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P.O. Box 8527

Prairie Village, KS 66208 January 25, 2012

TO: Friends of Reaching Out From Within

Reaching Out From Within (ROFW) is entering its 30th year helping Kansas inmates prepare for

successful re-entry to community life. Your kindness and support have benefited literally thousands of

ROFW men and women.

We ask that you make your donation to Reaching Out From Within now, early in 2012, to give us the

necessary resources to sustain our critical functions. Please consider contributing what you can by

March 1st. Send your contribution to Reaching Out From Within, Inc., P.O. Box 8527, Prairie Village,

KS 66208.

As our program has expanded, our costs have increased. We enter 2012 with a carryover account

balance of only $9,858. Since our operating costs at this point are around $4,300 a month, we are

clearly in somewhat of a desperate situation.

Thank you for all of your support over the years. With your donations in 2011 we were able to add a

new correctional facility and two new groups to our rolls. We are now in every correctional facility in

the state of Kansas. We also initiated a mentoring program to assist our participants through the

reentry process when they are released from the correctional facility.

Many of you are volunteering your time and services to our programs, and that contribution deserves

special recognition in this letter. Our records reflect that in 2011 you contributed 1899 man-hours and

drove your vehicles 19,520 miles while doing this work, at the same time spending $1306.78 out of

your own pocket without reimbursement to get the job done.

Thanks again,

Russell S. Thompson, Ph.D.

President, Board of Directors

Reaching Out From Within

home 913-727-2574

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Inside & Out 2012 #1 (January)

From Co-Founder SuEllen Fried

Talk about JOY! It is truly impossible to describe the soul-filling celebrations that I experienced during December with every ROFW group inside the walls - fifteen groups across the state. The meals and gift bags were great, but the real feast was digesting the loving spirit in each of our ROFW programs. Every gathering was a blessing to absorb. I am in such awe of the men and women—of like minds and hearts--who cherish each other, cherish the Blue Book and cherish the opportunity to give back in such purposeful ways. Please know how grateful I am for the certificates, the checks, the cards and the gifts, which I treasure. Special thanks to Dr. Betty Barker Bashaw and my husband, Harvey, who were my traveling companions. Harvey joined me in meeting with Ellsworth Warden Dan Schnurr and staffers Marty Sauers and Carolyn Graves. We were pleased with their interest in ROFW. September, 2012 is the 30th anniversary of ROFW and we are going to have 30 events, one for each day of the month. Each group will create a special way to honor the anniversary within its facility, and we will have a grand affair in the Kansas City on September 29 and a reunion for ROFW alumni on September 30. We are counting on everyone to be part of our Birthday Festival. Kathy Disney, our Chairperson, and her Committee will keep you posted on the plans. We welcome your ideas and input. HAPPY NEW YEAR to ONE and ALL!

ROFW reaches out to Ellsworth

We are excited to report that a new ROFW group

is forming at Ellsworth Correctional Facility (ECF). The idea for a group came about in the traditional way—a ROFW member moved to a new prison situation and approached the correction staff about starting up a group.

In this case, Richard J., who had been ROFW chairman at Norton, approached the administration at ECF. That led to an exchange of phone calls and a visit by ROFW Co-founder SuEllen Fried. Soon, Blue Books to support a 25-30 member group were on their way.

“I have spoken with the parole coordinator and unit team about ROFW and explained the impact of ROFW—using me as the example,” wrote Richard J. “I am proud to announce that they are very impressed and interested in starting a ROFW program here.”

Many thanks to Richard J. and to KDOC staff sponsor Brian Pruitt for working on this. When the Ellsworth group convenes, it will mean the ROFW organization is officially represented at all Kansas correctional facilities. At present, more than 500 men and women are involved annually statewide.

We hope to see a new Ellsworth group soon. ROFW news and views begin on page 3. The 2011 donor list is on page 9.

Paul Showalter, Executive Director

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ROFW members at LCF-Medium take part in the Annual Recognition Banquet, one of 13 December events held over a period of 18 days at Kansas correctional facilities. SuEllen Fried was present for each.

Join the 30th Anniversary Celebration

We are beginning our 30th year as a program. We want every one of our 19 groups to coordinate a one-day

celebration of the ROFW’s anniversary in September 2012. Thirty days has September, and each of those days will be a celebration of the 30 years ROFW has made a difference in the lives of Kansans.

Please let our Executive Director, Paul Showalter, know what day you want to organize your own special celebration in September. I request that you give him a primary and 2 alternate dates. September 29 and 30 are taken already with major events in Kansas City, so select a primary and two alternate dates from September 1 through 27. More information about the Kansas City events will be forthcoming.

We would like groups to send their date preferences by February 15 so that we can announce the schedule of September celebrations by March 1. We will fill the open dates with events so the entire month is covered.

What a wonderful holiday season we have enjoyed. There were two more ROFW Recognition Banquets in 2011 than there were in 2010. With our new group at Ellsworth, ROFW will be in every KDOC facility in 2012.

Our mentoring program for those releasing to Johnson and Wyandotte counties is making great progress. Many mentor matches have been made. Some mentees have already been released.

The 2011 edition of the Blue Book was printed and distributed. You should have your copies by the time you receive this newsletter. I hope you are as excited about everything that is going on as I am. Happy New Year!

Russell Thompson, President of the Board

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News and Views from ROFW Groups . . .

Lansing Correctional Facility-

generations to come.

Winfield Correctional Facility

I’m sure every member of this organization can

identify with the sense of lifelessness we often feel during captivity. I’d like you to imagine for a moment how it will feel to finally enter the world where our loved ones express their personal longings for us without having to race the visitation clock. Think of how it will feel to finally inhale the tranquility of our own habitats. This was the feeling we shared during the opening of our awards banquet on Dec. 3, 2011.

As Mario Requena shared the reading of “Today I Will Make a Difference,” every spirit in the room came together and we reached our 2011 goal of becoming a family. We reflected on the fact ROFW speakers reached 1,548 young lives. We had several guests here at Winfield who genuinely supported the cause. This night definitely made each hour we’ve spent telling our life stories worth it.

We are honored to have been able to donate $2,800 to outside charities this year, and we look forward to making an addition to the revised Blue Book. Thank you to each and every member of ROFW. This year was a winner.

Lawyer Jones, Chairman

Norton Correctional Facility

Live the life you have imagined

Man’s best successes come after their

disappointments, so go confidently in the direction of your dreams—live the life you have imagined.

Sometimes we take life for granted. We don’t know how important things are until they’re gone. As a young man, I’ve been through a lot in the past five years, and at twenty one, I’m tired of my rough life. I wanted to live life the wrong way, and I’m tired of punishing the people that care about me the most.

Because of my actions since I joined ROFW, I cherish life and look at things differently than I used to. When I first came I didn’t think ROFW would benefit me. I just went to the open house for the cookies and teas. But since I joined ROFW, I think about my future in the years to come, and I believe that makes me and other group member want to live their life in the right way.

People say they want to change, but in order to change you have to have to want to change. Yes it’s a struggle in the beginning, but in the end you’ll be a much better person. Which would you rather be, a father and husband than can provide for his family, or a father and ex-husband that loses everything because he’s always in and out of prison?

Well if you have to think twice and don’t know where to start, start off by coming to ROFW. We use many tools that can help you while you’re incarcerated and help you be a better person when you are released from prison.

We want to thank our sponsor, Ms. Sharon, for all she does for the group. She’s a special individual. I also want to thank the members of ROFW for all the wonderful advice they’ve shared in the group discussions to help each of us understand our inner self.

As a member of ROFW, it’s my job to reach out to those who are reading this letter. You can make a difference. Take the first step and come to ROFW. It’s your choice and life’s all about choices, so make the right choice.

Travis Graham, newsletter editor

Getting Over Myself By W.R.S. (NCF)

Looking back on my past, Mistakes I’ve made, and loves that last.

I know my choices were not all good, In fact, a few were pretty bad.

I try holding on to those things I should While letting go of ideas I had.

The center of the universe isn’t me. It’s my wife, my kids, my family.

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Larned Mental Health Correctional Facility-West Unit

Once in a while a special kind of person will come along and leave a lasting impression on people who they come in contact with. It is a feat not easily achievable, especially in an unlikely place as a men’s correctional facility. Mr. Rick Perez was such a person. Mr. Perez began, as a corrections officer here at the Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility, not long after the unit was built. He eventually became a unit team counselor in the west unit for minimum offenders. Then in the month of February 2011, Mr. Perez’s career and life ended in a tragic vehicle accident. The shock of his death settled in, as inmates and officers stood at the windows, overlooking the north side of the unit, and gazed at the lights of emergency vehicles gathered at a distance, marking the site of the accident. Mr. Perez had just left the unit, and was on the way home. On November 4th, the ROFW West Unit board and the majority of the unit’s inmates met with LCMHF staff, friends and family members to honor his memory. A limestone memorial bench was built and dedicated to Mr. Perez through the efforts of ROFW and Mr. Glenn Schniepp, owner of the Bazine Limestone Company in Bazine Kansas. The monument now stands next to the West unit activities building. During the dedication, three ROFW board members explained the meaning of the memorial, the definition of a legend, and about what Mr. Perez had meant to the unit. Then several of the LCMHF staff members expressed their sorrow of losing their friend and colleague. Mr. Perez will be remembered as a person who always had a friendly salutation or a funny remark to all. He conveyed confidence and encouragement to each individual that he counseled. He was always by a person’s side, ready with words of consolation for those who were grieving for lost loved ones—often following up with short visits to check on how those individuals were holding up. Through the memorial bench, we hope to keep his memory alive here. But Mr. Perez’s memory will always live in the hearts of all of us who knew and respected him. In other news, with the spirit of holiday season at hand, the Larned minimum chapter voted to donate $500.00 to the R.O.F.W. main office. The donation capped off a good year with a total of $3744.08 donated to various groups in our area. The donation was announced during the Annual ROFW Recognition Banquet to surprise co-founder Mrs. SuEllen Fried.

(R.O.F.W. would like to thank Mr. Glenn Schniepp of Bazine Limestone, for his generous donation, time and hard work put into making the memorial possible.)

Roy O., LCMHF West Unit Editor

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Larned Central Unit

We had 27 inmates in attendance at last week’s meeting--one of our largest meetings to date. There is still a lot of interest in the group. We have a whole new Board of Directors. We finally got through the Respect section in the Blue Book and are now working on Prisoner Mentality.

We had a very enjoyable holiday banquet. The food was a great treat and the gift bag an unexpected bonus. But the highlight of the afternoon was meeting SuEllen and Harvey Fried. We also had Warden Waddington, Deputy-warden Reno and ROFW volunteer Raymond Law in attendance, all of whom had some inspirational comments for our group. Staff members, Dominic G and Terri W., along with our sponsor Lana Hopkins, helped serve the food, drinks and take pictures.

The usual decline in attendance at our regular meeting, after the banquet, failed to materialize. The first meeting following the feast and festivities, we had 24 in attendance. Two members were missing because of illness, one left prison a couple days after the banquet and one of our original board members was transferred to another facility.

New Chairman’s addresses the group Our new Chairman, Homer W. gave a very moving address during the banquet. Highlights: “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak: Courage is also what it takes to sit down and

listen. You don’t have to wait …until you are … professionally established, more financially secure … to take on the world and be the outstanding person that somewhere, however deeply inside, you aspire to be. No! Greatness is not about your future potential, it’s about who you are being right now. … What now prevents us from expressing our greatness is our failure to reconcile ourselves with the paradox of being human. That is, to be scared to death about our inadequacy, to the extent that we choose not to live life fully at all, rather than dive deep into it and risk being caught with your pants down…

(Continued on next page)

REACHING OUT FROM WITHIN

By Terence P., LCMHF-West Unit

I’m Reaching Out From Within to renew the loving and caring heart I once knew, it has not been that long ago, but surely it’s a few, the havoc I wreaked has caused my anger to brew, from the hurt and pain I have caused myself and others that grew, to a pinnacle far beyond what I could ever imagine it would be, so here I am waiting, wanting and writing to be set free.

I’m Reaching Out From Within, and it’s more about living and creating new relationships, that are all about giving, in and of ourselves to those hurting,

and them that are truly in need, It’s not for our own glory, it’s about sharing with one another, no longer for greed.

I’m Reaching Out From Within, to prove that change and peace will come.

I’m Reaching Out From Within, to let you know exactly where we are coming from, And that change is inevitable, and it’s about me and you, a win-win when we are, Reaching Out From Within.

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Hutchinson Correctional Facility-East Unit

Sorry we did not have any input into the newsletter this past year. We had a crossing of wires regarding sending letters out.

We are finishing up a section we have been designing for the Blue Book about Grief and Loss. We also teamed up with our other two self-help groups here to pay for and care for a community garden. We provide low-cost fresh vegetables to the inmates and staff of HCF and donate a lot of produce to our area soup kitchen. Sales and donations totaled roughly 2,500 pounds of fresh produce. We have really enjoyed providing this service, and it gives us a sense of doing as our name implies—Reaching Out From Within. We also got an outside sponsor. We welcome Mr. Roger Regehr to our ROFW team.

We are getting ready for our Christmas banquet and preparing for our annual Angel Tree donation. We have a staff member who takes the money we donate and purchases the presents we need. We are hoping to increase our donation to $2,000 this year instead of our normal $1,500.

Until next time, remember: What we do is seen by those who we think do not see us. Russell Coble, HCF-East Secretary

Larned Central Unit Continued

“Power that resides in each of us—to create change and wield influence—has left even the greatest men and women feeling deeply inadequate and humbled…you will find the courage you need to answer your unique call to greatness…to give back to the world that has given you so much.

“I do not believe that anyone is a failure. I do believe that there are those who have failed to honor the potential to the world…

“At its core, integrity is about being true to yourself. Although the path of integrity is not always an easy one to follow, it is the only path that will allow you to experience real peace of mind, contentment and harmony in your life. Living with integrity means to place integrity at the cornerstone of every decision you make and every action you take…that will allow you to lead others effectively…and to encourage them to live with greater integrity.

“Making a conscious decision about how you will respond to your circumstances…you can live the life of courage. Obviously, you can never change your past, but you can change how you think about it. Your past doesn’t need to define who you are or the future you will have, unless you let it. … choose to stop letting the past determine your future. …

“There is a light that beckons you forward and it comes from within you. Embrace it. Don’t try to hide in the dark shadows of fear that it casts behind…

“Dare to want more from your life and to dig deeper into yourself to experience it’s mystery, it’s richness and its sacredness more fully.… and sensing that we are a part of a bigger whole, you will come to know…that your life is truly holy”

Chairman Homer W., who was recently released from segregation after 12 straight years, commented about inmates in segregation.

“Treat a man as he is and he will remain as he is. Treat him as he could be and he will become as he should be. Although I am a product of my past, don’t make me a prisoner of it.”

Greg N., Homer W. and Austin M.

“Treat a man as he is and

he will remain as he is.

Treat a man as he could be

and he will become as he

should be.

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LCF Medium Unit members pose with LCF sponsors and guests after its banquet.

Lansing Correctional Facility--Minimum Unit

Season’s Greetings to all. We’ve had a very busy and exciting fall and are looking forward to the New Year. We selected a brand new board and are excited about the direction in which we are headed. Membership also increased from 22 to 33! The men on the “Hill” participated in our ROFW Bike Ride to the tune of over 300 laps ridden and donations of $92 to our sponsored charity, Gracious Promise. Thanks to all who participated. Upcoming events include an essay contest with the question: “What has ROFW done for you?” We also will be sponsoring Bingo for the men on the Hill. We are anticipating the opportunities that lie ahead. Remember this as you move forward—whatever you look for in a person, you will find.

Clayton Nolan, Newsletter Editor

Lansing Correctional Facility- Max Unit

Time For Change By Micah Yoakum Sr., LCF-Max Secretary

To do the right thing you have to be strong. You have to be willing to admit you’re wrong… Our learned behavior got us where we are, Away from freedom, our family afar… You must have the desire and be willing to change.

It will take some time as we all know, We’re all doing time so let’s use it to grow… In order to grow we must change our old habits, So let’s stop running like rabbits…

I am saying all of this because I have the desire. I am giving up my past, all the bad things I retire… I am doing what it takes to make my life better, I have put my mind, heart and soul back together… So give it some thought and let yourself see, That until ya surrender, you will never be free…

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Lansing Correctional Facility-Max Unit

What Is The Point?

I strike you and you strike back. I cause you to hurt and you hurt me back. What is the point?

Conflict in its simplest terms is a disagreement between two people. It seems that for the majority when there is a conflict, the only way to resolve it is through violence.

Does violence solve anything? We ask this question when we attempt to utilize our cognitive skills toward the effort of correcting our behavior. What is the point? I believe that in order for us to survive as a people, we must resolve ourselves to living violence-free lifestyles.

If I strike or hurt you, and this doesn’t solve anything, then what is the point? Why practice to do something we have come to realize is not the answer? Violence only begets violence, and during the act of violence more people than our individual selves are affected.

For the majority of those of us in prison, when we hear “violence-free lifestyle,” we feel that we are being asked to be weak.

Fighting, biting, scratching, kicking, punching each other only shows how we can act and behave like animals. It is said that intelligence separates us from the animals of the earth. How can we know if we act like them?

ROFW teaches that we are human beings and we as individuals possess a large degree of intelligence. The goal of our program is to provide information so that each of us can maximize and increase our intellectual capacities.

We must first exercise our choice to believe that we are human beings before we

can actually practice to learn and live as human beings. More importantly, we have an obligation to our fellow man to live by example to resolve our conflicts without violence.

This is the Point!

Ronnie Rhodes

(Note: Mr. Rhodes was recently transferred from LCF-Max to HCF-Central)

In Time, With Time and Through Time

In time, with time and through time all expressions of how we view things regarding time.

Time doesn’t belong to anyone; in fact, time is its own power. Time isn’t guaranteed to anyone or for anything, but itself. It is never known when our time will expire; however, it is a fact that our time will

expire.

It has been 30 years in time since the inception of ROFW. With time our program has been timeless. Through time it has been necessary for our program to change and become better than it was when it was created.

Time can be our friend once we understand how to use it. Therefore, it is necessary that we learn to understand ourselves within the continuum of time.

In time we can learn and better understand how to love each other. With time we can become better people and we can learn to better take care of our planet earth. Through time we can better learn what is essential to our well-being and the well-being of others. In time, with time and through time we can better show other parts of our world how important it is to our survival. THAT WE EMBRACE, LEARN AND PRACTICE THE GOAL OF REACHING OUT FROM WITHIN. To Live a Violence Free Lifestyle…

Ronnie, LCF-Max

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Donors 2011 The Board of Directors is grateful to the individuals, businesses, foundations and other organizations listed below that have supported incarcerated men and women through generous contributions to ROFW.

Bert and Joan Berkley Marcene C. Borthwick DST Systems Inc.

Gary and Angela Duncan William H. Dunn

Harvey and SuEllen Fried Mr. and Mrs. Lew Goetz

Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City

Kirk Family Foundation William and Barbara Nelson Arnold and Stella Parris Pat Pfeiffer, Commercial

Lithography ROFW Group, El Dorado

Correctional Facility ROFW Group, Hutchinson Correctional Facility, Central Unit ROFW Group, Hutchinson Correctional Facility, East Unit ROFW Group, Hutchinson Correctional Facility, South Unit

ROFW Group, Larned Mental Health Correctional Facility-Central Unit

The Salvation Army Paul and Rhonda Showalter

Elaine R. Sight Russell and Maralee Thompson

The Village Church

Laura and Lantz Welch

The Letter By Russell Coble

The strangest thing happened today. An invisible mailman passed my way. He gave me something that wasn’t quite there, So I opened this nothing ever so wide To find even less than nothing inside. The penmanship was so neat and so clean, Not a single line could even be seen. The scent was so sweet as I recall. The fragrance was so light, there was none at all, But I’m writing you back with love you can bet, Saying thanks for the letter that I never did get. After reading this letter maybe you’ll think twice. And pay attention to some good advice. I could be out there where things could be better And you could be in here expecting a LETTER!

Inside & Out Published for the benefit of

ROFW members by Reaching Out From Within

P.0. Box 8527 Prairie Village, KS 66208

913-706-6667 www.reachinmates.com

Articles, comments and questions may be sent to the above address, or to:

pshowalter1@hotmail.com

Next Submission Deadline Feb. 17, 2011