Libertyville Sunrise Rotary Bulletin

 

February 19, 2020

 

By Brad Gutzler

 

Rob Zamor opened with the pledge and Bill Rickert led us in prayer. Doug Fendon inspired us with his rendition of Bottle of Wine...there wasn’t enough wine to go around.

 

Ron (our renowned auctioneer)

 

None

 

The winter fundraiser is fast approaching and we still need silent auction items, as well as additional bottles of wine from members. As of Tuesday 2/18, 44 out of 200 tickets have been sold. The last planning meeting will be held at Pet Factory on March 3rd at 5:30 pm.

 

Tentative dates for the Giving and Installation Dinners are May 20th and June 24th, respectively.

 

Scott Hezner is looking for volunteers for the American Legion community service project on April 11th.

 

President-elect Tom Zengeler ensured we have plenty of time to determine who will be the next Presidential nominee by holding an early election round in lieu of a fun and frolics game.

 

Nick Baird and Michael Welsh joined us this week from the Center for Enriched Living (CEL). The CEL has been established for more than 50 years and it has been responsible for providing life-changing opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. CEL’s primary facility is located in Riverwoods, but they assist individuals throughout the Chicagoland area and beyond. The organization offers a full suite of programs that provide social, recreational, employment and educational opportunities. CEL’s annual budget is approximately $4MM and they have assisted over 480 members thus far.

 

Nick is the Employment Manager and he educated us on the in-depth employment process his team is involved with. The employment team works with many partners within the surrounding communities so that they can provide a customized employment opportunity for as many individuals as possible. Nick and his team take the time to meet with both employers and employee candidates to ensure the employment situation is an ideal fit for both parties and has the best chance for long term success. In addition to helping individuals find employment, Nick’s team provides training and job coaches for anywhere from 90 days to two years after employment.

 

Michael delved into the Adult Day Programs, which are the REACH and Enriched Lifestyles for Adults (ELA) programs. Both programs are available for individuals ages 22 and older. The REACH program focuses on young adults who spend approximately 70% of their time out and about with local community partners gaining a wide variety of experiences from volunteer and work skills to recreation and social activities. The ELA program is a partnership with the Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association (NSSRA) and focuses on individuals with developmental disabilities. The core program areas include independent living and continuing education, communication and socialization, recreation and leisure, and community integration.