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.