Dear Everyone… October was an amazingly successful month for The WDS … I hope it was for you too. We are excited to launch our new Newsletter format. We hope you enjoy it and look forward to hearing from you.
Warmest Wishes, Sue Hall, Chair
Achieving our Mission
You may remember that in September Sue went to her first meeting of 100 Women Who Care. All over Canada there are groups of 100 Women Who Care, 100 Men Who Care, 100 Children Who Care, and for smaller communities 100 People Who Care. They meet 4 times a year, everyone donates $100 each time, local charities put a nomination slip in a box, and three are drawn out at each meeting. The three charities make their pitch, the ladies vote, and the winning charity gets $10,000. Well the North Shore branch had just achieved their 100th member when Sue got to the meeting in September, which in itself was an achievement, so it was the first time they had their goal of $10,000. Guess who was first out of the box of nominations… the WDS…. Sue spoke first, (asking for money to fund Davis Learning Strategies Basic Teacher Workshops) then two other charities spoke, they all voted, and guess who got the first $10,000. WE DID !!!! So many women came up to Sue afterwards to say how learning challenges had affected themselves, or their children or their grandchildren. At their next meeting, December 2, Sue will speak to the assembled women telling them what the money is being used for, and anyone is welcome to come as a guest, it’s at Amica just off Taylor Way. Let her know … info@thewds.org
Prevention
On October 25/26 there was a scheduled DLS Workshop; 16 teachers attended from Burnaby, Victoria, Nanaimo, Nelson and Surrey. The presenter, Colleen Millslagle came from Texas, and luckily for us, the workshop was the last part of Stacey Smith’s DLS Presenter training, so fingers crossed, we now have a Canadian DLS Presenter. It was the perfect photo opportunity for the giant cheque from 100 Women Who Care to be presented. Thank you to Naomi Chard and Mary McGivern who give philanthropic women the opportunity of supporting local charities… especially us ! I’d like to point out Donna Doerksen in the photo – 3rd from the right front row – I will never be able to thank her enough for all her support over the 17 years she has known about the work we do. She is currently a teacher/librarian in the Burnaby School District, a total non-picture thinker, and our strongest advocate. For this event, she got 5 teachers to come and provided the most amazing baking!
Your Board will be meeting shortly to discuss the best use of this money. It has always been Sue’s hope that three schools will use these methods wholeheartedly, and provide success stories/statistics that other schools will envy and replicate. Paddy Carson, Edmonton Facilitator, and antipodean is currently in New Zealand visiting some of the schools using DLS. This article is an update on DLS schools down under, click here to read more
Resources
Stacey’s husband Larry Smith was also at the Workshop; he is a Davis Autism Approach Facilitator and Trainer. Many of our children have a few autistic characteristics and he recommended this book, Parenting, Love and Logic. I am also a fan of Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne. In the latest Dyslexic Reader there was an article entitled ‘Ten Reasons why handheld devices should be banned for children under the age of 12’ and the author, Cris Rowan, lives on the Sunshine Coast, working out of Zone’in Programs. Her latest book is The Virtual Child – the terrifying truth about what technology is doing to children.
Outreach
Sue spoke at the Decoda Conference, November 22, 2019, Radisson Hotel, YVR. The audience was made up of literacy proponents from all over BC, who were all wonderfully receptive. Sue received one such response:
‘Your presentation was definitely one of the best that I attended during the conference. I really enjoyed it – so valuable. Thank you for the information and for your good work!’
She will also be supporting the CKNW Kids Fund at their Telethon, December 3, 2019. They have been kind enough to support some of our bursary applicants for the past few years. Sue was there 3/4 (?) years ago. Donna and Sue have put in an application for the Burnaby School District Pro D Day, February 28, 2020.
Thank you to our Donors and Sponsors
And finally… if you are still awake… more good news… the Canadian Davis Facilitators Association is donating another $1,500 to our bursary fund. They have been kind enough to do this for several years now and this donation enables us to support clients in other provinces, so thank you!
Ed Roman is an incredibly talented, generous singer/songwriter who is donating some of the profit from his prize winning Red Omen Video (based on his dyslexic struggles) to the WDS – it will be available in Canada shortly. So many congratulations to Ed, and so much gratitude. To read more click here.
Thanks to Zella and Maela Aufochs we now have three Christmas Cards added to the WDS selection in our Card Project. To read more click here.
Thank you to the North Shore Community Foundation who has granted us an award of $2,400.00 for the Society’s Community initiative for the 2020 Family Summer Camp weekend. Children who have completed a program, and some parents enjoy a multitude of activities and a rare chance to be with like-minded people for a whole two days ! Many thanks to the Foundation for helping us achieve our mission.
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