Shredding helps end hunger

Submitted by Marsha Looper

ElderWatch Colorado and the Black Forest AARP Chapter #1100 recently partnered with Shred-It Colorado to help defeat identity theft and collect food for Black Forest Cares, a local food bank. Volunteers met at the Old Black Forest Fire Station from 9 to noon on June 11 to serve 347 individuals who responded with their personal documents to be safely and professionally shredded.

Those who brought their items to be shredded helped themselves avoid personal identity theft and at the same time contributed a total of 593 pounds of non-perishable food and $238 to Black Forest Cares. The shredded documents, almost 8,500 pounds of paper, will be recycled. This will save many trees and help keep our country green.

Submitted by Marsha Looper

Sixty-two people also signed up for the Colorado and the national Do Not Call list. The Do Not Call list will reduce the number of unsolicited telephone calls they receive in the future.

A special thanks is extended to Shred-It Colorado for donating a shredding truck and operator, Wal-Mart and King Soopers for their donations of snacks and water for everyone, the Black Forest Fire and Rescue for providing the site and facilities, and to the 29 Black Forest AARP Chapter Members and ElderWatch Colorado members who volunteered their time and services to make this the best ever Black Forest Shredding Event.

The Black Forest AARP Chapter works hard to serve the local community. The chapter motto is "To Serve Not to Be Served". Anyone interested in participating in community service should call Chuck at 719-749-9227 to learn how you can become a chapter member. All are welcome. There are no age restrictions.

AspenPointe Receives Grant from Caring for Colorado Foundation

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The Caring for Colorado Foundation has awarded AspenPointe TeleCare a one year, $50,000 grant to expand its depression care management (DCM) program to serve uninsured adults.

DCM is a telephone-based program that supports individuals in their efforts to manage depression. It is a voluntary and confidential program that provides professional and compassionate one-to-one outreach, care coordination and ongoing support.

The grant will allow AspenPointe to serve between 90 and 120 uninsured adults during the course of a year. The average length of time a participant is enrolled in the program is about six months.

“This project seeks to expand our depression care program to serve those most in need in our community. Prior to receiving the grant, we were not able to support those without insurance,” said Robin Anderson, program manager for AspenPointe TeleCare. “This is also our first grant from the Caring for Colorado Foundation and we hope to continue the relationship.”

The Caring for Colorado Foundation, based in Denver, makes accessible healthcare a reality for people in Colorado through targeted grants that provide measurable health improvements. It aims to build healthcare capacity, strengthen existing healthcare systems and link people to care.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, depression affects about 1 in 5 people each year. It estimates that depression costs American businesses $63 billion each year, with $36.6 billion resulting from reduced productivity and increased absenteeism, not the cost of treatment.

AspenPointe TeleCare helps participants better manage their self-care to improve their overall physical and mental health. The added support improves quality of life and helps individuals feel better about themselves at home and in the workplace.

In addition to supporting members directly, AspenPointe TeleCare’s care managers communicate regularly with members’ healthcare providers to provide for optimum treatment.

For more information about AspenPointe TeleCare and the Depression Care Management program, please call (719) 572-6100 or visit www.aspenpointe.org.

Cottonwood's Veteran's Art Outreach Program update

Thanks to generous community support, Cottonwood Center for the Arts has added 3 new pottery wheels to our community clay room making us that much closer to finishing the clay room for our Veteran's Art Outreach Program. Fans and hoods for our kilns are the next step and should be installed in the next month.

Cottonwood's Veteran's Art Outreach Program will provide a free, supportive, relaxing place for veterans and their families to explore the pleasure that creating art makes possible. Local Colorado Springs artists are donating their time and skills to teach free art classes. Cottonwood and it's community partners are providing all the supplies and instruction. No experience is necessary and classes are informal.

Starting date (depending on construction) is planned to coordinate with Cottonwood's May 27th show "Brothers in Arms", an all media exhibition that examines the camaraderie of those in military service, our brothers in arms who face battle together in the ultimate sacrifice. The theme of this show is about the brotherhood relationship of men and women who battle in service together on behalf of our community.

For more information about our Veteran's Art Outreach Program, please contact Marie David at (719) 520-1899.

Bank at Broadmoor's John Webster, Rotarian of the Year

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—June 30, 2009— John Webster, Senior Vice President and Cashier of The Bank at Broadmoor, was awarded the Rotarian of the Year Award for dedicated work and service to The Broadmoor Rotary Club for 2008/2009. John has been a member of this Rotary Club since 2000 and has served as Treasurer, Board Member and President. The award was presented by the outgoing President, Don Rhodes at the annual President’s meeting. John received the award for his extensive involvement with the Board, his position as Youth Exchange Officer and his assistance with the Ambassadorial Scholarship program.

“John is very deserving of the Rotarian of the Year Award and exemplifies the community leadership that is such an integral part of The Bank at Broadmoor’s philosophy,” said Ed Sauer, President and CEO of The Bank at Broadmoor.

Rotary, the first service club in the world has a motto of “Service above Self” and first reached Colorado in 1912. The Broadmoor District received its charter in 1957 and sponsors many programs that help children such as educational scholarships, the Champions Program that highlights outstanding athletes and the dictionary distribution program for third graders.

The Broadmoor Rotary Club is seeking qualified members or members who have relocated from other areas. Inquiries may be directed to Mr. John Webster at 633-2695.

CASA Announces 2009-2010 Board of Directors

Court Appointed Special Advocates ( CASA ) of the Pikes Peak Region announces members of the 2009-2010 Board of Directors (effective July 1, 2009). Chair: Joshua Waymire, Immediate Past Chair: Rob McDonald; Chair Elect: William Shaner, Vice Chair/Secretary: Paul Perea, Treasurer: Dave Mason. Members-At-Large:
Wayne Bland, Catherine Coulter Calvin, Renae Gannon, George Guerrero, Jane Hegstrom, Patrice Henson, Fletcher Howard, Dawn Ignatius, Natasha Jamerson, Stanley Kouba, Jennifer McHugh, Sherri Newell, Kenton Pass, Christopher Robertson, Dawud Salaam, Stuart Scott, Rebecca Theobald.

CASA of the Pikes Peak Region provides a volunteer’s voice in court for children who are victims of abuse, neglect, or domestic conflict and promotes awareness of these issues to ensure safe and permanent homes.

New PR firm lands new clients

--company press release

FAST-GROWING SPRINGS PUBLIC RELATIONS FIRM SECURES FOUR NEW CONTRACTS

New Colorado Springs-based company, Red Energy Public Relations was recently selected by Donna Vessey Events, national healthcare laboratory Any Lab Test Now, Re/Max Real Estate Group, non-profit Pikes Peak Zonta and national gift wholesaler Engraveplates.com to grow market share and build awareness for their products and services.

Red Energy President, Amy Sufak left Penrose-St.Francis Health Services (Centura Health) as the Regional Director of Public Relations to launch Red Energy Public Relations in October. While with Centura, she was responsible for public relations during the closure of thirty-year old Penrose Community Hospital and the grand opening of the new $207 million St. Francis Medical Center, the region's largest full-service hospital.

Sufak and her team - highly-experienced PR pros working in Colorado Springs and Boston- come from diverse corporate, non-profit and government backgrounds. They provide expertise in executive media training, legislative affairs, event planning, advertising, web development, crisis communication management and strategic planning to national clientele.

For more information visit them online at www.RedEnergyPR.com

Business Profits Ignite With Branding

From the BBB:

No matter the size, almost every business recognizes the need to create awareness of its products or services. But as consumers are increasingly bombarded with advertisements, messages and images, coupled with an un-certain economic forecast, it is more important than ever for businesses to differentiate themselves.

On the other side of the equation, consumers want to be able to sort through the clutter in order to find a company that is trustworthy and meets their purchasing needs.

While public relations and advertising have long been used to build awareness and ultimately increase sales, branding your product or service has now become essential. Branding can take these tried and true methods to a new level.

If you are a southern Colorado business owner, or even a consumer who just wants to learn more about branding and how it influences your decision to buy a product or service, you may want to attend an upcoming special event in Pueblo hosted by your Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado.

Branding experts Suzanne Tulien and Carol Chapman, owners of the Brand Ascension Group, will teach an innovative, highly interactive workshop on Wednesday, March 5 in the Fortino Ballroom at Pueblo Community College. The workshop is based on their book, The 6 Myths of Small Business Branding. The event is open to the public and will run from 8:00 AM to 12:00 noon, with a 7:30 AM check-in time. Below are just a few of the secrets Suzanne and Carol will share with you at this interactive workshop:

* Learn the true difference between Branding and Marketing and how they affect your bottom line.
* Find out how customers really make buying decisions.
* Discover why the first seven seconds of contact with a customer are so crucial?
* Learn how to boost your brand’s overall customer experience without going broke?

For more details, information on cost and to make reservations, contact Zella Richardson at 719-542-1605 or zellar@bbbsc.org. You can also go to www.BrandAscension.com.

Western Strategies Center releases results of health care study

Study reinforces fact that local informed action can drive improvement in the health care system.

What: Public Meeting

When: Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Noon - 1:00 pm

Where: Carnegie Room, Penrose Library

20 North Cascade Ave

Colorado Springs

Cost: Free and open to the public

Copies of health care study available at meeting

Info: 719-473-2864

Western Strategies Center (WSC), a locally based nonprofit policy center, announces the release of its comprehensive study of the health care infrastructure in Colorado Springs. The 72-page report details the key findings and offers 5 possible courses of action.

Jay Fawcett, President of WSC, will cover the highlights of the study and what the general public can do to help solve local health care challenges. A panel discussion by leaders from the health care community follows.

For more information about WSC or to receive a copy of the health care study, contact WSC at 719-473-2864 or go to www.westernstrategies.org

Easy Street Designs Adds Birthday Cards to Business Marketing Tools Selection

Easy Street Designs recently added personalized birthday cards to their custom marketing products available online.

The 10 original designs are available in the Business Marketing Tools, Mortgage Marketing Tools and Real Estate Marketing Tools sections.

Ed Duffy of Easy Street says, "Our customers have reported that they get great response when they remember a client or customer on their birthday. They often get emails or phone calls thanking them for the card. We wanted to make Birthday cards that were both personalized and affordable. Your name and company are printed inside below the greeting, and there's plenty of room above for a hand-written message if you choose to add one."

Easy Street Designs, located in Fountain, Colorado offers a variety of custom printed marketing products both locally and nationwide.

PEAK VISTA COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS ANNOUNCES FAMILY PRACTICE MEDICAL STAFF

Peak Vista Community Health Centers is pleased to announce the association of the following medical providers, all focusing on family practice and all Family Medicine Board certified.

Paolo J. Bahr, D.O.-Dr. Bahr received his medical degree from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, completing his residency at the Southern Colorado Family Medicine in Pueblo . His focus is family medicine and he will relocate to Peak Vista’s new family medicine facility at Union and Parkside in February. Dr. Bahr is multilingual in English, Spanish and Italian.

Laurence S. Lopez, M.D.-Dr. Lopez received his undergraduate degree from Colorado College and his medical degree from the University of Colorado Health Science Center in Denver . He completed his residency at St. Mary Corwin Hospital in Pueblo . Dr. Lopez provides care at Peak Vista’s Family Health Center at Myron Stratton. He is bi-lingual in Spanish and he and his wife have six children.

Shane E. McCarthy, D.O.-Dr. McCarthy also received her medical degree from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and also completed her residency at Southern Colorado Family Medicine in Pueblo . A past recipient of a Colorado Springs Osteopathic Foundation Scholarship, she provides care at Peak Vista’s Immediate Care Center . Proficient in medical Spanish, she and her husband Dr. Bahr have one child.

Peak Vista Community Health Centers is a non-profit organization with almost 400 employees at twelve sites throughout El Paso and Teller counties. Its mission is to provide exceptional healthcare for people facing access barriers. Established in 1971, Peak Vista annually offers primary medical, dental and behavioral health services to over 53,000 residents of the Pikes Peak region. To learn more about Peak Vista, visit www.peakvista.org or call 228-6606.