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Summer 2011 Newsletter

From the Executive Director

Victim/Witness Services for Coconino County has responded to the emotional and physical needs of crime victims in Coconino County since 1984. As a victim services provider, we inform victims of their statutory and constitutional rights – “To be treated with fairness, respect and dignity, and to be free from intimidation, harassment or abuse throughout the criminal justice process.”

“My life has changed forever because of being shot. I used to sing professionally to make a living. I will never be able to do that again. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about being shot. I don’t trust anyone anymore…I can’t remember things and I misplace things…my advocate from Victim Witness has been my support emotionally and in navigating through all these struggles…”

This victim nearly lost his life following a gun shot wound to the head. The injury was inflicted by his wife of 12 years. His condition is improving but he continues to face many challenges every day. Victim Witness Services for Coconino County is proud to have assisted him over the course of a two year court trial – attempted homicide, domestic violence.

We are unique in the State of Arizona as a non-profit provider of victim services, independent of city or county government. Grant and foundation awards, the annual “A Taste of Flagstaff ” fund raising event, and individual donations enable us to provide crisis response, support and advocacy to victims of child abuse, adult and child sexual assault, domestic violence and homicide. All of our services are free of charge.

Thank you for taking an interest in the work that we do. Please continue to support Victim Witness Services staff and programs. If you are interested in volunteering your time, donating used cell phones or gift cards for food or gasoline, or making a tax deductible contribution, please contact us at (928) 679-7770 during office hours. If you are in need of our services or want more information on victim’s rights, contact our office for assistance. Always contact law enforcement in an emergency by dialing 911.

Kris Stark, Executive Director

Welcome New VWS Staff & Interns!

This summer we are going to be saying farewell to our Victim Compensation/ Volunteer Coordinator Sarah Moulton. Sarah has worked at VWS for four years, and we couldn’t thank her more for her service.

Lindsey Goss has accepted the Volunteer Coordinator role. She was a 2010-2011 intern and has been the VWS Administrative Assistance since 2011. Meg Patton has accepted the position as Business Manager/Compensation Coordinator. She brings many years of experience in the non- profit world.

We also welcome Shawna Michie as our new Domestic Violence Advocate. Shawna is a former volunteer and intern here at VWS and we look forward to working with her.

This summer, several interns will be joining our office: Athena Thomas, Miranda Minasian, Michelle Kern, and Trevor Johnson.

In addition to this, we will be adding more interns this fall: Roxanne Zaad, Hollie Schultz, and Lindsey Huber.

Finally, Verlena Tso will be joining us from AmeriCorps. She will be working with Heidi Solano on the Child Maltreatment Public Awareness and Outreach Program.

Executive Board

• Kathi Shinham, President
• Lt. Ken Koch, Vice President
• Cindy Cox, Secretary
• Chad McCutchen, Treasurer
• Kris Stark, Executive Director

Board Members

• Paul Bustamante
• Diane Chung
• Lt. Rex Gilliland
• Marlene DeRosa
• Dave Rozema
• Linda Robyn
• Susan Shaw
• Paula Smith

Volunteers

• Christina Allen
• Dana Breyer
• Amailia Caldwell
• Shannon Cassidy
• Rebecca Christ
• Florina Daniels
• John Fall
• Paul Hernandez
• Lindsey Huber
• Sharilyn Hunter
• Jenny Johnson
• Trevor Johnson
• Alyssa Lopez
• Grace Marks
• Elizabeth Martin
• Edward Mason
• Miranda Minasian
• Ashley Morrison
• Bailey Pugh
• Candace Schmid
• Holly Sholtz
• Melissa Skeet
• Dorothy Talbott-McCall
• Sarah Targos
• Athena Thomas
•  Verlena Tso
• Kelly Wells
• Roxanne Zaad

SEXUAL ASSAULT ADVOCATE

HOLLIE VARGAS

Dharamsala, India

Sexual violence is an area of victim- ization which is often misunder- stood, in which stigma and miscon- ception abounds. One commonly held belief about sexual assault is the idea that most sexual assault is perpetrated by a stranger. In reality, ninety percent of sexual assaults are committed by friends and family.

Most sexual assaults go unreported; it is estimated that between 50 and 90 percent of sexual assaults never even reach the beginning phases of the legal process. Almost half of all women who are raped do not consider the act to be rape, though legally it is. Victims of sexual violence can be both men and women, children and adults; sexual violence occurs to people of all ages, socioeconomic status, and ethnicity.

Hollie Vargas, an advocate here at VWS, specializes in working with victims of sexual violence. Despite the extreme and troubling nature of the crimes she works with, she finds that her ability to work with people in crisis situations, and desire to bring victims justice and support after a deeply traumatizing event, makes her role in VWS a continually rewarding experience.

A desire for justice and compassion for people are driving factors in Hollie’s life. After receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology from NAU, Hollie worked at Vertical Relief Climbing Gym for 10 years.

During this time, Hollie’s interest in the plight of political prisoners led her to travel to Dharamsala, India, the home of the exiled Tibetan government, where she interviewed Tibetan refugees who had been victims of violence at the hands of the Chinese government. Having a first hand experience with victims of systematic political violence would profoundly affect her Victim Advocacy later.

Prior to becoming a Victim’s Advocate, Hollie was selected to be a ju- ror on a sexual assault case. Despite the nature of the case, Hollie found that the experience of the trial fascinating, rewarding, and stimu- lating. During the trial, she met a Victim Advocate working on behalf of the victim in the trial, which led to an internship here at Coconino County Victim Witness Services, and eventually employment.

In addition to working as Victim’s Advocate, Hollie is a co-chair of the Sexual Assault Response Team, a panel that evaluates the effectiveness of the entire process that victims of sexual violence go through. This team, comprised of law enforcement, medical staff, prosecuting attorneys, and, of course, victim’s advocates, is another way that Hollie seeks justice and healing for victims of sexual violence.

VWS’s Child Maltreatment Outreach and Public Awareness Cam- paign has launched! In June, our outreach team attended events in Page, Moenkopi, Winslow, and Gap/Bodaway. Look for us at the 4th of July Parade with the CCC&Y Float and July 8th at Movies on the Square.

Oh the Places You’ll Go

by Dr Seuss

“Congratulations!

Today is your day.

You’re off to Great Places!

You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself any direction you choose.

You’re on your own.And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

You’ll look up and down streets. Look’em over with care. About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.” With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you’re too smart to go down a not- so-good street.

And you may not find any you’ll want to go down. In that case, of course, you’ll head straight out of town. It’s opener there in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen and frequently do to people as brainy and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen, don’t worry. Don’t stew. Just go right along. You’ll start happening too.

Oh! The Places You’ll Go!

You’ll be on your way up!

You’ll be seeing great sights!

You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.

You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed. You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead. Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best. Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

---Dr. Suess

Note to the Volunteers

Dear Volunteers,

Happy Summer! If you are like me, you’ve been looking forward to some warmer weather for a change and I think it is finally here! First, let me give a great big thanks to everyone who is still in town and who have been able sign up on the crisis call calendar. We often struggle to fill holidays, including summer and winter break. Thank you, this past month has looked great! I can’t wait for everyone to be back in town, but those of you still here have definitely picked up the slack and that is so amazing.

VWS had its 1st Annual Mobilize and Reenergize VWS Volunteer Summit in April. We had a great turn out; I hope everyone had as much fun as I did. A special thank you for our guest speakers, Janetta Beaumont and Jim Buzard! I’ve done TrueColors in the past but I have found that I always learn something new about myself. I hope each of you enjoyed it as well and had fun testing it on your friends and spouses. We plan to hold another Summit in Apri, 2012.

As many of you know, I will be leaving Victim/Witness Services in early August to continue my education in Texas. Many of you may also know Lindsey Goss (maybe from a crisis call or from coming into the office); she will be replacing my position. Be on the look out for updates from both of us during this transition. Lindsey has been with Victim/Witness Services for a little over a year working as an intern, volunteer, and more recently as our Administrative Assistant. I know you’re going to enjoy working with her.

As always, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! As a blue (Yes, I am the biggest blue ever!) you all mean so much to me. It is bitter sweet leaving such an amazing group of people with different strengths and interests and seeing you all come together for such an important cause. Lindsey will take good care of you, I promise, and I’m always just an email away.

You all are priceless to our agency, the community, and to me in particular. The last 4 years of my life have been some of the most rewarding and the most difficult years--- I’ll never forget what its like to be a Victim/Witness volunteer. I like to think of myself as just a “BIG” volunteer. That is how I started my career with Victim/Witness; working with all of you I feel I’ve come full circle. Please join VWS on August 4th at Thorpe Park so I can say goodbye. I hope you can all make it for one last party with me.

---Sarah Moulton

Taste of Flagstaff-Monday, July 18th

High Country Conference Center

Victim Witness Services for Co- conino Country announces the 12th Annual Taste of Flagstaff! on Monday, July 18th , 2011 at the High Country Conference Center. Join us to taste samplings of signa- ture cuisine from local restaurants, listen to jazz entertainment pro- vided by Short Fuze, and bid on great silent auction items. You can have all this delicious fun while contributing to a good cause --- all proceeds benefit Victim Witness Services whose mission is to offer compassionate support and re- sources to victims, witnesses, and survivors of crime and crisis within Coconino County.

Tickets: $75 per ticket , Table of Four: $300.00, Eight top tables: $525 per table. Purchase tickets by visiting the VWS office at 201 E. Birch, Suite 4, calling 928-679-7770 or on-line at vwscoconino.org!

Thank you to 2011 Participating Restaurants: 1899 Bar & Grill, Beaver Street Brewery, Black Barts Steakhouse, Brix Restaurant & Wine Bar, Campus Coffee Bean, Cottage Place Restaurant, Criollo Latin Kitchen, Cuvee 928, High Country Conference Center, Karma Sushi Bar Grill, Lumberyard Brewing Company, New Frontiers Natu- ral Market, Radisson Woodlands Hotel Restaurant & Sakura Sushi and Teppanyaki Restaurant, Salsa Brava, Satchmo’s, Simply Delicious Catering & Café Daily Fare, Sweet Shoppe & Nut House, Thornager’s Catering, Tinderbox Kitchen, and Weatherford Hotel & Charly’s Pub & Grill.

Purchase your $10.00 raffle ticket to win a 42” VIZIO 3D LED TV! Only 300 tickets will be sold!

Contact hhulen@coconino.az.gov to purchase your ticket.