|
Pilgrimage A newsletter published by the Samaritan Center 2011 ANNUAL REPORT |
|
It is hard to believe that 2011 has come and gone and is now another year in the history books for The Samaritan Center of Elkhart County. As I look back at this past year as President of the Board of Directors, I would characterize it as one of preparation and anticipation. The year brought some changes internally within The Samaritan Center. We sadly said good bye to Debby Burton, our administrative director. Debby brought great enthusiasm to her work with the Center over the last few years. She worked with many of our contributors, Covenant Congregations and business partners to spread the message of the Center. We truly appreciate her contribution and wish her the best in her future endeavors. Preparation was seen in the welcoming of several new therapists to our group. With these additions, the Samaritan Center was preparing to be a stronger organization with broader services to bring to the community. I have appreciated the opportunity to get to know several of the therapists better this year. Our therapists perform work every day that is far beyond just showing up to do a job. They dig deep into the issues that their clients are facing to work with them on the road to recovery, or mending their relationships, or making peace with themselves. Often our therapists are unveiling issues that a client did not even know existed when they entered our doors. This is the depth of services that The Samaritan Center provides, which seeks to bring about healing that will penetrate throughout our community as our clients leave our doors to embark on another chapter in their lives. With the additions to the clinical staff, the year 2011 also brought us the third annual “Still Dancing in Elkhart” event. Many of you joined us in this celebration. Preparation and anticipation were certainly seen throughout this event. I would like to give a special thank you to our group of dancers, both celebrity and professionals, for all of the tireless hours of preparation that they put into this event. The dancers continue to amaze us each year with the talent and hard work that they donate to help raise funds to support clients of the Center. We have been so delighted that this has become an event that many in the community anticipate. Thank you to all who have joined us in this event and have supported us in our mission. I would like to thank all of our board of directors for their hard work for the Center. I am continually amazed by this wonderful group of people who steps up to meet any challenge that comes our way. Whether the task is small or overwhelming, this group does not disappoint. Thank you all for your support, wonderful ideas, friendship, and, most of all, for your dedication to the Center and its mission. The year 2011 was also a time of anticipating and preparing for a celebration: 2012 will bring us to forty years of The Samaritan Center in Elkhart County. This is especially meaningful as Elkhart County was the birthplace of The Samaritan Center movement, which has become a network that has grown to span the country. We thank all of you who have walked with us during the last forty years and hope that you will continue to be our partner as we move toward the next forty in providing healing, hope and growth in Elkhart County. |
|
2011: A Year of Preparation and Anticipation —2011 Board President Juli Meyer |
