UPDATE Week of June 25

I spent all last week thinking it was the last week of June for some reason. So if you were like me - HAPPY BONUS WEEK!

A weekend wedding at the beach. I hope I never officiate a wedding this hot again!

Even with the extra week, I feel like this summer is zooming by. I'm doing my best to get my feet underneath me, but it isn't easy. 

THE WEEK

it was hot as blazes this week!

Tuesday's interesting was my appointment at Wake Forest to undergo a nerve study on my right arm. A few years ago, I had surgery to remove a tumor near my shoulder. All went well. The only lasting side effect is that the top of my arm experiences numbness periodically; and when it touches something cold, it feels like it is wet! Strange. 

But the last few months I have been experiencing some tingling in my fingers, so the surgeon sent me to get a nerve study. Weird experience. Turns out I laugh when I'm shocked. 

All is well. 

Tuesday night is Swim Meet night in Winston-Salem

Thursday's interesting was a text I received from an old friend of mine who is looking for teenagers that do not use a smart phone or have a social media presence. (NOT EASY!) If you know someone who fits the bill...here is what to do:

He asked me to share this:

Would you mind posting the following: A friend of mine asked that I post the following about a project he is spearheading - Award winning production company is in the preliminary stages of producing a documentary about teenagers and technology. They are looking for a teenager anywhere in the U.S. that does not use a smart phone and does not use social media. Male or female, 14-17 years of age. This will be an incredible opportunity for any young person that will provide life changing experiences and the chance to form new and meaningful relationships. Interested parents/guardians should email mailto:techdocumentary@gmail.com

Friday's highlight was a visit with a former Board member, Charley Donohoe. Last year was a tough one. Charley had a seven pound tumor removed from his stomach and went through chemo. But he has lived to talk about it. What a warrior. Because of his health challenges he wasn't able to meet with the Fellows. I'm hoping that this year we will remedy that. 

Other SHOUT OUTS! Gardner Barrier, Jenny Fulton, Erika Quaile, Sarah Alexander, Jay McCabe, Matt Dixson, Alan Brown, Anissa Listek, Garrett Briggs, Adam Jones, Heather McGill, Ski Chelton, Michael Abbey, the Summer Stud crew and Barnes and Elizabeth Harris to name a few! What gifts!

This weekend I had the blessing of getting to reunite with the family I used to live with. Ann Shepard on the left was the flower girl in our wedding! She is now taller than me!!! Libby is on the right

And Clay is on my left - we could be brothers!

RECRUITING

We are still looking for one more Fellow. Preferably, a female. If you know of one, please connect her to us. But we will take the right one, regardless of gender!

There are a few folks we are talking to, one happens to be international. Pray for us as we figure out what is best. 

HELP WANTED

Our Fellows are looking for jobs. These are hard working, highly gifted, passionate learners who will benefit your company or organization well beyond what you will pay them. 

Fellows work 3.5 days a week at below market rate. If you are interested in hiring one - let me know!

We are looking for a great opportunity for Tim Spangler. A graduate from Chapel Hill, Tim has gifts in teaching, professional writing, editing, and copyediting. This guy has some chops. Don't miss out on him!

Aly Hall is another one of our all starts. She went to West Point and Covenant Colleges where she studied political science and psychology. She is still discerning whether to pursue law or clinical psychology. She is open to working in either field, but is currently leaning toward opportunities in research or hands on exposure with psychology. 

Kelly Martin is also a college athlete (Aly played tennis. Kelly was a lacrosse player). She is currently working as a Physical Therapist Tech and is looking for an opportunity here in Winston-Salem to continue with Physical Therapy. Her plan is to eventually go back to school to get a masters degree in physical therapy. Any opportunity that would help her in that pursuit would be great!

If you are the possessor of other opportunities, please let me know. These are just three of the Fellows who are looking for meaningful work!


FINANCE UPDATE

Thank you for keeping us in business! If you would like to join the team or continue your support of the Fellows please send a check to

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

or give online at wsfellows.com/give


THIS WEEK

Making lots of connections.
Tuesday we are talking with our potential international Fellow
Wednesday we are meeting with the mentor and have meetings later that day
Thursday we are talking with Crossnore and Senior Services (separately) about ways we can collaborate. We also have our program committee meeting.
Friday we are hopefully heading out of town for some solitude.

Please pray for wisdom as we make decisions and plans for the coming year.

Also, please pray for Ashley from last year's class who suffered a concussion a few weeks ago and is still suffering from some of the side effects.


THANK YOU!

Anna Rose and Lia went to Camp Cheerio. We will miss you Anna Rose

David and I went to the beach

We clean up pretty good

thanks all. keep sharing the story and spreading the love!

UPDATE Week of June 18

I can't believe June is over halfway over! Slow down Summer!!!

Last week, we took a much appreciated vacation. I learned on the way down that we were flying into a hurricane! Fortunately, the hurricane stayed off shore and we ended up having pretty remarkable weather - and some great waves!

Sayulita Mexico

Two Weeks Ago...

David headed off to Ornithology Camp!

With one of his best friends Wyatt

Anna Rose, Julia, Reese, and I and others went to the Regenerate Forsyth launch

Someone snapped this photo of me

THE SUMMIT

Mount Le Conte

Fellows Directors from around the country met in Gatlinburg, Tennessee for our annual Directors Summit. It was a rich time of learning, fellowship, worship and encouragement. So thankful to be part of such a wonderful movement.

Great things to come!

I want to be like Rick Kuhlman when I grow up - Knoxville's Fellows Director

BACK HOME

Natalie joined the Lenhams and Fenwick for 8th Grade Graduation

Abbey sent me this from our graduation

While I was away, our admissions team chatted with another potential Fellow. We shall see. The Board has also been helping with evals and enhancement prep for next year! Thankful for this team. 

NOW THAT WE'RE BACK

This week.

- We are on the hunt for some jobs for Fellows. 

Ways to help: I need a job in the field of clinical psychology, a job in physical therapy, and a grant writing position...let me know if you have any ideas.

- We are prepping for a big Program Committee planning meeting. 

Ways to help: NOW is the time to let me know if you are interested in being a HOST FAMILY or a MENTOR...please contact me in the next two weeks. 

- We are doing our church placements. 

Ways to help: Pray that we slot folks in the right place. Pray for good church/fellow coordination. 

- We are checking in with Fellows on their fundraising. 

Our goal is that our Fellows can be fully funded by Day 1 of the program. Pray for our efforts!

- We are doing a bunch of back office stuff. 

FINANCE UPDATE

We are so thankful for your continued support of the Fellows. Our fiscal year ends at the end of July. As it looks, we will be ending the year in strong financial shape. THANK YOU!!!!

This coming year, our Advancement Team has made it a goal to enter the year fully funded with pledges and support. So if you would, please start now thinking about how you will help us toward this big goal! 

If you want to help us jump start, send checks to 

WS Fellows

851 W. 5th Street

Winston-Salem, NC 27101

or online at wsfellows.com/give

Thanks.

FELLOWS UPDATE

Abbey is settling into life back in Williamsburg as she prepares to move to Richmond to work in a Guidance Counseling office while she gets her Counseling Master's Degree. 

Ashley is interviewing with a couple companies right now. (She might already have a position for all I know.) She is planning to stay in Winston next year. 

Caleb is counseling at Ridgecrest Summer Camp this summer before moving to Columbia, SC to start seminary. 

Grace has just taken a semi-permanent position with a design company and is hoping to stay nearby. 

Kate has taken a teaching position at FCDS. She was looking for summer work, and I'm not sure yet if she has found it. Let me know if you have ideas for a brilliant person. 

JP continues to work in accounting at Aladdin Travel. 

Morgan is working as the ministry intern at Calvary Baptist and will be working at the Street School in the fall. 

Natalie is taking pre-requisites for OT school and will be returning to ABC. 

Patrick is enjoying his summer as he prepares to go overseas to do service and mission work with YAGM.

Sarah is moving to Richmond to work in the VCU hospital network. 

Tate has started his position with Chik-Fil-a's leadership training academy in Raleigh. 

Tucker has taken a cool position with a company in Nashville. (I'm also hoping he gets signed by a record label)

PHOTOS

My internet is bugging so I wasn't able to upload all the photos I wanted but here are a few...

UPDATE Week of June 4

In this issue:

A fond farewell

A look forward

And a "one second video"

We said see you later to one of our all time greats this week

 A Fond Farewell

I pulled the following from a post that Melissa Smith wrote about her friend and co-worker:

Today, my partner in crime, Jess Kok, departed Senior Services to return to her home in Chicago for a few months before pursuing a Master’s Degree in Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England. Jess started at SS as part of the inaugural cohort of the Winston Salem Fellows and confirmed today that her cohort agreed she had the best job! She was hired after her Fellowship as our Aging with Purpose Community Liaison and the work that she did under my Program was nothing short of phenomenal. What we are doing is new and scary and she did it with grace, poise and love. She is one of the most creative people I have ever met and she always made me look good. I am sure going to miss her. They broke the mold when they made her. God Speed, Jess!

A Look Forward

Tim Spangler, Andrew Miller, Natalie Bayer, Morgan Bonds, and JP Flynn at the Summer Stud

We are making the transition into summer life. The kids have started swim team in the evenings. Anna Rose is "sleeping in" past 8am. And we are working hard to keep down David's screen time.

The joys of summer.

For Fellows Directors, summers often are our busiest season.

We have new Fellows to chase down, jobs to find, host families to convince, mentors to line up, and tuition to help raise. There is also plenty to do to help Fellows year one and year two continue along their paths.

I met with several year ones last week in fact. Including these two jokers:

Julia and Reese

who are still very much in love.

PLUS: there is the need to thoroughly evaluate, to make changes and adjustments, and to get the plan in place for year three!

Summer Stud

We had nine Fellows old and new go to the opening cookout for the Summer Stud - the summer Bible study we launched a few years ago while I was on Young Life staff.

What a fun way to connect!

Thursday night, we also had the chance to celebrate the launch of the Barnabas Center Triad.

Clyde Godwin, the Executive Director, tells his story

Click on the link to learn more: http://thebarnabascenter.org/barnabas-in-triad/

Today, we are celebrating the launch of another great initiative: Regenerate Forsyth

You are invited too!

Here is an inspiring video:



At the same time, summer is a time to reflect, unwind, and focus a little more on family.

David is ready!

David is ready for Ornithology camp at the Blue Ridge Discovery Center.

A horse and his girl

Anna Rose had a great horse show over the weekend.

Abbey sent a picture from her summer assignment

Signing kids up for camp

ONE SECOND VIDEO

Natalie Bayer did an amazing job chronicling the year with a one second video. ENJOY:




THIS WEEK

Fellows Directors from around the country are traveling to Gatlinburg, Tennessee for our annual Summit.

As it is I think with everyone, it is so nice to be with folks who can "relate" to what you are and have been going through.

It will also be a great week to learn from others, to listen to great teaching, and to spend time in personal reflection.

Back in Winston,
We are working on evaluations.
Several folks have big job interviews.
Summer Stud continues.
And the Admissions Team awaits a possible thirteenth Fellows application!

PLEASE PRAY for Lia and the family. It seems like every time I go away something traumatic happens back at home. 

Last time - our chickens were murdered!  NOT FUN!

Also pray for our Fellows old and new. 
- We need job offers, job wisdom, housing decisions ad discernment. For our Fellows around the country, we are praying for solid community and favor in all they do.
For our new Fellows, we need to pray for favor as well as well as peace that passes all understanding. It is not easy moving to a new city - even one as great as Winston-Salem!

Thanks all!

Keep sharing the story and spreading the love!