From Volunteer Center of Racine County

Dates to Remember - Mark Your Calendar for upcoming 2011 Events

February 12th a Special Gift for Valentines' Day, Join us for The Presentation Of "Love Letters"

The Volunteer Center of Racine County is please to bring to you dinner theater "Love Letters" a heart felt portrait of a maturing relationship through years of letters exchanges.

We invite you to an evening of romance and nostalgia: staring Lori Minnetti and Jim Iaquinta, performance being held at the Masonic Temple, Sunday February 12th.

The dinner theater package will feature a prime rib, chicken Marsala and lasagna buffet for $60/ PP or $99 per couple. A reception (cash bar) and Free mansion tour is included and begins at 2:00 p.m. followed by dinner at 3:00 p.m. and then the performance.

This is a great Valentines' Day gift for that special couple.

Reservations will be taken through February 6th by calling or stopping by the Volunteer Center of Racine County 6216 Washington Avenue, Racine, WI. Tickets may be purchased on-line by clicking the Donate tab on the Volunteer Center Web site. In "Purpose" area please enter Love Letters and number of tickets. Tickets will be held at "will call" at the Masonic Temple or can be picked up at the Volunteer Center. If you plant to pick up your tickets please call 262 886 9612 and advise the staff.

All proceeds will benefit the VCRC.

April 20th Volunteer Recognition Luncheon"

The Volunteer Center of Racine County will salute the efforts of 12 outstanding Volunteers who help make our Community Strong. If you know of a person who has made Racine a better place; honor them by nominating that person for one of the 12 categories. Feel free to nominate more than one person in more than one category. We have attached a description of each of the 12 categories and a nomination from. Please fill out a form for each nominee.

Also be sure to mark your calendar so that you and your friends can attend the recognition event. Tickets are $35.00 each, you can sponsor a table for $350. If you have questions, please call the Volunteer Center at 886-9612.

February 1st through April 10th IRS/AARP Sponsored FREE Income Tax Preparation

Taxpayers should bring tax forms received in the mail, previous year's (2010) tax returns, proof of 2011 income and any of the bleow item that apply. Required Documents

• Prior Year Tax Returns
• SSN Cards
• W2s (If applicable)
• Unemployment Compensation Statement
• SSA 1099 Form Social Security benefits
• 1099 Forms reporting (1099-INT), (1099-B);(1099-DIV)
• 1099-R Form Pension or annuity
• Canceled checks indicating federal and state income tax paid
• 1098 Form Home Mortgage Payment
• Receipts or cancel checks for medical/dental expenses
• Receipts for contributions to charity
• Property taxes paid 2011
• Certificate of Rent form signed by your landlord.
• Dependent care provider information and receipts
• Receipts, canceled checks or 1099 Forms related to education (beyond high school)
• (NEW) Internet Purchases in 2011, where SALES TAXES was not paid.
• Wisconsin Homestead Only) Copy of Tax Bill or Rent Certificate Homestead maximum income is $24,680.

Trained volunteers will be available starting February 1 through April 10, 2012, TAX-AIDE, sponsored by AARP and the Internal Revenue Service will provide low and moderate income taxpayers, with special attention to age 60 and over, with quality assistance in filing their personal income taxes at the following sites:

Racine County:

• Dr. John Bryant Community Center, 601 - 21st Street, Racine, 9:00 a.m.- noon, every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. No appointments taken.

Daily sign-in sheet, no phone calls, first 25 taken. Starting February 1, 2012. Electronic filing is available.

• Humble Park Community Center, 2200 Blaine Avenue, Racine, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Wednesdays, by appointment only. Call VCRC(262) 886-9612. Specify Humble Park appointment. Electronic filing is available.

• Racine Literacy Council, 734 Lake Avenue, Racine, Tuesday 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., by appointment for Spanish/English (Espanol/Ingles) service. Call Gloria at (262)632-9495. Taxes will be electronically filed, unless paper filing is requested.

• US Bank, 10005 Northwestern Ave., Franksville Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. By appointment only. Call VCRC(262) 886-9612. Specify US Bank

appointment. Electronic filing is available.

• Sturtevant Village Hall, 2801 - 89th Street, Sturtevant, Mondays 12:00 p.m - 4:00 p.m. No appointments taken. Electronic filing is available. February 6 through March 26.

• Love, Inc., 408 S. Pine Street, Burlington, Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. by appointment only. Call (262) 763-6226. Taxes will be electronically filed, unless paper filing is requested.

• Educators Credit Union, 1400 Newman Road, Racine, Fridays starting February 3 by appointment only. Call VCRC (262) 886-9612. Specify

Educators Credit Union appointment. Electronic filing is available.

Union Grove

• Graham Public Library, 1215 Main Street in Union Grove, each Saturday 9:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. February 4 through March 24. No appointments

taken. Walk-ins only. Questions, call (262) 332-0023.

Kenosha County:

• Kenosha Senior Citizens Center, 2717 67th St., Kenosha, Thursdays, between

9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. An appointment is necessary. Call (262)359-6095 any weekday between 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. for an appointment. Electronic filing is available.

• AM Community Credit Union, 6715 Green Bay Road, Kenosha, by appointment only, Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Call (262) 697-3700 for an appointment. Electronic filing is available.

• St. Mary's Lutheran Church, 2001 80th St., Kenosha, Wednesdays, 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. No appointments necessary. Through March 7, 2012 only. Electronic filing may not be available.

• Westosha Community Center, 19200 - 93rd Street, Bristol, Thursday

afternoons by appointment only. Call (262) 843-3828. Electronic filing is available.

For more information, call Cynthia Koepke, Kenosha County Coordinator, Tax-Aide Program at (262)639-3505.

Youth Volunteer Events

Call 886-9612 to Volunteer or e-mail - stellez@volunteercenterofracine.org

Volunteer Training

CERT TRAINING CLASSES OFFERED FOR RACINE COUNTY.

We are taking names for FREE CERT class. Classes begin on Tuesday February 7th and will run every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The final class (mock disaster drill) will be Saturday 25th, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.. All classes will be held at the Sturtevant Village Hall, 2801 89th Street, Sturtevant, WI

• Please plan on attending all classes to obtain your certificate of completion from the Office of Justice Assistance.
  

For more information please contact Moria Moon - leave your name and telephone number.

• Phone 262-886-9612 x103
• Fax 262-886-9632
• Email mmoon@volunteercenterofracine.org

Rain, wind, cold, hot, tornadoes, what on earth is going on. You can not tell from one day to the next what the weather is going to be like. All these changes can cause unpredictable problems. Flooding, tree branches snapping and let’s not even contemplate tornado damage. However, maybe we should start thinking about it. Maybe we should make sure we are as prepared as possible for any man made of natural disaster. Would you panic, take charge, go into shock.….We never really know until it happens and then often it is too late to say “I wish I had…”

That is where CERT training comes in. It is a 20 hour course that teaches you the basics of first aid, triage, light search and rescue and fire suppressing. Basically, it teaches the things you need to know to help out in a disaster situation, whether it be man-made or natural. We are offering these classes FREE OF CHARGE. All you have to do is email or call me and I will put your name on a list to take a class. Classes usually are Friday night, Saturday and Sunday but these can be tailored to suit if enough people who register need different times. Class sizes are 20 - 30 participants per class and once the target number is reached a training session is set up. Upon completion of the class you will be mailed a certificate of achievement from the Office of Justice Assistance.

We all want to help out in an emergency situation and this training gives us the skills to do so confidently. So please call or email me with your details and once the numbers are met classes can be arranged.

Moira Moon CERT Coordinator Volunteer Center of Racine County 6216 Washington Ave, Suite G Racine, WI 53406 Phone 262-886-9612 x103 Fax 262-886-9632 Email mmoon@volunteercenterofracine.org http://www.volunteercenterofracine.org

(CERT) Citizen Emergency Response Team Training

Southeast Wisconsin Citizen Corp is offering FREE three day training classes (20 hours) - The CERT program teaches how to not only be prepared for emergencies, but also how to assist their families , neighbors, and coworkers when emergencies or disasters strike. CERT is a national training program that prepares citizens to respond to both man-made and natural disasters.

The CERT training includes presentations, discussions and hands-on experience in topics ranging from first-aid and fire suppression to search & rescue. Using their training, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event and take an active role in preparing their community. Class will cover Personal preparedness, Fire safety, Search and rescue, Triage, First aid and Terrorism awareness.

Available class schedule

Class is limited to 30, Please call Moria Moon (262) 886-9612 to request a sign up form to be mailed, e-mailed, or faxed to you. You could also stop by the Volunteer Center of Racine County to pick up a form. 6216 Washington Avenue, Racine, WI.

WISCONSIN VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATIONS ACTIVE IN DISASTERS - VOAD

Volunteers needed to help flood victims. For most of us the floods have come and gone, but there are hundreds of our fellow citizens still coping with its effects. Those who are left are often those without adequate insurance, who lost jobs because of the flood, or who are elderly or disable. The Wisconsin Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (WIVOAD) and your county emergency government are still working to help those victims.

In order to help the remaining victims, each county has organized a Long Term Recovery Committee and each of theses committees is seeking volunteers to speak to victims and evaluate what they need. Volunteers are given a cell phone allowance and mileage expenses for their assistance. To help the victims you must take a FREE three day training class.

• Three day FREE Case Management training
• Class are being scheduled
• Location, to be determined. Southeast WI.
• Must provide your own transportation to and from class or we may be able to arrange car pool
• Lunch is provided both days

If you are interested, would like additional information or have any questions please contact Dave Voss by calling @ 262 886 9612 ext 109

Call 262 886-9612 to register or for information on training. Please be sure to mention type of training you are interested in receiving