Paint & Pinot

Best advice – beverage on the left, paint water on the right. 

 What began as an idea for a fundraiser for the Frontenac Rotary became a new set of quasi-skills I learned. It was my tenure as Rotary Club president and we needed new ideas for fundraisers so we could, in turn, help out our community. Most trends take a while to reach Kansas, so the paint-and-sip experience was just taking off.  

The paint-and-sip experience, which was born around 2009, hit Southeast Kansas around 2016. They are used as fundraisers, birthday parties, girls nights and even date nights. Paint Parties allow for painters, both seasoned and green, to enjoy a drink or two and snacks while they follow instructions to achieve some semblance of the model painting.  

Now, as a non-profit group, we had to keep our expenses low. This meant we bought our own supplies and we would teach our own experience. The group decided that Lori Lavery and I would teach the class. Having never even attended one of these experiences, I had my work cut out for me.  

So, like all curious, needing to learn people, I went to Google and searched. I found in detail, step-by-step classes that I could get a membership to, for a price, so I did. I learned and I broke it down until I could explain it. But how do I teach, in person? 

The Crawford County Historical Museum was holding a paint-and-sip fundraiser the week before ours, so I signed up to learn what I needed to do. This class was not nearly as structured as the one online. People asked questions, wanted one-on-one assistance, and on top of all that, wanted to be entertained. So, while I was sitting there, I was taking mental notes and storing it for future use.  

I realized that although people were there to paint and, especially sip, they were receiving additional benefits from the event as well. Benefits of group creativity such as paint-and-sip events include: 

• Becoming a better problem solver 
• Connect with your community 
• Save money because all supplies are provided 
• An expanded sense of time 
• Self-Awareness & expression 
• Freedom 
• Stress Relief. 

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The Frontenac Rotary held two paint-and-sip events per year as our fundraising projects. We learned those fall events were much more heavily attended than spring events; some people showed up for the supplies and comradery and painted their own thing, and there was a need for social interaction away from the other areas of our lives.  However, when our attendance started dwindling due to the oversaturation of the same events in a small community, we started to struggle with our next big endeavor. Part of staying relevant will be to diversify the offerings a bit and trying new things that will appeal to the customer base. Future ideas include wineglass-painting workshops, pallet painting, and even cupcake decorating...with wine, of course.

4 Corners Graphics

/krēāˈtivədē/

noun

 the use of the imagination or original ideas, especially in the production of an artistic work.

What makes a person creative?
Creativity is any form of an idea that solves a problem in a better way than normally done.

So, when my father got fed up with his four children’s constant bickering while he was trying to work in the yard, he had to come up with a creative solution to end it. As he looked around the yard, an idea came to him.

My father, the retired army captain, used his no-nonsense commanding voice and ordered each child to go stand in a different corner of the fenced-in yard. Once we got to our corner, we were then told to turn around and face outwards and keep quiet.

This went on for about fifteen minutes when my Uncle Murvel pulled into our driveway. As he and my Aunt Mary got out of the car, his eyes went from one corner of the yard to the next, taking in the four of us. He comes walking up to me with a big grin on his face, “What’s this new game? Four Corners? Can I play, too?”

And thus, 4 Corners was introduced into my family’s vernacular. It wasn’t until much later, after I was grown and started using my graphic design skills for my friends and family that 4 Corners Graphics was developed.

Business school taught me the importance of branding. Life experience taught me the importance of incorporating my passion into my work in order to draw others to my visions. So after many name ideas, brainstorming sessions, and failed starts, my childhood and adult life came together to describe the work that I use to help others.

I assist smaller organizations to create their unique marketing presence on a grassroots budget. I do this by blending graphic design with a marketing background that fits the needs of organizations that otherwise cannot afford a marketing department and/or has not the marketing/branding experience.

Empty Bowls - Feeding the Hungry

Do not miss out on Wesley House's event this Friday, October 19, 2018,  from 11 am - 2pm. Bowls will be $20, there will be soup, tours and a silent auction. All proceeds go to our emergency food pantry.

This is the third time I have purchased an "empty" bowl that was created by a local artist. Each piece is unique and beautiful. My purchase of a $25 bowl (pre-sale)  allows Wesley House to purchase 6 1/2 meals from Kansas Food Bank. 

Wesley House is an outreach mission of First United Methodist Church in Pittsburg, Kansas.  It was established in 1982 to address the needs of low-income families in the area.  The mission of Wesley House is to provide a safe, welcoming place for individuals and families of Crawford County to seek assistance, advocacy, education and hope for a brighter tomorrow.  The ministry has grown and evolved through the years, but the primary purpose remains the same- to reach out with God's love to those who are in need in Crawford County.

Like Wesley House on Facebook here to learn more about them and the Empty Bowls event.

A Safe Place

Safehouse Crisis Center in Pittsburg provides a place that is safe and free of violence. Where children can build and maintain positive relationships with their parents.

Safehouse aids in the reduction of the incidence of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

Safehouse has been in operation for 34 years and continues to provide advocacy and shelter services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking in Southeast Kansas. Click here to learn more.

24-Hour Crisis Hotline

Pittsburg Area - 800-794-9148

It's in our own backyard...Human Trafficking

Via Christi Hospital, in conjunction with Pittsburg State University, Irene Ransom Bradley School of Nursing, The University of Kansas Medical Center Office of Continuing Medical Education and The University of Kansas Medical Center Area Health Education Center East, will present “Human Trafficking and its intersections with Pornography and the Internet” from 8:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 8 at Pittsburg State University’s McPherson Hall.

Sex trafficking is one of the world's most horrific and lucrative crimes, robbing millions of people of their dignity in order to make a profit. Prevalent worldwide, sex trafficking exists even in our own community. But you can make a difference. In order to effectively respond we must have a good understanding of human trafficking and what feeds this multi-billion dollar industry. 

Pornography and the internet have strong connections to human trafficking. Advertising and recruitment are easily promoted through the worldwide web. Meanwhile, pornographic images and videos are often produced at the cost of individuals who are being threatened or coerced. Globally, the largest pornography provider received 64 million visits per day (2016). Please join us to learn about what you can do to identify and help those who are being trafficked in our community.

This course is designed for healthcare providers and professionals, behavioral health professionals, pastors and youth leaders, law enforcement, staff of social service agencies, educators and concerned community members.

Cost to attend is $15.00 for general audience and $20.00 for healthcare professionals (includes continuing education credit or certificate of attendance). Conference fee includes lunch. Preregistration is required due to limited seating and is due by 5 p.m., Sept. 3. Registration at the door will be available only if space permits. Click here to register.

Parents as Teachers

Parents as Teachers (PAT) is an early learning program designed to provide practical and timely information to all families including single parents, first-time parents, and expectant parents.

Parent Educators share age-appropriate child development information, addressing parenting concerns, and engage the family in activities. In addition, they coordinate group connections, screening, playgroups, and provide resources.

I  utilized this program with my son to determine developmental milestones and learning opportunities. To learn more about what the program offers, click here.

Children's Advocacy Center - Giving a Voice

Children's Advocacy Centers share in a common belief that coordinated, multidisciplinary response to child abuse is the most effective and most compassionate response to abused children.

Their mission is to provide excellence in child abuse response and prevention through training, program development, advocacy, and leadership.

Services include training and technical assistance, multidisciplinary team training, case review protocol and procedure development, and legislative representation.

Their goal is a common, reliable, valid evaluation system to measure and report client outcomes. Click here to learn more.