Sunday, April 25
9am – 1pm
American Legion
35  3rd Ave SE, Hutchinson
All the pancakes you can eat
Adults suggested:  $7.00
Children under 10:  $4.00
*Sponsored by the Mason’s of Hutchinson, Temple Lodge #59

At McLeod Alliance, our mission is to support and promote the elimination of relationship violence through education, empowerment, protection, and advocacy.

Domestic violence, or battering, is a pattern of abusive behaviors that some individuals use to control their intimate partners. Battering can include physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, and other controlling or fear-inducing behaviors. Without help, domestic violence often becomes more frequent and more severe. It can lead to permanent injury and death.

REMEMBER: IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE ~ IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT

Our services include:

Last year McLeod Alliance served 281 victims: 172 of these were new clients, 15 were men and 3 were teens. We referred victims to additional agencies  653 times and reached more than 1,000 people through our educational presentations. Located at 101 Park Place, downtown Hutchinson, we work to create a coordinated community response to domestic violence that provides safety to victims, accountability for perpetrators, and intervention for the entire family.

For help or information call: 320-234-7933 or 1-800-934-0851, or e-mail to: advocate@hutchtel.net.

On Dec. 10, Dori Johnson and members of the Hutchinson Hospital Auxiliary presented Alliance Executive Director Jo Piehl with a $1,000 donation. Then, on Dec. 15, Wal-Mart Manager Scott Hilgemann presented Piehl with a $2,000 check. The Auxiliary donation was not requested, but the Wal-Mart donation was in response to a grant application Piehl filed with the retailer.

McLeod Alliance is a private, nonprofit agency that serves victims of domestic violence in McLeod County and the surrounding area. Advocates assist clients in filing for orders for protection, navigating the criminal justice system and maintaining violence-free homes through referrals and with individual support.

Piehl said the $3,000 in donations will be used for general operating expenses and client-related materials. The Hospital Auxiliary’s donation comes in addition to that group’s continued financial support of buying hygiene and cleaning products every other month.

The Alliance also received a $345 grant from Southwest Initiative Foundation and Hutchinson Community Foundation later in the month. These grant funds will be used to purchase support group curriculum materials for the domestic violence support group and education materials to help kids understand domestic violence.

“The struggling economic times have already taken a toll on our clients and we’ve seen increasing numbers in the last few months,” Piehl said. “This money will allow us to continue serving our clients throughout the holidays and into 2009.”

The concert was Friday, Oct. 17, from 8:30 p.m. to midnight, at the Hutchinson Event Center.

This was the Alliance’s second year of putting on a benefit concert. Last year’s event was on 07-07-07. It was a hot and sticky night at the McLeod County Fairgrounds.

So, the Board of Directors brainstormed and determined that a fall concert at an indoor venue would be the best option, since October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Choosing the performer was an easy task, as the Board opted for a Hutchinson favorite, Johnny Holm.

According to his Web site, www.johnnyholm.com, “Johnny Holm is the most entertaining entertainer performing today. … Mostly impromptu, the show moves with the speed of lightning…”

Johnny Holm entertains the crowd at Alliance Rock 2008 on Oct. 17, at the Hutchinson Event Center.

Alliance staff members Racheal Bratz, Jo Piehl, Glynis Vacek and Nora Young pose with Johnny Holm before the benefit concert began.

The volunteer crew waits anxiously to help out. Target volunteers served as roadies, helping the band unload and set up before the concert and pack up and load up after the concert.

Alliance Executive Director Jo Piehl takes the stage and speaks to the crowd about the benefit concert.

Some Johnny Holm fans kick up their heels and dance the night away.

All of the Minnesota Clothesline Projects for the past 30 years will be on display at the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women’s 30th Anniversary Celebration and Conference in Bloomington on Oct. 23-24. Alliance staff are attending this event.

To learn more about the t-shirt designed by Alliance volunteers, click here.

To learn more about the history of the Clothesline Project, log on to www.mcbw.org.

By JILL BARRALL
Of the McLeod Alliance

Vicki Swenson is a wife, a mother, a teacher, and a volleyball coach. But what she truly is one devoted sister.

Vicki lost her sister, Terri Lee, when Terri’s ex-boyfriend killed her after stalking her for months.

As t-shirts bearing Terri’s tragic story and the stories of others like her blew in the wind, Vicki shared how her life changed when she spoke at the Gathering in the Garden on June 25.

More than 70 people were enthralled as Vicki shared how Terri overcame the personal tragedy of losing her husband in a fatal car crash, to raise four children alone.

They listened how a new man entered Terri’s life and turned the whole family’s world upside down. Steven Van Keuren seemed to be a good suitor. Later, he proved to be controlling, abusive and unable to let her go.

Van Keuren shot and killed Tim Hawkinson and Terri Lee on July 29, 2006, in Terri’s home. Tim was Terri’s boyfriend and a long-time family friend.

Terri had a protective order, called police and installed a security system in her home. “My sister did everything right,” Vicki said, which is why she is dedicated to speaking out and changing laws so that no one else has to lose a sister.

Vicki’s telling of Terri’s story highlighted the annual fundraiser event, which also featured a dynamic dinner and exquisite silent auction baskets. The event raised more than $2,000 for the Alliance.

For more info, log on to www.glencoenews.com, and type in Vicki’s name to read McLeod County Chronicle Reporter Gail Lipe’s story, which further explains Vicki’s speech.

Laura Engwall reads Terri Lee’s memorial t-shirt at the Gathering in the Garden. The shirts are part of the Clothesline Project, which remembers women, men and children murdered in 2006 from acts of domestic violence.