Newton Rotary Meeting Tuesday Jan 28 2014
Marc Epstein led us in the Pledge of allegiance
Paul Kerrissey gave us a nice invocation (to help Mary out)
Marie Presti led the singing of My Country Tis of Thee
Guests:
Rebecca Lubens is the Executive Director of Understanding Our Differences. She provides overall leadership and management of the organization, directing the organization’s staff, fundraising, communications, and execution of its mission, working closely with the Board of Directors.
Jenni Acosta is the Program Director of Understanding Our Differences. She recruits, coordinates and trains parent and community volunteers and ensures the successful implementation of the 7 program units of Understanding Our Differences program in the 15 Newton Public elementary schools.
Understanding Our Differences is an organization working in partnership with the Newton Public Schools to provide a unique, creative disability awareness program for elementary school children in grades 3-5. The program promotes inclusion, understanding and acceptance of people with disabilities and chronic medical conditions at our schools and in our community. The program is implemented by parent and community volunteers and covers 7 units: Blindness/Low Vision, Deafness/Hard of Hearing, Learning Disabilities, Chronic Medical Conditions, Physical Disabilities, Intellectual Disabilities, and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Understanding Our Differences was founded in Newton in 1978 by parents of children with disabilities. They were dedicated to increasing information and understanding about disabilities, and reducing bullying and name-calling.ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Jeff Tucker: Death By Chocolate update: We had the event on Sunday. It was a fun day. Numbers are down from last year unfortunately. Door brought in more $ this year due to the increase in ticket price of $25. $17K will be split between the two clubs (Waltham and Newton Rotary).
Sue Peghiny: Newton Has Talent update: We have posters. Put them up.
Rotary donated a book to the Newton Library on behalf of the speakers. The book is The Fog of Paranoia.
Martin Luther King Jr. video. Speak to Tony bibbo if you want a link.
Mary received thank you notes:
1) Maria Parioa - $300 to go to Italy with her class (through the Boys and Girls club grants)
2) Village Bank - VB city of Newton holiday gift drive.
3) John M. Barry Boys and Girls club - $300 for Maria.
On Feb 11th we will not have a normal day meeting but will be meeting at Vecchia Roma at 6 pm instead of day meeting. It is a Paul Harris celebration.
Rebecca pulled ticket 768 and it is Jim Means' ticket! 10 spades. Too bad. Jim has been in Rotary for 30 years and has never won. A few of us truly were hoping that he would win.
Paul is looking for a motion for a slate for next year: President: Mark Nicolas, Elect - Indira Srg Sue, Treasuer-Jeff, Sec-Chris, Ex Mary Kern.
Board of Directors: David Sellers, 2, Paul Sullivan, Marie Presti, Jim Means - 2 yr, Tony Bibbo, Mary Kern. It was motioned and seconded.
HAPPY DOLLARS:
Sue - DBC
Marie - DBC, the committee, my son, my parents
David - DBC
Tony - DBC, Boston most expensive city to run anything.
Paul K - sunlight without cold, friendship with Peggy.
Peggy - for taking her places, DBC
Dick - DBC, thanks for Martin Luther King event and those who helped
Bill Lowrey - DBC, son's triplets loved it. 2 out of 3 won prizes,
Paul S. - DBC, daughter Shannon elected to NH 40 under 40 business leaders. She is exec director of community relations.
Carolina - sad for missing so many weeks. Happy to be back.
Marc Epstein bought the Death by Chocolate Cake that Icing on the cake always raffles off. Its in the freezer waiting for a party.
Speakers: Rebecca and Jenni from Understanding our Differences started their talk.
Disability awareness educational program. grades 3-5. updated by teams of educators, medical professionals, and people with disabilities
all 15 elementary schools and area schools
Promote inclusive friendly schools and communities. High proportion of kids with disabilities are bullied. They have kids with disabilities speak sometimes from the school itself.
in 1975 children with disabilities would now be included in public school classrooms. It became law. Understanding handicaps were the first name back in1978. Parents were passionate about bringing this to Newton. They believed that trained parent volunteers should present to the kids. Parents were learning as well as the parents. There were 5 original units (blindness, deafness, intellectual disabilities,hysical disabilities and epilepsy). its now 10 units.
it is a 501c3 organization. They're in the schools and have been but are granted by Newton schools for part of it. Board of Directors, Advisory Board, Medical Advisors, Staff, Volunteers. 350 parent volunteers trained each year. over 2900 students taught each year. almost 30K student participants over 30+ years.
3rd grade: blindness, deafness
4th grade: learning disabilities, chronic medical condition
5th grade: autism, intellectual disabilities,
starts with a slide show and/or video. Hands on activities like learning to write their name in brail. and then a guest speaker.
Rely on volunteers. School Coordinator, run a grade or a school. Unit volunteers presents hands on activities. Citywide volunteers who are community members. Provide curriculum, training, and support to all volunteers. Online training too.
They bring disability themed events to the community. Author who wrote a book. Sometimes geared at children. "Wonder" was one book. "out of my mind" was another. "Far from the Tree" written by andrew solomon also had an event. Connection with school librarians. Gala May 4 2-4pm honoring LInda Hiller, who has MS and has done a lot of volunteering. Dick and rick Hoyt last year of running the marathon.
How long is the program? 2 hour program per unit times 10 units.
Mary adjourned at 1:30 pm.
Submitted by Marie Presti.
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