Archive for February, 2009

I received a nice note from Vermont State Auditor Thomas Salmon, who was re-elected last November and is stationed in Iraq while serving in the U.S. Navy Reserve. He sent us a letter from there congratulating us on our Agency of the Year award:

Dear Mark,

Congrats to you and your agency on the recent recognition by the National Network for Youth. More so, thank you for your continued commitment and comprehensive approach.

Sustained attention is required or we are just “kicking the can down the road.”

When I get back, I’d love to sit with you and pick your brain and be a partner for more change like you’ve created.

Mental health and “mental stability training” via counselors across the state cannot be minimalized; it’s a key piece as you know.

Thank you and your organization again.

Tom

We started doing our own snowboarding program two weeks ago, we take 8 kids out to Bolton on Friday nights, here is an update from our staff member Faith Foley:

Hello All,

The snowboarding trip on Friday was again, amazing! Everyone’s gear is all set and everyone was much more comfortable.

Judith-Seemed to enjoy herself although she said she was pretty tired and ended the night a little early. She’s pretty quiet so it’s hard to tell what is really going on for her. But when she’s asked how she’s doing, she has nothing but smiles. She and Sara may have made a connection since they both took the break together and rode back to Burlington together.

Sara-Enjoyed herself even though she said she was having a little bit of a rough week and snowboarding was a little more difficult since it was colder. She was enthusiastic about what she learned and the progress she made.

Matt-Was pretty excited to get back on the mountain and really opened up this week. He was quite chatty and stuck it out through the lesson. He is learning the new skills pretty quickly since he sat out on the last lesson.

Ashley-Enjoyed herself and the time on the mountain. She was proud that she was able to land a 360! She did a better job as a peer leader in the beginning of the night and turned into quite the cheerleader at the end, encouraging people to get back on the mountain and give it another shot.

Shane-Did really well and was already nailing turns this week. He fell pretty hard on his wrist and took a quick break but stayed on the hill for the remainder of the evening. He was excited that he was able to make it down the Mighty Mite without falling and was all smiles at the end despite falling again on his wrist.

Francis-Did great on the runs with the instructor and stayed with the group. He had a good attitude although he was somewhat resistant to helping others because he feels like he would be a “bad teacher”. He is self-conscious about modeling the moves for the group but stayed with us without a lot of griping to ride alone.

It was yet another great night and people are learning really quickly! It won’t be long before everyone begins cruising down the big hill!

Faith

Dear Mark:

I write to offer my warmest congratulations to you and your associates in being

chosen as “Agency of the Year” by the National Network for Youth.

Under your leadership and inspiration, Spectrum Youth and Family Services has

developed into an agency that is truly dedicated to the mental and physical well

being for at risk and homeless youth in Vermont. For nearly forty years, your

team has offered shelter, counseling and support to all those youth in critical

need, and has served more than 700 youth in just this past year.

As you know, it is critically important that the youngest generation of

Vermonters receives the best care and assistance available if they are to flourish

in life. Your agency embraces this philosophy and ensures that services such as

counseling for substance abuse and mental health, job development, supply of

hot meals, shelter and health care can all be accessed through one agency. It is a

true testament to your organization’s spirit that you be described as a “model

for all agencies” by Victoria Wagner, President of the National Network for

Youth.

Again, congratulations to you and all those individuals who have devoted their

lives in making Spectrum Youth and Family Services a “model for all agencies”.

I thank you and all your colleagues for your generous gift to our community.

Sincerely,

BERNARD SANDERS

United States Senator

Every December at Spectrum Youth and Family Services we hold a legislative open house and invite legislators to come and learn about the needs of homeless and at-risk youth. The highlight of the evening … (Click here to read the Free Press article that I wrote)