murfee, the good people at CCL, Dodd Drake, Mike Gatton, Nigel Alston, the good people at the Center for a Creative Economy, Natalie Bayer, Robbie Mills, and David Jorgenson. This week is shaping up the same way. Very thankful. 

Ways to help

- Pray for Fellows old and new, the Director and his family, and all the volunteers and contributors.

- Financial Support. Go to wsfellows.com/give  or send a check to WS Fellows 851 W. 5th St. WSNC 27101

- Contact us about hosting a Fellow or providing a spot for Round Table or volunteering to Mentor or provide an experience or service opportunity, etc.

- Set up a time to meet to learn more

THANKS!

UPDATE Weeks of May 29 and June 5

ENDING WELL

The Inaugural Class of the Winston-Salem Fellows spent the last three days of the program up in the mountains where it all began. 

It was a sweet time of reflection and closure. The theme was to End Well - with each other, with the director, and with Jesus - not that any of these relationships are ending. The goal was to mark the milestone, to say the things that needed being said, and to celebrate all that had been accomplished. 

There was fun to be had as well. 

Dave Dave - future fellow

Allegheny Jubilee

 We went dancing Tuesday night at the Allegheny Jubilee. So much fun. The highlight was coming up on stage and singing "Wagon Wheel" for all the locals. There is a video out there somewhere...

Tubing down the New River

Wednesday we went tubing, living out the metaphor of letting the long, wide river of grace lead you on the journey.

We tried on Quilt Aprons

Doughton Park

We ended our last Advance on top of Bluff Mountain after a morning of worship and tears of joy. 

Sean has remained his amazing self

Sarabeth honorary Fellow

That evening we celebrated our honorary Fellow, Sarabeth Abbey, at her bridal shower!

Friday and Saturday, we helped each other move out and move in to our new homes!

RECRUITMENT UPDATE

We have had a great last month!

The Year 2 Class of the Winston-Salem Fellows is coming together better than could be imagined. 

We are now up to ten commitments, with an eleventh just around the corner. There are a few more that we are in dialogue with, but we would ask your help in filling our last one or two slots. We are now maxed out on gals, but if you know of a guy, now is the time to connect us!

Ways to help!

Spread the word that we have 1 or 2 spaces available. 

Contact me if you are interested in Hosting a Fellow next year.

Contact me if you are interested in Mentoring a Fellow next year.

Contact me if you are interested in Employing a Fellow next year.

A NEEDED BREAK

Last week, the Erickson fam took a needed vacation down south with Lia's side of the family.  

The fam

Chacala means Shrimp-land. We did not know that before we arrived, but it certainly helped explain why we had shrimp at almost every meal!

The whole Simpson family

After stacking rocks, we did some yoga moves

We discovered ancient pertoglyphs, like Corn-Man

The cousins, some of them

A-Ro paddleboarded

Anna Rose and Evy by the pool

My beautiful girl is turning into a beautiful young lady

Like her mom

Dave Dave took the lead on our jungle hike

He drank fruity non-alcoholic beverages by the pool

Learned to conquer the waves

Daddy did some kayaking 

Whoops

He climbed statues

Took the Hobie Cat for spin

And wore teal

 WHAT'S NEXT?

I need to update you on where all the Fellows are going! (8.5 of the 11 are staying in Winston!)

I need to start introducing you to the class of 2018.

Today, I have a meeting to discuss how to recruit more minority Fellows. Then, I'm getting interviewed for Truth FM.

Meanwhile, the Program Committee is at work lining up jobs, churches, host families and mentors for next year.

Lots to keep me busy. Lots to be thankful for.

Including you all!

Thanks for your partnership. Here is one more way to get involved.

Donating! Checks to Winston-Salem Fellows

Our address is 851 W. 5th Street. WSNC 27101
Or online at wsfellows.com/give