Little Events, Big Memories

By Renee Wahlen Tillema

In a child's life it is often the little moments that stand out. Those short trips to the park, shopping together, stopping for ice cream or just sitting and talking. It's those everyday experiences that help shape their outlook on life.

One organization in Dodge County has a mission to "make a positive difference in the lives of children." Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dodge County and the Watertown Community accomplishes this primarily through a professionally supported One to One relationship with a caring adult. The mentor assists the child in achieving their highest potential as they grow to become confident, competent, and caring individual.

Started in Dodge County as Big Brothers in 1974, they became part of the national Big Brothers Big Sisters organization in 2003.

Executive Director Betsy Bright will be recognizing 12 years with the Dodge County organization this coming March. With a background in teaching, she started part-time and became the full-time director six years ago. Lori Liddicoat is a part-time case manger. She is a retired social worker from Dodge County Human Services.

"We are a small organization compared to the others, and when we did become affiliated with the national organization, they wanted us to merge with Fond du Lac County, Jefferson or Rock County," Betsy explained. "The board at that time decided that we really wanted to keep it more personal. If we merged, the people that were important would get lost in the shuffle. With that, we have an excellent board of directors."

The board includes a minimum of 15 community members from all over Dodge County. Betsy said new members are always encouraged, especially from the northern part of the county. The board is very important because they take charge of all the fundraising opportunities for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dodge County. Their annual fundraisers include a golf outing, Bowl-A-Thon, brat fry's, a pasta buffet, football mania and they were part of the WBEV/WXRO Children's Radio-Thon this year.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dodge County has two mentoring programs, the traditional community-based Big Brother, Big Sister or Big Couple, and the school-based Partners at Lunch.

"The community program is a time commitment of three to five hours a week," Betsy said. "It's called a community program because you are out in the community, but a lot of that time is spent at the volunteers home doing things like movies, baking, for the guys playing basketball, working on cars, things like that. We try to focus that it's not about spending money, but spending time."

The Partners at Lunch is a mentor program where a volunteer shares lunch at school with a child one day a week. It is offered throughout the school year and mentors are encouraged to talk about themselves and things they enjoy with the child. Volunteers may purchase a school lunch or bring one of their own. Currently, this program runs in the elementary schools at Watertown, Hustisford, Juneau and Horicon.

Adult volunteers can be single or married, with or without their own children. All volunteers must successfully complete the orientation process, including a required criminal background check and personal references. The match is carefully screened, oriented and introduced through the skill of the Big Brothers Big Sisters staff members. Currently there are 43 matches in the community program and 33 in the PALS program, but adult volunteers are always needed, especially male mentors.

"We try to sponsor a few outings a year," Betsy said. "We have a Fly-In where the kids can go up in an airplane, we do an annual pool party, picnic and make-a-gift night. In the past we've had a farm visit, Nancy's Notions sewing night, and time at a waterpark.

"Besides the big outings," added Lori, "we also have some people who are so generous about donating tickets for events such as Packer, Bucks and Brewers games – things that the kids probably would otherwise be unable to attend."

Statistics from a recent study have shown that the school-based program has a significant, positive impact on the children in the program. According to the results, 64 percent of the students developed more positive attitudes toward school, 58 percent achieved higher grades in social studies, languages and math, 64 percent developed high levels of self-confidence and these students were also less likely than their peers to repeat a grade.

"Everyone has a misconception that it takes so much time and it really doesn't," Betsy said. "We hear from many of our volunteers after they've started that they didn't realize how much fun they would be having. It's not instant rewards, and it may take some time for it to come back -- but it may just be that thank you later on."

The children are encouraged, as part of their responsibility in this partnership, to do their best and make their Big Brother or Sister proud. Some adult mentors become involved in their school conferences, or share in the success on their report cards.

"It really is how much you want to put into it," Lori said. "It's really individual, and I give our volunteers so much credit."

For more information on Big Brothers Big Sisters contact the Beaver Dam office at (920) 885-5991 or Watertown office at (920)261-2315.

Big Sister + Little Sister = Lots of fun together

By Renee Wahlen Tillema

Knowing how important a mentor had been in her life, Sheri Huebner wanted to do the same for someone else. She became involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dodge County four years ago and was introduced to her Little Sister, Karah Jorgensen. Since then, Sheri and Karah have done many different activities together. They go golfing in the summer, go swimming and shopping, cook and sew together, do crafts, knit and go for walks with Sheri's dog. They have developed a close and comfortable bond.

"When we first met, Karah was a foot shorter than me," Sheri said. "Now she's a foot taller. I've asked Karah how long she thinks I'm going to be around. I think we'll be Big Sister, Little Sister until she doesn't want me anymore. But, I don't think that'll ever happen."

Cheryl Ryden is a relative newcomer to the organization, and has been a Big Sister to Hayley Kong for six months. Cheryl decided to volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dodge County because she really enjoyed spending time with her young nieces and nephew.

"I realized how important it was for their mom and dad to get some help every now and then," she said. "I knew that I wanted to help other parents more than just my family."

Hayley has three younger brothers and really wanted a little sister. Cheryl said that while she's not little, she still fits the bill as a sister.

"It's been good for me because just by spending time with Hayley, I remember what it's like to be a kid," Cheryl said. "I still want to encourage her to try new things and different things."

Both Cheryl and Hayley enjoy simple things like baking, walking Cheryl's dog and hiking at the Horicon Marsh, but they are also very different in the fact that Cheryl is very sports minded, while Hayley is described as being "all girl," and likes cooking and polishing her nails.

The focus of Big Brothers Big Sisters is on spending time together, not necessarily spending money. Sheri and Karah have just as much fun making a homemade pizza and watching a movie together as they do going out on shopping trips. Hayley said she likes spending time talking with her Big Sister, and that Cheryl is "sometimes like her diary."

Karah is 12 years old and is in seventh grade at the Beaver Dam Middle School. Her most favorite activities to do with Sheri include sleep-overs, swimming and golf. She enjoys back-to-school shopping each year, and is looking forward to going swimming with Sheri at the YMCA of Dodge County this winter.

Hayley is 10 years old and in fifth grade at Jefferson School. She likes playing fetch with Cheryl's dog at Crystal Lake Beach, going to the park and her favorite place to eat with Cheryl is at Culver's. Hayley said she likes spending time with Cheryl because, "I get away from my brothers." Cheryl wants to teach Hayley how to swim and hopes to teach her to play the piano.

"I thought about it for a good three years before I became a Big Sister," Sheri said. "People that I talk to think that being a Big Sister is such a huge commitment. It was a concern for me at first, but it really isn't that difficult. You can find three hours a week. For me being a Realtor, it's much easier, I don't work nine to five, but finding three hours a week is not that hard."

Sheri said there are so many events and activities that she can do with her Little Sister, including many planned events sponsored by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dodge County. Sheri discovered that finding the time to spend together was much easier than she ever thought.

"One of my concerns was wondering what I was going to plan," Cheryl said. "I found that going for a walk and talking was just as enjoyable as a planned event. It's a good outlet for both of us."

Making their Little Sisters part of their own lives and activities has worked out well for both Sheri and Cheryl. In the summer months, Sheri is very busy with work as a Realtor and appraiser, but she invites Karah along to help take pictures or measurements, and it turns into a fun time.

"It is slowing your time down and you can actually take a breath," Sheri said. "When you have your Little Sister with you it does slow everything else down and it's like taking a mini vacation. It's enjoying your time."

With a waiting list of both boys and girls, adult volunteers are needed to become Big Brothers and Big Sisters. Sheri and Cheryl can testify that the rewards readily outweigh any challenges.

"I'd tell people to stop thinking about becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister," Cheryl said. "Just go ahead and do it. It's very rewarding and something that you look forward to every week. It's a time to slow down and enjoy."