2005 HISTORY

Take a stroll down memory lane with us...these are the events that shaped our first year in Paragould:

January 6th - First meeting -- first two men

January 11th - Two men and a banker

January 18th - Two become five with information from the National Center

January 25th - Four becomes seven speaking of a "beginning" a non-profit organization

February 3rd - Seven become nine discussing the need of LifeHouse Pregnancy Center to reach men

February 7th - Meeting with LifeHouse director, setting goals for future work together

February 10th - Meeting at LifeHouse Ministries with Director and Board Member

February 15th - Prayer meeting to ask God's Direction and Blessing

February 17th - Meeting to discuss Non-Profit Organizations, Board Duties

February 24th - Election of Incorporators, Articles of Incorporation determined

February 24th - Interim Director begins volunteering at LifeHouse Pregnancy Center

February 28th - Filing of Articles of Incorporation with the State of Arkansas

March 3 - First regular meeting to discuss business and projects (two new men) - First donation from a guest at our meeting

March 10 - Meeting about Logo, Brochure, Location

March 11 - Executive Committee contracts for a location

March 13 - Presentation at Hillcrest Church of Christ, Paragould, ARApril 21 - Board commits to over $450 per month in personal donations to the Center

March 14 - Third board member joins the volunteers at LifeHouse

March 21 - First donation from a local church - Received $300 from Southside Community Church

March 24 - Fourth Board Member joins the volunteers at LifeHouse

March 25 - Phone Line secured - (870) 236-1DAD (1323)

March 31 - Mission Statement adopted: To equip fathers to be responsible family leaders

April 18 - Bylaws sent to lawyer for review

April 28 - Plans made for a booth at the "Loose Caboose" Festival in Paragould in May

May 6 - Obtained use of house at 4100 Linwood Drive on South Highway 49 in Paragould

May 12 - Approved three year budget and applied for Insurance coverage

May 19 - Approved Bylaws and completed 501 (c) (3) application for IRS - Board Families met together

May 31 - Submitted application for Compassion Capital Funding Mini-Grant

June 7 - Held first Positive Parenting Workshop (Ron Deal, Better Life Counseling Center) at Paragould Community Center

June 23 - Presentation at the Paragould Civitan Club to raise awareness and recruit mentors

June 24 - Filed 501(c)(3) application with the IRS for Tax Exempt status

June 27 - Hosted Community Leaders in Discussion to bring a Drug/Alcohol/Emotional Treatment Center to the area

July 11 - Hosted Arkansas Baptist State Association representative (bringing events to NE Arkansas)

July 21 - Scheduled SMART Step Families Workshop for September 18 with Ron Deal

August 4 - Chad Wood Elected to replace Kenny Jones as Board Member and Secretary

August 14 - Presentation at Hood River Church of Christ, Hood River, Oregon

August 16-18 - Director Matt Crain attends Grant Institute Conference at Portland State University

August 30 - Joined Paragould/Greene County Chamber of Commerce

September 1 - Dr. Crain Begins Full Time with Center for Fathers and Families

September 2 - Received 501(c)(3) Tax Exempt Status from the IRS

September 3 - Placed two Hurricane Rita evacuee families (temporarily) into our Center facilities

September 6 - Paragould Planning Commission recommended Center property to be zoned Commercial

September 12 - Presentation at Paragould Lion's Club

September 18 - SMART Step-Families Workshop with Ron Deal of Better Life Counseling Center

September 25 - Presentation at Kimberling City Church of Christ, Branson, MO

September 29 - CFF Wins $49,862 from the Compassion Capital Fund

October 1 - Hired Kerry Combs as Administrative Assistant

October 5 - Presentation at Jonesboro Ministerial Fellowship

October 9 - First weekly column in Sunday's Lifestyles page of the Paragould Daily Press

October 24 - Presentation at Crowley's Ridge Rural Health Coalition, Paragould

October 31 - Began moving into facilities at 4100 Linwood Drive

November 3 - Contacts with Greene County Tech concerning the WatchD.O.G.S. Program

November 12 - Seven Secrets of Effective Fathers Seminar at CFF (Board and Guests)

November 17 - Set up the office at 4100 Linwood with Funds from the Compassion Capital Fund

December 2 - Presentation at the Paragould Exchange Club

December 13 - Presentation at Kiwanis Club of Paragould

December 14 - Networking with the Staff at Families, Inc. of NE Arkansas

December 1 - 22, 2005 - Thursday Evening Coffee -

The holidays are a joyful time for many families. Getting back together after months of separation, reviving family traditions, catching up on what you've missed and how much the grandchildren have grown...it is a time of blessing. For the father who is recently divorced or separated from his family, the same events can bring great pain.

These are difficult days. You can't always reconcile the past. You may have little control over how the holidays are celebrated. You might not even be invited. You are not alone. That's why we're inviting men to the Center for Fathers and Families on Thursday evenings between the holidays. Informally, come-and-go, as you wish; just find others of the same situation. We're open till 8:00pm on Thursdays between Thanksgiving and Christmas.