Ronald McDonald House: A Home Away From Home. Upcoming Events. Volume 25, Issue 4 November 2012

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1 Volume 25, Issue 4 November 2012 Upcoming Events Local Officer Training Downey UMC January 19, 2013 Cal-Pac Conference Mid-Winter Event February 16, 2013 Mission Study March 9, 2013 (date is tentative) Day Apart Retreat May 18, 2013 (date is tentative) Cal-Pac Conference Mission U (formerly SCM) Biola University Korean Language July All Others July Annual Meeting September 21, 2013 (date is tentative) Ronald McDonald House: A Home Away From Home It s not a hotel, not a restaurant, not a hospital. It s a temporary home away from home for families of critically ill children. Ron Van Winkle was talking about the Orange County Ronald McDonald House (OCRMH). Mr. Van Winkle, a founding member of the organization, was speaking to United Methodist Women members at their annual meeting September 15, at Norwalk United Methodist Church. OCRMH is located across the street from Children s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) in Santa Ana, but it serves CHOC, UCI, and other hospitals. It is one of 308 Ronald McDonald Houses worldwide. They can be found in all 50 states and 22 countries. The Orange County Ronald McDonald House, built in 1989, is 15,000 sf, has 21 rooms and 23 bathrooms (including one in each room). Bedrooms are designed for up to four people, although cots can be brought in. The house also has a full-service kitchen and dining room (where the lights are never turned off, facilitating late night talks among residents), a living area, library, TV room, a quiet, chapel-like room, laundry facilities, a playground, and an administrative office. Mr. Van Winkle s passion for a home away from home came as a result of living the life of a parent with a son who fought cancer for more than three years. Mr. Van Winkle, who is not a small man and wasn t then, either, he noted just couldn t get comfortable in the chair in his son s room. Eventually, he would migrate to a small, usually crowded waiting room on the floor and then, as would other parents, to the couches in the hospital lobby. Told he and the others couldn t sleep there, Mr. Van Winkle would go to this truck, where security personnel would once again send him back into the hospital. He joked that Dr. Geni Bennetts, director of hematology and oncology at CHOC, was told she needed to get her families out of the lobby, that it looked bad to see all those grown men asleep like transients in the otherwise well-kempt facility. Cal-Pac Conference Annual Celebration True or not, it was Dr. Bennetts who gathered a group of men and women together who would make the Orange County Ronald McDonald House a reality. The House has served 22,000 October 19 Continued on page 2

2 What Does the Lord Require of You? And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8 (NASB) This is our theme for the year; to strive to do what the Lord requires of us. I have always found the related passage in Micah to be one of the most comforting and most difficult passages in the Bible. On the one hand, it spells out clearly and succinctly what God wants of me. On the other, it s short on specifics. How, exactly, do you want me to do this, Lord? Where do I find an answer to that? I was reading through the September 2012 issue of response magazine recently, and it dawned on me that part of the answer, at least for me, can be found in its pages. The articles in that issue concentrated on the problem of human trafficking, but it also touched on poverty, immigration, the privitization of prisons, women s health, and homelessness, among other things. The articles came with a litany of challenges - and with stories of how these challenges were met and overcome. The solutions revealed the character of the victims and the support they received that helped to enable them to change their lives. That help often included the support of United Methodist Women. And I was reminded again that this organization is not just a bunch of aging women sitting around in knitting circles and holding annual teas; it is an organization capable of being the conduit by which we can live out this Bible verse. It can be the beginning of the answer to the question, How, exactly, do you want me to do this, Lord? United Methodist Women, as an organization made up of a plethora of dedicated individuals, can inspire us and direct our actions and help us to be the servants of God that we want to be. John Wesley had it right: Do all the good you can by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can. Being an active participant in United Methodist Women can be the vehicle that gets us there! Blessings, Diane OCRMH - continued families in the 12 years it has been open. The average stay is 7-9 days, although families can remain as long as needed. The cost has recently been raised to $10 a night, although those who cannot pay are welcome, as well. Built initially for families of children with cancer, the House now also serves families of children with heart disease and those whose newborns are preemies, as well as others with lifethreatening, long-term illnesses. Funding for each house comes from the local community. Although the houses bear the Ronald McDonald name, it is not supported by the corporation. The fast food giant does provide a small amount of seed money and in November of each year, on the Day of the Child, McDonalds donates 5 cents from every hamburger sold. In addition, local McDonalds help in various ways with fundraisers. However, the corporation has a vested interest in the organization. A house has to run successfully for two years before it can use the Ronald McDonald name. In the late 1990s, Ronald McDonald Houses started the Meals From the Heart program where individuals or local organizations were invited to come in and provide a breakfast or dinner. Today, at OCRMH such meals are served about 300 days of the year. Interested parties are encouraged to call the House to see when a time might be available if they want to participate. We can t prove proximity has anything to do with the speed of recovery of a kid, Mr. Van Winkle said, but as the family is the support base for the child, Ronald McDonald House is the support base for the family. Mr. Van Winkle s son Patrick survived his battle with cancer. Today he is a pediatric hospitalist at one of the Kaiser Permanente Hospitals in the area. Officers Elected The day was not just about the Ronald McDonald House. Santa Ana District United Methodist Women held its annual business session, as well. Nearly 60 people attended the meeting, including several Conference officers. Leanne Naganishi, president of Cal-Pac United Methodist Women, installed the district officers for the year. Only four positions were filled: President Diane Hutson, Treasurer Pat West, Secretary Vicky Shuttleworth, and Social Action Coordinator Jean Sheideler. If you are interested in holding a district office, contact Vicky Shuttleworth. 2

3 A Quiet Disciple is a person whose personal ministry is usually accomplished by their special gifts and service in a quiet, unassuming manner. The influence of his/her presence is a gift and an example that enriches their church and/or local United Methodist Women organization. Saturday, November 10, United Methodist Women held their Quiet Disciple Recognition Breakfast at Yorba Linda United Methodist Church. Seventeen people were honored for the quiet and unobtrusive way they go about making their churches and the lives of the congregants better. Quiet Disciples Recognized for 2012 Yorba Linda UMW graciously hosted the event, serving a lovely egg casserole, sausages, a delightful fruit compote, and various breads. Connie Jones from the Southwest Community Center in Santa Ana was the guest speaker. She wove her talk about the organization around her own quiet diciples, giving the audience a good idea of the time and talents of her volunteer staff and the needs they fill. United Methodist Women Quiet Diciples 2012 Brea UMC: Kathleen Dietz Community UMC: Trudy Roe Downey UMC: Bertha Butler First UMC of Orange: Sandy Wilson First UMC of Whittier: Cindy Grubb Fountain Valley UMC: Robyn Vanderwalle Fullerton First UMC: Marylou Miller Garden Grove UMC: Larry Pringle Laguna Beach UMC: Cherie & Bruce Hodgson Laguna Country UMC: Jack Grinstead Mesa Verde UMC: Susan Shaw Norwalk UMC: Kathy Quinn Native American UMC: Lena Tsosie Palisades UMC: Joanne Hodder Santa Ana Parish: Terry Price & Rich Baughman Shepherd of the Hills UMC: Marilyn Stuber Yorba Linda UMC: Erin Stenberg Kathy Quinn Honored by Norwalk UMW By Diane Hutson Despite our best efforts, sometimes things slip through the cracks. The write-up on Kathy Quinn, our Quiet Disciple recipient for this year, did not make it to Sheryl Cooley for inclusion in the Continued on page 5 3 UMW Financials January 1 - September 30, 2012 MISSION GIVING (Formerly Undesignated Giving) Pledge to Mission $39, Special Mission Recognition Gift to Mission Gift in Memory World Thank Offering Candle of Commitment TOTAL MISSION GIVING $42, DESIGNATED GIVING Call to Prayer and Self-Denial $ 1, David and Margaret Home 2, Toberman Neighborhood Center 2, Methodist Hospital - NGC-ER 2, Methodist Hospital Chaplaincy 2, UMCOR-Undesignated Conference Directory TOTAL DESIGNATED GIVING $12, TOTAL SENT TO CONFERENCE $55,222.72

4 United Methodist Women Officers: What Do We Do On the Level of Cal-Pac Confence? NOMINATIONS CHAIRPERSON work as a team with other members of the District Board, share responsibilities as needed attend and participate in district meetings [Local Officer Training (LOT), Mission Study, Day Apart Retreat, Annual Meeting, Quiet Disciple] as needed and appropriate attend School of Christian Mission, District Leadership Training and other Conference events as able. District Leadership Training in October prepares a District officer for leading her local officers. lead the meeting of Committee on Nominations local officers at LOT VICE-PRESIDENT work as a team with other members of the District Board, share responsibilities as needed attend and participate in district meetings [Local Officer Training (LOT), Mission Study, Day Apart Retreat, Annual Meeting, Quiet Disciple] as needed and appropriate attend School of Christian Mission, District Leadership Training and other Conference events as able. District Leadership Training in October prepares a District officer for leading her local officers. lead the meeting of Vice President local officers at LOT keep in touch with LOCAL Vice Presidents during the year be the lead in soliciting places (church sites) to have the District Meetings, finding inspirational speakers, and coordinating those programs MISSION EDUCATION AND INTERPRETATION work as a team with other members of the District Board, share responsibilities as needed attend and participate in district meetings [Local Officer Training (LOT), Mission Study, Day Apart Retreat, Annual Meeting, Quiet Disciple] as needed and appropriate attend School of Christian Mission, District Leadership Training and other Conference events as able. District Leadership Training in October prepares a District officer for leading her local officers. lead the meeting of Mission Education (E&I) local officers at LOT keep in touch with LOCAL Mission Education officers during the year promote Mission Today goals and the return of the goal sheets produce the certificate for Mission Today Units, to be distributed at LOT fill in and send report of the Mission Today Units and their totals signed by the District President to the Conference E & I Coordinator. PROGRAM RESOURCES work as a team with other members of the District Board, share responsibilities as needed Continued on page Officers President Diane Hutson (562) angeldbh@yahoo.com Vice-President Secretary Vicky Shuttleworth (714) vshuttle@msn.com Treasurer Pat West (714) nseandwest@verizon.net Spiritual Growth Program Resources Education & Interpretation Membership, Nurture & Outreach Social Action Jean Shideler (562) Communications Committee on Nominations Spanish Language Coordinator Tongan Language Coordinator Tilila Lomu (714) Young Women Coordinator If you are interested in filling a district office, please contact Vicky Shuttleworth at (714) or via at vshuttle@msn.com.

5 attend and participate in district meetings [Local Officer Training (LOT), Mission Study, Day Apart Retreat, Annual Meeting, Quiet Disciple] as needed and appropriate attend School of Christian Mission, District Leadership Training and other Conference events as able. District Leadership Training in October prepares a District officer for leading her local officers. assist Conference Program Resources officer as needed for set-up and sales at Conference events lead the meeting of Program Resource local officers at LOT keep in touch with LOCAL Program Resource officers during the year; have them assist with set up and sales as needed for District Meetings order books to sell at district UMW events sell books at events. (Request at least two tables from hosting site SPIRITUAL GROWTH work as a team with other members of the District Board, share responsibilities as needed attend and participate in district meetings [Local Officer Training (LOT), Mission Study, Day Apart Retreat, Annual Meeting, Quiet Disciple] as needed and appropriate as worship leader/prayer leader for Prayers of the People, etc. attend School of Christian Mission, District Leadership Training and other Conference events as able. District Leadership Training in October prepares a District officer for leading her local officers. assist Conference Spiritual Growth officer as needed with worship, set up and clean up for Conference events lead the meeting of Spiritual Growth (SG) local officers at LOT keep in touch with LOCAL Spiritual Growth officers during the year; perhaps arrange to have a local officer do the SG activities (worship leader and prayers) during District Meetings COMMUNICATIONS work as a team with other members of the District Board, share responsibilities as needed attend and participate in district meetings [Local Officer Training (LOT), Mission Study, Day Apart Retreat, Annual Meeting, Quiet Disciple] as needed and appropriate as worship leader/prayer leader for Prayers of the People, etc. attend School of Christian Mission, District Leadership Training and other Conference events as able. District Leadership Training in October prepares a District officer for leading her local officers. assist Conference Communications officer as needed with worship, set up and clean up for Conference events lead the meeting of Communications local officers at LOT produce the district newsletter, the Orange Plus (4 per year), including layout, printing, and distribution produce the annual district guide of programs and guidelines (known as The Book ) produce the booklet for the district Quiet Disciple Breakfast event keep in touch with LOCAL Communications officers during the year; perhaps arrange to have a local officer do communicationstype activities for District Meetings (e.g., write a news article) Norwalk Quiet Disciple - con t. booklet. But we honored her in our church the following day. And this is the reason she was chosen: Kathy Quinn is truly one of the quietest disciples that I know. I suspect that many of you don t even know this sweet little lady s name, much less what she does in the church and the community. Well, I m going to mention a few things: Since her second retirement from the medical field (once wasn t enough), she has become more active in UMW, assisting when we serve treats to our Life Sharing workers, participating on programs and often attending programs away from this church such as Church Women United. Well, these things might be expected, but did you know that she has a personal ministry to the homeless and hungry in her own home, taking in many folks from the streets to help them on her own? She doesn t ask for any recognition, just seems to know that God will take care of her and these least of God s children. Congratulations, Kathy. We love you and are proud of you! 5

6 Local Unit Officers Year We would appreciate it if you would fill out the table below and send it to Vicky Shuttleworth. Unfortunately, it s not a form you can fill out online; you ll have to print it out and send it via regular mail. Officer s Name Mailing Address Phone Number Address New or Continuing President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Nominating Chair Program Resources Spiritual Growth Social Action Education & Interpretation Membership Outreach Communications Mail To: Vicky Shuttleworth Seabrook Huntington Beach, CA Deadline: November 28, 2012 For questions, contact Vicky: vshuttle@msn.com (714)

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8 THE NEWSLETTER OF THE SANTA ANA DISTRICT U N I T ED MET HO DI ST W O M EN 3120 Kerry Lane Costa Mesa, CA Orange Plus PURPOSE THE ORGANIZED UNIT OF UNITED METHODIST WOMEN SHALL BE A COMMUNITY OF WOMEN WHOSE PURPOSE IS TO KNOW GOD AND TO EXPERIENCE FREEDOM AS WHOLE PERSONS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST; TO DEVELOP A CREATIVE, SUPPORTIVE FELLOWSHIP; AND TO EXPAND CONCEPTS OF MISSION THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN THE GLOBAL MINISTRIES OF THE CHURCH. A quarterly newsletter published by the United Methodist Women Sheryl L. Cooley, Editor Deadlines for article submission: January 20, 2013 April 20, 2013 July 20, 2013 October 20, 2013