United Cerebral Palsy of Prince Georges and Montgomery Counties

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UNITED CEREBRAL PALSY
OF PRINCE GEORGE’S AND
MONTGOMERY COUNTIES
Wm. Irwin Buck Center
4409 Forbes Blvd.
Lanham, Maryland 20706
(301) 459-0566
(301) 459-7691 FAX
(301) 459-7691 TDD/TT

Newsletter

Vickey Moore - 2007 Leadership Award for Prince George's County, Maryland

Vickey Moore was awarded the 2007 LEADERSHIP AWARD in conjucntion with Prince George's County, Maryalnd National Disabilities Employment Awareness Month. For 19 years she advocated for herself to leave a nursing home and now for the last five months has lived independently in her own home in the Bowie. She participates in the ACCESS program.

Vickey receives her award from Howard Burnett, Office of the County Executive

Vickey's journey to her own home has been a long one which began over 19 years ago when she could no longer live with her family. In a time long before adequate funding was available for appropriate community supports, she moved into a nursing home, despite having no significant skilled nursing needs. Assistance with routine daily activities was all she required, but meeting these needs meant adjusting to the confines that accompany life in a large facility characteristic of a nursing home. Vickey managed this adjustment with an unusual mix of acceptance and constant efforts to find a better way to live life the way she wanted it to be. Two illustrations speak to her creativity in achieving this goal. The living space in a shared room could accommodate nothing more than her bed, a dresser, closet and shelves. None the less, she organized so efficiently that she had the best supply of everything from groceries to office supplies, as well as TV, music, phone, answering machine and books to help fill the long hours spent there. But, making her own space as comfortable as possible was only part of Vickey's method for molding the environment to meet her needs. For years she dedicated herself to being an advocate for other residents who could not easily speak for themselves. She was as tireless in this effort as she was in advocating for her own interests and needs.

Keenly aware that she needed more from life than the nursing home could provide, Vickey's self-advocacy efforts turned to finding a way that she could be involved in the community. What began with participation in our community oriented ACCESS program gradually expanded to becoming a frequent MetroAccess customer with the ability and inclination to plan and carry out activities of all sorts, including shopping, visiting with family and friends, and grocery shopping to restock the shelves of her personal store back at the nursing home. Her advocacy skills came in handy as she participated in data collection efforts to hold MetroAccess accountable for improving its service. As one thing leads to another, Vickey eventually found herself working at Giant Food Store where her shopping trips took her each week. But while each of these new ventures provided a more meaningful quality of life for Vickey, she continued to look for ways to make her life more truly her own, something that cannot happen in a nursing home. Eventually, her friendly and outgoing personality, combined with her interest in advocacy brought her into contact with more and more people with similar interests and needs. With the addition of long over-due funds for appropriate living supports, the goal that Vickey had held for almost 2 decades became a reality in May 2007 as she moved into an apartment of her own. Vickey is now enjoying the pleasures of managing her life as she truly wants and needs it to be. Appropriately, she finds herself living across the street from a favorite shopping center, a good thing now that she has cupboards and closet space galore!

In accepting her award Vickey stated: "It's like a new day dawning to think I'm in my own place, to think I'm in my new place for about five months already. Have you ever seen a sunset looking over the mountains? Well, that's how I feel waking up in the morning, just to be where I am. There's an old Star Trek paraphrase "No more sickness in my body; no more sickness in my mind. I'm heading out to Eden." I have never known so much freedom. I grew up in my mother's house. I was 39 when I was moving into the nursing home at Cherry Lane. 19 years and a few months after May 2007, I've had my own apartment, am looking for a roommate and battling the real world for a change. Excuse me while I'm babbling, but this real world has got me so keyed up, I'm on top of the world. Thank you for recognizing my achievements, but I really don't know why you have given this opportunity to me. Thank you again."

View video of Vickey receiving her award on video channels: YouTube Yahoo Video

Prince George's County Employee of the Year -- Barbara Kidwell

Barbara Kidwell was honored as Prince George's County Employee of the Year in celebration of National Disbilities Employment Awareness Month - 2006. In our ADVANCING CAREERS, Barbara has worked for 20 years as Secretary at Eleanor Roosevelt High School.

Barbara with longtime supporter, Mary Mitchell

Barbara Kidwell with her award

On any week day of the academic year, callers to the school in Greenbelt Maryland will be greeted by Barbara Kidwell, the switchboard secretary for one of the largest public schools in Maryland. While listening to the caller's request, Barbara may be sorting the large volume of school mail, taking messages, and answering questions from visitors and students in the busy school office, all with a calm, patient and confident demeanor. Her effectiveness and confidence are the result of almost 24 years of dedicated employment with the Prince George's County Public School system at Roosevelt, where she is well known and appreciated by administration, faculty, students and parents alike.

Following graduation from Friendly High School in 1984, Barbara was determined to become employed despite concerns that her cerebral palsy might make this difficult or impossible. Not one to avoid challenges, Barbara began her efforts to find work in 1985 by participating in United Cerebral Palsy of Prince George’s County’s Advancing Careers Program. Persistence and patience during her job search eventually lead to a short term position with the Prince George's County Consumer Protection Commission in 1987. This valuable work experience eventually lead to a job offer by the Prince George’s Board of Education as Secretary 1 at Eleanor Roosevelt. Her success in this position is evidenced by her longevity and recognition by the school administration as a valued employee.

Finding meaningful and accessible employment in the years before the ADA was only the first of the challenges facing Barbara. As soon as she had accepted the job offered to her, she had to figure out how she would get to and from work each day. This was no small task given the 56 mile round trip between her home in Croom and the school in Greenbelt. With the passage of the ADA and advent of paratransit services, Barbara was among the first 6 people in the WMATA region to be certified to use MetroAccess. While the benefit of door to door, affordable, wheelchair accessible public transportation was most welcome, the frustration of not always being able to get to work on time remains a challenge that Barbara still confronts with determination and resolve.

Once at work, Barbara is challenged each day as she fields a large call volume on a eight line switchboard which requires that she know the names and office extensions of 137 faculty and staff. Her ability to multi-task enables her to talk with several people in the same period of time while assuring that each gets to their correct destination. Her friendly and helpful natures makes her an effective public relations representative for the school.

For this outstanding record, Barbara Kidwell was honored as the outstanding Prince Georges County Employee of the Year.

Watch video of Barbara receiving her award: YouTube Yahoo Video

Watson Family Barn Dance -- Russell Watson and Family's 25 year legacy to United Cerebral Palsy

RUSSELL WATSON touched thousands of lives in many ways. We were fortunate to have the friendship and support of Mr. Watson for many years. Most notable of his support was his annual barn dance and auction benefit our organization. The Watson Family Barn Dance and Auction was a community event. Begun years ago when Robert Watson, current board president, as a child wanted to go door to door to collect for the UCP telethon. Door to door in rural Southern Maryland is quite a haul. Russell determined the best solution was to invite friends over for a dance and collect donations for UCP. This turned into an annual which became a southern Prince George's County tradition over the past several decades.

Russell Watson and his beloved wife Shirley partnered to make a success of the barn dance and auction as they did in all aspects of their life.

Thousands of local folks, joined by those from out of state visitors, made an annual trek to the Robin Hill Farm Nursery in Brandywine on the second Saturday in October. They did so by word of mouth. There were no formal invitations. Guests of Russell and Shirley Watson and family at a barn dance and auction donated over $425,000 to the organization over the years.

Why did they come back year after year? They danced, enjoyed music, conversed around bonfires, renewed friendships, excitedly bid for auction items donated by generous folk and businessess in the area. The kinship and warmth of the event brought them back year after year whether the night was cold, rainy or magically warm and star filled. Orange pumpkins buttons with the year on it given to donors became collectibles proudly displayed on ball caps and jackets. This was a can't miss event and many were there for every dance.

Louise Garner (1) greets Karen Skotz at the donations table of the Watson Family annual barn dance and auction to benefit United Cerebral Palsy of Prince George's and Montgomery Counties. Seated to the left is Shirley Watson who, with her husband Russell and family memebers, has hosted the eighteenth annual event. Standing to the right is Ann Robinson. Folks wear buttons to signify their donations.

We remember Russell and Shirley dancing

While Mr. Watson assumed responsiblility for the totality of the smooth running Barn Dance & Auction and was the ever genial host who greeted everyone, he always shared a few magical moments dancing with his beloved Shirley. They walzed, jitter-bugged, and did western swing.

We also remember Mr. Watson auctioneering

One highlight of the evening always was the auction, in particular, and Mr. Watson's auctioneering. Mr. Watson was spontaneous and endearing. What would Russell say? Mr. Watson could tease, cajole, shame -- all to get top price for items of great value and also for items of value to the bidder only because of their sentiments and charity. Son, Robert Watson's pink cowboy hat went for over $200 some years ago. Anyone remember the bloomers? What did they go for? And for some divine reason there were always newly born baby goats, pigs, rabbits or puppies for auction. Donated freshly caught rockfish always fetched top dollars for United Cerebral Palsy.

Mr. Watson was joined by local politicans on stage. Among regulars were House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Maryland State Senate President Thomas V. "Mike" Miller Jr., Maryland Delegates Joseph Vallerio, who was the main auctioner, and James Proctor, and Councilman M. James Estepp. Audrey Scott and others also joined the auction team at various times.

Auctioneer Russell Watson, cajoles to get higher bids while Maryland State Delegate James Proctor, Jr., (L) and Prince George's County Council Chair Jim Estepp (R) look for bidders. The object of the intense bidding, a five day old piglet which went for $700.00, is to the left. Seated are Robert Watson, president of the board of United Cerebral Palsy of Prince George's and Montgomery Counties and his wife, Lynn Robertshaw-Watson.

From left to right, Shirley Watson, Russell Watson, Maryland State Delegate James Proctor, Jr. and Prince George's County Council Chair Jim Estepp look for bids on the carefully sewn quilt made by Becky Meinhardt. Among the auction items was a toyhouse barn made by Bill Watson. Robert Watson, board president of United Cerebral Palsy of Prince George's and Montgomery Counties, is lower left in his motorized scooter. The auction items brought in $6,440.00 of the $15,518.00 raised by the evening of fun, dancing and charity.

Robert Watson, president of the board of United Cerebral Palsy of Prince George's and Montgomery Counties (seated left) opens the auction which garnered $6,440.00 of the total $15,518.00 raised. (Standing left to right) are Shirley Watson and Russell Watson, the owners of Robin Hill Farm Nursery, Maryland State Delegate James Proctor, Jr., and Prince George's County Council Chairman Jim Estepp. The Watson family has raised approximately $313,000.00 through this event over the past 18 years.

And we remember Mr. Watson with family members

The Barn Dance & Auction was always viewed as a family affair. For all the years the whole family was involvied in aspects not only the night of the event but weeks before and afterwards.

Robert Watson shares a moment with Russell.

We have many photos of the Watson family barn dance and auction on our PhotoBucket:http://s307.photobucket.com/albums/nn282/ucppgmc/Watson%20family%20and%20UCP/

and Flickr:http://www.flickr.com/photos/ucppgmc/2502660466/in/set-72157604143037161/

Twenty Years of the Wm. Irwin Buck Golf Tournament -- Betty Buck's Memorial to her Father

Following the footsteps of her late father, Wm. Irwin Buck, known as "Mr. UCP", Betty provides vital support to United Cerebral Palsy. Betty initiated and ran for twenty years successful, "Irwin Buck Memorial Golf Tournament", considered one the finest charity gold tournaments in the area. Through this tournament. Betty has raised over $550,000 for UCP's programs for disabled individuals, Equally important the tournement brought many friends to UCP.

Mr. Buck never organized golf tourneys, but saw their potential as he used golf to bring funds to UCP. He would sponsor events associated with golf, although he never played.

Betty fully realized the potential of golf tourneys early on and developed this annual event which had a great following of golfers and supporters. At its height over a number of years close to 275 golfers registered and took over all 36 holes on the golf course. Some golfers played all twenty years of the tourney and if they could play only one tourney a year this was it.

There was only one year that the tourney had to be rescheduled. This was the year of hurricane "Floyd".

Danny Fitzgerald, grandson of Irwin Buck, volunteered at the tourney and also played.

Betty was honored by National United Cerebral Palsy for her support of UCP through the tourney.

Also an "occasional" golfer, Betty was always game for a round and in 2001 had a hole in one.

Both of Irwin's granddaughters, Erin and Kelly, joined Betty in helping out in the tourney

In the Master's tradition, green jackets were awarded to those who excelled in supporting the tourney. From the left next to Betty Buck are Edward Wayson, Paul McCoy and Tom Kerley.

Mrs. Irwin Buck would sometimes join the tourney for the luncheon and awards dinner.

We have many photos of the Wm. Irwin Buck Golf Tourney on our PhotoBucket:http://s307.photobucket.com/albums/nn282/ucppgmc/Betty%20Buck%20celebrates%20Irwin%20Buck/

and our Flickr:http://www.flickr.com/photos/ucppgmc/2502983960/in/set-72157605122772368/