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Healing • Hope • Growth |
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Samaritan Health & Living Center |
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Articles from our Board of Directors |
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2007: A LOOK BACK
The Elkhart Samaritan Center is coming off one of the most opportunistic years I can remember since I’ve been involved with the Center.
We started the year with a Board Retreat. With many new, well-diversified, and energetic board members, we all felt the need to “come together” in an informal, creative, and nurturing environment. So, on a Saturday in the late Spring, we held a retreat at one of our local covenant congregations. The result was a better understanding of who we are as a Center, as board members, as staff members, and volunteers trying to make a difference in the community.
In addition, the retreat helped us to start developing a “Road Map” to our future. A journey that will lead to more therapists on staff, more billed hours, greater awareness of the Center in our community, and a well-defined plan to find a new facility, reflecting our commitment to the community for which we serve. We will most likely have another retreat in 2008 to continue “mapping” our journey into the future.
After the retreat, we directed our attention to the Fall Fundraiser, a biennial event to help replenish our cash reserves (used primarily for fee assistance). This year’s event, which featured Devon Harris (Jamaican Olympic Bobsledder) as our keynote speaker, proved to be our best event ever. Our appreciation for all the support is hard to express. But…Thank you one and all.
The annual Letter Writing Campaign proved to be one of our best as well, which is not usually the case during a Fall Fund Raising year. We are truly blessed with a generous community!
Although we were challenged internally, with some changes in staff and therapists, the leadership demonstrated by Greg Hinkle and the strong support of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors, helped us “weather” the last few months of 2007.
2008 is looking very bright as new faces are on board at the Center and our intakes are growing!
MENTAL HEALTH in OUR COMMUNITY
I have referred others at times to a book I read a couple years ago, and I go back to it now: the Progress Paradox. The author tries to explain why in Western Culture, when so many are living so well, for so long (many possess all they need and all that they could ever want), we are experiencing the highest level of diagnosed depression in history. It’s so easy for many of us to take for granted our mental health. Most of us seem to have it “all together”. But…there are so many more that don’t have it “all together”. The circumstances may be new (passing of a loved one, marital issues, a job loss), or the circumstances are more chronic (sexual abuse, substance abuse, depression). The point I’m getting to in a “roundabout” manner is that now more than ever, our community needs the Samaritan Center to help foster a mentally healthy community. The demand is not going away, and with the help of the community, we are positioning ourselves to be around for another 35 years.
The BUSINESS of NON-PROFIT
I’ve always looked at the Center as a business, simply because of my own business background. And not unlike any successful business, the strength of the business lies in its most valuable assets: People. As I look back on this year, the common denominator in the Center’s success has been the people involved. With strong leadership by our executive director, a well qualified administrative staff, thoughtful and caring therapists, a creative and energetic board of directors, and a community of givers, the Elkhart Samaritan Center will continue to offer the highest quality of Pastoral counseling in the area.
A big thanks to all of those involved in the Elkhart Samaritan Center for making 2007 a year to remember.
Warmest Regards, Paul Romanetz Outgoing Board President, 2007 |
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REFLECTION ON GROWTH IN TIMES OF ADVERSITY As a patron of the Samaritan Center, you well know that the Center's vision is to bring healing, hope and growth to the whole person. Our concern is the mind, body, and spirit. While we sometimes find our patient-friends in need of our help during times of jubilation, most often those friends arrive on our front porch in the depths of despair. Through the skills, abilities, and love of our counselors, these friends can be lead from crisis to calm, and to a path toward recovery of spirit. In 2008, we were challenged as a Samaritan Center to find our way down the path to our own recovery. Our goal, as a Board, was to preserve our foundation, principles and mission to strengthen and support an emergent need for the Samaritan Center's services in Elkhart County.
As our friends and neighbors felt the grip of economic and social crisis in 2008, the Samaritan Center faced similar challenges. Early in the spring, we found our center clinically understaffed. Due to the downturn in the local economy and the effects of losses on Wall Street, we braced for the impact on charitable giving. We embraced the fact that as a Board and Staff, to strengthen and grow required (i) community outreach, (ii) the recruitment of qualified board and staff members, and (iii) the continued support of our loyal friends. The result of our labors was growth in the time of adversity.
To our call for assistance, our community answered the challenge in an unbelievable way. The women of the Board first answered by what would become a record-breaking Silent Samaritan Luncheon. Those
As our community experienced the direct effects of economic upheaval in the fall, the Board prepared for a challenging fund drive. Once again, the call went out to our ardent supporters to assist our Samaritan Center in times when the need for our services could not be greater. The supportive reaction of our friends and community resulted in a strong giving period rivaling the levels reached in our strongest of years. We as a board cannot adequately express our sincere gratitude for your support and encouragement through your gifts and prayers. Your generosity reaffirms the importance of our mission and the commitment of our benefactors to the preservation of psychotherapeutic services for our community.
More growth during this period can be found within the little house on Crawford Street. The Board created the position of Administrative Director, filled by Debby Mathias Burton. Debby's role is to oversee the administrative duties and functions of the center to afford Greg Hinkle more time to focus and dedicate to his true gift of providing therapeutic services to the community. While Greg will remain Executive Director, Debby is working to increase referrals to the center, and marketing as well as helping with Board and Center events. She has been a board member for three years, serving as Vice President, Co-Chair of the Silent Samaritan Fund, and head of the Board's fund raising services in our community.
The Board recognizes that the challenges for 2009 are as great, if not greater, than those of 2008. We, as a board, seek continuous improvement in our ability to provide the highest level of service to all of our neighbors in need. We thank you for your support of our mission, and we welcome your encouragement in the present year.
- Joel Duthie Board President, 2008 |
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Our Year of Risk And Reward
I will begin with deep appreciation and gratitude for this community’s support of the Samaritan Center’s work. If you are reading this annual report, you have shown an interest in the Samaritan Center’s ministry in one form or another, and we cannot begin to express the value of that support in a year like no other in recent memory. Many organizations faced difficult decisions about the very future of operations and their ability to continue to provide help to those in need. Thanks to the friends of the Samaritan Center, this organization was able to stand fast, actually improve its footing, and offer critical assistance to our community in the hour of its greatest need.
Through your generosity, prayers, and giving, the Samaritan Center was able to provide the healing and hope that was desperately needed in the face of tremendous economic and personal challenges presented to our friends and neighbors in 2009. Our board and staff were greatly encouraged by the strong recognition in this community that the counseling services provided by the Samaritan Center are important in the lives of those who call the Elkhart County area home. Your board of directors is more committed than ever to developing long-term, strategic planning that will enable the Samaritan Center to continue to provide those services for many years to come.
I would also like to publicly thank the staff at the Samaritan Center and the outstanding 2009 board members for their willingness to undertake an often difficult and – some might say - risky approach to the management of the Center in this past year. Our vision for addressing the financial challenges that the Center faced was to make increased billings a top priority, since it was not going to be possible to achieve financial stability by cutting costs. The addition of Administrative Director Debby Burton was instrumental in improving visibility and freeing Executive Director Greg Hinkle to again focus on his strengths in both counseling and community-related speaking and writing. With the addition of Rev. Joe Baunoch to specialize in addictions counseling and new staff member Lisa Sexton offering two days each week; with no small amount of time spent on financial management; and with wise advice from the Samaritan Institute during its site review for accreditation, the Center positioned itself for growth. An ambitious undertaking, the first-ever “Still Dancing in Elkhart” fall fundraising event, proved that the community was ready to celebrate with us. We enjoyed the night so much, and felt reason to hope for brighter days ahead.
Strategic planning for 2010 and beyond is underway, and you should find our Samaritan Center looking for ways to partner with schools and other organizations which want to offer counseling to their clients and employees; and deepening its relationship with area congregations. We will miss the contributions of George Frey, who retired in September, and hope to replace those with increased overall capacity using current staff and additional staff when appropriate. The past year depleted cash reserves significantly, and we would be remiss not to report that financial support is still key to the Samaritan Center’s ability to offer its services to all in need. On behalf of all those associated with the Samaritan Center, I thank you again for standing firmly behind this organization and for your kind and encouraging words throughout this past year.
- Joan Rhoade, 2009 Board President January 2010 |
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SURVIVING, EVEN THRIVING, IN 2010
Reflecting on 2010 as the Samaritan Center’s Board President, I cannot help but be thankful for the dedicated Center Staff, selfless Board Members, amazing Donors and Supporters, and most importantly the courageous clients we serve on a daily basis. Without these unbelievable people, the Samaritan Center would have had no chance to pursue its healing mission in Elkhart County for 38 years.
This past year brought anticipated challenges and unforeseen hurdles. The lingering strife from the economic turndown remained prevalent throughout our community, putting tremendous financial strain on the Center early in the year. The continued focus on increasing productivity and broadening our referral source base remained at the center of our activities. Our core ministry of Healing, Hope & Growth got off to a slow start, but with unwavering perseverance, the clinical staff were providing services at near capacity levels during the fall months. The Center was blessed to welcome nearly 300 new individuals to the Samaritan Center family, while amassing nearly 3100 hours of direct service. While these are not record-breaking numbers, they mark a significant re-stabilizing factor for the Center, which was a wonderful threshold to cross!!!
Early September brought us the opportunity to re-unite with past board members, friends and associates, as we gathered to celebrate Dr. Greg Hinkle’s 20 years with the Samaritan Center (fourteen as Executive Director). Another BIG thanks for all you do, Greg!!
The second-annual “Still Dancing in Elkhart County 2010” (our “Dancing with the Stars” event) was another HUGE success!!! The unbelievable financial windfall certainly was the headline of the evening, but I was personally excited about how many ‘new’ people learned about our Samaritan Center. Nearly half of the sold-out crowd of 350 heard about the Samaritan Center for the first time!!! The event will continue in 2011, but will have to set very lofty goals to surpass this year’s performance, and the dance committee’s selection of amazingly talented dancers and performers.
The dawning of each new year brings the promise of things yet to be achieved, and the hope to find the fortitude to accomplish heights never imagined. The Center Staff and Board of Directors have been hard at work formulating the strategic outline for 2011, with the goal of finding collaborative and innovative ways of bringing the “Healing, Hope and Growth” message to those in need throughout Elkhart County. Through our Covenant Congregations and partnerships throughout the community, we will continue striving to make OUR Samaritan Center the thriving epicenter for expert psychotherapy and faith-integrated counseling.
I know I speak on behalf of everyone associated with the Center when I thank you for your continued support of the Samaritan Center, for it is only with your heartfelt and generous financial help that we are able to continue serving. - Braden McCormick, 2010 Board President January 2011 |
Still Dancing in Elkhart 2011The third production of “Still Dancing in Elkhart” is well under way to benefit the Samaritan Center. This fundraiser has been hugely successful and is based on the popular television show Dancing with the Stars. It seemed fitting to change venues this year and showcase the event at the newly renovated Lerner Theater. Please look for your invitation and join us on Friday, October 21, 2011 in the Crystal Ballroom. The doors open at 6:00 p.m. and festivities will begin at 7:00 p.m. Eight dancers from the community are performing, joining eight professionals from That’s Dancing Studio and Dan O’Day Dance Club. The dancers are Karla Morton, Paul Warning, Randy Lipps, Frank Lucchese, Ann Matherly, Jill Windy, Mandi Deputy and Bill Fenech. Most of our dancers have very little (if any) experience, but you will be amazed when you see them perform on October 21st. Premiere Arts will kick the night off with a dance performance, which will include last year’s winner, Laura Arauz Smith. If you are getting this newsletter, you are someone special to the Samaritan Center. We would love to have you attend “Still Dancing in Elkhart 2011” and vote for your favorite dancer. If you cannot attend - please vote! It is only one dollar for one vote. The dance couple that receives the most votes will be the winner of the event, but the true winner is the Samaritan Center and the people we help. This year we have a beautiful website designed and programmed by David Marks and Todd Sirbek at TaigMarks Inc. as a courtesy for the Samaritan Center. For your convenience, visit the website www.stilldancinginelkhart.org to make your reservation, learn more about the dancers, become a corporate sponsor, or most importantly, to vote! - Cindy Burns, Board Member and event co-chair |
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2011: A Year of Preparation and Anticipation 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. - Juli Meyer, 2011 Board President Annual Report 2011 (February 2012) |
