Thanks for visiting United Way Capital Area's first ever blog. This site will profile the power of collective generosity and civic and social engagement in the Central Texas community.
Torrential downpours of rain and golf ball-sized hail couldn't keep us from having fun during YLS's Sunset Dinner Cruise! YLS members and potential members gathered on Saturday, May 10, 2008 aboard Lake Austin Riverboats' Commodore and set sail on a memorable sunset tour of Lake Austin. Everyone was a little damp at the start - either from the 98 degree temps or from dashing through the raindrops - but the Commodore was a great venue in which to take shelter because it was mostly covered! As our captain took us around beautiful Lake Austin, we noshed on hula hut fajitas, played Board Member bingo, and networked with fellow young professionals. The evening ended with some door prize give-aways - a YLS party staple! Thanks to our members and Board Members for making the evening a great success!
The mission of Young Leaders Society is to inspire philanthropy and volunteerism in the young leaders of Central Texas. Membership consists of more than 600 individuals and couples who contribute $1000 annually to United Way Capital Area. Learn more at www.unitedwaycapitalarea.org/yls.
Christine Fernandez YLS Events Committee Co-Chair
YLS Board members Karen Bryant and Kim Jowers
The Riverboat “Commodore”
YLS Board member David Rodriguez, Kim Allard, and YLS Board member Eloy Alderete
Durel Bernard, Manager of YLS, getting into the nautical theme
Many thanks to Eric for his work at the Spirit of Caring Awards and his permission for reuse of the photos!
Texas Representative Mark Strama
Emily Moreland of Moreland Properties, and Don Kendrick and Kathy Bolner of Wells Fargo
All of the award winners and speakers From left to right: Event Co-Chair Russell Bridges, President's Award Winner Dick Moeller, Mark Finger from National Instruments (winner of the 2008 Spirit of Caring Award), David Balch, Event Co-Chair Amy Wong Mok, Campaign Cabinet Co-Chair Bill Wilson, Board Chair Ann Smalling, Community Catalyst Award recipient Obed Franco, Campaign Cabinet Co-Chair Tom Snead, Armando Rayo, and 2008 Volunteer of the Year, Trisa Thompson.
State Farm Insurance Employees
Trisa Thompson, winner of the 2008 Volunteer of the Year Award, also celebrated her birthday that evening.
Today I had lunch with fellow Public Innovator & Pf's one and only Rod Reyna, at one of my new favorite taco spots. We were discussing the morning excitement - our Hispanic Community Enagement Initiative, Austin City Council meeting and press conference and the newly approved City of Austin Hispanic Quality of Life Initiative! We were both very excited about the opportunities this is going to bring to the Hispanic and Latino community as well as other segments of the community. I was telling him that we all need our day in the sun and today, we got it! Now it's up to us to do something with it. We need to step up and lead, take action, do what we can to bring about community change, not only for our people but for everyone in the community.
We came away from our lunch with full bellies, the ganas to make things happen and create change in our communities - for Rod, doing it Pf style and for me, engaging 100,000 people in community change.
Check out the links for the Hispanic Quality of Life coverage....
As many of you know, we started working on the Hispanic/Latino Community Engagement Initiative last year. We've taken some great first steps in learning from the Hispanic/Latino community and are in the process of gathering information from this community to publish our study and engagement tool, Making the Connection: An Examination of Volunteering & Community Engagement in the Greater Austin Hispanic/Latino Community.
With that said, we have been working with Council Member Mike Martinez's office to support a Hispanic Quality of Life Initiative. On Thursday, May 8th, Council Member Mike Martinez is leading the efforts by sponsoring an Austin City Council Resolution (Item#50) to initiate a Hispanic Quality of Life Initiative and directing the City Manager to incorporate into the Fiscal Year 08-09 Budget specific line items to support this effort.
We ask that you help us advocate in the following ways...
Attend the Press Conference, tomorrow Thursday, May 8th - At approximately 9:30am, Council Member Martinez will be hosting a press conference at City Hall to formally announce this new community initiative. We need your attendance and participation at the press event.
Attend the Austin City Council meeting at 10am (following the press conference) - At approximately 10am on Thursday, May 8th (also at City Hall), the Austin City Council will address Item#50 during their consent agenda deliberations. We need your action and attendance to encourage the Austin City Council to vote in favor of Item#50.
Spread the word to help fill the Chambers - Forward this email to your networks! Email Austin City Council members asking asking for their vote on this important item. Included is the link and directions to successfully send one email to the entire Council.
Wow! I just gotta say, "Volunteers are Awesome!" Y'know we've been doing this event for over 10 years now and it gets better every year! First of all, we've had corporate volunteers thinking "outside the office", they did all kinds of community projects and I heard people are signing up to do more ongoing projects. Way cool! A big thank you to Freescale Semiconductor for supporting this Day of Caring and big bear hugs to Jignasha Patel and Tom Spencer for inspiring us to "be the change we wish to see in our world."
And now for your viewing pleasure, the Day of Caring slideshow.....
During United Way’s Days of Caring on April 25, 2008 a team of Freescale employees came together to express their inspirations and creativity and to make a meaningful difference in the community.
They participated in Hands On Central Texas' MLK Peace Bench Project. Throughout the day they reflected on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s teachings of social justice by transforming wooden benches to a pieces of art! They choose MLK quotes for imprint on the benches, painted messages of peace and inspiring words. A total of fifteen “Peace Benches” were built on Friday.
Hands On Central Texas through its service days will build 100 benches to foster community service and action in East Austin. The benches will be distributed to recreation centers, community/neighborhood centers and nonprofit organizations to promote social interaction and build a stronger sense of community.
Thank you Freescale employees for your enthusiasm and passion!
The designs you created are awesome. You are truly an amazing bunch!
Check out this awesome video of the work the NI Marketing team did at our Success By 6 Child Care Facility. A big thank you to Yvette E. Ruiz for sharing this video with us.
If you were there, don't hesitate to comment on the project and your own experience at the Day of Caring.
If you have pictures of your own from the day you'd like us to add to our blog, please send them to web@unitedwaycapitalarea.org.
Tomorrow is our annual Spring Day of Caring. We're hosting over 25 projects with almost 400 volunteers doing hands-on service projects AND we're starting the day with tacos - my favorite! So if you have a yearning for eating tacos and doing good, then come join us!
We'll be at the Alamo Park in East Austin at 9am tomorrow, Friday, April 25th. See you there!
Hi all. We just heard that our MLK Day of Service video was selected to be aired on KLRU PBS Austin's DOCUBLOGGERS show! Yeah, we're excited! Check it and tune in!
Tune in on Thurday, April 24, 2008 at 7:30pm or visit the DOCUBLOGGERS website to view the video!
The Riverboat “Commodore”
YLS Board member David Rodriguez, Kim Allard, and YLS Board member Eloy Alderete 
Durel Bernard, Manager of YLS, getting into the nautical theme 
They participated in Hands On Central Texas' MLK Peace Bench Project. Throughout the day they reflected on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s teachings of social justice by transforming wooden benches to a pieces of art! They choose MLK quotes for imprint on the benches, painted messages of peace and inspiring words. A total of fifteen “Peace Benches” were built on Friday.
Hands On Central Texas through its service days will build 100 benches to foster community service and action in East Austin. The benches will be distributed to recreation centers, community/neighborhood centers and nonprofit organizations to promote social interaction and build a stronger sense of community.
