Dear Friends of The Arc,

“October’s poplars are flaming torches lighting the way to winter.” -Nova Bair

Hmm…hard to believe how appropriate the quote above is. Remember just a few short weeks (or even days) ago how HOT! HOT! HOT! it was? Transitions, whether in seasons or in our lives, seem to be a constant. There are many transitions at The Arc!

We see new, young families just learning and coming to grips with a disability that will be part of their lives forever, while other families are watching their offspring take the great leap into the adult world by experiencing work or perhaps a new place to live. For some families there may be the experience of loss, either of health or the comfort of a loved one.

It is our mission at The Arc to transition with you to help meet your evolving needs. The Arc staff and board know that in order to help individuals and families through transitions, there must be opportunities for families to share and explore their ideas, feelings, and dreams with each other.

On September 13, The Arc started the first of many sessions to engage our constituency. The gathering, called “Mixing and Mingling of Moms,” was social in nature and offered several Arc moms the opportunity to come together to mix, mingle, and make new connections. The staff were able to listen and begin building constructive relationships that will help continue the production of strong programs, excellent support, and positive outcomes for families.

The Arc is also working hard on its website. In the future, the website will be used to share information on policies, laws, calls to action, events, and supports and services available. There is also an effort to gather the email addresses of the individuals and families who use services. I encourage you to share your email so that we can include you on our contact list. The Arc will NOT sell or share this information. To register, please email eupdates@arceci.org.

Please attend the Candidate Forum at Options of Linn County (1019 7th St. SE) on October 5th. Candidates for U.S. House District #2, Governor, Iowa State House, and Linn County Board of Supervisors will be present. Questions will be focused on disability issues. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the program starting at 7:00 p.m. There will be an opportunity at 8:30 p.m. for the audience to seek out candidates and address specific topics. This is an opportunity for you to decide who reflects your beliefs on disability challenges and issues. If you need transportation, please call Mike Chalupa at 319-981-6446 to arrange a ride.

The graphic to the left indicates how severely our membership is lagging. Please renew your membership if it has lapsed. If you have never joined, why wait? There is no better time than NOW! Our voice and our strength needs to be apparent to policy makers and politicians. We have a rich history (more than 50 years) of improving education, services, and supports because of a strong membership base at The Arc. Today, there is evidence that fewer and fewer people belong to groups of any kind, while some of the efforts we have won in the past are now in jeopardy. Individuals with disabilities cannot risk loss of services. Join The Arc today!

And, as the opening quote states – enjoy the flaming torches of the poplars and all the other beautiful trees in our community!

• Sign up for Wrapping for a Cause!
• Forward this e-newsletter to a friend!
• Make sure your membership is current!

Delaine Petersen
Executive Director
The Arc of East Central Iowa