ANNUAL MEETING A GREAT SUCCESS

More than 160 brave souls sloshed through a downpour to attend the February 5th Annual Meeting. The meeting was a salute to our fantastic volunteers and donors, and we were most grateful for the many expressions of support we received. Despite the weather, spirits were high inside the Barn (thanks to RB Fitch and Gilda McDaniel), and those attending enjoyed a good time (thanks to Carol Sherrod’s arrangements committee).
Our 2009 annual report summarizes all our activities over the past year and encourages you to give us your comments and feedback. We are proud to report that, by October 2009, all the objectives of our 2007 Strategic Plan were either met or were works in progress. Stop by the office for a copy of the report or for pamphlets and a price list related to the Galloway Ridge “Partners in Caring” program.

DIRECTOR SEARCH UNDERWAY

This year we were extremely fortunate to receive a three-year commitment from the Arthur Carlsen Charitable Fund of the Triangle Community Foundation. This grant is restricted to paying the start-up expenses of a part-time (20 hours/week) Executive Director (ED). It was given to us in recognition of Fearrington Cares’ growing administrative and management needs, and we are truly grateful for this support.
Fearrington Cares (including its predecessor organizations) has been in existence for 20 years. During that time, it has been an almost entirely volunteer organization. Exceptions have been the part-time Professional Nurse and more recently a part-time Administrative Assistant.
In 2007, Fearrington Cares developed a Strategic Plan, which has driven everything we have done in the past two years. That plan included exploring the need for an ED for our organization. Much time since then has been devoted to analyzing, asking questions, forming recommendations, and writing and re-writing job descriptions (www.fearringtoncares.org/contact-fearrington-cares/).
The Board of Fearrington Cares has been an operational board, running the day-to-day business of the organization. Over the past two years, as services have grown to meet community needs, the burden of work placed on the Board has increased considerably. There is a need for professional help to keep things well-coordinated and running smoothly. This was the subject of a Board retreat held last June, led by consultants from the Executive Service Corps. Both they and the Triangle Community Foundation advised us that an organization of our size, complexity, and varied services should have an ED. We have also learned that almost all similar organizations across the country have an ED.
With an ED, our board will gradually spend more time on policy decisions and less on hands-on operations. More importantly, an ED will handle administrative and managerial functions, thus freeing our nurse, Joyce Baird, to concentrate solely on medical issues and the growing need for her services, especially in-home services.
After the three-year start-up period, the Triangle Community Foundation expects us to fund the ED position. We know that our Fearrington donors will vote on the success of this ED endeavor, and indeed on all our efforts, with their checkbooks. During the coming year, the value of the ED position will become clear.
The closing date for applications for the ED position was February 5. Applications are currently being reviewed and the target hiring date is April 1.

FEARRINGTON CARES FUNDRAISER:

CREATIVE CARD WORKSHOP

Learn how to make beautiful, one-of-a-kind cards in this “hands on” workshop being held as a fundraiser to benefit Fearrington Cares. This workshop is limited to 30 participants and will be held on March 12th, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at the Gathering Place. No card-making experience is necessary. Advance registration is required.
Each participant will make five cards using a variety of tools, equipment and easily acquired embellishments. There will also be an opportunity to learn to make a matching envelope.
Your tax-deductible check for $35 made out to Fearrington Cares reserves your spot in the workshop and must be sent in advance to the Fearrington Cares office. In addition, please bring a $5 material fee to the workshop.
Workshop instructors are Robin Bowyer, Linelle Dickinson, Nancy Foster, Carol Genovese, and Julie Snyder. A few sample cards will be available at the Fearrington Cares office. For more information contact Robin Bowyer at 542-4891 or rbbowyer@aol.com.

TICKS AROUND FEARRINGTON: DISEASES AND PREVENTION

Marcia E. Herman-Giddens, PA, DrPH, will discuss prevention, detection and treatment of tick bites March 2, 7:30 p.m. at the Gathering Place. She is an Adjunct Prof. at UNC’s School of Public Health and president of the Tick-borne Infections Council of North Carolina, Inc, a non-profit organization formed to improve the recognition, treatment, control and understanding of tick-borne diseases in NC.

HEAR WELL IN A NOISY WORLD
AN AUDIOLOGIST’S REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Please join Dr. Stephanie Sjoblad on March 8, 1:00 p.m. at the Gathering Place as she dispels common myths and outlines guidelines for best practice concerning hearing assistance.
Dr. Sjoblad is the Clinic Coordinator for the UNC Hearing and Communication Center and an Assistant Prof. in the Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences in the Dept. of Allied Health Sciences, UNC School of Medicine. She teaches doctoral students of audiology and works with patients in the clinic. Dr. Sjoblad is also a consumer of technology, having worn hearing aids since the age of 6. She recently received a cochlear implant and is now utilizing ‘bimodal’ hearing – implant in one ear and hearing aid in the other.

EXERCISE AND THE CANCER CONTINUUM

Research shows that physical activity can aid in the prevention of certain cancers, and that physical activity programs increase the physical and mental quality of life in those directly affected by the disease. Mike Clark, a Certified Clinical Exercise Specialist and Personal Trainer at the Duke Center for Living at Fearrington will speak on March 18, 1:30 p.m. at the Gathering Place. He is the facilitator of the Duke Center Cancer Wellness Program. He will highlight the use of exercise to help prevent the disease and the importance of maintaining physical activity throughout cancer treatment.

BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS MONTH

The Brainiacs, Fearrington’s Brain Injury Support Group would like to educate Fearringtonians about brain injury.
Examples of brain injury include, but are not limited to, a blow to the head, lack of oxygen, brain tumor, stroke, or a penetrating wound, such as a gun shot.
Men are twice as likely as women to experience brain injury, and males between 15 and 24 have the highest rates of injury. However, this injury impacts individuals of all ages.
After a brain injury, an individual can experience emotional, physical, and cognitive (thinking skills) changes. The impact of these changes is related to the location and severity of the injury. Although many people experience brain injury, each injury alters an individual differently. Brain injury not only impacts the individual, but the whole family. Often, how the individual interacts and supports his/her family changes after the injury. Consequently, it is important to find appropriate professional and medical supports to meet the varied needs of the whole family.
The Brainiacs welcome new members. If you would like to join this confidential and supportive group, we meet each Thursday from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. at the FC office. Contact Joyce Baird, RN, for more information (542-6877).
For more information about Brain Injury, please refer to the Brain Injury Association of America’s website, www.biausa.org.