March 2014   

CASA Up Close
                                                         Monthly 
logo 

Welcome to another edition of CASA Up Close Monthly. Below you will find information about our supporters, upcoming events, training opportunities and more. Please feel free to contact CASA for more information about anything you read. And, as always, thank you for your continued support.

CASA of Central Texas


Mission  

CASA of Central Texas advocates for abused and neglected
children in the court system by recruiting, training and
supporting community volunteers.
 

Vision
Every child has the right to a safe, nurturing, permanent home.
Letter from the Executive Director
 









 


Go Blue in April
      
    

April is National Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month and agencies will promote the month with the color blue. What does it mean to "Go Blue" in April? For me, it is about not letting the issue of child abuse be ignored. It is a topic not talked about enough until it makes headlines when it involves tragedy. In April, I want the color blue to stand for something positive - communities showing that we will work together to protect our children.

     Our local Counties and Cities will commit to the fight against child abuse by signing their own proclamations recognizing the month. I encourage anyone who can attend their local signing to do so. See the calendar below for dates and times of proclamations in your community.

      As an individual, I ask you to think how you can recognize April as Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month. Wear the
blue child abuse prevention bracelet, invite CASA to come speak to your church group, participate in our Blue Ribbon Fun Run, attend Family Court one morning to observe and understand how abuse is occurring in your own community, or talk to your children about being nice to the new kid in class who has just joined them after being placed in a foster home because they were no longer safe in their own.

      As a business owner, celebrate the month by asking your employees to wear
blue on Fridays, announce the month on your marquee, invite a CASA representative to speak to your employees, or decorate your office with blue ribbons.

      Although April brings child abuse to light, we need to remember that our children are being abused all months of the year. Our dedicated volunteers here at CASA recognize this and work year round to protect these children. It is fitting to me that this month we will also celebrate these great people during National Volunteer Week, April 6 - 12.

      This April, take a stand, speak your voice and Go
Blue.

 

Norma Castilla-Blackwell

Upcoming Volunteer Trainings
training 
Make a Difference in the life of a child,
become a CASA Volunteer


Help us get the word out about these trainings!
If you know someone who would make a great
CASA volunteer, please share these training dates.

Jeannette Sheridan, CASA of Central Texas Advocate since 2003

    

Trainings are held in both our San Marcos and New Braunfels offices.

The next training sessions will begin the week of May 12th.

 


  To learn more about training sessions, contact Training Coordinator Debbie Haynes at 512-392-3578 or by email.

 

For more information on becoming a volunteer, click here.
Welcome New Volunteer

 






Ready to Speak Up for a Child

 
Sworn in on March 7th
Toni Urban of Comal County.

Upcoming Information Sessions
Lynette Barker, CASA of Central Texas Advocate since 2009
CASA can also
bring these information
sessions to you,
just give us a call!



Please RSVP to Ali Wilkinson
by email or at 830-626-2272. 

You are Invited
to a CASA Voices Tour
    

Learn about CASA and the work our advocates are doing in the community.  Join us on one of these upcoming dates - at a location near you - for a one-hour "virtual" tour of our mission. Open to everyone, bring your friends, family and colleagues and we will provide lunch! 

 

 

 New Braunfels-CASA office 

 Wednesday, April 2nd - Noon  

   

  San Marcos-CASA office 

 Wednesday, April 9th - Noon

Schertz-GVEC Community Room 
908 Curtiss Ave.
Thursday, April 10th, Noon

Seguin-GVEC Community Room 
927 N. Hwy 46
Thursday, April 17th, noon 
 

   

Lunch provided by Fox's Pizza Den in New Braunfels
and Chick-fil-A in San Marcos.
Volunteer Voices
Advocate Suzette Molina Aguirre







 





  Special Experience
 
"One of the most meaningful, rewarding experiences that I have ever had. I got so much more back than I ever gave to these two special sisters."


"I recommend getting involved with CASA to anyone that is looking for purpose and meaning in their lives. You can't even imagine the impact you make each and every day!"
Go Blue in April

   April




AprilApril is Child Abuse Prevention
and Awareness Month


Local government officials will read proclamations throughout the month, officially recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month. Community members are invited to attend these proclamations to show your support.

County Judge Tom Bonn (third from left) and Commissioners proclaimed April 2014 to be Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month in Caldwell County. 

2014 Proclamation Schedule

3/24

Caldwell County

9 am

Scott Annex

4/1

City of Lockhart

6:30 pm

City Hall

 

 

 

 

4/1 

Hays County

9 am

County Courthouse

4/1

City of Kyle

7 pm

City Hall

4/3

Village of Wimberley

6 pm

City Hall

4/15

City of San Marcos

4 pm

City Hall

 

 

 

 

4/3

Comal County

8:30 am

County Courthouse

4/2

City of Garden Ridge

6 pm

Council Chambers

4/14

City of New Braunfels

6 pm

Council Chambers

 

 

 

 

4/8

Guadalupe County

10 am

County Justice Center

4/1

City of Schertz

6 pm

City Hall

4/7

City of Seguin

10 am

City Hall

4/8       

City of Cibolo

7 pm

City Hall

 
Step Right Up
bigtop

 
Under the Big Top
CASA Carnival for a Cause 
 
CASA of Central Texas invites you to a carnival-themed evening of fun and entertainment, including dinner, silent & live auctions, carnival acts and live music.



Honoring


The Honorable
Todd Blomerth
 
421st Judicial District
The Honorable
Jack Robison
207th Judicial District  
 




 

 








Friday, April 4th, 2014 
6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. 
Texas Old Town - Tejas Hall
1205 Roland Lane
Kyle, TX

Individual tickets are $75 and $125 a couple. 
Click here to purchase tickets.

Sponsorships available for $2500, $1200 and $750. 
Contact CASA if you would like to sponsor this event.

Big Top Sponsors: 
ChickTime
Tomblin Family Foundation

Midway Sponsors:
Broadway Bank/Board Member/Chris Owens
Guadalupe Regional Medical Center
Mariposa Apartment Homes
San Marcos Lions Club
San Marcos Reinvestments

Carousel Sponsors:
Airforce Turbine Service
Board Member/Kathy Dial
Board Member/Carolyn & Renil Liner
Germer Farms/Board Member/JoAnne Germer
RBFCU/Board Member/Paula De La Cerda
Board Member/Karen Sleighter
Texas Lehigh Company
Board Member/Wade Wilson
 
Turn Gruene Blue
funrun
 

CASA Blue Ribbon Fun Run



April 12th
9 a.m.
Gruene Lake Village on Gruene Road


April is National Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month.
Help us recognize this month by participating in CASA's Blue Ribbon 5K Fun Run to raise funds and awareness for CASA. Followed by a balloon release. 


Register for the run here.
Great News!

  We Have a New Website
      
   To better meet the needs of our volunteers and program, we have launched a new website design.

     The site contains information on becoming a volunteer, upcoming events, a Learning Center with resources for volunteers, and more.
   
Visit our new page at www.casacentex.org.

Special thanks to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas
and Texas CASA for making our website possible.
Hit the Road with CASA




Order your license plate
HERE.
CASA License Plates are Back

    

    The redesigned Big Voices for Little Texans license plate is now available for purchase through the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.

     A portion of the proceeds from the license plate goes directly to our local CASA program, and you put our logo on the road.
 

 

Do You Shop on Amazon?



Give Through Amazon

    

    Do you shop on Amazon? If so, you can now shop like usual and get a portion of your eligible purchases donated to helping us recruit and train volunteers at no extra cost to you!



      Just go to www.smile.amazon.com, log on to your Amazon account, type CASA of Central Texas in the search box, select us and start shopping! We will receive .5% of all eligible purchases when you buy from Amazon! Spread the word! 
Golfers Wanted


For more information or to register, click here.

San Marcos and Kylegolf
Chick-fil-A Hosting Golf
Tournament to Benefit CASA

May 16th 
Registration 7 a.m. 
Shotgun Start 8 a.m.  

Plum Creek 

Kyle 

  

Raffles, Mulligans, and "Hit the Cow" competitions available. If you hit the cow, you get free Chick-fil-A for a year. Lunch, awards and prizes following. 
Community Support
 

 

If you can display our CASA banner or brochures in your place of business to help recruit more volunteers, please contact Community Relations Coordinator Eloise Hudson at (830) 626-2272 or by email.

 

Promote CASA at Your Business


Thank you to the following organizations and businesses for displaying CASA brochures in their buildings:

 

Broadway Bank 
Canyon Lake Animal Clinic 
Victor's Personal Training Center  
Dr. Eugene Clark Library
Lockhart Senior Apartments
Lockhart Chamber of Commerce
Mason Lodge
Lockhart Family Medicine
Texas State Optical
Lockhart Senior Citizen Center
CPL 
Luling Chamber of Commerce
Social Media


 
Follow CASA of Central Texas online to get information
and updates throughout the month!

Click the icons to follow us and help spread the word about CASA!


Like us on Facebook           Follow us on Twitter 


View our profile on LinkedIn          View our videos on YouTube

Upcoming Events



April 
Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month
City and County Proclamation dates HERE 

2nd-
     Voices Tour, noon
              New Braunfels CASA office
 

4th-      
Under the Big Top, 6:30 p.m.
              Texas Old Town, Kyle 

9th-       Voices Tour, noon

              San Marcos CASA office 

10th-      Voices Tour, noon
               Schertz GVEC Community Room

12th-      CASA Blue Ribbon Run Fun, 9 a.m.
               Gruene Lake Village, New Braunfels 

17th-       Voices Tour, noon
               Seguin GVEC Community Room


May

7th-       Voices Tour, noon
              New Braunfels CASA office


14th-     Voices Tour, noon
              San Marcos CASA office


12th-     New Volunteer Training Starts
              CASA offices

16th-     Chick-fil-A Cow Classic, 7 a.m.
              Plum Creek, Kyle 
 

Stay Connected! 

 
Visit our 
Website
 

 
Phone: 830-626-2272

Join our mailing list! 

 
Make a donation to CASA