FLOWER POWER!

Cleveland CLC members recently donated their time and energy to landscape our Bedford and Lorain health centers! Led by Dawn Hanson, this group of volunteers spent their weekend weeding, planting and mulching their way to gorgeous results! Thank you to volunteers Merle Gordon, Edie Hirsch, Janet Hoops (one of our newest volunteers!), Christie Lucco and Ollie Patrikainen for your hard work and dedication to PPNEO. Our staff and clients truly appreciate it. (September 2009)

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: JUDITH PINDELL 

Congratulations to Judith Pindell, PPNEO's Volunteer of the Year! Judith is a current member of the Greater Cleveland Community Leadership Council (CLC) and an outstanding volunteer. Prior to the 2007 merger, she served as a Public Policy intern and was one of the Choice Advocates volunteers with Planned Parenthood of Greater Cleveland. When PPNEO public policy staff met with the Cleveland CLC to discuss their ambitions and establish some leadership roles for individuals in the group, Judith clearly emerged as one of the leaders.

Although Judith said from the outset that she hated to phone bank and she "wouldn't want to do that," as it turns out, she not only participated in phone banks during last year's election, she phone banked at each and ever Cleveland-based phone bank this year! Continuing in her leadership role, Judith convened a sub-committee of the Cleveland CLC o implement a member recruitment and activation plan. Preparations are now underway to provide a monthly CHAT event where like-minded progressive individuals can come together to discuss the issues of the day, such as health care reform. The goal is to give supporters and activists a chance to discuss important topics and provide them a volunteer opportunity to address the topics directly.

When she's not volunteering with PPNEO, Judith works as the Youth Activist Coordinator for the Cleveland AIDS Task Force. In this role, she advocates for evidence-based comprehensive sexuality education in schools, communities and campuses throughout Ohio, and empowers youth and young adults to advocate for themselves. She also serves on the Collaborative for School Age Health and the statewide Sex Education Workgroup with Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Ohio.

Many people who work for a non-profit would use that as an excuse to not volunteer additional hours, but not Judith. She has been a strong and consistent volunteer for Planned Parenthood's public policy agenda. PPNEO truly appreciates Judith's dedication. Please join us in congratulating her. (September 2009)

AKRON CLC FOCUSES ON CLIENT SATISFACTION

This year, Akron CLC members have decided to focus their efforts on assessing client satisfaction at PPNEO. Twice a month, members staff a table in the breezeway outside the Akron Health Center and speak with clients about their experience while they complete a Customer Satisfaction Survey. This tabling activity will continue through December. The CLC will then compile the answers and pass the feedback to the Akron Health Center staff and Health Services Management team. From there, PPNEO will address any gaps in client satisfaction to ensure that our clients experience a positive, professional environment when visiting our health centers. (August 2009)

Thank you to all of our volunteers that helped make PPNEO's first ever Spirit Day such a big success! Although the weather was unseasonably cool, we thank the rain for staying away so we culd enjoy great food, family activities, face painting, and even a cornhole tournament. Spirit Day was also a special opportunity to honor PPNEO staff members for their years of dedicated service. We appreciat all of your continued support and hope you know how gratefulwe are to all of you! (August 2009)

TELL US ABOUT IT

Does a certain volunteer or CLC member deserve the spotlight or a very special thank you? Is there something goin on in your area tat you think we should feature? Tell us about it.

V-Mail: PPNEO's Volunteer e-Newsletter

If you are a current volunteer, you should be receiving V-Mail the last day of every other month. If you are a documented current volunteer and are not receiving V-Mail, let us know.