Give to the Max Day!!

Thursday, November 15th is Give to the Max Day, a day for Minnesotans to come together to raise as much money as possible for nonprofits in 24 hours. On November 15th, visit GiveMn.org and search for ElderCircle. Your gift will go directly to support seniors in the Itasca County area with such services as grocery delivery, transportation to medical appointments, respite, employment, volunteer opportunities and more. As you consider your charitable end-of-year giving, please consider giving to ElderCircle on Give to the Max Day!!

National Memory Screening Day!

Are you, or someone you love, concerned about memory problems?

Next week ElderCircle will be hosting three FREE & CONFIDENTIAL memory screenings.

Please join us on November 13, 2012 at the Bigfork Valley Specialty Clinic in Bigfork from...

10am - 1pm or at the Goodall Resource Center, Deer River Healthcare Center from 11am - 1pm, or on Thursday, November 15, 2012 at the ElderCircle office, 1105 NW 4th Street, Grand Rapids, from 10am - 12pm. NO APPOINTMENT IS NECESSARY.

Memory screenings are a significant first step toward finding out if a person may have a memory problem. Memory problems could be caused by Alzheimer’s disease or other medical conditions. A memory screening is not used to diagnose any particular illness and does not replace consultation with a physician or other qualified healthcare professional.

Questions? Concerns? Visit www.nationalmemoryscreening.org, or call (toll-free) 866-AFA-8484.

 

 

November 6th Election Day

Please spread the word on this if you, or someone you know, needs a ride to the voting booth tomorrow on Election Day!

Arrowhead Transit is pleased to announce the offering of free rides to the polls on Election Day, Nov. 6, in Grand Rapids from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information and to request a ride, call (218) 326-3505 or (800) 642-6143. For more information on where and when to vote and same day voter registration, visit the MN Secretary of State’s website at http://www.sos.state.mn.us.

Arrowhead Transit has been serving the Arrowhead Region since 1974 and is operated by Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency.

October Events

Here is a listing of events for the month of October:

1)  "Community Connect" is Thursday, October 4th, from 11am - 4pm at the IRA Civic Center in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.  It's a free event with the goal of connecting people to services.  Many vendors will be there displaying products and services.

2)  ElderCircle RSVP "Healthy Volunteering" Recognition Event - Koochiching County is October 10th, Backus Community Center, International Falls.  Please call ElderCircle RSVP at 218-999-5441 for more information.

3)  The Itasca County Committee on Aging monthly meeting is on Thursday, October 11th at 9:00am at the Mary Immaculate Church in Coleraine, Minnesota.  Speakers are Nancy Roth of Bridges Kinship Mentoring and Robyn Gunnerson of Senior Companion/Lutheran Social Services.

4)  ElderCircle Guardianship Training is Friday, October 12th, from 9am - 3pm at River Grand, 355 River Road, Grand Rapids, Minnesota.  Fee of $15 is waived if willing to become a guardian.  Looking for volunteers (age 21+) to work with adults who cannot make life decisions due to debilitating health or diminished capacity.  Call School District 318 Community Ed to register at 218-327-5730.

We hope you are enjoying this beautiful weather!!

A Walk to Remember

On Wednesday, September 26, 2012, ElderCircle helped coordinate a walk to benefit the Alzheimer's Association of MN/ND.  Many of us work, live and love people with memory loss, and this was a way honor them and raise funds to help those individuals.  Local agencies formed their own teams and it was a beautiful day! 

More than 116,000 people in Minnesota and North Dakota have Alzheimer’s disease.  Funds raised support programs and services for those individuals facing Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders, as well as programs and services for their families and care partners.  In addition, funds support advocacy for better care and research toward treatments and a cure. 

Thanks to everyone who helped coordinate this event, who participated in the walk, and donated to the event.  We look forward to making next year's walk even better!

 

 

September Events

Here are some events coming up in September.  We'd love to see you!

United Way Campaign Kick-off Pancake Cook-off

September 15, 2012

7am – 10am

Old Central School, Grand Rapids

This event features a pancake breakfast (short stack of pancakes, sausage, juice and coffee), team challenges and activities for kids.  Breakfast is $6 for adults, $3 for children ages 6-12 and free for those 5 and younger.  In-town delivery is available.

2012 Minnesota TRIAD Conference

September 18 – 20, 2012

Arrowhead Lodge at Brainerd Lakes

Crow Wing TRIAD is hosting the state MN TRIAD conference.  Registration is $40 and includes meals.  If you would like more information, please contact Anna Cass at the Itasca County Sheriff’s Department.

RSVP Recognition Picnic

September 20, 2012

12:30 – 2:30pm

Gunn Park Pavilion

ElderCircle RSVP members who met the “healthy volunteering threshold” of serving 50 or more hours from July 2011 - June2012 and all new RSVP members who enrolled during the past year are invited to attend the 31^st Annual RSVP Volunteer Recognition Event.  ElderCircle RSVP would like to recognize and thank all of the volunteers for their service.  RSVP members are free; guests are $10.00 per person, pre-paid in advance.  You MUST call RSVP at 218-999-5441 or email Deb at deb@eldercircle.org by Friday, September 14, 2012 to make your reservation and guarantee your meal(s).  There will be volunteer gifts, a picnic buffet, award certificates, prize drawings and more!

Memory Walk

September 26, 2012

11am walk

4pm walk

ElderCircle is coordinating a local memory walk at the end of September to benefit the Minnesota-North Dakota Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.  Many of us work, live and love people with memory loss, and this would be a way to honor them and raise funds to help those individuals.  More than 116,000 people in Minnesota and North Dakota have Alzheimer’s disease.  Funds raised support programs and services for those individuals facing Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders, as well as programs and services for their families and care partners.  In addition, funds support advocacy for better care and research toward treatments and a cure.  If you are interested in participating in the walk or donating, please contact Mindy Nuhring at 218-999-9233.

MACV StandDown

September 27, 2012

8:00am – 2:00pm

National Guard Armory

930 NE 1^st Avenue, Grand Rapids

All veterans are welcome to attend this event where there will be free services such as meals, clothing, VA benefits-claims and services, federal and state tax assistance, haircuts, housing, employment assistance, chaplaincy and more available to veterans.  For more information, call MACV at 218-722-8763.

 

Harvest Dinner 2012!

The Harvest Dinner was another success! Although we were worried about the weather for most of the week, it turned out to be a wonderful evening.  Ralph and Amy Fideldy of Timbersweet Farm were the hosts and the farm looked wonderful.  Guests got to walk around the farm and ask Ralph and Amy questions.  Madelen and Dennis Schuemann donated homemade wine for sampling, and Boreal Brewers donated local beer and cider for sampling.  In fact, the brewers from Boreal served hard cider that they had made out of Fideldy's apples picked from the year before.  During social hour, students from the Itasca Orchestra and Strings Program played classical music.

After a brief word from Kristi Kane, Executive Director of ElderCircle, Ralph and Amy gave a brief history of Timbersweet Farm.  Renee Perrington of Wylde Thyme Catering (who catered the dinner) also said a few words about what they were serving and where they purchased the food from locally. For example, they served apple crisp for dessert with apples from Timberweet and garnished with maple syrup candies made from Timbersweet's maple syrup.

The weather was fabulous, the food was fantastic and everyone enjoyed good company!  We are excited to begin planning of next year's Harvest Dinner!

Enjoy the photos

Valerie Cromell and Mindy Nuhring of ElderCircle at the Registration Table.

Wylde Thyme Catering

Amy and Ralph Fideldy giving a brief history of Timbersweet Farm.

Madelen and Dennis Schuemann

The delicious menu