Turning Point  lost a very special volunteer, Deborah Kaas, on January 10, 2011. Deb had been a volunteer at Turning Point for nearly 15 years. In her years at Turning Point she touched so many lives. She gave her time and talents on the helpline, at shelter holiday parties, and most  recently in our court advocacy program, sometimes volunteering as much as 80 hours in one month! Deb was also well known by the staff as the lady who brought the fabulous trays of foods and desserts to meetings or to the shelter when she came to answer the helpline. She was deeply committed to victims of abuse, volunteers, and the staff at Turning Point. 

In 1998 and 2004 with the help of The Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley, Turning Point was proud to have Deb be the recipient of the "Someone Special" award. This award includes having her name and a brief description of her duties announced on radio station "WAEB" and a plaque to commemorate this outstanding achievement! Deb also received The Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley's Breakfast for Champions award in 2006. This award for volunteer dedication is given at a breakfast celebration with more than one hundred volunteers in attendance. Deb was also given a special volunteer style House Pin from Turning Point to further commemorate this award.

February is just around the corner, which means VDAY celebrations start up at many of the local colleges and community organizations. This year we'll be working with Cedar Crest College, Moravian College, Muhlenberg College, Lehigh University, Kutztown University, and VDAY Bethlehem 2011. Each group has it's own events and celebrations, but all culminate in a presntation of The Vagina Monologues. If you haven't had the pleasure of seeing a production of The Vagina Monologues, purchase your tickets as soon as possible. This is a two hour showcase of empowering women, sometimes hilarious, sometimes tragic, but definately a piece of theatre that will change the way you see domestic and dating violence. If you have seen it, make sure you see it again. At least 30% of the script is changed every year, and many of the groups find new and innovative ways to stage the production. In most cases, Turning Point receives some or most of the proceeds from the production, so by checking out a show, you'll be supporting our mission. Below is the schedule of productions I have been given, more will be scheduled as time goes on. Please feel free to go to each college or organization's website, our website, or

www.vday.com for more information.

*  Moravian College

    Saturday, February 12, 2:00 p.m.

* Lehigh University

   Friday, February 11, 7:00 p.m.

   Saturday, February 12, 7:00 p.m.

   Sunday, February 13, 2:00 p.m.

* Cedar Crest College

   Thursday, February 24, 8:00 p.m.

   Friday, February 25, 8:00 p.m.

   Saturday, February 26, 8:00 p.m. 

* VDay- Bethlehem 2011 at The Banana Factory, Bethlehem

   Friday, March 11, 7:00 p.m.

   Saturday, March 12, 4:00 p.m.(show that benefits Turning Point)

   Saturday, March 12, 7:00 p.m.

   Sunday, March 13, 4:00 p.m.