What Page are You On?

United Way of Wells County is pleased to participate with the Wells County Public Library by extending a grant to purchase books to be used in the schools for the One Book One County project. This year's book is Rocket Boys.

I have read the book, and, as a disclaimer was also on the selection committee. Rocket Boys is riveting and will appeal to folks of all ages and genders. Click here for more complete information on the book and the activities in the community.

I encourage you to support the project by encouraging your friends, service clubs, organizations and businesses to participate. Discuss the book everywhere you go. The whole point it to promote conversation.

There is a discussion board available on the website also. Please add your comments about the book and help us get, and keep, a lively online discussion going.

If you haven't picked up a copy of Rocket Boys at the Wells County Public Library yet, do so today and start reading this engaging book.

Be sure to talk about what you are reading and ask "What Page Are You On?"

Imagination Library facts

I was able to have breakfast last week with the regional director for the Imagination Library. I learned a lot of very interesting facts associated with the IL.

Dolly Parton started the Imagination Library for her home community if Sevier County in Tennessee in 1995 - it was opened up to other areas in 2000 - Wells County United Way became involved in 2001.

Today there are over 1100 communities offering the Imagination Library to its children. Children from the time of birth through their 5th birthday are eligible to receive age appropriate books mailed to their home every single month - at no charge to the families. United Way of Wells County is proud to support the Imagination Library in Wells County and has over 850 children receiving books every single month. The cost of this program is $29 per child per year. The Imagination Library promotes reading, but it also promotes a love of books and learning.

There have been over 20 million books mailed in the years since the Imagination Library began - over 550,000 books are sent every single month. I remember attending a conference with Dolly Parton when she presented the 1 millionth book - the program has been exploding since then.

We plan to continue offering this program for the children in Wells County. If you would like to support this program, please contact United Way of Wells County at 824-5589. If you would like to register your child living in Wells County, please go to our website

How do YOU Live United?

Live United is much more than a slogan - it is a way of life. It is an action - it is what we do. It is not just wearing the shirt - it is living it!

We are looking for individuals who are willing to be recorded on video to tell their story in 2 minutes or less. Personal, authentic video clips of how real people, right here in Wells County, Live United.

Do you volunteer? Do you work with a United Way agency? Do you donate to United Way?

Let us record you and post it on our blog - we want to know how YOU Live United.

Contact the United Way office at 260-824-5589 or comment on this blog and we will make arrangements with you to set up the taping.

Career Expo

Wells County Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a Career Expo on November 5 for high school students. What an awesome opportunity for our students to learn about various careers and opportunities. And what a great opportunity for our local businesses to meet high schoolers.

Again, we are blessed with wonderful things here in Wells County - and this is just one more of those things.

If you are a business, please consider participating. You can contact the Chamber for more information.

If you are a high school student, go to the Career Expo and soak up all the information and knowledge that will be there.

Campaign Staff Expanded

United Way of Wells County has added a staff person and restructured existing staff. We are very fortunate to have Michael Fox join our staff as the new Resource Coordinator. Michael has been with us for one week and is busy learning the ropes and catching on quickly. He will be responsible for working with the campaign volunteers in running United Way campaigns in the workplace, among other things.

Michael comes to United Way with a background in sales - he has a B.S. in Business Administration with a marketing concentration from IU.

Please welcome Michael to Bluffton and United Way.

In addition, Karen Dauterman will be working exclusively with the Faith Fund, Santa's Workshop and related activities. Karen has been with the United Way of Wells County for 2 years and has great empathy when working with clients, as well as a wealth of knowledge on the services and programs available to help low-income families and individuals.

Marsha Werling is a volunteer who comes into the office once or twice a week to help with some general clerical duties and the Imagination Library.

And last, but not least, Maddie Merkel is a student intern from Bluffton High School. Maddie will be in the office performing light clerical duties the first semester.

Please join me in welcoming everyone to United Way of Wells County. We now have a fully staffed office and I expect great things to happen.

News Flash - The Whims Update

I know I have been encouraging everyone to attend the Battle of the Bands to support a local band this Thursday night. And I'm still going to encourage you.

However, they will not be playing at 9 pm - instead they have been given the final time slot on Thursday night - 11:30 pm. I know that it will be hard for a lot of you to come out at that hour and still get to work the next day (me included). Consider going to Columbia Street West at 9 pm anyway, pay the cover charge ($5), get your ballot and vote for The Whims. You will at least be getting your vote in and that is 50% of the scoring.

We still need a lot of people to come at 11:30 to hear The Whims and to support them and clap and encourage them. This is a great band and they are from Wells County - we need to do what we can to support and encourage local groups.

Hope to see you Thursday night at Columbia Street West at 11:30 pm

Battle of the Bands semi-finals

We know The Whims will be playing in the Battle of the Bands semi-finals. Now, we have learned that they will again be playing at 9:00 pm - great time so we don't have to stay out all night to support them.

Mark your calendar and plan to come out and listen to this great group - Will and Heather and Trent and Jena play some great music - music that you can actually listen to and understand. It isn't every day that a local group gets this kind of recognition - but they can't keep moving forward without our help.

Thursday, August 13 at 9:00 pm - Columbia Street West - $5 cover charge - you will get a ballot to vote for your favorite band - and I'm sure you will be convinced that the best band will once again be The Whims.