IN GENERAL:
I am continually surprised at the amount of little things that keep popping up that need to be dealt with. It feels like the weeks disappear all to quickly. Often the days are filled with many unrelated items. . . but all important NOW! Last week I declared Wednesday morning would be ‘reading’ time, and I would try to go to town (for work) only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, because feeling/being scattered isn’t a good use of anyone’s time. The ‘reading’ is a time to get caught up on policies, articles, etc. Sarah is an incredible asset – a voracious reader herself – she passes valuable articles to me regularly.
NETWORKING:
*Arctic Alliance: I attended the December meeting with Sarah, and have submitted the $25. dues fee. I will miss Jan. meeting / out of state.
*Fairbanks Housing and Homeless Coalition: Attended with Sarah, huge turnout, so was able to update them about the current project with City.
*Lindsay and I met 12/16 – she reviewed our work, files, and banking. P. also participated in conversation via phone. She reviewed our Quick Book accounts and returned them to Patrick to be reconciled.
*Tuesday Chamber, have not been back but will try to start in the new year. . . .have not paid dues yet either.
*Sarah: we are going to meet on Tuesday mornings weekly. This past Monday I brought her home for an overnight. She needed a change of scenery and company. Many of the vistas are gone over the holidays. She is currently working on gathering MOA’s and letters of support for all the agencies that we could potentially be working with. She is also going to help me with the current grant AK Housing grant + begin working on a mini grant with AK Mental Health Trust due Feb 1.
*Rodney & I have still been getting together though less frequently lately. I have attended every Thursday’s staff meeting, they are special times. I feel encouraged and am able to encourage others as we share what is happening. R. is a great coach and I feel very blessed to be able to spend time with him.
*Family Centered Services of Alaska: Montie called me over for a visit and update. He is so excited about developments and wants to stay connected & asked for how he could help. We talked forms and procedures, etc. and he also connected me with another worker there, Kimberly – quality assurance. She and I met the following week. She wanted to connect me with another person (gone on vacation). These ladies are the folks who know the system from the behavioral rehab side. . . .and get funds from the state for taking care of kids in custody, etc.
*SOAP/FCA see below
*Miscellaneous: Lots of folks wanting to meet – and wanting to be kept current.
DONATIONS/FUNDRAISING
I began a spread sheet so we could track this easily and consistently – but also for tracking thank yous. Have sent thank yous to the applause section of the Daily News Miner weekly, the past 3 weeks.
*WV Honor students + Randy Smith Middle: 50+ bags filled with personal items. We shared about 35 or so with SOAP.
* DRMO 10 grey military bunk beds – brand new/ (AmeriCorps crew picked them up for us)
* Furniture, living room and dining room/ Paul Sauers (AmeriCorps crew moved them for us)
* Gary Pedretty hooked sarah up with new monitor and set my laptop to print at work
* File Cabinets, desk furniture and possibly some washer and dryers. . . stay tuned
* Access AK called and said a book group had dropped off a cash donation for us -$235.00
* Sarah, Sarah Finnell, Kitty and I met 2x to discuss the production of Alice/Underground
LARGER PROJECTS:
1) The grant proposal that we were waiting for came out a few weeks ago. It is due Feb 3, however Rodney has asked that I come back from vacation with it essentially in first draft form. A good practice – no last minute craziness. This is essentially two pots of $$: we will ask for close to 100,000. in salary $$ and up to 35,000. in $ for insurance, utilities, etc. This is Ak Housing money; their Basic Homeless Assistance Program and Emergency Services program money.
2) I’ve been helping Patrick with board items: board ethics, job description, board application, the equivalent of a faith statement, etc.
3) Policies and procedures. . . . the BHAP grant application asks if we have these in place. . . . Rodney says, ‘There is only one answer Marylee’. . . . so that is another huge task to tackle before Feb. 1
HOURS:
My hours have averaged 35 hours a week this month – mostly due to me taking time to catch up on self care appointments and holiday activities. I will only work about 18 hours this week with holidays and prepping to leave. We will be gone for 10 days, but my plan is to work a 2-3 hours every morning.
