Human Capital

     I was watching an interview with Ed Whitacre the other day.  Mr. Whitacre was the CEO charged with turning GM around after their bailout.  He was asked if there was a methodology that he would use in turning around any organization.  His reply was "People.  Give people responsibility. Give them authority.  Give them accountability.  People are a company's best asset."  You would think that the leader of an automotive giant would talk about the quality of their vehicles.  Mr. Whitacre's belief is that quality people translate into quality product.  I have been mulling this over as I think about Joel's Place.
   
     Joel's Place is not a multi-national company.  We are not even the largest Fairbanks non-profit that works with youth.  What we are is an organization that wants the best for the young people of Interior Alaska.  We want to provide them with a place of safety and security where they can have a ridiculous amount of fun and develop into men and women possessing strength of body, mind and character.
   
     Too often I find myself obsessing over grants, programs, money and events as I work at achieving those goals.  I spend a lot of time at my desk working through reports and proposals.  Don't get me wrong, these are important steps towards keeping the building open and heated...but they are not what will help us achieve our goals.  People are the best asset that we have.  They are the best opportunity for caring for the kids who come through our doors.  There are several different types of human capital that we can invest in the Joel's Place Youth.

     First is our staff.  Jon, Kelli, Leah, Tami, Arlys, Darius and Rhema pour themselves into making Joel's Place a tremendous experience for everyone who attends.  They have all sorts of different gifts, but are all friendly and encouraging, eager to talk and ready to listen, longing to see a better life for all the kids.  We have just completed a month long discussion on Vision and they are all excited to see Joel's Place grow and mature.  This is an outstanding team that I have and I am going to do everything that I can to ensure that they are given every opportunity to succeed.

     There are other opportunities to have people invest in Joel's Place other than being on staff.  I have talked at length about financial donors before so I will only mention them briefly: gifts of money allow us to the freedom to pursue our vision.  We are so grateful.

     Joel's Place was built on volunteers...people who were willing to give of their time and experience to the youth of Fairbanks.  We need a new generation of volunteers to come alongside us now.  We need people who are interested in teaching what they know: math, writing, vehicle repair, art, music, survival, foreign languages...you name it.  If you are interested in passing your knowledge on to hungry minds, let us know.  If you are interested in cooking or tutoring, let us know.  If you are interested in fixing stuff, let us know.  If you are interested in giving rides to and from Joel's Place, let us know.  If you are interested in organizing work crews to complete major projects, let us know.  If you are interested in security for concerts, let us know.  If you have a skill, interest or ability that I have not mentioned, let us know.  I love to get creative with people who want to invest in youth.

     Another place of investment is with our Board of Directors.  Alaska has over 6,000 nonprofits, not even counting churches or school PTSAs.  When you look at the total number of eligible adults in the state, it becomes clear why nonprofits are always searching for Board members.  If you are willing to invest a few hours each month into helping supervise and guide this amazing organization, I would welcome a call.  We are looking to move into the next stage of development for Joel's Place and I am looking for people who are faithful, invested in the Interior's Youth and interested in joining our mission.  Plus you would get to work with me a lot...so that's a bonus.  The Board tackles the big picture direction of the movement, the minutia of policy and everything in between.  We laugh. We argue. We pray. We see God work all the time.  It is a remarkable ride and I invite you to join us.

     The quality of the Joel's Place experience for the youth is not due to our building or our ramps or our concerts or our cafe.  The quality of the experience is the amount of Human Capital that is poured into these kids from every angle.  Consider coming alongside.  Your investment could be part of what transforms a life, a family or even our community.

Thanks

     We have finally finished our processing of 2012.  Reports have been finished.  Letters have been mailed.  Statistics have been compiled.  Before we close the book on the previous year, however I would like to take a few minutes to thank everyone who partnered financially with Joel's Place over the course of the year.  You have enabled us to pay our staff and our bills, to feed the hungry and give our kids a place to be safe, have fun and develop into strong young men and women. 
     There are a few distinct categories that I want to mention:

• Largest Donor:  Black Gold Oilfield Services.  Thank you so much.  Your generosity allowed us to stay open over the lean summer months.
• Smallest Donor: Diego and Essie Menaker who over 6 different donations gave a total of $3.50.  You make me a proud papa.
• Major Donors:  These each gave over $5,000 this year- BP, Conoco Philips,Door of Hope Church, Lifepoint COGIC, R&D Environmental, Mike and Linda Setterberg, Michael Stoltz, Bob and Jean Tsigonis, Wal-Mart, and the Weeks Charitable Foundation. Thank you for your generosity.
• Monthly Champions: Each and every month these partners gave.  You are the foundation we build from.-Leah Byam, Door of Hope Church, Fairbanks Rescue Mission, 1st COGIC, Erika Johnson, Shaun and April Katz, Joel and Stacey Kiekintveld, Chris Kilgore, Kendi Lesley, MAC FCU, Annemarie Mattachionne, Vince Meurlott, Josephine Mills, Joshua Poe, Dawn and Jerry Sadler, Daniel Schweitert, Mike, Linda, Donald and Loraine Setterberg, Richard and Cherie Solie, Roy and Arlys Westfall, and Judith Wise.
• A very special thanks to Dennis Wise whose long-term partnership has allowed us to have a building to call home.

     So I would like to say Thank You to all of our 220 financial partners who donated over $206,000 to Joel's Place this past year.

Access Alaska, Inc ACS Advance Printing Airport Equipment Rentals Alaska Aerofuel Inc Alaska Travel Industry Altrol Heating and Cooling Anderson John/Ann Carolyn Angaiak Jacob Angell William/Rebecca Ardis Hubert/Alice Association of School Boards BP Badger Road Christian Fellowship Baham Todd Bates Adam/Tricia Beauchamp Joel/Tara Beazer Michelle Becker Lacey Bell Bert Bennett Catherine Bethel Church Black Gold Oil Blackweasel Elijah Bolt Carol Boston's Pizza Boulanger Sandy Bouma Kaari Bourroughs Annette Boyle Andrew/Kelli Boyle Selah Brechan Linda Brewster Lacey Brown Chester Brown Ellen Brown Linda Brown Travis Bruner Jennifer Brunty Candice Burglin David/Patti Burkett Betty Byam Leah Byam Sherwood Campbell Mack/Diana Carrington Steven Chaplain Corps Accounting Center Chiu Benlind Cirocco Carol Coffey Randall/Nancy Cole Loretta Condon Cathy Condon Daniel Contento Antone Crawford Sarah Darrah Christopher Date-Line Printing Davis Debra Davis Virgil Design Alaska Door of Hope Church Doyon Dreesen Judith Dufford Sheila Dwyer Matt Edmunds Amy Elks Lodge Evridge Garrett Fairbanks Lions Club Fairbanks Rescue Mission Fairbanks Youth Sports Family Centered Services Farmer Jon File Joel File Lisa 1st United Methodist Church Flodin Jerry/Jan Foggia Richard/Kathryn 1st COGIC 1st Presbyterian Church 1st Strike Freshwater Karla Gilbert Rebecca Global Giving Grossmann Dawn Hanson Teresa Harries Nancy Harvest Hawkins Robert Herberg Henry Hersey Michael Hinzman MG/LD Huff Jonathan Huffman Chris/Devin Huffman James/Leslie Huffman Jeremy Irwin Thomas/Sharon Isgrigg Larry/Frances John Robert Johnson Erika Johnson Karen Johnston Cherie Jubilee Worship Center Katz Shaun/April Kawasaki Scott Keller Barbara Kelsey Damon/Melisa Keybank Kiekintveld Joel/Stacey Kilgore Chris King Ed KJNP Klaver Claude/Joanne Knowles Jason Koch Companies Public Sector LLC Lease Laura Lefferson William/Charlotte Lesley Kendi Licalsi Anita Lidster Karen Lifepoint COGIP Lincoln Robert/Carla Litzinger Rebecca Louwerse Joshua/Jessica Loyal Order of Moose MAC FCU MacChenyne's Carpets Plus Mandich Guyan/Maria Marsh Thomas/Sharon Mattacchione Annemarie Mayo Will/Yvonne McBride Jo C. McIntyre Karen McIntyre Neal McMullen Lenord Meath Breanna Meierotto Sheryl Menaker Allen/Jan Menaker Diego Menaker Esperanza Meurlott Vince Microsoft Matching Gifts Program Midey Raymond/Peggy Milam Steve/Emma Mills Josephine Mills Josephine Moore Ken National Garden Association Neal Bruce/Katherine Neubert Gerald North Pole AOG Optimists Club Owens Dale Palmer Theresa Patersson Kay Pearson Owen/Angela Peger Angel Persson Craig Phillips Clara Pingayak Valerie Plumlee Monte/Marie Poe Joshua Ponchione Daniel/Takenya R&D Environmental Raymond Matthew/Kim Roderick Gary Rotary Club of Fairbanks G Rotary Club of Fairbanks Sunrisers Russell Bethany Rychener Joshua/Janelle Sadler Brenda Sadler Jerry/Dawn Santa's Letters and Gifts Schatz Mersadies Schumann Lois Schweitert Daniel Seaburn Cerenity Seekins Ford-Lincoln Setterberg Brian Setterberg Donald/Loraine Setterberg Mike/Linda Sloan John Sloan Linda Smith Trinity Solie Richard/Cherie Stanfill Larry Stepovich Joan Stepp Drennon/Nora Stoltz Michael Superior Roofing Sweeney Mary Tanana Chiefs Conf. Tetrad Services Thomas James Thompson Todd Tittle Jackson/Catherine Tote Tsigonis Bekah Tsigonis Bob/Jean Turtles, Inc Tweet Rhonda Underwood Terry/Betsy Undgrodt Margaret United Methodist Women Usibelli Foundation Wal-Mart Stores, Inc Wallace Charles/Carolyne Walsh Fred/Kenda Walton Nevada Weeks Charitable Foundation Weibel Katherine Weis Richard The Well Wells Melanie Westerveld William/Frances Westfall Roy/Arlys Wilbur Charlotte Wise Dennis Wise Judith Wisel John/Patty Woolace James/Marilyn Wozniak Fritz/Cynthia
May you be blessed as you have blessed others.
James