Tag Archives: kiwanis

3 Important Ways to Help Those with Special Needs

Monday Morning

We had 16 members and two guests on Monday back at The Retlaw Hotel for our regular meeting. Joining us as guests were our speaker, Mary Narges from Free Spirit Riders, and Zeke Leeds, home on leave. “Happy Bucks” were offered up by Dan Leeds for his grandsons being in town, along with their parents and Marlin Towne because Lois said he should be happy for 60 years of wedded bliss. Gary Miller put together an InterClub to Tuesday’s Noon Club to hear about Envision FDL. John Cooper and Harry Schneider announced a Walleye Weekend Warp Up meeting. Glen Treml was the 50/50 Raffle drawing winner on Monday but he drew a non-winning Nine of Spades. Next week’s drawing will have 35 cards with six pay cards and a pot of at least $210.

Mary Narges, Free SPIRT Riders

Free SPIRIT (Special People In Riding Therapy) Riders Inc. was founded in 1987 by Amelia Butzen and Mary Narges due to a recognized need for services for Developmentally Disabled individuals that could help increase the participants’ potential while doing something fun. Free SPIRIT Riders started providing services on a very limited basis in 1987, and the demand for their unique services grew annually and consistently. To meet the demand, in 2001 they completed construction of their own facility on 38 acres of land purchased and owned by Free SPIRIT Riders, Inc.

Free SPIRIT Riders’ helps those with special needs in 3 important ways: 1) promoting active therapy; 2) providing a valuable experience that is enjoyable though challenging; and 3) promoting the rehabilitation of individuals with physical, psychological and learning challenges through equine-facilitated activities. The major benefits include improvement of muscle tone, balance, posture, coordination, motor development and emotional and psychological health.

They are an accredited therapeutic riding center at the Premier Level through the Professional association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, International (PATH, Int.)

Their typical season starts in early May and runs to mid-November. They have classes in mid-afternoon and evenings on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and add classes during the daytime on Wednesdays during the summer break from school.

Wanna Get Some Cheese Curds?

It wouldn’t be Walleye Weekend without the Kiwanis of Fabulous Fond du Lac Cheese Curds! Walleye Weekend starts on Friday again this year with burgers, brats and yes, 3,000 pounds of cheese curds. We’d love to see you there! Stop in, say hi, and, by all means, support the children of Fond du Lac and the world by purchasing some delicious, deep-fried cheese curds!

What Is Adelante Mujer?

Monday Morning

We had 16 members and two guests at our Monday meeting back at the Retlaw Hotel. Joining us were our guest speakers Valerie Graczyk and Sr. Diane Bauknecht from the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes (CSA). “Happy Bucks” were offered up by Jackie King for her daughter’s wedding this past weekend plus her and Jerry’s anniversary on June 2nd, Vickie Goldapske for their Shoe Drive at work, John Cooper for being awarded the $1,000 Walleye Weekend Essay Prize and Charlene Pettit for surviving three days in the hospital and not missing a Monday meeting. Bonnie Baerwald was the 50/50 Raffle drawing winner and she drew the Ten of Hearts, a $10 winner. Next week’s drawing will have 37 cards, including six pay cards, and a pot of at least $179. Nice Job Bonnie.

Adelante Mujer

Sr. Diane Bauknecht from CSA joined us on Monday morning to tell us about a new mission that they’ve undertaken.

Adelante Mujer provides scholarship assistance (tuition and supplies) for women who are studying to become medical doctors at URACCAN University n Bilwi /Puerto Cabezas on the North Atlantic coast of Nicaragua.

CSA’s support of this ministry allows them to finance the education and training of Nicaraguan women wishing to become doctors. These medical students attend the nationally certified School of Intercultural Medicine at URACCAN University which is located in their own country of Nicaragua. The average family income is less than $2,000 (US dollars) per year and approximately $1,600 is used for food. Because medical students have unique expenses for supplies and equipment, Adelante Mujer pays approximately $1,000 year per student per semester. Their first eight Adelante Mujer doctors graduated on December 12, 2014. Currently there are an additional 17 medical students receiving financial assistance.
Sr. Diane also told us about a book reception introducing Called to Serve-Ministry Stories of the Sisters of St. Agnes in Latin America and Russia on Wednesday, June 224th from 6:30-8:00PM at Marian University’s Stayer Center.