It is my honor to introduce the Team Vogel Dancers (Drumroll please)...

Dancing with the Winona Stars is an annual event put on by Gotta Dance.  The event raises money for Gotta Dance and many local organizations - like Team Vogel.  This year we were invited to participate in the group dance competition.  Above are the lovely ladies who have agreed to train and work their buns off for Team Vogel.  There will be many ways for us "Non" Dancers to be involved and support the cause along the way too.  As the time gets closer - I will share more details.

If you are interested in attending the event:
Dancing with the Winona Stars
August 11th, 2012
at 7:30 pm
(a guaranteed good time - full of fun, laughter and amazing dancing)

Please contact Kristin Biesanz to arrange getting a ticket.
kristinbiesanz@yahoo.com or (651) 253-4276
(I know this is a bit in advanced - but ticket sales have gone quickly in the past.)


A big thank you to all the dancers for volunteering their time and talents and to the four ladies helping coordinate all this on the Team Vogel end - Thank you!

-Benjamin Franklin

We have currently sold 125 tickets.  Our goal (and max. # of tickets we will sell) is 250.  If you have not purchased a ticket - and are interested - now is the time.  If you already have your ticket - spread the word and invite others.  Tickets can still be purchased at HyVee, 5th St Liquor, and the Legion (Midtown's tickets have all been sold).  I am super excited for this event and I'm getting thirsty just typing this :).

A special thank you to Ed, Karen and Deb for all their hard work on this event.  it has been wonderful getting to know all of you, work with you on an event and sample a few beers along the way.  Thank you!

The past few weeks have been challenging - for many reasons.  It is hard to watch this disease challenge so many others.  When my frustration gets to the point of breaking (sometimes while breaking) - I reflect on the positive.  Team Vogel has become a community - a place of support for many...a place to fight and win - when it seems like all battles are impossible.  

Team Vogel would not be the support it is without you.  BELIEVE.

Love and Hugs - Rach

**Just a note - all Family Nominations have been reviewed.  If you were a nominator, you should have received an email regarding your nomination.  If you did not, please let me know (teamvogel@hotmail.com)

As I gear up to head to the Fools Five, I reflect on the week it has been.  The periods of good are longer and the tough times seem to get fewer...  But sometimes the hard times hit you...

I realize this race is a tough one for me.  I saw Joe train every day to run it.  He was able to run the 8k one time.  At the beginning of the race, they ask all survivors to remain standing and everyone else takes a knee...This was overwhelming the first time and gets harder and harder for me each year.  It is amazing to see the survivors standing.  But heart-breaking to not see the one who got me to do this race in the first place...He was able to stand 2 years (the 2nd year he completed the 1 mile).  

As my frustration with this disease increases and my frustration with not seeing Joe - I am brought back to a comment a man made a few years ago.  His wife had died from cancer and he was speaking on her behalf - he stood in front of a crowd and said, "I am a survivor."  No, he did not have the actual tumor - but he is a survivor.  This really hit me...We may not have the actual disease - but we are all survivors.  We survive watching others take the battle on personally - we support them - we help them survive and we try to survive ourselves.  So - today when I take my knee, I will cheer and support all the standing survivors and all the survivors that took a knee with me.  

We will survive!

With the Easter season quickly approaching us, Miss Skittles has been feeling the stress of the upcoming basket deliveries.  Being the smart rabbit she is, she is seeking help from a more youthful generation this year.  (I think Miss Mags can pass as a rabbit...)

Hoping this week brings sunshine and memories your way.
Hugs -
Rach