Hannahville Happenings

Bosho, everyone! This is a post from Rachel Fix, the contact person for Hannahville Youth Services and their involvement in the "100 Hours of Hope" campaign. I know I've been a bit lax in getting something up here, but we've been busy!

The photos above show some of our youth working on the Martin Luther King, Jr. mural we completed in January, at the very start of this campaign. Rebecca Spreitzer, Youth Work Coordinator, and local artist April South-Olson worked with a group of about a dozen youth over two days to create this mural in our Youth Center. The kids really took pride in being a part of this, and many expressed interest in being a part of more events like this one.

Our second project involved some pampering, too: the Youth Services department and our 21st Century Community Learning Centers program held our 2nd Annual Girls' Night In for females of all ages on the rez. A special prize was given to the person bringing in the most items to be donated to our local food pantry (congrats to Sophie Manitowabi!). Part of the night included the usual suspects for an "all girls" party- manicures, make up, hair, romantic movies- but also some purely fun stuff, like a cupcake decorating contest and movie trivia.

Okay, so enough about the fun, one important thing we learned at this event (via survey results) is that 87% of the adults surveyed and 93% of the youth surveyed said they liked the idea of helping others in the Community through things like the canned food drive. Wow! This gives us energy to plan more events where there is a Service Learning components.

Another on-going program here at the Hannahville Indian School/Nah Tah Washs PSA is our partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters and our mentoring program with Margie Gregoire's 4th grade class. We may only meet for an hour each week, but both kids and adults alike look forward to our meetings.

Lastly, congratulations to Cheryl Sagataw (one of our Tribal youth) for successfully logging in her first 20 hours! Cheryl has volunteered her time to the MLK mural project, Elder's Bingo, and Youth Services' Family Recreation Night. Woo hoo!

As for me, I'm almost there: BBBS mentoring each week (7 hours so far this year), and an additional 4 hours at Escanaba Area High School's Solo & Ensemble Band competition on February 7th. Only 9 more hours until I get that yellow shirt!

So that's all from the Rez this time around. Check back for more news soon, and keep logging those hours!

Susan, the Volunteer:

Here's our first post from Susan, who gets a 100 Hours of Hope tshirt for all her great work:


CCD

This fall I volunteered to teach 6th grade CCD after the first week passed without a teacher. Somebody will do it became I will do it. I have found that I love teaching. I totally missed my calling! Our class is making a huge mural of the Book of Genesis. It is so cool to see the pictures the kids draw as they create scenes from the bible. I have an awesome group of kids.

4-H

Five years ago I volunteered to help decorate the sheep barn for the Countyline Sheep 4-H Club my daughters belong to. Of course that meant it was dumped in my lap. The decorating has been a challenge. It must tie in with the Fair theme. And be something the kids are interested in. And something that can be done by very young members and challenge teen members. The first year we decorated the barn with Serta sheep and won first place! My second year we did Wanted Posters with the sheep in a jail cell (wanted: a buyer) and we won a blue ribbon again!! How cool is that?! The following year went south of the border with Fiesta sheep, 'ole. Yup, it won! Year four was "At The Movies." It was a huge amount of fun & the concept was copied by another club the following year. This past year the Fair theme was, "Make Tracks." Not realizing they meant a moose on a train, our club made animal tracks in the decor. Last year I overheard a judge say about the Movie theme that it was nice but there wasn't anything "4-H." The fifth year we had 88 clovers hanging from the ceiling & crossboards. Plus larger clovers everywhere. Moms & kids were painting & cutting for hours since I buy nothing commercial for my decorating efforts. Other clubs spend up to $300 to decorate the barn and my club keeps expenses at around $30. The early summer meeting is the time kids give their ideas for the Fair display. Hint: I will never do a Harry Potter theme. Sorry. Five years = five blue ribbons. The sixth & final UP State Fair has to be spectacular....hey, that gives me an idea.....


Thanks, Susan! Keep those posts coming!

Valentine's Day Promotion

Hi, Guys! Just a little update to let you know that you can stop by Elmer's County Market until next Friday (February 13th) and make cash donations to support your favorite non-profit organization for Valentine's Day! Some of our 100 Hours volunteers made very cool Valentines for their favorite groups, and they are on display at Elmer's to raise some cash. There's a big wooden box (donated by Todd Jobs, thank you very much) with all the Valies right on it, and a spot to stick in some cash. All the non-profits get the cash that was collected in their name, and the person who made the winning Valentine gets a phat prize package from Mix 106 and Elmer's. So, insted of putting in a quarter for a rubber ball, use it to vote! Thanks to Elmer's, Todd Jobs, and all the folks who made cards.
Keep sending your questions to hundredhoursofhope@yahoo.com and send me some blogs already! These tshirts are burning a hole in my pocket! -Bridgette

Hi, everyone!

Well, we're two weeks in and have had a WONDERFUL response so far to the campaign! We're still in need of TONS of volunteers, though, so sign up right now by emailing your name, address, and phone number (completely private, trust me) to hundredhoursofhope@yahoo.com. Then after you finish your first few hours, write us a blog to post right here and we'll give you your free 100 Hours of Hope tshirt, courtesy of Genesis Graphics.

Welcome 2009

This blog is exclusively designed to share the stories and experiences of the good people of Delta County, Michigan who have signed up for the WMXG-FM, Daily Press, Hannahville Youth Services, and Genesis Graphics 100 Hours of Hope Community Service Initiative. It is a group blog, edited by the staff of WMXG-FM. Please limit your comments to the program, sharing your personal reflections, activities, and encounters while striving to perform 100 hours of service to Delta County in 2009. Thanks for participating. Please call with any questions at 906-786-0060. Thanks for your hard work and dedication to bringing change.