Learn How Having an Assistance Dog Changes Lives
Can Do Canines to Host Open House November 9th
By CAREN HANSEN, Marketing & Communications Manager at Can Do Canines
Can Do Canines will host an open house on Saturday, November 9, from noon to 2 pm, at its Can Do Canines campus (9440 Science Center Drive, New Hope, Minn.). Potential clients, volunteers, or anyone who might be interested in supporting the organization is invited to attend to learn how an assistance dog changes the life of a person with a disability.
Through a self-guided tour, attendees will be able to watch a trainer working with an assistance dog, talk with a dog host volunteer and staff members from the volunteer department, pose questions to client services coordinators, and meet graduate teams from five types that Can Do Canines trains dogs: hearing, mobility, seizure, diabetes, and childhood autism.
There is no pre-registration for this event, though attendees will be asked to share some contact information when arriving.
To request a sign language interpreter for the Open House, please contact Laurie at lcarlson@candocanines.org or call 763-331-3000 at least two weeks in advance.… Read the rest “Learn How Having an Assistance Dog Changes Lives”
Making Critical Choices for Retirement
By AMANDA THEISEN, Sunrise Banks
Life in retirement can come with a lot of freedom – the freedom to do what you want, when, where and with whom you want. It could mean trading in those frigid Minnesota winters for someplace warmer, traveling the world with a loved one, volunteering for causes you care about, or fulfilling another long-held dream.
While it’s fun to dream about retiring, thinking about the money side of retirement may not be as fun, especially if you’re getting a late start on saving. According to the 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances, almost half of American households had no savings in retirement accounts, such as 401(K), 403(b), IRA, thrift savings accounts or pensions.
October is National Retirement Security Month. Whether you’re just beginning your career or nearing its end, it’s never too early to think about what you want retirement to look like. The sooner you make a plan and put it into action, the more choices you’ll have in your golden years.
Timelines, Age Limits and Penalties
For most people, putting together a retirement plan involves many choices, some of them quite complex. The right strategy depends on several factors, including your current age and number of years until retirement.… Read the rest “Making Critical Choices for Retirement”
Networking: The Mother of All Mixed Blessings
from the series Peace House Community Journal…
By MARTI MALTBY
I recently traveled to Breezy Point, in northern Minnesota, to speak at a conference. Since the trip involved five hours of driving, I made sure I had some audiobooks to pass the time. I started listening to Taking the Work Out of Networking: An Introvert’s Guide to Making Connections That Count by Karen Wickre, and within an hour I had an idea for the next presentation I wanted to give at a conference.
As an introvert, the idea of networking doesn’t appeal to me. Imagining myself walking up to strangers at a party to convince them to do something for me makes my skin crawl. Fortunately, the audiobook helped me reframe my thinking, pointing out that “networking” doesn’t just mean convincing others that they want to help you. It can be as simple as asking a friend if they know any good restaurants. In other words, my view of networking was far too narrow.
I should have realized this earlier, but like many things in life, I need other people to explain things in simple terms for me to recognize something that, on some level, I already know. Throughout life, I’ve gotten a lot of things I’ve needed through people I know, and I’ve been able to help others get what they need.… Read the rest “Networking: The Mother of All Mixed Blessings”