Volunteers in Mission

 

 

photos from recent VIM Tripspicasaweb.google.com/BandRHoover 

 

 

Altoona District VIM Team Meeting  October 29, 2011

 

Opening prayer

 

•Attendance: 25 (Not bad considering snowy weather)

•Agenda:

– Fellowship and good food

– Reviewed recent VIM activities / photos

– Plans for 2012 VIM Schedule

 

• 25-31 March 2012 to North Carolina

 

• 15-21 April 2012 to PA

 

• 10-14 Sep 2012 to Joplin, MO

•Any time you want to see VIM photos, they are on the web at:

 

https://picasaweb.google.com/BandRHoover

 

Recent VIM Activities

o18-25 Sep, Vanceboro, NC

o 8-16 Oct, Dora, AL

 

o “Ms Kitty” project (Will make $500 donation)

 

Future Events for Your Calendar

o Susquehanna Conference VIM Name Tag order (Let Marty know if you want one)

o2 December, HOSS’s VIM Fund Raiser

o13 April 2012, New Sight & Sound “Jonah” Show

ü VIM fund raiser (includes bus, meal, show)

 

Mission Information

 

•Mississippi UMC donated $50,000 for PA flood victims

 

•Japan 6 months later

 

 

http://blogs.sacbee.com/photos/2011/09/japan-marks-6-months-since-ear.html

 

 

•NOT ALL HEROES ARE PEOPLE ~ ~ ~

 

James Crane worked on the 101st floor of Tower 1 of the World Trade Center . He is blind so he had his golden retriever named Daisy. After the plane hit 20 stories below, James knew that he was doomed, so he let Daisy go, out of an act of love. She darted away into the darkened hallway. Choking on the fumes of the jet fuel and the smoke James was just waiting to die. About 30 minutes later, Daisy comes back along with James' boss, who Daisy just happened to pick up on floor 112. On her first run of the building, she leads James, James' boss, and about 300 more people out of the doomed building. But she wasn't through yet, she knew there were others who were trapped. So, highly against James' wishes she ran back in the building. On her second run, she saved 392 lives. Again she went back in. During this run, the building collapses. James hears about this and falls on his knees into tears. Against all known odds, Daisy makes it out alive, but this time she is carried by a firefighter. "She led us right to the people, before she got injured" the fireman explained. Her final run saved another 273 lives. She suffered acute smoke inhalation, severe burns on all four paws, and a broken leg, but she saved 967 lives. Daisy is the first civilian Canine to win the Medal of Honor of New York City.

North Carolina VIM Budget Summary Altoona District VIM Team Meeting

The North Carolina VIM trip was a very good experience for several reasons.

Joplin was not ready for our rebuilding team, but NC had requested our help.

Large numbers of volunteers help with the financial aspects.

 

–I usually plan for team size of 20 to 25 members

 

–Having 31 gave us some cushion

 

–Two members declined (donated) their vehicle incentive payments

 

–Some vehicles are obviously getting spectacular mileage

 

Having a Vanceboro citizen pick up our Friday night meal tab of $520 – Amazing!

Receiving several generous donations helps maintain healthy materials fund

Lessons learned –

 

–Community meal support is going to force us to take less food with us

 

–Refrigerators full of 31 lunches make it difficult to find items on the back of the shelf

 

 

The Alabama VIM trip was also very good experience, but a bit different from others.Team of 15 volunteers presents more of a financial challenge.

–An additional $100 per volunteer levied after registration fees were set

–Project management was at the Central District UMC level

–Having meals provided for us was a blessing

 

Receiving several generous donations helped us break even

It was the first time we had representatives from the District and Conference offices come and join us for our Friday evening meal.

–We presented them with a quilt from the HUB and the VIM team

–They sent the team members t-shirts

 

 

Set 2012 mission schedule

Ø Considered

 

–Joplin, MO (Have application for 10-14 Sep 2012)

–Pennsylvania

–Vermont

 

–North Carolina (We have a request to return, anytime.)

–Other locations

Ø Selected dates and destinations

 

•25-31 March 2012 to North Carolina

 

• 15-21 April 2012 to PA

 

• 10-14 Sep 2012 to Joplin, MO