Representatives from the non-profit organization RAMP updated Sycamore Rotarians this week on RAMP’s successes in helping those with disabilities live independently. Attending were Development Associate Justine Whitehouse, Education and Advocacy Coordinator Eric Brown, and recently named Executive Director Carolyn Morris. RAMP serves people in DeKalb, Boone, Winnebago, and Stephenson Counties. They seek to assist anyone with a disability to achieve independent living. Much of this is achieved through peer support.
Eric Brown said RAMP hopes to create a world where those with disabilities live barrier free. He said this means bringing awareness to business and public sector leaders on what can represent a barrier to someone with a disability. Likewise, he said it also means educating those with disabilities on how to overcome barriers. He pointed out that over half the employees at RAMP have some type of disability increasing their knowledge and understanding about the impact of various situations as a barrier to someone. Brown urged organizers of events and facility operators to have a disability assessment made of their sites to identify and rectify problem areas.
Justine Whitehouse spoke about youth programs to help those with disabilities. They offer training to assist youth from Kindergarten through High School. Whitehouse highlighted a unique school to work transition program for High School seniors called “Project Search” currently offered by DeKalb High School in association with Northwestern Medicine at Kishwaukee Hospital. The internship program rotates a student through three types of skills trainings supervised by a hospital staff member with school classroom instruction at the beginning and end of each day. Based on student interest and potential, a work offer would be forthcoming. Sycamore Rotarian and State Representative Jeff Keicher was acknowledged for his support of the program through resolutions he presents recognizing participants.
The RAMP representatives stressed awareness and advocacy as ways to help those with disabilities. The organization operates with about 60 percent of its budget coming from state and federal sources but relies on 40 percent of its funding from private sector contributions. Various fundraising events and donation information is on their website at www.RAMPCIL.org.
Below is a list of art fairs in the northern Illinois area that I found for the next few months. There are probably more, but this is a start. If you are looking for a good time, art fairs are usually a lot of fun. If you go, please collect business cards from vendors and any literature about the event. Get them to me and we can create a data base of vendors for our future event. Remember, no database, no event. Let's all get behind this and have some fun. Pick a fair and a couple of other Rotarians and make a fun day of it.
Posted by Joseph Derr, Rotary International on Jun 01, 2021
During a breakout session on “Welcoming the LGBTQ Community Into the Family of Rotary” during the 2017 Rotary International Convention in Atlanta, Michelle Wilson, a member of the Rotary Club of Athens Sunrise, Ohio, had a question. “I asked, ‘Why doesn’t Rotary have a group for LGBT+ people?’” When she added, “We should start one,” she says, “the response was overwhelming.”
Before the session had even ended, Sean O’Hara, a member of the Rotary Club of Lake Charles Happy Hour, Louisiana (and later the fellowship’s first president), had opened a Facebook group for LGBT people (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender). Wilson left the meeting with a stack of business cards from people who wanted to be part of the new group. The LGBT Rotarians and Friends Fellowship was born.
In between regular Zoom events held in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, members like Wilson — who is the group’s current president — are talking to clubs about promoting diversity and telling the story of being LGBT in Rotary.
The fellowship is seeking to work with clubs on projects that support the LGBT community and to offer resources to clubs that want to be more diverse and welcoming to all.
Rotary pride
"I’ve been a Rotarian for over 20 years, and Service Above Self is in my DNA. I’m 66 and came out at age 61. Serving the LGBT community is an acknowledgment that many others went before me, and it’s now my time to be of service." — Ronald Schoenmehl, Rotary Club of San Diego Downtown Breakfast, California
"When I became president of my club, my husband was seated at my side. The following year, when I passed my gavel, my husband pinned on my lapel the past president’s diamond pin my late father received in 1976 when his term ended. I’ve worn it ever since!" — David Bricka, Rotary Club of Sedro Woolley, Washington
Making Progress
"I was one of the first openly transgender presidents of a Rotary club in the world. When I was president, we had a Rotary/LGBT community information exchange meeting. None of those things could have happened 10 years ago." — Monica Mulholland, Rotary Club of Queenstown, New Zealand
"I’m optimistic that in the post-pandemic future, a couple of the Rotary clubs in our community will come together to participate in Pride events and support the LGBT community in other ways. Our clubs also need to identify LGBT community organizations that need our support, friendship, and mentorship." — John Culshaw, Rotary Club of Iowa City, Iowa
"As a transgender woman, I am interested in the issue of fair treatment of all genders. Today, most people understand that differences in gender identity are not a disease but are very common. Although younger generations are gradually adopting an open attitude toward LGBT groups, it is still awfully slow overall." — Wen-Yue Huang, Rotary Club of Taipei Nanlung, Taiwan
"It’s past time that we tell the whole story of who we are regardless of whether it is different from some established norm, because living an authentic life takes courage. This acceptance is freeing people and allowing us an opening rather than hiding who we are." — Mary MacLean, Rotary Club of Bozeman, Montana
“Joining Rotary and connecting with the fellowship has given me more purpose and drives me to get involved more than I ever have before.” — R. Lee Donaldson, Rotary E-Club of Hawaii
June 5, 1783 – The first sustained flight occurred as a hot air balloon was launched at Annonay, France, by brothers Joseph and Jacques Montgolfier.
June 3, 1937 – The Duke of Windsor marries twice-divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson (as King Edward VIII he abdicated the British throne the previous December to avoid a constitutional crisis by marrying a divorced woman).
June 5, 1968 – Robert F. Kennedy was shot and mortally wounded while leaving the Hotel Ambassador in Los Angeles after celebrating his victory in the California Presidential Primary.
June 4, 1989 – The Chinese government ordered troops to open fire on unarmed protesters in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, with an estimated 3,000 killed and 1,600 arrested.
