April 19, 2013

The beginning of April can be a crazy time at Grace Lutheran Middle School in Pocatello. The 7^th graders take a trip to Salt Lake City to study many of the fine arts and some of our 8^th graders travel to Washington D.C. to learn about our country’s history. At the same time, however, some of our 8^th graders and all of our 6^th graders still occupy the hallways of GLS. In an attempt to keep these students busy and provide valuable learning experiences for them with a different teaching population present, we usually try to plan events within the community. This year, they were able to scuba dive, rock climb, learn gymnastics, experiment at the ISU craft shop, and serve at The Idaho Foodbank. Where most of these activities were new ones to the majority of our students, most of the post-trip feedback was related to The Idaho Foodbank. Students talked about the great experience they had there and that it felt “so amazing to help other people” (Liz, 6^th grade). One student even commented:

“It was surprising to hear how many children go hungry in our community each weekend. It really gives me an idea as to how fortunate I am. Serving at the food bank gave me a chance to give back to my community; even it was through the sorting of moldy oranges.”

(Lillee, 6^th grade)

At the Foodbank, students were given a tour in which they learned about how food is collected and distributed within our state. It surprised many of them and provoked a desire to help more frequently. In addition, students participated in two major servant projects. Some groups helped fill bags for the local backpack program and others sorted oranges. In each of the projects, students were eager to work and set goals about how much they could get accomplished. It was great to see their ambition and sense of accomplishment when they finished a task.

We would like to extend our gratitude to The Idaho Foodbank for allowing us to serve. We hope we can do more in the future.

Katie Grant

Grace Lutheran School

Pocatello

Karen Vauk

Karen Vauk, President and CEO of The Idaho Foodbank, will participate in Go Lead Idaho’s “You Can’t Be What You Can’t See” conference on Saturday, April 13.

Karen will be a member of the “Family and Child Welfare” panel. The group will address opportunities for activism, volunteerism, grassroots involvement, professional opportunities (paid or board positions) and how to influence policy.

Registration for the conference, set for Skaggs Hall in the Micron Business and Economics Building at Boise State University, is open at http://www.goleadidaho.org.

Go Lead Idaho was created to help Idaho women find, develop and share their voices through leadership. Its third annual daylong conference will feature speakers and panels to help attendees find their public engagement voice, discover their policy passions and be inspired to lead – whether through elected, appointed, volunteer or business opportunities.

“We passionately believe that adding women to leadership and policy-making roles in public office, boards and commissions, private industry and non-profits will enhance the long-term health and wealth of the State of Idaho and our communities,” said Go Lead Idaho Board President Karianne Fallow.

Former Oregon governor Barbara Roberts will be the keynote speaker. She will share her journey from citizen advocate to the Statehouse as one of the first 10 female governors in the nation.

Plenary speaker Tabby Biddle is a woman’s leadership expert, writer and writing coach dedicated to helping women change-makers develop their leadership platforms to get their messages out to the world.

Karen Vauk will be joined on the “Family and Child Welfare” panel by Nicole Sirak-Irwin of the Family Advocates and Lee Flinn with AARP. Shelli Ramo Roberson (former Girl Scouts Executive Director) will moderate and Cece Gassner (Economic Development Director for the city of Boise) will tweet live from the panel. .

Event Details
What: You Can’t Be What You Can’t See Annual Leadership Conference
When: Saturday, April 13, 2013
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (check-in begins at 8 a.m.)
Where: Boise State University Micron College of Business and Economics
Skaggs Lecture Hall
Cost: $75 general registration | $35 student registration
(Includes Governor Roberts’ book Up The Capitol Steps and lunch)

Information: http://www.goleadidaho.org.