NOVEMBER 2012
the newsletter for Nuçi’s Space, a nonprofit musicians’ support/resource center
More Than Numbers
On
C.B. Schmelter · cody.schmelter@gmail.com
Thursday October 11th, still a little groggy from the early morning hour and the absence of my regular cup of coffee, I slowly made my way through the courtyard of the Tate Student Center, located on the campus of the University of Georgia. A week earlier, Will Kiser and I had met with Brennan Clary, a Nuçi’s Space volunteer and student at the University. As the Vice President of the UGA-chapter of Active Minds, a national student mental health advocacy group, Brennan took the time to meet with us to share some details of a project her group was working on. According to the Active Minds website, the name of the project is Send Silence Packing, an award winning program by Active Minds Inc. to promote a dialogue about mental health issues on campus and combat the incidence of student suicide. Send Silence Packing is an exhibit of 1,100 backpacks representing the number of college student lives lost to suicide each year in the United States. Send Silence Packing is a travelling exhibit, touring a different part of the country every year. Since the inaugural display in 2008 on the National Mall in Washington, DC, Send Silence Packing has visited over 50 cities in states throughout the U.S. As I got a little closer to my destination, I noticed there were about 8–10 college students pulling large blue and green bags from the back of a box-truck and moving them to a grassy area next to the Tate Student Center. I jumped in line to help. Despite the number of people helping to unload, the parade of bags streaming from the truck’s cargohold seemed endless. I assumed, and later confirmed, that the bags contained the 1,100 backpacks mentioned earlier. Fortunately the parade of bags did come to an end and our attention was redirected to the staging area. We were asked by the Active Minds staff members, who travel with the exhibit, to each grab a blue bag and start to place the backpacks on the grass. I complied by moving to a corner of the lawn and, with my back to the rest of the group, started to display the backpacks on the grass. After displaying about 50 or 60 backpacks, I took a moment to turn around and assess our progress. I was amazed by what I saw and the impact this visual had on me.
by
Bob Sleppy
Once all of the blue bags of backpacks were emptied, we started to unpack the remaining green bags. These bags contained backpacks with personal stories of loved ones that had lost their lives to suicide attached to them. Along with many others visiting the exhibit, I spent the next hour walking around and reading the individual stories shared by friends and family members. During my walk the exhibit transformed from a display about “numbers” to a call-toaction about people. Quite often in our daily lives we are bombarded with statistics and other quantitative information intended to bring awareness to specific issues. With so much information, it’s common for numbers to lose meaning with the public and become easy to ignore. As Nuçi’s mom and our founder, Linda Phillips, mentions in her Annual Giving Letter, there were 38,364 suicide deaths in the United States reported in 2010. To help reiterate a point that Linda made when referencing this statistic, please take a moment to appreciate that each number is a person– a spouse, a child, a friend—someone in crisis seeking compassion, solace and a glimmer of hope that tomorrow will be better. The work of Nuçi’s Space, and many of our sister agencies, is not just about decreasing the “number” of suicides. Our mission is to open our hearts to those in need and provide hope when such a thing seems so impossible to embrace. As we’ve shared with you many times before, our mission cannot be realized without your help. Please consider showing your continued support with a financial contribution to Nuçi’s Space. Active Minds was founded by Alison Malmon in late 2003 when she was a junior at the University of Pennsylvania, following the suicide of her older brother, Brian. In just over nine years, the non-profit organization has grown into a well-recognized entity in the field, respected as the voice of student mental health advocacy. With over 350 campus chapters, hundreds of thousands of young adults all across the country are benefiting from the Active Minds model.
nuçi’s space 396 Oconee Street Athens, GA 30601 706.227.1515 space@nuci.org www.nuci.org www.facebook.com/ nucisspace Newsletter Contributors
Bob Sleppy Will Kiser Laura Ford Chris Byron Lesley Cobbs Photos
Jason Thrasher Jenn Bryant Design & Layout
Larry Tenner
Recent Donors
Nuçi Phillips
Memorial Foundation
Board of Directors
President: Rebecca Hood Secretary: Ellie MacKnight David Barbe Barrie Buck Julie Cheney Patterson Hood Bill Orr Helen Pinson Benjamin Roberts, III Sally Speed Beth Hall Thrasher Ken & Anna Zankel Founding Family
Linda Phillips Pierre Phillips KP Devlin Executive Director
Bob Sleppy
Allen, Jenny & John Barbe, David & Amy Bates, Hortense Brown, Jeffrey Bryan, Philip & Jane Bryant, Jenn Carson, Jr., Robert Cauthorn, Tom & Lulu Cauthorn, Wick Chalmers, Gayla Cotlar, Leo & Betina Kaplan Dameron, Emerson First American Bank Gill, Larry & Diane Howard, John Kitchens, James Kozlosky, Steven Latona, John & Kay Menchie’s Athens Mills, Ray Nettles, Victor Nicholson, Dr. Peter Pattavina, Denise Peach, Jason & Jane Pendley, James Raeburn, Susan Delaney Roberts, Don Rusk, Andy Sanders, Walter & Emily Sleppy, Bob & Rachel Sleppy, David Sleppy, Janet Smith, Walter & Rosie Sommer, Marc Spalding, Margie Steele, Ricky & Beth
Stephenson, F.J. & Sharon The George Link Jr. Charitable Trust Push Push Theatre Company Thomas, Kecia Van Dyck, Peter & Marla Venuso, Connie Watts-Magness, Leigh Ellen Weissman, Barr Williams, Kevan In Memory of Megan Anderson Jerry & Judy Crawford In Memory of April Bachtel Douglas & Bonnie Bachtel In Memory of Ian Brussack Rick & Sandi Huszagh In Memory of Bill Doss Almstead, Gretchen Archebelle-Smith, Aric Atallah, Joseph Ballara, Elena Baxter, Thomas Bennett, Courtney Beynart, Dan & Lori Paluck Boland, Corey Brinkman, Kristen Brown, Louise Brown, Shane Caudle, Holley Causey, Brian Cherrie, Chrysta Cloutier, Darren Coenen, Dan & Sally Wyche Colten, Nicholas
Legal Counsel
Jim Warnes Mike Lavender
Georgia Gives Day On December 6th Nuçi’s Space will be taking part in the first annual Georgia Gives Day, sponsored by the Georgia Center for Nonprofits. Georgia Gives is a statewide initiative that focuses the attention of the public on the work and worth of nonprofits in Georgia and encourages people to “give where you live.” The goal of Georgia Gives Day is to raise as much money as possible for Georgia nonprofits in a 24 hour period. To donate to Nuçi’s Space on Georgia Gives Day, simply visit GAgivesday.org and search for “Nuci”. Once you’ve made your donation, tell your friends by sharing on Facebook, Twitter or the outlet of your choice. One click can do a lot–visit GAgivesday.org and donate on Thursday, December 6th!
Cucchiaro, Robby Curtin, Chris De La Cruz, Raoul & Missy Kulik Derringer, Denice DesCombaz, Paul Dickinson, Michael Downs, Bertis & Katherine Edney, Deborah Eidemiller, Dustin Etchen, Russell Everett, Grant Evenson , Erin & Chris McCreight Flurry, Amy & Alan Frierson, Sarah & Jack Gholson, Theresa Giegeric, Andy Gillett, Ed Graef, Daniel Green, Jan Hairston, Kyle & Linda Hanks, Matt Hatchard, Leza Huffa, Joanne Johnson, Garth Kamin, Adam Knowlden, Dave Locke, Joe & Sharon McCaleb, David McCracken, Craig McKay, Jim McNutt, Barbara McRae, Eric Merwin, Casey Miller, Matthew Otto, Russ Rogovin, Steve
Romeo, Jim Ruberto, Maura Sawai, Yoko Schilling, Fred Schowalter, Seth Seymour, Sylvia Silverman, Adam Smith, Jeremy The Heap Way, Neil White, Rebecca Whitman, Brian Wilson, Blake Wilson, Michael Zinn, Jerry Zucosky, Edward In Memory of Drew Gladstone Jerry & Judy Crawford In Memory of Elissa Hadley Theresa Stroud In Memory of Paul Hammond Tony Eubanks & Lara Mathes In Memory of Michael Houser Matthew Lohlein In Memory of Jon Kay I.A.T.S.E. Local 824 In Memory of A. Nuçi Phillips Drs. Richard & Enid Carlin In Memory of Jamie Toulon Hank & Vicki Joiner
Staying the Course Assessing Our Impact
by
S
ometimes I like to remind Linda Phillips that we’re doing what we said we would. When I say “we” I mean “us”—the staff and board of directors and volunteers at Nuçi’s Space, the supporters who read our newsletter and attend our events. “What we said we would do” means simply that we are following our mission statement—that block quotation on the front page of our website, that paragraph that the Federal government approved as the core of this undertaking: it is happening. That same mission statement every employee has memorized from repeating it time and time again… “to assist in the emotional, physical and professional wellbeing of musicians.” This desire to re-assure comes with change and distance. Along with Nuçi’s dad Pierre, the Phillips moved to New York last year and for the first time since the creation of Nuçi’s Space, they were not living within driving distance of the building. It would be natural for them to wonder how things were going. I love telling Linda that more and more people know what we do. That
doesn’t seem like a big deal but trust me, we spent years repeating that mission statement and fending off questions of “What is that place—a restaurant?” When people come in seeking
treatment or assistance I always ask how they heard about our program– these days, 99% of the time the answer is “I just knew. Everybody knows.”
How do we know that it’s working? The answer to that is sometimes conversational and very informal. That information is seen in the emails thanking us for helping someone get
Thank You Notes “I’m writing to thank Nuçi’s Space for being such an amazing and supportive presence for us last summer. My husband is doing really, really well— he’s done a total 180—thanks to all your help. It’s astounding, and every day I send out my gratitude to the heavens, and a huge part of that gratitude is for Nuçi’s Space.” “Wishing you another year of success and enjoyment… you support so many in the community. Shared wellness enhances the spirit—a true gift.”
Will Kiser
their life back together, a kind word to one of our staff members while they’re standing in line at the grocery store, and sometimes just from seeing one of our musicians around town and knowing that they’re doing better. In other cases the answer is measurable and easier to grasp—our numbers are up across the board. We’re on pace to help more people in 2012 than we ever have. Not only are we helping to pay for local musicians and artists to get professional counseling and psychiatry but we’re consulting with more and more families who have insurance—not subsidizing their treatment, but consulting with them and helping to find the best therapist for their children. More musicians and artists are getting free medical care due to our expanded free medical clinic partnership with Athens Nurses Clinic. One piece of news I hate to pass along to Linda is that every month we have new attendees at our S.O.S. meeting (Survivors of Suicide). Unfortunately every month there are new families and friends affected by this tragedy—new members of a club they never wanted to be a part of and of which they are now in serious need. More people served, more community awareness… it’s happening, I can promise you that. Every day in this building near downtown Athens we are doing what we promised to do 12 years ago. Will Kiser is the Counseling Advocate for Nuçi’s Space. For information on our counseling assistance program you can leave a message on his confidential voicemail line at 706.227.6141 or email him at will@nuci.org.
Nuçi’s Space turns 12 nuçi’s space Staff
Bob Sleppy Will Kiser Laura Ford Chris Byron Lesley Cobbs Matt Hudgins Peter Hill Henry Kiser Recent Volunteers
Lindsay Anhalt Renee Arnold Alexander Blankenship Angel Brown Jenn Bryant Trina Burgins Jackie Burson Joseph Butler Ann Centner Dave Chamberlin Lesley Cobbs Stephanie Furness Lindsay Greenwald Shauna Greeson Emily Hansford Patricia Hatcher Sharon Hopkins Caleb Hunter Emberly Jay Henry Kiser Riley Kirkpatrick Michael Lauden Marisa Mustard Elizabeth Newton Stephanie Ordon Bobby Ordon Angela Pearson Burns Proctor Clair Roney Claire Roth Veronica Smillie Jenifer Strickand Jennifer Weishaupt Sarah Wigton Joi Wilson-Akridge
From working events like the Drive-By Truckers Pre-Party and Athens Business Rocks to tabling at community gatherings and benefit concerts, volunteers help us by serving as the face of Nuçi’s Space at public events. We also have more volunteers than ever working regular shifts at the
On Friday, October 12th Nuçi’s Space celebrated our 12th Anniversary alongside our supporters, family and friends. It was a wonderful event with live music provided by Emily Hansford, Michael Fray, Scott & Pamela Baxendale and Matt Hudgins. Food for the party was donated by East West Bistro, Five Star Day Café, Big City Bread, Taqueria Del Sol, The Grit, Ted’s Most Best and Last Resort. Guests also got to enjoy a delicious birthday cake made by Leigh Ellen Watts-Magness and got to see the live premier of Jason Thrasher’s most recent Nuçi’s Space video. Nuçi’s parents Linda and Pierre Phillips were even in town for the occasion! We could not have wished for a better 12th Anniversary celebration, Volunteer Veronica Smillie with two Rollergirls and we’d like to extend a special thank you to all of our volunteers who worked to make the party such a special front desk, so they play a vital role in creating the event. We couldn’t have done it without them! welcoming atmosphere that we pride ourselves on at the Space. Whether they are out in public educating people about Nuçi’s Space or working behind the scenes cleaning, entering data or asby Lesley Cobbs sembling mailings (like the newsletter you are reading now), volunteers help our organization The reasons that bring volunteers to Nuçi’s run. This year has been incredible for Nuçi’s Space Space are as numerous as the individuals themdue largely to the hard work of our volunteers, so selves. Some volunteers are students who simply thank you all so much for donating your valuable need to complete service hours for course credit, time, energy, skills and experience. But most of all others might be seeking stability and work expethank you for just wanting to make a difference. rience during a period of unemployment, while others might be looking for a way to get involved For information about becoming a volunteer, and meet new people. Whatever the reason, one email lesley@nuci.org. thing all of our volunteers have in common is a love for Nuçi’s Space. They all possess an understanding of the difference Nuçi’s Space makes to In honor of Nuçi’s Space’s 12th anniversary, so many people, and they are willing to give their the 40 Watt Club generously offered to dotime and energy to help the organization succeed. nate a “golden ticket” to all of their shows in Can you imagine what it’s like to see people 2013. We held a raffle for the chance to win every day who eagerly want to make a difference this prize of incalculable value, and we drew in their community for no financial gain? Every the winner at our 12th Anniversary Party. The time a new volunteer joins the Nuçi’s family we lucky winner was Terrance Medina of Athens, are privileged to witness that wonderful, humGA. Congratulations, Terrance! Thank you to bling gift. It’s the kind of act that restores my faith the wonderful folks at the 40 Watt for offerin people. Honestly, it’s the kind of thing that ing to donate such a cool prize to celebrate makes me want to jump up and throw my fist in our 12th Anniversary! the air and shout “YES!”
Thank you, Volunteers!
ATHENS BUSINESS ROCKS 2013 Registration Opens On November 19th It’s that time of year again, when employees of local businesses start planning and coaxing their co-workers to participate in Nuçi’s Space’s big fundraising event: Athens Business Rocks. For those of you just learning about this event, we’ve included a general overview in this article to help bring you up to speed. Additional information, including details about eligibility, rules, frequently asked questions and registration can be accessed by visiting www.athensbusinessrocks.com.
Athens Band Trust
The premise of the event is simple and starts with asking co-workers of local businesses to form a band that will compete against other businesses onstage at the worldfamous 40 Watt Club in downtown Athens. Our hope is to attract a wide array of owners, managers, employees and loyal customers of local businesses to participate and help us celebrate the creativity and independent spirit that makes our community so unique. However, the ultimate goal of Athens Business Rocks is to raise money for Nuçi’s Space. During the first two years of the event, we’ve had over 24 bands participate each year, representing over 40 local businesses. Athens Business Rocks has raised a total of $26,000 for Nuçi’s Space since 2011. Due to the extraordinary growth and excitement surrounding Athens Business Rocks, we’ve set our fundraising sights high for 2013. We’re asking participants and supporters to help us raise $25,000 this year. Once all businesses have registered their bands, performances will be randomly scheduled during 3 nights of elimination rounds on January 31st, February 1st and 2nd.
During each elimination round, bands will be asked to prepare 15 minutes (3 cover songs) of music. The bands will be evaluated in three areas; scores from “celebrity” judges, audience favorite and fundraising. The judges scores are based in three categories; Showmanship, Creativity and Badassness. The audience favorite is selected by how many fans they brought to the show and a (not-so-scientific) reading of the “applause-o-meter.” Lastly, fundraising is scored by giving 1 point for every dollar raised by each business/ band. They are encouraged to ask friends, customers and fellow employees to donate online at athensbusinessrocks.com or make contributions the night of the event by adding to the “bribe jars,” located in front of the judges. In previous years, one band from each elimination round was selected as the “SemiFinal Round Winner” and asked to return two weeks later to compete against the other two semi-finalists. However, this year, rather than select a winner from each night to compete in the Grand Finale, finalists will secure a slot by becoming one of the Top 3 Overall Fundraisers during the elimination rounds. The dates for 2013 Athens Business Rocks are confirmed, with elimination rounds on January 31st, February 1st and 2nd and the Grand Finale on Saturday, February 16th. All shows will be hosted at the Fabulous 40 Watt Club. The athensbusinessrocks.com website will be open for registration on Monday, November 19th at noon. Start forming your bands, choose an unforgettable band name, ask for support from your work place and most of all… start practicing!
Thundercrack
UGA MBUS Program
Teams up with Nuçi’s Space For the past few years Nuçi’s Space and the UGA Terry College Music Business Program have teamed up to present a series of benefit concerts during the months of October and November. The MBUS class is divided into 5 groups of roughly 20 students, with each group presenting one “Space Jam” show. The students learn all aspects of putting a show together, which includes booking bands, promotion, running sound, stage managing, artist representation, and hospitality. These concerts not only act as a hands-on lab for the 100+ students enrolled in the class, but also benefit Nuçi’s Space in a number of ways. By working closely with the MBUS program, Nuçi’s Space is able to bring suicide prevention and depression awareness to a broad student audience all while raising money for our cause. Unfortunately, by the time this newsletter reaches your hands, the last concert will already have taken place, but make sure and stay tuned for next year’s series of shows!
Upcoming Events at Nuçi’s Space November Sunday 11th—CAAS Fall 2012 Grand Finale @ Hendershot’s Wednesday 14th—Survivors of Suicide @ Nuçi’s Space (5:30pm) Monday 19th—ABR registration released (www.athensbusinessrocks.com)
December Thursday 6th—GA Gives Day (www.GAgivesday.org) Wednesday 19th—Survivors of Suicide @ Nuçi’s Space (5:30pm)
January Wednesday 16th—Survivors of Suicide @ Nuçi’s Space (5:30pm) Thursday 17th–Sat 19th—DBT Homecoming Weekend @ 40 Watt Club Saturday 19th—Truckers Pre-party and Silent Auction @ Nuçi’s Space Thursday 31st—ABR Night 1 @ 40 Watt Club
! e t a D e h t e v a S 2013 REGISTRATION OPENS ON
NOV EMBER 19 T H
PUSH
for options. color copies • forms• fax • digital output flyers • newsletters • binding full and self-service copies announcements & invitations volume discounts
February Thursday 1st—ABR Night 2 @ 40 Watt Club Friday 2nd—ABR Night 3 @ 40 Watt Club Saturday 16th—ABR Finale @ 40 Watt Club Wednesday 20th—Suriviors of Suicide @ Nuçi’s Space (5:30pm)
Mon - Fri 8 am - 7 pm • Sat 10 am - 5 pm • Sun 1 pm - 5 pm
163 E. Broad Street Downtown Athens
706-548-3648 www.bel-jean.com
right side glows the newsletter for nuçi’s space, a nonprofit musicians’ support/resource center