Dinner at DSAT

 Elections

 CyberSpace

 Christmas Party Surprise!

 Uno Mas

 Family Profile

 Advocates Against Waiting Lists

 DSAT Officers

Officer Elections              Top of Page
January is our traditional month for new officer elections, so consider how you can get involved.  Several of our current officers have held positions for two years and would like a little break.  Take a look at the following job descriptions and pick your spot: 

President -  Presides over meetings.  Helps book speakers.  Prepares meeting agenda.  Represents DSAT at functions. 

Vice President - Similar responsibilities to president. Helps president and presides over meetings if president is unable to attend. 

Treasurer - Theresa McFall has agreed to continue in this position.  Thanks!! 

Secretary - Takes minutes at meetings, types and distributes copies of minutes at next meeting.  Sends out thank yous.  Helps stamp and mail newsletters. 

Fundraising - These are broken up into specific committees: 
DSAT Calendar 
Scholarship/Library 
Brainstorming/General 

Newsletter - We need one person to compile a newsletter every other month.  Marilyn LaPointe will produce the newsletter opposite months. 

New Parent Packets, Book Donations, Mailing Labels.   Kim Wofford will continue to handle these duties.   Thanks!! 

Party Planner - Kimberly Myers has generously agreed to be in charge of producing and directing out three social extravaganzas.  Easter, Fall Festival and Christmas. 

Web Master - Tracey Wilson is our "Cyber guy", updating and maintaining our DSAT website. (See website article in this issue.) 

1998 was a great year for DSAT, and we'll have a "year in review" issue next month to let everyone know what we accomplished together.  It takes all of our talents and abilities to make the group work, and if we all pitch in, our children will reap the rewards of such a positive resource! 

DSAT is currently the only active Down Syndrome education/support organization in the state, so we need to keep the information going. 

It's a new year, so make a resolution to take a spot on the DSAT slate of officers.  We've even got a campaign slogan for you - "It'll be fine to serve in '99! 

CyberSpace Troopers, - Boldy Going...        Top of Page
where many organizations are going these days - on the Internet.  Our own Web Master, Tracey Wilson, and his brother Gary, have moved DSAT into the 21st century.  We now have our own website, complete with photos, current information and copy of this newsletter!  Now, if you have far-flung family and friends (try saying that fast three times) you can let them know what's going on with DSAT by accessing our website. 

Here's the address:  www.myplanet.net/forest/DSAT.html 
Kim Wofford has some handy-dandy little stickers with the address on it, so if you see here at the next meeting, ask for one. 

Oh, The Noise Inside Was Frightful...        Top of Page
But the party was still delightful.  Our annual Christmas get-together has a little surprise this year, and it wasn't Santa.  A "panic" button in one of the rest rooms got activated ( one of our curious kiddos, no doubt) and it took a while before the source of the noise was tracked down and eliminated.  (The Special Olympics building was a doctor's office at one time and the panic buttons were for patients who might have an emergency.) 

Fortunately, the back foam was fairly quiet with all the doors closed, so our stout-hearted Santa and Mrs. Claus made their visit and found out what the kids wanted for Christmas.  There was plenty of good snacks and drinks, and thanks to Kimberly Myers and WalMart, Bags of goodies for all of the kids. 

We had a good turnout, and a great photo opportunity.  Thanks to everyone who brought food and beverages, and thanks, as usual to Andrea Eden and Kim Wofford for making all of the arrangements.  (Thanks also to Terri Hockett of Special Olympics for figuring out where the noise was coming from!) 

Good News roundup                   Top of Page
Elaine Lambert, daughter of Lynette and Gary lambert, took first place honors at a "Crawl-a-thon" recently at Muskogee Walmart.  "We're going to start calling her Flo-Jo" reports Lynette.  Congrats to Elaine for a great achievement. 

While the spotlight's on achievement in sports... chalk one up for Casey McBride, daughter of Lois and David McBride.  Casey is fully included at Cimarron Christian Academy in Oilton and plays on the Lady Patriots basketball team.  Last week, Casey scored her first basket in competition play and the whole family is celebrating, reports her aunt, Janice Bevel.  Way to put one through the hoop, Casey. 

Speaking of the Bevels, Janice reports that Bradley is having Chemotherapy treatments every other week and is doing well.  The chemo hasn't made him feel to badly, so we're all thankful for that.  The rest of the family is hanging in there, too, so keep them in your thoughts and prayers. 

Thanks to the efforts of several parents, DSAT now has a new informational brochure.  If you need a copy, or know of a family with a new baby with Down Syndrome, contact Andrea Eden at 224-8171 or Kim Wofford at 622-6906.  We want to thank the Tulsa ARC for donating the printing, and Pam wilson for use of her materials.  It's a great looking piece for getting out word about Down Syndrome and DSAT. 

And a big "Thank You" to Citgo for production and printing of our newsletters.  After a request from Andrea Eden, our esteemed president ( who no doubt showed them a picture of that adorable Amanda)  Citgo came on board as a DSAT supporter. Our sincere gratitude goes to a good corporate citizen. 

got any good news to share?  Contact Marilyn Lapointe at 371-2279 and let everyone know!  It's your newsletter. 

Put the Shirt On Your Back ...                 Top of Page
and you'll be supporting a good cause in the bargain. Uno Mas, an organization out of Texas, markets a line of clothing featuring the "Uno Mas" logo - a chili pepper character with the line "A little something extra." ("Uno Mas" is Spanish for "one more" and refers to the one extra chromosome people with Down Syndrome carry). 

The group of DSAT parents that went to the National Down Syndrome Congress conference in Dallas in August met the Uno Mas folks, and as a result, the company is donating $1 from T-shirts and bumper sticker sales to the family of Bradley Bevel to help defray medical costs.  If you would like to see the Uno Mas items, you can check out their website at:  unomas21.com  or contact Janice Bevel at 862-3784.  It's a great way to send a positive message about Down syndrome and help one of our families at the same time. 

Family Profile:  By Joy Wyrick            Top of Page
(Editor's Note: Ken and Toni Wyrick have lived in Tulsa and Alaska, and are currently living in Colorado.  They have been DSAT members where ever their address, and Toni submitted this insightful profile of their daughter Joy, who has Down syndrome.) 

The Gift of Joy  "Didn't you have an Amniocentesis?  This baby has Down syndrome!"   That was my first introduction to my first newborn child 15 years ago.  Although there have been many years pass since that day,  I remember that nurse's stinging words as if it happened yesterday. In those early days after my daughter's birth, I cried for myself, Buckets and buckets of tears!  Why did this happen to us?  All of my hopes, dreams and desires for this baby will never come to pass.  Why? Why? Why?

I was in pretty dismal state of mind when my husband came in to tell me that instead of calling her Logan (the name we originally picked out) we should call her "JOY".  I remember thinking to myself "Is he crazy? joy is NOT and emotion I fell right now, and God knows if I ever will again!"  But I went along, not realizing at the time what a genius I had married. 

After I stopped crying for myself, then I cried for my daughter.  More buckets! "Why couldn't she have a 'normal' life?" Friends and social activities in school, college, career opportunities, love, marriage, children ... these seemingly normal life's aspirations burst like a bubble before my eyes. 

Now, flash forward 15 years.  What I perceived in those early days as a major tragedy was in reality the BIGGEST BLESSING OF MY LIFE! Joy was not really "Joy" all along, but I was too wrapped up in what I THOUGHT both she and I would be missing out on to see clearly  Joy was in reality my life's gift of all time - she just happened to be wrapped in unconventional wrapping paper! 

We all have our challenges in life and some seem insurmountable at the time.  More often that not, however, these same situations are the impetus for positive changes, within ourselves and our families.  Joy has created such a change for me.  She has given far more to me and to my family that we will ever be able to return to her.  Somehow, I think that was her life's mission to us and to those she touches. 

I recently saw a wonderful movie "Patch Adams" with Robin Williams. Most all of us go through life only seeing four fingers never having the capability to see beyond what we perceive to be the problem, and consequently never being able to resolve it.  Because of Joy's presence in my life I see eight fingers now and I can smile for the wisdom she has imparted to me. 

I have two other wonderful children:  Julie, who is 14 years old and John-Charles, who is 9.  Julie is going through full blown adolescence, with all of the associated raging hormones to keep home life a roller coaster ride.  I've always been frightened of heights and we've had some wild rides!  John is gentle and sensitive and Mr. Congeniality among his peers.  They are typical children in may ways and unique in just as many. 

Joy is 15, enjoys school and continues to excel and love ballet and delights in music often dancing and singing to here tape player.  Julie and John complain because Joy will often rise early and play classical music loudly enough to wake them, well before they want to get up!  Joy takes pride in keeping her flowery, lacy room neat as a pin, picks out her school clothes the night before, likes to help me with cooking and cleaning and goes to bed and gets up all on her own! 

I'm wondering if Down syndrome is really a handicap?! 
 

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Would you like to profile your family in the DSAT newsletter?  We need your input!  Contact Marilyn LaPointe at 371-2279 and write up your experiences as a family living, coping, enjoying and learning.  Your life lessons can be a help to other families. 
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Let Your Voice Be Heard           Top of Page
A new group, Advocates Against Waiting Lists, is forming. There will be an organizational meeting on Saturday, jan 23, from 1:00 to 3:00 P.M. in the Mason Center at Asbury United Methodist Church,  5835 S. Sheridan.  Respite and child care will be provided.  

Advocates Against Waiting Lists is being organized by families who have a member with a disability and are using or will be using state services.  There is currently  a years-long waiting list to receive these services, and many families feel that money could be allocated differently by the state to help shorten the wit.  

If you are interested in getting involved, contact mary Ann Duncan at the Alzheimer's Association, 481-7741, or Marilyn LaPointe at 371-2279
 
 
 

Vice President:
Kim Wofford 622-6906 

Secretary:     We Need You! 
Vacant 

Treasurer:
Theresa McFall 272-4406 

Respite Care:
Marilyn LaPoint 371-2279 

New Parent Packet: 
Kim Wofford 622-6906   E-mail Kim

Newsletter:
Marilyn Lapoint  371-2279 
Karla Jenkins     252-0880 

Web Master
 E-mail Tracey Wilson