Hope; Creating partners in community

Happy New Year! I recently took over the helm as Executive Director of the Hope Association and I'm looking forward to a great first year.

With the beginnings of a new year, 2011, I would like to share many thanks to everyone for their kind words of support and encouragement in my new position. We have had many great accomplishments this past year and will be working hard to educate the new administration and new legislature at the state level.

Each month the Hope Association puts out a newsletter to let our supporters keep up to date on what we have going on. And every month, I have a conversation with Angela Rich, our newsletter publisher, 'I wish we had more room, there is so much going on, can I add a one or two page insert?'

We are always trying to share so much of what we have and are thankful for with everyone. The giving back that our community does for us, as well as others is especially heart warming.

Thank you to those that work so hard in their own businesses and lives and still find the time to include all of us at Hope Association. We will be dedicating the first section of our newsletter to a few of those people each month in hopes that everyone can join us in saying thank you to our “Partners in the community.”

Those businesses and individuals, just by their friendship, personal or financial support help us enhance independence, dignity, choice and individual well being to those we provide services for.

As Partners in our community for the month of January; Sand Turtles Salon & Day Spa in Mexico will be donating $1 to Hope Association from each customer service they provide in support of our Annual Ride-In to be held Sunday, February 6, 2011.

Also, United Insurance (formerly Western Maine Insurance) was the first business in the first building, known as McKenzie block, on Congress Street back in 1892. This year their dedicated team of 11 employees chose Hope Association as the recipient of needed items purchased from the money gathered by their staff by paying to wear jeans on Fridays.

To these businesses and future supporters of the Hope Association, we appreciate your efforts.