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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>Happy Thanksgiving to those of you who are
working on this Wednesday afternoon!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>For those of you who may be new to OASFAA,
several years ago, the Association decided to adopt Citizens Caring for
Children as our service organization. Since then, the Association has
found a variety of ways to contribute to all the wonderful things they do and
provide to youth in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Oklahoma</st1:place></st1:State>
foster care. In August, during their Back to School drive, Citizens
Caring for Children was able to help over 800 children in foster care by
providing school supplies, backpacks, and clothing for the new school
year. If you would like to learn more about them, please visit their site
at <a href="http://www.citizenscaringforchildren.org/">http://www.citizenscaringforchildren.org/</a>.
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>For those of you who attended the Spring
2008 conference, you may remember that one of our guests was Allen
Carson. He is now a minister in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Oklahoma</st1:place></st1:State>,
but in his youth, he was in a situation where he was placed in foster care and
had only wonderful things to say about the services that he had access to with
Citizens Caring for Children and the difference they made in his life. One
of the things that he said that seemed to strike a chord with many members is
the fact that those in foster care rarely have a bag of any kind in which to
place their few belongings. They are often removed from their homes with only
the clothing on their backs. If they are able to collect a few precious
belongings, they often have to carry them in black trash bags on in their
school book bags.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>“Operation Backpack” was an
overwhelming success in the Spring and we were able to donate over 165
backpacks that were full of socks and underwear, not to mention $840 in
monetary donations. In gearing up for the Spring 2009 conference, the
Program Committee will be facilitating another collection drive. This time,
we will be collecting <u>backpacks</u> or <u>duffel bags</u> in which children
can place their belongings, <u>sweats</u>, and <u>pajamas</u>. Citizens
Caring for Children serves youth of all ages, so remember that not only will
Dora the Explorer and Spider-Man be welcomed, but so will items that are geared
for teens as well. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>So, while you are out stimulating the
economy by hitting the sales over this long weekend, please keep these items in
mind and pick up what you can to help contribute to this worthy cause. As
we approach the conference in April, further reminders will be sent out.
For now, this seemed a fitting time to start making efforts to assist the youth
in foster care in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Oklahoma</st1:place></st1:State>
through our contributions to Citizens Caring for Children.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>Thank you and have a wonderful and safe
holiday weekend,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>Mendy Schmerer</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:
7.5pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>Office of Student Financial Aid</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:
7.5pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>Financial Aid Coordinator</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:
7.5pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>University of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Oklahoma</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Health</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Sciences</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:
7.5pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>1106 N. Stonewall, Rm 301</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=1
face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>Oklahoma
City</span></font></st1:City><font size=1 face="Comic Sans MS"><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>, <st1:State w:st="on">OK</st1:State>
<st1:PostalCode w:st="on">73117</st1:PostalCode></span></font></st1:place><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:
7.5pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>(405) 271-2118, x 48817 (p)</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:
7.5pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>(405) 271-5446 (f)</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><a href="mailto:Mendy-Schmerer@ouhsc.edu"><font size=1
face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>Mendy-Schmerer@ouhsc.edu</span></font></a></span></font><font
size=1 face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>
</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 face="Comic Sans MS"><span style='font-size:
7.5pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'><a href="http://w3.ouhsc.edu/sfs/">http://w3.ouhsc.edu/sfs/</a></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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