Today’s ArcOctober 2010

Volume 9, Issue 10

Inside thisissue:

Mission, Core Values, Board Members

2

From the Executive Director

3

Resource Fair Flyer 4-5

Aquatics 8

October 2010 Calendar

10

Membership Form 11

Save the Date

2010 Resource Fair

October 16th

19 Workshops 8:30 am - 1:30 pm

Resource Fair9:30 am - 12:30 pm

Beautiful ly Restored • Red with Black IntertiorAutomatic Transmission • 302 cu in motor - V8

1966 MUSTANG

Donated by KR Mustang

Kevin Casey

Photos courtesy of Mary Favre

$100per

ticket

Special Thanks to:Mustang Mania, Langford’s Transmissions, and Joe’s Paint & Body

Benefiting Arc of Fort Bend County

Drawing to be held at “Best in the West ” Dinner & Dance

November 20, 2010 - George Ranch

Need not be present to win • TT&L Not Included

Call The Arc of Fort Bend for tickets - $100 each - 281 - 494 - 5959

“Best in the West” 2010 Raffle

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The Arc of Fort Bend County Board of Directors 2009-2010

EXECUTIVE BOARDChairmanBarry Beard

Vice ChairmanGreg Hernandez

TreasurerKaren Daly

SecretarySandra Pierce

MEMBERS AT LARGE Mike CaseyRick CushenberryBecky GearyHimesh GhandiAvis GoldyJenny GortneyPaul HardingStewart JacobsonLarryn LobueJack MolhoMary Stephney Quinby

Executive DirectorLaura LaVigne

Education AdvocateCheryl Sewell

Employment SpecialistMargo Pasko

Program DirectorNancy Dobert

Administrative AssistantLindsey Shields Account ManagerJenny Schulte

Committee Assignments and Job Descriptions are available on our website

CORE VALUES1. Awareness: greater awareness about

individuals with disabilities increases understanding about the abilities of individuals with disabilities, and greater understanding increases opportunities for individuals with disabilities, so we work to achieve greater awareness to achieve greater understanding to expand opportunities.

2. Diversity: we must serve all individuals with intellectual and related developmental disabilities and their families in this county.

3. Respect: we must be understanding of and sensitive to the concerns of individuals with disabilities about their identity and how we describe them.

4. Ownership: it is important to have community members serve on our committees and board, and support our association, but our association should remain an “individuals with disabilities and their families” organization.

5. Advocacy: with limited resources, if we become primarily or solely a provider organization, our association will never do more than make only a limited impact on the quality of life of a few individuals with disabilities.

6. Cooperation: advocacy and programs that benefit individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families in many cases will also benefit individuals with other disabilities.

7. Good Stewardship: as an association, we must be fiduciaries of the talent and resources that our volunteers and community supporters entrust to us.

OUR GOALS

The Arc’s goals were chosen to be directed toward Mission and Vision and build on our strength and success.

I. The Arc will maintain an effective leadership team to insure the accomplishment of The Arc’s vision and mission.

II. The Arc will deploy outreach strategies that will increase community awareness of the needs of all Arc stakeholders.

III. The Arc will collaborate with existing transportation systems in Ft. Bend County to provide transportation that is reliable, safe and affordable.

IV. The Arc will collaborate with providers of job training and placement programs to improve quality and quantity of programs.

V. The Arc will provide programs and services which will directly improve the quality of life for its clients and their families.

VI. The Arc will implement sound fiduciary strategies that will increase financial stability and growth of the organization.

To Send a Special Tributeo In Memory of or o In Honor of

Pay tribute to a friend or family member while also supporting services and programs that benefit the Arc of Fort Bend County with your donation.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Person’s Name Occasion

Send acknowledgement to:

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Name

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Address City, State, Zip

Please make checks payable to:The Arc of Fort Bend County

123 Brooks Street, Sugar Land, Texas 77478

OUR MISSIONThe Arc of Fort Bend County ensures opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to maximize their quality of life within our community.

Volume 9, Issue 10 Page 3

From the Executive DirectorLaura LaVigne

As you know, The Arc has been actively involved with advocating for increased transportation options for our client community for a number of years. To further this objective, members of The Arc’s Transportation Committee attended The City of Sugar Land’s first “Mobility Summit” at City Hall on September 22, 2010. The Summit was led by Patrick Walsh, P.E., and Transportation Director. Patrick and his study team of professionals outlined their vision for “Superior Mobility” for the city and surrounding areas. In order to personalize the great need for improved transportation, we invited Zach Johnson and Tim Larsen, both Sugar Land residents, to share their thoughts with the study team during the public comment session. Zach read the following impassioned statement:

“My name is Zach Johnson and I live in Sugar Land. I have a seizure disorder that has left me with some disabilities, including some weakness and limitations on my right side as well as a slight intellectual disability. I do not have a driver’s license because of my seizure disorder.

I believe that people with disabilities need transportation to employment, shopping, health care and recreation. We need transportation that is reliable, safe, on-time and affordable. This would help us be included in our community and make choices that affect our lives.

City of Sugar Land, when you make your plans, I hope you will remember people like me.”

After the Summit, Margo Pasko and I met briefly with Patrick Walsh and he invited us to participate in a focus group to share The Arc’s perspective regarding public transportation needs. We look forward to meeting with members of the study team and attending upcoming Summits tentatively scheduled for January 12 and February 23, 2011.

We are excited to work with another agency to increase transportation options for those we serve!Laura

Pictured at the Mobility Summit: left – right – Lou Larsen, Tim Larsen, Laura LaVigne, Margo Pasko and Zach Johnson. Present, but not pictured, Barry Beard and Karen Daly.

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Best in the West Bali TripYou could bid on this fabulous trip!

Becky and Mike Geary won the bid last year and enjoyed 10 days + $1000 spending money.

Cme to the George Ranch on Saturday, November 20th and bid on this trip!

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Bocce Ball Scrimmage in KatyCoach Robert Pourciau

I feel very thankful to the Katy Wolfpack for inviting us to scrimmage on their turf, Saturday, September 18, 2010. Their coaches and parents were very friendly and made us feel welcome. They got straight to work assembling their courts - just like they’ve done it a hundred times (which they probably have). When we arrived, they gave The Arc players the field to practice rolling balls before competition, which was tricky because the balls were soaking wet and covered with grass clippings (a new experience for us). I think the Katy team enjoyed having us there. Their team has scrimmaged their own parents in the past and, according to many of them, they liked playing us better.

As a coach for the new bocce ball sport, I was particularly proud of our delegation. I think we coaches did a good job with our team to prepare them for bocce competition, as evidenced by their performance in Katy. We had outstanding results (many winning teams & individuals), we arrived on time with proper attire, we practiced good etiquette (talking, sportsmanship, walking paths, etc), we had great teamwork (talked strategy, etc) and we are now ready for Kincaid (Area 4 competition) next week!

The Arc’s bocce players are: Chanta Burton, Jennifer Daniels, Zach Johnson, Tom Martin, Nicki Moynihan, Katie Nelson, Tony Presson, Russell Smith, Bridget Stephney and Carrie Wantuch.

The coaches are: Janet and Robert Pourciau, Jeff Hoffman, Margo Pasko Janet Wantuch and Kelly Wheeler. Thank you, John Wantuch, for chaperoning and practicing with the athletes between matches.

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AquaticsMargo Pasko

On Saturday, September 11, 24 Arc swimmers competed in the Gulf Coast Area Swim Meet at Don Cook Natatorium in Sugar Land. Coaches Susan Bakus, Beth Jimenez and Becky Geary led the athletes this season.

The swimmers were: Steve Bily, Barrett Briggs, Peter Caicedo, Chance Geary, Amy Graegin, Maria Guevara, Tommy Hajek, Wayne Heitman, Jan Joseph Jimenez, Karen Kniss, Tommy Martin, Stevie Meyer, Cyrus Moore, Belinda Muth, Karen Penrod, Tony Presson, Cheryl Reed, Danny Ries, Amanda Spiceland, Danny Stubblefield, Rudy Vasquez, Meredith Webb, Ty Williams and Monica Wright. Congratulations to all our swimmers!

In addition to the coaches and head of delegation, there was a host of Arc volunteers and others who helped make the swim season a success. Here are a few examples of the efforts: Richmond State Supported Living Center allowed us to use their natatorium (which meant their staff members being on site on the evenings we practiced), Toni Schramme of LCISD provided us with the lifeguard names (and post Area Meet training site at their newly refurbished Natatorium), new volunteers Laurie Kosley and Joanne Meyer joined returning volunteers Ronnie Smith, Sharon Williams, Jeanette Ries, Karen Guevara, Pauletta Gori and others who got in the water with athletes or anchored a lane to help the coaches with athlete training. Arc board member Mary Stephney-Quinby provided first aid support at the swim meet.

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Bocce Throw Down Monday, September 20, was the rain date for celebrating the ceremonial opening of The Arc’s new sport, bocce ball. Arc bocce players and several board members participated in a scrimmage, with the players and coaches instructing board members on bocce rules and etiquette. Chanta Burton brought team water bottles, sponsored by her mom, Arc volunteer Gardenia Burton.

The bocce Arc Special Olympics athletes this year are: Tony Presson, Russell Smith, Carrie Wantuch, Chanta Burton, Zack Johnson, Bridget Stephney, Tom Martin, Katie Nelson, Jennifer Daniels and Nicki Moynihan. The board member players who were part of the first “bocce throw down” were: Rick Cushenberry, Himesh Gandhi, Stewart Jacobson, Becky Geary, Avis Goldy and Karen Daly. The volunteer bocce coaches are Robert and Janet Pourciau, Kelly Wheeler, Janet Wantuch, Jeff Hoffman and Margo Pasko. Carrie Wantuch was unable to participate because she was sick and wanted to be well enough for the area tournament on Saturday, September 25.

The final score was 5-5. Everyone was a winner!

Coming together is a beginning.Keeping together is progress.Working together is success. - Henry Ford

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1 2Bowling

3 4 5SO - Bocce Ball Practice

6Arc Support GroupSO - Swimming Practice

7Self Advocates Meeting

8 9Bowling

10 11 12SO - Bocce Ball Practice

13SO - Swimming Practice

14 15SR - Dance at St. Theresa’s SO - Aquatics Fall Games

16SO - Aquatics Fall GamesBowling2010 Conference & Resource Fair

17 18Arc Board Meeting

19SO - Bocce Ball Practice

20 21SO - Fall Games - Softball & Bocce

22SO - Fall Games - Softball & Bocce

23SO - Fall Games - Softball & BocceBowling

24

31

25 26 27 28 29 30BowlingSR - Houston Rockets

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

October 2010

SO – Softball Practice TBD Call SO line for information 281-494-5941

2 Bowling 2:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Stafford Lanes5 SO - Bocce Ball Practice TBD Call SO line for information 281-494-59416 Arc Support Group 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. TBD SO – Swimming Practice 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Lamar Natatorium7 Self Advocates Meeting 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Sugar Land Employment Center9 Bowling 2:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Stafford Lanes12 SO - Bocce Ball Practice TBD Call SO line for information 281-494-594113 SO – Swimming Practice 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Lamar Natatorium15 SR – Dance at St. Theresa’s 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. St. Theresa’s 15 & 16 SO Aquatics Fall Games TBD Pearland16 2010 Conference & Resource Fair 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Dulles High School Bowling 2:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Stafford Lanes 18 Arc Board Meeting 6:00 p.m. The Arc office19 SO - Bocce Ball Practice TBD Call SO line for information 281-494-594121, 22 & 23 SO Fall Games – Softball & Bocce TBD College Station23 Bowling 2:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Stafford Lanes30 Bowling 2:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Stafford Lanes SR – Houston Rockets 7:30 p.m. Toyota Center

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The Arc of Fort Bend County123 Brooks StreetSugar Land, Texas 77478Phone: 281-494-5959Fax: 281-494-5960

Non-Profit OrgUS Postage

PAIDSugar Land TX Permit No 19

Add us as your friend and keep in touch with all current

events at The Arc!facebook.com/arcoffortbend

Upcoming Special Olympics Events:• State Games for Aquatics in Pearland on October 15 and 16• Fall Classic for Softball and Bocce Ball in College Station October 21-23• Volleyball season is in full swing!• Bowling Tournament in Clear Lake in December