Lori Stillwell’s favorite day is the first Wednesday of the month.
On this day, students with special needs (ages 18-26) from the Utica Center Network for Employment and Community Transition (UCNECT) at Utica Community Schools visited Shelby Township Senior Center for a Shelby Area Aktion Club meeting. Arrive. Of UCNECT’s 65 students, 32 are in action clubs.
They greet Stillwell with a hug and enthusiasm.
She acts as the liaison between them and the Kiwanis Club of Clinton Township. The Kiwanis Club of Clinton Township is a community of service-oriented people who sponsor service clubs for adults with disabilities. There are approximately 12,000 members in action clubs around the world.
The Shelby Area Aktion Club has over 50 members, including UCNECT alumni, and is attended by parents and caregivers. All ages can participate and help develop self-reliance skills and friendships.
UCNECT teacher Audrey Cranzo said: “This gives them time to work on their self-reliance skills and grow.
Also making the Aktion Club successful are the teachers and volunteers who support the club for the benefit of the students, including building connections with other students in the community.
“It’s very important that many students participate in Special Olympics and other things that the community supports,” Cranzo said. “We are looking for ways to give back to that community and do volunteer work.”
There are pizza parties and picnics, and the students enjoy easy socializing.
Before boarding the bus, Aktion members discuss meeting agendas and future project budgets.
“This helps us decide whether to spend money on activities.
Club members can also participate in Happy Dollars at the end of the meeting. Participants are invited to put $1 in their basket and share their happy thoughts and why they are happy. For example, one young woman said she was very happy to attend a conference with her friends.
Cranzo said, “It’s always great to hear because happy money is so positive, so warm, and so fuzzy.”
“That’s pretty cool to me,” Stilwell said. “They independently elect a president, vice president, secretary and treasurer, and those four run the meeting. They ring the bell, they say The Pledge, they say the Aktion Club Pledge.”
Stilwell said they also love giving back and community service is a priority for the Actyon Club.
A recent project involved making Christmas ornaments and hanging them on the tree for seniors to take home for free. They also created a patriotic magnet for the residents of the Vets Returning Home (shelter).
As a sponsor, the Kiwanis Club of Clinton Township purchases T-shirts for Action Club members and oversees the club’s bank account. Students pay an annual membership fee of $5.
Members of the Action Club also participate in other activities that help members of the community, such as decorating Meals on Wheels bags, which are run by seniors’ centers, with bright pictures and greetings, Stilwell said. .
Students also decorated bags for the Shelby Township Halloween event and participated in Shelby Township art fairs and small library projects in Shelby Township parks.
Mr. Cranzo said the Actyon club was a really great experience, thanks in large part to the Stillwell and Kiwanis clubs.
“She’s amazing and very connected. I believe her when she says it’s her favorite day of the month. My students can’t wait to see Lori at their meetings. They just love her!” “All Kiwanis are very supportive. They just want their kids to be successful and happy.”
To join the Clinton Township Kiwanis Club or the Shelby Area Action Club, please contact Stillwell at 586-295-7957.
For your information
The Shelby Area Action Club hosts an annual Pancake Breakfast to fund its activities. The annual event will be held on He March 8 at 9:00 am at the Shelby Township Activity Center at 14975 21 Mile Road in Shelby Township. Pancakes and sausages are $3 per person. Placemats promote the well-being of local businesses and individuals at $10 per ad.
“One of our students is really good at drawing and always designs placemats for us,” says Kranzo.
The Knights of Columbus Benefit the Church, Special Olympics
Knights of Columbus St Hubert St. Louis Roundtable Council 11658 will host a Super Euchre tournament on January 13th at the St. Hubert Activity Center (38775 Prentiss St., Harrison Township). Proceeds from this event will go to the Welz Warriors for the Michigan Special Olympics Winter Games. Doors open at 6pm. Dinner begins at 6:15 PM. euchre starts at 7pm. The $30 cost per player includes dinner, snacks, prizes, and his eight games of euchre. There is also a 60/40 raffle for $1 a piece or a 7-card raffle for $5. For more information, call Rick Abernathy at 586-306-1296 or visit Council11658.com.
Order of the Alhambra invites disabled people to the circus
The Michigan Alhambra Festival at Shrine Circus will take place February 9th from 11am to 12:30pm at the arena at the Suburban Collection Showplace, 46100 Grand River Ave., Novi.Doors open at 9:30 am
Celebrating its 57th year, the Alhambra celebrates 117 years of experience at the Shrine with a day of shows produced by the Tarzan Zerbini Circus. Featuring elephants, horses, acrobats and clowns.
Alhambra provides tickets, parking, hot dogs, water and cookies to each client and helps supporters of special education schools and organizations that serve people with disabilities. Barrier-free seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and there is a barrier-free bathroom.
Children’s rides, petting zoo, bounce house, elephant rides and souvenir stands are available at the participant’s expense.
All groups must have their vouchers by mid-January to participate. Please contact John Vella 248-376-1555, johnrvella@gmail.com with contact name, teacher name, school district, phone and email, number of clients, caregiver, wheelchair and vehicle.
Send service club and veterans organization news to Linda May at Linda May@ameritech.net or call the landline at 586-791-8116.
