Dear Friends,              Another new season.  Another new start.  I guess I still feel the end of summer and the beginning of school has more of a new year feeling than January 1.  I guess it’s because summer vacations are over and there’s a new energy level with the cooler weather.            After a summer of transition, of phasing out our pre-school and recruiting new staff and children, Next Generation Infant and Toddler Center is going full steam.  The center has been re-licensed with the State and we continue to meet all of the requirements of a Licensed Plus Facility. The center has a new open look to it as we now have six infants and ten toddlers.  The fruits and vegetables from Project Green Thumb have all been harvested, and Fall projects are underway.            Second Generation Thrift Shoppes are thriving under the managerial skills of Janet Hamilton.  Janet and the staff continue to give their all with sorting, pricing steaming and providing customers with an ever new and changing stock.            The shelter currently has four babies in residence, ages one week, two months, seven months and one year.  It is absolutely delightful seeing and interacting with them in all of their varying stages of development.  The women are a great support to each other as they nurture their babies and move on with their lives.  At 5:00 PM everyday I just want to join them for dinner as the aromas emanating from the kitchen are so tantalizing.            The green team committee continued to make progress this summer.  We have set some long term goals and have been implementing a more extensive recycling program.  Please check out our wish list as we are trying to use more environmentally friendly products.            The Fourth Annual Women’s Golf Tournament was a great success with ninety nine players, another beautiful day, and raised $13,364 for New Generation.            This Fall I want to make special mention of our great administrative staff.  Priscilla Torella, our Office Manager has been with New Generation for eight years.  She is an absolute wonder with the computer.  I couldn’t begin to enumerate all of the things she does for all of us.  She definitely keeps us running smoothly.            Debra Palacio, our bookkeeper of ten years keeps all of our finances in excellent order.  Her attention to detail, her precision, and her stick-to-itiveness are admirable.  She keeps us all up to date and accountable.                                                                         Warmly,                                                                                   Toni