THE VISTA VERSE Volume 2 Issue 12

The Vista

Verse

DECEMBER 2012 IN THIS ISSUE

Weld County AmeriCorps VISTAs “Share the Warmth”

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Welcome New Vista Members Anna and Bekah!

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Very Valuable VISTA: Paige Ball, SAVA Center

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THE VISTA VERSE | Issue 12 2

December 8 & 22 – Greeley Winter Farmers' Market! with a variety products from late season produce to locally raised natural meats, sausages, European-style breads, pastries, jams, coffee, honey, soaps, spices, candies and sweets, along with a selection of items from Greeley’s local arts and crafts community. 2nd and 4th Saturday, each month through April. It will be held indoors at 508 8th Avenue from 9am to noon.

December 11 – United Way Thank-You-Thon, Join us in calling donors to say “Thank you!” 9am – 12pm and 1pm – 4pm at the Weld County Training Center, 1104 H Street, and snacks and drinks available. Please email serita@unitedway-weld.org if you are able to help us out!

December 15 – A Woman’s Place hosts the Holiday House, 10 am to 5 pm at the Weld Training Center (1104 H Street). To volunteer: E-mail Jenny at vista@awpdv.org. We also still need gifts donated for children of ALL AGES, including teenagers.

December 19 – Wii Rock Band 3, Join the Evolution of the Rock Revolution on Nintendo Wii with Rock Band 3. From rock classics to today's biggest artists, grab an instrument and a friend. Grab the guitar, the bass and now the keyboard. Lincoln Park Library, 5pm – 7pm

December 20 – VISTA Monthly Meeting, 9am at United Way

Happening in December

Share the Warmth:

Make your donation at United Way of Weld County, District 6

Administrative Offices, Boy Scouts Longs Peak Council Office,

Aims Community College, UNC, or with any Weld County

AmeriCorps VISTA Member!

THE VISTA VERSE | Issue 12 3

Welcome Anna & Bekah!

Anna

Anna is currently working as the Community Outreach VISTA for the Global Refugee Center. After graduating from McGill University in Montreal Canada in 2011, Anna has been working for various non-profits and NGOs. Anna is excited to be spending the next year in the beautiful state of Colorado. In her free time, Anna enjoys reading, being outdoors, and dance.

Bekah

Bekah is serving at the Global Refugee Center as the Resource Developer. Originally from the Midwest area, Bekah graduated in 2010 from Luther College in Decorah, IA with a degree in religion. She spent the past year volunteering in the United Kingdom at BMS World Mission. She likes playing ultimate Frisbee, cooking, baking and doing anything outdoors.

VISTA members Christina, Bekah, Melody, Rose & Sarah

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1. If you could be a cookie what kind of cookie would you be? Brown-butter hazelnut cookies with chunks of milk chocolate. I found the recipe in my Food Porn Cookbook. (Yes, that’s what it’s called.) These cookies are what every cookie aspires to be. These cookies won’t give us world peace or even cure cancer, but if I weighed 500lbs because I ate so many of these cookies, I’d be totally at peace with my poor life decisions. 2. What is one goal you’d like to accomplish during your lifetime? Figuring out what I want to be when I grow up. I’d also like to operate a food truck selling edibles to those who are into that sort of thing. 3. If you had to enter a competition for the "Most Uselessly Unique Talent," what would your talent be? N64 Mario Kart Driving and useless knowledge.

4. What are your three favorite spices? Ginger, Baby, and Sporty. (Or: Cumin, cardamom, and salt. Salt’s so awesome, there’s a book written about its contribution to society and I want to read that book.) 5. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? New Zealand. I think the landscape is absolutely magnificent—kayaking, rock climbing, hiking opportunities abound. My friend Mary Catherine and I plan to farm alpacas there. Also, I have been planning to single-white-female Annmarie since I threw her off the VISTA Survivor Island. 6. Why did you become an AmeriCorps VISTA? I had spent almost 2 years volunteering as a community educator for the rape crisis center in Chapel Hill. I wanted to be more involved with rape prevention. And, seeing as how 99% of my family has lived in North Carolina for 300 years, I also wanted to move. I have friends in Colorado. SAVA needed a VISTA for prevention. One could call it destiny. 7. What do you miss most about home? Chapel Hill and its surrounding areas are the probably the best parts of North Carolina. I know all the good spots even though new ones keep popping up. The area is a magnet for foodies, brewers, talented local bands—all of which are marinated in romanticized Southern culture. Where else can one wear a seeksucker suit complete with bowtie and sing Wagon Wheel? Is there anything better than being in the student section for a UNC-Duke game in the Dean Dome? Where else is dancing with hipsters in an old train car turned bar as much fun? After being back

recently, I realized that it’s really the area itself that makes me homesick for crazy nights out and the novelty of food trucks and fall foliage and the assumption that my tea will be cold and sweet and college sports fanatics and having strangers call me “sugar” and “baby” and going to the mountains one day and the coast the next because I can. It’s the progressive idealism in an area that will bend over backwards for the sake of traditional Southern hospitality. It’s reminding everyone that Duke is an evil, soulless entity with less NCAA Men’s Basketball Titles than UNC. Because UNC is extremely flawed, but Roy Williams is still golden. (Oh, and living 10 minutes away from Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods was pretty sweet as well.) 8. What do you love the most about being in Colorado? The lack of humidity. After writing that last paragraph, I have no idea what I like about Colorado anymore. I think that the diversity in its landscape is absolutely amazing. I love that I’m so close to so many wonderful natural things (re: Mt Rushmore, the Grand Tetons, Moab, Yellowstone, Sand Dunes, Mesa Verde, the Rocky Mountains, elk). I also think I’ve found some wonderful best friends here and I’m eternally grateful for that.

The Vista

Verse

For more information, contact Lisa Monsen | VISTA Leader United Way of Weld County

Lisa@unitedway-weld.org 970-304-6179

814 9th Street | PO Box 1944 Greeley, CO 80632

Very Valuable VISTA: Paige Ball, SAVA Center