Walker AMBUCS™

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President Nicks welcomed us all and our guests to Uccello’s today.  Cheryl Lemieux led us in the pledge and Mishelle Becker prayed for us all.  Joining us as guests were Jonathan McCarty (Walker AMBUCS webmaster) and our speaker Donna Poag from Kent Vocational Option.

Kent Vocational Option is a program that teaches 18-26 year old mentally impaired students.  Many of the students have I.Q.’s around 50 and the social skills of 11-12 year olds.  Donna and her fellow teachers teach students how to interact socially, to learn job skills, to learn how to use their Leisure time and how to ride city busses safely (among other skills).  Each year they go on a “Big Trip”.  This will be the second year in a row that they will be spending a day in Chicago.  Last year they concentrated on Transportation.  They took the Amtrak train, rode the “El” and experienced all of the people walking in a HUGE city.  This year the trip will focus on “Seeing the sites”.  They will be riding a charter bus and visiting Wrigley Field, the “Home Alone” house, the Harold Washington Public Library (largest in the world), Millennium Park and the Oprah Winfrey store (and possibly studio).  In addition they will dine at the Rainforest Café.  Each year Kent Vocational Options seeks out new groups to help with the costs of the trip.  Donna requested $300 from us to help out.  She doesn’t know it yet, but will be receiving a check for $300 from us very soon.

Jonathan is a familiar face to many of us.  Not only is he a co-worker of April Bisonet and Laura Blankenship at IBS, he is the webmaster of the famous Walker AMBUCS website.

Rachel said we are doing something special next week but she wasn’t sure what it was.  Somebody reminded her it is our AmTryke Lunch at The Outback.  We are still looking for more attendees!  She thanked everyone who has worked so hard to get people to come to the lunch.  Lisa Rios has done a FANTASTIC job of recruiting other Edward Jones offices.  Thanks Lisa!!!  Mayor Mc Cheese thanked Tom Brown (Design Edge Sign) for making us a great banner that is hanging at Outback now.  He also thanked Jonathan for making some great table tents that are on every table at the Outback.  It will be a wonderful event.  Thank you also to everyone who signed up to help work at the event.  We could still use some more baskets to auction off and some trinkets to give away with our 50/50 drawing.  If you can help, please call Rachel at 791-6862 or the Mayor at 774-9290.  Don’t get those numbers confused!

Rachel reminded us that we all need to vote EVERY DAY for the Pepsi refresh project.  Go to http://www.refresheverything.com/amtrykesforchildren to vote.  If AMBUCS is among the top 5 vote getters Pepsi will donate $50,000 to provide AmTrykes to children on the wish list.  Please share this link with your friends, family and coworkers.  Remind them to VOTE EVERY DAY.  We are up against some really tough competition and need EVERYONE’S help. 

Steve Davis (who voted today) let us know that we now have 4 seats available for Feast for Kids (the dinner to benefit Kids Food Basket) on May 4.  If you would like to attend, please call or email Steve soon.  He can be reached at 791-9400 or email him at stevesbdavis@sbcglobal.net.

He also thanked Don Owen, Mishelle Becker, Sherry Wierzbicki, Randy Ver Burg, Phil Bennett and Fred Wicht for volunteering to help out at Bikes for the Rest of us, April 24 at Mary Free Bed.  He also learned today that Al Lemieux will be bringing the trailer down for the morning.  Thanks Al!  We will also be joined by Danica Rodrieguez (a scholarship applicant) who will be helping us out.  We could still use a couple more people.  If that person is you, please let Steve know ASAP. 

Mayor Mc Cheese explained a bit about VSA.  It seems Al will also be bringing the trailer to that event.  That will happen on Friday May 7.  If you can help out, please call Steve Monroe (aka Mayor M) at 774-9290 or email him at steve@ibs401k.com. 

Phil Bennett let us know we need to be working on getting team for our Swing for Kids golf outing.  Sponsorships are needed at the following levels:
Eagle Sponsors ($600) includes registration for 4 Golfers, Hole Sponsorship, Recognition on Club House Banner and recognition at the Awards Ceremony.
Birdie Sponsors ($250) includes Hole Sponsorship, recognition on Club House Banner and recognition at the Awards Ceremony.
Putting Challenge Challenge ($500) – Large sign at practice green during tournament, recognition on main club house banner, recognition at the Awards Ceremony.
Players($100 per player) – registration for 18 holes of golf with a cart, lunch, player gift, and on course events.
In addition to our club members promoting this great event, we will also have some radio time on WOOD, WGVU and WJRW radio.

Our esteemed President decided today would be Election Day.  Congratulations to our new club officers:  Mishelle Becker President, Brigitte Curry 1st Vice President,, Rachel Nicks 2nd Vice President, Tanya Sawicki Sergeant, Phil Bennett Treasurer and Steve Davis Secretary.  Congratulations also to Ed Voss and Cheryl Lemieux for being chosen to be Directors until 2012. 

It truly was Ed Voss’ lucky day today.  Not only did he win an unprecedented 44th term as a Director, he pulled the King of Clubs from the deck.  He walked away $444 richer (well not quite as he donated a portion of it back to the club).  Thanks Ed!  We will start with a new deck in 2 weeks. 

Cheryl reminded us to keep the family of Dean Jackson, Past National President of AMBUCS who passed away at the age of 55 in our thoughts and prayers.  Dean was a big supporter of AMBUCS and was really excited about the Pepsi Grant.  Please remember to vote daily.  Let’s do it for Dean!Rachel let us know about a donation that we will be receiving from Awareness Home Funding.  It seems our lone Birthday boy for the month, George Hofacker let Shawn Devries from Awareness know of our group.  Shawn will be attending The AmTryke lunch next week so we will all get a chance to thank him in person.  Thanks George for doing that for us.Two weeks ago, Dr Chris Bell (a new Chiropractor in Walker) attended our meeting.  He was so impressed, not only is he planning on joining he is handing out flyers that anyone who donates $25 to Walker AMBUCS will get a free exam and consultation.  If you happen to read your Advance Newspaper you just might see Chris’ smiling face in it.  For more information on how to get your free exam and help out our cause, please call Chris’ office at 784-3131.  Thanks Chris! On April 29 the Grand Rapids Young Professionals will be hosting a “Get Involved” expo at McFadden’s from 5:30-8:30.  The event will local non profits that can use volunteers or leadership or both.  Last year we shared a booth with Kenowa AMBUCS and it was a great evening.  If you can make it, please call Rachel at 791-6862. 

On May 12, Cheryl Schuch, Executive Director of Family Promise GR will be speaking with us.  Cheryl is the former volunteer coordinator of Kids Food Basket.

The AMBUCS car donation allows you to donate a vehicle (running or not) and we will receive the proceeds and you are able to write off the cost as a donation.  It is a simple process.  For more information, go to www.ambucs.org and click on the donation tab or call Rachel at 791-6862.  We have already had our first donation (we are the 1st club in Michigan to do so). 

Thought of the week
Attitudes are the real disabilities.
Henry Holden via Lynn Yntema (she says to tell all Walker AMBUCS hello and she misses us)