82,000 votes were cast for more than 1,900 different non-profit organizations. The top vote-getter in each of the eight regions each received $5,000 from the Bangor Savings Bank Foundation. Additionally, sixty other organizations received $1,000 each, including twenty organizations earning the most write-in votes from the public.

In these challenging times when many of our neighbors and community members are struggling, these grants apply resources to some of those most urgent needs as identified by community members themselves.

The Women’s Health Resource Library wishes to thank everyone who voted for them. The WHRL’s mission is to advance and promote the health of the individual, family, and community.

Service projects will be held on Martin Luther King Day of Service on January 18th or the weekend prior. Each of the 16 recipients will receive $450.00 dollars to aide in project planning. The Women’s Health Resource Library will host a free community luncheon at the Milbridge Elementary School on Saturday January 16th from 12:00-2:00 p.m. Anyone unable to attend due to illness or infi rmity can have a meal delivered to their home. Transportation
will be provided to those needing a ride. The event will include students and community members sharing their thoughts about Dr. King and his legacy through readings and poetry. Posters commemorating MLK day created by area students will be on display. Winning posters will be announced.

The Martin Luther King Day of Service is an important way for Maine’s people to experience the signifi cance of service, volunteerism and collaboration amongst their neighbors. This funding will allow participants to create and implement service projects that will not only impact their communities, but celebrate the legacy of Dr. King and his commitment to service, non-violence, and diversity.

The Maine Commission for Community Service builds capacity and sustainability in Maine’s volunteer sector by funding service programs, developing volunteer managers, raising awareness, and encouraging an ethic of service. To learn more about the Maine Commission for Community Service visit our web-site at www.maineservicecommision.gov.

Chris Kuhni, Executive Director

The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners has named Christine Kuhni of Milbridge as the winner of this year’s prestigious Nurse Practitioner Advocate State Award for Excellence.

In 1993, the State Award for Nurse Practitioner Advocate was founded to recognize the efforts of individuals who have made significant contributions toward increasing awareness and acceptance of nurse practitioners.

Ms. Kuhni was specifically recognized for her efforts in establishing the Women’s Health Resource Library, where she serves as executive director of the non-profit center. The WHRL’s focus is on wellness and disease prevention with an emphasis on personal responsibility. It’s mission is to promote and advance the health of the individual , the family and the community. In 2009, the WHRL received the Governor’s Exemplary Service Award.

Ms. Kuhni has a practice specializing in women’s health at the Milbridge Medical Center. She will be honored at the national AANP conference held in Phoenix, Arizona this June.

The AANP was founded in 1985 and is the oldest and largest full-service national professional organization for nurse practitioners of all specialties. With more than 19,500 individual members and 16 group members, AANP represents the intersests of approximately 90,000 nurse-practitioners around the country. AANP continually advocates for the active role of nurse practitioners as providers of high quality, cost-effective health care.

Pictured Sheryl Edgecomb, Bangor Savings Bank; Chris Kuhni, WHRL Executi ve Director; and Rose White, Bangor Savings Bank.

The Women’s Health Resource Library was awarded a $1,000 grant from the Bangor Savings Bank Foundation.
The award was part of the bank’s Community Matters More program. Over 86,000 Mainers cast their votes for the 68 winning non-profit organizations. More
than 2,900 organizations throughout the state vied for the winning votes.

The WHRL, incorporated in 2004, opened its doors in 2005. The mission of the library is to support women and their families in making informed decisions about their health care and become active partners in their care. In addition to providing a wealth of health-related media, the WHRL hosts ongoing wellness programs. These include a weight loss support group, Bone Builders exercise class, Yoga classes, a diabetes support group, and a mom and baby play group. Individual smoking cessation counseling is available from a certifi ed tobacco counselor. A variety of topics are addressed in the monthly health education workshops. So how does such a young organization capture enough votes to compete against other non-profi ts throughout Maine? All the groups that meet in the WHRL were asked to vote and their friends and families were asked for their support. Daily visitors were given a ballot.

The WHRL’s online friends were contacted and asked to vote and they were urged to ask all their contacts to do the same. The support of the local community was evident as the library was allowed to set up a table in the local Bayside Supermarket and gather votes from shoppers. Patients at the Milbridge Medical Center were offered ballots. Wyman’s, a corporate sponsor of the WHRL, encouraged their employees to vote. Staff at Down East Community
Hospital, another corporate sponsor, was also asked for their support. “The success of our organization has always been about collaboration,” said WHRL director Chris Kuhni, “and this was another great example of winning collaborations. We are grateful to Bangor Savings Bank for their dedication to community and to all our supporters who voted for us.”

the Women’s Health Resource Library’s Executive Director Chris Khuni (L) and Board President Susan Jordan Bennett.

Governor John E. Baldacci presented the 2009 Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards in the state capital’s Hall of Flags on April 21. Created in 1988, the awards “honor our state’s most dedicated volunteers” and “shares the stories of extraordinary volunteers so that they may inspire others to serve.”

The Women’s Health Resource Library was honored during the ceremony. WHRL Executive Director Chris Khuni and Board President Susan Bennett accepted an Exemplary Service Award from the governor.

The library’s nomination summary noted that WHRL is the “central hub for health information, exercise classes, smoking cessation counseling, diabetes education and support, weight loss, and parenting support. Most programs are free and all are open to the community at large.”

The library has also collaborated with other organizations in sponsoring an Underage Drinking Summit, Stop Violence Against Women, Heart Health and other resourceful programs.