Professional Site

While this blog chronicles our family activities and occasionally my 'learning to get along' books, I have decided to also start up a professional site for things I'm doing as an author. It's titled, CheriJMeiners, M.Ed. Click HERE to check it out.

Get Your Hacky-Sacks

A few years ago our son James bought a box of hacky-sacks as an entrepreneurial adventure. He still had quite a few of them when he left for a two-year mission to California in January.

Our ten-year-old daughter Andrea got the idea of having a stand in front of our yard and selling them for him to help raise money for his mission. Her sign said in large letters, "Get your hacky-sacks". Lots of neighbors responded to the request. They were quite supportive of her fundraiser, and she made a few dollars to send to James.

I am proud of her initiative, and for donating her time and the earned money to her brother, while he is donating his energy full-time to helping others.

Awards Luncheon

Metro Atlanta Corporate Volunteer Council MACVC IMPACT Awards Luncheon Saluting Corporate Volunteerism Event
Thursday, Sep 18, 2008 12:00PM - 1:30PM Atlanta, GA

The 11th Annual IMPACT Awards Program will feature a nonprofit fair, luncheon and awards ceremony. Attendees will be able to network, learn about some outstanding corporate volunteer programs, and greet the 2008 IMPACT award finalists, as well as the recipient of the 2008 Carol D. Reiser. (from dogood.ajc.com)



As the recipient of the 2008 Carol D. Reiser award, I was flown to Atlanta on Wednesday. I was picked up by Linda, the director of the Corporate Volunteer Council (CVC) of Atlanta at about 6:00 pm. We went right to dinner with three past directors of the Council. They were all well acquainted with Carol D. Reiser and told me how she co-founded the CVC and did much to promote volunteerism in Atlanta and other cities. When she died in 2002 the children's book award was established in her honor.

I stayed at the Glenn Hotel and Thursday morning we went to the Georgia Aquarium

where the luncheon for 400 business members of the CVC met.

Local children sang in a children's choir. I then read my book, 'Reach Out and Give' to 12 3rd-graders from that group. During the rehearsal with the children, one boy politely raised his hand after I read to them and asked, "Could you read the book again?"

After reading to them again (during the luncheon) I received my award and then spoke briefly. The CVC also gave an award to the corporation who had given the most volunteer service that year, and it was great to see all the innovative things they were doing for their community.

Happy Birthday, Daniel

Daniel turned 18 on September 6. Sorry I don't have pictures. We had a party with the family in the afternoon with his birthday falling on a Saturday. That night he had about 20 friends over for a party.

Hope you had a great time, Dan.

Madrigals Sing at Oriole's Game

We heard a great rendition of the Star Spangled Banner on September 5th at the Oriole's baseball game in Baltimore. Daniel and the other Madrigal singers from his school dazzled thousands in the stands with their a cappella arrangement of the national anthem. Tradition in Baltimore is that whether or not people in the audience sing along, everyone gives a big "OOOOOHH" (for Orioles) at the beginning ('Oh, Say can you see.'..) and middle of the song.

Erika was with us--the night before she flew back to school, so it was a fun family event, as well as seeing other families we know from their school.

This is not the first time our children have performed at the Oriole's stadium, though. Erika, Daniel and Julia have performed there with their middle school band.

So, it doesn't really matter much that the Orioles gave up 8 runs in one inning--the best part was already over.