President Rod introduced today’s speaker, Alexis Eggenberger, who is currently the Manager of the Promedica Bixby Center for Autism. Alexis and her husband live in Perrysburg where she grew up. She is a licensed Social Worker and a board certified Behavioral Analyst with an expertise in treating individuals with autism. Accompanying Alexis was Peggy Romano – one of five Behavioral Technicians at the center.
Statistics show that in 2000, one in 166 children were diagnosed with autism. In 2010 the number grew to 1 in 68. Autism affects 1 in 42 boys as opposed to 1 in 189 girls. Autism occurs all over the world, Alexis said, and that there was a 14%-18% chance a family would have a second child with autism. Approximately 46% of children with autism exhibit average to above average IQs. Some 1,200 new children in Michigan are diagnosed with autism each year.
The first signs of autism usually appear within a child’s first three years, often within the first 12 to 18 months. Autism spectrum disorder manifests in countless ways and in many combinations. Every child is different. Communication signals are often the earliest to appear. Children with autism may not make eye contact and may prefer to play alone. Children with autism may also engage in repetitive body movements or display narrow areas of interest.
The Centers for Disease Control estimates one in every 68 children has a form of autism spectrum disorder. There is no medical test (like a blood test) for autism. Your pediatrician will conduct developmental screenings several times in your child’s first two years. If there’s a concern, the next step is a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation. The Centers for Disease Control and the Institute of Medicine have reported no link between vaccines and autism spectrum disorder.
Autism cannot be cured but it can be treated. Programming focuses on: communication, behavior, play, social skills and life skills appropriate for the child’s developmental level. A child’s program may include: Initial and ongoing evaluations, intensive applied behavior analysis, speech and language services, functional behavior assessments and parent/caregiver training. Alexis concluded her presentation by noting that there are currently 5 behavior technicians ready to serve children with autism at Bixby. Thanks you ladies for a very enlightening and informative presentation!
Membership Survey – At last week’s Club Assembly we gave everyone attending a Membership Survey to complete. If you did not receive one, they will be handed out during subsequent meetings.
REMEMBER: DisCon 2016 - First timers interested in attending this year’s DisCon (June 23-26 in Kalamazoo) should know that subsidies are available through our club ($250) as well as the District ($150). Please contact any club officer if you are interested. Rod mentioned again that our club will host a hospitality suite at the conference. We need volunteers!
Lenawee Humane Society Walk & Wag Event – Patty Clark will be participating in the upcoming Lenawee Humane Society Walk & Wag event scheduled for May 14. Please go to her Facebook page to donate. See promo piece below. Thanks.
Onion Sales – Kathye announced that the annual sales is officially launching. Every member is expected to sell 8 bags. We make $6 on each bag we sell for $10. Kathye gave everyone an envelope containing a tracking sheet. You have until the end of April. Onions will be arrive around the second week in May. So, please go out and sell, sell, sell. We will be splitting revenues with the Lenawee Youth Council as in the past. Kathye sent out a flyer electronically so you can post on your Facebook page. Yours Truly landed 16 sales in 2 days doing this. So can you.
DG Wayne Titus’ Volunteer Hour Collection Worksheet – DG Wayne still wants each of us to track hours, both Rotarian-related and non-Rotarian-related that we give of ourselves in service to others. They should include direct hours worked as well as planning and development time. We will be surveying members again about June 1.
Adaptive Wheelchair for ERaceStigma - Dan Buron said this is go-fund-me project. He invited members to visit: gofundme.com/j7wpedmk
REMEMBER – Semi-annual dues are due!
GET WELL – Still thinking about you, Jane. You get back here soon!
DATES TO REMEMBER
April 30 – District Assembly Saturday, Schoolcraft College from 8am – noon in Livonia. The following people have been invited to attend from our club: President-Elect, President Nominee, Youth Exchange Chair, Foundation Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, Public Image Chair, Service Project Chair, Membership Chair, all board members. Please let Chuck know if you will be able to attend.
April 30 - We have scheduled our next planting day with the 3rd Day Farm Project for April 30th from 9-11am. Come out and take a look at the new tractor that our club just purchased for this program. The food from this garden will go to the Fishes and Loaves Food Pantry. This pantry has distributed more than 448,000 lbs of food and served more than 174,000 meals. Please mark your calendars and roll up your sleeves for another great project from our club!
May 5 – Thanks to Gerry Burg who is making the arrangements, all past and future Junior Rotarians will be on deck at our regular meeting on May 5th for Junior Rotarian Day! As in the past, these young folks will do everything Rotarians normally do to run the entire meeting that day from checking people in, to doing the fine session and even the program! We haven’t done this for some time but we thought this year was appropriate. Thanks, Gerry!
May 16 - It is that time of year again! The Strokes For Students golf outing will be held on Monday, May 16th and Rotary usually has 2 teams. If you want to play on one of those teams, please let me know. The cost to golf is normally $100 per player, however we have monies budgeted to reduce your cost to $50 per player. Please let me know if you want to play this year so we can get our teams submitted. If you would like to be a hole sponsor, the cost is $250.
May 22 – EraceStigma 5k Run – Greg Adams will again be in charge of this important event again this year. Greg said he needs 6-8 Rotarians on site by 8:30 on May 22 to help with the Kids Dash. Please contact Chuck Chase in case you can help.
June 30 - Our annual changeover dinner will be a joint one with members of the Adrian AM Club and is scheduled for Thursday, June 30 from 5:30 to 8:0pm at the home of Noon Club Rotarian Rhonda Gage and hubby, Bob. The address is 8838 Clare Court, Onsted (north side of Loch Erin.) Bring your spouse or significant other.
Weekly Programs - 2016
April 21 - John Sullivan on "Relationships"
April 28 - Dane Nelson and Bob Benhke – APS Bond Issue
May
May 5 - Club Assembly
May 12 - Ann Hinsdale Knisel on School Readiness Program
May 19 - Sue Lewis on Child Advocacy Center
May 28 - Mark Murray and Mike Olsaver on ARF and RI Foundations
June
June 2 - Club Assembly
June 9 - Member Moment - Kathye Herrera, “What Does Tech Fab Do?”
June 16 - Carrie Hartley – Boys & Girls Club (Could be the 23rd)
June 23 -
June 30 - CHANGEOVER DINNER (NO MEETING)
Here is former Noon Rotarian Bill Chase in Chicago recently for Rotary's Council on Legislation with RI President, Ravi, and Mike McCullough from the Trenton Rotary Club.
President Rod introduced today’s speaker, Alexis Eggenberger, who is currently the Manager of the Promedica Bixby Center for Autism. Alexis and her husband live in Perrysburg where she grew up. She is a licensed Social Worker and a board certified Behavioral Analyst with an expertise in treating individuals with autism. Accompanying Alexis was Peggy Romano – one of five Behavioral Technicians at the center.
There is no medical test (like a blood test) for autism. Your pediatrician will conduct developmental screenings several times in your child’s first two years. If there’s a concern, the next step is a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation. The Centers for Disease Control and the Institute of Medicine have reported no link between vaccines and autism spectrum disorder.
