Author: Neil Allen

GFC Annual Meeting & Elections June 30

Posted on by Neil Allen

Greater Falls Connections (GFC) will be hosting its annual meeting from 10-11am on Tuesday, June 30 via Zoom this year. Information on how to join the meeting will be available on GFC’s website: greaterfallsconnections.org/Vote.  Anyone who supports GFC’s vision of a healthy, nurturing and supportive community are encouraged to attend and participate.

This year’s annual meeting will feature a very special demonstration of the Community Building Circle process, a process used to build connection and friendship between youth from GFC’s Above the Influence and Friends for Change Youth Club members.

Attendees will also vote on the slate of candidates for the Greater Falls Connections Advisory Board: Samia Abbass, Greater Falls Community Justice Center (1st Term), Marty Gallagher, Greater Rockingham Area Services (3rd Term), Joey Jacques, Fall Mount HS student (BFMS graduate) (2nd term), Meghan Licciardi, Youth Services of Windham County (2nd Term), Doreen Stoodley, Westminster parent (1st Term), Alex Stradling, Fact TV (2nd Term).

Per coalition by-laws, members (that is, anyone who supports GFC’s mission) not able to attend can register their opinions in writing with the Chair or the Director so that their vote can be counted at the meeting. To make that easy this year, GFC has created an online voting page, where GFC supporters can register their vote online. The deadline for remote voting is 5pm on Monday, June 29.  The link to online voting can be found on the ‘Greater Falls Connections’ Facebook page and on our website (greaterfallsconnections.org/Vote).

To learn more about the GFC Advisory Board and how to join, please visit GFC’s website, greaterfallsconnections.org/about/Staff-Board.  New members, new ideas, and new energy are always welcome.

Advisory Board Member Election and Annual Meeting, Friday, June 21

Posted on by Neil Allen

Greater Falls Connections 2019-2020 Advisory Board Election and Annual Meeting will be held on Friday, June 21, at 12pm, at the Rockingham Free Public Library.  All Coalition members* are encouraged to attend.

In addition to youth-led presentations and activities, we will be voting to elect our 2019-2020 Advisory Board. Come to celebrate the end of our program year and give some input on our activities and priorities for next year!  Lunch and good company provided.

Per Coalition by-laws, members who are unable to attend the meeting may register their opinions in writing with the Chair or the Director so that their opinion may be expressed at the meeting. Board Chair: Shelly Crawford, shelly.crawford@wnesu.com; Director: Laura Schairbaum, laura@greaterfallsconnections.org.

Greater Falls Connections Advisory Board members serve one-year terms and can be elected yearly for up to five years.  Voting membership will be asked to vote on the entire list of candidates below.

Shall Greater Falls Connections coalition elect the following list of candidates for the 2018-2019 Advisory Board?

  1. Stone Bradbury, BFUHS student (1st term)
  2. Tim Bradbury, parent (1st Term)
  3. Shelly Crawford, BFUHS teacher (2ndTerm)
  4. Dan Gabry, outgoing BFUHS student (2nd Term)
  5. Marty Gallagher, Bellows Falls (2nd Term)
  6. Joey Jacques, incoming BFUHS student (1st term)
  7. Michelle Laurendeau, Greater Falls Pharmacy (1st Term)
  8. Kara Lescord, BFUHS student (2nd Term)
  9. Meghan Licciardi, Youth Services of Windham County (1st Term)
  10. Jonathan O’Connor, parent (2nd Term)
  11. Alex Stradling, Fact TV (1st Term)

*From our by-laws:

“Membership in the coalition is broad and inclusive, allowing all members of the community who endorse its mission to join its efforts. Membership shall be defined as anyone in the last 6 months who has:

  • Attended a Coalition meeting
  • Attended a Coalition sub-committee meeting, and/or
  • Made a significant contribution to the work of the Coalition.”
Park-a-Palooza 3 - Thank You!

Park-a-Palooza 3 – Thank You!

Posted on by Neil Allen

Thank you for another successful Park-a-Palooza!

On Behalf of Greater Falls Connections, parent and youth organizers, we would like to share an ecstatic thank you to the many people, businesses and organizations that contributed to the Park-a-Palooza Neighborhood Block Party on Saturday, June 28th in Bellows Falls. Now in its third year, Park-a-Palooza is a completely community-driven, old school, crazy-fun block party. Festivities again took place at the Central Elementary School playground and included: A potato-sack race, jellybean contest, bicycle-powered smoothies, apple-bob contest, face painting, dodgeball, baseball bat spin-off and a water balloon “throw-down.” Plus, with a little help from our friends at the Bellows Falls Fire & Police Departments, kids and adults were able to cool off and play around a gushing fire hydrant.

WaterFun

Thanks to our two Grill Masters, Rose Smith and Marcy Fazzolare, as well as the numerous people who brought food, people were able to eat and snack all day long.

Thank you to the following local businesses, community organizations and individuals for your generous contributions and involvement that were vital to the day’s success: The Moose, Lisai’s Market, Parks Place Community Resource Center, United Natural Foods, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Youth Services, Windham Northeast Supervisory Union, Bellows Falls Community Bike Project, the Fatherhood Project, Hannaford’s, Brattleboro Food Co-Op, and the VT Liquor Store in Bellows Falls.

Through creative play using the games our parents and grandparents taught us, Park-a-Palooza is another example of community-driven change in action. Community-led activities such as this build trust and create connection. Not to mention, a whole lot of laughter.

We thank everyone involved for creating a fun, positive and meaningful day.

BikeJuicer

Recovery Month

Recovery Month

Posted on by Neil Allen

Recovery Awareness Month
September 1-30.
Worldwide!

“Join the voices of recovery: speak up, reach out!” In its 25th year, Recovery Month promotes the societal benefits of prevention, treatment, and recovery for mental and substance use disorders.

Learn, share and connect. Stay tuned for upcoming events, resources and opportunities to connect. We’ll also be promoting the movie “The Anonymous People” throughout the month. Stay tuned for screenings and updates.

The Anonymous People – Trailer from Greg Williams on Vimeo.

Recovery Awareness Month

Recovery Awareness Month

Posted on by Neil Allen

Recovery Awareness Month
September 1-30.
Worldwide!

“Join the voices of recovery: speak up, reach out!” In its 25th year, Recovery Month promotes the societal benefits of prevention, treatment, and recovery for mental and substance use disorders.

Learn, share and connect. Stay tuned for upcoming events, resources and opportunities to connect. We’ll also be promoting the movie “The Anonymous People” throughout the month. Stay tuned for screenings and updates.

The Anonymous People – Trailer from Greg Williams on Vimeo.

Rockingham Old Home Days

Rockingham Old Home Days

Posted on by Neil Allen

Rockingham Old Home Days
Saturday, August 2.
Village Square
Bellows Falls

Join GFC and many others to celebrate our community! GFC will be partnering with the Bellows Falls Boys & Girls Club on this year’s dunk tank. Look for us and soak your favorite teacher, town official or parent!

Annual BBQ Celebration

Annual BBQ Celebration

Posted on by Neil Allen

Annual BBQ Celebration
Thursday, July 17. 6:00-8:00pm
Rockingham Recreation Center
Bellows Falls

GFC is once again planning a summer BBQ celebration on Thursday, July 17 from 6-8pm at the Rockingham Recreation Center in Bellows Falls. It’s a time to celebrate the prevention successes we’ve collectively accomplished over the past 12 months as well as announce the recipient of the next A.C.E. Award. To learn more about A.C.E. and to make a nomination, click here. Please send all nominations to Deb Witkus no later than Monday, July 14th. Nominations can be sent to: deb@greaterfallsconnections.org.

Park-a-Palooza 3

Park-a-Palooza 3

Posted on by Neil Allen

Park-a-Palooza 3
Saturday, June 28. Noon-5pm
Central Elementary School Park
Bellows Falls, VT

In it’s third year, Park-a-Palooza is all about good ol’ fashion family fun…connecting with neighbors, old school games, tasty food and good laughs. This is what community looks like!

Join us starting at Noon at the Central Elementary Playground on School St. Interested in helping to organize? Contact Deb Witkus at 802.463.9927 ext 212.

RSVP to our Facebook event Here.

Roots Rules!

Posted on by Neil Allen

It’s not every day a non-profit organization gets the opportunity to enjoy a full weekend of sunshine, fabulous conversations, local food and sensational roots music. Not to mention, the chance to share our important work with everyone in attendance. Well, that’s exactly the opportunity we had during the 15th Annual Roots on the River Music Festival that took place in Rockingham June 5th through the 8th.

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Ready for conversation!

On behalf of its staff, board and members, Greater Falls Connections would like to thank the organizers of Roots for their generous and passionate support of our work. Greater Falls Connections, a local community organizing and substance prevention group, was chosen as this year’s non-profit partner. With that distinction, we were able to promote our efforts to achieve a supportive, nurturing and connected community. Additionally, through a 50/50 raffle, we were able to raise nearly $300 that will help increase our efforts to prevent substance abuse, de-stigmatize addiction and support recovery. Countless numbers of festival-goers shared their stories and their support for our work.

We would like to especially thank festival organizers Ray Massucco, Andrea Bernard and Ezra Veitch for publicizing our involvement beforehand, announcing our participation throughout the weekend and assisting with our booth, signage and the raffle on two of the busiest days. Additionally, we would like to thank them for their dedication to making the festival a smoke-free weekend.

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Greater Falls Connections is a community-driven organization and it would not exist without the support of individuals, businesses and organizations such as Vermont Festivals. We are humbled and thankful for the opportunity and support.

Cheers!
Chad
Greater Falls Connections

Grafton Community Forum

Grafton Community Forum

Posted on by Neil Allen

Grafton Community Forum
Tuesday, June 17. 6:00-7:30pm
Grafton Elementary School
58 School St.
Grafton

The Grafton Selectboard, in conjunction wtih Greater Falls Connections, is inviting everyone in Grafton and the surrounding communities to a public forum on Tuesday, June 17th, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Grafton Elementary School. The key topics are: What does opioid abuse and addiction look like in our communities? What steps can we take to raise awareness and prevent substance abuse? The panelists include representatives from the medical community, the mental health community, law enforcement, and the recovery community.

The purpose of the forum is to increase awareness about the substance abuse issues facing the Grafton community. Leave with an increased awareness and with actionable steps to address the issues. Provide information about what may be the signs of use and addiction and how can individuals and families respond.

RSVP to the Facebook event Here.