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Meeting Notes from November 17, 2015
President Steve Goranson welcomed members and guests to the 47th meeting of the 2015 calendar year. A Thought for the Day from the book Age Doesn’t Matter Unless You’re A Cheese was offered by Sam Lovering.
Announcements
President Steve thanked those who helped staff the day’s meeting.
Gary Peterson thanked the eight Rotarians who participated in the recent Gulf Road clean-up. They include John Searles, Don Gwinn, Harold Bauer, Louis Allred, Gary Peterson and others as seen in the photo below:
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Ann Searles noted that she has the obituary for former member David Cromer’s wife, in case anyone is interested. On a lighter note, Ann recently spoke with John & Marge Wold who are doing well in Minnesota. If anyone knows someone driving to Minneapolis before Christmas, the Wolds would love to purchase a holiday ham, continuing a long tradition.
Kristin Brown is participating in the (104-mile) Miles to End Polio Ride on Saturday. It’s not too late to make your annual polio contribution by supporting Kristin.
Harold Bauer announced that the slate of officers for the coming year is almost complete. When ready, it will be sent to all members and will be voted upon at a December meeting.
Ken Green announced that there is one full size ham (plus several half hams) available for pre-Thanksgiving delivery. These hams will be distributed on Saturday (Nov. 21) from Kristin Brown’s garage (727 Wesley Ave.). If you are not able to pick up your pre-Thanksgiving ham this Saturday, please contact Ken to make other arrangements.
Update on Saturday from Steve Carlson:
Thanks to Ken, all the Thanksgiving hams were delivered Friday. If you have any questions about hams, call Ken at 847/859-2895. NOTE: If you have a late order for a Thanksgiving ham, SORRY there are no hams left! If you were going to pick up a pecan product, Kate will have them at Tuesday's club meeting. If that is not convenient for you, call Kate at 847/475-1131. If you were going to pick up Trail Mix, they will also be at Tuesday's club meeting. If that is not convenient for you , call Steve G. at 847/475-4357. Sales are continuing briskly. Please keep selling!
If you are entering a Holiday Sale order online, please be sure to indicate if you need the product on a non-standard date. You must use the drop down box to select the month and date for any non-standard pick-up.
Kate Collinson noted that she has stock of all pecan products for pre-Thanksgiving delivery. Please contact her if you would like to purchase additional items or deliver your current orders.
Steve Carlson explained that 30 Rotarians have entered Holiday Sales thus far, totaling more than $14,000. With a goal of $60,000 in sales, we’re one-quarter of the way there. The next 10 days are critical to the success of the sale! Volunteers are needed for our Plant Distribution Day (Saturday, Dec. 5 at Anton’s) and Food Distribution Day (Saturday, Dec. 12). Sign-up sheets were located on each table.
Bruce Baumberger explained that volunteers will be bagging, tagging, organizing and pulling orders at
Anton’s on the morning of Dec. 5. Please consider helping with this fun and easy morning event.
Next week’s meeting will include discussion time in lieu of a formal program. Club practices will be the subject of our discussion, facilitated by Helen Oloroso. Harold Bauer drew the club’s attention to our Rotary banner displays, representing visits and visitors from around the world. Use of these flags will be among the topics for discussion next week.
Special Presentation
Harold Bauer introduced Liza Kobernik, a motivated mom who is working to create the Henry Oliver Academy. Born healthy in September 2007, Liza’s son Henry endured a long illness at six months of age which left him fragile and profoundly deaf. While cochlear implants offered some promise, Henry was not able to undergo the implantation procedure until he was 5 years of age.
Post-implementation, no schools in Chicagoland offered the therapeutic and educational support that Henry needed to progress.
After 18 years in the Evanston area, Liza made the difficult decision to split up her family, moving with Henry to Urbana, where he could be taught at an Auditory Oral school. Henry will soon be too old for that program.
Outcome statistics for the deaf are sobering. Currently, 50% of deaf high school students graduate reading at a 4th grade (or lower) level. Only 33% of deaf high school students earn a diploma. 43% of deaf adults do not participate in the workforce.
After years of research, it appears that an inclusive educational model offers deaf children the best chance at academic success. Liza and other concerned parents and professionals are working right now to create a high quality inclusion program, called the Henry Oliver Academy. While there is a lot of work to be done before its scheduled opening in the fall of 2016, there is no question that the need for its services is real. The Academy will allow deaf children to learn side-by-side with children of all abilities, and all will benefit. Liza and her colleagues would welcome any help with their effort – funding, connections, advice.
Liza Kobernik
Roasts & Boasts
Because we were running short on time, we did not entertain roasts and/or boasts today. Save 'em for next week.
Program
Have Dreams
Speaker: Bobbi Goldman, Director of Development
Charlotta Koppanyi introduced Bobbi Goldman, Director of Development for Have Dreams, a non-profit, diagnostic and family support service. Serving ages 16 months to adulthood, they offer a broad range of programs to serve the full range of the autism spectrum. Have Dreams was founded in 1996 by seven parents and two educators. At that time, the incidence of autism was one in 2,500.
Autism is currently the fastest growing developmental disorder in the U.S., affecting 1 in 45 children. Boys are four times more likely to be diagnosed with autism, and the disease doesn’t discriminate by race, ethnicity, or socio-economic background.
Have Dreams’ mission is to help individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder learn, function independently, and socialize so that they may realize their full potential and develop into contributing members of their communities. Have Dreams’ efforts fall into four key areas: Vocation/Employment, Afterschool, Training, and Consultation.
Bobbi’s presentation focused on autism in the workplace. Many characteristics exhibited by autistic individuals are highly valued in the workplace: attention to detail, consistency, ability to focus, adherence to schedule/routine, honesty, ability to notice variances. But to be successful, they need assistance and training in soft skills (listening, understanding body language and interpersonal cues, communication, teamwork, problem solving, maintaining self-control, receiving feedback).
Instruction and guidance must be individual-specific as everyone’s skills and deficits are different. Young adults may or may not be able to work, but they will be able to enjoy a variety of activities including field trips, cooking, fitness, and volunteering.
There are currently one million individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) ready to enter the workforce. Half a million will be transitioning in the next 10 years. 90% are under- or unemployed. 80% of those aged 19 to 30 years live at home with their parents.
Project Search, a Have Dreams initiative, is a collaboration with Northwestern University. Offered to students in their last year of high school, Project Search was designed to develop employable and marketable skills. Students travel to NU where they are met by Have Dreams staff. They attend daily classroom sessions (resume writing, coworkers, problem solving) and then participate in internships around the university in various offices and facilities (food service, bookstore, administrative offices).
The Have Dreams Academy also prepares clients for competitive employment. A mock Walgreens store (very similar in appearance to a real store) is located in the Have Dreams Dempster facility, allowing participants to train for positions in the retail sector. Similarly, the woman-owned I Love Sweets commercial bakery in Evanston trains young adults for work in a manufacturing facility. Participants spend two days/week in class and three days/week in the bakery developing real workplace skills. The project has been so successful that several interns have been hired as regular employees.
There are many opportunities for engagement with Have Dreams. Rotarians and other community members can offer workplace tours, assist with practice interviews, provide job internships, join the PSCA Business Advisory Council, or sponsor trial workdays.
Why has the incidence of autism increased so much? Bobbi attributes much of the increase to better diagnostics and re-categorization. While autism is a lifelong disability, individuals can improve, but early and ongoing intervention is critical. A structured teaching model, employing thoughtful, individualized attention, can lead to great progress. Much depends on resources. Have Dreams receives little to no government funding, relying instead on fundraising events, client fees, and donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations.
Following her presentation, President Steve announced that the club had purchased a copy of The Asperkid’s (Secret) Book of Social Rules, by Jennifer Cook O’Toole, which we are donating to the Evanston Public Library in Bobbi’s honor. He then presented her with a book mark to remember us by.
Bobbi Goldman with President Steve
Guests and Milestones
Visiting Rotarian
Andrew Kerr, RC of Research Triangle Park, NC
Guests
Liza Kobernik, founder – Henry Oliver Academy
Sofia Martin, RI employee
George Newton, son of Elizabeth Newton
Anniversaries
Elaine Clemens – 6 years
Eric Schmelling – 6 years
Lesley Peters – 1 year
Keith Sarpolis – 10 years
Next Week’s Assignments
Setup: Helen Oloroso and Lesley Peters
Greeters: Jacob Bachman and Chuck Bartling
Thought for the Day: Bill Glader
Scribe: Lesley Peters
Breakdown: Paul Brown and Dale Bradley
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