Blog

Getting to Know… Peggy

Getting to Know… Peggy


Peggy’s favorite snack is her mom’s chocolate chip cookies. Her favorite movie is “West Side Story”

She was asked if she has ever seen a shooting star or a comet and she has not!

The most surprising gift she ever received was a cookbook! She is afraid to go into the kitchen because there are big scary appliances that you could hurt yourself on.

Would Peggy rather be a tour guide or a golf trainer? She chose a tour guide, that way she would get to go to new and exciting places.

If she had to describe her life as an amusement park ride she would be the lazy river because she would love to have the time to just float around and forget about deadlines and job pressures.

And Peggy’s favorite letter of the alphabet is the letter “L” because it’s fun to do a cursive capital letter.

Thank you Peggy for sharing a little bit about yourself!

Read more

Protected: Membership Application

This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Read more

Protected: Minutes from June 18, 2009

This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Read more

Quota Quick Update from International

Quota Quick Update – 24 June 2009

The QUOTA QUICK UPDATE is an occasional e-newsletter for members of Quota International . Remind your Quota friends that they can join this FREE mailing list by sending their e-mail address to staff@quota.org.

IN THIS ISSUE:

1.   NEW PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE LIVE ON WWW.QUOTA.ORG

2. 2009 EXCELLENCE AWARD & QUOTA CARES MONTH COMPETITION WINNERS ANNOUNCED

3. QUOTARIAN MAGAZINE HONORED BY COMMUNICATOR AWARDS

**************************

1.   NEW PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE LIVE ON WWW.QUOTA.ORG

President Toddy Silkman offers a challenge to Quota members in her final President’s Message published on www.quota.org. Click the “President’s Message” link on the home page. http://www.quota.org/qn/qn.headlines.htm

**************************

2.  2009 EXCELLENCE AWARD AND QUOTA CARES MONTH COMPETITION WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Quota International is pleased to announce the winners of the organization’s 2009 club competitions. Congratulations go to:

2009 EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS:

Membership

Quota International of Manila South, Philippines

Quota International of Parkes , New South Wales , Australia

Fellowship & Fun

Quota International of Greensboro , North Carolina , U.S.A.

Quota International of Ruston , Louisiana , U.S.A.

Fund-raising

Quota International of Estes Park , Colorado , U.S.A.

Quota International of Lower Clarence , New South Wales , Australia

Publicity

Quota International of Estes Park , Colorado , U.S.A.

Quota International of Whakatane , New Zealand

Disadvantaged Women and Children Service

Quota International of Baton Rouge , Louisiana , U.S.A.

Quota International of Orillia , Ontario , Canada

Hearing and Speech Service

Quota International of Port Huron , Michigan , U.S.A.

Quota International of Metro Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.

_________________________

2009 QUOTA CARES MONTH WINNERS:

Top Winners

Quota International of Gridley , California , U.S.A.

Quota International of Las Piñas , Philippines

Quota International of Orange , New South Wales , Australia

Quota International of Taree, New South Wales , Australia

Quota International of Goulburn , New South Wales , Australia

Honorable Mention Winners

Quota International of Manila , Philippines

Quota International of  Iloilo , Philippines

Quota International of  Central Oregon , Oregon , U.S.A.

Quota International of  Coffs Harbour , New South Wales , Australia

Quota International of  Monroe , Louisiana , U.S.A.

More information about each winning project will be published on-line at www.quota.org later in the year.

**************************

3. QUOTARIAN MAGAZINE HONORED BY COMMUNICATOR AWARDS

Quota International’s member magazine, The Quotarian, was honored by the Communicator Awards with a 2009 Award of Excellence. The Communicator Awards is the leading international awards program honoring creative excellence for communications professionals. Founded by communication professionals over a decade ago, the Communicator Awards is an annual competition honoring the best in advertising, corporate communications, public relations and identity work for print, video, interactive and audio.

**************************

Occasional QUOTA QUICK UPDATES are sent to members with e-mail addresses in the Quota International membership database. At no time is e-mail information sold or loaned to other organizations. To delete, change, or add an e-mail address in this database, please contact staff@quota.org.

This QUOTA QUICK UPDATE was written by Nancy

nancy@quota.org

Read more

Protected: Quotations – July 2009

This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Read more

Quota Dollars

Scope

This is developed as an incentive, a mixer, and motivation for participation in meetings by Quotarians. Quota Dollars will be awarded on the spot to active Quotarians. Each Quotarian can redeem up to a maximum of $50 Quota Dollars every six months. Each Quotarian will be responsible for keeping track of their earned Quota Dollars and redeeming them with the Club Treasurer (Kim). If our supply of Quota Dollars runs out, no more will be rewarded until Quota dollars are redeemed.

How can you earn Quota Dollars

Perfect Attendance including Special Meetings $30

Perfect Attendance per [meal] plan $20 (Based on regular meetings in one calendar year -excludes all special meetings)

Good Attendance per [meal] plan $10 (Based on missing no more then 2 of the regular meetings in one calendar year -excludes all special meetings)

Committee Meeting Attendance $10 (Based on Committee Chair discretion)

Bringing a Guest to a meeting $10

Having a Guest join our club $20

In addition, Quota Dollars can be purchased (minimum of $10=$10 Q.D.) These can be great Secret Pal gifts, birthday presents, thinking of you remembrances, etc.

Redemption

Quota dollars can be redeemed for:

  • Dues
  • Conference Fees
  • Installation Banquet/Special Meetings & Events
  • Golf Outing Meals

The Quota Dollars program will be tested on a two year trial basis.

Read more

HLA’s 5th Anniversary Event at the JW Marriott

As a Quota member, it is encouraging to know that the part our Club plays in fulfilling its mission of serving the local and global communities on service to the deaf and the hearing impaired is part of a greater force.  This became very evident while attending  HLA’s 5th Anniversary event at the JW Marriott June 15, 2009.

Not only were attendees able to experience the hearing loop system but an interpreter and captionist were provided.

Chris Jacques, President of HLA-GR welcomed everyone to the event and set the stage for some well known speakers.

First, US Representative Vern Ehlers shared with the group the “Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit Act (H.R.1646) he is trying to get passed.  This would provide a tax credit of up to $500.00 per hearing aid, available once every 5 years, towards the purchase of a hearing aid, available to: 1) individuals age 55 and over, or 2) those purchasing a hearing aid for a dependent.  The bill includes a $200,000/year income-eligibility cap.

Following Mr. Ehlers, Richard M. DeVos, Founder of Amway Corporation was presented with the HLA-GR Appreciation Award.  Mr. DeVos stressed that “communication” is not just hearing but conveying your message in positive ways.  He emphasized that it doesn’t matter what time it is.  It is YOUR time and the only time you have so deal with things NOW!

Another well known speaker, Professor David G. Myers, author of “A Quiet World – Living with Hearing Loss”, (click here for his website) spoke on different kinds of hearing loss.  In addition to technologies available, there are various adjustments that can be made to help the hard of hearing such as holding a meeting in a quiet place at a small table with lots of lighting so you can see the other person’s eyes and hands.  He sees hearing aids as glasses for the ears. He went on to further discuss many of the technologies available for assistive listening and especially what a difference the T-coil is making.  He mentioned some of the places that are now looped such as the Grand Rapids Airport, DeVos Convention Center, churches and taxis in London.  In addition, New York City is trying to get 642 subway booths looped.

He encourages all to DREAM BIG and “LET’S LOOP AMERICA”!

Mr. Myers’ message of dreaming big was carried on with the next speaker, Bill Barkeley.  Mr. Barkeley is a motivational speaker who is deaf-blind and who successfully climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro (you can read more about his adventure here).

What an inspiration!!!!!!!!!!!

He believes that sometimes restraints help you go somewhere.  His restraints took him to the top of the mountain.

He wanted to reach the summit so he could get his message out to not let disabilities define you – you define your own abilities and dreams can come true.

As the audience sat teary eyed, the program ended with Keith Brautigam, Calvin College Professor of Music, singing “Climb Every Mountain”.

As all the information and positive words were flowing, a central theme emerged throughout the morning –

DREAM BIG AND ENJOY AND MAKE THE MOST OF NOW!

Truley Inspired!

Jan

Read more

Protected: District 20 Newsletter

This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Read more

Recipe for today: Strawberry Strata

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature (about 1/2 cup)
  • 4 ounces ricotta cheese, room temperature (about 1/2 cup)
  • 8 eggs
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1 cup frozen strawberries, thawed and drained (about 10 ounces)
  • 1/2 cup honey, warmed
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 (12 to 16-inch) ciabattta loaf, crust removed and cut into 1-inch cubes

Directions

Place the cheeses in a large bowl and stir together with a wooden spoon. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing until completely incorporated before adding next. Stir in the milk, strawberries, honey, cinnamon, and bread. Pour into an 8 x 10 x 2-inch casserole dish. If freezing, cover with plastic wrap and place in freezer for one day up to one month.

To bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake covered with foil for 45 minutes. Increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees F. Remove foil and continue baking for 30-35 minutes.

Makes: 6-8 servings

Source: FoodNetwork.com, courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis

Read more

Breakfast at Metro

At the end of May, several Quota members took a tour of the new Metro Hospital.

Scott, who is the Special Gifts Director of the Metro Health Hospital Foundation, lead the tour. He pointed out several key elements in the new hospital. The first, and most important, is that it is LEED certified. In layman’s terms that means the building is made with “green” or sustainable materials. One major component of this green building is the roof garden. If you happen to be visiting the hospital, take the elevator from the main lobby up to the third floor. The elevator doors open out into a smaller lobby where you can walk over to the window and gaze down on this amazing garden. All of the plantings on the grounds are native Michigan plants.

The roof collects rain water and filters it through shale. It is then used to water the vegetation out in the parking lots. Scott informed us that the run off water has been tested, and through the filtering of the plants the water does not need any treatment before returning to the ground!

Another fascinating part of the hospital is the detail to the design. Nurses, doctors and former patients were all asked to give their input in the design. Several mock-up rooms were set up in a warehouse, where those involved were able to be in the space and point out what worked and what didn’t. As a result, the rooms have more of a luxury hotel feel than a hospital.

Scott also pointed out that in each room (which are all single occupancy, no sharing rooms here!) that the bed is on the same wall. The rooms are not mirrored. One might not think twice about that, until it was pointed out that it was designed this way so that in an emergency a doctor or nurse can run into any room and know immediately where the oxygen, monitors, etc are. They are all on the same side of every room; which means that all the wiring, pipes, etc run up through every wall. But those precious seconds of running into a room and having to stop to think about which side of the room the bed is on, are now spent saving the person who needs help.

Another small detail, and one of the reasons why we are interested in Metro, is their care for hard of hearing individuals who stay there. At the check-in, the person with hearing impairment is given a special bag. This contains a bag for hearing aids, as well as other important information for their stay in the hospital. A special sign is placed outside their room, letting doctors and nurses know that they will need to make sure the patient understands what is being said to them. It is a small detail, yet it ensures better care for the patients.

There were many more impressive details, I’m afraid I might bore you… but the good news is if you are interested in seeing the hospital for yourself; they offer tours once a month! Or just go and wander around. You might find peace and solitude in the beautiful garden, or you may become transfixed on the Wall of Thanks. It is an amazing hospital and worth a visit, especially if you are not arriving in an Ambulance.

Read more

All Rights Reserved