Friday, August 14, 2009. Save the date! It’s time once again to party
for Vine Village. This year’s annual celebration will again be
held at The Chardonnay Club. Golf and Fun will be the two main
components of the day.
Art Program News:
A trip into the Art Room at Vine Village is always a treat. Checking in
with Catalina Arabia, director of Vine Village’s Art program,
I had a chance to see what’s going on today and what’s coming up
for the new year. While clients were busy with various
projects, ranging from graphic designs utilizing pencils and
paints to something involving a sewing machine, Catalina filled
me in on one very special upcoming event. The Vine Village Arts
Program has been invited to do an exhibition at the Napa
City-County Library. The Library will feature Vine Village art
for the entire month of December, 2009. It seems a long way
off, but time flies and December will be here before you know
it. Vine Village’s artists will be working throughout the year
on pieces that will go on display.
Vine Village’s artists communicate quite clearly through their artwork,
but wouldn’t it be great if everyone could be as verbal as they
are visual? More mundane communication can be a bit of a
challenge at Vine Village. Do you know of someone with
experience in speech therapy that might want to volunteer some
time at Vine Village to work with clients on their verbal
communication skills? This could be a great opportunity for a
student looking for some hours of community service, or a
seasoned professional looking to “give back.”
Another new feature at the Arts Program is a giveaway going on through
their monthly newsletter. A special sticker is being included
in one random newsletter per month. If you happen to be the
lucky recipient of the sticker, you can bring it to Vine Village
and choose a piece of original Vine Village artwork from the
collection. So, check your newsletter carefully to see if
you’re this month’s winner!
If you aren’t currently receiving the Arts Program newsletter and you
would like to, contact Catalina via e-mail:
catalinaarabia@live.com or give the program a call at
707-255-4116.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
The Annual Celebration offers many volunteer opportunities. Are you a
good party planner/team player that would like to help with
pre-event planning? Are you a
roll-up-your-sleeves-and-get-it-done volunteer that will come in
and do some dirty work the day of the event? There’s something
for everyone at the annual celebration and we know we’ll have a
position that will fit your volunteer personality. Let us know
your interests. Everyone is welcome.
POETRY DAY
Dennis Johns, one of our Grounds staff, is also a
writer and poet. Dennis organized a Poetry Day for Thursday,
April 30. It was well attended by clients and staff alike, and
everyone enjoyed sharing their favorite poems, and hearing
others recite theirs. Way to go, Dennis!
CREATIVE WAYS TO SUPPORT VINE VILLAGE:
At the bottom of this website you will see an icon at the bottom of
the home page for “Mission Fish” and “E-Bay Giving Works.” If
you’re curious about that here’s the deal: Let’s say you have
an item sitting around the house that you want to donate to Vine
Village. Well, donations of physical items can be tricky.
Sometimes cold hard cash is really the best way to help. How,
then, do you turn that beautiful old vase, stack of books or
other useful item into a donation? We have the answer. Post
the item on E-Bay through the E-Bay Giving Works link and be
sure to link a portion of the proceeds to Vine Village. You can
also “shop till you drop” for Vine Village. Check to see what
other Vine Village supporters might have up for sale through the
same “E-Bay Giving Works” link.
MORE CREATIVE WAYS TO HELP VINE VILLAGE
Memorial and Celebration Donations: In our last newsletter we told you
about Austin and Carla’s wedding. Austin Bowker and Carla Mink-Valenza
included Vine Village in their wedding plans by letting their
friends and relatives know that they could donate to Vine
Village in their name. It worked out great for everyone. Vine
Village benefitted greatly and we greatly appreciate Austin and
Carla’s thoughtfulness.
To keep the spirit of giving alive, consider a donation to Vine Village
to celebrate any special event in your life. A donation to Vine
Village might be just the “gift” for that hard-to-buy-for friend
on their birthdays, anniversary, graduations, etc. Does anyone
really need another gift basket or coffee mug? A donation in
your beloved’s name will go toward keeping Vine Village alive
and well.
Donations are easy to make!
You can donate via the Vine Village website (www.vinevillage.org)
or give us a call for personal service at 707.255.4006. We’ll
be happy to take your credit card information over the phone,
and can even set up a scheduled giving plan for you. Make a
one-time donation or have us schedule a monthly or quarterly
donation in your name or a friend or loved one’s. We’ll be
happy to send out a notice that a donation has been made. And
remember, all donations are fully tax deductible.
Napa Valley Vintners
donates $40,000 to Vine Village, as part of their annual
community fund-raiser, Auction Napa Valley!
Vine Village, Inc. is
thrilled to have been chosen this year as a recipient of
$40,000 by the Napa Valley Vintners, through their annual
community fundraiser, “Auction Napa Valley.”
Vine Village is a
non-profit program established in 1973 to meet the needs of
people with developmental disabilities. Our residential
program serves 19 clients, who live in two houses and a
semi-independent cottage, and our arts-based day activity
program serves an additional 20 people.
Vine Village’s
residential program strives to nurture supportive and
long-term human relationships, while meeting each client’s
special needs in an atmosphere of respect and dignity. Vine
Village’s day program serves a mix of people including those
who are talented and serious artists – who happen to have a
developmental disability, and those who need the
socialization and emotional support that the program
affords. People thrive here.
The generosity of the
Napa Valley Vintners makes a huge difference in Vine
Village’s continuing ability to provide a high quality
program for our community’s citizens with special needs.
Thanks you so much Napa Valley Vintners!
Sincerely,
Michael Kerson
Executive Director
Vine Village, Inc.
Napa, CA
Michael Edwards Retires from a long successful career at
McDonald's
Annual Family Club picnic raises $10,000 and everyone has a
wonderful time!
Saanen Kerson has joined the Vine Village team as a
full-time Director of Development! Probably no one knows Vine Village
better than Saanen, who grew up here as Executive Director, Michael
Kerson's daughter. Saanen is a graduate of the University of California
at Berkeley, where she worked at Events Management with the Athletic
Department while in school, and she brings a fresh new energy and
professionalism to Vine Village's development.
Tucker working with the grapes
Nancy Kerson and Pat Curtis walking the dogs, Monty & Joe
John Modzelewski and Joan Lockhart of
ParentsCan, a
Napa non-profit serving families with children who have special needs,
asked us if they could use our facilities to hold a Halloween Party for
the children in their program. We not only said, "Of Course!" we joined
in and helped with the party. Vine Village Director, Mike Kerson, and
his wife, Nancy, contributed a "Go Fishing" booth with prizes for
everyone. And they brought their Mammoth Saddle Donkey, Max, to give
rides to the kids. The party also featured great food with barbecued hot
dogs and burgers, decorate-your-own-cupcake, and pumpkin painting.
It was a great party - everyone had fun!
Party's over, and Max is smiling!
Fall, 2006 Residents' Trip to Reno
KITCHEN REMODEL!
An Anonymous grant made possible through the Community Foundation of
the Napa Valley, combined with wonderful volunteer assistance from
Al
Gillette of Alpine Construction and the Kiwanis Club, have given the
Women's House kitchen a whole new look!
Board President, Jane Meyers, stopped by to admire the new kitchen, and
visit with residents. Here she is with Executive Director, Mike Kerson,
and Heidi Clarkson and Andrea Kaufman
2006 In Memoriam:
Pat Salazar, House Counselor
Pat
Salazar, beloved house counselor at Vine Village for many years, died
peacefully in her sleep this spring at the age of 49. She leaves behind
a teen-aged son. If you want to help her son through his senior year of
high school, send donations to:
Paul
Salazar Educational Fund
New Technology High School
920 Yount St.
Napa CA 94559
Mary Elizabeth Kolaites, long-time
resident
Our dear Mary Elizabeth passes away after suffering a massive stroke
while visiting her mother and brother over 4th of July weekend. Mary was
always the light that would brighten the darkest day, and we all miss
her terribly.
A celebration of Mary's life was held September 24 at Vine Village.
2006 Celebration Pictures
KIWANIS VOLUNTEER DAY 2006
Formerly known as "Christmas in April"
this wonderful group of hard-working volunteers came out to Vine Village
to replace stairs, paint kitchens, refinish the bocce ball court, paint
fences, cut firewood, and general clean up and handy-person chores. What
a wonderful difference they made! The place looks great and feels
wonderful. THANKS!
WINTER 2005-2006 DAMAGE REPAIR
Thanks to Josephine Haas for helping us
remove a giant fallen tree from our irrigation pond, and for replacing
the gutters on the Men's House and office.
WINTER 2006 PAINTING
A generous grant by Jim & Myrna Andrews financed
a very professional re-painting of all the major Vine Village buildings.
Colors were chosen by color-guru Annette Boss. Everything looks
absolutely beautiful!
In Process
All done!
Our Annual Yearend Holiday Open House &
Art Sale was held
Friday, November 18, 2005
Vine Village and Vine Village Arts will
also be attending these Holiday Events:
Sunday, November 13
9:30 - 2:00 Alternative Crafts Fair 1st Presbyterian Church, Napa
Friday, December 9 North Bay Regional Center Art Sale
Click to download a PDF of recent Newsletters:
2005:
2006:
2007:
since November 1, 2006
Vine Village, Inc. is a 501c(3) non-profit organization
located in the Napa, CA Wine Country
Telephone: 707-255-4006 Fax: 707-255-8431
Napa, CA
Email Us!
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