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A serious car crash ten years ago nearly killed Lauren Medel.

She survived, but suffered a brain injury which changed the course of her life.  

A native Texan, Lauren was born at St. David’s hospital, in downtown Austin.  Her family moved to Scottsdale Arizona, where Lauren grew up with identical twins Aya and Keighsie Huffman she also has half-siblings Tammy, Dixie, Robbie and Lisa from her father’s first wife and then Matt and Andy from her father’s second wife and step brothers Ben, Joseph and James.

With all these siblings, it’s no wonder Lauren knew what she wanted to be when she grew up: “In charge!” she says with a laugh. Her career goal is even bigger: to be POTUS, President of the United States, “and now that I’m 35, I’m finally old enough!” 

Lauren attended Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, AZ, class of 2000, then went on to Scottsdale Community College where she received her Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Business. Next came  Arizona State University where she received her BAS in Political Science and Communications, and after that she attended  Western International University, to get her MBA. As if that wasn’t enough education, she went on to St. Mary’s School of Law, to receiver her JD (doctor of Law) degree.

Along the way she met Brandon Medel, a landscaper, when her niece and half sister introduced them.  Lauren explains, “My half-sister knew this playboy and wondered what kind of woman could tame him. She figured it would take someone strong, so immediately thought: Lauren!” Her niece invited Brandon to join her at an event Lauren would be at, “and then she made some comment she knew I’d call him out on.  The rest is history.”

Married on New Years’ Day in 2011, the happy couple will soon celebrate their 6th anniversary. They’re raising their son, Noah Jack, a 6th grader at Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy, and daughter Liberty-Dale, a four-year-old.

Coming from the struggle of a divorced, destructive, abusive home, Lauren grew up with a real sense of justice and right and wrong.  She feels blessed to have both the intelligence and good luck to be academically strong.

“I feel I have an onus to help others seek justice,” she says, “and I LOVE showing ‘the man’ that little people matter too!”

She is also extremely patriotic.  “I love America almost more than I love my own children--see my daughter’s name—but I knew I could never be in the military, so I figured lawyering was the next best thing.”

Her goal is to provide peace of mind to all her clients.

I think it’s important for my clients to know there’s an advocate out there who is FIGHTING FOR YOU, from planning your estate to minimize tax burden to taking a tenant to court. What people don’t realize is that having an attorney helps to even the playing field.”

Lauren says all her clients and cases are interesting. If things get tense she uses yoga to help center and calm her, and sometimes, she says, “My kids will join me.  When they join me its less peaceful but way more fun.”

When she’s not working, or doing Yoga with her kids, she can be found volunteering. Lauren is the coach of a high school mock trial team at Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy.  She’s also a member of committees and the general board of the Tx BAIC (Brain Injury counsel), and she doas work for Disability Rights, Texas.  She does a lof of pro- and low-bono work, helping others as needed for no or very little pay.

“I really enjoy helping these groups,” Lauren says. “Access to justice is a huge concern for me.”

She remembers how hard it was when she was disabled and suffered a brain injury in that serious car accident over a decade ago, and knows it is hard to be handicapped in America. She learned from this worst time in her life how to help others who can’t help themselves. She says confidently, “All Problems have solutions.”

Lauren’s solution is to work hard for those who need her, to make the world a better place for all.

To learn more about Lauren, contact her at lauren@laurenmedel.com or see her website: http://laurenmedel.com

Or see her website: www.LaurenMedel.com

 

 Author Judy Porter can be contacted at judy-porter@sbcglobal.net

 

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Like many single mothers, Donnell struggled to keep her four children happy and healthy and it took her son's illness and a still, small voice that she heard on a run to help her to become the success she is today. Now her life, focused on her children and her business, brings her joy and she has little time to look back at the difficulties she’s overcome.

Donnell Toler Knows Beauty

 

Donnell Toler has a heart for single moms. She knows how important it is to have a warm, cozy and comfortable home to go to at the end of a busy day for both the mother and her children.

As a single mother of four, she felt fortunate to have such a home near a good elementary school, DISD's Hexter, in Lake Highlands. Although on a limited income, she beautifully decorated her home so her children and guests enjoyed being there.

Donnell has a gift for staging homes—highlighting the unique beauty of each home, decorating them with furniture and accessories—so they would look even more appealing and quickly sell.

She worked in the family business full-time for 18 years. In 2009 her youngest son was diagnosed with Cancer. Donnell was crushed by the news. She went running around her beautiful neighborhood, frustrated with her life, upset at God. Unfulfilled at work, worried about her kids, she didn’t know what to do.

Then she heard a still, small voice which said to her, “Do what you know.”

Her goal was to do something to provide for her kids and still have time to be a very active mom. Carpool, bake sales, school carnivals were important. She wanted to be there for her kids.

“My first passion is and has always been my children,” Donnell says. “All the rest comes After.”

She feels God sent Cole to make her see what’s important in life, and to teach her to keep going no matter what. “When I want to give up I am reminded of my son. He wants me to give everything I do, my all.” 

So Donnell changed her life: she quit her job and got a career. She got back into what she loved: staging homes for sale. But she didn’t stop there. She got her real estate license within a year after Cole dying. She’s been a full time real estate agent for nearly four years now, with her work anniversary coming up this December.

At one point someone questioned her ability to sell homes, even asking her, “What’s going to set you apart from any other Real Estate agent?”

Donnell’s immediate reply: “Me! My great customer service!” To prove it, she poured herself into each property for sale. The homes she staged were selling within 48 hours.

Now Donnell is a key agent in the east Dallas neighborhood where she began in Real Estate. The Hexter Elementary School area, located near White Rock Lake, the Casa Linda neighborhoods and Old Lake Highlands Estates, is her special territory. A member of Nathan Grace Realty of Lake Highlands, she’s listing more than two dozen homes in the area.

In addition to her Real Estate license, Donnell works as a professional home stager. She took over the business—and a warehouse full of beautiful furniture and accessories—from a woman who was retiring. A home stager typically receives ½% of the sale of the home, and a good home stager can make the home look so spectacular that it sells at a higher price—and sells more quickly. Donnell also stages the homes she lists for no extra charge, a perk for those who hire her as their agent, and obviously benefitting the seller in a big way.

Her children are now age 14, 11 and 11. They are thriving, and so is Donnell’s business. 

Like many single mothers, Donnell is so busy she has little time to look back at the difficulties she’s overcome. Her focus continues now, as it was then, on her children, on their future, and creating more beauty in the world—in the homes she lists, in the homes she stages, and in her own home.

 

“Home isn't where you're from, it's where you find light when all grows dark.”
? Pierce Brown, Golden Son

 

To contact Donnell Call (469) 371-4788 or follow her on twitter: @dtfrealestate  or Nathan Grace Real Estate 9661 Audelia Rd, Dallas, TX

 

Author Judy Porter is also a mother of four and President of Porter People PR, judy-porter@sbcglobal.net

 

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Air Force Pilot Nate Cavender feels blessed to have survived two wars, and a long separation from him beautiful wife. He's now living in Dallas and will be the speaker at the Oak Cliff Lions Club Wednesday, October 12, 2016 at noon. The public is invited to attend.

Air Force Pilot and Texas Tech University Graduate Nate Cavender will be the speaker at the Oak Cliff Lions Club this Wednesday, October 12, 2016 and noon. The public is invited.

Nate earned a Finance degree with an emphasis in Real Estate, and a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force.

He flew in two wars, received a number of awards--including three air medals. After almost nine years, Nate separated from the military as a Captain, and returned to his family in Dallas.

“I was gone 200-plus days a year while in the military and realized I missed my friends and family and wanted to start a family of my own.” Now he’s back home and also back to the other area of his life he loves: the world of finance.

Though he’s no longer saving the world in the military, he feels he’s helping people protect their personal lives by saving them the anguish of losing their assets. After one year working at Merrill Lynch, Nate met Erin Botsford while flying a Botsford client in their private Jet. After being introduced to her through the client, Nate learned her strategy designed to protect her clients’ personal wealth and signed on soon after because, he says, “I really believe in what we are doing here.”

In fact, he’s taken on his stepfather as a client, moving his retirement from his former company into the Botsford Financial umbrella. His step-father plans to retire from the police force soon.

Now that Nate is “grounded” in ocean-less Dallas, he has his beautiful wife, new puppy Kai, and family and friends close by. His plan to work hard to get ahead in life seems to have been a good one. Now his goal is to work hard to help keep safe and secure his clients’ futures through his financial advice.

The public is invited to meet Nate and the members of the Oak Cliff Lions on Wednesday at noon at Weiss Auditorium on the Methodist Medical Campus. Lunch is $9.50. Contact secretary Sara Kitto to RSVP: sara.kitto@oakclifflions.org

Or Lion Club President Layne Vincent: layne@laynevincent.com

Future events include:

October 14: White Cane Day 10 AM – Dallas City Hall

October 19: Luncheon Speaker Toni Brinker Pickens Operation Blue Shield

October 26: Dallas Police Department Officer of the Month Award Presentation

The Oak Cliff Lions Club presents the Oak Cliff Farmer’s Market on the first Saturday of every month.  There are opportunities for vednors and the public is invited to attend and shop. Contact Lion John McCall Jr. at john@attorneymccall.com for more information.

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Fall allergies can make allergy sufferers just as miserable as spring allergies, but there are many ways to help decrease the sniffling and sneezing.

Seasonal Allergies Need a Sirius Solution

October can be a scary time for Seasonal Allergy sufferers

Spring is the time of year that we normally think of when it comes to seasonal allergies. As the trees start to bloom and the pollen gets airborne, allergy sufferers begin their annual ritual of sniffling and sneezing. Although spring most readily comes to mind when we think of allergies, many of the same allergic triggers that can make us miserable in the spring persist into summer and even more so in the fall.

Fall allergy triggers might be slightly different, but they can be just as misery-inducing as the flower pollen that fills the air in the spring and summer.

What Causes Fall Allergies?

Ragweed is the biggest allergy trigger in the fall. Though it usually starts to release pollen with cool nights and warm days in August, it can last into September and October. About 75% of people allergic to spring plants also have reactions to ragweed. Even if it doesn't grow where you live, ragweed pollen can travel for hundreds of miles on the wind. For some people who are allergic to ragweed, certain fruits and vegetables can also cause symptoms. Bananas, melons, and zucchini might cause sneezing among a few individuals.

Mold is another fall trigger. You may think of mold growing in your basement or bathroom -- damp areas in the house -- but mold spores also love wet spots outside. Piles of damp leaves are ideal breeding grounds for mold, as are damp areas around your house, like the ground beneath your outdoor hose, or under your welcome mat.

Dust mites are also a problem for many. While they’re common during the humid summer months, they can get stirred into the air the first time you turn on your heat in the fall. They can trigger sneezes, wheezes, runny noses, and often misery. You may take cold medicines to get over the symptoms, but they persist because you’re not sick: you’re allergic to the tiny dust mites.

Pet Allergies affect a lot of Americans. Nearly 40% of U.S. households have a dog, and dog dander gets everywhere, including places where dogs have never set a paw. Cat allergies are even more fierce for those who are allergic.

There are many medications you can try to overcome these allergic reactions, including steroid nasal sprays which will reduce inflammation in your nose; antihistamines which help stop sneezing, itching and sniffling; decongestants that relieve stuffiness and dry up the mucus in of your nose; or allergy shots given by a doctor.

 

The Sirius Solution

You could stay indoors with the doors and windows closed when pollen is at its peak, typically from noon to early evening, and you can check the pollen count in your neighborhood by checking your local weather report. Washing your clothes—and your hair—as soon as you come inside can help.

A better way to remain sneeze-free in the Fall is to contact Sirius Plumbing and Air Conditioning before you turn on your heat for the first time.  A fall check-up of your system, including a professional cleaning of your heating vents, along with a change of your filters, can make all the difference. Bits of mold and other allergens can get trapped in the vents over the summer and will fill the air as soon as you start the furnace. Sirius will also recommend that you:

Upgrade to a HEPA filter in your heating system to remove the pollen, mold, and other particles from the air so it doesn’t blow around your house. Indoor air pollution can be up to five times worse than outside because our homes are becoming more sealed – to keep noise out and heat in. But it’s not just warmth that gets trapped inside--it can be pollutants and allergens too. A HEPA filter, a High-efficiency particulate arrestance, also sometimes called high-efficiency particulate arresting or high-efficiency particulate air, is a type of air filter that traps even the tiniest particles to keep your air free of them. They cost a little bit more than a standard filter, but for allergy sufferers, can mean weeks of cleaner air and healthy breathing without sneezing.

Finally, purchasing, a dehumidifier to use can help. It will keep your air at between 35% and 50% humidity, which keeps those blowing specs out of the air.

 Peace of Mind for just $129

To make sure the allergy sufferers in your home don’t suffer needlessly, you may want to join a Home Comfort Club like the one Sirius Plumbing and Air Conditioning offers. For a one-time fee of $129 the company will come out for two annual tune-ups, valued at $158, once in the spring and one in the fall.

In addition, becoming a member gets you 10% off all plumbing, cooling or heating service and priority scheduling! *

Well-maintained units are safer and more reliable, and even more energy efficient. The allergens in your home will be less and your allergy sufferers will feel better.

Contact Sirius Plumbing and A/C to set up your Fall HVAC & Heating check-up: (972) 235-6600, or info@sirius.com. The company is located at 1406 Halsey Way Ste 100, Carrollton, TX 75007 and serves the DFW and surrounding areas.

*Does not include replacement of major equipment. Major equipment includes, but is not limited to, HVAC system replacement or water heater replacement.

 

Author: Judy Porter, Porter People PR, judy-porter@sbcglobal.net

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Past President of the National Black Sister's Conference Sister Anita Baird will speak about her friend, the late Sister Thea Bowman, at Holy Cross Catholic Church on October 15. The public is encouraged to attend.

“Moses of her People” Sister Anita Baird to Honor Her Friend, Sister Thea Bowman, at Holy Cross October 15

The public is invited to attend the celebration of Sister Thea Bowman’s life, Mass in her honor

Sister Anita Baird, DHM, a long-time friend of Sister Thea Bowman, will speak at the Mass honoring her late friend at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Dallas on Saturday, October 15 at 3:30 p.m., followed by Mass at 5:00 p.m. The church is located at 5004 Bonnie View Rd., Dallas, TX 75241.

A Mass setting composed by Dr. Aaron Mathews in Sister Bowman’s honor will be debuted at the Mass. And Sister Roberta Fulton, S.S.M.N., also a friend of Sister Bowman, will present a program to the children of Holy Cross Parish.

Sister Bowman was a nationally known orator, singer, preacher and evangelist until her death in 1990 at the age of 52. She visited Holy Cross Parish and other Dallas area churches several times in the 1980s and so endeared herself to Holy Cross parishioners that they named the parish hall after her. She often enlisted the Holy Cross choir to accompany her at other engagements in the area.

Sister Anita is a native of Chicago, and a member of the society of the Daughters of the Heart of Mary. She entered the order in 1981 and has serve as both the local and regional Superior, Provincial Councilor and currently serves as the United States Provincial.

She is the founding director of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office for Racial Justice and serves as Cardinal George’s liaison for race relations in the city of Chicago.

Sister Anita is past president of the national black sisters’ Conference and has received numerous awards including the National Black Sisters’ Conference Harriet Tubman Award, the NBC Jefferson Award for Outstanding Community Service, and the Dominick’s Fresh Spirit Award in Recognition of her outstanding spiritual and community leadership in the city of Chicago.

In 2002 she gave the opening keynote address at the Ninth Annual Black Catholic Congress in Chicago.

Sister has a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from DePaul University and a Master’s Degree in Religious Studies from Mundelein College of Loyola University Chicago. In 2013 she was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) degree from Catholic Theological Union in recognition of her outstanding contributions in the work for racial justice in the church and city of Chicago.

Her good friend, Sister Thea Bowman, spoke up at a time when African-American Catholics didn’t have a voice, and Sister Anita will talk about her friend and her legacy on October 15. Like Sister Anita, Sister Bowman’s ministry grew and attracted national attention. She was in demand to speak to congregations of all races and traveled around the United States and to several foreign nations.

She died at home on March 30, 1990. Though she is already considered a saint by those whose lives she touched, there is fervent hope among many Catholics that the Church will begin the formal process of canonizing her.

Holy Cross Catholic Church was ethnically Czech and Irish when the parish was founded in 1956. However, the assignment of a black priest, Father William Lane, in 1961 drew black Catholics from all over Dallas to the Southern Dallas Parish. The parish became active in the civil rights movement and in the betterment of the surrounding community. The Rev. Timothy Gollob has been pastor of Holy Cross since 1969.

For More information, contact: Lari Newman-Williams, 214.374.7614 or theabcelebration@gmail.com

Holy Cross Catholic Church Address: 5004 Bonnieview Road, Dallas, 75241; Phone: (469) 285-1874.

 

Article by Judy Porter, judy-porter@sbcglobal.net

Porter People PR

 

 

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Former Dallas Police officer, certified emergency medical technician, teacher of science and math, parent to two sets of twins, with a Master’s degree in Education, Rachel Robb may just be the most qualified elementary school principal on the planet.

Science and Safety the Focus of St. Elizabeth’s

St. Elizabeth of Hungary School, tucked away at 4019 S. Hampton Road in Oak Cliff, has a rather unique safety feature: the principal is a former Dallas police officer.

The mother of four—including two sets of twins--Rachel Robb spent a decade as a police officer, then served as a middle-school science and math teacher, was honored as Teacher of the Year, and finally assistant principal at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic School before becoming its principal last year.

In addition to her expertise in crowd control as an officer, and mother of twins, she is following in the footsteps of both her parents who were teachers.

A graduate of Bishop Dunne Catholic School, she was a student at the University of Dallas when she decided she wanted a change from going to school full time, so she entered the Dallas Police Academy in 1986. She was just 20 when she began her decade with the police department, including five years as the officer for Methodist Hospital’s emergency room, which led her to gain certification as an emergency medical technician.

As she worked for the police department, she continued with her college studies online to finish her degree in education. Next came a stint as a stay-at-home mother as her first set of twins arrived, Cody and Caroline. Two years later twins Travis and Jake arrived. In 2001 she was considering St. Elizabeth’s for her children when she heard there was a science teacher needed there. She applied and began teaching. In 2013-14 was chosen as the school’s Teacher of the Year.

She returned to the University of Dallas and earned a master’s degree in Catholic School Leadership, and served as St. Elizabeth’s assistant principal for six years prior to her promotion to principal. Meanwhile, all four of her children have followed her through Bishop Dunne and are now out on their own, working and attending college.

Robb is now busy raising $200,000 for a new STEM program which includes a Science lab for St. Elizabeth’s, and is working to get local businesses to join her in this venture. She’s hoping to find four local companies that would like to donate to the new lab and have it installed and working by next year. Her plan to make St. Elizabeth’s an academic shining star in Oak Cliff is under way.

In addition, the school is expanding its pre-K program, recognizing that children as young as three years old are ready and eager to learn in a safe and protected environment. Educational experts agree that a student who remains in one school for a decade--rather than moving from school to school—often do better academically and socially and are more prepared for high school and college. St. Elizabeth’s has classes from pre-K 3 through 8th grade, a full ten years of education.

See Second grade students STEMing out with cardboard, sponges and paper to make sail boats September 15, 2016  here:

https://t.co/QSmxkhoq1S

The school has openings in Pre-k3 through 8th grades.

To tour the school at 4019 S. Hampton Road, Dallas, TX 75224 call (214) 331-5139 x 21 or contact Sandy Walkley, Administrative Assistant: swalkley@saintspride.com

Open House dates for 2016-17 school year are:

Thursday, November 3, from 8 – 3 p.m.
Sunday, December 4, from 1 – 4 p.m.
Wednesday, February 8, from 8 – 3 p.m.

 

judy-porter@sbcglobal.net

 

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Already considered a saint by those whose lives she touched, Sister Thea Bowman will be honored in Oak Cliff on Saturday, October 15, 2016. There is hope among many Catholics that the Church will begin the formal process of canonizing her. Photo credit: FSPA Archives, La Crosse WI. Background art: “This Little Light of Mine,” Bro. Michael O’Neill McGrath

Holy Cross Catholic Church To Unveil a Portrait, Bronze Memorial Plaque

The public is invited to attend the celebration and Mass in her honor

Holy Cross Catholic Church in Dallas will celebrate the life of Sister Thea Bowman with storytelling, testimonials, music, a portrait unveiling, and the dedication of a bronze memorial plaque in honor of the African-American nun who left a lasting mark on the congregation.

An orator, singer, preacher, evangelist, the celebration of her life will take place on Saturday, October 15 at 3:30 p.m., followed by Mass at 5:00 p.m. The church is located at 5004 Bonnie View Rd., Dallas, TX 75241.

Sister Anita Baird, DHM, a long-time friend of Sister Bowman, will speak at the Mass. A Mass setting composed by Dr. Aaron Mathews in Sister Bowman’s honor will be debuted at the Mass. And Sister Roberta Fulton, S.S.M.N., also a friend of Sister Bowman, will present a program to the children of Holy Cross Parish.

Sister Bowman was a nationally known orator, singer, preacher and evangelist until her death in 1990 at the age of 52. She visited Holy Cross Parish and other Dallas area churches several times in the 1980s and so endeared herself to Holy Cross parishioners that they named the parish hall after her. She often enlisted the Holy Cross choir to accompany her at other engagements in the area.

 “Sister Thea spoke up at a time when African-American Catholics didn’t have a voice,” said Vicki Mathews, a long-time Holy Cross parishioner and choir member. “She inspired us to be proud of our black heritage and the gifts we bring. We started singing more from our traditions and feeling freer about expressing ourselves.”

 Born into a Methodist family in Yazoo City, Mississippi in 1937, Sister Thea grew up in nearby Canton. Her parents, Theon and Mary Bowman, named her Bertha. They sent her to Holy Child Jesus Catholic School, staffed by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration from La Crosse, Wisconsin. With her parents’ permission she joined the Catholic Church when she was nine years old.

She decided to join her teachers’ religious order as a teen, but her parents opposed it. Eventually they relented and allowed her to go. Theon and Mary later joined the Catholic Church themselves.

At that time, women entering the convent were given new names. Bertha requested and received the name Thea.

 After taking vows her religious order sent her on to earn master’s and doctorate degrees in English literature and linguistics at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Sister Bowman taught in parochial schools and at Viterbo University in La Crosse. In 1978, she returned to Mississippi to care for her aging parents. While there, Bishop Joseph Brunini of the Diocese of Jackson recruited her to develop outreach from the diocese to minority communities and to help create intercultural awareness among all races.

Her ministry grew and attracted national attention. Soon she was in demand to speak to congregations of all races and traveled around the United States and to several foreign nations.

Sister Bowman was also an expert on William Faulkner. “Faulkner taught me to appreciate my state, both the glory and the shame of it,” she said. “He helped me to understand white folks, their ways of thinking and feeling and responding.” She attended the first annual Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha Conference at the University of Mississippi in 1974 and every year after until her death. She challenged the attendees understanding of black people with word and song. 

In the mid-1980s, Sister Bowman contracted breast cancer that spread to her bones. She continued to travel, sing and preach as long as she could, even after she was confined to a wheelchair. She died at home on March 30, 1990. Though she is already considered a saint by those whose lives she touched, there is fervent hope among many Catholics that the Church will begin the formal process of canonizing her.

Holy Cross Catholic Church is recognized as the African-American Catholic parish in Dallas. The congregation was ethnically Czech and Irish when the

parish was founded in 1956. However, the assignment of a black priest, Father William Lane, in 1961 drew black Catholics from all over Dallas to the Southern Dallas Parish. The parish became active in the civil rights movement and in the betterment of the surrounding community.

In the 1980s, Holy Cross declared itself a sanctuary church for refugees fleeing from the civil war in El Salvador. The Rev. Timothy Gollob has been pastor of Holy Cross since 1969.

For More information contact: Lari Newman-Williams, 214.374.7614 or theabcelebration@gmail.com

Holy Cross Catholic Church Address: 2926 E Ledbetter Dr, Dallas, TX 75216; Phone: (214) 374-7952

 

Article by Judy Porter, judy-porter@sbcglobal.net

Porter People PR

 

 

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Teenagers who age out of the Foster Care system often end up homeless. The Ebby House makes sure they have a safe home and learn the life skills needed to be happy, independent adults. Come learn about the program at the Oak Cliff Lions Club Wednesday September 14, 2016 at the Weiss Auditorium on Colorado Boulevard.

The Public is invited to attend the Oak Cliff Lions Club Meeting Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Learn how to help the young women of The Ebby House, Teens who have aged out of the Foster Care System

Lisa Mumford, the live-in house manager for The Ebby House, will be the Oak Cliff Lions Club Program Speaker on Wednesday, September 19, 2016.

The Program meeting is open to the public. Lunch is $9.50. The club meets at the Weiss Auditorium on the Methodist Medical Campus located at: 1441 N Beckley Ave, Dallas, TX 75203.

Ms. Mumford will discuss “doing life” with the young women who come to the Ebby House.

To Mumford, it means learning and growing together while sharing stories, struggles and goals.

At the Ebby House, all women are required to create goals that they will work toward for the duration of their two-year program.

The Ebby House has its own goal for the women who are accepted into the program: to leave with the tools necessary to be self-sufficient, successful individuals. This ultimate vision for each woman is driven by a perpetual push for education.

Ms. Mumford will discuss her position at the house and how the community can support the residents there.

PECANS!

For the seventh year the club is selling the best pecans in the local market again this fall. Do yourself and your friends a favor and place your orders now.

Fancy, shelled, half pecans are available in 1 POUND CELOPHANE BAGS for $11.50 each and in 3 POUND BOXES for $32.00 each. 

Checks payable to the Oak Cliff Lions Club, and you will pay for your total order at time of delivery.  The DEADLINE FOR ORDERS IS OCTOBER 21st. 

The pecans will be “new crop” pecans and will be delivered the week of November 21st.  Now is the time to check with your family and friends and get your order in. These pecans are great for holiday baking and for seasonal gifts.  Our source again this year is Durham Ellis Pecan Company in Comanche, TX.

Place your orders with Lion Stan Altschuler, 972-239-1886 or alt7811@sbcglobal.net before October 21st.  

For more information on the Lions Club contact: Sara Kitto at sara.kitto@oakclifflions.org

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Oak Cliff resident Vicky Gouge says she's always inviting friends to events the Promise House hosts, because she loves helping teens and children. A Board member for years, she volunteers with Promise House and even had her brother in law’s basketball team hand out home-made cookies to the teens there.

Vicky Gouge has a passion for kids.

She also has a passion for drawing and sketching, which led her to the graphic design profession.

She earns a living doing the latter, as the Principal at Full Moon Design Group, Inc., which gives her an income to be able to do the former. She’s been helping kids in trouble for a long time, and has been board member at Promise House, a home for teens in crisis, since early August of 2011-- over five years.

Her responsibilities have included participating on various fundraising committees, creating awareness for the organization, and volunteering. She’s now in her second three-year term on the board. 

Promise House serves thousands of youth every year, and Vicky feels her friends would want to help the homeless--and sometimes pregnant teens--and runaways.

She says, “I’m always inviting friends to events the Promise House hosts, and even had my brother in law’s basketball team hand out home-made cookies to the teens there.”

Her Core group of friends and acquaintances know of her passion, and often help out with volunteering, raising awareness for Promise House and connecting her to funding possibilities to help keep Promise House running.

Vicky began her creative journey at an early age with a constant passion for both kids and creative arts. This passion was the foundation for her excellence in the arts and the numerous awards she won for her creative artwork. Vicky’s passion for the arts continued throughout her college years at Texas State University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Art & Journalism. Since graduating, Vicky has gone on to work in every aspect of graphic design, lending to her expansive knowledge of the industry.

As principal and co-founder of Full Moon Design Group, Vicky brings to the company a fervor and drive for accomplishment and advancement. Her focus is to build long term relationships by offering cutting edge design solutions and top-notch client service. Vicky thrives at constantly pushing the bar to be successful in whatever challenge she undertakes. She believes that building long-lasting client relationships is crucial to everyone’s success, and it is this belief that is the foundation to Full Moon’s exponential growth.

Since its inception in 2004, Full Moon Design Group has achieved many awards, including the “Best of Austin Reader’s Poll,” “Austin Business Journal Top 25 Graphic Design Firms,” and the “Best of Westlake Hills 2008 Graphic Arts Poll.”

Vicky’s specialties include branding, corporate identity packages, logo development, and company collateral.

Promise House embraces homeless, runaway and at-risk youth, giving them needed support, encouragement and hope to live a better life.

The home’s programs include emergency shelter, transitional living, pregnant and parenting teen services, individual, group and family counseling, street outreach and educational intervention. Promise House is dedicated to providing the strength, stability and hope that youth need today to fulfill their promise for a healthy, productive and self-sufficient tomorrow.

Since 1984, Promise House has had an open door 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to children, teens and families in crisis serving over 70,000 youth and families in North Texas.

For more information on Promise House or Full Moon Design, Inc., contact Vicky at: gouge@fullmoondesigngroup.com or see: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickygouge

 

Author Judy Porter can be reached at judy-porter@sbcglobal.net

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Judge Tena Callahan of the 302nd Family District Court welcomes Judge Susan Rankin who presides over the 254th, a specialized court which only which hears Family matters, to the Altrusa Club of Downtown Dallas. The service club boasts a large number of attorneys among its membership, along with CPAs, business owners and non-profit leaders. The international service club is celebrating its 100th anniversary and members are encouraged to do 100 hours of service over the next 12 months. The focus of the club is improving literacy and supporting women and children in crisis, mainly in the downtown Dallas area.

Altrusa International of Downtown Dallas adds New Member, Judge Susan Rankin, Tues

The Altrusa International Club of Downtown Dallas added a new member on August 16, 2016.

Judge Susan Rankin, a native Texan, has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Southern Methodist University and a Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology, and a graduate of the Texas Tech School of Law. 

She began her law career at the Gardere Law Firm, one of Texas’ oldest and largest law firms, in the banking and bankruptcy sections, then moved into family law at Vial Hamilton Koch & Knox. 

She began her judicial career in 1994 taking care of the families and children in the 301st Family District Court as the Associate Judge.  Three years later she was appointed by then-Governor George W. Bush to complete the term of the retiring Judge. Susan was re-elected twice after her appointment, and in August 2015, appointed as the Presiding Judge of the 254th Family District Bench by Governor Greg Abbott. She was listed in D Magazine’s Top Women Lawyers in North Texas in 2010 and is a member of the Texas Family Law Foundation, the State Bar of Texas, the Dallas Bar Association, and the Annette Stewart Inn of Court and is licensed to practice in the State of Texas, the Northern District of Texas and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Judge Rankin has consistently been endorsed by the Committee for a Qualified Judiciary and has received approval from Dallas lawyers as reflected by her high Bar Poll ratings during her tenure serving on the prior bench.  While presiding over her court, she received the number one ranking three times for the highest number of cases disposed of and the number two ranking twice.  The court also had the lowest net cost per case in Dallas County.

Active in the community, Judge Rankin has served in the Junior League of Dallas, on the Executive Board of the Ronald McDonald House, helped build a Habitat for Humanity home, volunteered at both Parkland Hospital’s Emergency Room and Parkland’s OB/GYM Emergency Room and at Baylor Hospital.  She has been a vacation bible school volunteer at her church, a member of the Edna Gladney Family Association, Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and served on the advisory board of the Suicide & Crisis Center.  Susan currently volunteers at the Stewpot serving breakfast at the Bridge.

Next Month the Altrusa Club of Downtown Dallas will have a special Membership Meeting on the third Tuesday of the month, September 20, 2016 from 11:45 to 1:00 p.m. at the City Club in downtown Dallas in the Bank of America Building, located at 901 Main Street, on the 69th floor, Dallas, TX 75202, phone 214-748-9525. FREE Parking is available in the Texas Club parking garage (red brick building) across the street.

For more information about attending the Membership meeting in September contact: Kimberly Abmeyer at kim.abmeyer@raymondjames.com

Author Judy Porter is the President of Porter People PR, and has been a member of the Altrusa International of Downtown Dallas Club since 1990. She currently serves on the Board as the Vice President of Communications. She an be reached at judy-porter@sbcglobal.net