Mark Your Calendars

FSA members we have lots of really great events coming up in the next month, so get your pens out and mark your calendars with the following dates!

Thursday, October 29th at 7:00 p.m.

Pumpkin Carving Extravaganza for all FSA members and their families.

Come dressed in costume ready to carve some pumpkins and enjoy some treats!

You may bring your own pumpkins or there will be some there for purchase.

It will be held at a home. The address is 790 E. Birch Circle in Layton.

Directions will be coming soon!

Saturday, November 7th at 9:00 a.m.

Come and celebrate National Adoption Month with us at the 4th Annual Walk With Me Adoption Walk.

We are going to meet at 9:00 a.m. at Liberty Park and gather as Davis County FSA members to do the walk together. Wear lots of orange and bring anyone you want to that wants to support adoption! This is a great opportunity to show your support of adoption and National Adoption Month! Please come and join us! The more the merrier for sure at this event!

Saturday, November 14th from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

The Utah Adoption Council is celebrating National Adoption Month by hosting an event at Boondocks Fun Center in Draper. Click on the Boondocks logo for more information. This is always a fun event!

Chat Nights

FSA members! We need your input once again. We are going to start having "Chat Nights" once a month where we will get together and have "experts" come and lead a discussion on adoption related topics (ie taxes, international adoption, etc.). This will be an opportunity to get together and provide support for one another and gain knowledge or get advice on certain topics. What we are wanting is your input on what topics you would like to have discussed at these chat nights so that we can get our experts lined up, and make sure that we are discussing things you want information on. So please leave us your ideas in the comment section! Also, if you know anyone that would be willing to teach on a certain topic, let us know that as well! Thanks!

Couples Date Night This Friday!

What: Families Supporting Adoption Date Night
When: Friday, September 25th at 7:00 p.m.
Where: 1000 W. 2700 S. in Syracuse (It is a church house right on the corner)
Bring: $10 per couple

Come and enjoy a night of pizza, home made ice cream, games and good company! It's also a great opportunity to come and meet James Wadman, the new director of the Layton Agency. So grab your spouse and bring some friends and join us for a night of good food and good times! We hope to see you all there!

Adoption Alternatives

We warmly invite you to attend our Adoption Alternatives meeting scheduled for Thursday September 24. We have created a personable network of LDS Families that assist adopting families to prepare for and find children who will thrive in their home.

Ryan and Myrna Brophy worked with LDS Family Services toward adoption. When LDSFS received a call from a partner agency about a special new born child, Ryan and Myrna were informed and chose to pursue the adoption. Based on the circumstances of the child, LDSFS, Ryan and Myrna coordinated with the State to insure all possible support services were made available.

Ryan and Myrna have agreed to attend our meeting and to share their adoption story. They can help answer questions about their experience working with LDSFS and the State.

We will also have Brenda Durtschi from the Utah Foster Care Foundation present to provide information and answer questions.

We invite you to come, learn, and network with others. Our meeting will begin at 7:00 PM on September 24.

Meetings are held at the Farmington North Stake Center, 729 West Shepard Lane, Farmington, in the Relief Society Room.

What Do You Want To See?

Hello fellow FSA members! At our last board meeting we discussed this blog and how to use it most effectively. We came to the conclusion that in addition to using it to get information to you about upcoming events and activities, we would also like to use it for other purposes that meet your needs. Some ideas that we had were using the blog to post some or all of the following:

• Articles about adoption/infertility
• Adoption alternative information
• Ideas for birth parent gifts
• Answers to frequently asked questions
• Advice for couples starting the adoption process
• "Finding" ideas
• Etc.....

So here is where we need your help. What things would you like to see on the blog??? We want your input and feedback! So please leave a comment with your ideas, or you can email us directly at daviscountyfsa@gmail.com. Thanks!!!

Lots of News!

There are lots of things going on right now with Davis County LDSFS. Robin has moved to Atlanta from the Layton Agency, and James has taken her place. We are excited to have him aboard! He comes to us from the American Fork agency and brings with him lots of experience and great ideas. We also have some other changes with FSA that I will let a letter from John Hill explain.

Dear Adoptive Couples:

A New Caseworker

I came to the Centerville office about 3 months ago and have recently
been assigned to assist with the Davis County Family Supporting Adoption
(FSA). Prior to serving in Centerville, I was a full time counselor for 4
½ years in the Sandy office.
But… before my time in the Sandy
office, I was the full time adoption caseworker for the Farmington office for
over 6 years. Thus, I know many of the past adoptive couples in the
Centerville and Layton areas and I am so pleased to be back and involved with
adoption once again.

Good-bye to Scott and Natalie Bradford… we will miss
you.

I find that the first business item that needs to be considered is
saying good-bye to the outgoing co-chairs for the FSA Davis County, Scott and
Natalie Bradford. They have given many years of service not only as the
local FSA co-chairs for Davis County, but also as board members on the FSA
national board. These years of service represent their love and dedication
to adoption and willingness to help others as they apply for and learn about the
world of adoptions. What can you say or what can you do to pay
tribute to such a couple? Thank you Scott and Natalie. Well
done.

Welcome to Cal and Gena Taylor… our new Co-Chair
couple.

After my discussions with Robin Williams and Kevin Broderick the
decision was made to ask Cal and Gena to be our new co-chairs for the FSA Davis
County. We feel confidence in their desire to serve and help others in the
adoption process. Personally, I am impressed with their past
experience serving on the FSA board in the Ogden office, including assisting in
creating a float for the July 24th parade and their energy for the future.
Welcome aboard Cal and Gena.

Everyone Is Invited to FSA board meetings

May I invite any and all adoptive couple to attend our David County FSA
board meetings. We will only benefit from your service as we prepare
socials, plan high school adoption presentations, maintain our blog site, and
organize other adoption related activities. Contact Cal & Gena Taylor
to learn when the next meeting will be held.

Lastly, let me say how much I enjoyed our recent FSA conference.
Despite my many years working in adoptions, I learned new information and was
impressed with the leadership demonstrated by the national FSA
board.
Thank You
John Hill

We had our first board meeting with Cal and Gena heading things up last night and it went exceptionally well. If you are at all interested in getting involved please come to our next meeting on Sept. 8th at 7:00 p.m. at the Layton agency. We would love to have everyone who is interested in supporting adoption come! There is lots of work to be done and we could use any willing hands. Plus we're super fun. So come and get involved! We'd love to have you!!!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at daviscountyfsa@gmail.com

Goodbye Robin!

OPEN HOUSE

for

Robin Williams Adoption Supervisor in the Layton Office

Robin has accepted an adoption supervisor position in the Georgia LDS Family Services and will be leaving the Layton office later this month. For all of you who know Robin and would like to come say goodbye, we will be holding an open house at the Layton LDS Family Services (930 W Hill Field Rd. Suite A, Layton, UT 84041) on August 12th from 2pm-7pm.

We encourage you all to bring pictures or any other memorabilia, we will also supply stationary if you would like to write Robin a letter to take with her.

Refreshments will be served!