From Your President

Christ Child Society of Northern Michigan Summer 2015

“Nothing is ever too much to do for a child.” Mary Virginia Merrick,

National Christ Child Society Founder, 1887

Diaper Pantry 1st and

3rd Friday of each month

at Manna 9:00-11:30;

Beth Cooper

JULY

16 - Spiritual Committee

meeting, 10:00 a.m.

Connie Grzanka

16 - BASH Planning

Committee, 10:00 a.m.,

Bay Harbor

17-Spirit Day Camp (see

description inside)

25 - Red Wagon

Assembly, Bay Harbor

26 - BASH, 5:00 - 8:00

p.m., Lange Center, Bay

Harbor Yacht Club

29 - Camp Quality

Backpack Assembly,

10:30 a.m.,

Alyson Halvarson

AUGUST

24 - Shower of Love,

9:00-11:00 a.m.,

Hellene Glaser

31- Board Meeting,

1:00 p.m.

SEPTEMBER

10 -Fall Luncheon,

location pending

OCTOBER

Layette Assembly

Thurs. 29 & Fri. 30

9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Linda B. Henry

Inside

Chapter Business

The Spiritual Journey

BASH 2015

Tributes and Memorials

Upcoming Events

THE SILENT AUCTION COMMITTEE

is still looking for

interesting items for the

2015 BASH Auction. If you have an article to

donate, contact

Mary Anne Newman

231-582-7364

I’m pleased to have been your president now

for the last 6 months. In the Spring Newsletter

I highlighted the last two years of our accom-

plishments. I would now like to summarize

our activities since then.

Chapter members invited guests to our June

luncheon resulting in 5 new Provisionals and 1

member joining us from another chapter.

A Strategic Planning Meeting for

Board Members was held in May

with SCORE facilitators. The

focus of this meeting was mem-

bership retention/recruitment and

revenue streams.

There are many different ways

we are communicating with our

chapter members: the newsletter, E-Blasts,

Calendar of Events (provided at the luncheon

in hard copy and on our website that is updated

regularly), Board Meeting highlights (provided

to the members shortly after our meeting) and

our CCSNM website.

Our annual fundraiser, BASH, with the theme,

“ Jazz up the Night,” has received more

sponsorships than previous years. A big thank

you to the BASH committee.

Our Chapter became a sponsor for the June 4,

Petoskey Chamber of Commerce “Business

After Hours.” This provided our chapter an

opportunity to introduce ourselves to many

local businesses in attendance. Debbie Dicken,

Community Relations Director, prepared a

short presentation about who we are and what

we do for infants and children in Northern

Michigan. Kim Jones, 1st VP, creat-

ed a tri-fold poster with pictures and

information about our chapter. The

response was positive and we will

be looking at other opportunities to

make our chapter more visible in the

community.

The board approved supporting

Spirit Day Camp, led by George

Armstrong and Challenge Mountain,

for special needs students to experience a day

trip to Mackinac Island. This year’s t-shirts

will have the Christ Child logo on them.

The board approved a special needs student to

attend Bay Cliff Health Camp for several

weeks in the Upper Peninsula.

A Wolverine music student is attending The

Young Americans Camp through our support.

I cannot thank you enough for the time you

dedicate to Christ Child Society as volunteers.

“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.” Dalai Lama

BASH 2015

Our BASH website is the vehi-

cle to keep you informed with

the latest news. Access to the

BASH website is through

www.christchildsocietynorthern

michigan.com.

Click BASH July 26, 2015 at

the top of the page. Then click

the BASH Jazz Up the Night

logo to go to the official BASH

website. Here you will find our

BASH sponsors, committee

chairs and team members. This

is also your opportunity to pur-

chase tickets, become a BASH

sponsor, make a donation to the

auctions, purchase layettes, or

make a cash donation.

Creating a check-out process

that is smooth and efficient for

our members and guests is the

finance team’s first priority, so

we are offering VIP service

again this year (last year more

than half our guests used this

option). Please check the box I

authorize Christ Child Society

of Northern Michigan, Inc. to

use the credit card entered on

the submission page at event

BASH 2015 when purchasing

tickets and you will avoid the

check-out lines at the end of the

evening. You can be assured

your credit card information is

safe, secure and encrypted with

ENTRUST. If you wish to use

a credit card, but not the web-

site, treasurer Deb Nachtrab will

be happy to assist and help you

complete your transaction. Deb

can be reached at

231-439-5596.

The BASH committee is

excited to announce that Bill

Collins will be our auctioneer

this year. From charity events

to estate and liquidation sales,

Bill has experience in all

auctioneering needs. He brings

the enthusiasm and involvement needed in order to

keep the audience intrigued and excited.

Bill is a retired auto executive and a graduate of the

Missouri Auction School. Bill enjoys charity work, and

is an active member of the Rotary Club of Petoskey and

the local SCORE chapter.

2015 Red Wagons

TIKI HUT PARTY

Everything you might need to

host a fun island-themed party:

Deb Dicken, Chair

Connie Donovan

Deb Nachtrab

Gail Selvala

SPORTS BUSTERS

Conniee Monasterio

HANDYMAN HELPER

More than just tools, and coor-

dinated by our “handy” Christ

Child husbands:

Dick Gay, Chair

Dave Borchers

Skip Cook

Tom Dansbury

Richard Labadie

Fran Shepard

Berkshire Hathaway

WHAT IN THE WORLD DO

THESE PEOPLE DO ALL

WINTER?

No excuses . . .enjoy our winter

wonderland:

Kathy Thompson, Chair

Ruthe Gerarduzzi

Laura Kors

Virginia Moffatt

Fran Shepard

COMMIT TO BE FIT

Assembled by the “expert”

Christ Child past presidents:

Mindy Mooradian, Chair

Diane Conn

Debbie Dicken

Patti Forman

Kathy Hagerman

Laura Kors

Anne Kroha

FAMILY GAMES:

Entertainment for all ages

provided by our Christ Child

provisionals:

Alyson Halvarson, Chair

Kristin Beauchamp

Ronnie Carpenter

Robin Groszko

Jackie Mitchell

Bridget Waldvogel

New BASH Auctioneer Announced

BASH Website

Page 2

The Spiritual Journey

Christ Child Society Prayer

Remember in this sacrifice of Your own

and only Child,

all children everywhere throughout the world,

and grant that, like Your Son,

as they increase in years,

they may grow in grace and wisdom before

You, and in the sight of all,

for the improvement and saving of the world.

Jesus, the Friend of little children,

bless the little children of the world. Amen

“Do all things for God and do not look for appreciation.” Mary Virginia Merrick

Summer often brings visits from friends and family and

maybe even a grandchild. Connie Grzanka shared the

following prayer reminding us to be thankful for the lit-

tle children just as Jesus reminds us that we must have

the faith of a child in order to enter the Kingdom of God.

A Grandmother’s Prayer

Oh Lord, I do not ask for much,

Eternal beauty, or youth, or such.

Just give me a little hand to hold,

And l’ll forget that I am growing old.

I do not ask for cloudless skies,

A life that’s free from tears and sighs.

Just give me a little face to kiss,

And anxious moments will turn to

bliss.

For what is there, really, that means so much

As little hands that reach and touch,

As little eyes that search and see

Only the best in fragile me?

So let me grow more loving and wise

By looking at life through their wide eyes.

For through these little ones, you have given

This grateful grandmother a glimpse of Heaven.

Author: Barbara Burrows

Christine Kuhn, Spiritual Coordinator

Kuhnj2charter.net

Connie Grzanka, Spiritual Committee

connie.grzanka@gmail.com

Our Chapter Prayer Gracious and loving God, bless our

service to the children

in our community.

Give us eyes to see the Christ Child in every

child who needs a backpack, a cozy blanket,

a healthy snack, a scholarship to camp,

a tutor at school.

Open our hearts to the suffering of children

and parents who are weighed down by the

burdens of poverty and unemployment.

Help us each and every day to carry out the

words of our founder,

Mary Virginia Merrick,

“Nothing is ever too much to do for a child.”

We pray your blessing upon the

Christ Child Society of Northern Michigan

and the children we serve.

Mark your calendar for our next

Spiritual Reflection to be held on

September 10, 2015, prior to the Fall

luncheon. Last month Fr. Joe Graff

spoke to our members, and

Ruth Rizzo provided meditation

music on the piano. Please join us in

September for another inspirational

morning.

Connie Grzanka is continuing to

build a Spiritual Committee for our

Chapter. If you are able to join us

for a meeting designed to lay the

foundation for this committee, please

contact her either by phone or email:

connie.grzanka@gmail.com

231-526-7986

Page 3

Spiritual Reflections was held before the luncheon with scripture

message by Father Joseph Graff.

Meeting attendance = 72 members; 10 guests attended the luncheon.

Alyson Halvarson, Provisional Coordinator, introduced

Provisional members: Jackie Mitchell and Bridget Waldvogel;

and new members who received their pins: Kristen Beauchamp,

Ronnie Carpenter, Robin Groszko, and Gloria Hoffman.

Minutes of the Members Annual Meeting and Election December

11, 2014 were approved.

Reports included:

Completed 2014 Financial Statements and the IRS 990 tax form

print copies are available at the CCSNM house - contact Deanna

Klosinski or Deb Nachtrab. As required for public inspection, the

2014 IRS 990 tax form is posted on the CCSNM website – see

drop-down tab “About” and click on Legal Documents.

The 2015 Annual Member Report Highlights: chapter progress,

accomplishments, projects, members and volunteer hours,

children served, financial “pies” of income and expenses, and

the CCSNM scholarship.

Board members participated in a Strategic Planning Meeting,

May 29th, focusing on Membership retention and recruitment,

and revenue streams.

Communications keep members informed: newsletters (next one

July 15th, E-Blasts, calendar of events, Board meeting highlights,

and the CCSNM website.

Membership activities for the luncheon included: mix-it-up

seating (by choice); ice-breaker questions; two cards describing

CCSNM History and Red Wagon symbol on one side and prospective

membership response with expectations on another side; and member-

ship survey cards.

Members are needed: Projects, BASH, chairs and committee

members - contact Linda Henry President.

Handouts: 2015 Calendar of Events (see the CCSNM website);

Directory inserts – first page with CCSNM Motto and Vision and

Mission statements and contact information, pages with names

and contact information for (1) Board of Directors, (2) Project

Chairs; and (3) Coordinators, BASH, Managers, and

Committees; and Welcome to Our Website guide –

ccsnm@christchildsocietynorthernmichigan.org

BASH Chair Fran Shepard and Co-chair Monica Crawford hyped

this year’s theme, Jazz Up the Night; Red Wagon Chair

Jan Mancuso described the 6 themes and coordinators: Winter

Wonderland – Kathy Thompson; Commit to get Fit – Mindy

Mooradian and past presidents; Family Games – Provisionals;

Tiki-Hut – Debbie Dicken; Handyman Helper – Richard Gay;

Sports Paraphernalia – Connie Monasterio.

Items are needed: Live and Silent Auction.

Carolyn Anderson received a certificate of appreciation for her many

activities.

Appreciations were extended and birthdays were acknowledged for

May, June, July, and August.

Handouts and cards for membership recruitment are available at the

CCSNM house.

2015 BASH Committee (opposite photo)

Front row: Deb Nachtrab, honorary chair; Monica Crawford 2015 co-hair; Mary Anne Newman, Mary Ann Gardella and Cathie Merrit,

silent auction co-chairs. Back row: Connie Donovan, live auction support; Karen McFarland, hospitality; Pam Harris and Char Sproles,

food and beverage co-chairs; Linda Burnham and Deanna Klosinski, finance; Kathy Hagerman, florals and decorations; Kathi Glass, pro-

curement; Diane Giffin, data and publicity.

Not pictured: Julie Bernstein, invitations and auction catalog; Alyson Halvarson, live auction; Joan McCrone, florals and decorations;

Alona Kelly, finance; Diane Holman, graphics; Debbie Dicken, data; Fran Shepard, 2015 BASh chair; Jan Mancuso, Red Wagon chair,

Kristyn Balog, finance and graphics; Linda Henry, Chapter president and publicity

The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings. ~Eric Hoffer

Highlights from the June 4 Membership Meeting

Page 4

If you have been to the Christ Child House recently,

you’ll see the handiwork of our committee members.

Summer is here and colorful plants are in the ground.

THANKS go to all who have made

this happen.

House Improvements:

Met with Gow Litzenberger about

the ruts in the lawn

Spoke with Mark Miller who

mows the lawn and resolved part

of the issue with the depressions

in the lawn

Begonias were planted as well as

the window box on the garage and

pots in front of the house

Planted the flowers from the June luncheon

Deb Nachtrab’s gardener has graciously donated his

time to spray the yard for weeds.

Thanks to Barb Tally and Randy Hagerman for

coming to plant flowers on the spur of the moment

due to weather concerns.

Thanks to Barb and John Taylor for trimming

the rose bushes and other bushes around the

house.

Thanks to Kathy Schroeder and Kaye Frang

who weeded and added more colorful plants

to our beds, and to Linda Burnham who

rescued our thirsty plants by watering and

weeding.

Our committee will continue to weed and

water as necessary for the rest of the summer.

A wonderful commitment …..

keeping the grounds of our Christ Child

house beautiful.

Kathy Hagerman, House Manager

Committee: Kathy Schroeder, Linda Burnham, Penny

Vokes, Diane Conn, Advisor

Notes from the House/Property Committee

A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. ~Amelia Earhart

2015 BASH COMMITTEE

Page 5

“Change your thoughts and you change your world.” Norman Vincent Peale

Chapter News

Honored at the recent Northern

Michigan Media-

tion appreciation

luncheon, Christ

Child member

Kristyn Balog

received the

Rookie Mediator of the Year, an

award for an outstanding mediator

who has been with the center for

less than two years.

Memorials and Tributes

Tribute to Mr. and Mrs. David Giffin sent by Karen Grifka

Tribute to Kim Jones sent by Edwin Landon

Memory of Kathleen Hannah sent by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Clarke

Memory of Dolores Goebel sent by Mr. and Mrs. Joe Sproles

Memory of James C. Shepard sent by Monica and Tom Crawford

New Members

Provisional orientation was held at the house on May 4, attended by

Lois Hughes, Kristin Beauchamp, Robin Groszko, Ronnie Carpenter,

and our renewal member, Kathy Schroeder.

At our spring luncheon, we welcomed into full membership Gloria

Hoffman, Kristin Beauchamp, Ronnie Carpenter, and Robin Groszko.

Our newest provisionals are Lois Hughes, Jackie Mitchell, and Bridget

Waldvogel.

Many new people came to our luncheon as guests and have expressed

interest to join CCSNM. Thanks to our membership for helping us

grow! Kim Jones and her membership committee set up mixer table

cards with some fun conversation themes on the tables. Kim also had

cards on the table for guests to fill out which made it easy for our guests

to give us their contact information.

Volunteers from

The

Friendship Center

knitted and

crocheted 41 items

to be used in

Christ Child

layettes.

Reminder

The code for the

house is 023 on

the key pad.

Kristyn Balog Wins Award

Page 6

“It is not fair to ask of others what you are not willing to do yourself.” Eleanor Roosevelt

Spring Luncheon

President Linda Henry awards

Carol Anderson with a certificate of

appreciation. Over the years,

“Christmas Carol” has served on

almost every project, from Care

Kits to Blanket Brigade, from

BASH finance committee to

Layettes. Carol is relocating to

North Carolina with husband

Glenn.

President Linda Henry with members moving into active

membership. (l-r) Kristen Beauchamp, Robin Groszko,

Gloria Hoffmann, and Ronnie Carpenter.

Provisional Chairwoman Alyson Halvarson welcomes new

members Jackie Mitchell and Bridget Waldvogel with

President Linda Henry.

Over 20 volunteers met at

the house to stuff, seal,

and stamp 800 BASH

invitations. Diane Conn

graciously provided coffee

and sweets to keep us

energized and greeted

everyone as they arrived.

Thanks to the following

members who made the

job easy and completed in

record time:

Carolyn Benjamin, Cindy

Blasius, Kathie Byrne,

Diane Conn, Monica

Crawford, Connie

Dansbury, Barb

DeAgostino, Debbie

Dicken, Linda Farr,

Margene Fennell, Diane

Giffin, Kathi Glass, Gloria

Hoffmann, Cindy

Hofstetter, Karen

McFarland, Cathie

Merritt, Jackie Mitchell,

Deb Nachtrab, Mary Anne

Newman, Susie Stern, and

Bridget Waldvogel

Thanks for you time and

all you do for our chapter,

we couldn't do it without

you!

Fran and Monica 2015

BASH chairs

BASH Invitation

Mailing

Our chapter has financially supported Spirit Day Camp

(formerly known as the George Armstrong Camp), a day

camp for special needs children, for many years. When

this year’s campers go to Mackinac Island, they will

wear custom designed t-shirts with the Christ Child logo.

Volunteers are needed on Friday, July 17 to serve lunch

from 1:00-2:00 p.m. at Petoskey High School cafeteria.

Volunteers are welcome to stay and participate in after-

noon activities. If you can help, please call Mary Anne

Newman at 231-582-7364

Christ Child Society of

Northern Michigan has

received the GuideStar

Exchange Silver level logo,

a leading symbol of transpar-

ency and accountability

provided by GuideStar USA,

Inc., the premier source of

nonprofit information. The

logo demonstrates Christ

Child Society’s deep com-

mitment to nonprofit trans-

parency and accountability.

In order to be awarded the

GuideStar Exchange

logo, Christ Child Society of

Northern Michigan had to

fill out every required field

of our nonprofit report

on www.guidestar.org for the

Silver level of participation.

Spirit Day Help Needed

GuideStar Rating

You can purchase your

BASH tickets directly

by going to

Http://tinyurl.com/ptrbam2

Page 7

Preparations for our BASH 2015 (Building

A Service Heritage) summer fundraiser are

well underway. BASH will be Sunday, July

26, at the beautiful Bay Harbor Yacht Club.

A big thanks to all the chairwomen and their

committees for the work they have already

done. Thank you to all who have donated,

and please keep the items coming. We have

commitments for all six red wagons, and a

well-rounded group of volunteers, both

provisionals and experienced members,

who have stepped up to the plate while

having fun and making new friends. Below

is a list of volunteers who have already

signed up. Please contact Monica Crawford

or the committee chair to get involved in this

wonderful event. This year’s theme is “Jazz

Up the Night.”

Chairman: Fran Shepard

Co-chair: Monica Crawford

Honorary Chair: Deb Nachtrab

Live Auction Chair: Alyson Halvarson

Co-chair: Linda Bade

Red Wagon Chair: Jan Mancuso

Silent Auction Co-chairs: Mary Ann

Gardella and Mary Anne Newman

Publicity Chair: Linda Henry

Finance Chair: Alona Kelly

Committee Chairwomen

Kristyn Balog

Julie Bernstein

Diane Giffin

Debi Goodman

Kathi Glass

Pam Harris

Kathy Hagerman

Diane Holman

Kim Jones

Deanna Klosinski

Joan Mandell

Joan McCrone

Karen McFarland

Ruth Rizzo

Char Sproles

Kathy Thompson

Christ Child Society of

Northern Michigan

P.O. Box 132

Harbor Springs, MI 49740

“Jazz Up the Night”- BASH 2015

“Nothing is ever too much to do for a child.” Mary Virginia Merrick

We’re on the web at

www.christchildsocietynorthernmichigan.com