RESOURCE CENTER HOSTS “FLING,” 2/11

04 Feb RESOURCE CENTER HOSTS “FLING,” 2/11

Do you feel nervous around your partner? Do you modify your behavior to avoid angering your partner? Are you afraid of disagreeing with your partner? Does your partner check up on you or question your actions? Are you kept from seeing friends or family? Does your partner criticize or humiliate you in front of others? Does your partner make you feel wrong, stupid or inadequate? Has your partner threatened you with violence? Do you do things only to please your partner, rather than yourself? Do you feel as if nothing you do is good enough for your partner? Does your partner threaten self-destruction if you break up? Does your partner blame the abuse on alcohol, drugs, temper or write it off as “just joking?” If you answer “yes” to any one of those questions, according to The Domestic Violence Resource Center, your relationship might already be or become abusive.

The San Miguel Resource Center is the Telluride region’s only nonprofit in the business of helping people in trouble help themselves. The mission of the nonprofit is to put itself out of business by ending interpersonal violence in our community through education and support services. With the SMRC’s help, people who are in pain or wronged in the extreme can one day learn to picture a past hurt without dwelling in the negative emotions associated with the memory. One day they can heal.

Saturday, February 11, 7:30 – 11:30 p.m., Telluride Conference Center, the San Miguel Resource Center hosts its Chocolate Lovers’ Fling, an annual bash and the nonprofit’s only major public fundraiser. The event takes place near Valentine’s Day, the Holy of Holies for lovers, because the goal of the SMRC is healthy relationships, with oneself and with others. Support for the Fling buys support for yourself, a family member, a friend, or a neighbor. This year’s theme is TV Land.

The SMRC (then Tomboy House) was formed in 1992 by a group of locals as a nonprofit victim services agency. By 1994, Tomboy House had established a 24-hour hotline to help victims of domestic violence through crisis intervention and referrals. Now, in addition to a hotline and crisis intervention, the SMRC provides a wide range of programs in English and Spanish, including cultural outreach, advocacy to help clients with court and medical services, employers, housing, transportation and community services, preventative community education and awareness initiatives.

The following is a staff directory, which co-executive director Melanie Montoya sent TIO with editorial flourishes:

Angela Goforth, Client Services Manager, staffs SMRC’s West End office and is the organizational memory. She has been with then profit for 13 years.
Megan Rood, Advocate Manager extraordinaire
Kara Johnson, Education Specialist, has blown up the SMRC’s prevention education program, greatly increasing West End outreach to schools and starting a LIFE club for West End youth.
Emily Scott Robinson, Cultural Outreach Coordinator is new and just took over for Karla Gonzales.
Wendy Wilbert, Data is Manager Magnifico
Nancy Anderson, Co-Executive Director primarily focuses on grants
Melanie Montoya, Co-Executive Director is in charge of general operations

You say “Not in my backyard?” In 2011, the San Miguel Resource Center took 1817 telephone calls,had 1421 in-person contacts and served 218 clients overall, some of whom were child victims of sexual assault.

To learn more about what goes on beyond the SMRC’s doors, click the “play” button and listen to what Melanie Montoya has to add: