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Times-Advocate, 1982-12-29, Page 2Page 2 Times -Advocate, December 29, 1982 YACMR. is young people helping each other Joyce Klages is brimming over with ideas. The efferves- cent eighteen -year-old presi- dent of the Exeter branch of YACMR ( Youth Across Canada with the Mentally Retarded) is dreaming of dozens of ways for her group to entertain and assist other teenagers, The Exeter \'M'MMR operates under the aegis of the South Huron Association for the.' :Mentally Handicap- ped, the umbrella organiza- tion for ARC Industries and the bakeshop' at Daswhood; the Huron Hope nursery, classes from kindergarten to grade 8 for educable retard- ed. and the new developmen- tal centre for the severely handicapped at Huron Park, and the group . homes in Exeter. Volunteers working on the buddy system take physical- ly'and/or mentally handicap- ped young people on shopping trips, to movies; hockey games and other recreational activities, and accompany them to parties and dances. Members of the local YACMR one of the most ac- tive in the province according to SHAMH executive director Don Campbell, gathered in the Exeter public school library recently for their monthly meeting. Events planned for the next few months include a combin- ed hayride for 20 Beaver Cubs and the Huron Hope students aged five to eight, a Christmas dance at the Rec Centre for clients, volunteers, staff and board committee members and a bowling par- ty followed by a potluck din- ner with the Huron Hope teenagers and their parents. "We're going to lose at bowling", Joyce predicted "Those Huron Hope kids can really bowl." While discussing the plann- ed activities, Joyce advised the group if any had a school test at the same time as they were due at Huron Hope to either make arrangements to take the exam ahead of time, or write the test as scheduled. "You can't just go to escape a test", she cautioned the YACMR members and friends they had brought to• the meeting. ' As YACMR enlists Members from grades 9 to 13, and the program runs during the school year, Joyce later explained all daytime ac- tivities during school hours must be okayed with prin- cipal .Joe Wooden or take . place on a P1) day. . "1f we cdoperate with Mr. • Wooden, he's willing to cooperate with us," she said: Another of YACMR's aims is to dispel some of the myths associated with the mentally retarded. The executive in- itiates some speaking engagements. and gladly ac- cepts- others from clubs and Organizations, to assure peo- ple mental retardation is not contagious,,and group homes and residences do not devalue property and _increase.in- surance rates. (Joyce was a guest speaker when the Ex- eter . Kinsmen met in November. YACMR is always looking for new members. especially from.among grade•niners, to replace the ones who leave after graduating from grade 13. Joyce and other members give talks and slide presenta- tions at local schools to' recruit more young people for the program. Joyce admits she was reluctant to get involved when she herself was in grade nine. She joined the following year, partly because of the in- fluence of a physically and mentally handicapped cousin who lived with the Klages family for awhile. The oppor- tunity to help ensure the han- dicapped have rights in socie- ty, and make people aware of their capabilities, are part of the reason Joyce accepted the presidency this year. Other incentives are the hug she received from a ten- year -old sitting beside her at the ARC Christmas dance last year, and the big eyes and big smiles that say a wordless "thank you". YACMR was formed in Ex- eter over ten years ago, primarily due to the efforts of Cornelius ( Case) Van Raay, Dashwood, the father of a handicapped child who got his other children involved. His second president of the new .son served as president. daughter Adrienne was the club. Another daughter and a YACMR is funded by the 44 YACMR MEETING — Joyce Kluges, president of the Exeter branch of Youth Across Canada with the Mentally Retarded, discusses future plans with YACMR members and friends at their monthly_ meeting. Yes, that is a Pfaff . Continued from front page eda change in the children's requests this year. The lists are not as long, or as ex- travagant as in previous years. Many tots, mention practical items like clothing. Steve recalled one little boy appealing for two trucks for himself, a sweater for Dad and earrings for Mum, if that was not asking too much. Greg contrasted one well- dressed little girl's lengthy and imperious demands with another child, wearing a coat that had obviously had two or three previous owners, who named only a Tippytoes doll before giving Santa a shy hug to let him know there would be no hard feelings if she did not get her heart's desire. One youngster, reflecting the current economic crisis, wanted to know if there was' any danger of Santa being laid off. Steve and Greg are becom- • ing very skilled at reassuring remarks. They never direct- ly agree to deliver a specific item, but promise to do their best. They are also becoming experts in child psychology, keeping the jingling bells and ho-ho-hoing to a minimum; a two-year-old can be badly frightened by the sudden sight and sound of a huge, red -clad monster. Adults can be startled too; especially by a glimpse of Santa behind the wheel. Both men have seen theirshareof surprised faces while driving to an engagement. Last year while dashing from Mitchell to an Exeter appointment Greg was stop- ped by the OPP. Neither a hug, a ho,ho,ho nor two bags of candy for the constable's children melted' the policeman's resolve to give the man in the red suit a $28 speeding ticket, until he discovered the $50 Greg had received for taking part in Mitchell's Christmas parade was going to the Cancer Society. He tore up the ticket and informed Greg he was. safe as longus he stayed on highway 83; after that he was on his own. The spirit of Christmas generated by the Pfaff brothers is contagious. Grand Bend Cleaners drycleans the suits free of charge. Zehr's repaid one appearance with a crate of oranges. and Sted- man's reimbursed Santa with a large box of candy canes. Both gifts were, soon passed on to appreciative .little recipients. Steve andGreg derivegreat satisfaction from being able to help their pet charities. Since Steve accepted a posi- tion with the Forest post of- fice two years ago, he is only home on weekends to put on his red suit, yet last year he sent the Thames Valley cen- tre $200. Greg gave the Cancer Society a cheque for $500. There is another reward for sitting for two or three hours inside a suit that gets hotter by the minute, lifting one hun- dred or more children up on- to one's lap and down again, untangling baby fingers from one's fascinating beard and keeping older hands from testing to see if it's real. It's the voice of a child, eyes fill- ed with wonder, saying, "I love you, Santa." FRIENDS — Huron Hope pupil Eloise Klungel opens agift from her YACMR buddy while Ruth Martin, another YACMR member, looks on. Later everyone boarded a bus and toured London to see some of the outdoor Christmas decorations. 11 gahery Cheeie"lilouie Fresh Baked Bread, Rolls, Pastries, Donuts, Cookies Mincemeat Pies, y Deluxe Fruit Cake, Fancy Cookies. Over 60 varieties of Canadian and Imported Cheeses. "Fresh Off The Block" Bulk snacks, Candies, Nuts, Etc. Cheese gift baskets Cheese trays Candy and nut trays 7a4 flu 443 Main St., Exeter 235.0332 Zurich, 236-4912 Sevio.th 527.1803 Bob Down Continued from front page term of office being three years and each director being able to serve only. four con- secutive terms The term of of- fice for an Exet:utive Com- mittee member is one year and there is no limit to the number of. terms as long as they are on the Board. Bob Downhas been on the UCO Board since 1974, serv- ing two years as second vice- president and one year as first vice-president before first being elected to the president's position last year. Down. represents sone 7, which consists of Huron, Perth and Waterloo. He was born in Exeter, has been a member of Exeter District Co-operative; Hensel, District Co-operative and UCO Belgrave, serving on the Ex- eter Board for six years, one as president, before being elected to the UCO Board:. Down is active in the com- munity as well. He coaches a local girls' softball team, has been' chairman of the South Huron Recreation Centre Board of Management, on the fair board, president of .the local township's federation of agriculture, and a board member of his church. Bob and his wife Pat have four teenage daughters. They also operate a 400 -acre farm bet- ween Exeter and Hensall=- hogs, cash crops and a beef feedlot. A HUG SAYS IT ALL - Joyce Kluges gets a big hug from one of the Huron Hope pupils during a Hallowe'en party hosted by YACMR residents at the. school. OSP Deadline for contributions: December 31 % • VG low ire.. QC ANDV [T►il'1 REY TRUST Since 1844 "Newt More convenient Hours" Monday - Thursday 8:30-5:00 Fridays 8:30-6:00 Exeter, 425, Main St., 235-0530 Mlmb , CanaJa ()tram, Insu"nc. ('orpxit,on WOOD STOVES Talk to us about the high technology stoves by: Lakewood; RSF Energy; SFB 3 Boilers; Heritage; Better 'N Ben's - REDUCE CREOSOTE inany airtight stove with the CATALYTIC DAMPER Results will amaze you Available at THE COLLECTOR'S SHOP Kirkton . 229.896 The energy saving products store South Huron Association for the Mentally Handicapped. The young people attend board meetings to submit their plans for future ac- tivities to the directors. The latest annual budget was $700. With that modest amount the volunteers pay for their par- ties and outings, the rental and decoration of facilities, and two years ago enough was left over to treat everyone - the handicapped and their escorts - to a trip t Canada's Wonderland. SHAMH sometimes puts in a bit more if the group plans a special event such as a live danceband. Executive director of SHAMH Don Campbell is quite impressed with YACMR's resourcefulness in handling their finances. The parent association values the opinions of the YACMR members. A slide presentation on ways to pre- vent mental retardation by' avoiding cigarettes, alcohol and drugs during pregnancy was shown to the group for their evaluation. The reviews were brutally frank,' which was what SHAMH wanted. Joyce recently spent a' weekend at Cedar Glen camp at Bolton attending the four- teenth annual provincial YACMR conference. The first conference was in 1968, at- tended by representatives of eight local groups. As of 1980, the organization had grown to approximately 35 groups composed of over 1,000 volunteers, and is still expanding. The Exeter president returned home with the add- ed responsibility of midwest region rep, an area taking in London, Tillsonburg, Wiar- ton, Wingham and Hanover as well as her own association. Joyce also came back resolved to try and extend the YACMR program to include the summer months, and see if the YACMR logo can be added to the signs at the out- skirts pf town listing the various clubs and organiza- tions in Exeter. The young volunteers' en- thusiastic endeavours are ap- plauded by the South Huron Association for the Mentally Handicapped "If we had to hire someone to do what they do, we would not get the commitment we get from YACMR", Campbell said. "The group is excellent in providing additional sup- ' port and service to mentally handicapped people, and in return they have received a greater understanding of the needs and wishes of the men- tally handicapped. This opens a door; many YACMR volunteers later pursue lifetime careers in mental retardation." The Exeter YACMR con - Parents never fully ap- preciate teachers unless it rains all weekend. tains great future potentiality. College berm Continued from front page growing plant which even- tually forms a dense mat and would protect the berms against erosion. It'has attrac- tive blue flowers in the sum- mer and once established,. doesn't need cutting. However, it is difficult to establish because it is easily smothered by weeds and grasses. "Quite a few plants didn't survive the winter," Jamieson said. "These were replaced but as the Summer wore on, more and more grass started until eventual- ly it was 18 to 24 inches (46 to • 61 centimetres) high. 1 don't know how the grass got there. It wasn't sodded." Then the berms started sliding off the sloped walls."I think they may have been too steep and that was one of the contributing factors — there may have been others." Subsequently, the ministry of agriculture and food, which maintains the grounds and buildings and the ministry of government services, which leases them from the Ontario Development Corp., decided to remove the berms and replace them with a more conventional means of insula- tion - 10 centimetres (four in- ches) of styrofoam covered with corrugated steel. The ministry of government ser- vices paid for the changes. The alterations, which began in September and are expected to be completed by the end of this month, were. contracted to Gregus Con- struction onstruction of Exeter for $99,970. Other changes at the hall in- clude reroofing and refacing Huron Hall, which was an of- ficers' mess when the building was part of the Cen- tralia Air Force Base, and alterations in Middlesex Hall to provide a food laboratory and related space. Both con- tracts, totally $97,500, . were awarded to Total Contracting Co. of Lambeth. .. Hold owr r w.d., Thur,.. Fri. s:00 pan. 6E0.1:00 1, oils p,wl. Set.. 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