March 18, 2010
Dear Families and Friends,
With the Tenth Anniversary approaching and the news coverage of the devastating destruction in Japan, many families have reported feeling anxious. Besides turning off the TV, Radio and Internet, leaving magazines and newspapers unread, and hiding under the covers, what can we do? Working with the families over the years we've found that each individual has different ways of coping with exposure to images and reminders of 9/11. The most important consideration is to take the time to consider what is right for you and your family.
To address some of the concerns we hear firsthand from our members, VOICES is hosting a Speaker Series for the 9/11 community at our New Brunswick office. The series begins on Wednesday, March 30th with Victoria Roche, a licensed social worker and personal professional coach who will speak about journaling as a means of self-expression and freedom. We have included more information below.
Earlier this month we attended the NYC hearings on the Zadroga Law to support the rescue workers and survivors. Although through our work we are very familiar with their individual medical and mental health complications, as a family member it is always heartbreaking to hear their collective stories. This Sunday, March 20th the FealGood Foundation is hosting a legal forum that will inform the community about what they need to know before the legislation opens for filing.
In the last few months, we have met many family members for the first time at our Living Memorial workshops. Our staff has been able to assist them in preparing their Living Memorial tributes, as well as taking the time to talk to them about their plans for the Tenth Anniversary and other important issues. If you have not had an opportunity to meet with us yet, we invite you to make an appointment. Please call Michelle Doherty at 203-966-3911.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Japanese families and their communities who have been tragically affected by the Tsunami and the earthquake.
Warm Regards
Mary Fetchet & The VOICES Staff
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
9/11 Living Memorial
Workshop Appointments
New Canaan, Connecticut
Monday - Friday
New Brunswick, New Jersey
Tuesdays and Thursdays
Westport, Connecticut
Tuesday, March 22nd
Bayonne, New Jersey
Thursday, March 24th
New York, New York
Thursday, March 24th
New York, New York
(Cantor Fitzgerald Families)
Tuesday, March 29th
Clifton, New Jersey
Tuesday, March 29th
For a full schedule of upcoming
workshop appointments Click Here.
VOICES Teleconference Schedule
Tuesday, March 22nd:
Witness/Survivors' Support Group
4:00pm to 5:00pm
Tuesday, April 5th:
Firefighter Mothers' Group
10:00am to 11:00am
Tuesday, April 5th:
Parents' Support Group
3:45pm to 5:00pm
Tuesday, April 5th:
Parenting Teleconference Group
9:00pm to 10:00pm
For a full schedule of upcoming teleconference groups Click Here.
For a complete list of events visit our website at www.voicesofsept11.org.
To add an event to our calendar contact newsletters@voicesofsept11.org.
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Bike Rider Pedals to Honor Classmates Lost On 9/11
 For the first time, the TD Bank 5 Boro Bike Tour is offering participants the opportunity to "Ride For A Reason." Participant Anthony Saggese has 28 reasons – his fellow alumni at Xavierian High School in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, who were lost on 9/11. Anthony is raising funds for VOICES in honor of these classmates when he participates in the 42 mile bike tour on May 1st. The school honors their fallen classmates each year on September 11th and has a tribute and eternal flame on the grounds of the school. Anthony said that he is reaching out to his fellow alumni to support him on his ride for VOICES. If you want to support his ride, click here. |
Speaker Series in New Jersey VOICES’ New Brunswick Office
VOICES is hosting a Speaker Series to help prepare 9/11 families, survivors and rescue and recovery workers for the tenth anniversary. Each of the presentations will focus on building a community of support while promoting self-expression, healing and resilience. All presentations will be held at our office at 84 Albany Street in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Join us on Wednesday, March 30th from 1pm to 2:30pm to hear our first guest speaker, Victoria Roche, speak about journaling as a means of self-expression and freedom. Victoria is a licensed social worker and personal professional coach. Space is limited. Please contact Sheri Burkat at 732-543-2300 to make a reservation. |
Volunteer For VOICES
Would you be interested in volunteering your time at VOICES? VOICES is expanding our volunteer program and is reaching out to our members to assist our staff in serving the 9/11 community. Do you have good computer skills or expertise in the area of photography, graphic design or journalism? Or would you like to help plan our community workshops and special events?
As we approach the tenth anniversary, the scope of VOICES' work continues to expand. Our volunteers make important contributions in assisting our staff in a variety of ways. Contact Frank Fetchet at 203-966-3911 or ffetchet@voicesofsept11.org. |
9/11 Living Memorial Workshop Held at Sachem Library
 Voices of September 11th sponsored a 9/11 Living Memorial Workshop at the Sachem Public Library last week. Family members and friends of those who perished in the attacks were offered the opportunity to assemble digital memorials of their loved ones at one of many similar workshops held annually in the Tri-State area and beyond by the nonprofit group.
The organization sponsors these one of a kind workshops as an integral part of their initiative. The 9/11 Living Memorial Project is a web-based archive that honors the nearly 3,000 lives lost and chronicles firsthand accounts of rescue workers and survivors. More. |
9/11 Community Events of Interest |
FealGood Foundation Sponsors Zadroga Law Legal Forum
The Fealgood Foundation has announced that they are sponsoring the first in a series of legal forums on Sunday, March 20th at Queens College Kepferberg Hall from 10am to 2pm. The forum will educate first responders and their family members about the legislation in the Zadroga Law and what they need to know before the legislation opens for filing. Several law firms will be featured in the panel discussion.
This forum is the first in a series of meetings that will be organized by the Fealgood Foundation over the next several months. More. |
9/11 Responders Remembered Committee Holds a 5K Walk
On Sunday, April 3, 2011, the “9/11 Responders Remembered” Committee will hold a 5K Walk at the Nesconset Gazebo. The walk will benefit the creation of a park that will commemorate the 9/11 responders who have died.
For more information, contact Rhonda Villamia at phoenixrjv@yahoo.com. |
Harlem Wizards Basketball Game to Benefit
Bruce Simmons Scholarship Foundation
 The Harlem Wizards will take on the teachers, policemen, firemen and other community leaders in Hackettstown, New Jersey in a benefit basketball game. Proceeds from the game will go to the athletic department at the Hackettstown High School and to a scholarship fund honoring Bruce Simmons, who played lineman on the football team. Bruce’s sister, Missy Albergato, describes the 41 year-old partner at Sandler, O’Neil as someone who lived life to the fullest. The individual selected for the scholarship must play the position of lineman and write an essay on the topic of “what courage means to you.” The game will take place at Hackettstown High School on Friday, April 29th at 7:00pm. |
The Diary: Three Centuries of Private Lives
 This new exhibit at the Morgan Library & Museum has an interesting connection to those in the 9/11 community. Bill Keegan, a retired Port Authority Police lieutenant, served as the PAPD Night Operations Commander at the WTC site and he has contributed his diary to the collection on display. His diary describes line by line what he was doing on a daily basis in the recovery effort. The day displayed is Christmas Eve, 2001 – when he was working at the site and also preparing to go to Midnight Mass. Lt. Steve Mona, NYPD (Ret) and H.E.A.R.T. 9/11 member, has also contributed his reflections. The exhibit will be on display through May 22nd at the Morgan Library & Museum, 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, www.themorgan.org. After 9/11, Bill founded H.E.A.R.T. 9/11 and has recently returned from their tenth Haiti deployment, where the organization built a health clinic for the Love A Child Orphanage and housing for the victims’ families. |
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©2009 Voices of September 11th. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
VOICES of September 11th is a nonpartisan advocacy group that provides services and advocates for all those affected by September 11th; promotes public policy reform on prevention, preparedness and response to terrorism; and builds bridges between international communities changed by terrorism. In 2006, VOICES launched the 9/11 Living Memorial digital archive that commemorates the lives and stories of September 11, 2001.
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