I was a stranger and you invited me in..."
Matthew 25:35 NIV
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Director's
Corner
by Tammy Modic
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Farewell Bill and Carol Miller
Northwoods Alliance for Temporary Housing, Inc. (NATH) is saying “goodbye” to our founding couple. Bill and Carol Miller are heading to Texas to be closer to their children and they are going to be missed.
When Bill and Carol retired to Rhinelander they did not take it easy. Bill was asked by Father John Gerritts to chair the social justice commission at Nativity of our Lord Parish. From there he met with Lori Hallas of Forward Service. The two of them got a group of people together who were interested in helping those with housing issues, and the N*WISH (Northwoods Initiative to Stop Homelessness) was founded. N*WISH continues to focus on housing issues to date, and Bill and Carol took it to the next step. They gathered another group of people together to help those experiencing homelessness. NATH became a 501(C)(3) in August of 2009 with the hope and dream of opening a homeless shelter in Rhinelander. Bill and Carol were there when the dream became reality and continue to support all of those who have been involved since.
In addition to NATH, Bill partnered with Chris and Jane Sharkey to institute an outreach program for people with financial needs at Nativity of our Lord. When it became clear that Nativity could not help all those in financial need, Bill was instrumental in bringing together Tom Bremer of the Salvation Army and various Rhinelander clergy to develop the Association of Churches for Emergency Support (ACES). Bill and Carol also opened their home to a couple of gentleman and provided paying jobs to those at the shelter.
Rhinelander was not the only place Bill and Carol showed their passion to serve those in need. They both are heavily involved with the Red Cross and have been deployed to Hurricane Katrina and several other disaster areas throughout the United States.
Many of the NATH board members, both past and present, along with volunteers will gather to say farewell to Bill and Carol this week. Here are a few of the notes of thanks and encouragement that will be shared with the Millers as they embark on their next adventures in Texas.
Bill and Carol,
As dear friends, neighbors and members of the NATH board Pat and I wish you all the best as you enter into a new chapter in your life in Texas.
Your insight into the needs of the homeless in the Northwoods was visionary resulting in the formation of the Northwoods Alliance for Temporary Housing and the exciting purchase of Frederick Place. I distinctly remember that “leap of faith” meeting when we decided to make the purchase of the stately Victorian on Frederick St. Our prayers were answered when communities rallied to support Frederick Place through donations of money, materials, labor and donated items to refurbish and furnish the home. Frederick Place became not an institution for the homeless but a loving home to receive the support and guidance needed be become self-sustaining. You are to be congratulated for the countless hours devoted to leading the mission of NATH. Please know there are hundreds of Frederick Place residents who have benefited from your efforts to provide a safe and caring temporary home. Your leadership has resulted in developing a financially sound organization with an exemplary staff. You can rest assured Frederick Place will remain a vital service to our communities as it was through your dedication that NATH has become a vital organization serving those in need.
God bless Bill and Carol. Enjoy your new home, family and know you are in our prayers.
John & Pat Larson
Dear Bill and Carol,
I wish you all the best in your new endeavors in the great State of Texas. I trust you have some plans of activity already lined up down there. Of course, you will be with family and that is a blessing in itself.
Your past efforts here in the Northwoods regarding the need of a homeless shelter inspired many to take notice. I remember public officials, like the Rhinelander Chief of Police, were surprised to learn of the presence of homeless individuals in town and beyond. Your persistence to establish NATH which lead to Frederick Place was a blessing to our community. The two of you lit a fire of concern for us here. You started a movement which motivated volunteers to step forward to help those in need. The result is a facility which is a source of pride for those of us in the Northwoods. It is a well run, fine-tuned operation and we pledge to you that we will continue what you have started.
In closing I need to ask you one question: Which of the two trees in front did you say I need to take care of more than the other?
Safe travels,
Jim Barnes
Hi Carol and Bill,
Ron and I have really enjoyed working and playing with both of you. So sorry you are moving. Between NATH and Newcomers, we have had good times. Remember our first rummage sale downtown with both NATH and Newcomers working to fund raise for Frederick Place? That was beautiful! Since then NATH/Frederick Place have really grown.
We are sure you will enjoy your new house and being close to some of your kids. We will miss you, but we will continue with the work you started. Thank you so much for starting such a worthwhile project.
Bev and Ron Geske
The first time I met Carol was during my interview for the NATH Executive Director position. From that moment forward, I knew she was a strong woman with whom I could work side by side to put together a team to help make their dream a reality. Bill and I have spent many hours together in committee and board meetings, driving to NATH activities and I can say that he has helped shape me into the executive director I am today. The two of them combined have taught me that hard work, passion, determination and dedication do pay off, and dreams can become reality.
I will be saying goodbye to two wonderful people who I call friends and mentors. Thank you both for all you have done for not only me but the many people who have been able to call Frederick Place home.
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BE A DIFFERENCE
Thank you to the AODA Counseling group from Nicolet College,
Be a Difference.
They presented a portion of their earnings from their “Lunch and Much” fundraiser to
Frederick Place
.
Way to make a difference in
the lives of others!
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SOUPER SENIORS
Souper Seniors collected cans of soup to be donated to Frederick Place. This has become a yearly endeavor for this amazing group.
Thank you for partnering with NATH - Frederick Place .
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SOAP QUEENS
A group of business minded 10 - 11 year old girls donated hand made soap and other items to the residents of Frederick Place.
Thank you ladies for your hard work and kind hearts in making a difference in the lives of others.
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Join us on June 18th in St. Germain at
Sentry Foods
And on June 30th in Eagle River at
Trig’s
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Join us on June 22nd & 23rd
for our 1st Annual Electronic Recycling Event to be held at
Charter NEX Films parking lot off of
Hwy 8 West of Rhinelander
Bring your old T.V.s, any size, radios, cell phones,
computers, printers, microwaves, copiers,
basically anything that plugs in except large appliances.
$.40 per lb charge.
DATA SECURITY
GUARANTEED
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There is still time to get in on all the fun. Join us as we travel to Milwaukee to watch our very own Milwuakee Brewers take on the Kansas City Royals.
Call NOW to reserve your seat. $95 per seat, payment guarantees seats.
Leaving Rhinelander at 7:00 am June 27th from the Home Depot parking lot
arriving back home around 10:00 pm.
715-437-0602
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In Loving Memory
Grant Cummings
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Faces of NATH
by Susan Statezny
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Welcome to the fifth revision. It has been a difficult and emotional piece to write, because the two individuals I am profiling have changed so many lives, including mine. I originally planned on sharing a little bit about the history surrounding the birth of Frederick Place, but that literary journey has been taken multiple times since we have opened. Besides, Bill and Carol know the history and are humbly aware of the many lives they have impacted. What they don’t know is how their vision turned into reality changed my life.
“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much”
The first time I heard the above Helen Keller quote was at the open house and dedication of Frederick Place in January of 2011. I’m not much of a big crowd person (unless its Springsteen concert crowd) and my anxiety was at such a level that pretty much all I remember about that day was how anxious I was, and hearing Bill Miller share the above Helen Keller quote. Bill’s words remained in my thoughts, so I decided to immortalize that day by creating some sort of memento. I made my first “quote picture” using Bill’s and Helen’s words to display in the office. I’ve since enjoyed creating dozens more, and I’m not sure that I would ever have discovered this hobby if not for Bill’s speech that day.
On our first day I walked through the door of Frederick Place with my self-esteem in the gutter and my sanity in question. Why on Earth did I think I could do such a job? I was used to working in health care, preferably in a position that required no interaction with a patient for I was so not a people person. Boy, was I wrong. I started talking to people on 1/31/2011 and haven’t stopped. The more I talked the more confident I became. The more I talked the more I realized I was a very likeable person with a sarcastic sense of humor and a Springsteen obsession. The shy wallflower who only spoke when spoken to disappeared. The more I talked the better listener I became. The more I talked the more I shared of my past and my alcoholism. I became living proof that sobriety is attainable for residents struggling with alcoholism and addiction. The more I talked the more I insured my own sobriety, because I was living by the philosophy that to keep it you have to give it away. That one is a doozy, as I am the type of alcoholic that knows if I relapse I will not find my way back into recovery.
In the beginning, working at Frederick Place was just a job, but it turned into exactly what I had been searching for ~ God’s purpose for me in this world. I look forward to work. When I’m done with my shift, I walk out the door knowing I am right where I am supposed to be. I know I make a difference, and that knowledge has shown me the true meanings of humility and gratitude.
Thanks to Carol my lifelong dream of writing came to fruition. In the early days Carol created NATH Notes as a tool to educate the community. At first NATH Notes consisted of one or two pages and Faces of NATH one or two paragraphs. Today the average number of pages is six, and the average word count for Faces is 1000. Writing for NATH Notes also gave me an opportunity to write an educational article for a local paper on homelessness and addiction. If Carol had not created the newsletter, I would still be a closet writer working on a book I would never finish instead of writing for all of you.
Since day one I have had the privilege of meeting some amazing people and have developed friendships that bring me great joy to this day. I’ve also met people who taught me life lessons which gave me the opportunity to grow and learn from my mistakes. If Frederick Place didn’t exist, I never would have met my past and current coworkers or have my Fred Family. I wouldn’t be who I am today if I’d never met the other “two musketeers” whose faith and support have done wonders for my confidence and lessened my fear of sharing my opinions and feelings. I never would have learned the meaning of or incorporated the “act, don’t react” philosophy into my life, and that little mantra has saved me from making some huge verbal mistakes!
Like Carol, I am a Rhinelander native and didn’t think a shelter would last long in this community. I could not have been more wrong. The continued, amazing support has restored my faith in humanity and this community. Thank you!
Bill and Carol have never missed an opportunity to thank me for all I do. While that is not at all necessary, I do appreciate it. Truth be told I get a lot more than I give. I am happy for Bill and Carol, but I can’t help but be a little sad. Although I did not see them often enough I knew they were near and that I would see them again. Texas is pretty dang far away. I feel truly blessed to have walked the same path with Bill and Carol, and I am grateful to have the continued privilege of being part of their Rhinelander legacy~ the miracle that is Frederick Place.
Thank you for being who you are and all you do, Bill and Carol. Thank you for being such an important part of my life now and in the future. Rhinelander will miss you. I will miss you, and my heart feels what Springsteen wrote;
They say you can’t take it with you, but I think that they’re wrong. ‘Cause all I know is I woke up this morning and something big was gone.
Enjoy your kids and grandkids!
Safe travels and God bless!
P.S. Hope the Spam factory was all you thought it would be and more, Bill!
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Ways you can become a NATH Partner and donate
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Introducing the new Humble Partner Program
Pay Pal Giving Fund
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Humble Bundle is a distribution platform selling games, ebooks, software, and other digital content. Since Humble's founding in 2010, our mission has been to support charity ("Humble") while providing awesome content to customers at great prices ("Bundle"). We started by offering only game bundles, but have branched out to include an online storefront, a monthly subscription service, a publishing initiative, and lots more.
As a leading retailer of digital games and eBooks, Humble Bundle offers its customers the opportunity to support a charity with every purchase they make.
Using Humble Bundle’s existing Choose Your Own Charity feature during checkout, customers can choose to benefit your charity with any purchase they make on the
Humble Store
or selected
Bundles
. To help raise even more funds for good causes, Humble
Bundle
are also introducing the Humble Partner program for charities
.
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We’ve joined the Buzz Points network! Buzz Points has partnered with Ripco Credit Union or Park City Credit Union to give their cardholders a free rewards program.
Here’s how it works:
Ripco Credit Union
or
Park City Credit Union
Cardholders earn points for every dollar they spend using their enrolled debit or credit card.
When enough points are accrued, they can be redeemed for rewards to local or national businesses. Points can also be redeemed as a monetary donation to local charities on the Buzz Point network.
If you’re a cardholder of either establishment, it’s now easier than ever to donate to a local cause. When your ready to redeem your points, our organization will be listed in the Buzz Points online and mobile Rewards Directory. Please consider donating in this manner to NATH.
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Partner with NATH by
shopping FlipGive
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Shop and earn cash back. Do your everyday shopping with hundreds of great brands and earn cash back for your organization on every purchase!
We earn even more when you share this program with your friends and family. When they shop, their purchases will earn us additional cash back.
Some of the sites that you can shop from thru this site are:
Walmart - Target - Disney Store - Under Armor - Nike - Toms - JCPenny Apple - Best Western - Bed Bath & Beyond - Schwans - Verizon
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Thrivent Making a Difference
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Are you a member of Thrivent?
Apply for your Thrivent action Team to assist NATH.
Go to Thrivent.com/action team to get started. Here are some questions you may see when applying. What is the need you and your volunteer team want to tackle? How will your volunteer team spread generosity in your community? When will your project take place? How will you use your $250 seed money to make a bigger impact?
Once you submit your application, it’s typically review within a few days. When you project is approved, you will get to customize a hand packed Thrivent action kit based on what your team needs, including promotional banner, Live Generously T-shirts, step by step guides, invitations, thank you notes and a $250 Community Impact Card to use as seed money to get your project off the ground.
Some of the ways you could help NATH/Frederick Place, would be as a sponsor for Summer Raffle, Anniversary Benefit, Harvest Hoedown, Soup for Shelters, Golf Scramble or by preparing a meal or two for the house residents. Any contributions are greatly appreciated.
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Amazon Smile
When you shop online!
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Thank you to all who use Amazon Smiles
to Help NATH when you shop
What is AmazonSmile?
AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at
smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as
Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to your favorite charitable organization. You can choose from nearly
one million organizations to support.
How do I shop at AmazonSmile?
To shop at AmazonSmile simply go to
smile.amazon.com from the web browser on your computer or mobile device. You may also want to add a bookmark to
smile.amazon.com to make it even easier to return and start your shopping at AmazonSmile.
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Each month many partners in the community donate meals to Frederick Place. This month NATH and Frederick Place thank the following groups.
- First Congregational United Church of Christ - Rhinelander
- Human Service Center
- Pastor John, and Rita, Bill & Joan Green - Pioneer Lake Lutheran Church - Conover
- Rhinelander Café and Pub
- FBLA
- Foster and Smith (Petco)
- Golden Harvest
- Emma Hjelle and Student Council
- Mary Mangerson
- Jean
- PEO
- The Table – St. Augustine Episcopal Church - Rhinelander
- Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church - Rhinelander
- Pine Groove Church
- Carly Ratliff
- Montessori School
- Immanuel Lutheran Church
- Nancy
- Pastor John and confirmation class
- Xylina Graf & family
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NATH
204 W Frederick St
Rhinelander, WI 54501
Phone
: 715-369-9777
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