First, I am pleased and proud to announce the formation of the ARC-CT Parents Committee! This group held their first meeting on Saturday, July 30 and lots of wonderful and exciting ideas were presented.� The Parent�s Committee is being formed to provide a means for ARC-CT adoptive families to channel their energies and ideas for programming, events, fundraising and outreach. The Parent�s Association has targeted three initial projects which they will be coordinating:

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  1. Needs Assessment and Time and Talent Survey.� The Parents Committee wants to know what your family needs.� We also want to know what you wish to share.� Within the next few weeks you will receive an email with a survey.� We sincerely hope you will take the time to provide us with your input! �We truly appreciate your time and opinions.� Future Parent Association projects will take into account the results from this survey.� YOUR OPINION AND PERSPECTIVE TRULY MATTER!�
  2. Adoption Awareness Month Open House.� November is Adoption Awareness Month. �The Parent�s Committee has decided to host an Open House at ARC-CT on November 5. In the weeks to follow you will hear from a member of the Parent�s Committee regarding the Open House.� We hope you will consider giving of your time. This is going to be a truly wonderful community event.
  3. ARC-CT Holiday Party.� Save the Date: December 3, 2005!� The ARC-CT Parent�s Committee has graciously offered to coordinate the Holiday Party!� This event is getting so big and we really need many hands to keep this event running smoothly.�

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Last, but not least � we have a new and significantly improved web site � please take a moment to visit us at www.arcct.org� On the site, there is a page for the Adoptive Parents Committee, there is a wonderful reading and reference page which lists our entire lending library, and there are some wonderful photos from our 2005 picnic (just to mention a few of the exciting updates�).� We�d love your feedback on the new site so please come by and visit!� A HUGE THANK YOU� to Gene Ambeau Consulting for a WONDERFUL job on our new site!

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Finally, thank you to all of our clients who have stepped forward to help.� We at ARC-CT are truly grateful for your enthusiasm, your expertise, your time and your care.� What a wonderful community we have! �Thank you all - from the bottom of my heart.

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Penny