President Cleo started our meeting with the pledge, song, 4-way test and invocation.  She then announced it was Past President and Former District Governor Dave Underhill’s birthday.  A second song was required, slightly less formal.  Guests and visiting Rotarians were recognized.

 

 

Donna Lewallen announced her Basic Needs committee work is ramping up and needs storage space.  So, if any have dry space to spare, contact her.  Lindsey Hery reminded all to make your make-up work known to her.  Craig Taylor rose to thank the Cash Committee for supporting his Pan Mass Challenge effort.  His team did well, suffered no serious injuries and raised $13,000!  

 

 

Cleo brought up the subject of, as yet, some member’s unpaid dues.  No punishment was suggested, but our president has a fertile imagination.  Multiple happy dollars ensued.

 

Kathy Nickerson then introduced our speaker, Nicole Johnson, development coordinator for the Richie McFarland Children’s Center.  She told a personal tale of having adopted a child with Down’s syndrome. She and her husband were promptly confronted with the realities of parenting a disabled child.  Finding help at the RMCC was a key step for Nicole and her family.

 

Kathy then related the programs offered at RMCC and its community of educators, therapists and parents.  Finding support and empathy from providers allowed her to be a parent, helping her child into this new world. When a position came up for part-time development coordinator, Kathy felt privileged to be able to work for this organization.

 

 In her description of the therapy available, she emphasized that RMCC doesn’t label children, because labels produce limits.  Each child is thought of as unique and individual.  Important is also the support to the parents who are often overwhelmed.  At RMCC, a parent’s fears and frustrations are addressed and understood by the committed staff.   To try and answer the “What now?” question, RMCC works hard to transition their clients into the school system at the appropriate time.

 

RMCC offers more than meeting  the overriding goal of providing services to children in need. The organization endeavors to educate the community about early intervention strategies available.  With Rotary’s partnership this past year, we should all be ambassadors to our local communities.  

 

 

We’ll be starting a new year with a new partnership soon. But this first one in our initiative will always stay with us.

 

Respectfully submitted, Al Lantinen

Photos by Sara Treacy