Monthly Report – March, 2000

Caring Communities of Kansas

 

Community Updates

 

  Clay Center

Kay Lohmiller, chair of the Clay Center Caring Community, now has over 20 community members who have indicated an interest in participating in the Caring Community Project Council.  Member names and activities were included in a newspaper article and on the radio.  Presentations given to the community continue to create interest in the project; one presentation given to the Methodist Men’s Club garnered two more presentations scheduled for April – to the Ministerial Association and the Lion’s Club.

 

  Great Bend

Key contacts Dee Johnson and Sister Jean Marie Lechtinen met to identify participants for the Council.

 

  Lawrence

Emily Taylor, chair of the Lawrence Caring Community, knows how to make things happen.  In addition to forming a Caring Community Council representing all areas within the Lawrence community, she has also engaged the local newspaper.  The Lawrence Caring Community was featured in the Lawrence Journal-World on February 28^th and a majority of the council members attended the LIFE Project Media Release on February 29^th in Topeka.

 

Emily joined the LIFE Project to help inform people of their rights at the end of life.  The Lawrence Caring Community Council met on March 9^th to begin strategizing.  Other council members share her enthusiasm and determination to improve end-of-life care.  We expect great things from the Lawrence Caring Community and are eager to hear more from them in the coming months.  [The article may be viewed online at www.ljwo]

 

  NE Kansas

Gail Urban, Executive Director of the Community Health Council located in Manhattan, hosted a regional luncheon of Caring Communities in NE Kansas on March 13^th.  Twelve representatives attended the luncheon from Manhattan, Clay Center, and Junction City.  Kay Lohmiller from Clay Center indicated that the collaborative effort was well worthwhile and said that the group is making plans to meet on a quarterly basis to share ideas and resources.  Manhattan will be hosting the April 18^th Moyer leadership conference and the April 26 HFA Bereavement teleconference for the NE Kansas region.  For those in the NE region who would like to attend either activity, contact Deb Nuss, Project Manager, at 785-539-1610 or nuss@kshealth.org for more information.

 

 

  Wichita

The LIFE Project Community Council met on March 7^th to begin planning for upcoming events.  An agreement was made that current members will go into the community and identify additional membership.  They have identified Chaplain Sam Wood as their representative to attend Stories At Work training.  Anyone else that is interested in joining the efforts of the council is encouraged to contact Karen Everhart at 316-264-9180.

 

Upcoming Events & News

 

  Contact Your County Extension Agents

LIFE Project Councils are encouraged to contact County Extension Agents to request their membership and support on the Project Council in their area.  The person you should ask to be on your Caring Community Council is the FACS (Family And Consumer Science) agent.  Going to the phone book is certainly one way to get a phone number for a county extension office.   On the Web, go to the following address for county information:  http://www.oznet.ksu.edu

 

This opens up the Extension Home Page.  If you clink on “units and offices”, you will go to a window where you can type in your county.  Then you get a listing of the agents in your county, with their address and phone numbers.  [Deborah Altus, Ph.D., Extension Specialist in Aging, Associate Professor of Family Studies, Kansas State University]

 

  Moyers’ Leadership Video Conference, April 18^th

Caring Communities are reminded to get ready for the Moyers’ Leadership Video Conference being held on April 18^th.  The Kansas Public Broadcasting Stations are very involved in promoting the Moyers’ series and are planning to either sponsor or host downlink sites.  So far Wichita, Topeka, Manhattan, and Pittsburg have sites established and Lawrence is in the process of establishing one.  Please let Jan or Donna know if you are planning to download the videoconference in your community!

 

  HFA Living With Grief Teleconference, April 26^th

Registered sites for the grief teleconference include Manhattan, Hutchinson, Overland Park, Goodland, Pratt, Wichita, Kansas City, Liberal, Salina, Atchison, Chanute and El Dorado.  Go to www.hospicefoundation.org/teleconference/ks.htm or call 1-800-854-3402 for updates.

 

  DON’T forget to turn in timesheets for service in-kind with your monthly report.   Also need to turn in your Caring Community Council information by April 1^st.

 

  We are looking for a volunteer to coordinate the State Fair activities.  This will primarily focus on working to staff the booth.  Preliminary work is in process to obtain a booth.

 

  Call or fax any information you would like to share with others across the state.  This newsletter will be sent out the 3^rd week of each month.  Thank you to each person who contributed to this month’s issue!