Coffee and Conversation
Our chapters recently were able to meet face to face for coffee! Stacy and Laurie were able to meet with almost everyone and they both drank a lot of coffee! We asked Stacy to share her experience in meeting people.
I started at SUFU exactly 1 year ago on May 5th and finally I was able to hit the road and set out on a new adventure to meet members face to face. I felt like it was my first day of school since I was sporting a shiny new binder filled with June 8th Presque Isle Round up Flyers, registration forms and attendance sheets.
My first stop was Houlton and we got to know each other as we chatted over coffee. We discussed where folks are working and offered advice to one member who was looking for something very specific for trade learning and employment.
Later, that day I met with Central Aroostook members in Presque Isle and wow what a nice turn out. I saw experienced members, new members and even returning members. I think every one of them filled out a registration form, then and there, for the June 8th Presque Isle Round up.
I headed out the next morning to meet with Northern Aroostook members in Caribou and guess what? Surprise! Monique arrived. She had rearranged her busy schedule to sip some coffee and nibble a doughnut while she shared her visions of the June 8th Presque Isle Round-up. We chatted about our SUFU summer and fall plans, swapped some funny stories and before you know it our time ended.
I headed back to the office where I refilled my binder with more registration forms since lots of folks have signed up to the June 8th Presque Isle Round-up.
Thursday was a big day, and I was traveling to Millinocket and Lincoln an area of Maine that I have never explored. I don’t know why, because that area, Penobscot County is beautiful. Mount Katahdin is still snowcapped, and the trees are a brilliant spring green.
I met with a board member, one returning member and one potential member at the Appalachian Trail Café. During my visit we talked about Reegan’s seat on the board, area services and Bobby shared his dream to eventually live, independently, in his very own place. See the above photo of Reegan and Bobby.
The time went fast, and I was off to Lincoln. where I met another board member and another new member. We got busy discussing and planning our next in person meeting. We talk about the possibilities and community places we could meet and have a picnic. We must set a date for that soon.
All in all, what a wonderful experience, to finally meet the faces of self-advocates and their support staff. I’ve met members that have been involved with SUFU longer than records show and folk that have come to see what SUFU is about. All are welcome and I look forward to seeing what the SUFU members can accomplish in my next year here at SUFU. Thank you, I sure am blessed to be part of such an amazing group.
