Check out this story about an ASL teacher from Romeo, Michigan to learn how she’s getting her students interested in learning sign language.
The Wisdom of Cats!
One day an old alley cat crossed paths with a younger cat frantically trying to catch its own tail. The older cat watched carefully for a while. When the young cat stopped for a breather, the older cat asked, “Would you mind telling me what you are doing?”
The young cat said, “Sure thing! I went to Cat Philosophy School and learned that happiness is in our tails. So I am going to keep chasing my tail and someday I will catch it and get a big bite of happiness.”
The older cat responded, “Well, I have never been to Cat Philosophy School, but I agree: Happiness is in our tails. However, I have found that when I just wander around enjoying life, it follows me everywhere I go.”
DUCK WALK – September 15, 2014
What a wonderful day to walk in Millennium Park! Our Quota Event signs and bright yellow balloons lined the way where our new Banner greeted our participants in front of Shelter B.
Our new banner welcoming our walkers!
Registration hard at work!
Despite the cold weather, almost 80 people joined us for our annual Duck Walk, a fund and awareness raising event. We had several activities for the kids including face painting by former JQ member, Amy, and our own member, Rachael and her friend, Kenzee.
Face painting masterpieces!
Special guests included Mr. Quackers and ventriloquist Chris with his puppet friends, Gertrude and Theodore. Ashlee from the Meijer Hearing Center conducted free hearing screening for our guests. And Quotarian Sue demonstrated her fishing skills with the kids at the duck pond!
Mr. Quackers and friend!
Chris with Gertrude and Theodore!
Free hearing screenings provided by Ashley from Meijer Hearing Centers
Goin’ fishing!
There were participants from many of Quota’s partner service organizations including Northview’s Total Communication Program and the Grand Rapids Oral Deaf program.
We hope everyone who participated had a great time! Thanks for supporting Quota and our service mission.
August 2014 Meeting minutes
All the excitement from the Duck Walk led to a delay in posting our minutes from August. Have no fear, here they are! A huge thank you to Cathy for doing such a fabulous job.
Quota International of Grand Rapids Membership Meeting
Sunnybrook Country Club, Grandville, MI
August 21, 2014
Present: Barbara Griffin, Martha Herman, Pam Howland, Cathy Kaiser, Robin Keith, Maureen Martin, Rachael Owsinski, Kim Savoie, Sue Scharf, Emily Uebbing.
10 members and 4 guests attended.
1. Call to order: 6:00 pm by President Martha Herman. Quota Collect
2. Consent Agenda: July meeting minutes were approved as sent. Robin was awarded a prize for uncovering the false line in the minutes. (Sorry – no fundraiser for the Australia Convention).
Martha announced the updated Finance & Fundraising Chairperson’s job description. It was determined that membership does not need to approve this. It will be finalized at the next Board Meeting.
Travel raffle: All agreed to follow Emily’s suggestion and designate travel raffle funds for World Service projects. This will be implemented beginning with the 2015 -16 budget year. Travel raffle netted $22 and the gift was won by Jeannette Johnson, an edible treat brought back from convention by Kim and Emily.
3. Recognition of Guests: Jeannette Johnson, the new DHHS Development Director, with her interpreter Roberta Schultz, Kenzee Daniels, guest of Rachael Owsinski, and Kathie McFarlin, guest of Martha Herman.
4. Leaders Survey: Conducted by QI before convention, the survey revealed interesting facts about Quota worldwide, including: The average number of years of membership is between 10 and 19 years; average size of the clubs is 16-25; average age 51-64. The synopsis is attached. If you would like the complete results, contact Martha or Robin.
5. DHHS and collaboration: We will be collaborating with DHHS and other agencies to enhance fundraising efforts. On August 23, guests had the opportunity to duck tape Jeannette Johnson to the wall. Join the DHHS Fundraiser at Logan’s Road House on Alpine, Wednesday, September 3, 5 – 9 pm. Cathy will buy drinks for any Quotarian who arrives after 6 pm. On September 25 at 7:30 “No Ordinary Hero” will be playing at Celebration Cinema at Rivertown.
More to come! See the attachments.
6. Duck Walk update: Martha sent and passed around the sign up list of duties the day of the event. Sign up! Meijer Hearing Centers want to participate. They want to provide a sponsorship for the walk. A hearing screening booth will be available at the walk. Martha is coordinating the purchase of “Quota Blue” t-shirts that all members can purchase to wear at the Duck Walk and other events. Cost is $9.00. She will send the ordering/size information. A new duck costume will be ordered for Bruce Savoie, our duck mascot. Robin provided Duck Walk brochures/pledge form for all to recruit walkers. She also e-sent the brochure with electronic donation connection (www.quotagr.org) to all Quota members, last year’s walkers, celebration attendees, Quota alumni, and shopping event vendors. Cathy will send brochures to anyone without an email address. We have received our first $250 sponsorship plus a $100 donation from Peggy Frank, Audiologist from Newaygo. Barbara Griffin has also sponsored the Walk from her team. Martha sent information about the Duck Walk to 43 hearing centers and audiologists.
7. Barnes & Noble update: Pam announced that Lisa Braendle is Co-Chair and anxious for a Quota member to step up and Co-Chair with her at this fun event. The book sale is Nov. 8 at Woodland Mall, the same day that Santa arrives there. We will have crafts for kids, guest authors and more!
8. Daytime tours of Ken-O-Sha: Sandi is coordinating a visit to the GROD school. Watch for details of this school-time event.
9. Guest Speaker: Jeannette Johnson, Director of Development, DHHS.
Jeannette delivered a very interesting overview of DHHS services and deaf culture, with the assistance of her interpreter, Roberta. DHHS was established in 1996 and has grown to provide services for 3,000 individuals, with an annual budget of $750,000. Their biggest service is providing interpreters within a 15 county area; 250 jobs per month. DHHS has an ADAPT program for senior citizens. DHHS offers ASL sign language classes. ASL is the official language of deaf in this country, originating in the 1960’s through Gallaudet. DHHS also offers a kids sign program to provide socialization and deaf role models for young people. They also held summer camp for 40 kids this year. Any organization can request cultural and sensitivity training. Anyone can stop into DHHS Monday – Friday, 9am – 4pm. Deaf see the world through their eyes – they are very visual and tend to be blunt. Look at the deaf person when you speak – not at the interpreter. For more information contact Jeannette: development@deafhhs.org.
Martha adjourned the meeting at 7:15pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Cathy Kaiser, Recording Secretary
Leaders Survey 2014
Quota International sent out a survey to 242 Club Presidents and 20 Regional Directors. 52% were returned and here is a synopsis of its results.
- There are 68 clubs in the U.S., 44 in Australia, 7 in Canada, 6 in the Philippines, 3 in New Zealand, 2 in Aruba and India, and one each in Curacao, Suriname and The Netherlands
- In our region, there were 4 respondents.
- The average number of years of membership is between 10 and 19 years.
- Most members have served as Presidents for 2 years.
- Average size of the clubs is 16-25; average age 51-64.
- 100% of the clubs serve Disadvantaged Women and Children; 94% serve the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and 72% provide World Service
- There are several pages depicting the primary focus of each club.
I found the statistics to be quite interesting. Lots of ideas and projects were given in the comments and goals sections.
Just so you know – Chapter 2, Duck Walk
JUST SO YOU KNOW – CHAPTER 2; SEPTEMBER 2, 2014
Here’s an update on what’s happening with the Duck Walk:
- Millennium Park is confirmed and ready. The posts have been constructed for the stand-alone banner for the sidewalk/top of the bank so no one will miss us. The other banner will be displayed on the shelter itself. Cathy K. has traveled the route and will mark it will balloons along the path. At the entrance to the park, she will post our signs and attach balloons, too. Duck tape will be used to lead people to the registration desk where Peggy and Maureen will help them register, donate and sign the waiver of liability.
- Ashlee Dowley, Manager of Meijer Hearing Centers, will be giving FREE hearing screenings in the shelter. She’s also hoping for a donation from Meijer
- Tickets to exchange for duck bills will be handed out to everyone who registers. (We prefer that the children get them first.) We have some left from last year plus we have purchased more this year. Tickets for the duck bills will be collected by Kathie McFarlin in an area away from the congestion of the registration site.
- Sue S.& company have activities for the children including the new, improved duck pond.Chocolate kisses will be distributed to those who catch the ducks. Face painting will be available near the pond.
- Barbara G. is our photographer for the event with Pam H. as the security agent. Cathy K. has a photo booth we can use from her family reunion. Photo permission slips will be available for those people who may want their picture on our advertising. If noted, pictures can be sent via email to those people who request them.
- Gertrude and Theodore will be present before the walk begins.
- Pat C. & company will distribute water and snacks at the shelter and at a location along the path.
- We purchased a cute duck costume for less than the cost of renting one. Martha will pick it up and see if any alterations need to be made. Bruce S. will strut his stuff in it, hopefully, without sweating bullets!
- The t-shirts have been ordered and should be ready sometime next week. Martha will hand them out at the walk but pick up is available in Newaygo for anyone who can’t wait to get theirs!
- A rough estimate shows that we have collected around $1000 including two sponsors: Baird Group (Thank you, Barbara and your team!) and Peggy from Audibel Hearing in Newaygo. (Peggy also donated an additional $100 beyond the Quackers sponsorship level.) So we are already at twice the number of sponsors as we had from last year!!
- Sarah G. will be making her usual, creative name tags. Please wear a Quota shirt of some kind if you haven’t purchased a new t-shirt.
Martha is still waiting to hear from Meijer and Miracle Ear about possible donations/sponsorships. Does anyone else have some sponsor wanna-bees? Martha has sent out information on the Walk to about four dozen other audiologists and hearing aid suppliers
Please contact Martha directly if you haven’t already signed up for an assignment at the Walk. A program agenda for the day of the Walk will be distributed soon and will be posted at the Walk. Again, registration will begin at 12 noon. At 12:30 we will have children’s games and FREE hearing screening available; Gertrude, Theodore and the Big Duck will be available for pictures; duck bills will be ready to adorn the little ones. The official start of the Walk will be 1:30. Water and snacks will be available along the marked path.
Have I forgotten anything?? Kindly let me know if I have. Thanks for your support, as always!
Martha
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