Step Up for Down Syndrome is just around the corner!
Transcripción
Step Up for Down Syndrome is just around the corner!
September/October 2011 ~ Volume 10, No. 5 In this issue... DSACC Updates..................... P. 2 Message from the President Monthly Articles...................... P. 3 Birthdays.................................. P. 4 Kid’s Korner............................ P. 4 Announcements...................... P. 5 Donation Page Calendar Link Playgroup Office Hours Spotlight................................... P. 5 Larry G. Gray Thank You’s............................. P. 6-7 Tee Up for Down Syndrome Willis Insurance Services LARCS Down syndrome Awareness Month.................... P. 7 2011 Calendar......................... P. 8 Articulos en Español............... P. 8, 10 Directorship............................ P. 11 Step Up for Down Syndrome is just around the corner! Saturday, October 15, 2011 10am to 2pm Hoover High School 5550 N. First St., Fresno, CA If you have not registered yet, do so today! •Register by submitting a registration form to the DSACC office or register online, www.dsacc.org (a form can be found on p. 9). •Submit your registration by September 30 to qualify for Early Bird Registration: $10 per walker - includes a Step Up T-shirt and early T-shirt pick-up privileges.* •Participants with Down syndrome walk FREE! •Registration received between October 1-12: $12 per walker participants are not guaranteed a T-shirt. •We are not accepting event registration forms/fees at the office or online after October 12. You will need to register the day of the event if you miss this date. •On-site Registration opens at 8:30am: $15 per walker participants are not guaranteed a T-shirt. *Early T-shirt pick up dates: Thursday, October 13 from 12-6pm & Friday, October 14 from 12-5pm Come Join Us! Food and Vendor Area PossABILITIES Live Entertainment There will be food for purchase throughout the day and resource exhibits from businesses and agencies that serve or support the Down syndrome community. Enjoy the amazing displays that highlight the daily lives, hobbies, passions and talents of individuals with Down syndrome. If you or someone you know would like to participate in the PossABILITES area, please call the DSACC office at (559) 228-0411 by September 30. Break the Barriers Diamonds in the Rough Pop Recording Artist CONRAD Music by Jimmie Villa Face painting and more! DSACC Updates A Message from the President Executive Director: Larry G. Gray The Down Syndrome Association of Central California is so happy to welcome Larry Gray as our new Executive Director. Larry comes to us with a wealth of experience and we know he will be doing great things for this organization. Look further in this edition for more information about Larry. Better yet, stop in the office and meet Larry in person. He is here to serve you and your loved one with Down syndrome. Office Manager: Danielle Carlson The Extra is funded in part by The Fansler Foundation. Newsletter Editor: Danielle Carlson [email protected] Spanish Language Editor: Lourdes Arias [email protected] Contact Information: Thank you to Paris Boone and Sierra HR Partners for helping us through the process of looking for a new Executive Director. Sierra HR Partners and Paris took care of all the details in finding a good fit for DSACC. They did an excellent job and we truly appreciate their expertise. Down Syndrome Association of Central California 4277 W. Richert Ave. Suite 102 Fresno, CA 93722 Phone: (559) 228-0411 Fax: (559) 228-0414 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.dsacc.org September brings a long awaited Play Group for our little ones. This is a time for moms or dads as well. I want to encourage you to attend even if your little ones are off to school. I’m sure you will find that the time spent talking with other parents of children with Down syndrome can be very helpful. I know I always did! Check the Calendar section for more information. Statement of Policy and Disclaimer: The Extra is the periodic newsletter of (DSACC) Down Syndrome Association of Central California, which serves Central California. Subscription is free to members & friends of the Association. DSACC is affiliated with N.D.S.C and N.D.S.S. The Extra reports items of interest related to Down syndrome, so that the reader may make informed decisions concerning Down syndrome related issues. Any opinions, findings and conclusions, or recommendations expressed in The Extra are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the officers, Board of Directors, DSACC organization or its membership. All medical related issues should be thoroughly discussed with your doctor before being implemented. DSACC does not endorse the writings of any individual, professional, or organization. With October comes our biggest awareness and fundraising event, Step Up for Down Syndrome. I hope you have registered your family and team and are planning on attending. This is the event of the year that you definitely do not want to miss. Every year it gets bigger and better and we reach out a little further into the community. Come enjoy the entertainment, the food, the friends, and maybe even get a little more information about what the possibilities are for your loved one with Down syndrome. See you there! 2011 Officers and Board of Directors Jane Feist - President Marie Harder - Secretary Lourdes Arias - Treasurer Denise Allshouse - Past President Members At Large Jeremy Bishel Paris Boone Daniel Christensen Tony Phillips Efrain Tovar Jennifer Whiting ***Office Hours*** Monday thru Friday 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Also open for scheduled events, and by appointment Jane Feist 2011 DSACC President 2 Monthly Articles D.A.D.S. - A True Blessing By: Mike Feist My wife, Jane, and I have twin daughters, Kylee and Teagan. Teagan happens to have Down syndrome. We just celebrated their fourteenth birthday! Coming to such a very special age makes a parent realize all they have been through in that 14 years. I remember the day we learned that Jane was carrying not one but two babies. It was quite a shock but we quickly calmed down and realized what a blessing we had been given. Along the way to the end of those nine months, I balked at the idea that my wife might be carrying two girls. No, it can’t be. If we are being given this gift of two in one, surely, we would be given a girl and a boy! Ultrasounds, and there were many with twins, never seemed to catch the telltale view. So, though they were certain one was a girl, the other was left with a little question mark. I dreamed on, stood my ground, hoping my defiance would somehow yield the answer I wanted. Jane came home from showers with one pink outfit and the other matching garment in an undecided color of green. I felt vindicated. See, others were believing as I was! Then the fateful day came. Jane was having a Cesarean section and I was waiting by her side. Baby A was delivered and handed off to me. A girl, dark hair, almost black, olive skin, very much a vision of my own father in appearance. Then, Baby B is handed off to me. A girl! Yes, a girl. A beautiful little angelic face, perfectly round, with blond hair and mats of red tangles that almost look pasted on. A beauty, like her sister, but in extreme opposite in color with pale perfect skin. A sight to behold, for sure. Did I think twice about the idea that one was not a boy? I don’t think so. You see, I had already fallen in love. Grandparents Tantrums! Everyone has a bad day now and then...Part I What do you do if your grandchild with Down syndrome has a meltdown or throws a tantrum when you are spending time together? Everyone has a different style in handling these things, but here are a few tips that may help you next time you are faced with this dilemma. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure Remember that tantrums happen for a reason and some of those can be prevented. Your grandchild might be tired or hungry, frustrated or just wanting attention. The first two are pretty easy if you plan ahead, making sure that activities are not too long, that naps happen and that several small meals are offered each day (instead of the adult schedule of three large meals). When the cause is more emotional, you can take steps to prevent that, too. Communicate with your grandchild, listen to what they say (or finger spell or show you) and respond that you do understand. All people, from a very early age want to be heard and understood. Make sure that communication is frequent, this is sometimes called “feeding the meter”. Just like you would periodically put dimes into a parking meter to avoid getting a ticket, spend a bit of time talking, listening and playing with your grandchild throughout the day so that they know they are a very important part of what is happening, avoiding that tantrum. Remember, they perceive time and contact differently than we adults do, and those small doses of grandma (or grandpa) can make a big difference. Understanding tantrum triggers Many children, and even adults, don’t like change and will react badly in unpredictable situations. Sometimes that means a meltdown happens. This is especially true for folks with Down syndrome, who cope with the world by establishing routines and patterns. It may take a bit of detective work, and good observations about cause and effect, but you may be able to identify those patterns, and if changed, it could mean a mini tornado is coming your way. Perhaps your grandchild is use to goldfish crackers in a small red bowl every afternoon for a snack. If that routine is really important to that child, pretzels on a blue plate are not going to cut it. Or if they have a favorite toy they sleep with or shirt or color to wear, a bit of effort to keep those routines in place can avoid much more time spent dealing with a time out and further consequences. Next Time: What to do if you can’t avoid a tantrum. Part II in our next newsletter! 3 Birthdays September 2011 Birthday Celebrations * October 2011 Birthday Celebrations If your birthday is not listed here, please call us and let us know. We will publish missed birthdays. Emily Archon Arturo Arias Genevieve Blanco Bransen Briston Moises Corona-Cevallos Mark Dobbs Jr. Jayden Audry Guillen Mana Elena Guo Ariana Lopez-Gutierrez Kyle Harder Julia Appelonia Richard Lathrop Analysa Garcia Maylanii Malmgren Eleana Martinez Genesis Martinez Noah Mayorga Emme Ann Morris Elsie Nieto Angel Portillo Julian Rodriguez Bryan Rodriguez Emma Sambrano Jared Schmidt Lauren Sherman Jeuel Sulit Cassandra Taussig Celeste Valdez Juan Valenzuela-Ruiz Jose Vasquez Jr. Dallas Young Marcos Acuna Yael Rolando Gonzalez Diana Magana Valencia Josue Ambris Rachel Avilan Jacob Ballon Matthew Briam Jacob Castillo Candice Castio Xavier D. Anthony Castro Jayden Chalabian Sherrie Collins Melissa Correa Camila Sandoval Marissa Garcia Justin Garretson Ariana Alvarez Elyvia Grant Sara Habib Ciara Helms Shawn Justice Santiago Ceja Jonathon Linares Bianca Sarabia Candice R. Castro Ellisia Nasalroad Jose Morales Alejandro Bettran Juan Mata Jr. Elaine Ward Nathan Kerby Jackson White Bobby Montemayor Helen Young Kathy Mullen Sarah Corona Alana Marley Naythan Kerber Angelina Pantaleon Hernan Pimental Perla Espinoza-Quijada Salvador Ramirez Anahis Rayas Ayla Reyes Dannylin Ledesma Rodriguez Ethan Sambel Happy belated birthday to Jeremy Bishel! We hope you had a wonderful day! Kid’s Korner Halloween treats you can make! These frightful treats are inexpensive and fun to make. To make it, follow these steps: 1. Start with purchased vanilla pudding cups or homemade pudding divided into small dishes. 2. Use melted chocolate and a small paintbrush to paint monster faces on the inside of clear plastic cups. 3. Refrigerate until chocolate is hardened. 4. Add green food coloring to vanilla-flavored pudding. 5. Pour into prepared cups, top with crushed chocolate sandwich cookies, and refrigerate at least one hour. An alternative: Paint jack-o’-lantern faces inside the cups, substitute yellow and red food coloring to turn the pudding orange and use pretzel logs for stems. Spooky Riddles for Halloween 1. When is it bad luck to meet a black cat? 3. 2. What kind of witch lives by the sea? What is a vampire’s favorite fruit? 4. Why do skeletons always catch a cold? 4 *Answers on page 11 Announcements Calendar Link Check out our NEW donation page on our website www.dsacc.org! Purchase your calendar today! You can customize your calendar to begin at your month of choice. And, remember, proceeds from each calendar purchased will be donated to Down Syndrome Association of Central California. Just go to: www.calendarlink.org/dsacc and choose selected DSACC pictures or upload your own personal pictures to create your very own calendar! Click the donate button to make a one time donation or become a VIP donor and give monthly! AND, while you are on our website, do not forget to sign up for SMS messaging (located under our Contact page). You can receive text messages reminding you of important DSACC events! Play Group New Office Hours Starting August 8, 2011, DSACC’s office hours are 9:00 am to 2:00 pm We are also open for scheduled events and by appointment. Join us for our first quarterly play group. This quarter’s play group will be hosted on Saturday, September 10, 2011 from 9:30am to 11:30am at the Allshouse home, 6225 N. Sonora Ln., Fresno, 93722. For more information, please call 228-0411. Spotlight Larry G. Gray My name is Larry G. Gray, and I am excited to have the opportunity to serve as the new Executive Director for the Down Syndrome Association of Central California. For eleven years, I was the Administrator for “Rescue the Children” Craycroft Youth Center located in Fresno, which closed in June of 2010. I am a native of the Central Valley, and my wife Kathy and I have raised our five children in this area. We have family members with Down Syndrome. This has given us some personal insight into what challenges and joys a family can experience. I really am excited about working with all 6 counties that we serve in the Central Valley. I hope to personally meet with all the families, volunteers, supporters and sponsors of DSACC as soon as possible. I know I am walking into a great organization that has already accomplished so many wonderful things and helped many families. I believe the future will be even brighter with your continuing help and support. I invite all my old friends to come by and see what wonderful things the Down Syndrome Association of Central California is doing for our families and communities. Our door is always open. 5 Thank You The families and friends of Down Syndrome Association of Central California would like to thank you for your support and faith in our mission to enhance the quality of life for all people whose lives are touched by Down syndrome. Many thanks to... ...our July and August volunteers: Kathy Monty and Sally Fernandes (Third Thursday), and Allie Omandam (office volunteer) ...LARCS for their generous donation of $1,000.00 in support of our newsletter. In July, DSACC was presented with a check for $1,680.00 from Willis Insurance Services in Fresno. They recently held a Charity Chase event and chose DSACC as the charity they would sponsor. This decision came about because the daughter, Baylee, of an employee at Willis Insurance was a buddy for Charlie Allshouse at Bullard High School during his Abilities class (PE). Baylee put together on her own a PowerPoint presentation filled with photos she took during her experience with the class. She was passionate about this and she persuaded the office to choose DSACC. Thank you Baylee and Willis Insurance Services for the very generous donation! Tee Up for Down Syndrome 6 Thank you to our Tee Up golfers! We hope you had a great day of golfing! Recap: Family Fiesta 2011 By: Maria Falcon, Chairperson We had a great turnout at our Summer Family Fiesta event! We had some new families who had an opportunity to meet and mingle with current members. Our Latino group met an hour before the fiesta, and they were able to share their concerns, gain new information and give suggestions to each other in various topics. The kids loved the activities: making mini piñatas, designing their own bracelets, coloring, face painting and participating in the Macarena contest. We were able to present several certificates to our loved ones with Down syndrome who contribute to society by volunteering. And, we had a great lunch. Thank you to everyone who came out to New Harvest Church for our 2011 Family Fiesta! Pictures to follow in the next newsletter. October is Down syndrome awareness month! We are thankful for our many friends and associates who take time to do something special for Down Syndrome Awareness month and to honor our loved ones with Down syndrome. Suwanna Delcore is a hair stylist who is offering 50% off the price of a haircut in the month of October. Her phone number is 312-5559. Suwanna is also going to keep a Dollars for Down Syndrome can at her place of business for the month of October! Thanks so much friend. Speaking of Dollars for Down Syndrome…Kudos to Bank of the Sierra for Stepping Up to put collection cans in all of their branches for the month of October. If you are at a Bank of the Sierra branch or can stop by one, please take a moment to thank the staff for their continued dedication to fulfill our mission. Bank of the Sierra has been involved with volunteers and/or sponsorships at all of our events for the past several years. Many, many thanks! If you or someone you know would like to do something to raise awareness, please feel free to contact us at the office. We will be happy to provide any support you need to make your project successful! 7 2011 Programs, Groups & Events Calendar For more information or questions, Call the DSACC Office 559.228.0411 Programs Groups Third Thursday D.A.D.S. Meetings are held at Visalia Nazarene Church, 10am to Noon September 15, 2011 Topic: TBD October 20, 2011: Topic: TBD Meetings held on 2nd Mondays at 6pm Round Table Pizza on Willow and Herndon UPCOMING MEETINGS: September 12 and October 10 Playgroup Events Saturday, September 10, 2011 9:30am to 11:30am Allshouse Home 6255 N. Sonora Ln., Fresno, 93722 Step Up for Down Syndrome Saturday, October 15, 2011 Hoover High School 10am to 2pm Check-in opens at 8:30am To register for the walk, please fill out a brochure, or register online, www.dsacc.org Board Meetings are held the 3rd Wednesday of the month, 6pm, DSACC Office. 2011 Calendario, de Grupos y Eventos Llame a la Oficina de DSACC Si Tiene Preguntas 559.228.0411 Programas Grupos D.A.D.S. Tercer Jueves Las juntas son en la Iglesia Nazarene de Visalia, 10am al Medio día Las Juntas Son el Segundo Lunes a las 6pm Round Table Pizza entre Willow y la Herndon Para mas información, llame a Arturo Arias al (559) 978-1686 Las Siguientes Juntas Son: Septiembre 12 y Octubre 20 Septiembre 15, 2011: Le Avisaremos Después Octubre 20, 2011: Le Avisaremos Después Playgroup Sábado, 10 de Septiembre, 2011 9:30am a 11:30am Casa de la Familia Allshouse 6255 N. Sonora Ln., Fresno, 93722 Eventos Caminata de Síndrome de Down Sábado, Octubre 15, 2011 Hoover High School 10am a 2pm Juntas de la Mesa Directiva son el tercer miércoles Del mes, a las 6pm, en la Oficina de DSACC 8 Step Up for Down Syndrome Registration Form I am walking for (Team or Individual’s Name): Team Captain: Address/City/State/Zip: Phone: E-mail: Name Address/E-mail Phone Number Shirt Size (Y-XS to Y-L) (Adult XS to Adult 3XL) I have enclosed $______________________________________for______________number of walkers. _________________walkers with Down syndrome. I cannot participate in the walk but please accept my donation of $____________________________. Please contact me to volunteer the day of the event. Please mail this form with checks payable to Down Syndrome Association of Central California, 4277 W. Richert Ave., Suite 102, Fresno, CA 93722 postmarked no later than September 30 to qualify for early registration. I hereby waive and release all claims against Down Syndrome Association of Central California and Fresno Unified School District and all persons or agencies connected with this event for any injury or illness the above named walkers might suffer, which arises from the participation in and travel to and from this event. I also authorize DSACC the use of any photos, film or videotape taken of me or my minor child at the event for any purpose. Parent signature is required if participant is a minor. Registration fair market value - $5 per person. Signature: Date: Please note NO OPEN FLAMES are allowed on campus, so barbeques will not be permitted. We invite you to bring a picnic or purchase food from one of our vendors. No animals permitted at the walk unless they are working service dogs. 9 Step Up Caminata para Síndrome de Down! Acompáñenos este año el sábado, 15 de Octubre Escuela Secundaria Hoover 10am a 2pm Este evento es el más grande para dar a conocer el Síndrome de Down en el Valle Central, y a la vez nos sirve para recadar fondos que nos ayudan a mantener los programas y servicios que son de vital importancia para nuestra organización durante todo el año. Que es lo que usted necesita saber: • Registración temprana (Julio1-Septembre 30): $10 por persona – incluye camiseta de Step Up y el privilegio •Los Participantes con síndrome de Down caminan GRATIS! •Registración recibida entre Octubre 1-12: tendrá un costo de $12 por - participante y no se le garantiza camiseta. •No aceptaremos formas de registración o pagos por internet después del 12 de Octubre. Tendrá que registrarse el día del evento si se le pasa la fecha límite. •La registración el día del evento empieza a las 8:30am: $15 por participante y no se le garantiza camiseta. Caminata de Síndrome De Down Forma de Registro Estoy caminando por: Capitán del Equipo: Domicilio/Ciudad Estado/Zona Postal: Teléfono: E-mail: Nombre Domicilio/E-mail Teléfono Tamaño de Camiseta Estoy incluyendo la cantidad de$__________para_____________numero de personas con ______________síndrome de Down. No puedo participar en la caminata pero acepte mi donativo de $____________________________. Favor de mandar esta forma con un cheque pagado a Down Syndrome Association of Central California, 4277 W. Richert Ave., Suite 102, Fresno, CA 93722 para el 30 de Septiembre para poder calificar para la registración temprana. Yo absuelvo de cualquier demanda contra la Asociación de Síndrome de Down de California Central y al Distrito Escolar de Fresno Unified, a todas las personas o agencias conectadas con este evento de cualquier daño o accidente que resulte al llegar o durante la participación de este evento. Yo también doy mi autorización para que DSACC use cualquier foto o video tomado de mi hijo/a durante el evento. Se requiere la firma del padre si el participante es menor de edad. Firma: Fecha: Tome nota NO SE PERMITE EL USE DE FUEGO en el lugar así que el uso de asadores o estufas, no será permitido. Puede traer su propio almuerzo y también habrá puestos de comida por si quiere comprarla. No se permiten animales durante la caminata al menos que seas perros guía. 10 FAMILIAS DE HABLA HISPANA Quiero Darle las Gracias a todas las familias que asistieron a nuestra reunión del Grupo Latino de Síndrome De Down y también a todas las familias que nos acompañaron a la Fiesta Familiar de Verano. Fue un día muy divertido ya que pudimos compartir con otras familias que al igual están pasando la misma trayectoria. Necesitamos trabajar juntos para ayudar a nuestros seres queridos, alcanzar sus metas y romper las barreras para las próximas generaciones. Yo entiendo que a veces es mucho más difícil para las personas que no hablan Inglés tener acceso a todos los servicios necesarios que se ofreces para sus niños. Pero formando una red de comunicación entre nosotros mismos nos podemos ayudar mutuamente. Espero que se hayan divertido, gozando de la compañía de otras familias y disfrutando de una rica comida mexicana. Espero verlos muy pronto en nuestro próximo evento que es la Caminata de Síndrome de Down (Step-Up-for Down Syndrome). Atentamente Lourdes Arias California Motoring Company will donate $100 to DSACC if you purchase or lease a car through them! Getting a vehicle, whether it’s new or previously owned, should be a great pleasure. Unfortunately, that is rarely the case. As a rule, people are not aware that there is an alternative to the traditional dealership experience. The California Motoring Company is a group of life long automotive enthusiasts and professionals who have spent the vast majority of their careers developing the resources necessary to provide the most enjoyable and cost effective buying or leasing experience possible. Starting immediately, if anyone purchases a new or used vehicle from California Motoring Company and mentions DSACC, we will donate $100.00 to the organization. You can reach me (Dan Christensen) at 559-940-0505 or 559-297-6120 . Kid’s Korner Answers 1. When you are a mouse! 2. A sand-wich, of course! 3. Neck- tarines. 4. Because they are chilled to the bone. Is Directorship for You? by Denise Allshouse The people who volunteer for DSACC are our life blood and we would not be able to carry on our important work without them. This is the time of year that we begin the process of assembling a Slate of Officers for 2012. Our board members are a fun loving, hard working group and could use a few extra hands to help shoulder the responsibilities. The successful director does not have to have a relative with Down syndrome. As a matter of fact, we have several board members whose only connection is through their hearts and their desire to help our friends with Down syndrome reach their full potential. Several of our members are parents of children with Down syndrome and the source of their dedication and drive is obvious. It is with relentless dedication and a complete understanding of the responsibility that the position entails that our board members raise important funds for DSACC, and provide vision and governance for the future of DSACC. So many people count on us. Do you or someone you know have a desire to lead our organization at a very exciting time of development? Perhaps, board membership is a way that you can satisfy this desire. Do you possess a skill that will help us to fulfill our mission to enhance the quality of life for all people whose lives are touched by Down syndrome? We are looking for people to consider board membership now and also beginning in 2012. Please contact Denise Allshouse to discuss the possibility of joining our dedicated team of leaders at 559412-2678. Do you want to volunteer, but don’t think board membership would be for you? We have some very specific and immediate needs for volunteers. Top of our list is to have two or three individuals with some computer skills to serve in the office a few hours a week providing clerical support. In addition, we will need several volunteers to work as much as possible the two or three weeks prior to Step Up for Down Syndrome. We process the majority of over 1500 registrations during that time and can use as many hands as possible to accomplish the task. We also have other volunteer opportunities. Contact Danielle in the office for more information about the help we need or to volunteer your services. 228-0411. Thank you in advance for your willingness to make a difference for DSACC. We appreciate you! 11 Nonprofit Organization US Postage PAID Fresno, CA Permit No. 2383 4277 W. Richert Ave. Suite 102 Fresno, CA 93722 Return Service Requested Step Up for Down Syndrome is October 15, 2011 Register today!