Untitled-1
|
Kindness Campaign in Asheville, NC
THE KINDNESS CAMPAIGN SCALES BACK ITS ASHEVILLE OPERATIONS
As of May 31, 2006 the Kindness Campaign in Asheville has scaled back its Asheville operations. The Kindness Campaign will continue to operate as a national organization and will serve the needs of this and other interested communities on a consulting and advisory basis. The web site, www.thekindnesscampaign.org, will still offer Kindness Campaign products and materials to support the Kind & Safe Schools Initiative in schools all over the country and the community-based effort in other cities. The Asheville Homeless Network will continue to sell "Kindness: the Ultimate Renewable Resource" bumper stickers as a fund-raiser for their organization. (Bumper stickers also can also be purchased at Instant Karma, Cosmic Visions, and Mystic Journeys.) See the Kind & Safe Schools Initiative section of this web site for the new on-line format for KASSI.
When asked about the reasons for the change, retiring Executive Director, Barry Weinhold, said, "There were a number of factors involved in making the decision at this time including my health problems, a lack of additional funds to hire a replacement for me, staff turn-over and the lack of a large enough volunteer base to adequately support our effort."
Volunteer Coordinator, Cathy Holt, stated, "We are pleased with the many accomplishments of the Kindness Campaign in Asheville in a short period of time. We held two Kindness Weeks, two Interfaith Celebrations of Kindness, had thousands of people take the "kindness pledge" and pass their kindness buttons along (about 15,000 buttons were given away). We honored 50 different people and organizations with Community of Kindness Awards. Hundreds of people participated in the various "Conversations on Kindness" community-building events or Interfaith Dialogue Dinners. And last fall, we held special celebrations for World Kindness Day and Make a Difference Day. Three area schools implemented the Kind and Safe Schools Initiative. The Police Action Community Team (PACT), formed last year, drafted recommendations that are currently under review by the Police Department."
Weinhold added, "We are grateful for all the support we received from the many hardworking volunteers, the assistance we received from churches (especially St. Eugene's Catholic Church, Jubilee, and the Unitarian Universalist Church). The support of Playback Theatre, and for the sponsorship by Spirit in the Smokies magazine, the Citizen Times, Ashley Furniture, Ingles Markets, Wachovia, and many other businesses that donated in large and small ways to the campaign. We also thank the members of our Community Advisory Board for all their assistance."
Cathy Holt will be continuing her "Kind Communication" classes. For more information, visit the Kind Communication website.
The Police Action Community Team, headed by Moss Bliss, will carry on its important work of improving relationships between police and community members. Cathy Holt plans to continue offering "Kind Communication" classes, and will be working with the Mediation Center on some teacher training including Non-Violent Communication concepts. Lisa Watson and Bob Boeberitz are working on a project to bring more kindness into area businesses. Gail Shulimson will continue her business as a consultant to non-profits and government agencies. Barry Weinhold intends to take the summer off to relax, go fishing, perhaps in the fall teach a class on "Building Sustainable Relationships," and then get back to some long-postponed writing projects.
The remaining funds in the Kindness Campaign account will be used to support the continuation of the web site, and the development of new web-based Kindness Campaign e-products and materials and collaborate with other organizations on projects that are in line with the Vision and Mission of the Kindness Campaign. The funds will be administered by the Board of Trustees of the Carolina Institute for Conflict Resolution and Creative Leadership (CICRCL), the non-profit, tax-exempt organization that has operated the Kindness Campaign in Asheville since its inception.
"My hope is that the kindness movement will continue to grow and spread in its own ways here and elsewhere," said Weinhold. "I know that no act of kindness is ever wasted. I am confident that the seeds that were sown here in Asheville and Western North Carolina during the one & one-half years of our operation will continue to grow through the efforts of all those who are living kindness every day. Many thanks to all who contributed to making Asheville a kinder city! We are looking forward to continuing to serve the kindness needs of the population at large with our new web-based products and consultation services."
|
