2nd Annual LSCV Veterans Recognition Dinner

Honoring Veterans of the Lower St. Croix Valley

To thank and honor our local veterans and their families for their service to our country, the Yellow Ribbon Alliance Lower St. Croix Valley is hosting a Veterans Recognition Dinner on Monday, November 12, 2012 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at The Church of St. Francis of Assisi, 16770 13th Street South, Lake St. Croix Beach. The event will include a free dinner, music and prizes from local businesses such as gift cards from Freedom Valu Center, Village Wine & Spirits and a membership to the Belwin Conservancy. For more information email YRALSCV2011@gmail.com.

Local business and community leader shares his secrets

Stanley S. Hubbard, Chairman and CEO of Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc. shares his experience and thoughts about his successes and challenges as a pioneering business and community leader with the Lower St. Croix Valley businesses at the Business Leader Luncheon on Tuesday, October, 16, 2012 in Lakeland, Minnesota. The presentation was held at the St. Croix Valley Church and hosted by Yellow Ribbon Alliance Lower St. Croix Valley. The event was possible through a grant from the Lower St. Croix Valley Community Foundation.

“A leader has to have vision, gain the support of others, set objectives, keep their word, persevere, and have a bit of luck”, Hubbard said. Throughout the presentation Hubbard had the audience laughing about the challenging times and tuned in when he shared how business ideas were brought to fruition.

 

To recognize Mr. Hubbard for his service to the Lower St. Croix Valley communities, the Stillwater VFW Post 323 provided a photo of Mr. Hubbard as an assistant coach with the Stallion Pee Wee hockey team. Stallion player, Andrew Hine, provided a photo of the team at the U.S.A. Hockey Hall of Fame, which we had the pleasure to have Hockey Hall of Fame member, Phil Housley present. As the gifts were presented, in his humble nature, Mr. Hubbard continued to recognize others and commented that he was just “one of the guys” in the community.

The businesses also had the chance to hear from, Annette Kuyper, Director of Military Outreach, who shared her story about how the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program got its roots and the importance businesses play in helping the military families through deployment and reintegration.

 

Service providers were onsite to answer questions and provide information from Washington County Veteran Services Office, Employers Supporting the Guard and Reserve, Washington County Attorney’s Office, and Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

Over 60 businesses from the Lower St. Croix Valley attended as well as representatives from city, county, and state to learn more about supporting the local Yellow Ribbon Alliance, hear from Mr. Stanley S. Hubbard, and to have the chance to network with other local business leaders. The event leader’s goal to share the message about supporting service members, their families, and honoring veterans ran through both presenter’s stories and the room. It was one of those captivating moments in life that you were lucky to have had the chance to be part of in the Lower St. Croix Valley.

 

For more information about the Yellow Ribbon Alliance Lower St. Croix Valley, follow us on www.Facebook.com/YRALSCV.

Tuesdays for the Troops

On the anniversary of the devastating terror attacks on the United States, Sail Away Cafe in Afton, Minnesota wants the troops to know that the people of the Lower St. Croix Valley care.

Since February 2012, Sail Away Cafe has been donating proceeds from meals sold every Tuesday from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. to the Yellow Ribbon Alliance Lower St. Croix Valley (YRALSCV). This past Tuesday, September 11, 2012, Sail Away Cafe donated another large check, which brings to the total to $1,000. The Yellow Ribbon Alliance Lower St. Croix Valley is grateful for the ongoing donation and support, which then allows YRALSCV to support other groups such as A Touch of Home (www.atouchofhome.us) a group that packs boxes every month in Woodbury for deployed service members. We hope you stop in for Tuesdays for the Troops sometime.

Pictured from left to right are Pat Snyder, YRALSCV Chair; Barb Beedle, YRALSCV volunteer; Oliver Weir, Owner of Sail Away Cafe; Randy Kopeskey, YRALSCV Chair; and Dave Anderson, YRALSCV volunteer.

September Monthly Meeting - 9/11

Yellow Ribbon Alliance Lower St. Croix Valley will meet on Tuesday, September 11, 2012 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Sail Away Cafe

http://sailawaycafe.net
3121 Saint Croix Trail South Afton, MN 55001
(651) 436-6555

Volunteering with the network is a great way to meet new people, get out of the house, help a good cause, and have some excellent food since we meet at Sail Away Café.

 



Yellow Ribbon Alliance Lower St. Croix Valley

Afton 4th of July Parade 2012
Having a float in the Afton parade was a huge success! The volunteers passed out water and frozen treats, which on a day that reached 100 degrees went over well. Another excellent day thanks to donations from Erickson Oil Products - Freedom stations!

Ok two days of fun--even if you are not up for the run! Warrior Dash Minnesota in Afton, MN

YRALSCV is organizing a group of volunteers for the Afton, MN Warrior Dash on June 30 and July 1, 2012. Organizers of Warrior Dash will donate funds to YRALSCV by number of volunteers.

Two shifts each day, so I need your help--will you take a shift? Sat. June 30, 2012 - 7 am to 1:30 pm
Sat. June 30, 2012 - 12:30 pm to 7 pm

Sun. July 1, 2012 - 7 am to 12:30 pm
Sun. July 1, 2012 - 11:30 am to 5 pm

Not only will you help raise funds for Yellow Ribbon Alliance Lower St. Croix Valley but you will get:T Shirt, Access to live music and festival, Free breakfast, lunch and snacks, VIP parking & Community Service approval!

 The volunteering it is easy stuff - parking, water, registration, beer garden, gear check, finish line, fire pit, merchandice, food, course, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital VIP area, etc. So send me an email with what shift you want as soon as possible. YRALSCV2011@gmail.com - must be 16 years old to volunteer. Thanks! Karen
http://warriordash.com/

Kopp & Daughters Sign Services went above and beyond the call to create this fabulous sign. As a veteran himself, Lyman Kopp, designed and painted a beautiful “Welcome Home Troops” sign with his daughter Cheryl Kopp and the Yellow Ribbon Alliance team posted it on the big hill in Lakeland, Minnesota for all to see. Welcome Home Troops!

Photo from left to right: Don James, Donnelle Grodahl, Randy & Reggie Kopesky, Cheryl Kopp, Elaine Murray and Mary James

Tuesday, May 1 will be the monthly meeting for Yellow Ribbon Alliance Lower St. Croix Valley. The meeting will be held at Sail Away Cafe starting at 6 pm.

"More than 2,500 soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, are arriving at Camp Shelby, Miss.," said Olson. "This brigade has the distinction as being the largest deployment of the Minnesota National Guard since World War II and for supporting the final phase of the Iraq War during Operation New Dawn."
http://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/press_room/e-zine/articles/index.php?item=3727

That is a lot of soldiers who answered the call to national security. Our Yellow Ribbon Alliance wants to put up flyers, signs and yellow ribbons--so who is up for this call to action to make sure our soldiers know they are welcomed back home and that we appreciate all they do?

contact YRALSCV2011@gmail.com

Volunteering is good for the soul

When you volunteer you will make a difference in your life, you will make a difference in another person's life and add experience to your resume!

I started volunteering with the Yellow Ribbon Alliance Lower St. Croix Valley because my father was a veteran and as a single mother I could related to the stress of having to do it all alone. I wanted to help out others who like my father served to keep peace in the World. I wanted to help their families when they got deployed to another part of the World.

When I signed up I did not know how this would impact my career nor was that the reason I volunteered. However, this spring the organization I work for decided they wanted to become a Yellow Ribbon Company and they selected me to be on the steering committee because of my experience with my local Yellow Ribbon.

Both opportunities have provided me with a chance to develop my leadership skills, work with community government, military groups, the media, plan events, help other groups and help the individuals. I am truly grateful for the experience and chance to serve a veteran.

See what fun opportunities the Yellow Ribbon Alliance Lower St. Croix Valley has to fill http://lnkd.in/H2D-Jh or let us know what you would like to do!

Send an email to YRALSCV2011@gmail.com for details.

Support the Troops Tuesday's Fundraiser

Every Tuesday you can support the troops at Sail Away Cafe in Afton, MN

To help the YRALSCV, Sail Away Cafe will donate a portion of the proceeds from your meal on the following items:

• $2 – Pizza
• $1 – Menu Entree
• $1 – Burger

Every Tuesday of every month from 5pm – 8pm

Bring the family, bring your friends---let’s make sure our soldiers in the valley feel supported this year!

Yellow Ribbon Alliance Lower St. Croix Valley will donate a portion of the donations to A Touch of Home for sending packages to deployed troups. www.atouchofhome.us