March, 2010

March is a month of conflict. Aptly named for Mars, the Roman god of war, winter and spring often appear to have chosen the month to do battle. It is noted for its winds, changeable weather and the adage “in like a lion, out like a lamb.” Thalassa Cruso called it “... a month of considerable frustration.” While Emily Dickenson called it a “month of expectation...” After a record-setting winter, those of us in the Midwest can relate to both of these sentiments. We expect the temperatures to rise and the snow to melt; but we are frustrated with how slowly that process is occurring.

If February was petite and plump, then March is prolonged (31 days) and has a paucity of holidays/events:

14 - Daylight Savings Time Begins
17 - St. Patrick's Day
20 - Spring Begins
28 - Palm Sunday
29 - Passover Begins

March 7-13 is Girl Scout (GS) Week. Their 98th anniversary is the 12th of March. I think it is interesting that their official “color” is also green. This month Americans eagerly await the annual GS cookie drive. I know I look forward to those green boxes of Thin Mints! How many of you were Girl Scouts? In many ways I equate them with Clipped Wings® since there are similarities in our creed and their promise and law.

The GS Promise: On my honor, I will try to serve God and my country, to help people at all times and to live by the GS Law. The GS Law: I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every GS.

My sister-in-law Lillian is a great GS leader.

March 15 – National Bylaw amendments due to Bylaws Chairman, Elaine Haley McGann

March 31 – National Officer nominations due to Nominating Chairman, Lavon Parker Cook (DTW).

Sue Schnieder Dannert (PHX), Vice Chairman of the 2010 National Games in Lincoln, requests that attendees of our Special Olympics Parent Receptions send her by May 1st any photos you may have of Eunice Shriver. The committee is planning to display these at the Clipped Wings® Parents Reception in July, which will be a tribute to Eunice. Thanks!

Patti Jacoby (MAL), Chairman of the Parent Grants Committee for 2010 Games, reports that the applications for grants have been received, photocopied and mailed to the Parent Grants Committee for their review. There were a record number of requests this year—a true reflection of the economy. Delegates at the 2008 LAX Convention voted to spend $15,000 on the grants. Correction to my February letter: The MAL Chapter donated another $3,000 and the OCC Chapter $1,000, so 25 grants at $750 each will be awarded to the parents. Thanks to Patti and the committee members for the hours they are giving to this project.

National Address Chairman, Barb Eichel Dittig (OAK), reports that membership is currently at 1242, which includes 46 first-time members. Last year at this time the total was 1253, which included 50 first-time members. The ending membership for 2008-09 was 1299; and for 2007-08 it was 1385. Please make a concerted effort to encourage previous members to rejoin and first-time members to come aboard.

Are you still discussing this in your chapter? Please read to the end. I had mentioned that since the next convention is in "Music City," that chapters perform a chapter-written song to a country music tune and give a presentation to the delegates during the business meeting.

Several parameters have been added to this performance to make it easier: (1) The song can be written “at home” and recorded “at home” then chapter members can lip sync it. (2) It can be a skit rather than a song. (3) It doesn't have to be of the country music genre. (4) The song or skit can be about your chapter, about Clipped Wings® in general or about convention(s). (5) It can be no longer than 5 minutes, which includes the set up and take down time. (6) The music (or the song already recorded) should be on a CD so it can quickly and easily be played at convention. Additions: (7) It isn't just the delegates performing—all chapter members who are present at convention can “join in” for their chapter's song/skit. (8) When I stated earlier, “possibly in lieu of chapter reports,” I didn't mean your song/skit had to be the content of your chapter reports; listed above are the different “subjects” it can cover. It is meant to be a FUN thing. If your chapter sees it as being too stressful, then simply tell me that. Not every chapter is expected to have to participate.

The National Officers held their Executive Committee Meeting at the home of Vice President Barbara Fisk Vincent (SEA) in La Quinta, CA, on February 18-20. We had very productive discussions and covered a lot of business. Minutes of our meeting will be sent in the days ahead. Mary K. Doherty Dana, (OCC) Chairman of the 2010 Nashville Convention, also was able to meet with us one afternoon to provide an update on convention. On February 18, we joined many other current (and potential) Clipped Wings® members when we had lunch at the Jackalope Restaurant with the UA Lunch Bunch.

National Vice President Barbara Fisk Vincent (SEA) wants me to remind you to send her photos of those members and former members deceased since the last convention. These will be included in the Memorial Roll presentation at the Nashville Convention.

To meet the April 15 deadline for the next Quarterly, Nominating Chair, Lavon Parker Cook (DTW) and her committee: Kathryn Coleman (RDW), Brenda Joyce Falsone (MIA); Pinky Cleary Kubiak (PHX) and Carol Wisham (SAN) will gladly accept nominations at this time for the national offices of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Editor. The only requirements are that you must have the permission of the person being nominated and the nominee must have served as a chapter president or a convention delegate. If you know of members who agree to be nominated, a letter or email to one of the committee members is sufficient. Nominations are due by March 31.

Each spring the MAL Chapter has a gathering in Florida. This year it is on March 17 at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee. Any snowbirds or Clipped Wings® members who may be in the area are invited. Just let Carol Novak Morgan (MAL) know ASAP. I'll be there and “wearin' my green.”

Another opportunity to party among the palms will be in Palm Desert, CA on March 18. The UA Lunch Bunch luncheon will be at the Miramonte Resort. You may contact Ruth Monacelli at 760-345-6480 if interested.

The Bylaws Committee is requesting any amendments to the National Bylaws, Policies and Standing Rules, which your chapter may wish to submit. They will be reviewed, written in correct format, and distributed to chapters three months before the next convention. Then delegates will vote on the proposed amendments in September.

Please send any amendments to the Bylaws Committee Chairman, Elaine Haley McGann (DEN), by March 15, 2010. Thanks!

Reminder . . . the Name Change Research Committee is seeking information and opinions concerning the implications of a possible name change for the organization. The committee would like responses from all members.

Please remember that the committee is neither advocating for nor against the name change. They are only gathering information as directed by the delegates at the LAX 2008 convention.

If you haven't already done so, please send your thoughts/opinions to any committee member: Gail Andrus Preston (OCC), Chair; Cathy Stoeber Kurinsky (CHI); and Vicki Mar (SEA).

Please continue to keep our Clipped Wings® friends who are ill, having treatments/tests, or who have recently lost a loved one in your prayers. Cards, phone calls or perhaps visits are always a special way to bring a bit of sunshine into their lives. Even a brief email may also brighten someone's day.

Countdown to:

Lincoln	Special Olympics National Summer Games	July 16-24, 2010	139 Days
Nashville	Clipped Wings® Convention	September 22-26, 2010	205 Days

After a lengthy delay at the gate while waiting to depart, the Captain finally came on the PA system and announced: "I'm sorry for the delay, but the machine that smashes your baggage and removes the handles is broken, so the ground crew is having to do it all by hand today!"

The stormy March is come at last, With wind, and cloud, and changing skies;
I hear the rush of the blast,
That through the snowy valley flies.   --William Cullen Bryant

March comes in with an adder's head and goes out with a peacock's tail. --Richard Lawson Gales

Winds of March, we welcome you. There is work for you to do. Work and play and blow all day. Blow the winter wind away. --Author Unknown

We'll Sing in the Sunshine was one of the many songs the great American philosopher Dolly Parton recorded. It contains the lines:

We'll sing in the sunshine
We'll laugh every day

Whatever clouds are in your life, I hope they will be blown away by the March winds so that you can indeed have sunshine in which to sing and are able to have at least one good laugh every day.

To blue skies and smooth landings,

Pam Troutman Ziebarth
2008-2010 National President
pziebarth@cox.net

CC: National Officers
National Chairs
Advisory Council