Posted by Bob Sanders on Jun 22, 2019
 
 
George and John want to know more!
 
 
Wanda Hines with some inquisitive Rotarians!
 
JUMP's mission is to promote the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of people by providing spiritual care, direct assistance to meet basic needs, and advocacy.
 
"CREATING CARING COMMUNITIES"

JUMP, the Joint Urban Ministry Project, has been responding to the challenge of effectively assisting low-income families and individuals in need throughout Chittenden County and Vermont for 30 years. Founded by five Burlington faith communities in 1988 to address the then growing epidemic of poverty, support for JUMP has grown to include broad interfaith support from 28 area faith communities, key funding from hundreds of individuals, and vital sponsorship and dollars from both businesses and foundations.  While the original mission included the hope that we’d be able to solve the circumstances that keep people in poverty, it’s clear that the need is here to stay and grows yearly. 

 

JUMP manages a Drop-In Center in donated space at the First Congregational Church of Burlington welcoming anyone in need.  Our staff and volunteer team provide hospitality (food, conversation, books for children, etc.), much needed practical resources and informed referrals. Families and individuals receive vouchers for food, laundry, utilities, household goods, transportation, and healthcare every three months, and an emergency fund is available for crisis situations.  Between visits for vouchers, we often see people come in for a cup of coffee, a nutritious snack, and someone to talk to.  Poverty is just as hard on the spirit as it is the body.

 


6/12/19
Due to human error and an overzealous attempt to clean out the hard drive, notes from the meeting of June 12, 2019 are lost to computer gods. Fortunately, it was a club meeting focused on accessing the CSH Rotary internal pages and thus offered lots of sensitive materials. For those members requiring assistance accessing the log in site of CSH Rotary Club Runner, please see John Hammer or Bob Sanders. It’s easier than you think!

Of note, Bill Deming offered his reasons for showing up on Wednesday mornings. He shared that he has been a Rotarian for decades, and been through several meeting sites. He’s here for the people- past, present and future. This is a theme that runs throughout the “why do you belong to Rotary” series. Good folks join Rotary. 


6/19/19

Charlotte Shelburne Hinesburg Rotary

Erik led us in the Pledge of Allegiance

Susan Grimes gave the Devotional

Erik led us in the Four Way Test- an excellent way to recharge our Rotarian batteries!

Toda’s guest: Happy Wanda Hines from the Joint Urban Ministry Project

 

Susan Grimes shared with us her reason for coming to Rotary. Susan has been a Shelburne resident for 35 years. She started working in her dental practice with Stan Smith, a great friend. Periodically she would get letters from Rotary, but she was really busy with three kids and running her practice. She began volunteering through her dentistry in Thailand and Kenya, and the respite house in Colchester. Through Kris Engstrom she learned more about Rotary and joined on. She loves the Hands to Honduras program, helping Todd at the farmer’s market. Susan says she is here for the long haul, and we are sure lucky to have her. She’s passing the torch to Dr. Phil Denu. 

 

Rotary Business:

7:30 am board meeting on Thursday June 20 at the Trinity Room. 

June 29 is the Changing of the Guard 5 pm at the Coach Barn. We’ll enjoy a summer bbq from the Dutch Mill with appetizers and desserts from Shelburne Farms, with 41 clubs joining. Casual Hawaiian dress preferred. Please sign up to volunteer!! Set up is at 1:00 to offer time to finish up and go home to clean up. 

 

Dues are due! $230 by check or online covers $90 for our room rental and $140 for club dues. If you pay online please add an additional $5.00 for processing fees. CSH Rotary submits its roster on July 1, so please help to provide an accurate roster. Honorary members are not charged the full amount, and the secretary will go through the roster to remove folks who have either passed on or are not renewing.

 

Service project announcements include the Basin Harbor race this Saturday- arrive at 8:00 am to pass out water to thirsty runners. Farmer’s market in Shelburne is ongoing- see Todd to sign up.  Please bring ideas to Erik regarding service projects for our meetings. Linda Gilbert is happy to help folks organize their project ideas. Linda noted that Howard Seaver and his wife are back from England and contracted a brutal contagious virus and so have not been attending meetings- we heartily thank them for keeping their distance but wish them both a speedy and full recovery

 

Ric Flood announced that CSH has brought back the golf tournament trophy. With one mulligan left on the last hole, Will chipped it in for a Birdie for the win. 

 

Chris Davis took on the Sergeant at Arms duties for today’s meeting.

Notable happy fines:

Linda Gilbert is happy her grandson is home from Russia

Keith and his wife celebrated their 15th anniversary at Shelburne Farms

Carrie is happy for Bob Sanders who puts so much effort into the organization of the club.

Chris is happy for the golf team and also for his grown up nieces and nephews who have become wonderful adults.

Bob is happy is alma mater Vanderbilt U is in the Collegiate World Series 

Bill is happy to celebrate his and his wife’s 68th anniversary

 

Wanda Hines from JUMP was our speaker today. 

Wanda is from Burlington, but she comes from a dirt road with an outhouse from Tippler’s Vill, Mississippi. Her dad was stationed here in 1963, but her father lost his life in  Vietnam in 1966, leaving her mom with 6 young kids. Wanda started as a public speaker when she became the director of the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf and loved speaking in the churches. JUMP is supported by 28 faith based communities, and being with JUMP brings Wanda back to her roots with her church-going family. 

Wanda believes we are drawn to kindness and love and she loved the 4 way test we recited early in the meeting because it speaks to our commonality. 

Wanda lost her sister to domestic violence and she adopted 2 of her sister’s children. She suddenly became a mom and found herself at the Department of Social Services, trying to fill out forms for food stamps. The process left her in tears and she remembers some kind soul came to help her.  Suddenly responsible for two young children, Wanda struggled to make ends meet. She would get food for her new family from the emergency food shelf, and eventually she became part of the board. She applied for the job as Director (and got it!!) and found it was easy to empathize and care because she had been there- “when my neighbor hurts I hurt.” 

 

She is fortunate to have a team of people with gifts and talents from her aging volunteers. JUMP celebrated a 30 year milestone, but they are losing volunteers and board members with their aging population.

 

JUMP is looking for volunteers and board members! If you have empathy and a thoughtful ear offer to be an intake volunteer. Training is provided!

JUMP is a conversation based center offering an opportunity to find out what the client’s needs are and how they can be served. 

 

The meeting adjourned with a group photo of Wanda and our impressed group of Rotarians.