Monthly Archives: April 2016

Mr. Bartley now D2L Facilitator!

Tom Bartley, at the Family Support Council, is now an approved facilitator to offer Darkness 2 Light’s Stewards of Children Child Abuse Prevention Training to Early Learning Child Care Providers for credit hours. The training is two hours, so 2 CEU’s will be given along with a certificate. Because of a grant that the Family Support Council has to offer the training in Whitfield and Murray Counties, the training is free. If you are interested, contact Tom at the Family Support Council: 706-272-7919 or bartley10@windstream.net. This training is limited to providers in Whitfield and Murray Counties.

Kroger Community Awards

krogercommunityrewardsPlease help Family Support Council raise funds for our camp for sexually abused children (Camp A.I.M.) by signing up for the Kroger Community Rewards® program.

Kroger Community Rewards® is one of many similar programs in place that will donate a portion of your grocery bill to an organization of your choice. Register online at www.krogercommunityrewards.com, and be sure to swipe your card or enter your phone number every time you shop at Kroger!

Darkness 2 Light Training

April 6, 2016

Darkness 2 Light will be hosting Stewards of Children, Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Training in Spanish, on Thursday, April 21st at the Gaston Community Center Room A from 10:00 AM until 12:00 PM.

Authorized Facilitator: Nelly Avendano

Please respond to Nelly Avendano, avendgiron@yahoo.com, by Tuesday, April 19th.

Darkness 2 Light (D2L) is a national nonprofit organization that provides individuals, organizations, and communities with the tools to protect children from sexual abuse. Using an evidence-informed platform, D2L programs teach adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse.

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6 de Abril, 2016

Darkness 2 Light (D2L) organizará un clase de entrenamiento “Stewards of Children”, sobre maltrato sexual de niños. Estará presentado en español en jueves, el 21 de abril, 2016, en Gaston Community Center Room A, 10:00AM – 12:00PM.

Facilitador autorizada: Nelly Avendano

Responda a Nelly Avendano, avendgiron@yahoo.com, antes del 19 de abril.

Darkness 2 Light es una organización nacional no lucrativa que provee herramientas a individuos, organizaciones, y comunidades para protege niños del maltrato sexual. Usando un programa informada por la evidencia, los programas de D2L enseña a adultos a prevenir, identificar, y reaccionar al maltrato de niños.

Gertrude “Tut” McFarland is Toast of the Town

Gertrude “Tut” McFarland will be honored at this year’s Toast of the Town at The Farm on June 2 at 6 PM. The annual event is presented by the Family Support Council.

A lifelong Dalton resident, McFarland was born to Jim McFarland and Gertrude Manly McFarland on July 19, 1926, at the old Hamilton Memorial hospital, she will celebrate her 90th birthday this summer. She has displayed a lifelong love of theater and dedicated her life to serving others. McFarland has always loved history, even as a little girl.

McFarland has been active with Dalton Little Theatre for almost 60 years and currently serves on its board of trustees. She loves to do story telling, in costume, with local children’s groups and telling historical family tales at Prater’s Mill.

“I enjoy trying to make history come alive for children and young people,” McFarland said.

During the summer of 1947, McFarland studied at the Irving Studio in New York City. She then spent the summer of 1952 working at the Plymouth Drama Festival. Later, she worked at the Barter Theatre of Virginia for three consecutive summers and conducted theater tours in New York City for 10 years.

McFarland graduated from Dalton high school in 1943 and attended LaGrange College. While there, she earned her bachelor of arts in speech and drama. Then, she went off to New York City for the summer.

She taught speech lessons in Dalton Public Schools from 1947 to 1969. She then taught third grade until 1991, when she retired. She loved teaching children.

McFarland’s summers after retirement included traveling to all seven continents and enjoying her “history lessons” throughout the Dalton community. She is involved with Lesche Women’s Club, Georgia’s oldest literary club, where she served as president for four years and serves as historian.  She has been an active member of Pilot Club of Dalton for 56 years, having served as president, vice president, secretary, District Anchor Club chairman and club chaplain.  The Pilot Club is a business and professional service club for women.

McFarland has been an active member of the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society since 1976. She has also served as a board member for Friends of the library, member of Dalton/Murray retired educators and the Dalton Garden Club.  She has volunteered at the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce for 20 years.

McFarland is a lifelong member of the Dalton First United Methodist Church. She joined in 1936, when she was 10 years old. She taught Sunday school for 60 years. She is active in Wesleyan Services Guild and United Methodist Women, serving as devotional presenter.

She has directed many church drama productions, including “White Christmas.” She currently serves as church historian. Her articles on church history can be found in The Daily Citizen.

McFarland is a writer and a painter. Her wisdom, contributions and talents are far-reaching in our community. She has influenced so many through her love of history and learning. She currently lives at Royal Oaks in Dalton, where she remains busy making history.

The Family Support Council is all about the prevention of child abuse by providing educational support programs to children and families in the community. The council is a United Way agency and a charter council of Prevent Child Abuse Georgia. Those interested in attending toast of the town can call the family support council office at 706-272-7919 for reservations.