News Flash!
LIFE CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING’S ANNUAL MEETING
LIFE Center for Independent Living will host its Annual Business Meeting on Thursday, November 20 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at their office located at 2201 Eastland Drive, Suite 1 in Bloomington. A reception will be held from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. which will include a light dinner; the Business Meeting will follow from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
The keynote speaker will be Emily Hoskins, a two-time Paralympic Games Gold Medalist for the USA Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team. She has been a member of that team since 2003, competing in the Paralympic games in Greece and Beijing. Emily has also played for the National-Champion University of Illinois Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team for five years, and has been a Phoenix, Arizona Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Mercury Team Member for three years.
In addition to the keynote speaker, LIFE Center’s Kids on the Block puppet troupe will perform. Local businesses, staff members, and volunteers will be recognized; results of the election to the Board of Directors will be announced. To RSVP to this event, please call Brianne at LIFE Center for Independent Living at 309/663-5433 (Voice), 309/663-0054 (TTY), or 888/543-3245 toll-free (Voice/TTY), or email her at brianne@lifecil.org. American Sign Language interpreters will be available. Other accommodations are available upon request.
NBC will be showing the 2008 Paralympics on Sunday, November 9th. The 90-minute broadcast will be narrated by NBC Sports' Bob Costas. Americans across the country will be introduced to some outstanding performances and amazing role models that represented the U.S. at the 2008 Games. The fact that NBC is airing the games on network television also speaks to the importance and value of the Paralympic movement in the U.S. The special feature will include and in-depth look at some of the top U.S. Paralympic athletes as they train for and compete in the 2008 Games. The documentary, produced by Emmy Award-winning NBC Sports Director David Michaels, will take viewers on a journey in the lives of eight athletes plus the U.S. Paralympic Men's Wheelchair Basketball Team. Complementing the NBC Sports special will be a Universal Sports broadcast presentation of the 2008 Paralympic Games. Beginning Monday, November 10 and continuing through November 16, the network will air four hours of Games and highlights each night from 7-11pm. The 28 hours of coverage will include both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2008 Paralympic Games.
We're looking for volunteers who would be willing to train for a new puppet troupe. We are collaborating with Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department to implement the Kids on the Block program. This is a program to educate children about people with disabilities. To find out more about Kids on the Block, go to their website. The troupe meets Mondays at 6:00 pm in the Bloomington office conference room. Anyone interested should contact Marianne or call 309/663-5433 or toll free 888/543-3245 V/TTY.
Volunteer opportunity: Kids on the Block puppet troupe
Start/end dates: Ongoing – but anticipate most shows will be during school year
Skills needed: Enthusiastic, like to work with children, able to memorize scripts, able to manipulate puppets, and able to carry materials. All volunteers must be 14+ and complete a volunteer application. Drivers must have valid license and insurance.
Duties: Attend initial training, attend regular practices, memorize scripts, transport materials to and attend community education events.
Hours: Hours will vary greatly depending on requests for presentations. Practices to be set by troupe members. Presentations should last approximately 2 hours.
LIFE Center has reorganized their volunteer program. We will be hosting a Volunteer Open House on Tuesday, October 21, 2008 from 5:30-7:30 PM at the LIFE Center's Bloomington office. We will be highlighting current volunteer opportunities such as:
- Clerical Support
- Custodian/Maintenance Support
- Personal Assistants/Drivers
- Workshop Facilitators
- Peer Mentors
- Accessibility Auditors
- Board of Directors/Standing Committee Member
All volunteers are required to submit a completed volunteer application. Volunteer job descriptions and new volunteer applications are available by contacting Marianne.
Illinois has a program to help! You can get a FREE amplified phone through the Illinois Telecommunications Access Corp. (ITAC). It's easy to qualify.
You must:
- be a legal resident of Illinois;
- have your doctor or audiologist sign that you are hard-of-hearing;
- have standard phone service in your residence.
You can get more information and try the phones at either of LIFE Center's offices. To receive an application, you can contact either of LIFE Center's offices or go to the ITAC website.
