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Category: Chapter 135 News

Thank You John D. Burlie Pioneers the Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK
April 16-22, 2023
SHINING A LIGHT ON THE PEOPLE AND CAUSES THAT INSPIRE US TO SERVE.

This week, we honor the selfless spirit of Americans who volunteer, and we sound the call for more Americans to seize opportunities to serve their communities.

Every day across America, volunteers are performing extraordinary acts of service. They are repairing and rebuilding homes, educating our youth, and connecting people to jobs. They are supporting veterans and military families, helping to run our elections, and combating climate change. In the aftermath of natural disasters, neighbors volunteer to restore communities and cook hot meals. And amid a pandemic, volunteers have stepped forward to help administer vaccines and provide lifesaving resources to people in need.

Volunteering defines America. Our Nation is a place where light triumphs over darkness, where we seek to lift everyone up, and where we lead not by the example of our power but by the power of our example. As those who volunteer know firsthand, service also benefits the volunteer. It can teach important skills, help build professional networks, and provide an empowering sense of purpose. Volunteering brings people together, uniting us around our common belief in the dignity and equality of every person and giving us a chance to learn from others we might otherwise never meet.

Maureen Fahy, MA, ATR
Volunteer Program Administrator
Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare
2200 W. Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio 43223

The dedication of volunteers is truly admirable, and it’s wonderful that National Volunteer Week provides us with an opportunity to formally recognize your contributions. To all of the volunteers who have given their time and energy to Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare over the past year, thank you for your service and for making a positive impact on the lives of patients in need.

The attached newsletter summarizes the contributions made by the volunteers and community sponsors and announces Warren Dimock as the honoree for the Dorothy J. Simonds Excellence in Volunteer award, in recognition of his work as a Spiritual Life Volunteer.

In the absence of large-scale special events, you brought joy and normalcy to our patients’ lives. The facility looks forward to reintroducing special events in the future and engaging our Volunteer Groups who have been patiently waiting for their return. Thank you!


Thank you Pioneers for your continued support and Happy National Volunteer Week!

Submitted by Elaine Housley New Outlook Region Director

Pioneers John D Burlie Club Takes Part in Central Ohio Veterans Stand Down

Central Ohio Veterans Stand Down was held on Tuesday, October 18,2022 at the Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio.

The John D Burlie Club Pioneers was represented by President Jerry Dunbar and Bobbie Hall-Refinati.

Tables were set up Monday with help from American Legion Auxiliary #430 and American Legion #797, We brought socks, gloves, hats, scarves and other items for distribution.

The doors opened at 7:30am. 450 Veterans were served (349 men, 101 women). The event stayed open until all the supplies were distributed, which was around 10am. Lunch was served to all, and the event was a great place to meet Veterans and their families.

There is a plan for a Stand Down next year, and we plan to participate again and Dan Willis, Executive Director, thanked everyone to know that the Coat Sales starts in stores the third week of January and purchasing for next year’s event would be appreciated.

Central Ohio Veterans Stand Down is scheduled for October 17th, 2023.

Submitted by Bobbie Hall-Refinati

John D. Burlie Club Shrine Circus Project

On March 25, 2022, volunteers from the John D. Burlie Pioneer Club escorted the elementary students from the Ohio State School for the Blind in Columbus on a field trip to the Aladdin Shrine Circus. The students were paired with adult volunteers who acted as their mentors for the day. Students who attend this school are blind or significantly visually impaired, so many of the children cannot actually see the performances.

However, the students and their chaperones were provided with headphones and a radio receiver so they could listen to an announcer describe the various circus acts and activities. This audio-described activity provides a unique educational opportunity by allowing the children to hear what they cannot see.

During intermission, additional Pioneer volunteers distributed free lunches to the students, staff and chaperones. The students look forward to this exciting and fun-filled educational opportunity, which first began by the Burlie Club 46 years ago.

Dear Volunteers of the John D. Burlie Pioneer Club,

                Thank you so much for taking the students of the Ohio State School for the Blind to the circus.  They always look forward to sitting together on the bus and visiting throughout the circus.  The students appreciate having the audio-description through their headsets and getting to spend time with all of you.  Thank you for taking the time to help them enjoy the circus!

Sincerely,

Cecelia Peirano

Elementary Coordinator, OSSB

Submitted Cheryl Malone

New Outlook Pioneers Receive Appreciation Letters

Most organizations or committees like to hear back now and then from organization(s) that the donations are appreciated and they know that what they are doing is making is a difference. Over the course now and then thank you letters are sent to the committee or group thanking them for what they do. The pioneers receive thank you letters and pass them on to the committees or groups so they are aware their work was appreciated. Below are a few thank you letters that the New Outlook Pioneers have received recently.

Pioneer Headquarters New Address

Headquarters Change of Address Notice

Laura Whitlock, Executive Director, just announced that the Pioneer Headquarters new address is;

Pioneers Headquarters
8547 East Arapahoe Road, Unit J-312
Greenwood Village, CO   80112


Submitted by Elaine Housley, New Outlook Director

Pioneers Therapy Oriented Tricycle (TOT) Project Results for 2021

The Pioneer Organization and the New Outlook Region Pioneers want to take this time to thank Connie and Gordon Hankins for their leadership and volunteer hours devoted to this very special project for physical challenged children. From all of us in Pioneering we thank you for your 26 plus years leading this project.

West Suburban Pioneer Club hasn’t had Monthly Club Meetings since they were suspended in March, 2020 due to Covid-19. So, I’m going to review the results for 2021 to bring everyone up-to-date on the Therapy Oriented Tricycle (TOT) Project.

Assembly and shipping of trikes went on as usual, with 7 being shipped out of state and 31 presented at our home workshop here in Naperville, IL. Those shipped out of state included 4 to CA and 1 each to OH, IN, and MN. Presented at our Workshop included 29 from IL and 1 each from IN and MN. All presentations were made in our garage or outside with everyone wearing face masks.

We had one major building event during 2021 with 10 volunteers building 25 TOT’s. We have been fortunate to have found a volunteer who is going to be taking over the TOT Project with Connie and I finally retiring after 26 enjoyable years of building trikes. Actually, I semi-retired 10 years ago with Connie taking over all responsibilities with me just helping out here and there.

The new Project Leader will be Elizabeth Bishop who lives in St. Charles, IL, only a half hour drive from us. She is retired and belongs to a bicycle club where she is hopeful of recruiting some volunteers. Our current volunteers will also be available. She will be using our current workshop for at least a year and possibly longer. She has been busy learning all aspects of the TOT project including assembly of back rests, foot containments and trikes. She is also getting familiar with the paperwork involving communication with clients, vouchering expenses/deposits, making presentations to TOT recipients, and preparing for the out-of-state shipping by FedX. She has applied for membership in the Pioneers. We are extremely happy to welcome her and to work with her as she serves the needs of our special needs children.

I would also like to announce that we will be working with a local teenager during 2022 to help him achieve Eagle Scout status. He will be the Project Leader of a group of volunteers, that he recruits, to build a quantity of trikes and raise funds for the project.

As I mentioned above, we shipped and presented 38 TOT’s during 2021. Our fund rasing for 2021 exceeded our expenses and the project is in excellent shape beginning our 2022 pioneer year. Our expenses were lower than normal because we had major expenses during 2020 for the TOT add-on components including foot containments and back-rest assemblies. During 2021 we reported 980 hours worked on the TOT Project. We are in good financial health and have not requested Grant money for several years. We are looking forward to the PAC getting us cut over from New Outlook Crossroads Chapter 135 to New Outlook East 160, hopefully during the first quarter of 2021.

Gordon: 630-355-7211 home ghankins99@aol.com
Connie: 630-841 4542 cell cmhankins42@yahoo.com
Elizabeth: 872-243-1177 cell eb60585@gmail.com

Gordon Hankins, Secretary
West Suburban Pioneer Club

New Outlook East Ch. 160 John D. Burlie Club Newsletter For 2021

Creation of the 2022 New Outlook newsletter took a bit more time that expected this year since we wanted to include tentative dates for our volunteer activities and a full listing of local deaths in 2021.

Print copies went out in the mail today to those members that don’t have email addresses (copies were in black and white to keep our cost down).  We have a little under 150 members without email.

Hopefully you’ll join us at John D Burlie luncheons and events in the future. 

Please remember to track your volunteer hours done on your own since we are asked to report them to help Pioneers attract organizations to provide us benefits, etc. 

If you need to update your email or have other questions, feel free to contact me.

Elaine A Housley, New Outlook Director
337 Glen Meadow Court
eahousley@gmail.com

Cell 614-323-3314

In Memory of those reported of their passing through 2021 of the Columbus Works to the John D. Burlie PIoneer Club.


Submitted by Jerry Dunbar, President/Treasurer, John D Burlie Club & Elaine Housley, Director, New Outlook Pioneers