November 2012 Newsletter
November is the month devoted to giving thanks. Edward Sandford Martin once said “Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow."
We also celebrate Veteran’s Day in November to recognize all those who serve our country across the world. We honor our clients who have served and now we return the favor by being there for them.  At our Transforming Lives Luncheon on March 7, 2013 we will initiate an award in the memory of a veteran who went above and beyond for fellow veterans, Bill Kling. This award, titled the “Bill Kling Service to Veterans Award” will be presented to a recipient each year who models Bill’s service to our community and its veterans

Child Safety Protection Month also falls in the month of November and as you read you will learn our clients include the very young, which makes our role so very special. We are grateful to all who support us as we protect these young people for whom we are responsible.

We are also grateful to our volunteers who help us touch the lives of those we serve. See below how one of our Friendly Visitors, Quan Le, was recognized at the Hands on Broward Heart of the Community Volunteer Dinner last month. Lastly, we honor family caregivers this year through a new Presidential Proclamation.  More information is contained below.
How We Help

MonarchCare is guardian of property only for several younger clients; their cases are generally managed by our Financial Specialists.  As long as there is a parent or other recognized guardian in the young person’s life, our court-monitored role is to manage the client’s resources prudently, while respecting the natural and important role of the relative in the child’s day-to-day functioning.  Nurturing a cooperative relationship with the family is essential to the quality of each young person’s life.  Once the minor turns 18 (the age of majority in Florida,) they are transitioned out of our program through a planning process with the teen, his or her parent or caregiver and the attorney to ensure the viability of their lives going forward.

Our younger clients range in age from 5 to 17 and run the gamut, from functioning school attendees to those who face tremendous mental and physical challenges.
How You Can Help

As you sit around your Thanksgiving table, think about all those who live locally, who may not have a family table to sit around; those who may not remember what day it is, or who do not understand what the meaning of this day is because they were born with a disability, suffered a head injury or a near-drowning accident like some of our clients. Keep that thought close to you and be grateful, and then make a donation to MonarchCare for the love of your family, the outreach you may have received at some point in your life or the treasure of the friends you depend on. Your donation will touch these vulnerable individuals’ lives through us!

Did You Know?
Thanksgiving – November 22nd

We at MonarchCare have much to be thankful for this month, but are particularly pleased to be honoring our hard working and dedicated staff…Knyvett, Dolores, Christina, Stella, Lilly, Alan, Paulette, Brillytza, Terry, Charmaine, Monica, Iris, Veronica and Melissa. Our thanks are also given to our ongoing contract professionals Gail, Sandi and Kay and our support volunteers Carol, Dee, Lauren and Chris.  We could not do what we do without these very special people and our devoted Board of Directors who came together for our Annual Retreat on Saturday the 3rd, along with key members of the community, to work on our strategic plan for this coming year. We also thank our Retreat host, Forest Trace at Inverrary, who made our day of planning a wonderfully comfortable and welcoming experience!


National Family Caregivers Month

On November 1, President Barack Obama signed a Proclamation making November 2012 National Family Caregivers Month.  The President said the month is “a time to reflect on the compassion and dedication that family caregivers embody every day.  As we offer our appreciation and admiration for their difficult work, let us also extend our own offers of support to them and their loved ones.”  The website of the National Family Caregivers Association provides more information and support for family caregivers.


Child Safety Protection Month

Every home and school should teach children about safety and protection measures. As a parent, you take an active interest in your children and listen to them. Make your home a place of trust and support that fulfills your child’s needs. Together we can protect our nation’s children by teaching them to be smart, strong, and safe. Visit the Centers for Disease Control's website for information on the many ways in which we can protect our children, physically, spiritually and mentally.

Upcoming Events

Look for our upcoming announcement of a “fun” friendraiser in January 2013. 

We are also in the planning stage for our 2013 Transforming Lives Luncheon, and the date has been set – Thursday, March 7, 2013.  If you are interested in helping on any of our event-planning Task Forces, please contact Christina Levine for more information. CLevine@MonarchCare.org
Employee of the Month
Charmaine Fair

Charmaine has been recognized many times as our Employee of the Month, most recently in September, for her service to her fellow employees and our clients. Here are some little known facts for which Charmaine is thankful. She recently graduated from college with a Bachelors degree in Business Management, Major in Finance and is now studying for her Masters in Business Management, Major in Healthcare Administration. She is fortunate to be raising her two children, Alton, 18 and Patricia, 13, in a well-rounded and supportive environment. She enjoys her movie nights with them, and when she is not busy with school she loves to read romance novels. This Thanksgiving she will be celebrating with friends and probably enjoying some great Jamaican Jerk Turkey (or Chicken!) 
Recipe
Charmaine’s Jamaican Oxtail Stew

Ingredients:
  • 3 lbs. oxtails, cut into segments by a butcher Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 3 tablespoons of light brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons green onions, chopped
  • 2 Spanish onions, peeled and chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
  • 3 tablespoons of fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
  • 1 Scotch Bonnet pepper, whole
  • 3 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 12 allspice berries
  • 1 bunch scallions, trimmed and chopped
  • 2 tablespoons of white sugar
  • 3 tablespoons of soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce
  • 3 tablespoons of flour
  • 3 tablespoons of tomato ketchup
  • 1 can of Butter Beans

Directions

Season oxtails aggressively with salt and black pepper.  Heat a large Dutch Oven or a heavy-bottomed pot over high heat.  Add brown sugar to pot and melt, stirring with a wooden spoon until it darkens and starts to smoke – about six minutes.  When sugar is nearly black, add two tablespoons of boiling water.  (It will splatter.)  Stir to mix.

Add oxtails to the pot, working in batches, stirring each time to cover them with blackened sugar, then allowing them to cook, turning occasionally until they are well browned.  Remove oxtails to a bowl and keep warm.

Add half of the onions, garlic and ginger to the pot, along with the Scotch Bonnet pepper, thyme, allspice and a third of the scallions.  Make sure the Scotch Bonnet remains whole and doesn’t break during cooking (unless you’re brave.)  Stir to combine.  Allow to cook until softened, approximately 5 minutes.

Return the oxtails to the pot along with any accumulated juices and put water in the pot so that the oxtails are almost submerged.  Bring to a simmer and then cook, covered, approximately 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

Add remaining onions, garlic and ginger to the pot, along with another third of scallions.  Add white sugar, soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce.  Stir to combine and continue to cook until the meat is yielding and loose on the bone, approximately one hour longer.  Remove approximately one cup of liquid from pot and place in a small bowl.  Add flour to this liquid and stir to combine, working out any lumps with the back of the spoon.  Add this slowly to the pot along with ketchup, then stir to combine, and allow to cook a further 15 minutes or so.  Remove Scotch Bonnet and thyme stems.  Fold a can of butter beans into the stew and allow these to heat through. Scatter remaining scallions over the top. Serve with white rice or rice and peas.
Volunteer Highlight
Quan Le - Friendly Visitor Volunteer

MonarchCare nominated Quan Le as our Volunteer of the Year for the Hands On Broward Heart of the Community event. Quan was awarded 2nd runner up at the dinner and was presented with a check for $250. Although Quan has only been volunteering with us through our Friendly Visitor Project since May 2012, he exemplifies what our future generation of volunteers looks like.  Because Quan’s father was unable to find work in South Vietnam after the war, he brought his family to Florida to create a better life for them. As a result of Quan’s family’s hard work, he is attending FAU as a pre-med student while preparing to take his MCATs. Quan had been looking for a way to give back to the country which has given him these opportunities, so he signed up at an FAU volunteer fair to visit with some of MonarchCare’s loneliest clients. 

Quan visits two of our clients each week; Walter who lives in an assisted living community, and Gerda, who lives in a skilled nursing home. His visits bring smiles and enjoyment to both of their lives. We thank and congratulate Quan for his dedication and commitment!

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Your support enables us to continue our work that has
rescued susceptible individuals from financial
exploitation, restored institutionalized persons to
independent lifestyles and reconnected isolated persons
with long-lost family and friends. Thank You!

Knyvett Lee, NCG
MonarchCare Founder, CEO

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