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This article is all about how SUFU members are really showing that they are giving back to their communities!
On June 20, the Sports Chapter volunteered for a Maine organization called, “Special Surfers.” Special Surfers is an organization that works with kids and young adults with all kinds of disabilities (even people who use wheelchairs!) to show how fun surfing can be!
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Surfing is when you go into the ocean with something called a surfboard, which you can stand up on, or lay on it, flat on your stomach. Once you do that, you ride the waves in the water!
😊
SUFU worked at the registration tables and helped kids get down to the water. The event was held at Kennebunk Beach. I didn’t even really think about people being able to surf in Maine, so I think it's really cool that people with disabilities can surf too! 🙂
Sports Chapter member, Eric McVay, said, "I had a lot of fun and watching everybody surfing was great!"
Sports Chapter member, Tucker Conley, agreed, "It was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed giving back to the community!"
Here’s the Special Surfers website, for more information about the organization:
http://www.specialsurfer.org/
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On Friday, April 29, the SUFU Presque Isle Chapter held a SUFUfundraising raffle at an event sponsored by the Aroostook Autism Support Group. Chapter Member, Terrence Reidy, is also a part of this group and he says…
“A few years ago, the Aroostook Autism Support Group, realized that getting to know other groups and organizations in the area could not only make their group stronger, but others as well!”
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This is the 2nd year that the Presque Isle Chapter have been a part of an AASG event.
Here’s a picture of Bobby Little and Ray at this year’s event…
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On May 8, the Lincoln Chapter hosted a "thank you" social, in appreciation of the local businesses that have encouraged and supported the Lincoln Chapter over the years! "We wanted to give back," said Lincoln Chapter member, Rakel Arthers.
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SUFU Members Advocate for Themselves in Augusta on SUFU’s Transportation Bill!
On Friday, May 5th, SUFU members showed through testimony that they had written and by showing up in person in Augusta, that they were really passionate about SUFU’s transportation bill, LD464!
LD464 is a transportation bill that the SUFU Board wrote because they were tired of rides being late or not showing up at all. They wanted to do something about it, and they did! Their bill was heard by the Health and Human Services Committee at the Maine Legislature!
About 25 SUFU members either wrote letters or talked in person about how transportation in Maine was really hard for them. The members in the Committee asked a lot of really good questions and really listened to what we had to say.
Even better, as a result of our bill being heard in Augusta, SUFU is going to get together with different agencies around the state to talk about what we can do to make transportation much better for everybody!
That wouldn’t have happened if all of you as SUFU members didn’t take action and show people how upset you really were about transportation.
You should really be proud of yourselves because you made a difference!
Under this article is one by Tucker Conley. Tucker was also in Augusta to talk to the Health and Human Services Committee about the transportation bill, as the SUFU Board’s Vice-Chair. He talks about what that was like for him and why he wanted to do it…
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I Went to Augusta
to Talk About LD 464
By Tucker Conley (SUFU Board Vice-Chair & Portland Chapter Member)
Getting up to talk to the Health and Human Services Committee, I was a little nervous because you had to speak in front of law makers. However, it was a little bit easier, since it was my second time doing it. I also testified for the minimum wage bill, in Augusta.
I felt good to try to make a difference about the transportation bill, and I think the legislatures appreciated that my testimony was short and to the point. I think that's a good lesson for future disability bills that might come up. Short speeches people give that are honest and not long, seem to hold the most attention.
As a representative of my Portland Chapter and speaking with people with disabilities, I can tell that the transportation system in Maine is still a huge issue, statewide. Many people are still being stranded or are late/too early to their programs and appointment, which causes them to lose hours and hours of time, when they could be in their communities. I’m glad that I went to Augusta!
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Get to Know the SUFU Staff...
5 Questions With... Christine Grundy
What is your job at SUFU?
I’m a student at the University of New England studying Social Work. I’m going to be working with SUFU and the Maine Developmental Disabilities Council for the next several months.
What will you be doing?
I will be talking with members and staff and working with them to figure out how to make SUFU, which is already pretty great, an even better organization. I’ll be studying what works really well in SUFU and what we can improve on to make SUFU better.
Why did you want to join the SUFU Staff?
I have a lot of experience working with people who are elderly. For my internship, which is basically a project that I’m doing before I finish school, I wanted to do something different. I was very lucky to meet Rachel Dyer from the Maine Developmental Disabilities Council and David Unger from SUFU. Once I met them, I knew this is where I wanted to be.
How are things going so far?
I’m learning so much already that I didn’t think would happen so quickly! The biggest thing that I’m learning is that a lot of problems that people who are elderly have, are the same problems that people with disabilities deal with. For example, transportation is very hard for both. I’m excited to see what else I’m going to learn!
What do you like to do for fun?
I love to go fishing. Listening to music is one of my favorite things to do. I love to play video games. I also really love to go camping. It’s great to be able to leave my phone and computer at home and go out into the woods to camp. I’ve camped all over the world, from Maine to France!
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What is a Leader?
By Avery Olmstead
I’ve been learning about leadership as a part of the 2017 SUFU Leadership Program! It’s been really great for a lot of reasons…
- I’ve gotten to know the SUFU members in the group really well and I feel like we’re all becoming good friends!
- an, who is in charge of the SUFU Leadership Program is very smart and teaches us a lot but she also is a great listener and learns a lot from us too!
- You get to play some really fun games! Part of being a leader is being able to work as part of a team, so there are a lot of fun games and activities that we do together to practice our leadership skills.
- We laugh a lot!
- We learn about each other. Sometimes, we talk about things that are serious. It can be hard sometimes but you know what else? It’s good to know that we can listen to each other and talk with each other to figure things out because I feel like it brings the group closer together.
- You learn some great leadership skills!
- I’ve learned that anybody can be a leader if they really want to be! You know the 2 most important leadership skills I’m learning?
• Be willing to listen to people, not just talk.
• Be willing to listen to other people’s ideas and not feel like you have to come up with
all the answers by yourself.
I’m not the only person who is enjoying the Leadership program! 😊
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Maurice, from the Caribou Chapter told me that he’s learning a lot of new techniques and skills that are helping him become a better Chapter President!
Mary Ann from the Presque Isle Chapter told me that for a long time in her life, people would tell her what
they thought she couldn’t do. Being part of the Leadership Program gives Maryann the opportunity to not only learn skills that can help others, but also the opportunity to learn from other people too!
I would honestly recommend the SUFU Leadership Program to anybody! If you think you might want to be a part of next year’s group, contact your Chapter Advisor, or you can contact Monique, at (207) 956-1004/Extension 1, or
programsufu@sufumaine.org.
I hope you will consider it. It’s worth it, I promise! 😊
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And Finally...
Say HELLO to
one of our newest
SUFU Chapters...
CASCO! :)
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Have an Idea for Something to be in the March Issue of
The Connector?
Contact: Avery Olmstead
SUFU Communications Associate (207) 956-1004
aolmstead@sufumaine.org
Facebook: Avery Olmstead SUFU Maine
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SUFU CONNECTOR
Speaking Up For Us of Maine
207-956-1004
www.sufumaine.org
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