United Vision Honors Several for Grass-Roots Efforts
By Diane Ronayne, The Idaho Statesman, Boise
Jan. 14–Congratulations!
At a banquet Jan. 9, United Vision for Idaho honored Rachel Winer, Kim Beswick, Sarah Seidl, Ryan Sinclair, Rep. Wendy Jaquet, Cindy Hedge, Melvin Alvanez, Lucio Prado, Gustavo Acosta, Melanie Curtis and Second Chance Building Materials Center, the Rev. Betty Luginbill, Jim Shackelford and others for progressive grass-roots work in human rights, education and environmental arenas. One award recipient after another was praised and responded, inspiring several hundred guests.
I asked Pat Kubicki, who co-chaired a silent auction with me, about her favorite moment.
“It was Betty Luginbill’s line: ‘You usually don’t hear these things until after someone has died!’ I’ve gotten to know Betty well on the UVI board. She is always giving and helping people — all her life — but she is so much fun: She has the heart of a child inside her. Every time we chat she makes me giggle! Her huge project over the past year is visiting the prisons and talking with people who have had really tough lives and have done something horrible, giving them peace and helping them better their lives. She’s extraordinary!”
Happy news
Bethine Church’s “Happy New Year” e-mail contained happy news indeed. Speaking of her son, Forrest Church, who was diagnosed with cancer last year, she said: “It is indeed a happy new year with very good news. Forrest is doing well and is able to speak again. His vocal cords are recovering well, and it is not necessary for him to have X-ray or chemo.”
Nonprofit Days at the legislature
Wednesday and Thursday, anyone who volunteers for, leads or works for a nonprofit organization of any size (from a soccer team to a regional medical center) is invited to tour the Statehouse, converse with legislators, network and attend a press conference on the second annual “Report on the Status of Nonprofits in Idaho.”
Sponsored by the Idaho Nonprofit Development Center and underwritten by the Northwest Area Foundation, the event will have exhibits showcasing the work of dozens of groups. Information: Debbie Bloom, 424-2229 or dbloom@idahononprofits.org; register at www.idahononprofits.org.
‘The Great Turning’
Thanks to work by Dan Walters, Jane Crosby, Jon Barrett, Mike Philley and Stan Kidwell, author David Korten will speak Friday.
Korten co-founded and is chairman of the Positive Futures Network. His latest book, “The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community,” envisions building a just and sustainable world, drawing on evolutionary theory, developmental psychology and religious teachings.
His visit is sponsored by Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Idaho Women’s Network and Idaho Earth Institute in association with Idaho Smart Growth, The Cabin, Ten Thousand Villages, Rural Roots, Boise Community Radio, Sprout magazine and Boise Urban Garden School.
The talk and book signing is at 7 p.m. Friday at Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 6200 Garrett St. in Garden City; $10 suggested donation. Information: jcrosby@gollerpublishing.com; www.greatturning.org.
No experience necessary
It’s fun, informative and full of fellowship, and it’s kicking off for 2007 at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 22, at the Boise Art Museum in Julia Davis Park: It’s the museum’s docent program.
Docents are the friendly, knowledgeable folks who lead museum tours. They guided 10,000 students in 2006 alone!
Interim director Melanie Fales told me anyone can be a docent. From September through May, they meet Mondays from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. to learn about art and how to engage visitors of any age with it. Information: Melanie Fales, 345-8330, Ext. 18.
E-mail freelance writer Diane Ronayne at dronayne@cableone.net.
—–
Copyright (c) 2007, The Idaho Statesman, Boise
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.
For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.