SPOKES VOL. LXV NO. 39                                                                               April 9, 2019
 
 
Many thanks to Art Ayers for acting as editarian for Spokes during my absence.  Job well done!!
 
We were warmly greeted by Dan Thompson and Nick Tuit this morning.
 
President Odland opened the meeting with “God Bless America” and Art Ayers provided the invocation.
 
Our thoughts and prayers to Chef Matt Schaffer who is recovering from a medical scare but expects to back with us next week.
 
Guests:
 
Our guests this morning included Lauren Cavalli from the Autism Learning Center and our speaker this morning.
 
Spotlight:
 
President Odland had the pleasure of presenting member Don Hodgman a Paul Harris Award, Level 1, for a donation to the Rotary Foundation of a donation between $1,000 - $2,000.
 
Announcements:
  • President Odland has updated directory sheets for new members for all members to include in their directory.
  • Blessings in a Backpack will stuff backpacks this Friday, April 12
  • Our educational fundraiser dinner is scheduled for April 27th at Beeches Golf Course.
  • Scott Mark has more than 20 items for door prizes and auction items but could use more if members have items that they can secure.
  • Nominations for Rotarian of the Year and Citizen of the Year are being accepted now and the deadline is fast approaching.  Please get you nominations in!
  • The first event in this year’s speakers series is being help this Thursday at South Haven High School
 
Songs
 
Bob Boerma was the beneficiary of a nice selection of songs to lead this morning.We began with the old favorite “In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree”, a hundred and fourteen year old song that has the unique distinction of the chorus written in the form of a limerick.We followed that with a tune from the 1906 Broadway play “Forty-five Minutes from Broadway”, “Mary is a Grand Old Name”.We finished with “When the Saints Go Marching In”, slightly revised to fit our Rotary meetings.
 
50/50
 
Bob Straits was the lucky ticket holder for a few minutes, until he was directed to choose the queen rather than the luckier two of four.He did draw Dan Thompson’s number for the $2 prize.
 
Fines:
  • Jerry Gruber’s granddaughter (over) celebrated her 21st birthday earlier this week.
  • One of Stu’s granddaughters turned three this week.
  • Nick Tuit is celebrating his birthday today!
  • Dan Thompson carefully announced his wife Missy’s birthday this week.
  • Marl Odland remembered that his wife LaRae also has a birthday this week>
  • Scott Mark said he enjoyed the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C. last week.
  • Tom Rummel paid for the South Haven High School band and their performance at Disney World in Orlando last week and for the SHHS Robotics team’s qualification for the state finals.
  • Bob Copping was delighted to present the story of the Notre Dame bell ringer, chapter three of several.
 
Scott Mark introduced our speaker, Lauren Cavalli, from Ripple Effect Autism Center.
 
Lauren, originally from Indiana, schooled in Illinois and at Western Michigan University was working at an autism center in Paw Paw when she became aware of the need for autism services in South Haven and her employer urged her to begin a center here.  She accepted the challenge and the center opend late last year and is located at Peace Lutheran Church in the former Head Start room.
 
She noted that one in fifty-nine children are on the autism spectrum which effects their social communications and have restrictive or repetitive behavior which often leads to a narrow focus/interest and a need for a very specific set of routines.
 
There are several ways to treat autism, including speech and occupational therapy along with the most documented and effective therapy, Applied Behavior Analysis.  She indicated that that there are other options offered but most are not supported with solid documentation.
ABA has been around since the 1960’s and with the technology available today, is even more effective.  Using an errorless practice methodology, children are constantly reinforced as they use appropriate speech and activities so they are able to learn how to handle themselves in everyday settings.
 
Children are provided about 35 hours of training per week and the goal is for them to behave in an appropriate manner in school and social settings.  Her center works with children from eighteen months to six years old as this is the best time to work with children who are on the spectrum.
 
In order to be included in the center, children must have an autism diagnosis from an a certified source and then a treatment plan is developed, similar to an IEP developed for special education students and then Lauren and her techs spend hours each day applying the plan and adjusting it to the child’s needs.  Children’s progress is carefully monitored through the use of iPads so adjustments can be made quickly.
 
Parents and caregivers are also provided training so they know their child’s plan and the methods that work best to teach them appropriate behaviors.
 
Scott Mark thanked Lauren for her informative presentation and presented her with our speaker’s pen.
 
President Odland closed the meeting with the Four Way Test.
 
Our next meeting will be next Tuesday, April 16, 2019.
 
January 8th program: Bob Copping:  Brian Bosgraf from the Michigan Maritime Museum
 
January 8th Greeters:  Ted Weber and Bill Roberts
 
Editarian:  Dene Hadden