|
Greetings!
Welcome to Spring! Although the weather does not yet feel too
springy, LifeSPAN is always ready to spring into action. We hope
you'll join us!
|
Thank you, Kathy! |
|
 |
 At
our recent Annual meeting, Kathy Sellars
announced that she was stepping off the LifeSPAN board. Though
Kathy will continue her involvement with LifeSPAN through her
participation in the Lifetime Members Committee, and we will
continue to seek her counsel at every opportunity, we shall
miss her great knowledge and compassion on the board. We've
asked our current board members to each write a few words
about Kathy and this is what they wrote:
For years before Kathy and I came together to work with
LifeSPAN, I was aware of her within the disabilities community
as a very involved and informed parent. She was an activist
who influenced the lives of many other people, not just her
daughter, and I was in awe!
When we came together as founding Board members of LifeSPAN
and I worked with her much more closely, I became even more
aware of the amazing value she brings to this community. She
is a walking database! She knows more about resources for
families than anyone else I know. She uses her knowledge to
inform and empower families, and she supports choice for
people with disabilities. You can count on Kathy to always
have an opinion, and always to listen to the opinions of
others. Having her on board to found LifeSPAN and to take the
organization through its first years has been absolutely
essential to who we are today.
-- Sue Willey, Secretary and President-Elect
Kathy has more energy, drive, tenacity and stamina
than anyone I know. I'm sure that her 'retirement' from
LifeSPAN's board simply means she'll be devoting more time to
some other very worthy cause or interesting hobby.
Her accomplishments could fill a book. Kathy, if only you
could bottle and sell your smarts and energy, and, of course,
you would donate all the proceeds to LifeSPAN!
-- Eleanor Orth, Treasurer
Kathy Sellars is a dynamic role model for all of us!
She always walks up to me with a twinkle in her eye and an
inviting smile, ready to share any information on how to get
over yet another hurdle we have to jump in life.
She is a walking resource guide, but more than that, her
innovative ways of thinking about how to find solutions to our
challenges never cease to amaze me. I feel privileged that our
lives have crossed. Kathy inspires me and gives me the energy
to help others. Just like she is doing!
-- Kay Hirai, Vice President, Outreach
Six years ago my dad was two weeks from the end
of his life and my 40-year-old brother was moving from Dad's
home cross country to start a new life in a brand new city
with my help.
Boy did I need a plan.
Thankfully, providence put me in touch with LifeSPAN and
founding board member/community connector and walking
encyclopedia Kathy Sellars. She is a dynamo, matchmaker,
rabble rouser, activist, stretcher of dollars, party animal,
tireless advocate and a seemingly limitless resource for those
of us who do not know state law as it relates to people with
developmental disabilities like the back of our hands.
Kathy is all this and more.
Kathy is stepping off of our board now and there will be no
replacing her. I am so glad to know her. She is my own living
hero.
My brother is living large now in his own apartment with the
support of his LifeSPAN network. Kathy marches on!
-- Linda Davidson, Vice President, Networks
Kathy Sellars opened her home and her heart
to tell us up close and personal how LifeSPAN could help us
plan and secure a good life for our daughter Erin. We are
inspired by Kathy's pioneering spirit, which was a driving
force in bringing PLAN's wonderful concepts and organizing
principles to Washington State.
After securing her daughter Kari's future, it must have been
tempting for Kathy to breathe a sigh of relief and ride off
into the sunset with her husband Bill. Instead, she chose to
continue to build LifeSPAN and support families. Even now,
though she is retiring from LifeSPAN's Board of Directors,
Kathy is not entirely retiring from LifeSPAN.
Aren't we fortunate! Thank you Kathy!
With love and affection
-- Teri Looney, Board Member (with Bill, her husband)
|
|
LifeSPAN Annual Meeting |
|
|
On Friday May 2 we had our annual meeting. Many of our focus
people attended and truly inspired the proceedings. It was a
lovely community gathering involving a potluck supper,
fellowship with friends, and business that included a
unanimous welcome from our membership for Julie Rowe,
who is stepping on to our board.
Julie is a LifeSPAN Lifetime member, and she offered the
following about herself for the meeting:
I was born and raised in Seattle. I went to Washington
State University, lived in Oregon for 10 years where I had my
daughters, Anna and Mary, and moved back to Seattle to raise
the girls. I ran a daycare out of our home for many years
while Anna and Mary were growing up. Mary is now 23, Anna 26.
Anna lives with me here in West Seattle. I like to garden,
sew, cook and enjoy being with my daughters.
An article that Julie wrote about her experiences with
LifeSPAN for our November 2007 newsletter is located on our
website.
Following the election the board presented its new slate of
officers and the creation of two new committees:
-
Kay Hirai
will lead the outreach event committee to plan fundraising
events for LifeSPAN and raise our profile in the larger
community.
-
Linda Davidson
will lead the Lifetime Members Committee which will be
dedicated to serving the needs of our community of Lifetime
members.
Both committees welcome the participation of volunteers.
We offered special thanks to Kathy Sellars for her
service to our organization as a founding board member and
accepted her decision to step off the board.
We also thanked Michele Anciaux Aoki for her service as
Facilitator Coordinator, webmaster, outreach coordinator, dot
connector, and organizer extraordinaire.
Our new Facilitator Coordinator, Marci Swindell, was
introduced to the members that attended
It was announced that a Good Life workshop is scheduled for
Kitsap Peninsula in June and a 7 Steps workshop will be coming
to Seattle this summer.
The annual meeting provides us with an opportunity to take
stock and count our blessings. It was good to gather and
appreciate the community that we are creating together. Thanks
to all who came. |
|
A Good Life Workshop June 7 |
|
|
At this day-long presentation, you will hear the success
stories of how families have created networks of support for
their loved ones, practical advice on estate and financial
planning and concrete ideas on steps to take to provide a safe
and secure life for your relative.
Date: Saturday, June 7, 2008
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
(Registration at 9:00. Lunch provided.)
Place: Olympic Educational Services District #114
105 National Avenue, N.
Bremerton, WA 98312
Cost: FREE, co-sponsored by
Kitsap County Developmental Disabilities
Kitsap County Parent Coalition
ARC of Kitsap and Jefferson Counties
LifeSPAN will provide the tools from the workshop for Sale:
A Good Life for You and Your Relative With a Disability
(book $39.99) and Peace of Mind (CD Rom $25.00)
Get both for $49.99!
For more information and to
register, visit our website |
|
Join LifeSPAN and Receive "A Good Life" |
|
|
|
Your $60 Associate Membership in LifeSPAN entitles you
to a free copy of the excellent planning book, A Good
Life for You and Your Relative with a Disability by
PLAN co-founder, Al Etmanski, or a copy of the "Ties
That Bind" DVD, which includes the KCTS program "Beyond
The Ties That Bind" featuring LifeSPAN families,
facilitators, and board members.
Why Join?
When you join LifeSPAN as an Associate Member, you
validate the work we are doing to pave a path of hope for
individuals with disabilities who may outlive their
families, yet deserve to be surrounded by caring people
who will help them experience "a good life." LifeSPAN is a
pioneer -- the only organization that serves this mission
in the United States. Your support, and especially your
membership, make a difference to LifeSPAN.
Send in your membership
form today... |
|
|
|
LifeSPAN Summer Picnic |
|
 |
LifeSPAN is planning its second annual summer BBQ and potluck
picnic in July. Here's a picture from last year's BBQ at
Golden Gardens.
This year's picnic will be at Meridian Park (50th & Meridian
Ave. N.) in Wallingford in Seattle on July 24, 2008 6-9 pm.
Suggested donation $10.
If you're interested in participating, contact Linda Davidson.
Email linda@lifespan-wa.org or phone (206) 604-0685.
|
Join our mailing list!
[ ][Join] |
