MARATHON YOUTH SERVICES

NEWSLETTER

March 1, 2002

Volume 2, Issue 3

            As I set about writing this month’s newsletter, it appears that real winter has finally arrived in Central Wisconsin.  Unfortunately for the many snowmobilers and ice fisherman, it may be too late for them to fully enjoy their favorite activities.  It’s already time (March 1^st) to remove ice shacks from the lakes around Wausau/Marathon County.  Ice is still pretty thin in places and potentially very dangerous.  That hasn’t stopped some die-hards from finding adequate ice to exercise their gear, as you will see in a later article.

            Our offer to expand services to surrounding counties has begun to draw interest from several.  Representatives of Brown County recently visited us, and Doug was invited to Lac Du Flambeau to present information about our programs.  We’ve also begun receiving referrals from counties such as Langlade and Menomonie. We also recently enjoyed a visit from Rawhide Boys Ranch/Starr Academy principal Ed O’Brien.  Ed was in the area and had heard of MYS, and was interested in visiting and learning about our programs.  Thanks for the visit Ed!  We hope to return the visit soon with a trip to Rawhide.

            One of our staff, Joe Koenig, has taken the initiative to originate a pilot program harvesting firewood from cutover woodlots.  He’s begun the first stages of adding this to the programming at Wings Group Home.  I hope that next month’s newsletter can include a more extensive discussion of this pilot, and how our boys are involved.

           

             Read on about the activities and programs of MYS, and please feel free to direct any inquiries to Doug at 715-842-3240, or email us at admin@marathonyouthservices.org.

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CONTENTS

 

1. February Group Home activity update
   
    
2. Special Thanks and Memorial for Ms. Ann Rislove, school psychologist
   
    
3. Monthly Bio:  Scott Lamken
   
    
4. Emphasis: Food!
   
    
5. Ice Fishing/Photos
   
    
6. Looking Ahead

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1. In spite of it being a short month, we managed to pack a lot of activity into February.   In addition to the regular treatment groups at Reynolds Group Home, the boys participated in the Job Ready Program at the Boys and Girls Club on February 13,20,21 and 28.  Also, the boys had AODA Group with Sue Nowak of North Central Health Care on February 27.
   
   We also conducted the Family Group on February 25, facilitated by Director Doug Adams.  The topic this month was “Sorting Out Life’s Problems”.  This group is open to all residents and their families.  While we continue to strive for a better turn out from parents, it is always gratifying to see the enthusiasm of those who do attend.
   
   Community service activities this month included cleaning up after the YMCA’s Father/Daughter Valentines Day Dance on February 14, as well as the usual bingo calling at Kennedy Park Rehabilitation Center.
   
   Wings is reporting that they have several boys working hard to improve their grades and school performance, with one resident nearing completion of his HSED requirements.  He’s also looking forward to completing his Independent Living so he can be discharged this spring.  The Wings boys are now being provided with an after-school study program by Rosholt Schools, with a teacher available to help them wherever they have problems.
   
   On February 16^th Joe showed forestry safety videos to the boys and demonstrated how to fell a tree.  This exercise is the beginning of preparations for a pilot program on harvesting firewood in the future.  This aspect of the program will teach a skill, safety, and teamwork.
   
   
    
2. Tragedy struck earlier this month when the life of Ann Rislove, School Psychologist for the Rosholt School District, was taken in an automobile accident on February 7.  Many at Marathon Youth Services, and Wings Group Home in particular, were greatly affected by her death. Ann was a great supporter of the residents and program at Wings.  She was also the mother of our much respected summer school teacher, Joe Rislove.  Our sincere sympathies go out to Joe and his family.  Ann will be greatly missed.  Several staff and residents were able to attend her funeral at St Anne’s Church in Wausau.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Ann E. Rislove
    
   Ann E. Rislove, 56, 2318 Midway Blvd., Wausau, died Thursday, Feb. 7, 2002, as a result of a traffic accident.
   
   She was born in Merrill on Aug. 15, 1945, the daughter of the late Elmer and Rosemary (Myre) Smith.
   
   Ann earned a master's degree in school psychology and worked for the Marathon County Special Education Department in the Rosholt School District. She was a British history buff and an avid reader. Canoeing or snowshoeing was her ideal way of enjoying life.
   
   Survivors include two sons, Joseph (Stephanie) Rislove, Wausau, and Daniel (Valerie) Rislove, Stevens Point; four grandchildren, Joshua and Caleb Rislove, Stevens Point, and Maggie and Emma Rislove, Wausau; fiancé, Larry Stordahl, Spencer; one brother, Steve (Pam) Smith, Minnesota; and two sisters, Kathy (Jeff) Koop, Missouri, and Bobbie (Steve) Weckwerth, Wausau.
   
   The funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 11, 2002, at The Church of St. Anne, Wausau. The Rev. Steven Brice will officiate. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 3400 Stewart Ave., Wausau, and again from 10 a.m. until time of services Monday at church.
   
   Memorials may be directed to the Rosholt Education Foundation Inc., P.O. Box 310, Rosholt WI 54473.
   
   
    
3. Scott Lamken joined the Wings Group Home staff in March of 1999.  He has resided locally for most of his life.  He spent 4 years in the US Navy on active duty, and another 2 years on inactive duty during the 1980’s.  He worked in the aviation field, 1 1/2 years as an aviation electrician, and 2 1/2 years as ground support.  Scott received several ribbons of commendation for meritorious service!  He enjoys creating artwork, with watercolors as his medium of choice.  While in the military he painted murals on hangars and barracks and created artwork for T-shirts.  Aside from artwork, he also played football with the squadron and received 2 trophies.
   
   Today Scott is an avid Packer fan.  His other interests include spending time with family, history and culture, and collecting antiques.
   
   Scott has mainly a manufacturing background, and sought a different field where he would feel that he could make a difference in the lives of others.  During our initial interview he stated he was interested in ‘giving back’ to the community.  He has definitely given his time to the residents at Wings! 
   
   Scott brings with him an inherently giving nature and has found satisfaction in being able to give to others through employment at Wings.  He works the overnight shift and diligently watches over the boys.  There have been many evenings when a resident would wait up for Scott’s arrival so he can talk and get Scott’s perspective on an issue.  He is always willing to spend an hour listening and giving advice.
   
   As part of his overnight duties Scott contributes to household maintenance, some heavy duty cleaning when called for, reviewing and commenting in journals, as well as filing and researching files when necessary.  Scott has also acquired computer skills he probably never thought he would have by learning how to cut and paste notes and email material to other colleagues. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Above all, Scott donates his time to take the boys camping and fishing.  Outdoor activities are his passion!  There have been many fireside stories (especially fish stories) and pranks.  Scott exposes the residents to practical survival skills, including using the outhouses for shelter during a tornado warning.  The boys were none too pleased to wrap up in sleeping bags and hang out next to the outhouse until the storm passed, but did make it through without incident.  Scott also shows the boys how to forgive.  Another outdoor mishap gave him the opportunity to express the fact that sometimes lures and lines don’t take the pressure from the catch of the day (in this case a tire in the lake) and equipment is lost!  Spirits are usually not dampened for long however, because Scott can think of something to be thankful for and bring about a positive attitude once again.
   
   Scott has been a great asset to Wings for the past 3 years.  He states he feels lucky to working with a group of professional staff and feels as if they are family.  Marathon Youth Services is proud to have him as part of the team.
   
   
    
4. Ask any teenager what he or she prefers to eat, and you will undoubtedly get a uniform answer:  McDonald’s, pizza, chips, chicken nuggets.  The boys in residence at Wings Group Home are no exception to this rule.  In fact, we often have residents who have grown up with little understanding of proper nutrition or what constitutes a balanced diet.  All of our residents also need to develop independent living skills, and having the ability to plan and prepare a balanced, tasty meal is important for young people who are going out on their own.
   
   In order to help our residents develop these skills, Wings youth worker Jill Hytry has put together a program that requires each boy to fully plan out and cook at least one meal per week.  They need to turn a complete recipe and grocery list in to staff every Tuesday.  All meals must include meat, fruit or vegetable, bread or other grain products, and a dairy product.  Jill’s rules state, “This cannot include processed foods such as TV dinners, fish sticks, chicken nuggets and frozen French fries.”  As you can probably imagine, this can present our boys with quite a challenge.  If they don’t know how to cook anything that doesn’t fit into the processed food category, they can look through a set of recipe cards that wee keep on hand at Wings.  They may also call parents or grandparents for ideas and tips on how to cook something they enjoy.
   
   This process of meal planning and preparation results in some inevitable grousing from our boys.  It requires some real work and creativity on their part and it also requires that they be exposed to foods that they aren’t accustomed to eating – as Wings’ resident Josh P so aptly puts it, “I want to eat out of a box.”  And yet, when it is time to cook, most of them rise to the occasion and have a good time baking supper.  They are usually quite proud of their creations and enjoy interacting with each other while cooking.  Some of the meals the residents have planned include homemade chili, steak strips with mushrooms, cheesy stuffed chicken breasts, “breakfast for supper” with Belgian waffles, and old standbys such as spaghetti and cheeseburgers.  As this aspect of the program evolves, we can expect even more interesting ideas from our budding chefs at Wings Group Home.
                                                                                                 …. Sarah Wasson….
   
   Sarah’s article is yet another example of our ongoing efforts to prepare our residents for eventual self-sufficiency.  Being able to meet their basic nutritional needs is always a high priority.  It’s also a natural interest for some, and we continue to look forward to sharing recipes provided by our residents, and occasionally staff.  This month Josh from Reynolds Group Home is sharing his pancake recipe, a much-appreciated treat by residents and staff alike!
   
   Pancakes by Josh….
      2 cups flour
      1/3 cup sugar
      1 tablespoon cinnamon
      ¼ cup oil
      1 cup milk
      Mix, add more milk if too thick.
      Spread thin to about 6-8 inches. Fry as a regular pancake.
      When done sprinkle with powdered sugar and roll into a burrito shape.
   
   In future newsletters I hope to be sharing more such recipes, contributions of both staff and residents.  If you have a favorite to share, send it to me at admin@marathonyouthservices.org.  We’ll have the boys try it out and write a review for the newsletter.  If you try Josh’s pancakes, let him/us know what you think.
   
   
   
5. With winter finally arriving, Joe Koenig and Scott Lamken of Wings were finally able to get out with some of the boys to try out the donated ice fishing equipment (see article in February, 2002 newsletter).   It’s obvious that Joe and Scott enjoy these outings as much as the boys…. Here Joe shows off his great “outdoors-man persona”.
   
    While it wasn’t a wildly successful day from the standpoint of fish caught, it was another opportunity to get out with the boys and do something fun.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   When a few fish are finally caught, one of the guys can’t wait until they’re fried!
   
   They all finally decide that venison burgers might be better, and lunch is prepared.
   
   Then it’s back to some serious fishing!
   
                                                                          
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Today provided the guys an opportunity to try out and show off some of the great ice fishing gear donated by Mrs. Jean Anderson.  We could think of no better way to say Thank You than to put it to good use. Hopefully we’ll get more chances this year…      
   
   
   Ice fishing is only one of many opportunities afforded the residents of MYS.  While most of the days are filled with more serious work such as academics, jobs, treatment groups, etc., we believe that learning lifelong recreational skills and options is equally important to boys maintaining success after discharge.
   
   
    
6. True to the phrase, “in like a lion (out like a lamb?)”, winter is upon us with a vengeance today!  Nevertheless, we’re all looking forward to spring with a sense of optimism.  More referrals come in regularly, and we’re extending our services to a broader audience.  Our evaluations program is running smoothly, and in increasing demand.  Progress is in the air!
   
   As we look ahead to next month, I’ll be sharing more information about programs and new initiatives.  Also, we continue to look for ways to involve the residents in contributing to the newsletter, and will try an interview with one of the guys next month.  If you have any ideas of what you’d like to see in the newsletter, drop me an email at jimpro@charter.net.                
   
   
   Also, keep in mind that Marathon Youth Services now has an Informational CD available.  If you are interested in learning more about our services and facilities, please request a CD by contacting Doug, or by email at admin@marathonyouthservices.org.
   
   
   
   
   
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Property of Marathon Youth Services, Inc.  2002
Produced by Jim Prozinski
jimpro@charter.net