Women Today

Bart and Cherry Starr were honored today by a group of fundraising professionals and drew a full house to an event where volunteers and donors were thanked.

The Northeast Wisconsin Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals showed appreciation to the Starrs and others at their annual Philanthropy Day luncheon at the Butte des Morts Country Club, Appleton.

The Starrs received an Outstanding Lifetime Philanthropy award for their work at Rawhide Boys Ranch. In 1965 the Starrs co-founded the ranch, which has grown to include seven youth homes, a high school and work environments. In 2008, a Rawhide outpatient counseling clinic for at-risk boys, girls and families opened in Green Bay.

Bart Starr, the quarterback of the Green Bay Packers Super Bowl teams in the 1960s, was the chairman for the first Rawhide fund drive and continues to raise funds for the organization.

Others honored at the event included:

-- Dr. Theresa Cheng of Oshkosh, who received an Outstanding Philanthropist award.

-- The Mielke Family Foundation of Appleton, which received an Outstanding Philanthropist award.

-- Russ Reff of Oshkosh, who received and Outstanding Fundraising Volunteer award.

-- Doug and Myrt Ogilvie of Hortonville, who received an Outstanding Lifetime Philanthropy Award.

-- Carol and Isidore Kwaterski, Oneida, who received an Outstanding Lifetime Philanthropy Award.

-- CitizensFirst Credit Union, which received the Corporate Social Responsibility Award.

“All of us in AFP are honored to be able to meet and publicly thank those donors and volunteers on Philanthropy Day,” notes Mary Pieschek, chapter president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. “They've made life better for thousands of our neighbors, and we all owe them a debt of gratitude."

“The impact that these individuals and organizations have on our communities is immense. Lives are changed for the good because of their leadership and generosity,” adds Vicki Schorse, executive director of the Mercy Health Foundation, who co-chaired the Philanthropy Day luncheon with Roxanna Strawn, director of development for Boys & Girls Clubs of the Fox Valley.

Holiday issue offers easy decor tips
Our special holiday issue hit the streets this week, and one of the stories that was great fun for me to read was the piece on holiday decor by Green Bay writer Lee Marie Reinsch.

Lee not only talks about holiday trends, but offers some tips for easy holiday decorating. It's those kind of tips that I can really put to use!

Here's a preview from Lee's story. The suggestion comes from Nan Schwartz, owner of Décor & More, 448 N. Main St., Oshkosh, and has only three steps.

Schwartz's Sparkly Centerpiece

1. Take a glass bowl, put white lights in it.

2. Add colored ornaments, maybe silver or gold balls.

3. If you'd like, also add some ferns or garland.

"It makes a nice festive centerpiece for a buffet table, and it's got a real 'wow' impact to it," Schwartz says. It frequently drops jaws in her store.

For more holiday decor ideas and other holiday-themed articles pick up our holiday issue for free at Festival Foods, Shopko, Curves and area YMCAs as well as at other grocery and department stores.

Yesterday, our blog focused on keeping kids safe during the holiday season. Today we're going to expand on that theme a bit with some electrical safety tips.

For more on holiday safety, see the latest issue of fyi! Family, which is available free on distribution racks at businesses in Green Bay, Appleton and Oshkosh.

Here are some electrical hazards to watch out for during the holiday season:
-- Avoid putting tree lights, ornaments, and other small "mouth-size" decorations near the ground or on the lower limbs of a Christmas tree where they can easily be reached by a child. Decorations and holiday lights can beckon a child to grab hold for a closer look. Even worse, they can end up in an infant's mouth.
-- Replace a worn or frayed electrical cord with one that is appropriately insulated and protected.
-- Keep young children away from cords altogether, since a child can choke on as little as 12 inches of cord.
-- Never leave a child unsupervised while cooking or when an electric or gas stove is within reach. Unattended cooking is one of the leading causes of home fires during the holidays.
-- Don't give young children a toy that must be plugged into an electrical outlet. Instead, buy toys that are battery-operated.
-- Don't use space heaters in rooms where children are unsupervised. Children may stick their fingers or other objects through the protective guards, causing burns or shock.

From The Electrical Safety Foundation International via StatePoint Media. For more holiday safety information see www.holidaysafety.org.

Today guest blogger and therapist Brenda Velissaris talks about how to identify second-hand stress and how to keep it from getting you down:

Here is some new terminology for everyone, just in time for the holiday season: Second-Hand Stress. Ever hear of it?

Most of you have probably experienced this before but didn’t know the name for it. Second-hand stress is the stress of someone else that spills over into your life and you take it on as your own.

It could be a coworker who’s struggling with financial issues, a child who has a learning disability, or a family member stuck in an abusive relationship.

We all have second-hand stress, but those most susceptible to the phenomenon are people who care take and enable.

Some experts believe second-hand stress is more anxiety provoking and debilitating because it comes from things we cannot directly control.

This leaves us with feelings of being helpless, confused, frustrated and overwhelmed.

So what can you do for self-preservation and peace of mind?

-- First, process through the stress and identify it as either your own or as second- hand stress. Knowing what you are dealing with is a big relief in and of itself.

-- Then set healthy boundaries with the person whose stress is affecting you. You can be supportive without taking on other person’s stresses. Find the balance.

-- Establish and use effective coping strategies. Part of being human is having empathy for others.

What happens when we are too empathetic is that we give ourselves to another and stop caring for ourselves. (Remember the wellness toolbox, I wrote about not to long ago? This would be a good time to use it).

-- Stop busying yourself with other people’s problems, as often we do this to avoid our own. This can only complicate matters because now you have not only your stressors but someone else’s as well to worry about.

-- Recognize your limitations. We cannot do it all, be it all or solve it all. Do what you can and leave it at that.

-- Listen, don’t fix. Most times people just want to vent and not have the stress actually fixed. When you start fixing for someone you take on their stress and now the problem has become yours. This will in turn increase your own stress.

I hope this helps everyone the next time you encounter second hand stress.

Warmly,

Brenda

Our sister publication, fyi! Famlly, hits the distribution racks this week and focuses on having fun and staying safe at this time of year.

My children are in high school and middle school, and I now realize how quickly one forgets everything that little ones can get into. Thanks to the folks at the Wisconsin Poison Center, I was reminded of all the additional hazards that emerge at this time of year. When their young cousin comes to visit, we'll be ready.

Here's a list of their Holiday Hazards. See if you're familiar with all of them:

Alcohol: Alcohol of all types, including liquor, wine, beer, perfumes, after-shaves and colognes, are poisonous. Store them in places where children can’t get to them.

Cat litter: Some forms of cat litter expand when swallowed, and could pose a potential choking hazard. Keep children away from it.
Angel hair garland: This decoration consists of spun glass, and can cause injury to the eyes, skin and digestive tract. Children should not play with it.

Artificial trees: Most artificial tree parts are not poisonous, but can be a choking hazard.

Bubble lights: These are filled with alcohol or other solvents. Beware of burns and broken glass if a child bites into a bulb. Call the Poison Center if a child drinks the liquid.

Candles: Oil candles and lamp oils can cause serous injuries when swallowed. Call the Poison Center immediately. Most scents, colorings and waxes in wax candles are nontoxic, but melted wax can cause serious burns. Also, make sure there are no burning candles within a child’s reach.

Ornaments: Most ornaments today are made of thin plaster, glass or foam and do not pose a poison hazard. If a child tries to eat an ornament remove any portions from the mouth to prevent choking. Be aware that antique holiday decorations and ornaments may contain lead.

Food: When serving large amounts of food, keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. Remove food from the serving table as soon as guests have eaten. Put leftovers in small containers in the refrigerator so they cool rapidly.

Medications: Keep all medications, including those belonging to guests, out of a child’s reach.

Tobacco: Tobacco is highly toxic in all forms. Children may eat cigarettes and smoked butts found in ashtrays. Keep tobacco out of reach of children and empty ashtrays promptly.

Holly: The plant’s bright red berries look especially pretty to little kids. Call the Wisconsin Poison Center if any of these berries are swallowed.

Jerusalem cherry: The fruit of this plant closely resembles a cherry tomato. If any part of this plant is eaten, call the poison center.

Mistletoe: Mistletoe, especially its berries, can be poisonous.

Poinsettia: The poinsettia is not a highly poisonous plant, but eating the leaves may cause choking, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

Christmas trees: Most pine or spruce trees are not toxic if a child chews the needles. Sharp needles can cause irritation or bleeding, however.

If you need help:

If you fear that your child has swallowed something poisonous, call the Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.

The call is directed to a local poison center, based on the state the phone is based in. If you are visiting out of state, call from a local phone in case transportation is needed to a nearby hospital.

Source: Wisconsin Poison Center