1. Director’s Column
   
   What a month!  A classic Wisconsin winter with plenty of winter fun, yet we are becoming so excited for spring…motorcycles, boating, racing, and warm sunshine.
   
   Just as we were ready to calm down and settle in for an exciting year, we became aware of a need for yet another home for some of the community’s special needs clients.  As a result, we are pleased to announce our Grand Place residence located at 1209 Grand Avenue in Wausau.  This home will be licensed as an Adult Family Home to be home for up to 4 more adult residents.  What would usually take months to develop we opened in only a couple of weeks.  Not, of course, without a few bumps along the way, and lots of great help from staff and friends.
   
   In our group treatment foster home for adolescents, Reynolds Group Home, our staff will be receiving sex offender training to better serve a challenging group of clients.  This enables us to continue providing services in a safe and proficient manner.  Our plans to secure licensure as a mental health clinic are also moving forward.  We hope to accomplish that early this year too.
   
   Another goal for this year is to embark on a fund raising mission to purchase a much needed new or slightly used 10 passenger van.  In fact, all our vehicles are in need and we would appreciate any help we can get to figure out how to meet that need…any ideas on ways to do this?
   
   We also look forward to introducing several great new employees, just hired this past week.  Look for more on that in next month’s newsletter.
   
   Have you checked out our website?  (www.marathonyouthservices.org) We owe a special thanks to our webmaster Jim Prozinski for his time and talent in our site development.  Jim often tells us that a site should be designed by its’ users.  What do you enjoy about our site?  What would you appreciate seeing or having available on our site?  We have considered a staff intro page, and employment opportunity page, a calendar page, and activity page and perhaps an automotive auction page…what ideas would you like to see or use?  Thanks for your inputs.
   
                                                   Doug Adams  MS, ICSW
   
   
    
2. A Great Financial Opportunity!
   
   Bank of Wausau has recently developed a special opportunity for assisting community service agencies such as Marathon Youth Services, Inc.  Anyone wishing to deposit money into a money market account at Bank of Wausau in any amount over $10,000 will receive a special interest rate of 2%.  The Bank of Wausau will award an additional ¼ % interest to a charitable organization (such as MYS) named by the depositor.  We would appreciate your participation, and your naming Marathon Youth Services in this award.
   
   A special Thank You! goes out to the Bank of Wausau for this investment opportunity.

 

3. Introducing Grand Place
   
   In response to a newly identified need in the community, we have again begun the process of opening and licensing another 4 bed residence for adults.  To be known as Grand Place, we already have our first permanent resident and expect to grow to providing home to a total of four in the next couple of months. 
   
   We have been fortunate enough to partner with one of Wausau’s long time hidden treasures, Barbara Banals.  Barb recently acquired the property at 1209 Grand Ave in Wausau, and true to her community oriented spirit, was looking for a way to contribute to meeting a need.  MYS was able to enter into a lease agreement with her, and, get her to work for us in the bargain.  Barb will be covering some of the over-night shifts for us.
   
   Grand Place is a wonderful home on Wausau’s historic Grand Avenue.  This home will offer its residents some great amenities, as well as a convenient central location on the bus line.  As we get more settled in we are looking forward to an open house to introduce everyone to this fine addition to our agency.  You can check our web site in the near future for additional information about Grand Place, as well as the staff that will serve there.
   
   
    
4. As anyone living in north central Wisconsin can tell you, we’ve had a lot of snow this past month.  While at times inconvenient, it’s been real pretty, and a lot of fun for many.  Our local skiing attraction, Granite Peak, has been setting attendance records.  With the generosity of Mother Nature, the Badger State Games was again a big success.  And of course, the staff and residents of MYS have enjoyed the winter thus far in their own respective ways.  Following this month’s above average snow fall, Mike S enjoyed building a ‘snow fort’ in the front yard of Prospect Place.  In fact, all the guys have found ways to enjoy winter months, even when it’s not been outdoors.
   
   
   One of the activities that has kept several of the young men busy these past winter months is basketball.  As you can see, they make quite a fearsome group!  These guys are always willing to show off their skills and are up for any challengers.  Even as spectators they get into the spirit of the event!
   
   
   
   While basketball and snow activities have been real popular with the guys this month, bowling still occupies the most interest for some of them.  Maybe next month we’ll have some “action photos” to prove it…
   
   
    
5. Valentine’s Day Party!
   
   February of course is the month of Valentine’s Day.  Our staff felt that the guys might like the opportunity to host a party to celebrate the occasion. And what better way to liven up a party than with a Karaoke Machine!  Everyone was able to try their hand (voice?) at singing a few tunes, often to the enjoyment of all…
      
   Adam, who occasionally sings along with his grandfather’s barbershop group, showed off his vocal talents for all.
   
   Even the staff got into the action, including our Director!  Doug, who is always up for trying something new, stunned everyone with his microphone technique.  He was enthusiastically joined by Stephanie and True in their own performance.
   
   
   
   
   It was a great time for all, with many new memories of fun times for the guys of all the adult programs…
   
   
    

 

March Asset # 37 – Personal Power

 

Young people who have this asset feel that they have control over many things that happen to them.

 

      Express confidence in your children’s abilities.  Kids who trust their own abilities have personal power. 

      Help young people understand that they do control what they say and do but they can’t control what other people say and do. 

      Encourage kids to find solutions when faced with a challenge.   Ask questions like, “What do you think about this?  How do you feel about that?  What do you think should be done next?”  

      Give kids age appropriate choices at all stages of their lives and let them experience the consequences of their choices. 

      Work to build social competencies in your child.  Kids who know how to respond to a variety of social situations feel a sense of personal power and accomplishment. 

      Encourage young people to serve others. Kids who believe they can make a difference in the world have an enormous sense of personal power.