AGRM board concludes meetings in Arizona

The association’s board of directors met this past Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday in Phoenix. Approximately 15 items were on the agenda, including AGRM’s role in the City Mission World Association’s 2014 international conference, policies for properly engaging in legal action against agencies of the federal government, initiating best practices for AGRM members, approval of a disaster recovery plan for AGRM data, and final approval of AGRM strategic intent and strategy map. The board will meet briefly at the convention in Orlando in May. Following that, the next board meeting will be held October 7–9 in Nashville.

Convention features exceptional seminar line-up

We’re thrilled that so many of you have already signed up for AGRM’s 2012 annual convention—the event of the year for everyone engaged in rescue mission ministry. Registrations are running ahead of last year at this same time—and 2011 was a banner year. We know others of you are still deciding about attending. There’s still time to register. And to help with your decision, take a look at some of the nearly 100 seminars that will be offered:

Developing a Corporate Culture That Enables Smooth Leadership Transitions
A change in top leadership may go awry or take too long because the culture is totally wrapped up in the outgoing CEO. Learn to create a positive, upbeat corporate culture that everyone will want to embrace—and that prepares every stakeholder for a comfortable transition of leadership.

Hospitality and Resident Safety: Creating an Environment of Safety without Killing a Culture of Care
Is your mission safe? In this session, learn how one mission has developed and maintained excellent security measures without creating a prison-like environment. Explore the philosophy of security, plus physical surroundings, lighting, entry systems, appearance of security personnel, cameras and internal security systems, and much more.

Taking It on the Road: Hospitality beyond Our Own Walls
Missions can take their ministries to the streets and offer hope and healing through compassionate hospitality ministry. Our presenting mission has developed one of the most extensive mobile feeding ministries available today. Find out how to do it right from this veteran of rescue ministry.

Post-Incarceration Programming
People who’ve recently been released from prison have different needs and require different treatments than your other clients. We’ll discuss today’s prison population and the needs of former inmates. Learn how to slow or prevent the cycle of criminal relapse, and explore a pilot program one mission is starting with Prison Fellowship.

Donor Acquisition: The Good, the Bad, and the Future
Twenty-five years ago, rescue mission fund-raising strategies were simple, donors were plentiful, and success came relatively easy. Now competition is fierce, strategies must be complex, and success is never guaranteed. Discuss how new donor acquisition can help your mission remain stable, and how to avoid related pitfalls.

Browse through our convention brochure, which features a full schedule of events, general session speaker bios, hotel info, and much more. We also urge you to check out the complete a listing of seminar descriptions.

Any time you need to find the most up-to-date news and info on the convention, you can simply use the shortcut to AGRM’s convention page: www.agrm.org/convention.

DC Forum is just around the corner

CEOs and PR Pros, have you made your plans to be at AGRM’s DC Forum, March 18–20 in Washington, D.C.? Time is running out! At this important event, you’ll get the latest inside scoop on at least seven different issues dogging the feet of faith-based organizations that work with homeless and addicted people. You’ll also have an opportunity to build relationships with the leaders of advocacy groups who share your goals. If you’re not there you can’t tell your story, voice your concerns, or discuss ways for you and your lawmakers to work together in the future. Don’t wait any longer! View the schedule, get additional information, and register for this event on AGRM’s DC Forum page.

Senate votes on conscience protections for religious groups

As if on cue to illustrate just how important your influence is in the nation’s capital, the U.S. Senate voted today to table an amendment that would have created broad conscience protections in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The amendment, offered by Senator Blunt of Missouri, was in direct response to the new U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) "contraception mandate" that requires all employers—except a narrow exemption for some churches—to fully cover the cost of contraception services, including abortion-inducing drugs. Senator Blunt’s legislation would have amended the PPACA to ensure that a health-care provider and a health-plan purchaser, beneficiary, or sponsor would not be forced to purchase or provide coverage or care that violates their religious and moral convictions. Even though Senator Blunt’s legislation was tabled by a close 51-48 vote, AGRM is continuing to review options for taking further action against the HHS mandate. For more information, contact AGRM Government Liaison Rhett Butler.

Last month, leaders within the ranks of AGRM who are age 35 and younger met in Colorado Springs to talk about the development of a year-long training and mentoring program that would employ convention classes, informal retreats, online seminars, and more, organized in a way that would provide content and encouragement for the long haul. This is in the "soft clay" stage at this time. More about this new venture will be unveiled in Orlando. If you are age 35 and under and would like to be involved in the shaping of this endeavor, email Director of Public Relations Nicole Daniels.

A reminder that your mission’s hard work in print and online could be recognized if you enter the 2012 Media Innovation Competition. The competition categories include annual report, general brochure, newsletter/magazine, website, video, podcast, blog, and photo. You can review all competition rules and judging criteria before entering, and then enter online. The deadline for submissions is March 30, and winners will be announced at the 2012 AGRM Annual Convention, May 20-23, in Orlando. If you have any questions, contact Director of Public Relations Nicole Daniels by email or by phone at (719) 266-8300, ext. 103.

Looking down the street…

• Andy Bales, CEO of Union Rescue Mission (Los Angeles, Calif.) received a surprise Emmy Award this past weekend at the annual Hearts for Hope celebrity luncheon and fashion show. The executive producer and head writer of the daytime drama The Bold and the Beautiful presented Andy with the award in appreciation for his inspiration and help in understanding the issues of homelessness, which has been incorporated into the storyline of the three-time Emmy Award-winning show. 
• AGRM welcomes Access Global, LLC (Flanders, N.J.) as a new business member. You can contact them at (973) 598-8880.  

Leap-day tornadoes pound seven states

A late-winter tornado outbreak pounded seven states yesterday and has killed at least 12 people. According to a USA Today report, communities in Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee felt the impact of storms that spawned at least 20 tornadoes. Six people died in Illinois, three in Missouri and three in Tennessee. Among places hardest hit Wednesday was Harrisburg, Ill., a town of about 10,000 where at least six people were killed and more than 100 were injured. The National Weather Service said the Harrisburg tornado unleashed winds of up to 170 mph. The early-in-the-season storms served as a jolting moment in the tornado season after a brutal year of twisters in 2011. Last year, 550 Americans died in tornadoes, the deadliest toll since 1925. More violent weather could come today and Friday in parts of the central and southern U.S.

Judge strikes down graphic cigarette warning labels

A federal judge yesterday declared unconstitutional a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirement that tobacco companies prominently display graphic warning labels on cigarette packages. According to a New York Times report, the judge ruled that forcing the companies to use the labels, which show staged images such as a man breathing smoke out of a tracheotomy hole in his neck and a mouth punctured with what appear to be cancerous lesions, violated their free speech rights under the First Amendment. Five tobacco companies had challenged the labels, arguing that the government was trying to use their packaging not just to inform and educate consumers, but to advocate a change in behavior. They argued that this went beyond the “compelled commercial speech” that courts have ruled is permissible under the First Amendment to protect consumers from confusion and deception. The significance of Wednesday’s ruling is unclear, because the Obama administration has appealed the injunction.

DEA extends ban on chemicals used in pot-mimicking drugs

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is extending for another six months an emergency ban on five chemicals used to make synthetic drugs that mimic pot. According to a CNN report, the DEA already had banned the substances for a year, but with that period soon to expire, the agency announced it will file a notice that will continue to make the chemicals illegal. The actual names of the banned substances used to make the fake pot products sound like an alphabetical and numerical soup, but the drugs are marketed as herbal incense under such names as K2, Blaze, Spice, and Red X Dawn and have been popular with teenagers and young adults. The DEA says the products are made of plant material coated with chemicals that claim to mimic THC, the key ingredient in marijuana. But users of these synthetic drugs might have symptoms as convulsions, elevated heart rates, vomiting, and disorientation, and the DEA believes the chemicals "present an imminent danger to public safety." The drug agency’ emergency action means the chemicals continue to be designated as Schedule 1 substances, the most restrictive category of drugs under the Controlled Substances Act. The DEA's emergency powers to restrict the drugs cannot be extended more than 18 months, but the Department of Health and Human Services can take action to make the ban permanent.

Government data and dental research shows that more Americans are heading to emergency rooms for routine dental problems—a choice that often costs 10 times more than preventive care and offers far fewer treatment options than a dentist’s office. According to a Time magazine report, most of the ER visits involve issues such as toothaches that could be avoided with regular checkups but went untreated. In many cases, this occurs because of a shortage of dentists, particularly those willing to treat Medicaid patients. The number of ER visits nationwide for dental problems increased 16 percent from 2006 to 2009, and the trend is continuing. Emergency rooms generally aren’t staffed by dentists, so personnel can usually only offer pain relief and medicine for infected gums. Many patients are unable to find or afford follow-up treatment, so they end up back in the emergency room. Preventive dental care, such as routine teeth cleaning, can cost $50 to $100, versus $1,000 for emergency room treatment that might include painkillers for aching cavities and antibiotics for infections. These infections can be dangerous, especially for children, who can develop fevers and dehydration from preventable dental conditions.

Social media more addictive than alcohol and cigarettes

Tweeting or checking emails might be harder to resist than cigarettes and alcohol, according to researchers who tried to measure how well people could resist their desires. According to a Fox News report, the researchers note that while sleep and sex might be stronger urges, people are more likely to give in to longings or cravings to use social and other media, A research team used BlackBerry devices to gauge the willpower of 205 people between age 18 and 85 in and around the German city of Würtzburg. Participants were signaled seven times a day over 14 hours for seven consecutive days so they could message back whether they were experiencing a desire at that moment or had experienced one within the last 30 minutes, what type it was, the strength (up to irresistible), whether it conflicted with other desires, and whether they resisted or went along with it. There were 10,558 responses and 7,827 “desire episodes” reported. The research team leader said, “Desires for media may be comparatively harder to resist because of their high availability and also because it feels like it does not ‘cost much’ to engage in these activities, even though one wants to resist. With cigarettes and alcohol there are more costs—long-term as well as monetary—and the opportunity may not always be the right one. So even though giving in to media desires is certainly less consequential, the frequent use may still ‘steal’ a lot of people’s time."

Steps beyond detox improve opioid addiction recovery chances

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine found that a combination of drug-free recovery housing and day-treatment programs greatly improved the chances that those addicted to opioids who have gone through detoxification will be able to stay clean. According to a Yahoo! News report, 65 to 80 percent of opioid addicts who only go through detoxification relapse within a month. But addicts who are provided drug-free recovery housing and day-treatment programs after detox are up to 10 times more likely to remain drug-free. After six months, the abstinence rate for those who had no follow-up housing or treatment was 13 percent, compared with 37 percent for those who received housing and 50 percent for those who received housing and day treatment. The lead researcher urged, "If we want to help people stay off heroin and stop abusing prescription painkillers, we need to do more than help them initiate abstinence; we need to help them maintain abstinence and build a drug-free lifestyle as well."

Unique Act of Service

Part of the Easter celebration at Albuquerque Rescue Mission (Albuquerque, N.M.) will take an unusual form: a foot-washing event. The ritual recalls Jesus’ actions just before the Last Supper. In Jesus’ time, foot washing was known as the lowest form of servant work, and today is a reminder of humility and service to others. The mission’s outreach of foot washing and podiatric care—which includes a warm soaking of the feet, lotion application, and a new pair of socks and shoes—gives the homeless of the city a moment of loving human contact and makes them aware of the mission’s services.

Santa Maria, California: Program Coordinator—The Rescue Mission Alliance (RMA) is a Christian nonprofit organization that has been serving the less fortunate in Southern California through emergency and long-term rehabilitation services since 1972. RMA partners with local churches to meet the spiritual needs of the people we serve. The Central Coast Rescue Mission (CCRM) is an outreach of the Rescue Mission Alliance (RMA), which operates a three-phase Life-Change Program in Santa Maria, California. RMA is seeking a program coordinator to be responsible for developing a strong phased discipleship/recovery program so that after participating in the program, the member has made clear progress toward being a contributing member of Christ’s kingdom. Clear progress is defined as sustained sobriety, sustained changed behavior, and changed thinking (putting off sinful nature, putting on Christ); a healthy participant in a local congregation, and a person who gives back to the mission in talent, time, and attitude. This is a full-time exempt ministry position reporting to the CCRM Director. Compensation is commensurate with skills and experience, and includes benefits. Essential Duties & Responsibilities: Responsible for developing a strong phased program including recruiting new members, establishing curriculum, providing counsel, direction, program administration, and cultivating a culture of accountability. Leverage thrift-store operations for benefit of both program and community awareness, integrate members into outreach ministries of the mission. Supervision of program assistants including recruiting, development, training, and performance evaluation. Cultivate an attitude of safety following RMA safety program by ensuring compliance, modeling safe work practices, providing safety training and recognition for safe behavior and practices. Qualifications: Committed Christian in good standing in a local church, BA/Social Services or equivalent preferred, minimum three years related experience, valid California driver’s license and clean driving record, able to expound and answer client questions regarding biblical aspects of the program, excellent communication skills, PC knowledge including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc. Interested parties can email a cover letter and résumé or fax to (805) 614-0411 with a cover page indicating the position you are interested in applying for. If you submit your information through our website, we will send you an email confirming we received it. We are unable to send confirmation that faxes were received. No phone calls please. Please visit our website to view all current employment opportunities. We pray that God would bless you in your endeavor to find work in which you can serve Him and bring glory to His name. Added 3/1/2012

The Rescue Mission (Fort Wayne, Ind.) has a phone system they would like to donate to another mission or similar organization. The WIN 440 system, 48 series includes approximately 40 telephones, along with the "boards" required to network them all. The system has full voicemail features, an automatic greeting/auto-attendant feature, as well as day/night modes. For more details, email Melissa McKeeman, the mission’s business systems manager. Added 2/15/2012

Charlotte, North Carolina: Director of Institutional Advancement—Charlotte Rescue Mission is seeking a director of institutional advancement. Successful candidate will lead the development department via major donors, public relations, and mass fundraising. Candidate will be strong in strategic leadership, analytics, donor relations, and execution. Includes supervision of development team. A multitasking, self-starting, self-confident, can-do, team player with a strong development background is required. Email cover letter and résumé. Added 2/15/2012

Coeur D’Alene, Idaho: Director of Center for Women and Children—For more information, visit the Union Gospel Mission website. Or contact Teri Munson, HR Department., Union Gospel Mission, P.O. Box 4066, Spokane, WA 99220; via email; phone (509) 535-8510; or fax (509) 535-0315. Added 2/15/2012

Is something unique and exciting going on at your mission? Share your news with fellow AGRM members by emailing items for "Our Street" to Brad Lewis. 

           
AGRM is a nonprofit organization committed to furthering rescue missions. AGRM provides limited space in "Market Street" for advertising opportunities, services, and products to advance the cause of rescue missions. AGRM is not responsible for the claims made by its advertisers and reserves the right to select or reject any advertising, in the sole discretion of AGRM, for any or no reason.  
           
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All Scripture quotations taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, unless otherwise noted. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
            

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