Dan Schmoyer’s Blog

On the 19th TreeHouse was interviewed by our local CBS TV station. Since TreeHouse is starting a new location in the Plymouth/Wayzata area we were able to gain the attention of reporters at WCCO. I have posted the link here so you can watch the interview and read the article. It is very exciting to know that TreeHouse is starting to get the attention of local media members because that can only help us as we grow across Minnesota and eventually the US.

Make sure you click the TreeHouse picture above the video player before you hit the PLAY button on the picture. There are a few videos that scroll through and the TreeHouse one is first in line. The video will play right there on that page.

Thanks for checking this out!

Dan

TREEHOUSE ON TV WITH CBS-WCCO

Today TreeHouse welcomed 5 new intern staff. They came to us through YouthWorks and will be staying as staff for 9 months! It is so fun to have more staff to help out as we seek to increase TreeHouse’s area of influence. Currently TreeHouse reaches approximately 1,200 kids a year. Our goal is to have that number reach 5,000 within 5 years. The YouthWorks interns are a huge step in that direction and I know they will give us an opportunity to reach many new kids.

The expansion of TreeHouse is also going to get a huge boost. After the interns finish in April or May 2008 they will take the TreeHouse program to their communities in an effort to spread TreeHouse across America. We are beginning to implement a Community Based model of growth which is very similar to the model used by Young Life. The goal is to spread TreeHouse across America in 10 years. Our interns come from all across the mid-west and there is even one from PA!!

I am excited to see the growth of TreeHouse. The more kids I talk to the more I realize we are going to need more staff to continue to reach kids for Christ. Last summer we had 72 kids attend our Summer Kick-Off event. We were busting at the seams and there are plenty more kids out there who are searching for help.

Continue to pray for TreeHouse, for me, for the staff at TreeHouse, and for the kids we come in contact with each day. It is so encouraging and warming to hear words of thanks and gratitude from the kids I meet with each day. When they think you’re pretty cool than I guess you’ve arrive!

Have a great day and enjoy the awesome weather! Those of you in MN, get ready for the opening of the hunting season (it starts tomorrow for bow hunters) because I have a good feeling about this fall/winter!

Talk to you later!

Dan

ps. One thought… if you are going to donate money through United Way I would appreciate an email from you as well letting me know you have donated. That way I can check at the main office to make sure they have received your support. Thanks.

The weather here has cooled down SOOO much! It feels good to wear my jeans and sweatshirt again. The heat is gone (for now) and we are even starting to have a few leaves fall from the trees. Fall is finally here!

I have written a short letter describing how giving to United Way can directly benefit TreeHouse and even be added to my personal account. Last year United Way’s drive was over by the time I started my fundraising so I had to wait until this year to give you this information.

Just read the letter and let me know if you have any questions. I hope you have a great day! Talk to you later!

United Way Fundraising Info

Well, I am finally back to work. Because of the holiday weekend I only had to come into work for one day before the weekend came. I was able to have a total of 2 weeks and 1 day off work because of the long weekend. It has been good to get back into the flow of things here at work. I miss being at home with everyone, but I am also glad that I have a job that I love and does not fell like work.

Tonight we have our Fall Kick-Off in Chaska and it should be sweet! We have rented a HUGE inflatable boxing ring with boxing gloves that are about 3 feet long and full of stuffing. We are looking forward to an awesome fall and tonight should be a great start for us and the kids here.

Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts over the past 2 weeks. Maggie, Ruby, Titus, and I appreciate all you have done; from bringing meals to sending us encouraging emails. Keep up the good work!

I’ll update you all soon. Have a great day!

Dan

OK, I finally finished making a video of Titus and his first few days. He is doing very well and is eating like a champ. So far Ruby really likes him and helps us take care of him. We’ll see how long that lasts!

This is my first attempt at making a home movie so show some grace please! If you have any comments or things you think would make it better please let me know. The more ideas I have the better I can hopefully be at the movie thing! The video quality is kind of rough so just imagine how cute he really is!

Enjoy!

Dan, Maggie, Ruby, and Titus

{New Video of Titus}