|
Executive Director's Message
|
Holiday greetings from Enhancing Skills for Life!
2020 is nearly over and although we are all excited for it to end; as we reflect on this past year, we are grateful for the work we were able to continue within our limb loss community. In 2020, we were able to:
* Provide financial aid in response to COVID-19 thanks to a very generous anonymous donor
* Meet regularly as a board and adopt a fresh new set of bylaws
* Build a new website
* Create a YouTube Channel and grow our social media presence
* Form a planning committee for our upcoming Skills for Life Workshops
* Initiate monthly zoom meetings to share tips & tricks for increased independence
Although the upcoming holiday season may look different for many of you, our Skills for Life Community is here for you and we are excited for our plans that will keep us connected in 2021! Some of these plans include: hosting a virtual 2-day Skills for Life Workshop, adding quarterly public zoom meetings on top of our already scheduled monthly private zooms, and a comprehensive publication of adaptive equipment. This document already has over 120 items that help people without arms, get dressed, prepare a meal, use the toilet, bathe, or use a phone, all with little to no help from others. See below section for more information.
For now we extend our holiday greetings and wish you all a Happy New Year that will hopefully bring health and happiness!
Enhancing Skills for Life, 501c3, was formed in 2016 to support those missing both arms or all four limbs. Please stay subscribed to these emails and bookmark our website to keep up to date with the latest information in our organization. Please forward this email to friends, family and colleagues.
ESFL Mission: To educate, empower and connect those living with bilateral upper limb loss.
|
|
Ronnie Hindsman's 3rd Annual Bowling Tournament Fundraiser
Ronnie lost both his arms in a work accident on June 29, 2004. He attended his first Skills for Life workshop in 2008. Ronnie described this event as life changing because he learned so much from meeting with others like him. He wanted to ensure that these Skills for Life workshops continued so he began hosting a bowling tournament fundraiser in 2019. To date, Ronnie has raised over $21,000 benefiting Enhancing Skills for Life, 501c3. The third annual tournament will be held February 6-7, 2021 in Livingston, TX.
For more information about Ronnie's annual bowling tournament click here.
|
|
Private Monthly
Zoom Meetings
We have been hosting Tips n Tricks Zoom meetings since May 2020 and have covered kitchen gadgets, technology hacks, dressing, bathing, toileting, taking care of your caretaker, as well as coping & grief. Please join us on January 20, 2021 for Make-up & Hair Tips by Kim Gilliam Steele. Contact us for login information, if you are not a member of the Skills for Life Facebook closed group.
Public Quarterly
Zoom Meetings
Starting in 2021 we will hold public informational Zoom sessions. Please mark January 27 on your calendars for COVID-19 and Bilateral Upper Limb Loss moderated by Skills for Life's medical director, Danielle Melton, MD. Links/Login information coming next month.
|
|
SFL 5 1/2: Still Connected
Sponsors Needed for our Virtual Event
Skills for Life 5 1/2: Still Connected will take place online October 15-16, 2021 - SAVE THE DATE! We are currently researching virtual event vendors. We would love to make this online event as similar to the in person meeting with breakout rooms, chats, exhibitor booths, presentations and Q&A. The various virtual event vendors each offer their own unique features and each come with a price tag. Our planning committee and board of directors have unanimously voted to make this online event FREE to ALL attendees. That being said, we are hoping to at least be able to cover the costs associated with an online platform. Please consider becoming a SFL 5 1/2 sponsor to helps us keep our community connected. Please contact us with questions or to discuss opportunities.
|
|
Adaptive Equipment Publication - We Need YOUR Help!
Thanks to each of you who have submitted your equipment photos so far! However, we are still in need. This publication will have over 140 pieces of equipment when it is all said and done. We are unable to use images from the web or amazon as they are copyrighted. PLEASE SEND THOSE PHOTOS IN, we can't do it without your help!
In case you have not heard, Enhancing Skills for Life is working on bringing to life a comprehensive publication that outlines the various pieces of adaptive equipment individuals living with bilateral upper limb loss or quad limb loss utilize for activities of daily living (ADL's). As part of this ambitious project we are seeking to crowdsource photos from you the end users of these items. From bidets to cutting boards. From back scrubbers to wireless charging pads. Whatever you use to make your life easier send us a photo and we will include it in the publication as well as an acknowledgement in the list of contributors. The photos can either be of you using the device or just the device itself and the device can be commercially available or homemade.
When you submit, we would like you to include the following: 1) your email address in case we have any questions about the image 2) your name as you would like it to appear in the photo credit or acknowledgment section and 3) description of your image(s). Please contact us if you have any questions.
|
|
Financial Assistance
Limb loss individuals may apply for scholarships to attend Skills for Life workshops or other events where there are opportunities for face to face interaction with individuals missing at least both arms or all four limbs (Amputee Coalition National Conference, Quad Squad Muster, Camp No Limits, etc). Financial aid requests need to be completed and submitted online.
COVID-19 financial aid is also still available for those in need. Please be as thorough as possible in your applications and provide good contact information as follow up emails or phone calls may be necessary. Please contact Kristi Turner or Shawn Johnson with any questions.
|
|
ESFL is an AmazonSmile Charity
Consider choosing Enhancing Skills for Life as your 501c3 charity on AmazonSmile! When customers shop on AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com), the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to Enhancing Skills for Life. When first visiting AmazonSmile, you will be prompted to select a charitable organization. Why not choose Enhancing Skills for Life? OR click here to change your current AmazonSmile charity to ESFL today!
|
|
Contact Us | 713-240-8336 | Email |
|
Enhancing Skills for Life, 501c3
Board of Directors
|
Rod McCracken, Chair
| Harold Sears, PhD | Samoana Matagi | | Jeff Mulvogue, Treasurer | Gerry Stark, CP | Karen Lundquist | | Mike St Onge, Secretary | Annae Jones | Mara Hersbach |
|
|
Skills for Life Planning Committee
Shawn Swanson Johnson, OT (co-chair)
Kristi Turner, OT (co-chair)
|
Diane Atkins, OT
| Scott Hosie, CP
| Levin Sliker | | Jon Batzdorff, CP | Rod McCracken | Fanny Schultea, CP
| John Dombo
| Danielle Melton, MD
| Mike St Onge
| Wendy Hill, OT
| Eric Nelson
|
Patricia Tully, OT
|
|
|
|
