Volume 1, Issue 3July | August 2012Complimentary

PurposeShana Wiley

SELF-DEFENSETuesday, July 24 and Wednesday, July 255:30 - 9:00 p.m.Instructor: Rick Senger $125Avoid dangerous situations, learn self-defensetechniques, manage fear, think clearly, and moretechniques, manage fear, think clearly, and more

BOOST YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICEMonday, August 131:00 - 4:30 p.m.Instructor: Grace Kurtz$75Extraordinary customer service pays off. Build rapport,communicate effectively, keep your cool, and morecommunicate effectively, keep your cool, and more

MILLION $ LEADERSHIPTuesday, September 181:00 - 4:30 p.m.Instructor: Terri Horpedahl$75What makes an ideal leader? Debunking the myths,enhancing relationships, cultivating vision, and moreenhancing relationships, cultivating vision, and more

Registration due 7 days prior to courseProfessional Development Training Series

[It’s a competitive world. Train for it.]

Publisher Information

PUBLISHERGraber Media, LLCMANAGING EDITOR/AD SALESAutumn Graber, (701) 261-2692CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICERKelly Graber, (701) 740-3848Kelly Graber, (701) 740-3848ADVERTISING SALESMary Glessner, (701) 330-3150COPY EDITORMariLou HarvelandDESIGN/LAYOUTAutumn Graber

Mail correspondence to:Mail correspondence to: GRAND CITIES WOMAN PO BOX 5503 GRAND FORKS, ND 58206

Connect with us!grandcitieswoman@live.comwww.grandcitieswoman.comwww.facebook.com/grandcitieswomanwww.facebook.com/grandcitieswomanMessages sent to us by email or Facebook might be used in future issues of Grand Cities Woman.

PrintedPrinted in North Dakota. © 2012 Graber Media, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Grand Cities Woman Magazine assumes no responsi-bility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. Grand Cities Woman Magazine does not necessarily endorse or agree with content of articles or advertising presented.

Go green and share this magazine with a friend.

If you would like to become a contributor to Grand Cities Woman, please

contact us via email at grandcitieswoman@live.com or call us at 701-261-

2692. We are currently searching for experts in their industry to submit

articles relevant to women in our area.

This magazine is printed on an environmen-tally certified paper that contains a 10% post-consumer waste. FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council™) is an international, non-profit asso-ciation that promotes well-managed forests by ensuring forestry practices that are envi-ronmentally responsible, socially equitable, and economically viable.

WOMANCitiesGrand

Dear Reader,Grateful. Grateful is the one word I can think of that encom-passes the feeling I’ve had over the past few months. This issue marks our third for Grand Cit-ies Woman and we couldn’t be more grateful to those who have invited us into their homes, of-fices, and stores to get to know them a little better. We are also grateful for our supporters. Not only are the advertisers essential to the production of the bimonthly publication, but also important are those who read it, talk about it, and send us messages on Face-book and to our email address.

Our goal for Grand Cities Woman has been simple: to spread good news about good people. We are all bombarded with news about devastation, dirty politics, and murder on a daily basis. Why not have a little good news in your purse when you need it? We’ve had the fortune of telling you about some incredible women in our area and look forward to telling you about so many more. Some of these women will be lifelong residents of the area, while others will be newcomers that have found their way here through some unknown force. And, some of these women may have returned after being gone awhile, eager to make their mark on the community or share something gained in their adventures. Regardless of the situation, we welcome the wisdom, strength, and experience these women can bring to our lives.

Autumn Graber,Editor

An online version of this publication is available through our web-site at www.grandcitieswoman.com or www.issuu.com/grandcities-woman. Read it from our site or download it to your desktop, Nook®, Kindle®, or iPad®.

Volume 1, Issue 3July | August 2012Complimentary

PurposeShana Wiley

Download and take us with you!

grandcitieswoman.com JULY | AUGUST 3

Grand Cities Woman actively supports all local women’s publications

Socialize learn exploreSavethe Date please call ahead to confirm events. promote your event by sending informa-

tion to grandcitieswoman@live.com or by calling autumn at (701) 261-2692.

July 7Downtown Farmers Market9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.Town SquareThe region’s premier summer outdoor market features fresh produce, home baked goods, handmade crafts, jewelry, clothing, and more. There is also live entertainment and food concessions.

July 13 and 14Treasures on Highway 2 WeekendVisit and sign up at Nettiques in Petersburg, Heritage Arts and Gifts in Michigan, and Elaine’s House of Dreams in Lakota for a chance to win a gift basket filled with products from each store.

July 172012 Summer Concerts in the Garden Series6:00 p.m.North Dakota Museum of ArtWilliam Elliott Whitmore (banjo-driven blues/folk)Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door, with free admission for those 12

and younger.

July 21Art & Wine Walk 20121:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.This annual event is held in the downtown areas of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks. Stop by either of our starting locations between 1:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to purchase your map for $15. The map lists all the participating downtown businesses that are hosting a regional or local artist. The two starting locations are the GuestHouse TownHouse hotel in Grand Forks and the Blue Moose Bar

& Grill in East Grand Forks.

July 24 and 25TrainND: Self-Defense5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.Avoid dangerous situations, learn self-defense techniques, manage fear, think clearly, and more. Registration is due seven days prior to the course. Register online at www.lrsc.edu/workforce, click on Training & Community Education, or

scan the QR code in our ad on page 2.

July 242012 Summer Concerts in the Garden Series6:00 p.m.North Dakota Museum of ArtThe Pines with June Panic (indie rock/Americana/country)Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door, with free admission for those 12 and younger.

august 72012 Summer Concerts in the Garden Series6:00 p.m.North Dakota Museum of ArtThe David Wax Museum (indie rock/Mexican folk/Americana)Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door, with free admission for those 12 and younger.

august 8 – 12City of East Grand Forks 125th Anniversary Celebra-tionSome of the fun activities include a parade, fireworks, live music, wagon train, games, contests, and an all-school reunion. For more information, go to www.

egf.mn.

august 13TrainND: Boost your Customer Service1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.Extraordinary customer service pays off. Build rapport, communicate effectively, keep your cool, and more. Registration is due seven days prior to the course. Register online at www.lrsc.edu/workforce, click on Training & Community Edu-cation, or scan the QR code in our ad on page 2.

august 18Art & Wine Walk 20121:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.This annual event is held in the downtown areas of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks. Stop by either of our starting locations between 1:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to purchase your map for $15. The map lists all the participating downtown businesses that are hosting a regional or local artist. The two starting locations are the GuestHouse TownHouse hotel in Grand Forks and the Blue Moose Bar & Grill in East Grand Forks.

august 212012 Summer Concerts in the Garden Series6:00 p.m.North Dakota Museum of ArtShe Keeps Bees (indie rock/soul)Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door, with free admission for those 12

and younger.

august 24 and 25Rollin’ on the River Inline MarathonReturning for a second year, the Annual Rollin’ on the River Inline Marathon takes place August 25. It features a Professional Full Marathon (women, men, men’s masters), Recreation Full Marathon (youth, adults, masters), and Recreation Half Marathon (youth, men, women, masters). To kick off the Rollin’ weekend, on August 24, there will be a Skate & Fitness Expo and Skate-A-Thon at Canad Inns Destination Center. For more information, visit www.rollinontheriver-inline.com.

grandcitieswoman.com JULY | AUGUST 5

Padma’s Plantation Croco-dile Palm D’ArtAvailable at Sterling Carpet One.$366.99

The SkinTx Skin Treatment System is a medical grade daily skin restoration system that helps correct hyperpigmentation, aging skin, irregular skin texture and tone, skin laxity and acne at the cellular level. SkinTx helps restore the skin’s vitality by using a powerful combination of Retinodids, Hydroquinone, Alpha Hydroxy Acids and Vitamin C, a unique combi-nation that yields remarkable results. This product is available at Sublime Aesthetic Professionals.$342.00

Exceed your expectations!This versatile set includes an 8-qt. Covered Stockpot, 3-qt. Covered Saucepan, 1.5-qt. Covered Sauce-pan, and 10” Skillet. The stockpot and saucepans have glass lids; the stockpot lid fits the skillet. All pieces feature measure marks. Available through Pampered Chef Direc-tor and Trainer, Julie Haakenson, at www.pamperedchef.biz/juliehaak.$495.00

Certified International Tuscan Sun-flower dipping bowls can brighten up any summer BBQ table. Available at Home of Economy.$19.99

Little Coyote CoffeePremium 100% Arabica coffee beans roasted in micro-batches specifically for you from Little Coyote Coffee. Available by calling 701-381-9603.$11.00

blinc Mascarablinc invented a technology breakthrough in mascara that allows for the easy application of water-resistant “tubes” around your lashes. Once applies, the tubes encase your lashes and will not run, smudge, clump or flake, even if you cry or rub your eyes. blinc mascara will add both volume and length to your lashes, giving you a radiant natural look that lasts all day long. This product is available at Sublime Aesthetic Professionals.$26.00

Beaded Cake/Pie ServerThis is a great gift idea for weddings or anniversaries. Slice and serve cakes, pies, quiches, and more! Handmade glass beads and high-polish stainless steel add elegance to your table. Available through Pampered Chef Director and Trainer, Julie Haakenson, at www.pamperedchef.biz/juliehaak.$17.00

Find these items and more through local retailers. When purchasing an item that you’ve seen in our shopping guide, make sure you tell them that you saw it in Grand Cities Woman. Claims that products make in the Grand Cities Woman Shopping Guide are of product manufactures’ and not of Grand Cities Woman or Graber Media.

Hot Spots to ShopShopping Guide

The alarm rings. You roll over and press the snooze but-ton. As the cloud of slumber clears from your mind, you begin to think of the tasks lined up before you today. Even with a restful night’s sleep, some days just start off with that running-behind feeling. Those days are like getting behind the wheel of a car and heading for vacation, only to realize that the gas gauge indicates a great big capital E! Those are ping pong days. Ping pong days consist of bouncing back and forth be-tween the multitudes of tasks that compete for our attention. We have no extra time or energy to deal with anything more than just reacting to our surroundings. We reply to messages, deal with customers and clients, answer questions, and taxi our children where they need to be. We do all of this, and more, while trying to maintain a cheerful disposition, yet we still occasionally find ourselves in a momentary panic wondering, “Did I remember to send lunch money with the kids today?” We are creatures of habit and it can be hard to avoid a rut of ping pong days; but too many ping pong days can leave us feeling depleted, run-down, and over-loaded. Avoid those feelings with a couple of tools that are cred-ited with increasing accomplishments, providing feelings of ful-fillment, and clearing minds. These tools are simple yet effective, and when applied to our lives, can help us feel more in tune with life’s demands rather than feeling like we are constantly swimming upstream. The tools I speak of are lists: a goal list and a task list. Some people scoff at lists, but they do help organize thoughts and keep us from exceeding our limits. Not only does goal setting help us get and stay organized, it is a notorious skill for fostering focus. Today’s fast-paced world places many demands on us, and maintaining focus on priori-ties keeps us feeling fueled and organized. We set goals to stay on track in our lives and careers. When making your list of goals, remember the SMART philosophy:

S: Keep goals simple with one target in mind for each goal.

M: Make sure your goal is measurable so you know when you have accomplished it.

A: Create goals that are attainable.

R: Review your goal and make sure it is relevant for this time of your life.

T: Give yourself a timeline when setting a goal.

Accomplishing a goal is powerful. Not only do we com-plete projects, but studies show that when we reach a goal, the brain releases pleasure-inducing chemicals. This is where the to-do list can also be helpful. Think of a to-do list as a “place” to put all of your pend-ing tasks. Although the to-do list is not as multifaceted as the goal-setting list, it can still have a huge impact on our lives. When we complete a task from the to-do list, that same pleasure-induc-ing chemical releases from our brains, causing a feeling of accom-plishment. So, when you are feeling blue, it might be the last thing you want to do, but give yourself a nudge to cross something off that list. Completing even the smallest task can be uplifting. Your list needs to work for you. Choose tools that you enjoy using—whether it is your Blackberry or a piece of notebook paper. Once you write something down, you no longer need to remember it; you only need to remember where you put it. So, keep your lists accessible. It’s also a good idea to review your lists regularly to keep goals and tasks current. Enjoy accomplishment, organization, and the pleasur-able feeling of crossing something off your list, and the ping pong days will be few and far between. A few lines through the list can make you feel like your tank of gas is full and ready for any jour-ney you have planned on this day. [GCW]

Shannon Teigen | WriterShannon writes from her rural hobby ranch that is nestled in the peace and quiet of the North Dakota countryside. Her family, consisting of her husband, two teenage daugh-ters, and one son, is the farthest thing from being peaceful and quiet, but she wouldn’t trade it for anything. After graduating from UND, Shannon established her career with foundation blocks of marketing, sales, customer service, human relations, and commu-nications.

By Shannon Teigen

This Day S.M.A.R.T.

grandcitieswoman.com JULY | AUGUST 7

Summer has arrived. And for many gardeners, that means heat, drought, and watering bans. This can be hard on gardeners and their landscapes. The good news, is that there are ways to help plants thrive despite these seasonal challenges. Adjusting landscape care accordingly during the summer months can not only provide relief for lawns and gardens, but also for the gardener. Here are some low main-tenance, eco-friendly ways that gardeners can keep land-scapes looking their best throughout the summer months, while beating the heat:

1. Water plants thoroughly to promote deep drought and pest-resistant roots. Before watering again, wait until the top few inches of soil are crumbly and moist or footprints remain in the lawn.

2. Avoid light, frequent watering that encourages shallow roots. Shallow roots are less able to tolerate drought and more susceptible to disease and insect problems.

3. Spread a 2 to 3-inch layer of shredded leaves, evergreen needles, or shredded bark mulch over the soil in garden beds and around trees and shrubs. Mulching conserves moisture, keeps roots cool and moist, and suppresses weeds.

4. Mow lawns high. Taller grass produces deeper roots that are more drought-tolerant. A deeply-rooted lawn is also more resis-tant to insects, disease, and other environmental stresses.

5. Always mow lawns often enough so that you remove less than one-third the total leaf surface. Leave the grass clippings on the lawn; they add nitrogen, organic matter, and moisture to the soil.

6. Use a low nitrogen, slow-release fertilizer, like Milorganite, to give gardens and lawns a nutrient boost. This organic nitrogen

fertilizer remains in the soil until the growing conditions are right for the plant.

7. Remove weeds from garden beds and borders as soon as they appear. These “plants out of place” steal water and nutrients from your desirable garden plants. Plus, they can harbor insects and diseases that are harmful to your garden plants.

And don’t forget to take care of yourself while caring for your landscape during the heat of summer. Drink lots of liquid, use sunscreen, and work during the cooler morning and evening hours. Then, when the gardening tasks are done for the day, grab a glass of lemonade, take a seat in the shade, and enjoy the beauty of your handiwork. [GCW]

Melinda Meyers | WriterNationally known gardening expert, TV/radio host, author, and columnist Melinda Myers has more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has written over 20 gardening books, in-cluding Can’t Miss Small Space Gardening. She hosts the nationally syndicated “Melinda’s Gar-den Moment” segments, which air on over 100 TV and radio stations throughout the U.S. and Canada. She is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and writes the twice-monthly “Gardeners’ Questions” newspaper column. Melinda also has a column in Gardening How-to magazine. Melinda hosted “The Plant Doctor” radio program for over 20 years, in addition to seven seasons of “Great Lakes Gardener” on PBS. She has written articles for Better Homes and Gardens and Fine Gardening and was a columnist and contributing editor for Backyard Living magazine. Melinda has a master’s degree in horticulture, is a certified ar-borist, and was a horticulture instructor with tenure. Her website is www.melindamyers.com.

Seven Tips to Help Your Landscape

By gardening expert, TV/radio host, author, and columnist Melinda Myers

Beat the Heat This Summer

grandcitieswoman.com JULY | AUGUST 9

IngredientsIce creamSmall flowerpots (new)1 store-bought pound cake1 package of chocolate-filled Oreo cookies1 bundle of fresh mint

DirectionsStep 1: Wash the flowerpots.

Step 2: Cut 1/2-inch thick pieces of pound cake and set aside. Use a round cookie cutter to cut circles out of the pound cake slices. Muffin tops would also work.

Step 3: Place the pound cake rounds in the bottom of the flower pots, and then spoon in the ice cream (leaving about a 1/2-inch of space from the top of the pot).

Step 4: Crush 1 box of chocolate-filled Oreo cookies in a bag or grind in a food processor.

Step 5: Cover the ice cream with the Oreo cookie crumbles.

Step 6: Add a sprig of mint to each flower pot.

Ice Cream Party PlantsSix Simple Steps to a Fun Dessert

Myth: If I am growing my hair out, getting consistent trims will make it grow faster.

Fact: Getting consistent trims will not make your hair grow faster—it will only maintain your hair health. The aver-age head of hair will see a ½-inch growth pattern per month. Some people will see slightly more growth and some slightly less. Research has shown that hair growth accelerates during pregnancy and this is simply due to the surge of hormones one gets while pregnant. Other studies have also shown that a change in medication has the potential to accelerate hair growth but also slow it down. If you take excellent care of your hair while it is growing, you can potentially change your routine 6-8 week appointment to an 8-12 week appoint-ment. Make sure that you treat your hair to an at-home, deep conditioning treat-ment once a week, protect your hair from heat styling with a heat protectant, try to minimize the use of those hot tools, and keep a healthy scalp. A simple head mas-sage given by yourself or even a loved one can potentially stimulate the scalp enough to see a small change in hair growth. If not, it will simply feel wonderful.

Myth: 1- to 3-day “dirty” hair will style better in an up-do than freshly clean hair.

Fact: From personal experience, I disagree with this. Masking the oils that are created on the scalp can be difficult and nearly impossible to reverse without wash-ing. At most, I would only allow one-day dirty hair—and only if your scalp doesn’t get too oily. Too much oil can essentially slip the curl right out of your hair, and the most important aspect of an up-do is its holding power. An up-do that is done on someone with an oily scalp only mag-nifies the problem. Ideally, I would have my clients come in with clean and com-pletely dry hair. If you come to your ap-pointment with wet or even damp hair, the time dedicated to perfect your up-do style is lessened because the stylist has to finish drying your hair. This could easily take an extra 10 minutes to perform. Some stylists might charge for this. When clients come with completely dry and clean hair, I can add products to “dirty” the hair and maxi-mize hold and shine, thus creating a better polished up-do!

Myth: Split Ends can be fixed without a haircut.

Fact: Unfortunately, when the dam-age occurs, the damage is done. The hair cuticle has split and must be cut above the split to be mended. Going into your styl-ist for routine trims is the best way to keep your tresses healthy. Shampoos, condition-ers, and styling aids only temporarily mask the problem. Essentially, one would have to sit under a microscope and glue each split-end back together, but that is nearly impossible. If you can’t promptly make it into your stylist, try sliding a fizz control serum through your ends. The serum is light enough to not weigh hair down but holds certain silicones that will temporar-ily hold hair ends together, thus making hair look healthy for the time being.

Clients of mine always ask certain “Is it true...?” types of questions and are sometimes shocked by my response. These myths and ideal-ized notions are a set of often glamorized ideas or stories surrounding a particular concept of hair. With each passing year, hairstylists grow and evolve, learning new tips, tricks, and techniques. Opinions might differ and change, but what follows are the most common questions and statements I have been asked or told during my career.

Rachel Horton | WriterRachel Horton is a local hairstylist that owns her own salon booth, called “The Hair Movement,” within the Ultimate Look outlet. Originally from Rosemount, Minnesota, Rachel came to Grand Forks to pursue a degree in Nursing and Theatre at UND. After a change of heart, Rachel decided to follow her passion for beauty and hair and pursued cosmetology at the Aveda Institute in Min-neapolis, Minnesota. After graduating from the Institute, Rachel moved back to Grand Forks to work at an Aveda salon. Rachel married her high school sweetheart and they just welcomed their first child, Elliott, in September. After a challenging pregnancy, Rachel pursued her own business so that she could spend more time with her family and son. Rachel and her family are happy to call Grand Forks home!

By Rachel Horton

Common Hair Myths…Exposed!

Myth: Pulling out gray hairs will eliminate them all together.

Fact: I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but most definitely not. The hair will grow back. Now that you have pulled the hair out, if you have long hair, you will be kicking yourself soon because those hairs are going to poke through your length and stick straight out. On the other side of the myth, plucking a gray hair and having 3 to 4 new grays come in its place is also wrong. There is only one hair follicle, and you cannot suddenly create more. Do your best to not pluck gray hairs. Pluck-ing them out has the potential to damage the follicle and create an infection, or cause scar-ing. Embrace the gray! If you are not ready for that, try a demi or semi-permanent color to blend gray.

Myth: Coloring should not be done on clean hair.

Fact: Not necessarily. Coloring is com-pletely safe to do on hair that was cleaned the day of. You have to worry about it more if you haven’t washed. Similar to up-do styling, one day will not hurt, but any additional day of oil buildup or product buildup will prevent full color saturation. Hair color has to open your hair cuticle to penetrate. If you have 2 or more days of product for the color to “cut” through, you are lessening the hair color’s ability to hold. This is why you have to wait after your hair color is applied to process. The hair color molecules are timed. Stylists might have you sit anywhere from 20 to 45 minutes. The tim-ing is dependent on gray coverage, lifting, and depositing. If you have excess buildup and your color calls for 20 minutes of timing, your color has to take a certain amount of the overall time to push through all of that oil and product to get to your hair shaft, thus leaving you with less color.

Have you learned something new? Don’t be afraid to ask questions and let your stylist answer honestly, even if it might not be what you want or are hoping to hear. After all, we are working together to put “U” into beauty! Now, you can come to me or your stylist—educated and set to go for your appointment! Within each and every day of work, I learn something new. Hair science will develop and advance, and all we can do is keep up and on trend for you, our clients. [GCW]

grandcitieswoman.com JULY | AUGUST 11

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grandcitieswoman.com JULY | AUGUST 13

There is a great pain that parents experi-ence when they see sadness in their child’s face. Image that you have lost your job and are unable to afford to give your child a present to celebrate his or her birthday. What do you say to your children when they don’t un-derstand the situation? Everyone wants to feel special. Luckily, our community has Cheerful Givers.

Cheerful Givers provides birthday gift bags to food pan-tries and shelters so that parents who are living in pov-erty can give their child a birthday gift. “We target ages 3 to 12,” said Mary Glessner, Cheerful Givers Director for East Grand Forks. “Our bags are fun and colorful, we always put a stuffed animal in them so the kids have something to hug and hold at night, a book for literacy, a tooth brush and toothpaste for hygiene, and outside of that, it’s anything fun.”

Eight years ago, the Glessner family relocated to Grand Forks and wanted to find a volunteer opportunity in which the whole family could participate. At the time, their children Brendan and Jori were young, but Mary knew that they would grow up learning the value of vol-unteering. “We did research and I knew we wanted it to be a family thing and we wanted it to be something that hadn’t been brought to the city before, so naturally our focus zoned in on kids.” Mary came across the Cheerful Givers website almost by accident, and she knew imme-diately that it would be a good fit for her family.

Cheerful GiversBring a Smile to a Child on their Special DayWritten and Photographed by Autumn Graber

Mary Glessner with

14 JULY | AUGUST grandcitieswoman.com

It all started with twelve birthday bags filled with toys. On Christ-mas Day, 2006, the Glessner family gathered in the basement of their home and assembled twelve birthday bags that were later de-livered to the Salvation Army in Grand Forks. “About a week later, I received the most heart-warming email you could ever imagine from a Salvation Army employee,” said Mary. The email detailed what she had experienced. A mom had come to the food pantry looking for a cake mix because her daughter’s birthday was in a couple of days and she didn’t have the means to go shopping to buy her something. Her anticipation turned to anguish when she was told that there were no cake mixes available. However, when she was presented with a birthday bag that she could give to her child, she was elated. The Salvation Army employee went on to say that the woman, who was overwhelmed with joy, that the woman exclaimed, “I prayed there would be something here for me to give my child, but I never dreamt there would be something so beauti-ful.” The colorful birthday bag was filled with books, toys, and a stuffed animal.

The Glessner family took to the program naturally and quickly formed a unique schedule that fit well with school work, sports, extra circular activities, and family time. Brendan and Jori started out learning how to label each bag to fit within the criteria of the gender and age categories. As they got older, they began learning how to sort out the toys and hygiene products. “We try to look for deals,” said 10-year-old Jori. “Like a puzzle, coloring book and crayons, or a memory game. It makes me feel really good. It’s something that I love.”

Now when the family goes shopping, the kids have a different goal than they did when they were younger. “We can be at a store and the kids will say, no we don’t need that or can we donate this to cheerful givers?” Mary proudly explained.

The family tries to put a few birthday bags together each night as a family. “We can do something daily,” said 12-year-old Brendan. If Brendan and his dad are at Menards, and Brendan notices a great deal on a hand-held electronic game, he will point the find out to his father and say, “Dad you might want to take a picture of this for mom.” To this, Mary added, “and mom dashes right over there.”

Mary notices more of a demand for the birthday bags in the sum-mer and fall due to parents having to focus more funds on child care while school is out and the added cost that goes into getting children ready for school in the fall with school supplies. Luckily, they have local groups and companies that get involved. “Eco Lab donates 100 bags every spring,” said Mary. “I give them the bags and they fill them up and return them to us.”

Donations can come in any form, from large corporations to pri-vate donations. “There was a family that had a rummage sale and the children decided that instead of keeping the money they got, they would split it and donated half to Cheerful Givers and half to the Humane Society.”

Are you interested in donating items to Cheerful Giv-ers? Here is a list of items that they are in need of on a regular basis. Donations can be made to Cheerful Givers by contacting Mary Glessner at 701-795-4772.Coloring BooksCrayonsSketch Pad/NotepadsJump RopeBooks (age appropriate)BallsPuzzlesSmall Stuffed AnimalsCard GamesSmall Board GamesFootball CardsDolls/BarbiesMatchbox Cars/TrucksSudoko/Word SearchGift CardsBirthday Gift Bags (10X13)Tissue Paper*Cheerful Givers does not accept toy guns or items that won’t fit in a 10X13 gift bag.

grandcitieswoman.com JULY | AUGUST 15

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Organizations can also hold a birthday bag blitz as a volunteer project. A blitz is an organized event when a group of people get together to fill as many birthday bags as they can in a short amount of time. Cheerful Giv-ers just asks that each bag contain about ten dollars’ worth of toys, books, and hygiene products.

Brendan’s class even got together for a blitz as a school project. “We made birthday bags and everybody chipped in quarters,” said Brendan. Twenty birthday bags were created in that blitz and $30 was donated by the stu-dents.

“I always say I have the gift to give and my husband says, ‘I know,’” Mary laughed. “I get my fix for shopping but it’s for somebody else.”

Like most of us that wonder if what we do is enough, Mary had a mo-ment about five years after starting Cheerful Givers in our community. “I started to wonder if what my family was doing is enough.” Driven by the desire to meet the needs of those less fortunate, Mary asked God for guidance. “When I came home from work that day, my question had been answered. A box filled with new books, stuffed animals and a variety of toys—anonymously donated—was waiting by my front door.” Mary felt that God provided for them through that anonymous donation so they would continue to do the same for others.

The biggest thing for the Glessner family was to give back to the com-munity. They wanted something that the family could do together. “The birthday bags are a symbol of the unconditional love that we have for our anonymous neighbors in need and their children,” said Mary. “The birth-day bag warms the heart of the volunteers who make them, and when the gift is met with a parent’s tears of joy, we know that this one little birthday bag is going to warm the world in the hands of a child.” [GCW]

16 JULY | AUGUST grandcitieswoman.com

Pictured: Mary, Brendan, and Jori Glessner.

After 18 years in hospitality and seven years “helping” a friend, Connie Hodgson took a risk. She was turning 50 and star-ing down the face of a career change. Not that she was looking for one. “I was blessed with a phone call one night,” Hodgson recalls. The caller didn’t know if Hodgson was looking for a job or not but thought she would be a perfect fit. She took down the information and headed to the interview. “When I walked in and there were seven people in the interview room, I thought I was going to have a heart attack. But I told them I was perfect for the job because I can take care of the people.” And that sealed the deal. Hodgson now heads up the Osher Lifelong Learning In-stitute, or OLLI, program at the University of North Dakota. “I wasn’t just changing jobs. It had to have purpose, it had to have meaning,” says Hodgson. The OLLI program definite-ly has meaning. The program touts itself as a vibrant learning commu-nity of adults 50 years and better who want to continue their life-time of learning with programs rich in content, shared interests, and life experience. Yet, listening to Hodgson, it is so much more than that. “This program is so important to the City of Grand Forks, the surrounding communities, Pembina, Fertile, Walhalla, and Fargo. The members are amazing. They believe in the pro-gram, they are invested in it, they encourage people to join so we can become larger, sustainable.” The OLLI program started as an idea in 2006 and has blossomed from there. The first open house about the program and the classes that it would offer at the University of North Da-kota in early 2007 boasted a full house. The first semester in 2007 had 80 students enrolled and it has snowballed from there. “It is kind of a rolling ball,” said Hodgson. Initially of-fered a $100,000 grant, the OLLI program offers classes to those 50 and better for a small fee of $55. There is never a shortage of topics to offer; unfortunately, sometimes finding a professor can be a challenge. The amazing thing for the professors is the students in the class. “Students bring life experiences with them. The room is so rich with those experiences, it just glows. They bring it, they share it, they talk about it,” says Hodgson. As for the classroom work, there are no tests, no papers, no quizzes, just conversation and the desire to learn; professors can just share their passion about the topic. For these eager stu-dents, it is important that someone has carved time out in their day for them.

Members have choices to do what classes/activities they want to do. “OLLI can do so much for so many individuals 50 and better. A membership with OLLI offers a free course and a free lecture; they get out of the house, [and] the moment they walk into the classroom, every single one of them is friends. They know they get to come back next week, and when they walk back in, someone remembers their name—it lifts them up. OLLI enriches their lives.” It is the goal of Hodgson and the OLLI program to get this opportunity into as many communities in North Dakota and Northwest Minnesota for individuals who are ages 50 and better. “We would like to try to get it into all four corners of the state.” Hodgson has also joined forces with Robin Thorstenson at Bismarck State College to start expanding that dream. Hodgson’s passion for the program resonates with those around here. You can feel it in her voice and sense it in the way she talks about the program. In fact, it is almost contagious. It should be. “I just love my job. Every day for the first two years, I would walk down the halls and say ‘It is the best job in the world. I wish I had it 20 years ago.’ It has been such a blessing and such an experi-ence.” In fact, she is not only a faculty member, but is also an OLLI member. For anyone looking for more information about the OLLI program, there will be a Fall Open House Social and Course Preview Tuesday, August 7, 4:00 - 5:30pm at Northland Commu-nity and Technical College. Connie Hodgson can be reached by phone at 701-777-4840, via email at connie.hodgson@und.edu, or on the web at www.olli.und.edu. [GCW]

Jennifer Dame | WriterJennifer is seasoned freelance writer and children’s book author. She is a graduate of St. Cloud State University and a mom blogger for her blog called “Kid Crazy.” You can read her blog at http://kidcrazy.areavoices.com. “As a mom of three daughters, I can’t teach them enough about how important it is to be a strong woman, be confident in them-selves, and love who they are,” said Jennifer.

Osher Lifelong Learning InstituteLifetime of LearningBy Jennifer Dame

grandcitieswoman.com JULY | AUGUST 17

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Shana Wiley knew she wanted to have a skill that would be useful in virtually any situation. “I wanted to have a skill that was transferable through different situa-tions and cultures, but still purposeful and helpful to another human being,” Sha-na said. Wiley is currently a registered nurse for the University of North Dakota School of Medicine. “I work within the Department of Pediatrics, Genetics Divi-sion for Dr. John Martsolf, coordinating patient referrals and follow-up for the clinical geneticists.”

On the weekends, Shana travels to Crookston and works as an R.N. for Riverview Health. “I provide inpatient care for patients in the medical surgical unit,” she said. Shana is devoted to nursing and selfless volunteering in her community.

In 2000, Shana joined the Peace Corps and was assigned to Deva, Romania from June of 2000 to May of 2002. “I taught English as a foreign language to preschool through junior high students,” Shana said. During her time off from teaching, she would travel to a remote village near Deva to teach the children of that small vil-lage English as a second language.

In addition to her regular duties as an English instructor, Shana participated in youth summer camps and secured grant funding for project development.

During her time in Romania, Shana discovered the difference between healthcare there and in the United States. “While I was in Romania, a friend’s father was very ill in the hospital. The hospital was not much like any hospital we would see here in the United States, and it had a rather melancholy and foreboding feel to it,” she said. “My friend’s father was in a large room with terminally ill patients, although my friend’s father was not necessarily terminally ill. Visiting the hospital with my friend and the family caused me to think about suffering and the alleviation of it. I wanted to help my friend’s father and my friend and his family through their suf-fering. I also wanted to understand more about what was happening to my friend’s father physically.” That experience, no doubt had an impact on her decision to return to the U.S. and go into nursing. “It wasn’t a big ‘aha!’ moment where I real-ized I wanted to be a nurse, but it did cause me to start thinking along those lines,” she said. “It started me thinking what I could do with my life that would be of benefit to someone during the dark times of life.” Shana believes people are much more similar than we are different, regardless of where we live or what language we speak. “All people want health and comfort, we want to spend happy times with our family and loved ones, we suffer when we know someone we love is in pain, and we all grieve with loss.”

PurposeShana Wiley

Written and Photographed by Autumn Graber

grandcitieswoman.com JULY | AUGUST 21

Shana’s time spent in the Peace Corps helped her realize that she wanted to have a purposeful livelihood. “At the time, I thought I wanted to ‘do something with my hands;’ I wanted to know I was helping someone else,” she said. “I want to know at the end of a day that I’ve done—or at least attempted my best—to enhance someone else’s life.” After Shana’s tour ended in Romania, she returned to the U.S. and attended Ivy Tech Community College in Evansville, Indiana to receive her Practical Nursing Certificate. Once she graduated in 2004, she moved to Grand Forks and accepted a Licensed Practical Nursing position with Altru Health System. While there, she worked as an office nurse in the OB/GYN clinic and assisted physicians and staff with prenatal care and education, gy-necological procedures, and infertility treatments. A few years passed, and Shana decided to return to school to ob-tain her M.S. in Health Education and then her Associate of Science in Nurs-ing. Yearning for a new life experience, Shana volunteered as an R.N. for the Los Amigos Organization and traveled to Chimbote, Peru. She spent three months volunteering with Hospicio Santiago Apostal as part of the home health team and the Santa Clara urgent care clinic. After spending three months in Peru as a volunteer, Shana’s funds began to run out, which prompted her to begin looking for a paying job in nursing. “By the time I left, I was just getting the hang of things,” she said about her time in Peru. She did manage to take a little time to travel the coun-try and take in the culture before she left. The experience in Peru created an interest in community health education; ultimately, Shana would like to work with communities to address health issues. “Other countries don’t have the basic information like we do,” she said. Those of us with information at our fingertips quickly forget what it was like when we didn’t have the Internet or easily accessible healthcare as an option. Shana would like to work with communities by analyzing the city and addressing issues like a lack of parks and sidewalks for their residents. Shana has spent the last six months as a volunteer with Global Friends Coalition, a group that brings together individuals and organiza-tions to foster refugee integration through work with New Americans and the Greater Grand Forks community. “I mentored a family from Nepal for at least one hour a week,” Shana said. Wiley would take the family to different locations in Grand Forks like the North Dakota Museum of Art or even the mall to help them learn about the community or experience our culture.

“I want to know at the end of a day that I’ve done—or at least attempted my best—to enhance someone else’s life.”

22 JULY | AUGUST grandcitieswoman.com

Shana with her host mom in Chimbote, Peru.

Shana with her family in Lake Titicaca, Peru.

Shana on Lake Titicaca, Peru.

Shana in Trujillo, Peru.

Submitted Photos

Shana also takes on two over-night shifts a month working the cri-sis line for the Community Violence Intervention Center in Grand Forks (CIVIC). CIVIC is a program that works toward building a violence-free community. Shana’s motto is evident in her work ethic. “I don’t like to waste op-portunities I’ve been given.” Her interests are not only medical related because Shana is an ac-tive member of the Greater Grand Forks Young Professionals Network and just elected to their board of directors as the Community Involvement Chairperson. “I’m excited to play a larger role in YP and look forward to helping you con-nect to Grand Forks,” she said. Shana has quite an effect on those that work with her. Stacey Heg-gen, director of the GGFYPN said, “I have yet to see anything she’s afraid of, in fact, I think she craves challenge.” Shana’s love for the commu-nity that she lives in is obvious and contagious. Her desire to serve people as a medical professional is admirable. She is known by many to have a high energy and a huge heart. “Having been in nursing for several years now, I’ve realized it’s not only the purposeful-ness of nursing I was seeking years ago, it was the intimacy of connecting with a stranger,” she said. Shana likes to connect with new people on a daily basis, even if there are language barri-ers. “One of the reasons I enjoy travel is the connections I make with strang-ers, many times while we’re not speak-ing the same language. It reminds me of how similar we all are. It also makes me feel a meaningful part of ‘the big scheme of things.’” Shana likes to have the sense of belonging in her daily life, whether she is traveling or not. “Nursing, for me, does just that. The nurse-patient relationship is an intimate connec-tion. It is a partnership. It involves mu-tual respect, trust, fear, and sometimes conflict. Many times, it causes patient and nurse to challenge themselves—to think differently, to look at things from a new perspective, to teach the other. It takes humility, endurance, and gener-osity of spirit on the part of the nurse and the patient. The larger world makes more sense to me when I know we’re all in this together.” [GCW]

grandcitieswoman.com JULY | AUGUST 23

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