Fi rs t Step: A Fami ly V iolence Intervent ion Center

Summer Issue: August 2007

Letter From the DirectorLetter From the DirectorLetter From the DirectorLetter From the Director

Dear Friends of First Step,

Soul Shine is just around the corner and it is my all-time favorite First Step event. This year’s festival will be dedicated in memory of Diane Vogelsong. Diane was diag-nosed with cancer in March of 2006. Our friend and col-league lost her fight to this terrible disease on July 23, 2007. I had the honor of in-troducing Diane to the Blues. Her baptism in the blues made her a fan of the music and the festival. Sister Vogel-song was the Blues Moniker my husband affectionately bestowed upon her. Through the months of prepa-ration for the festival, and on the day of the show, Diane’s helping hands were always ready and willing. She was finishing up chemo just prior to last year’s festival but still valiantly volunteered all day long. I stood in awe of her! It has been said that one’s true character is revealed in the face of adversity. Diane’s choice in the face of adversity was to make the best out of a bad situation. If that ain’t beautiful blues music I don’t know what is. This one is for you, Sister Vo-gelsong!

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SOUL SHINE JUST AROUND THE CORNER !

HUBERT ’ S COMING TO SOUL SHINE !

Ladies and gentlemen...we have arrived. First Step is proud to announce that blues legend Hubert Sumlin has been booked to perform at Soul Shine 2008. Now we realize that this announce-ment may be a little early, but, we are talking about Hubert Sumlin. For those of you who do not know who we are talking about allow us to educate you. Hubert Sumlin is none other than the guitarist for the great Howlin’ Wolf, who some call the Godfather of the Blues. Hubert’s is the guitar you hear when you put on blues

classics like “Smokestack Lightnin’” and “Killin’ Floor”. He is probably re-sponsible for launching more guitar fantasies than any other blues guitarist in history. Jimi Hendrix called him his favorite guitarist. And that’s who’s coming to Soul Shine next year! Hubert’s style, and Howlin’ Wolf’s music, influenced bands such as Cream, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppe-lin, Tom Waits, and The Doors. If you are not famil-iar with his music you can hear samples of his Grammy Award nominated

Shine and you will hear great music, taste great food, win great prizes, and support a great cause. Mark your calen-dars for Saturday, Sep-tember 22 at 2 PM at the Meadowbrook Park Ballroom in Bascom, OH. In the meantime we are keeping busy with prepa-rations for what we hope will be the best Soul Shine yet. You can help by spreading the word and bringing all your friends. For more infor-mation visit our website at www.firststepweb.org or call us at 419-435-7300.

Hubert Sumlin

Soul Shine 2007 is almost here and we are hard at work. As an update, First Step has secured all the acts for this year’s Soul Shine. The festival will wel-come back Bryan Lee and Sean Carney to the ballroom stage this year. In addition, newcomer Jr. Boy Jones, all the way from Dallas, will make his first Soul Shine appearance. Soul Shine will also feature the inaugural appearance of the Soul Shine Blues Band. In addi-tion to great music, Soul Shine this year brings back the cooking of Wally’s Great American BBQ. Southern style ribs, chicken, pulled pork sandwiches, Elaine

Bruggeman’s famous red beans and rice, shrimp jambalaya, cornbread, and Wally’s signature sauce will all be part of the menu. Soul Shine 2007 will also have numerous opportunities to win great prizes. Thanks to the gen-erosity of Rick Briney of Tiffin, OH Soul Shine atten-dees can win a vintage Fender Stratocaster and a signed Epiphone Les Paul autographed by the Blues Brothers. The Soul Shine silent auction will feature products and services from local businesses, and of course we will bring back the Bluesmobile for raffle. So, come to Soul

album “About Them Shoes” on his website: hubertsumlinblues.com. As we receive more infor-mation we will keep you posted, but make sure to tell all your friends that Hubert will be at Soul Shine 2008!

Page 2 Summer Issue: August 2007

FIRST STEP: A FAMILY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION CENTER

PROVIDING RESOURCES THAT EMPOWER PEOPLE TO MAKE HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP CHOICES

CAN YOU F IND YOURSELF ? P I C S OF S OU L SH I NE 2 0 0 6

SOUL SH INE ANNOUNCE S OF F I C I A L HOTE L

Soul Shine devotees will be excited to know that this year’s festival has the offi-cial hotel sponsorship of Findlay Inn and Conference Center. Lodging for this year’s event takes Soul Shine bands and fans back to our original and favorite lodging facility. The Findlay Inn and Conference Center is a posh, comfortable hotel conveniently located one mile from Interstate 75. A block of 22 rooms has been reserved for Soul Shine fans who are inter-ested in continuing the blues festivities at our invi-tation only After-Glow Blues

Party. We have reserved the Tavern at the Inn, which accommodates seating for 75 people. Hotel registered Soul Shine guests, along with performers, VIP spon-sors, supporters, and friends, will be invited to the Afterglow. In addition, the Soul Shine Blues Band will host the stage for a post-festival blues jam ses-sion. This will be an inti-mate and relaxed ending to the high energy festival at-mosphere. Soul Shine per-formers will be invited to grace the stage at the Tav-ern for a turn at spreading the good news of the Blues, and all event performers

will be staying at the hotel. Double rooms are available at the discounted price of $75 per room and suites are available for $85. You can still book your hotel rooms for this year by call-ing Findlay Inn and Confer-ence Center at 800-825-1455. You can also see the rooms online at www.findlayinn.com. Make sure to mention the group name “Soul Shine” when booking your room in order to get the discount. More information is also avail-able at First Step’s website or call us at 419-435-7300.

____ Yes! I am interested in making a one time donation to First Step.____ Yes! I am interested in making a one time donation to First Step.____ Yes! I am interested in making a one time donation to First Step.____ Yes! I am interested in making a one time donation to First Step.

____ $25 ____ $50 ____ $75 ____ $ 100 ___ $150 ____ Other _____

____ Yes! I am interested in making a monthly donation to First Step. ____ Yes! I am interested in making a monthly donation to First Step. ____ Yes! I am interested in making a monthly donation to First Step. ____ Yes! I am interested in making a monthly donation to First Step.

____ $25 ____ $50 ____ $75 ____ $ 100 ___ $150 ____ Other _____

In Honor/Recognition ofIn Honor/Recognition ofIn Honor/Recognition ofIn Honor/Recognition of: ___________________ Donor NameDonor NameDonor NameDonor Name: ___________________________

EventEventEventEvent _____________ PhonePhonePhonePhone___________ PhonePhonePhonePhone________________

AddressAddressAddressAddress ____________________________ AddressAddressAddressAddress __________________________

Email Email Email Email ______________________________ Email Email Email Email _____________________________

Firs t Step Quar ter ly Page 5

GET INVOLVED W A Y S Y O U C A N S U P P O R T F I R S T S T E P

DONATE TO F I R S T S TE P Your charitable gifts go a long way in helping us deliver valuable services to our clients. Consider making a donation today. Also consider making a donation to First Step in honor or recognition of a family member or friend and we will send them a commemorative card on your behalf.

Volunteer OpportunitiesVolunteer OpportunitiesVolunteer OpportunitiesVolunteer Opportunities We can always use more volunteers. If you are interested in helping in this capacity please specify

which volunteer opportunity interests you by filling out the slip below and sending it back to us.

Remember to give your current contact information so we can get in touch with you.

This is our column allowing This is our column allowing This is our column allowing This is our column allowing

you to share the triumphs of you to share the triumphs of you to share the triumphs of you to share the triumphs of

our clients over their circum-our clients over their circum-our clients over their circum-our clients over their circum-

stances through their letters stances through their letters stances through their letters stances through their letters

to us; and to help you re-to us; and to help you re-to us; and to help you re-to us; and to help you re-

member that we serve real member that we serve real member that we serve real member that we serve real

people with real problems, people with real problems, people with real problems, people with real problems,

and we help them find real and we help them find real and we help them find real and we help them find real

solutions.solutions.solutions.solutions.

Dear First Step,

It’s been over ten

years since I was one of your

Passages participants and I

just wanted to let you know

how the program made a

difference in my life. I had

hit rock bottom. I was or-

dered to attend Passages

and I did not want to. I as-

sumed I would be labeled

a “wife beater”. But

Choice Theory opened my

eyes (and mind). I could

choose to be the person I

wanted to be in my Quality

World. Since then, I have

graduated from college

with a B.S. in psychology.

The agency I work for now

teaches people with per-

sistent mental illnesses to

choose appropriate social

behaviors. I have been very

successful with my clients

because I teach them

Choice Theory. Thanks for

being who you are and giv-

ing me the information that

changed my life.

“John”

First Step Services

• Crisis Intervention

• Safe Residency

• Advocacy

• Case Management

• PASSAGES Educa-tional classes

• Operation Starshine

• Marital Enrichment

• Community Presenta-tions

• Internship/Volunteer Opportunities

Are you happy? Do you want to make your mar-riage stronger? Do you want to become a better parent? First Step can help you! Call today and find out how First Step services can help you and your family.

“Thanks for being Thanks for being Thanks for being Thanks for being

who you are and who you are and who you are and who you are and

giving me the giving me the giving me the giving me the

information that information that information that information that

changed my life.changed my life.changed my life.changed my life.”

____ Yes! I am interested in volunteer opportunities at First Step.

____ Soul Shine ____ Maintenance Name _____________ Phone_____________

____ Clerical ____ Other _________ Address ______________________________

____ Outreach ____ Shelter Email ________________________________

LETTERS FROM THE HEART

First Step PRSRT-STD

AUTOCR

US POSTAGE

PAID TIFFIN, OH

PERMIT # 52

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Liquid Antibacterial soap Prepaid Phone Cards Toilet Paper Paper Towels SCAT Tickets Basketball Women’s ItemsWomen’s ItemsWomen’s ItemsWomen’s Items New Nightgowns New Socks New Underwear New Sweatshirts New Sweatpants Personal CarePersonal CarePersonal CarePersonal Care Sanitary Napkins Tampons Hair Brushes/Combs Tylenol/Advil

Children’s ItemsChildren’s ItemsChildren’s ItemsChildren’s Items New Socks New Underwear New Pajamas School Back Packs OfficeOfficeOfficeOffice Lg. Manila Envelopes Post-It Notes Postage Stamps Copy Paper Ink Pens (blue & black) Dry Erase Markers (blk) Used Cell Phones

Questions? Contact us at:

419-435-7300