Dear 5th Bridge Pledgers,

As I listened to President Obama's inaugural speech, I was filled with a sense of hope and purpose. I was reminded that while our government can do a lot for our country, "it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies." President Obama called for "a new era of responsibility, a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task." He summed it up to say that "this is the price and promise of citizenship."

President Obama's message completely embodies the message and mission of 5th Bridge. Our purpose is to enhance individual and community life by encouraging the habits of volunteerism and philanthropy. Our goal is to invite, encourage, and enable every man, woman, and school-aged youth to use his or her gifts and talents to make our world a better place. It is our belief that when you engage in meaningful service and giving, you will not only make a positive impact, you yourself will experience, "utter joy." We aspire to support and empower local Americans as they look to answer President Obama's call to action. Take a few minutes to visit our website, www.5thbridge.org and search our 300+ Ways to Volunteer. Hopefully you will find an idea that will inspire you to take action. Here are a few ideas for your consideration:

• Do you like to make cards? The Community Action Center is looking for someone to make note cards. See the complete listing on our website. Making and writing thank you cards are a common need for non-profits, for whom maintaining relationships with valuable donors and volunteers is critical. Often, the personal touch of a handwritten note will make all the difference. If you like to make or write note cards, please contact your favorite non-profit organizations. I'm sure they will be happy to hear from you.
• Coaches are needed to work with girls in grades 3–5 to teach life skills and to train for a walk/run event at the end of the 10–12 week "Girls on the Run" program (March 9–May 16). See the complete listing on the 5th Bridge website.
• Form a Circle of Service. This is a great way for busy friends, neighbors, families, or co-workers to work together on service projects, where everyone takes turn selecting and organizing the projects. 5th Bridge can help; you will find information about forming a Circle of Service on our home page.

Upcoming Events:

• The 2nd Annual Paper Airplane Fly-In at St. Olaf for kids, grades 1–5, will be held on Sunday, February 22 from Noon to 2:00 p.m. St. Olaf students and local pilots will share their knowledge and passion for flying. Last year's event was well-attended and great fun; see the posting on our website for complete details.
• February 9–15 is national Random Acts of Kindness Week. Join the movement to increase kindness and reduce violence among all groups of people by performing small acts that make a big difference. For ideas on how you can participate, visit the 5th Bridge website.

Special Thanks: A special thanks to the organizers and contributors of the Man Zone event held on January 30. Board member Sara Route and I had the opportunity to encourage a number of guys to take the 5th Bridge volunteer pledge and we talked with many more people about their favorite volunteer experiences. Thank you also to our friend, Griff Wigley, for taking photos of the event. You can see more photos of the event on www.locallygrownnorthfield.org

There are so many great things happening around service and giving in Northfield. Be a part of this great national movement, this "new era of responsibility," that will bring you joy and make our community and the world a better place. An East Indian philosopher once wrote, "As I slept, I dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and found that life was duty. I acted, and behold, duty was joy."

Thank you for all you do to make the world a better place!

Sincerely,

Candy Taylor and your friends at 5th Bridge