NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT:

I wanted to provide an update to you regarding the work being done by members of Iowa Corrections Association (ICA) with regard to the Make a Smile Project completed June 7-June 11 in Cedar Rapids (see below).  It was a great success and I want to thank you all for your support.  It made me very proud that ICA could be a part of this project for such a worthy cause.  These are the kind of community outreach efforts that make a positive impact on the living conditions of those we serve and project the image of Corrections in a brighter light.  As I focused on at the Spring Conference, “Remember, we are the light in the darkness . . . and we do make a difference.”  Julie Vantiger-Hicks, President of the Iowa Corrections Association

The following email was sent out by Mel Williams, President of the North American Association of Wardens and Superintendents (NAAWS).  

“This past week Make A Smile descended on Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  NAAWS members and volunteers from all across the country and Iowa joined together to rebuild Time Check Park.  This park, two years ago, was under ten feet of water for six days.  In the Time Check area and surrounding neighborhoods hundreds of family homes were destroyed by a disastrous flood!  Although many homes are being rebuilt the park needed a lot of work.  This week we installed a new playground and swings, built a new band stand/gazebo, built a new picnic shelter, built new baseball dugouts, restored and painted the basketball court, revamped the baseball diamond, scraped and painted the baseball fences, leveled and seeded the grassy area of the park, put in horse shoe pits, put in a tether ball pole, painted the park fence poles, cleaned the splash pad, planted trees, and did a general clean up of the park.  The Make A Smile Committee organized the project.  Don Dease set up the work, Todd Thomas coordinated the volunteers, Chuck Albino put the finances in order, Mike Hynes got us the playground equipment, Frank Shewalter raised a lot of money, Dan Craig organized the Iowa DOC response, and Julie Vantiger-Hicks coordinated the Iowa Corrections Association response.  Warden Bobby Tanner, from Louisiana, brought an invaluable construction crew.  Warden Cecilia Reynolds brought a paint crew from South Carolina.  Pat Warren, from Michigan, brought a building crew.  In addition volunteers came from North Carolina, Ohio, Kansas, and New York.  Support from our Iowa friends was overwhelming and was led by Gary Hinzman, Bruce Vandersanden, Heather Armstrong, and Greg Stokesberry.  In addition the City of Cedar Rapids was totally behind the project.  The mayor gave us his support and every day there were at least four park staff working right there with us.  Steve Krug, the supervisor, made a lot of things happen.  Americorp volunteers were also a great addition, man those kids can work.  We had close to one hundred volunteers, that registered, working on the park all week!  Some discovered that they had hidden talents; Chuck a roofer, Cecilia a painter, Mike an assembler, Bobby a digger, Dan a master builder, and Don a procurer of everything.  Everyday neighborhood volunteers led by Michelle, Gary, and Tony took great care of us with meals, beverages, and support.  Dan got us breakfast everyday and lunch.  The neighborhood fed us dinner.  The Parks Department was so pleased that they are bringing organized programs back to the park.  The result of this hard work by so many is a great neighborhood park; a place where families can go for fun and relaxation, away from the grind of trying to rebuild their lives after a terrible natural disaster.  Truly God was guiding our hands in helping our fellow man!“