What’s new at WinterSpring?

Our mission: We help children, teens and adults, who are experiencing the pain of loss, to embrace life again.

With the holidays coming, many of us who have lost loved ones may feel a sense of dread. Every year I brace myself for what’s coming – decorations,

songs, good cheer, shopping, and families gatherings. Yikes, if I could hide under the covers until it’s over, I would. But I have a daughter. She was six when her Dad died eight years ago, so I have no choice but to face the holidays and make it memorable for my girl. Sometimes we host a big dinner party – I love to fill our home with good friends and laughter. Some years, we travel to someplace warm to get away, just the two of us. We’re looking forward to a road trip to Palm Springs this year. I asked WinterSpring friends for some ideas on getting through the holidays, and here’s some of what they offered:1. Keep your commitments to a minimum. Give yourself permission to lighten your load.2. We honor our loved one by starting new traditions. For example, we choose a child from a Giving Christmas Tree and help make his/her Christmas that much brighter. 3. We do volunteer work for the day of the holiday – serving soup, distributing blankets to the homeless, or visiting a nursing home to sing.4. I made a candle with pictures of my Grandma all around it and we lit it in memory of her. It felt like a little piece of her was there with us. 5. I honor my loved one by placing a special ornament on the tree.6. I go easy on myself and buy ready-made pies instead of baking them.7. I traveled quite a lot to other people’s homes to celebrate Christmas -- sister’s, brother’s, daughter’s -- so my youngest daughter and I would not be stuck at home alone during the Holidays. 8. One year I sent out CDs of my wife’s Favorite Christmas Music, another year a CD of all the old family Christmas pictures -- copied by me (many hours of time).9. I sent cards with long, hand-written messages to all the people I loved -- to stay in touch with those important to me. 10.I baked Christmas cookies for my siblings and children.11.Every year I make a fairly substantial donation to the Ashland Community Hospital’s “Tree With Lights” fundraising campaign, in my wife’s name, to help fund the birthing center, and include a notification to my daughters.12. Follow your instincts – Do only as much as you’re comfortable with doing. If you don’t feel like sending holiday cards, don’t. You don’t have to do anything you really don’t feel like doing.

May you find peace and be surrounded by love this holiday season.

Fall/Winter 2012Issue no. 43

“Winterspring was a life-saver for me; I don’t know what I would have done without it. Their spouse loss bereavement group was the first chance I had since my husband died to be with others who truly understood my grief, my loss, and the depth of my pain. I am very grateful to Winterspring and their wonderful volunteers. Winterspring is an amaz-ing resource.” ~Susanne S. September 2012

This grief tip comes from 14-year-old Emma, who lost her dad when she was six: “Don’t tell kids that their loved one is in a ‘better place’ because it makes them feel like they’re not good enough.” Her profound comment reminds us that kids take death very personally..

We want to make a difference in your lives by sharing helpful

tips for supporting you and your loved ones through the griev-

ing process. We have created an interactive social media platform

to help you, our WinterSpring friends.

Check out our new website at www.winterspring.org

Sign up for our monthly e-mail newsletter on the home page.

Like us on facebook:

www.facebook.com/WinteSpring89

Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/winterspring5

Twelve Tips for Coping with the Holidaysfrom our Director

Who We Are

Our StaffJulie Lockhart

Executive DirectorAnya Neher

Program ManagerJenna Benson

Office ManagerPaul Gibson

Teen Program Coordinator

Angel DeShaneChildren’s Program

Coordinator

Our BoardShirley South

President Chuck Ross

Vice PresidentJim TitusTreasurer

Jan MurphySecretary

Angel DeShaneJennifer Downs

Lisa NorvellThomas Russell

LOCAL EVENT For parents, siblings,

grandparents, and friends to honor the memory of

children of all ages.Sunday December 9, 2012

Program 6:30 Candle Lighting 7:00 pm

Smullin Center 2825 East Barnett Road,

Medford For more information

call 541-552-0620

Our teen program changes kids’ lives in positive ways. Here’s a story from a facilitator: When “Mark” came

to the first meeting he was very silent and didn’t want to talk about his loss. He gave as little response as possible. At the third meeting he was earlier than the others so the facilitators started talking with him about sports and his hobbies. After that he was more and more willing to share experiences and

his feelings about his mom, who died when he was very young. He also started to smile more often and become more extroverted. Mark also began to build relationships with the other teens in the group. He seemed very angry at the beginning of the group program and expressed this in the fourth and following sessions. He mentioned that the exercises and the talking about this topic was re-ally helpful for him to release his anger. It was eye-opening for him to learn more about what can happen if he holds onto anger. He also loved to have a place where people listen to him and where he could tell his story, talk about his mom and his feelings and where nobody tells him to stop talking about it. It was really amazing to see how Mark changed in 7 weeks. He became friendlier, happier and opened up.

WinterSpringTeen Program Makes a Difference In The Schools

• It feels so good to nourish people in grief.• Grief is isolating. People need connection after deep loss.• People need to be listened to, heard, and understood in their pain.• We provide a place to share stories of loss.• Bereavement is a natural part of life.• Loss is the source of our greatest humanity.• People learn that they aren’t crazy, that what they are going through is normal, and

that they aren’t alone.• People need help normalizing a range of feelings.• Connection is an uplifting experience.• Participating in WinterSpring gives everyone a sense of belonging, which facili-

tates healing. • Loss can be the greatest source of our encounter with ourselves, the place where

we honestly find out who we are.• People who have received support want to pass it on to others -- “pay it forward.”• It’s our responsibility to the community.

Rejuvenating WinterSpring’s

MessageCreating a clear message is key to a successful social media platform. Last

Spring, the Board and Staff began planning for our new website and social media platform with funding from the Gordon Elwood Foundation. Consultant Meri Walker (beingsocial.us) led us through an exploration of WHY WinterSpring is here (following Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle model). It was a truly inspiring process to get in touch with who we are and why we are all drawn to this important work. Here’s the best of WHY from our brainstorming session.

From this we came up with an overarching statement on why we do this heartfelt work: We’re not afraid to be with loss for as long as it takes people to embrace

life again. From this work, we have created a new vision, mission, and strategic plan.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR GENEROUS CONTRIBUTORS !This is a list of donors who contributed to WinterSpring since our last newsletter. We try hard to keep accurate

records. If you see any errors or omissions, please let us know so we can provide proper thanks and recognition.

INDIVIDUAL GIFTS AAUWJyll, Jonathan, Jacob & Josiah Abrams AnonymousJyll Abrams Lavina AguirreTresso AlbeeShoshana AlexanderTerry AnsnesMatt & Liz AxnessBank of the CascadesHugh BaconLaura BaxmanBetty BranchDan & Ginny BuckAlison BurrStacie CampbellKara CarneyBill & Sue CarrollHailey CarrollAnthony CaryDeena CattanachJoan ClarkSusan ChryslerKani ComstockJean ConwellMike DavisJon & Virginia DeasonMary Jane DellenbackPamela DenmarkAl & Sally DensmoreHeather DoeBarbara DonneaudShelley DouglasJennifer DownsRonald DurkeeEric DusenburyGina DusenburyJanet EastmanChristine EberhardtAndrea EhrlichRusty ErbesRebecca EstremadoDee EversMegan FarnsworthRick FosterWilliam FosterMarjorie FrankElla FredinburgGeorge & Connie FribanceDavid FriedenbergJoLayne FulmerJan GardnerSandra GillShasta GishDolores GoldbergDick GordonPatricia GordonJoyce GraceAllen HallmarkAlan HamiltonSharon HanbyBarbara HarperLinda HarrisKimberly HauschildAnne B. HawkinsSharon HeiselBruce HeveranPhil HickmanBob HunterEd & Meghan Hyde Mary Jenny-SaltmarshPeggy JamesBruce & Carolyn JohnsonChris & Kim Jostad

Bruce & Carolyn JohnsonOgden & Cindra KelloggRoy & Sheila KimballDebra KoutnikTracy LamblinRhonda LeeVirginia LerouxJulie LockhartPorter & Corinne LombardToni LovagliaTim & Maggie McCartneyJanet Cooley McChesneySusanne McDonoughSherry MeGeeCharles McGloinKelly McNamaraSabrina McNeilJason MargulisDee MarlowDonna MarshallBetty MartinMetal MastersJudy MillerMary MinerDon & Traute MooreRobert MooreBonnie MorganRoman MorykitJan & Michael MurphyCindi (Cynthia) NagelPaul NashTamra NewmanRonald NitsosKaren & Larry NollenbergerRichard NudelmnRobert NuttingCrystyl OestreichBarbara Ellen PanfilSarah PaulBrent PearsonJaney PerryRobert PohlPeggy PorterGinny & James PostDion Ray of King ConcessionsLisa Marie RichardRamon & Coni RenteriaCourtney Khaliqa RogmansChuck RossRussell P. Brown InsuranceDonna SalazarMary Jenny-SaltmarshSarah SandersAnita SartainLisa Ragsdale SchjelderupMeri, Katelyn & Kamryn SchneiderThomas SchuetzSarah & Jack SeyboldSusanne SevereidCarin SheehanShelly SimmonsLynn & Doris SjolundEarl SloanPatsy SmullinSuzanna SniderGerald & Lola SonnenscheinJames SorensonShirley SouthJoan SpearShannon SteeleMichael StringerVivian StubblefieldCilette SwannGary & Carol SwansonKathy SwantonJanice Tarvin

Juli Franc TeitelbaumArline ThompsonJudy TicehurstAmy TiffeeJames TitusSharon TookeDon & Elaine TurkeKaren VanoverDiane WareLinda WallerLaura WinslowTheresa WrightKris YorkIn Memory Of… Given by…Jeff Abrams Jyll, Jonathan, Jacob & Josiah AbramsAll Who Have Gone Before Me Kathy SwantonAiden Blair Michele & Scott BlairAlvin & Loree Boswell Shirley SouthRobin Trail Braun Debra KoutnikWilma Bronkey Barbara SteelyBarbara Gordon Burton Dick GordonCassidy Maya Carroll Bill & Sue CarrollDonald Lee Cattanach Deena CattanachWhitney Chatfield Paul NashDr. John Conwell Jean ConwellTrish Curran Kathy SwantonFrank DeSimone Carl Caplan & Ruth Ann SchwadaGabrielle Larasate Alwin Downs Jennifer DownsRochelle Roby Frymire Janice RobyManuel Garcia Janey PerryArthur J. Gibson Paul GibsonRobert Goldberg Dolores GoldbergFred & Jo Gordon Patricia GordonMike Hawkins Anne Brooke HawkinsTerrie Henderson Linda HarrisMary Hicks (Grandma Mary) Tom & Angel DeShaneClyde James Peggy JamesJason Daniel Knight Tamra Newman“Mr. Mayor”Jerry S. Lausmann Dee Marlow City of MedfordTony & Flo Lovaglia Toni LovagliaWinifred Mary Malardino Ramon & Coni RenteriaDonn McIntosh M.D. Ginny & James PostDylan McNeil

Sabrina McNeilWendy Eleanor Miles Janet Cooley McChesneyWanda Mullins Karen Sue VanoverDelores Ragsdale Dee Marlow Lisa Ragsdale SchjelderupMilt Ragsdale Lisa Ragsdale SchjelderupDonn & Marie Rogers Karen & Larry NollenbergerDaniel Sanders Sarah SandersWalter Scacchi Laura Baxman Rusty ErbesRandy Schneider Meri Katelyn & Kamryn SchneiderEric Ross Schwartz Juli Franc TeitelbaumDon E. Shangle Stephanie Bell, Dan Blair, Debbie Finnell, Joy & Jason Forte, Liz & Terry Hadley of Dick’s Towing, Debra Hillier, Gary Hoque, Brad Huillet, Dee Marlow,Dave Mills, Jim Nier, Jill Parsons, Steve Philips, Steve Potter, Kristy Rogers, Dottie Stede, Kim Strombeck, Karen Whitfield, Dwindy Wood, Bob YoshidaBill Shockey Dee EversDee SmithJulia Smith Julia SmithBeulah Humphrey-Short Deena CattanachBill Smith Carl Caplan & Ruth Ann SchwadaDe Smith Julia SmithRenee Snider Suzanna SniderPearl Anita Sorenson Mr. James SorensonAl South Dana Collord Peggy James Tim & Maggie McCartney Shirley SouthA. Teitelbaum Ronn Teitelbaum S. Teitelbaum Juli Franc TeitelbaumRalph Temple Paul & Carol HwoschinskyAngelika Titus Joy MacKenzieBarbara Valentine Tracy Lamblin, LeClaire, Chris, Kathryn Ashley and AliSierra Zanger Tracy LamblinIn Honor Of… Given by…Shirley South David Friedenberg

THANK YOU TO VOLUNTEERS, BUSINESSES & FOUNDATIONS!

Volunteers:Rich Adams Tressi AlbeeVickie AugustineLiz AxnessBarb BarasaJamie BartonAaron BensonBea BarrySusannah BishopFayegail Mandell BisacciaMeesha & Scott BlairBill & Sue CarrollHailey CarrollJanine CantinCarol ClumAl DensmoreSally DensmoreGlyn DeputyAngel DeShaneTom DeShaneJennifer DownsDobey ElliotDenise Erskin Dee EversSusan FayGeralynn FinneganC.C. FuquaJohn GalbraithPaul GibsonElizabeth HallettBill HarringtonBruce HeveralPaula HoffmanRichard HoskinsBlaine HowittLance HowittChristine Hunter-RobertsonCindra KelloggOgden KelloggRuth KlausMichael KoesterSusan Kramer Pope

Linda LarsonRosemary LazzariCharlie McChesneyRita McKinneyMeg MocabeeNadine MeyerMichael & Jan MurphyNicole NaylorRichard NudlemanKim Oveson Gina PattersonNick ProbowskiBarb RossChuck RossKatherine RossThomas RussellLois SchlegelAndy SelesRichard ShapiroTim SimonsenCindy Sleight and SidneyDavid SpeigelBob StrosserJoseph TalboomJim TitusPatricia VanEveraSusan WallaceMatthias WenigerLucinda WeatherbyLynn WhitakerDarrel WiltroutCassie WoodDwindy WoodRobert WoodhouseThe Entire WinterSpring Board of Directors and Staff

Gifts-In KindAngel DeShaneAnna Maria CreeksideAshland Community Health CenterAshland Food CoopAvamereDee EversFred MeyerHorton PlazaJay Dee Barry Design & PrintKid TimeLitwiller Simonsen Funeral HomeAnn MacroryBillMansfieldAttorneyatLawDee MarlowKaren NollenbergerGarry PriceVeranda ParkBarb RossKatherine RossShop ‘n KartCindy SleightShirley South Cilette SwannRogue Valley Funeral AlternativesSkylark Assisted LivingTalent Public LibraryJim Titus

Volunteers support us in special ways to

help fulfill our mission: facilitation of Children’s Program, Teen Pro-grams in the schools, adult support groups; sudden death support teams in schools; office help; event planning and set-up; art and music; community outreach, bereavement support training, Memorial Grove committee work, raffle donations, ca-tering and more! We couldn’t do it without you!

Raffle Item Donors the Gypsy Soul Holiday Benefit Concert and New Vintage Wines & Music Fundraiser:4 Daughters Pub5th Street FlowersAgave TacosAlaskan BreweryAngelo’s Family Pizza ParlorAnonymousAshland EnvyAshland Food Co-opBaxter’s FitnessJenna BensonThe BreadboardJulie Marie BurnsRichard BurrowsChateaulin RestaurantCostcoDaisy Creek Nail SpaDana Campbell VineyardsAngel DeShaneJennifer DownsJoan Dube’ Dee EversDeer Creek VineyardsDragonflyRestaurantDutch BrothersEl Arriero RestaurantLivia Genese & Camelot TheatreGlowGold & Gems Gypsy SoulPeggy HermanSchultz HomewordThe Human BeanInward Bound WellnessJackson Street SalonJacksonville ChiropracticJacksonville Grooming Jacksonville InnJacksonville InsuranceJacksonville Veterinary HospitalKing ConcessionsDennis LufkinLeinani LundahlAnn MacroryMadrone MountainMagnolia Inn Magic ManDee MarlowMartino’s & Macaroni’s RistoranteMercedes Benz of MedfordOak Street Dance StudioOregon Shakespeare FestivallOriginal Roadhouse GrillPaddington StationJudith Pavlik PhotographyPorters Restaurant & BarGarry Price

Dee MarlowOak Street Dance StudioOregon Shakespeare Festival Original Roadhouse GrillPadington StationJudith Pavlik Photography Porters Restaurant & BarGarry PriceReal BeautyRussell P. Brown InsuranceSt. Claire ProductionsSegway of JacksonvilleSeven Feathers CasinoShop ‘n KartSlagle Creek VineyardsMichelle Snyder: Kharmic Creations SoundpeaceShirley SouthCilette SwannTerra FirmaVelocity Cellars Willow CreekYoungs Market Company

Anna May Family FoundationAutzen FoundationCow Creek Umpqua Indian FoundationEagle Point High School Community 101grant Gordon Elwood FoundationHarrington Family FoundationLausmann FoundationMeyer Memorial TrustNorth Medford High School Community101grantPacificSource Health PlansRotary Club of Ashland -- Lithia SpringsSouthern Oregon Friends of HospiceSchwab Charitable FundUnited Way of Jackson CountyWest Family FoundationSchwab Charitable FundUnited Way of Jackson CountyWest Family Foundation

In Gratitude for our Grant Supporters:

Non-ProfitOrganization

U.S. Postage PaidPermit No. 190Medford, OR

WinterSpring P.O. Box 8169 Medford, OR 97501

Return Service Requested

This newsletter is dedicated to Jim Titus

Jim will tell you that WinterSpring saved his life after the death of

his wife from cancer. He has been a tireless volunteer and financial supporter ever since. Jim began his service on the Board in 2003 and currently serves as Treasurer. He also has championed our fundrais-

ing events, e.g., taking the lead for last year’s successful event in March at Pallet Wine Com-pany. Jim believes that: “Living with loss is the best fuel for awakening to our true humanity.” He will talk about grief and the depth of his learn-ing with anyone who asks. Jim has recently co-facilitated our Spouse Loss Group. He also joins Julie and other volunteers for public speaking engagements. Words his friends at WinterSpring use to describe him include: stalwart, passion-ate, compassionate, dedicated, smart, and a good friend. He’s a key player in carrying out WinterSpring’s mission. Jim is a former profes-sor and now that he’s retired spends his time golfing, traveling, hiking and being a grandpa.

This newsletter is sponsored by Pronto Print.

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