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July 2013
| CASA Up Close
Monthly
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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. |
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CASA of Central Texas |
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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.
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| Letter from the Executive Director
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Board President Farewell & Welcome
As we work toward our goal of providing a CASA volunteer for every child in care, I am blessed to have a supportive Board of Directors who is there to guide me and keep me focused. Our new fiscal year brings a change in officers. I am looking back at the great work our Past-President Karen Sleighter has accomplished, and looking forward to the excitement that incoming President JoAnne Germer brings with her.
Karen first started with CASA of Central Texas in 1988 as an advocate volunteer and she worked eight cases over the span of ten years. Several of her cases lasted upwards of three years and there were a few periods when she even worked two to three cases simultaneously. Karen expanded her volunteer involvement to the CASA Board of Directors from 2004 to 2009 and joined again in 2010, taking on the role of Board President. She will now move to the position of Past President.
Under her leadership, CASA has grown to over 230 trained volunteers who advocate for 372 abused and neglected children annually. It was also her vision and hard work that brought the first Central Texas Adoption Day in 2009.
Karen is known to share her personal inspiration for becoming a CASA - a story about an angel. Karen is CASA's angel - sharing her love, dedication and guiding hand in all that she does.
JoAnne joined the board in 2010 after she attended a CASA fundraising event and saw a list of volunteers in the program. She saw how few volunteers were from Caldwell County, her county, and she decided to do what she could to increase those numbers.
I am excited that JoAnne will now guide the organization as Board President. She always motivates people and will be excellent at keeping us focused on our goals.
These two ladies work with the rest of our board to grow and improve the program. CASA is seeking additional board members. If you would like to join the board, please contact me at 830-626-2272 or by email.
Sincerely,
Norma Castilla-Blackwell
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| Welcome New Volunteer Advocates
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New Advocates Ready to Take a Case
Welcome new CASA volunteers sworn in on July 30th.
Pictured l-r: Jerret Swierc of Hays County, Mikki Tharp of Comal County, Cheryl Denton of Comal County, Saffron Weingarten of Guadalupe County,
Jennifer Beltran of Hays County,
Judge Karin Bonicoro.
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| Upcoming Volunteer Trainings
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Make a Difference in the life of a child,
become a CASA Volunteer
Help us get the word out about these trainings!
Our goal is to appoint 27 new volunteer
advocates by August 30th.
If you know someone who would make a great CASA volunteer, please share these training dates.
| Nancy Deckard CASA of Central Texas Advocate since 2005 |
New Braunfels CASA office September 11th to October 9th Wednesdays 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. San Marcos CASA office
August 5th to August 19th
Mondays and Wednesdays 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. September 10th to October 8th
Tuesdays 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. September 12th to October 10th Thursdays
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
To learn more about training sessions, contact Training Coordinator Debbie Haynes at 512-392-3578 or by e-mail. More on becoming a volunteer here.
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What is a CASA volunteer?
Watch this video to see how we speak up for children.
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| Volunteer Voices
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Rosa Hernandez with one of her CASA children.
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When Rosa Hernandez moved to Lockhart in 1989, her daughter began to make friends.
"As I met the mothers of these children I would hear of problems with their husbands and boyfriends and how they were being treated."
Rosa wanted to help the children in these situations, and saw an article in the paper recruiting CASA volunteers in Caldwell County.
"That's when I decided to apply, because I wanted to help some of these children and their mothers learn how to better protect themselves," she said.
Rosa continues to advocate for children, and she also recruits volunteers at the state and national levels.
"To this day, I have not regretted a single minute I spend working with the children."
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| CASA Community Supporters
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Thank you to those who support CASA through donations.
Your gifts will help us reach the goal of providing a CASA volunteer to every child in State care.
The GVTC Foundation made a contribution to CASA of Central Texas.
Pictured are GVTC Foundation President Paula White, Foundation Board of Director Darlyn Brown, CASA Central Texas Executive Director Norma Castilla-Blackwell, along with other members of CASA and GVTC.
Thank you to the Startzville Memorial VFW Post 8800 for their recent donation!
Pictured are Post Commander Kathleen Schultz (left) and CASA Executive Director Norma Blackwell.
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| Upcoming Information Sessions
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CASA can also bring these information sessions to you, just give us a call!
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You are Invited to a CASA Voices Tour
Learn about CASA and the work our advocates are doing in the community. Join us on the 1st and 2nd Wednesdays of each month 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 August 7th - Noon Wednesday September 4th - Noon San Marcos CASA office
Wednesday August 14th - Noon Wednesday September 11th - Noon
Lunch provided by Fox's Pizza Den in New Braunfels and Chick-fil-A in San Marcos.
Please RSVP to Ali Wilkinson by e-mail or at 830-626-2272.
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| Save the Date
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Paint with a Purpose to Benefit CASA
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Participants will paint this "Bluebonnet Sunset".
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Join us for a night of fun and express your creative side as you Paint with a Purpose. The host company, Painting with a Twist, is generously donating 50% of the proceeds to CASA of Central Texas.
EVENT DETAILS: - DATE & TIME: September 15, 2013 from 2:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.
- LOCATION: 1551 N Walnut Ave #20 New Braunfels, TX 78130
- CONTACT: DeAnna Curcio, [email protected]
- PRICE: $40. Includes supplies and snacks. Bring your own drinks.
- PAYMENT OPTIONS: Reserve your spot now by cash, check, or money order to DeAnna Curcio or click here to register online.
- EVENT PAGE: Click here to join the Facebook event page.
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| Can You Help CASA?
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Advertise CASA at Your Business
CASA of Central Texas is looking for more volunteers and you can help. Broadway Bank in New Braunfels displays our CASA brochure in their entryway. 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. |
| Upcoming Events |
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