On Saturday morning, September 21st, 128 members of the LifeSPAN community – families, focus people, and friends – came together at Salty’s on Alki to enjoy a delicious brunch and to celebrate our 13th year of providing support networks for individuals with disabilities. The picturesque setting and delicious brunch fare were augmented by the wonderful violin performance of Donna Mansfield and the inspired presentation from four members of the LifeSPAN community – Eric Matthes, Rebecca Wirtel, Mary Rowe Tappert, and Tammy Clark – each outlining the positive impact that LifeSPAN has had in their lives.
This year’s celebration was again hosted by our gracious emcee, Elisa Hahn, and provided a setting to honor the contributions of two women who have both generously given back to the community through their work and volunteer commitment. LifeSPAN honored and recognized Joanne O’Neill with the Good Life award for her many years of outstanding leadership in the disabilities community as a training coordinator for Parent Trainings, Housing, Transition to Adult Services, and Employment with the ARC of King County. And LifeSPAN was pleased to present Kaasha Samuelson with the Julie Rowe Memorial award for her outstanding contribution as a member of the LifeSPAN community in her personal commitment to her network’s focus person and family.
The morning was capped off with an inspiring video highlighting LifeSPAN’s work and a fun closing raffle. Thanks to the generous support of the event’s attendees, LifeSPAN raised over $10,000 to support our ongoing work to ensure a good life for individuals with disabilities and peace of mind for their families. We again thank everyone who attended this year’s event and look forward to welcoming you all again in September 2014.
An Evening with Judy Pigott
An essential conviction shared by everyone who is involved with LifeSPAN is that relationships are the key to a good life. It is an idea that is central to our organization and one that is shared by others in our “Network of Networks” - the organizations that work in tandem with us to ensure good lives for our loved ones who have disabilities.
Of course relationships are the key to a good life for all of us. Not just those who have special needs. Our friend Judy Pigott and her business partner John Gibson co-founded a non-profit specifically geared to helping all of us to understand and clarify our interdependence and the importance of permitting ourselves to ask for and receive help from our friends and loved ones even as we offer it to them. She shares her planning materials and the wisdom and firsthand experience of numerous individuals through workshops, newsletters, and as free downloads from her website: www.personalsafetynets.org. We hope you will investigate the link to learn more about her work and gain the tools to ensure your own safety and security, and deepen your relationships with others.
On a Thursday evening in mid-November, Judy was our special guest at a fundraising dinner hosted by one of our LifeSPAN families. It was a lovely evening – warm, convivial and typical of a LifeSPAN event in that it brought a diverse group of people together to break bread and focus on community. Judy gave a presentation that drew our attention to the difficulty that many of us have in asking for help, though we are eager to offer our help to others, and she helped us to see how providing our loved ones with the opportunity to help us in specific ways can be truly generous.
After Judy’s inspiring presentation we shared dinner and conversation that extended way beyond the scheduled time of the event. LifeSPAN would like to thank Judy for sharing her time and wisdom with us. It was truly a memorable evening.
AmazonSmile - The Gift that Keeps on Giving!
LifeSPAN has become part of AmazonSmile, a program that makes it very easy to donate when you buy from Amazon.com... and it costs YOU nothing.
To shop at AmazonSmile simply go to smile.amazon.com from the web browser on your computer or mobile device. You can use your same account on Amazon.com and AmazonSmile – no need to change your existing account. Your shopping cart, Wish List, wedding or baby registry, and other settings are also the same.
Millions of products on AmazonSmile are eligible for donations - you will see them marked "Eligible for AmazonSmile donation" on their product detail pages.
When you purchase and choose LifeSPAN as your favorite charity, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to us.
AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support LifeSPAN, at no cost to you. Thank you!
Caring for our Elders, Adults with Disabilities, and Each Other
Highline Historical Society invites you to a History-making Panel Discussion
Thursday, December 5, 2013 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
At the Highline Historical Society's Pop-Up Museum
216 SW 153rd Street, Burien, WA
RSVP: www.wahopeinhardtimes.net or 206.246.6354
Seating is limited.
The story of a truly great community is how we care for our elders and loved ones with disabilities as well as for each other. Did you know, for example, that this is the first time in history that individuals with disabilities are outliving their parents? If you are facing something new and trying to figure out how to make it work, you are not alone.
Join us for a panel discussion with experts in the field. You will gain helpful hints to move forward and help write a new history of the way things are done.
In addition, take the opportunity to visit the excellent free exhibit by the Highline Historical Society on the 1930s and The Great Depression. The exhibit is a wonderful place to entertain networks or families who are considering joining LifeSPAN. The exhibit is very welcoming and fully accessible. There are many restaurants in the neighborhood so it would make for a nice outing for families, networks, and friends.
Panelists include:
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Judy Pigott, Founder, Personal Safety Nets®
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Marla Beck, Owner/President, Andelcare – Home Care & Home Health
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Kathy Sellars and Susan Carmony, Members of LifeSPAN — Lifetime Secure Personal Assistance Network
Moderated by: Deborah Wakefield, Financial Services Professional, New York Life
This is a free program hosted by Highline Historical Society
Holiday Cookie Bake & Exchange - Saturday, December 14th
LifeSPAN would like to extend a warm and seasonal invitation to join us again for our annual Holiday Cookie Bake & Exchange, which will take place on Saturday, December 14th from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Jackson Place CoHousing (Kathy Sellar’s home) at 800 Hiawatha Place S., Seattle, WA 98144.
Everyone is invited to stop by for a few minutes or to join us for the whole afternoon. Either way, a fun and delicious time is guaranteed for all! For additional event information and location details, please contact Kathy Sellars at 206-522-3099. To pre-register for the event (and to help us with planning), please visit http://www.lifespan-wa.org/2013/10/its-holiday-cookie-bake-time/.
Please note, this is a free event - all you’re required to bring is your appetite and your holiday spirit. A holiday gift donation, however, will, of course, also be gratefully accepted.
LifeSPAN Facilitator Spotlight
This quarter we'd like to share brief biographies of two more of our wonderful and dedicated facilitators:
Sarah Winter
I've had the privilege of being Katie's network facilitator since the beginning of this year (2013). Katie and her network are so kind and caring, and they certainly know how to have a good time! I'm looking forward to sharing many more special times together.
I also work as a contracted Care Manager for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and I've enjoyed working with people with MS and their families for over eight years. I learn so much from each person who invites me to share a bit of their journey. I'm working toward my state social work license and hope to be finished early in 2014.
It's true that kids grow up too fast, so I'm happy whenever my whole family is at home at the same time. My family loves lazy weekend mornings with lots of reading, coffee, and big breakfasts. I like growing and preserving organic food, and my family likes to cook and eat, so that works out well for all of us! We also enjoy Washington State history and touring around to see what Washington has to offer.
Thank you for the warm welcome into the LifeSPAN family. It's a gift to be part of such a wonderful group!
Sarah Winter with Katie Bednar
Sage Lazar
I have been a LifeSPAN facilitator for Sheri’s network since February of this year. For the first few months, I was still trying to understand exactly what being a facilitator entailed, but once I got the hang of it, I felt such a sense of pride in my work. I believe in LifeSPAN’s mission so strongly and I really hope that one day, networks will be the norm all across America. It has been a gift getting to know Sheri, her family and friends and I feel honored to be responsible for maintaining Sheri’s connection to her network. The potlucks are always fun and the people in Sheri’s network are so friendly, warm and caring.
A little bit about me: I have my masters in psychology/counseling, and I am passionate about helping people to improve their lives. What I value most in life are my family, friends, personal growth, learning, being challenged, being ethical, having new experiences, spending time in nature, and giving back to the community. I have lived in Washington longer than anywhere else so although I wasn’t born here, I feel like a true Washingtonian. I cannot think of a more wonderful place to live where I have access to lakes, rivers, mountains, oceans, and trees galore. I have a lot of things to be grateful for in my life, and LifeSPAN is definitely one of them. Thank you to everyone who partakes in this amazingly wonderful organization! It has been a pleasure getting to know you and I look forward to meeting more of you in the future!
A Holiday Wish from LifeSPAN
We wish you all a very safe, loving, and joyous holiday season!
And as we near the end of 2013 and look forward to the new year, please take a moment as you plan your holiday gifts and year-end charitable giving this year to think of LifeSPAN. Every dollar of your support is applied toward strengthening the Networks that we provide - giving families peace of mind and individuals with disabilities a wider net to rely upon in their lives. Your generous support makes a world of difference!
Thank you for your friendship to LifeSPAN and your support of our work and mission. We wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year!
