Success Stories
On May 4th another successful Clarence's Recycling day was completed! Thank you to Clarence's Recycling for hosting another Beyond The Yellow Ribbon aluminum can drive, $1,350 was donated from aluminum cans that day!
The "Penny A Pound" metal drive was very successful thanks to the many customers that brought in their scrap metal. Clarence's then donated 1 penny for every pound of metal brought in since last May. This program earned Isanti County BYR $6,505.67!
All totaled on May 4th 2013 Clarence's Recycling donated just over $8,377 to Isanti County Beyond the Yellow Ribbon!!
Also thank you to all the Isanti County BYR network volunteers that helped out on May 4th 2013!
On May 14, 2013, the Isanti County Beyond the Yellow Ribbon was recognized at the Minnesota Twins game as follows: (pictures attached)
May 14, 2013
Imagine a loudspeaker booming across Target Field
"Please direct your attention to home plate. The Minnesota Twins are pleased to recognize our commitment to Beyond the Yellow Ribbon. Beyond the Yellow Ribbon is a program pioneered by the Minnesota National Guard to connect all Minnesota service members and their families with community support, services and resources."
"Throughout this season, the Twins will recognize Yellow Ribbon Networks that go above and beyond in supporting service members and their families."
"Tonight, we are recognizing Isanti County ’s Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Network. Their network was established in February 2009 and they received the Governor’s Yellow Ribbon Proclamation recognition in January 2010. Approximately 30 people are involved in their network. Something very unique to their network is they provide quilted bedrolls for all deploying service members in their county. They recently provided 150 quilts to the deployed 850th (pronounce eight, fiftieth) Horizontal Engineer Company. This network has been involved in everything from home repairs to assisting in snow removal and yard cleanup."
"On the field tonight is Bob Boone, Committee Chair, Susan Morris, Committee Vice Chair, Jim Rostberg, Treasurer, Gail Genin, Fundraising Chair."
"Thank you Isanti County ’s Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Network!"
and then comes the standing ovation!!!
Snowflake Parade in Cambridge, November 17th 2012. We had a great turn out for our "float"; nine supporters of Isanti BYR marched this year. Thank you to all our supporters who marched and cheered!
Bob B. receiving a check for $500 from the East Central Minnesota Chapter 684 of the Viet Nam Veterans of America.
The 850th HEC picnic was a great success thanks to the many volunteers from BYR Isanti.
Everyone loves a picnic on a great summer day!!
Our table at the chili feed at Captian's on Long Lake March 2nd 2012
Volunteers serving up Chili at Captian's. This was registration night for the Arctic Plunge 2012
Camo quilts being passed out to service members.
More quilts being passed out!
Susan Morris and Capt. Ronald Broadway
Breakfast with the 704th Chemical Company
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Advantage Collection Professionals collected gifts to donate to families of deployed service members.
Thank you one and all for your donations!
Star 95 Car Wash collected $2,250 and presented a check to Isanti Beyond The Yellow ribbon
Sharon F. presenting Bob B. a check for $1,000 from the Seventh District Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW. It was the "Presidents Project" for the year.
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Bridgeport Apartments purchased gifts to be passed out to families of deployed service members.
We have received many thanks from troops in the field regarding the Camo Quilts. Everyone says it is the best piece of equipment they carry!
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The Isanti Rodeo Parade 2011
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Tree trimming at a deployed serviceman's house after the July 1st 2011 storm.
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Isanti County Beyond the Yellow Ribbon has started to receive thank you notes from some deployed service members. Several letters thanked the committee for care packages we sent overseas to them. The packages and goodies from home were greatly appreciated. It sounded like the service members who received packages also shared the items with other members in their units. One service member wrote he felt it was worth it to know that I live in a community that supports soldiers and their families. 12/14/2010
Another service member wroteit was a great surprise and made his day!
One service member thanked us for a small stove we sent him to use in his unit. This service member mentioned he passes the stove around to his battle buddies and they use the stoveas much as he does. 01/20/2011
These care packages are the direct result of community members caring enough to donate items and money for the service members overseas. Pleasekeep up the good work! Your thoughts and gifts are greatly appreciated!
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Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Camo Quilt Project. The quilters meet every Monday from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m in the Cambridge City Hall Mall 300 3rd Ave NE.
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Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Committee Breakfast with the Troops. On February 12th 2011 BYR Committee members and community members had breakfast with members of the 850th Horizontal Engineers Company at the Cambridge Armed Forces Reserve Community Center. Breakfast was cooked by the Isanti Lions! Thank You
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Proud supporters donating their allowance to Beyond The Yellow Ribbon at the Isanti County Fair 2010.
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A little hero! James' father is serving in Iraq. Photo from the Isanti Rodeo Parade 2010
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Presented to the Isanti County Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Task Force in recognition of their support of our service members and their families. Presented on Memorial Day 2010 at the Isanti Rum River VFW Post 2735 by Senator Amy Klobuchar
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Susan Morris receiving a check from Terry Baar he presented $300 to BYR Isanti on behalf of: Isanti Liquor, Hometown Liquor, and Northbound Liquor.
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The University of Minnesota Master Gardeners of Isanti County are committed to providing horticultural and educational services to the residents of Isanti County. Along with the Isanti County “Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Task Force”, we are dedicating our educational resources to assist our returning veterans in all things horticultural.
To this end, Master Gardeners Beverly McLaughlin, Mike Oslund, Poppy Irwin and Les Anderson spent time with returned veteran Bob Harris and his wife Jessica. While at their Isanti County rural acreage, the Master Gardeners answered questions related to lawn care, tree selection, pest control, flower choices, and the like. While Bob and Jessica have already taken several positive steps in beautifying and developing their property, they were given additional information on other available resources from the University of Minnesota, and personal contacts for any future questions/concerns. We wish to thank both Bob and Jessica for their hospitality and willingness to consider several landscaping and gardening alternatives. Our intent was to listen to their questions, assess the considerable available options and assure them we will remain as their personal resources in the future. Thank you Bob and Jessica for your service and support!
(Photograph: l to r - Mike, Bob, Beverly, Jessica and Poppy)
Now, Bob and Jessica say: Thanks so much for visiting our home, answering our questions, and providing us with wonderful suggestions and expert opinion. During a deployment the spouse staying behind must handle all of the tasks that were once shared by two. Needless to say, yard work took a backseat to the rest of a hectic schedule that my wife, Jessica, had to maintain in my absence. Les, Beverly, Poppy and Mike were a tremendous help in pointing us in the right direction to a healthy, beautiful, pest free, and useful property. The gardener’s ideas were overflowing, with much useful information from greening up our lawn to building a successful butterfly garden. Thanks to the advice of the Isanti County Master Gardeners, we have been able to develop a plan that will ensure a yard that is pleasing to us, complimentary to the neighborhood, and useful to wild life. Thanks to the ISANTI MASTER GARDNERS and the Isanti County BEYOND THE YELLOW RIBBON for all of your help. We really enjoyed your visit and appreciate your help and ideas. By the way, we are planting trees this weekend!
Bob and Jessica Harris
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Bob Boone accepting on behalf of the Task Force, from Susan Morris, the proclaimation that Isanti County is offically recognized as a Beyond The Yellow Ribbon County. This proclaimation is now hanging in the lobby of the Isanti County Government Center.
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Bob Boone accepting the certificate of support for the Employers Support of the Guard from Jim Rostberg.
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Captains on Long Lake community event Artic Plunge 03/06/2010
Click on the word video to view a video of the plunge video
ARCTIC PLUNGE
The Beyond The Yellow Ribbon Task Force gained visibility and awareness by participating in the 8th annual Arctic Plunge held at Captains on Long Lake. Tammy K. worked our table to display yard signs, decals and magnets. She also collected donations to continue our mailing program. Jim R. served in the VFW Color Guard and took pictures and video of our Task Force effort. Bob Boone took the plunge in his Army Combat Uniform. He also had an opportunity to speak live on KQRS to promote our effort. With over 5,000 people in attendance this was awesome exposure for our Task Force. There were connections made with spouses of deployed service members, pledges of future support made which made the whole experience very worthwhile and rewarding.
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RED BULL SOLDIER RETURNS
On January 22nd members of our Task Force gathered at the home of a returning 34th Infantry Division soldier to prepare it for his return after a yearlong deployment. The local Lions organization had been in earlier and painted all the walls. We came in and shampooed all the carpets, shoveled, salted and chopped all the ice off the sidewalk and driveway. We cleaned all the kitchen appliances and cupboards and stocked the refrigerator and cupboards with food and supplies. In total 7 members of the Task Force worked to make this a successful event. They all went away feeling good about their effort. The returning soldier, sister and father came to our February Task Force meeting to express their gratitude and thanks for a job well done by all who participated.
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Beyond The Yellow Ribbon Summit January 5th 2010
Jim Rostberg and Susan Morris gave a 15 minute presentation at the Summit about Isanti County's progress towards becoming a Beyond The Yellow Ribbon County.
Lt. Col. O'Reilly (foreground) and Gov. Pawlenty presented the award. Pictured left to right. Lt. Col. O'Reilly, Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Susan Morris, Jim Rostberg, and Monica Broten.
Many members of the Isanti County Beyond The Yellow Ribbon Task Force attended the Summit at Century College.
Here is a video link of the event along with an article.
http://wcco.com/health/pawlenty.veterans.budget.2.1407046.html
