Category | Newsletter

Greetings, As I sit to write this letter I am doing so with mixed emotions. Someone that NER has served for many years in our respite, extended day, and in-home programs has finally been placed in a group home. Unfortunately, it is not a NER home. On one hand I am feeling sad and on the other I am filled with pride for the good work that our employees do. I am also brought back to a time prior to 1994, a time when NER had no long-term-care homes under the “waivered” program. It was a time when our respite-care families would come to me and inform me that they were looking for a place...

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Celebrating Spring and Those Who Volunteer “The breeze, the trees, the honey bees - All volunteers!” ~ Juliet Carinreap April 2012 looks promising already. Early record-breaking warm weather is coaxing buds on trees and adventurous blades of fresh green grass to poke their heads up through the brown, dried grass of last summer’s glory days. Frogs croak in nearby ponds, songbirds greet the day, and bicycles and walkers share the walking paths as we rush outside to soak up the sunshine. What a fitting, happy month to celebrate those people who share their time throughout the year...

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Greetings, This month I want to share with you something quite different, yet in many ways very much at the heart of what NER is all about. Many of you may know that each month we hold management meetings to review a number of things, policy changes, and new information about legislation that may be coming up, and of course training. A few years ago we implemented a change in our management meetings when I asked that each month two of our management staff present a training topic to the entire group. I did this for a couple of reasons. One was that I wanted everyone to have additional...

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This time of year, it’s common to sit back, analyze the various aspects of our lives, and decide how we want this year to look in comparison to last. What do we want to change? What are we thankful for? What exciting new things wait just around the corner? Before the rush of daily calendars and regular schedules eats up another year, I challenge you to pencil in some time to make a difference. Make a difference. That’s a pretty nebulous statement, with myriad possible answers. But what does it mean for you? How might you choose to make a difference? You could coach your child’s sports...

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Greetings, How are your New-Year’s resolutions coming? Remember, these are promises we make to ourselves each January. Things like, “I am going to stop smoking”, or “lose weight”, or “exercise more often.” Rarely do many of us recall that promise we made to ourselves much beyond the middle of January. So why do we do it? It sounds good, it makes sense, and it has become a tradition. I would submit to you that it is a good idea, it does make sense, and it is a great tradition. But, I would also submit that maybe if we focus our resolutions in a direction that truly benefits someone...

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Happy February, everyone! My name is Linda Lia, and I am so pleased to have joined the NorthEast Residence team as Development Director in January. As I transitioned out of a number of years working in marketing and development for United Way St. Croix Valley in Hudson, WI, I was searching for an organization where I would find a similar home – an organization where the staff truly cared about making a positive difference in the lives of others each and every day, and where I could share a commitment to the organization’s mission. I found that in NER. As I researched the organization...

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Happy Holidays Everyone! Greetings from NER. I cannot believe that another Christmas is nearly upon us. It really is true that the older we get the faster time goes! Like many of you, we have been busy at NER preparing and planning for the holidays. In addition, we have been looking at the year that is coming to a close, and with much anticipation, looking toward the year that lies ahead. But before we close out 2011, all of us at NER would like to wish all of you a very merry holiday season and a blessed New Year! 2011 has been a very busy year and as always, we have all been blessed...

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It is with bittersweet feelings that I write this article. After 13 years as NER’s Financial Manager, and just about 3 ½ years as the Development Director, I am moving on to a new position outside of NER. I wish to express my gratitude to all our wonderful donors, volunteers, residents, employees, and the Board of Directors for all their generosity over the years. I have come to know so many great people that I will surely miss. My hope is that the Development program at NER will continue to grow with all the support and participation I have been given. It is an important program with important...

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Happy Thanksgiving! Sometimes when life is not going the way we might like it to we forget that in the whole scheme of things, we really do have much to be thankful for. Certainly 2011 has presented many challenges for many people and 2012 will no doubt present us with much of the same. But the reality is, we all have much more to be thankful for than not. No matter what else is going on in our lives, or how many things we might want to change, life is good! If our lives have been touched in any way by someone with special needs, this is even more true. As employees at NER, this is not just...

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A foundation has formed. We are so pleased to have established a fund with the St. Croix Valley Foundation. The purpose of the fund is to provide long-term sustained funding for NER.  Now, let’s get it growing! This fund is invested with only the proceeds of the investment being used to help NER out in a variety of areas, usually where needed most at the time. Whether it is to supplement staffing, benefits, home improvements, client camps, fuel or grocery costs, there is no limit to the benefits this fund can provide. The more donations we receive to contribute to the fund, the larger the benefits...

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