MARATHON YOUTH SERVICES
NEWSLETTER
November 1, 2003
Volume 3, Issue 11
Fall is here with a vengeance…and even snow is threatening this morning. It’s been a long month, punctuated by that ‘number two’ holiday, Halloween. For me it’s always been more than an opportunity to dress funny and get free sweets. It’s my Mother’s birthday. She always enjoyed the day, particularly the little kids coming to the door for ‘trick or treat!’. Kids were her life. Not only her own six children, but the many that she provided day care for over about 40 years. This year we celebrated her 89th birthday with a funeral…she passed away on October 27. While she’ll be missed mightily, she’ll also be remembered fondly in the many examples she set for so many.
Our sometimes prolific author at RGH, Rick Ferree, has shared with me something that seemed quite fitting. He too lost his Mother this past year. I thought it worthy of sharing…
As I look to the street in front of Reynolds Group Home, the wind whips into a tornadoed fury the leaves from the crimson orange maple that had shed them a day before. The wind on this day offered a mid day peak from the north and the west, when only yesterday it drew from the south in an effort to extend the sultry warmth of the season coming to close. Clearly, the signs of Autumn are in our midst…the leaves…the color…the diligence of the squirrel in the harborage of winter fare…the gridiron…and the aroma that only the north wind can weave through the jet stream and into the lives of those who make the northern Midwest their home.
An introspective would have one consider the passing seasons and the years of our lives…the changes we find in ourselves and in those whom we love…and perhaps have lost in these passing seasons of our lives. The fall for many brings a dismal perspective of withering flowers, the corn rustles with the term complete…energy and enthusiasm…what is now old and gray, will be new and vibrant someday again. The cycle of life and the emergence of grandeur from what at times can appear something far less. I spend not time in lamenting the loss of what the season’s end will bring, but will celebrate what it has given…
My Mother passed this year, peace is at last hers to hold…oh’ she too loved the autumn, with an uncanny magic to celebrate the anticipation of spring’s new growth…
Rick Ferree
Once again, this fall has also presented a growth opportunity for the guys at Reynolds Group Home. As you will see, there were many volunteer events, culminating in their participation in the annual "Make A Difference Day", a time when our boys always shine!
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CONTENTS
Notes From Reynolds Group Home
Racing Finale
News From Prospect Place
Open House…..December 5!
During the month of October our boys have been involved in several
community service projects. These are the opportunities for the boys to
learn that doing for others just for the sake of helping out is truly
rewarding, raises self-esteem, builds confidence and develops pride in a
community. We had the opportunity to work at the Kennedy Rehabilitation
Center on two occasions helping out with bingo and doing some yard work. We
also did some work with the Rib Mountain Montessori Center. The boys helped
out with their playground cleanup, putting new sand and wood chips down.
Another opportunity presented itself during the "Make A Difference Day" run
by the Marathon County Volunteer Center. The boys helped out with setting up
the Armory the night before and raking all the next day. Yet another
opportunity came about with our annual trek to work on the Adopt-A-Highway
Program. RGH is responsible for a section on Hwy 52 going towards Antigo.
On the home front, the guys helped with roofing and painting the garage at
Prospect Place. We also overhauled one of the bedrooms at RGH as featured in
another article in this newsletter.
As all teenagers will do, many of them were less than excited to give up
some of their time to do some work, but once they got started they shined
and really got into the spirit of what they were doing. They shined even
brighter when they saw the appreciation from those that we helped. These
lessons on life can never be conveyed by a book or through word of mouth,
but by experiencing them. Our boys have carried away the knowledge that they
made a difference in someone else’s life, and they are all the stronger for
the work they have done. We are all proud of them.
This last month we at Reynolds Group Home took up a project to update the
bedrooms at the house. We started with our smallest room on the third floor.
The room was in need of some better beds and storage for clothes. In the
fashion of the popular TV show "Trading Spaces", the whole room was done in
two days. The room got a new coat of paint and a new carpet was laid down. A
new bunk bed was assembled and since the room does not have a closet, a huge
new wardrobe was put together.
The room tuned out great and there is a lot more space available in the room
now. The boys are very appreciative with the change. It was a whole house
project that showed that a good plan and some well greased elbows can get a
quality job done.
It is our hope that in the coming months we will be able to draw up another
battle plan for the other bedrooms. We will keep you all posted of the
progress as we proceed.
Michael T. McCabe
Racing’s Over!
Perhaps the seasons could be defined as "Racing Season" and "Football
Season". As the director I often build, develop, and of course play during
"racing season"; and then budget, shovel, and work long hours during
"football season". Of course we are now into football season, but we are
still celebrating some of the spoils of our racing efforts.
Recently we attended the Marshfield Super Speedway banquet. Deven Adams, my
son and a primary driver of our team, won 7th overall in the
points championship; I drove home with a 5th place. Soon we will
also attend the State Park Speedway banquet where we will bring home anther
trophy for 7th.
We had another fun and rewarding year, both the drivers and the residents.
Special thanks to our community supporters including Wausau Imports, 2510
Restaurant, Walters Buildings, Auto Select, and staff and residents of
MYS. We’ll see you at the track next year.
Doug Adams, Director
We’ve begun to have some interest from a few of the guys to write
articles for the newsletter. This month Adam of Prospect Place has submitted
the following piece:
Hi. My name is Adam Domino and I just recently had the opportunity to
volunteer for the Special Olympics Softball Tournament. The tournament was
held on August 22-24 at Sunnyvale Park. It was a lot of fun volunteering for
the softball tournament raising money for Special Olympics athletes. Also I
had the opportunity to take tart in the AIPS Leadership training program
which is for athletes to become public speakers in Special Olympics. I also
had the opportunity to be part of the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Torch Run
which was held May 17 at Cedar Creek Mall.
Adam Domino
As you can see, Adam is one of our busiest guys! He always seems to have
something interesting going on, in addition to his job. He sets a fine
example for us all.
We have several other busy and interesting residents at Hamilton House and
Prospect Place as well. We’re hoping that they too will write for the
newsletter and let our readers become acquainted with them. Watch for more
to come…
If you have any questions or program requests, feel free to contact Doug at
715842-3240 or dadams@marathonyouthservices.org. We are always interested in
your thoughts or comments.