"Do not forget to entertain strangers for by so doing, many have entertained angels unawares." Hebrews 13:2 Home page Links Send mail to Family Connection Send mail to Dorothy Richards Send mail to Ann Marie Rossing, Board of Directors

Family Connection "Keeping Families Together While They Are Apart" 303 N. Minnesota Ave. P.O. Box 100 Sioux Falls, SD 57101 605-357-0777 Newsletter Fall 2002   A Look Inside Fundraising Points Hospitality Points Children’s Points Painting Points Donations Memorial

A lot has happened since our last newsletter. We had the house painted, the office updated and have been on KELO-Land news a couple of times, plus in the Argus Leader! It is nice to know the community is now responding to a need we saw years ago. The families who have stayed with us and agreed to be interviewed are angels in our eyes. Everybody has helped stretch their angel wings at the Family Connection Hospitality House. On the following pages there are pictures of the house being painted this Summer. Del Duncan, the “Painting Coordinator” has figured out what the paint job would have cost us if all of the angel wings were not working overtime ...about $9,000. A very big Thank You to Warden Doug Weber, Unit C Trusties, Sioux Falls Paint & Glass and Iowa Paint for all their help to make this “Home away from Home” a pleasant place to stay for the “families left on the outside”. Pastor Kevin Walker, Executive President of New Beginnings in Tennessee states: “No matter what a person had done, while they are incarcerated in prison, the inmate still needs to know they have loved ones outside who still care.” And we want the inmates to know we care enough to want a safe, dignified, pretty place for their loved ones to stay while in Sioux Falls.

I subscribe to an email newsletter called Daily Angel Wisdom from the site www.beliefnet.com that gives me a daily inspirational message. Whenever I read it, I think of the angels that are a part of Family Connection. Here is a quote from September 23, 2002: “The very presence of an angel is a communication. Even when an angel crosses our path in silence, God has said to us, ‘I am here. I am present in your life.’ -Tobias Palmer, ”An Angel in My House”

We all need to be aware of the angels in our lives..and be thankful for everyone of them.

Connecting Points has changed its schedule...we will now be printing in January, April, July and October. If you need an updated Wish List after this Newsletter goes to press, just let me know. I can email, fax or mail one out.

Thanks to all the Advisory Board members who responded to our files updates. Family Connection wants to graciously thank you for the time and support you have given us over the years.

I also want to thank everyone who kept me in their prayers during my surgery and recovery. I am getting better each day. By the time you receive this newsletter, I should be just about good as new!

And, since this is the last newsletter of 2002, I want to personally say Have a heart-warming Thanksgiving Day and a very Blessed Christmas and a Wondrous New Year!

Dorothy Richards
Executive Director

Our Ongoing Mission... To provide temporary shelter, emergency supplies,services andsupport to the families of inmates in an ongoing effort to facilitate visitation, andstrengthen the family bond.

Fundraising Points

On July 20th Family Connection participated in the Human Race. We are very grateful to all who joined us in this successful fundraiser. Family Connection angels raised over $1187 to help keep our doors and hearts open to the families left on the outside. Here are pictures of some of the participants. Next year, maybe all who participate will have their picture taken for us!

Ann Marie Rossing Ann Marie was a runner, she came in 53rd out of 94 participants. Very good, Ann! Ann Marie came in second in overall fundraising; helping Family Connection come in third overall. We received prizes of two cases of copy paper and two wonderful sketches from local artists.

Family Connection Walkers Our walkers are from left: Amy, Mary Finck, Pastor Leroy Iseminger, Connie Matsuda and Clancy Matsuda. They had a fun day and played very hard to raise money for Family Connection.

From left: Dorothy Richards, Mary Montoya, Julie and Julia from Royal River Casino. Mary Montoya, Julie and Julia were nominated by Family Connection for the Spirit of Volunteerism Award. The award was presented to others, but we sure had fun!

Let us not be justices of the peace, but angels of peace.

- Saint Theresa of Lisieux

September30

Today I officially retire as Family Connection House Assistant. I have met wonderful people. Because of my volunteer status I will be free todo many fun things for Family Connection ... like traveling to churches with Pastor Leroy and talking about the House. Fairs at the schools, cooking for the Mayor, fundraisers and running over to the house to cover for Jennifer. The only thing different is no paycheck! But the benefits are great! Please welcome the new House Assistant, I will train her in the meaning of hospitality here. God bless this ministry and call when you need me.

Nam

Wish List

Kitchen Items
Fresh vegetables & fruit, Individually wrapped snacks, Juice & cold drinks, Hamburger, Packaged meal mixes, Sharp knives

Housewares
Swiffer mop, Ironing board cover, Iron, First Aid Kits

Children’s Connection
Play dishes, Birthday gifts for children 8-12, Polaroid camera

Office Needs
Postage Stamps, Colored copy paper, 7” envelopes, Toner for Canon copier, Ink for HP 812C printer, Computer address labels,

Gift Certificates
House one family ($30), Grocery stores, Walmart, Office Max, Phone cards, Taxi Cabs, Gas Station

Special Needs
Small fire extinguisher, Film for 35 mm camera, AA batteries

Furnishings
Dehumidifier, Picnic table

Your gifts help to provide a dignified, comfortable place for our guests. Thank you for your generosity. If you would rather we buy the item, please mail a check to Family Connection, designated for “Wish List” item of your choice.

Hospitality Director’s Points

Greetings from Family Connection! We’ve had a very busy and exciting summer here at the Hospitality House. This summer we’ve seen several reunited families and have been able to play a small role in their “success stories.” Many times after picking up their loved ones from the prison they stop by the house to let their husband or son see where they have been staying during the times that they come and visit. It’s always nice to be able to put faces to the names that we hear so much about in family conversations. It is always a little bittersweet for me because even though I am elated to see these families finally overcoming the tremendous obstacle of incarceration I also know that I will not be able to see these remarkable women on a regular basis anymore. Now instead of face to face contact I keep in touch through email and letters. Everyone that I have heard back from so far has only good news to share. I’ve also been busy giving tours of the house to visiting organizations from Sioux Falls and the surrounding areas. This is such a rewarding part of the job for me because it not only gives me an opportunity to show off the house I also get to meet some of the nicest people around and form a relationship between the Hospitality House and the groups that tour. Always feel free to call and sign up for Jennifer’s 5 cent tour or just stop by if your in the neighborhood for some free coffee and hospitality.

Jennifer Koepsell
Hospitality Director

Family Connection Staff

Dorothy Richards ......................................................................... Executive Director
Jennifer Koepsell ......................................................................... Hospitality Director
Mary DeYoung ................................................................. Children’s Connection Dir.

Board of Directors

President ............................................................................................. Mary Montoya
Vice President ................................................................................ Bonnie Gregerson
Secretary .......................................................................................... Maureen Schultz Treasurer........................................................................................... Connie Matsuda
Members .......................................................................................... Leroy Iseminger ........................................................................................................ Leonard Johnson .................................................................................................................... Steve Lee .............................................................................................................. Mike Powers ......................................................................................................... Ronda Stensland ........................................................................................................... Nancy Thomas

Advisory Board

Dave Christensen
Del & Bernice Duncan
Don Dunham
Bishop Norm Eitrheim
Mike Flynn
Rev. Roger & Ruth Fredrikson
Phyllis Fromelt
Glenn & Phyllis Jorgenson
Kelby Krabbenhoft
Bonnie Larsen
Ann Marie Rossing
Herm & Maizie Solem
Mary Lou Steib
Monte Walz

This space is usually reserved for our guests to share a recipe from their home region. Several people have asked me for my corn recipe, so this time I get to share my cooking secrets!

“Scalloped Corn”
2eggs
1 can cream style corn
1 can whole kernel corn (Do not drain)
1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup sour cream
1 small package corn muffin mix (Jiffy brand type)
salt and pepper taste
1cupshredded mild cheddar cheese

Beat eggs. Stir in corn & melted butter. Add sour cream. Fold in muffin mix, salt & pepper. Pour into greased 9”x13” casserole dish. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake 60 minutes at 3500 until golden brown.

Dorothy Richards
Executive Director
Family Connection

God does more than semd angels, he grants them the insight and strength they need to protect us.

- Timothy Jones,
"Celebration of Angels"

Painting the House...

Volunteer from Flynn Outdoor Signs and Inmate Trusty getting ready to raise the boom truck to repair and paint the tower.	Trusty getting ready for his "ride"!	Jennifer Koepsell, Hospitality Director, working out a problem.
Volunteer from Flynn Outdoor Signs and Inmate Trustyclimbing to the tower. Note the "angel wings" cloud in the background!	Laurie, wonderful volunteer, getting all excited about cooking a meal for the volunteer painters.	Leonard Johnson, Maintenance Chairman, our "Fearless Leader"
Nan, our Hose Assistant and "Mom" enjoy a meal.		While the trusties were busy painting, a youth volunteer group from Epiphany Catholic Church in Minneapolis came by and worked - cleaning and organizing. The kids were great!
Barbara from Massachusetts was our cook while she was here. Barbara abd Dorothy, relaxing after a meal while the painters go back to work!	Nancy and her Mom from California. Nancy was the self-appointed water girl for the volunteer painters. We appreciate it, Nancy!

A Big Thank You to all the Angels Involved in this Project!

The painting of the Hospitaliy House lasted just about all summer! We had to coordinate our schedule with the prison inmate schedule, so they were not here every day, but may days in June, July and August. The house took two coats of primer and two coats of finish paint for a total of approximately 48 gallons of paint which was donated by Iowa Paint Company and Sioux Falls Paint & Glass. Del Duncan was the most wonderful coordinator of this paint job. He was here daily with the Maintenance Chair, and worked right along with the trusty volunteers. The pictures just show you the house during painting (and in blacl & white) ... you have to come by and see it in living color! We also have a new flagpole, courtesy of Ronda Steensland and the sidewalks are being replaced. Many wonderful things are happening here! Stop by and see them all.

Gifts/Grants

Blessed are the givers...and grateful are the receivers

Children Connection’s Points

We have speakers available for church or civic group meetings, We have a videotaped walk-through of the Hospitality House, We have printed material about Family Connection and our programs available to the public, We invite your group to hold your meeting or gathering at the Family Connection Hospitality House. Call 605-357-0777 for reservations.

Check Us Out on the Internet!  http://www.augie.edu/related/familyconnection/

Our e-mail Address is: familyconnect@hotmail.com

“Do not forget to entertain
strangers for by so doing,
many have entertained angels
unawares” Hebrews 13:2

The Board and Staff of wishes you and yours a very Merry and Blessed Christmas!   This will be the last Connection Points until 2003. Thank you for your continuing support.