Our bed capacity is 259 which will not accommodate the amount of homeless men, women and children.  Last night, working with the ARCH, the City of Austin and Cap Metro, the South Austin Recreation Center was opened for men to get out of the cold weather.  All together, 90 men were taken to the South Austin Recreation Center.  They slept on cots and city employees act as monitors.  Once the buses leave our shelter to take men to the South Austin Recreation Center, if anyone else comes to our door later that night, we let them in and make room for them.

In the morning Cap Metro picks them back up, brings them here to the downtown shelter and they are feed breakfast after our residents have had their meals.

Additionally, 17 women, above our 38 bed capacity for single women, were given sleeping mats and spent the night in our clinic area.  The Salvation Army makes room for all women and children as needed.

In the first year of operation we can look back with some sense of accomplishment at what has been done. There remains, although, frustration with all that needs to be done and the slow pace of recovery.

The first year has been committed to setting up the office and implementing the projects written after the earthquake. All but one of the projects are up and running.

We often say, “Things take longer in Haiti.” That has certainly been true as we have faced the aftermath of the earthquake, complicated by elections, hurricanes and cholera. Even with all the obstacles, there is a sense that God has made it possible for The Salvation Army in Haiti to touch the lives of thousands of people during this year.

I commend to you the HRD Staff, Officers and employees who, one year ago, were strangers but now work as a unit in accomplishing the tasks before us.

Under the leadership of Major Lucien Lamartinière, we believe what has been set up will provide a firm foundation for our continued commitment to serving the people of Haiti in Christ’s name.

Major Ron Busroe
Director, Haiti Recovery & Development
http://tenforhaiti.org/?page_id=270

Thanksgiving may express internal gratitude.

Bell ringing may express external gratitude.

Thanksgiving requires a sense of quiet joy.

Bell ringing requires a sense of active joy (although some of our workers may not seem to be convinced of this concept)..

Thanksgiving calls us to be still and know God……perhaps in silence.

Bell ringing calls us to be active and make God known……..with a joyful noise.

Thanksgiving offers appreciation for what has come to us.

Bell ringing offers appreciation for what can come to others.

Thanksgiving is certainly more than being filled with an elaborate meal.

Bell ringing is certainly more than bringing attention to those who are still hungry.

In the Salvation Army, Thanksgiving helps us to declare that our needs have been met.

In the Salvation Army, Bell ringing helps us to declare that others have needs that are still unmet.

Thanksgiving and Bell Ringing can be so emotional that it’s sometimes painful to watch and yet that’s what November is for many of us in the Salvation Army:

…….emotional and painful…..ineffable and ostentatious.

In pursuit of Active Gratitude,

Major John Carter

Austin Area Commander of

The Salvation Army

What have you found to be keys to leading The Salvation Army well?
I can share some of the things I’ve discovered personally. The first is that whatever else I may do, whatever skills I might acquire or refine, whatever things I might learn technically or professionally, at the very top of the list I have to intentionally keep myself spiritually fit. And that would be true whether in my present position or any position within The Salvation Army.

Another critical area for leading well is knowing the people who serve with me. You come to know people by being with them. I’ve always made it a priority to be with and know the people with whom I’m privileged to serve. That, of course, takes more than just sitting in one’s office. One has to not just be with people spiritually or emotionally, but also physically.

I think I also need to be aware of what’s happening both inside and outside the organization.

I have often said to Salvation Army officers that if you don’t like people, maybe The Salvation Army isn’t where you should be. That is an underpinning to everything that we do. We are a people serving organization. We certainly need to have an inclination towards people, whether it’s the people The Salvation Army historically serves, those who are economically disadvantaged, or towards those with whom we serve.

How do you plan strategically for the wide scope of ministry of The Salvation Army?

Even though The Salvation Army is hierarchical and military in terminology and organization, it’s also decentralized. While there are some major parameters which do not change, like our statement of faith and our international mission statement, The Salvation Army in local jurisdictions is pretty much free to plan and program the way that’s most needed in those areas.

While you might see the same kinds of things happen worldwide, you’ll see it done differently in different parts of the world. There are some things which bind us together. But we have as many differences in The Salvation Army as we do similarities in terms of authority and responsibility for what happens.

And while the international headquarters in London or national headquarters or a regional territorial headquarters may offer broad outlines of expectations, it is the local Salvation Army which decides how those can best be realized.

Is that where your advisory boards come in?

Yes. The Salvation Army has advisory boards in every community where it has a physical presence, at least in this country. It’s a great blessing. These advisory boards (not governing boards) are composed of individuals from the community who advise The Salvation Army on whether or not we are meeting the community’s expectations and needs. They remind us whether or not we are following our own stated mission.

We’ve had advisory boards in this country for well over 100 years. One of the blessings to the Army is that these lay persons, citizens of a community, choose to align themselves with The Salvation Army and tell us what we need to hear about how well we are doing, what we should be doing. But that population is aging, and we are making a concerted effort now to attract younger people to those positions of advisory capacity and responsibility.

What is the key to staying on mission?

If our mission is no longer viable, then we need to change it. But if it is our mission, then all we do must align with it. So when opportunities or new initiatives arise and we think it might be good for The Salvation Army – maybe there’s money available or a need – we must first ask, Does it fit with our mission? Can we do it with integrity and be faithful to our mission?

Do you have any suggestions on ways Christian nonprofits can continually improve?

I think there needs to be a greater emphasis on collaboration. That helps us all. For a long time we have each seen ourselves as separate islands or as competitors. We have protected our own turf. And The Salvation Army has done that, as have many organizations.

As we collaborate, we gain strength, knowledge, and resources, and we end up serving the community better, meeting the needs of people in Jesus’ name. We can do that without losing organizational integrity or compromising standards. As we serve together in the Lord’s name, the kingdom of God is encouraged and the community we serve is helped.

Commissioner Roberts was installed as National Commander on November 1, 2010. He and his wife Commissioner Nancy Roberts were first commissioned as officers in 1971, and have broad perspective of the Army’s work around the world. Since 2001, they have served with The Salvation Army in South America, at International Headquarters in London, and in Kenya.

The son of Salvation Army officers, Roberts holds a B.S. in business administration from Wayne State University and a M.A. in religious studies from the University of Detroit. He also studied at the University of Minnesota, Nazarene Theological Seminary, and North Park Seminary.

Territorial Commander for Australia Eastern Commissioner James Condon says, ‘It’s the most exciting, innovative social service initiative to be launched in the 131 years of our existence in Australia. I am delighted to see William Booth’s vision of a “Poor Man’s Lawyer”, as recorded in his book In Darkest England and the Way Out, becoming a reality.’

‘Salvos Legal’s commercial operations run parallel to its social services arm, with the profits from property and transactional services funding the employment of specialist lawyers who offer free representation to society’s most disadvantaged,’ says Salvation Army employee and managing partner of Salvos Legal, Luke Geary.

‘Humanitarian services offered include criminal law, family and children’s law, welfare, debt, housing and refugee and immigration law. Currently five firms are operational in Sydney, New South Wales (NSW) at Surry Hills, Miranda, Auburn, Campsie and Parramatta, with another at Canterbury opening soon.

‘We encourage companies or individuals in Australia looking for first class legal services at a market competitive rate to consider Salvos Legal, knowing that the fees paid are used to help those less fortunate, in times of crisis,’ said Mr. Geary.

The NSW Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Greg Smith, officially launched the new service at a ceremony at the state’s parliament house.

Salvos Legal is a program of The Salvation Army Eastern Australia Territory within the territorial business administration team.

For more information on Salvos Legal services, log on to salvoslegal.org.au

More information is available in the Austin American Statesman at he following URL:  http://bit.ly/okXekY

The two-hour event is sponsored by the Salvation Army and will be conducted by Dr. Greg Weber, the Army’s Planned Giving Specialist.  Free parking is available at the church located at 7050 Village Center Drive, one block east of the intersection of Far West Blvd and Hart Lane.

To get to the Northwest Hills United Methodist church, take any route to the Far West Blvd exit on the MOPAC expressway, drive west on Far West Blvd to the third traffic light which is the intersection of Hart Lane and Far West Blvd, turn left (south) and the church will be on the left across from Murchison Junior High School.  Another entrance to the parking lot is across the street from the Northwest Hills Post Office on Village Center Drive.

Lunch will be served from 11:30 am until Noon.  Dr. Weber’s presentation will be from Noon to 1 pm, followed by a question and answer session until 1:30 pm.  All interested individuals are welcome as well as guests.

Various topics to be discussed include:  How to sleep at night and not worry about finances; the importance of estate planning, charitable trusts for estate planning, avoiding capital gains, how to dramatically increase your income, simplify your life and giving more to your heirs.

To register for the seminar, please contact Weber at the following phone number or email address:  800-569-1765, greg_weber@uss.salvationarmy.org.

“Normally we get donations of soap, toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, combs and other similar items from the general public,” Major John Carter, Area Commander, says.  “But we have had a drop recently in this type of donated item.”

The Area Commander points out that when people come to the shelter for help, often they don’t have any hygiene items and the Army provides them as a way of helping stabilize their lives in a small way as they prepare to take other necessary steps toward recovery.

Many individuals as well as service organizations and churches have collected hygiene kit items in the past and donated them in large quantities to the Army.  Dentists often donate toothbrushes in large quantities as a way of helping shelter residents.

What follows is a list of items needed to assist shelter residents.  The list of essential items includes the following:

• Toothbrushes
• Toothpaste
• Combs/brushes
• Deodorant
• Lotion
• Soap
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Shaving cream
• Razors/blades
• Wipes
• Tissues
• Feminine hygiene products

The listed items can be donated in quantity or as kits.  Items may be placed in containers such as “baggies” if the donating individual or group has time.

The items can be delivered to The Salvation Army Social Service Center located at 501 East 8^th Street, Austin, TX 78701.

As the recovery process progresses, the Army is committed to meeting the long-term needs of those affected through its many life changing social service programs.  The Salvation Army has served the United States for more than 130 years and will continue to do so in His name without discrimination.

The following represents a sampling of the services provided by The Salvation Army across the southern United States.

A Snapshot of Service: April 12 – June 8,2011

•  360,000 Hot Meals
• 835,000 Snacks & Beverages
• 52,500 Cases of  Emotional & Spiritual Care
• 50,000 Hygiene Kits
• 12,000 Cleanup Kits
•  90,000 Hours of Service
• 54 Mobile Feeding Units
• 1 Fifty-Two Foot Field Kitchen
• 1 Mobile Shower Unit
• 2 Satellite Communications trailers

 In the Texas Division alone, from April 9^th until the 22^nd, Texas EDS personnel offered material, emotional, and spiritual support to survivors and first responders to wildfires which burned throughout West Texas.  From 9 service locations, 13,305 meals, 23,594 drinks, 7,224 snacks, and 170 school lunches were provided.  The fires would eventually consume more than 1.5 million acres.

Central Texans have responded with enthusiasm and donations of all types.  Below is a listing of suggested ways to support the Army’s efforts:

Donations of used Household Goods and Clothing in any disaster area:

Due to the high expense and time demands associated with delivering your gently-used household goods and clothing (gifts-in-kind), The Salvation Army cannot guarantee that any individual gifts-in-kind donated now will be sent to the disaster area in Joplin.  In time of disaster, our stores fill these needs from existing, pre-sorted stock.  By continuing to donate gently-used household goods to your local Salvation Army store, you not only help your community, you help the Army prepare for future disaster relief needs.  TO FIND YOUR NEAREST DROP-OFF LOCATION, PLEASE GO TO WWW.SATRUCK.ORG.

Monetary donations, Joplin, MO:

The best way to help Joplin now is to call 1-800-SAL-ARMY or to go to www.SalvationArmyUSA.org to make a donation by credit card.  Checks may be mailed to The Salvation Army, PO Box 21787, St. Louis, MO 63109-0787.  Please designate the gift “Joplin Tornado.”  Cell phone users may text the word JOPLIN to 80888 to make a $10 donation charged to their cell phone bill (text and/or messaging charges may apply.)

Monetary donations for Reading and Sedalia, MO:

Monetary donations to help The Salvation Army’s tornado relief efforts in Reading and Sedalia, MO may be sent to: The Salvation Army, 3637 Broadway, Kansas City, MO 64111.  Please designate the donation “Tornado Relief.”  Credit card donations may be made by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY or going to www.salvationarmyusa.org.

Monetary donations, Bismarck, ND:

Financial contributions can be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org, by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY, or by sending a check to The Salvation Army, 2445 Prior Ave N., Roseville, MN 55113 designated “flooding.”

Monetary donations, Minneapolis, MN:

Financial contributions can be made online at www.thesalvarmy.org, by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY, or by sending a check to The Salvation Army, 2445 Prior Ave N., Roseville, MN 55113 designated “metro storm.”  A $10 contribution can be made by texting BLESSING to 85944, the charge will be added to your cell phone bill (text and/or message charges may apply.)

The Salvation Army needs a minimum of $1 million to provide housing assistance for an estimated 300 – 400 Minneapolis families left homeless by the disaster.  Relocation services may include but are not limited to or inclusive of the following per household:  Maximum of $1,500 for damage deposit and/or first month’s rent; $300 in furniture and household goods assistance; $250 in moving expenses; gift-in-kind of bedding, food and other supplies with a handling cost of $100.  The total expected expense per household would be approximately $2,150.