Updated AmTryke Catalogue Now Available

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:20:14 -0700

AMBUCS has recently updated its 2008 AmTryke Product Catalogue, featuring brand new accessories and sizing charts.

You can view a pdf version of it here.

Also, copies of the updated catalogue are now in stock at the AMBUCS Resource Center and can be purchased for just 35 cents each.

For more information, please contact Roxanne Nichols at 1-888-AMTRYKE (286-7953) or via email at roxannen@ambucs.org.

November Issue of The Leader Newsletter Now Available

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:47:45 -0700

Get Ready To Celebrate National AmTryke Month

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:38:57 -0600

It’s time once again to make plans to celebrate National AmTryke® Month!

Held throughout the month of October, this is a great opportunity to concentrate efforts on promoting the AmTryke® therapeutic tricycles and the impact they have on individuals with disabilities. This year we also have the special honor of celebrating the fact that our organization has now donated over 10,000 AmTrykes. What a tremendous accomplishment!

Again this year, in recognition of National AmTryke Month, your chapter will receive 5 bonus points on your second quarter scorecard and a $50-off coupon for a future AmTryke purchase if you buy and present an AmTryke therapeutic tricycle in October! (Limit one coupon per chapter, coupon must be redeemed by May 31, 2009.)

Some ideas to ensure your chapter enjoys a successful AmTryke Month are:

Staging a series of AmTryke give-a-ways.
Taking your region or district’s AmTryke Trailer on the road to a local therapy clinic or community event.
Purchasing AmTryke-related gear from the AMBUCS store.
Holding an AmTryke open house.
Organizing a media event.

For more information on National AmTryke Month, please contact the AMBUCS Resource Center at (800) 838-1845

Fall Issue of the AMBUCS Magazine Now Available

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:12:11 -0600

AMBUCS Featured In University Publication

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 06:05:55 -0600

New IRS Filing Requirements for Chapters

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:22:32 -0600

Most tax-exempt organizations with gross receipts under $25,000 must file Form 990-N. If your AMBUCS chapter normally has gross receipts over $25,000 you must file the full Form 990 tax return.

What is Form 990-N?

Form 990-N is a short form which is filed electronically on the IRS website. Go to www.irs.gov/charities to find the form and instructions. Look for the heading “Annual Electronic Filing Requirement for Small Exempt Organizations – Form 990-N (e-postcard).”

When must Form 990-N be filed?

For AMBUCS chapters, Form 990-N is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after the close of the tax year. That means AMBUCS chapters tax returns are due by October 15th of each year.

Is filing Form 990-N mandatory?

Yes. Failure to file Form 990-N can lead to loss of tax-exempt status.

Protect the tax-exempt status of your organization. Make sure the chapter files before the due date. Have the following information in front of you before you log onto the site:

• The chapter’s federal employer identification number. If you do not have your correct EIN or are unsure, contact AMBUCS Resource Center to see what number we have on file for your chapter.

• You will be asked to create a login and password for your chapters account. Your login is your chapter’s EIN number.

• Once you arrive at the e-postcard filing site, you will be requested to enter your chapter’s EIN.

• NOTE: Because you are part of National AMBUCS Inc group tax exemption, your EIN will show as “Organization Name: National AMBUCS Inc”. This is okay! On the next page you will be asked to enter your “dba” doing business as – name. This is when you will enter your chapter’s name.

• The chapter’s full name and address. This normally follows this format, “The Smallville Chapter of National AMBUCS Inc”

• The organization’s fiscal year end (That is May 31 for AMBUCS chapters).

• The name of a principal officer of the organization. This would be the President, Treasurer, or Secretary of the chapter.

• The organization’s website address if it has one.

• Confirm that the organization’s gross receipts for the tax year were $25,000 or less.

If you should need to know, or are filing a regular Form 990 Tax Return because your gross receipts are more than $25,000, and:

• If your chapter is included in the Group Tax Exemption, AMBUCS group number is 8069.

If you need help with this process, please contact Dannell Copeland at the AMBUCS Resource Center at 336-852-0052 ext. 15, or via email at Dannell@ambucs.org.

Extreme Makeover: AMBUCS Website Edition

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:28:29 -0600

The new AMBUCS website features an improved look and layout.

The previous AMBUCS website was limited in what it could offer.

Some pages on the new AMBUCS website are now protected by a login name and password.

All sub-pages on the new site feature "bread crumb" navigation.

After much anticipation, the new AMBUCS website is finally here!

We’ve listened to all your comments and taken into account the suggestions that you have given us on how we could improve our online presence.

Over the past five months we’ve worked hard to bring those ideas to fruition. Now we’re confident that we are finally able to provide our members and guests with a visually impressive site that will offer easier navigation, improved ecommerce capabilities and a clearer presentation of just who we are, what we do and where our organization is planning to go in the future.

The site was designed and developed by the Greensboro, NC-based company Morgan Direct, Inc. It utilizes a user-friendly content management system that makes it easier to maintain and update our content more frequently. Our domain name remains the same – www.ambucs.org – but other than that, we believe this site is an unprecedented upgrade and has limitless possibilities.

Home Sweet Home

The old adage “you never get a second chance to make a first impression” rings especially true when it comes to a website’s homepage. Its the most important page in the entire site, since it’s the one page that the majority of visitors will always view. A poor homepage can hurt an organization image and credibility. A good home page will accurately display an organization’s chief messages and invite visitors to stick around and explore more of the site.

One of the first things people will encounter upon arriving at the new AMBUCS home page is a colorful flash animation near the top of the page which displays several dynamic images which represents our organization. To further clarify what AMBUCS stands for, a brief welcome message now appears on the left side of the page, succinctly stating our overall mission. In the center column you’ll now be able to view a list of important upcoming events as well as the top news headlines, two things that we were unable to display on our former site. On the right side of the home page appears a multi-media player which currently allows viewers to watch the popular “Kids Need a Bike” promotional video. Beneath that, we have a new “featured content” section to spotlight some of our most pertinent information.

Plenty of new bells and whistles

In addition to all the fresh new content, the revamped AMBUCS website boasts some very cool features that will allow us stand out from the websites of other service organizations. There’s a new blog and message board feature which will allow our members to communicate and share ideas with one another in real time. At the top of all sub-pages you’ll notice a “bread crumb” feature which will show users the previous pages they visited that brought them to their current page. This feature is designed to help users retract their steps and remember just where you are in the site – similar to how Hansel and Gretel followed bread crumbs out of the forest in the classic children’s tale. In addition, we are now able to offer some really dynamic multi-media features such as a flash-based photo gallery and a video library.

Where is everything?

Regardless of how much information might be stored on a website, it does no good if people are unable to easily locate and access that information. That was one of the major gripes about the old version of ambucs.org and something we really were mindful of when designing this site. The overall lay-out of our new site has been completely revamped so that information is presented in a clearer and more logical manner. We’ve tried to remove all the duplicate and redundant pages that have made navigating around the previous site somewhat difficult.

The following is a detailed guide to where all of our important information on our site can be now found:

About Us

Gone are the days when newcomers will have to scratch their heads and wonder aloud “What is AMBUCS and what does it do?” Now in a clear, concise manner, we offer visitors a complete explanation on our organization’s mission and history. In this section, you also find the “Becoming an Ambuc” sub category in which visitors will learn just how easy and rewarding it is become a member of AMBUCS. Other pages in the section include a chapter directory, information about annual national conference, links to the websites of our individual chapters and service industry partners and also a contact page for the staff of the AMBUCS Resource Center.

News

This is another section that did not appear on the old site. This time around, we have organized this area to store all our articles, press releases and advisories, as well as full calendar of upcoming events. We will also use this section to house links to the Leader Newsletter and our quarterly magazine. Last but not least, this is where you’ll be able to view our new flash-based photo and video galleries.

Member Resources

This section will house all the important documents and tools that are needed by our members. Here you’ll find forms, reports, admin documents, instructional guides, promotional materials, and a page to download our various logos.
You’ll find that some of the pages in this category that contain potentially sensitive information now require a special access to view. But don’t fret. Just type in “ambucs” for both the email address and password to get pass that protection screen.

Community

We created this section to house our new message board and blog. Both of these features are very easy to use and will allow our members to communicate and share ideas with one another in real time

AmTryke

This content in this section is similar to what was on our former site. The sub categories include a general info page which fully explains the purpose and history of the AmTryke program and a page to learn about the national wishlist for prospective AmTryke recipients. Other pages in this section include information about the demo sites program, “trykes and equipment”, “manual and instructions”, as well as pages to view the current issues of the AmTryke Newsletter and AmTryke catalogue.

Scholars

The items found in this section are scholarship program information page, a link the scholarship application, a list of current and previous award winners, information about the Mentors for Success program, and information about our various research opportunities.

Donations

As a non-profit charitable organization, it’s important that we have a painless, efficient way to accept donations. On our new site, supports can make a donation instantly online or just mail in a payment. The sub categories in this section are make a gift now, information about the living endowment, and information about the memorial brick program.

Shop

There are now two online stores to process your orders; one for AmTryke merchandise and another for AMBUCS-related gift items. Each store has an attractive new layout and design and well as a much more informative shopping cart feature.

The AMBUCS website is now ready for your enjoyment but we still value your comments and suggestions. If you have any ideas on how we can continue to improve the site and better serve your needs, please contact AMBUCS Communications Director Semaj Marsh at 1-800-838-1845 ext 17 or via email at semajm@ambucs.org.

South Carolina Volunteer Has Knack For Attracting Publicity

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 10:50:41 -0600

As one of the newest members of the AMBUCS family, Anne Guthrie – the founder and president of The Little Red Dog Friends Chapter - is still trying to familiarize herself with the organization’s calendar of events. Ironically, she wasn’t even aware that this past February was AMBUCS Visibility Month – a time when AMBUCS chapters all over the country attempt to focus on ways for attracting exposure to our organization’s mission.

That may come as shock considering the magnificent job Guthrie she was done this year in garnering regional media coverage. Since she first launched her chapter in Beaufort, SC last June, Guthrie has been the talk of the town and a favorite of the local media. Already she has being featured in primetime on a local TV station, graced the cover of a local women’s magazine named Pink and appeared several times in the Beaufort daily newspaper.

Recently she was again made headlines when she was presented with the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce’s seventh annual Civitas Award for an outstanding nonprofit. The award honors organizations who exemplify the “success of business and the spirit of the community”.

“This was a wonderful surprise” said Guthrie. “We really didn’t think we had a chance to win this award. We still can’t believe it. We now have a little more confidence to perform our mission.”

Guthrie, whose chapter name and logo was inspired by her tiny pet daschund, is not quite sure why she has been so successful with getting exposure for her cause, but she very much appreciative.

“I honestly get a little embarrassed by all the attention we’ve been receiving, but I keep reminding myself that it is helping us get the word out and hopefully attracting more support,” she said. “We just try to raise money and donate as many trykes as we can. I guess some people think our efforts are very newsworthy.”

Visibility Month 2008: Shining A Spotlight On AMBUCS

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:10:28 -0600

Each year during the month of February, AMBUCS members all across the nation begin focusing on ways to promote their organization and let the world know just who we are and what we do. During this period, chapters organize various public relation campaigns and special events aimed at attracting publicity and increasing local awareness about our programs and mission.

The following are just some of the efforts our members made this year to shine a spotlight on AMBUCS:

Decatur Chapter AMBUCS™ Visibility Month Kiosk Display
Members of the Decatur, IL AMBUCS chapter rented a kiosk at Hickory Point Mall this past February as part of their National Visibility Month promotion. The class-enclosed kiosk held the latest version of the AM-9 model AmTryke and was stationed in a prime location at the mall. Next to the display, informational brochures about AMBUCS were also made available to any interested mall patrons.

Oklahoma Governor Honors Great Plain Region
On February 10, the entire Great Plains Region of AMBUCS received an official proclamation from Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry in honor of National Visibility Month. Attending the presentation were representatives from the Enid, Edmond, Oklahoma City, Norman, Sooner and Lawton chapters. Also present at the ceremony were Logan Hobart - a five year old boy who received an AmTryke thanks to the Edmond chapter- and his grandmother. They were both joined by past National Therapist of the Year Maria Greenfield, AMBUCS National President-elect Anna Blubaugh, Great Plains Region Director Kent Clingenpeel and a number of current and past District Governors from the region.

Lawton Chapters Unite For Visibility Month
The four AMBUCS chapter in the city of Lawton, Oklahoma are always excited about the arrival of National Visibility Month. This year was no different as AMBUCS members in Lawton joined forces to organize a number of community service events that generated lots of media attention. The fun started on February 16 with a day-long ramp building project. The following week, all four chapters joined together to host the Amtryke Races which attracted excellent media coverage. Later that month, the chapters were honored at local CBA basketball game in which they were able to donate trykes at halftime to children with disabilities.
In addition, the chapters combined their resources and ran a total of 60 television advertisements throughout the month to promote the AMBUCS mission.

Enid AMBUCS Help Library, Earn Publicity
In February the Enid AMBUCS Chapters joined together to present the Enid and Garfield County Public Library with a check for $1,000. The Library had been damaged by heavy storms and many books inside were destroyed. Over 65 AMBUCS members were present at the hour-long presentation which garnered a great write-up in the local newspaper.

Walker Chapter Gets TV Coverage
The community service efforts of the Walker, MI Chapter garnered local attention in February thanks to a full-length news story that aired on WZZM channel 13, the local ABC affiliate. The feature was aired in prime time and vividly showed how the chapter was able to make a the difference in the life of an young AmTryke recipient.

Making A Difference In Memphis

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 10:33:45 -0600

Memphis, Tennessee is a vibrant town, full of music and energy and well known for its contributions in education, the arts, and even the civil rights movement. Recently this city earned the distinction of being home to one of the newest groups of AMBUCS volunteers: the Memphis Friends chapter.

The formation of this chapter was led by Tekela Cooper, a mother of a child with disabilities. She discovered the AMBUCS organization will searching online and quickly became inspired by its mission of creating mobility and independence for people with disabilities.

“When I saw all the things that AMBUCS members were doing in the community and all the ways they attempted to help special needs children, I knew this was something that we needed here in Memphis,” said Cooper, who recruited some of her friends and co-workers to help launch the chapter. “There were not any other AMBUCS chapters in my area but I still wanted to do anything I could to help out.”

Cooper, who works as a housing coordination for the Southeast Mental Health Center, first learned about AMBUCS after searching online for therapeutic equipment for her daughter Tenea, who has cerebral palsy.

When she saw how AmTrykes are able to make such a dramatic impact in the lives of people with disabilities she was immediately impressed.

“I couldn’t believe how these tricycles were,” she said. “This was just the thing I was looking for to help my daughter gain more strength and endurance and also give her an opportunity to enjoy riding a bike like other kids her age.”

However, Cooper didn’t just want to stop with helping her daughter ride a tryke. She realized how a great of a tool it could be for Tanea and wanted to find a way to make sure other families in her area could experience that same joy.

“I don’t think people know just how much the AmTryke can benefit the life of a child and their family” she said. “Without help, a lot of kids would not be able to experience the joy of riding one and like the video says ‘every kid needs a bike’”

Immediately, Cooper contacted the AMBUCS Resource Center and spoke with staff members there about how she could help bring the AmTryke program to her community.

“I really appreciated the warm reception I received when we first started” said Cooper. “Everyone I spoke too was just so helpful and they gave me a lot of great information and were very encouraging. I started getting emails from people I had never even met. That was really something special.”

The Memphis Friends chapter was officially chartered on March 1, 2008 and thus far they have five dedicated members. Cooper serves as the chapter’s president and is joined on the leadership committee by Chapter Secretary Danielle Wells, Treasurer Suzanne Shelton, and Vice Presidents Articia Polk and Jelks McKinney.

The group is currently formulating a plan to organize their first big fundraising effort. They are also looking at a number of ways that they will be able to get the word out and attract more support in their city. Although they are a small group, Cooper said the Memphis Friends chapter hopes to be able to raise enough money to donate about three to five AmTrykes by the end of this summer.

“I think if we can do that then it will be a success,” she said. “I see our chapter growing a lot in the months ahead and we’ll be able to help a lot of children with disabilities ride their own AmTryke.”

AMARILLO PALO DURO Chapter Donates AmTryke To Honor Former Member

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:18:51 -0600

For 38 years, Betty Norman and her husband Ed served as dedicated members of Amarillo Palo Duro Chapter. Together, the couple worked hard to make a difference in their community and improve the lives of those less fortunate. Unfortunately, Betty passed away this past March after a 30-plus year battle with Multiple Sclerosis.

During the final years of her life she spearheaded a successful birthday donation program for AmTrykes and requested that, upon her death, donations be made to the Amarillo Palo Duro AmTryke Fund. On April 15, 2008, the Amarillo Palo Duro Chapter celebrated Betty’s memory by presenting an AmTryke to a local boy with disabilities named Austin West.

The tryke was purchased directly with those donations made in honor of Betty. Attending the ceremony that evening were her husband Ed and their daughter, Linda Yingling of Oklahoma City.

WSSU Incorporates AmTrykes With Academics

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:11:40 -0600

When Winston-Salem State University assistant professor Dr. Anne Jenkins traveled to Lesotho, Africa in 2006 as part of a humanitarian mission, she promised one of the orphan girls there that she would return one day to deliver an AmTryke.

This past December, Dr. Jenkins was able to fulfill her promise as she traveled back to the southern Africa nation to reunite with her young friend and address the region’s need for improved occupational therapy services.

The girl, Tseleng, now eight years old, suffers from severe bilateral club feet which made it nearly impossible for her to move around without intense pain. She was given an AM-16 model AmTryke, which can be operated with just her hands.

“When Tseleng got on her new AmTryke it was a great moment,” Jenkins said. “All the people from the surrounding villages who came by the orphanage that day were excited. I was so happy to be able to deliver to it to her because I know it will have an immediate impact on her quality of life.”

Jenkins, who serves in the department of occupational therapy at WSSU, was accompanied by two graduate students, Amy Lovett and Evelyn McGregor. In addition to keeping her promise to Tseleng, the purpose of Jenkins’ trip was to help the leaders of Lesotho develop new therapeutic programs, assess the needs of local children with disabilities and explore ways to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS in the area.

Tseleng, who lost both of her parents to AIDS, is indicative of far too many of Lesotho’s youth. Statistics show that over 247,000 children in the country have become orphans due to the AIDS pandemic and about 30,000 of those children suffer from disabilities. To make matters worse, the occupational therapy services in Lesotho are basically non-existent, which just two therapists from a neighboring country attempting to serve the entire population of 2 million people.

During their visit, Jenkins and her group collaborated with Lesotho’s College of Allied Health Training to study ways to tackle this problem. They also spoke with government officials about the need to improve the healthcare and social welfare services in the country.

At the end of their stay, Jenkins and her students pledged to support the College of Allied Health Training in Lesotho, especially in the fields of nursing and occupational therapy. They also plan to continue their efforts to educate Lesotho’s leaders on ways occupational therapy can be used as a tool to combat the AIDS epidemic.

This trip, however, was not the only AmTryke-related project the school has been involved in recent months. Over the past year, WSSU has emerged as one of the leading universities to fully embraced the AmTryke project and incorporate it into various academic initiatives. The school currently offers masters degrees in occupational therapy, physical therapy and rehabilitation counseling. AMBUCS National AmBility Advisory Board member Dr. Cindy Bell is also a professor in WSSU’s Department of Occupational Therapy. This February, three students in her graduate class – Brittney Foster, Charelle Harrison and Lakevius Robinson- performed a first-of-its-kind research project to determine if children with disabilities can benefit from AmTrykes in the areas of motor performance, peer interaction and environmental access.

To perform this study, three children with disabilities were selected from the surrounding community and given an AmTryke to take home. The children were all between the ages of four and seven years old.
The WSSU graduate students then conducted a series of interviews with the children and their parents in an attempt to gather information about their experience with the tricycles. From those interviews, several criteria were used to determine the overall impact of the AmTrykes in the lives of each child. At the end of the study, the results showed that all of the children experienced significant improvements in most of the evaluated areas.

Bell hopes to be able to enhance this study in the near future and possibly have their findings published in an academic journal.

“The AmTryke therapeutic tricycle has proven benefits to riders of all ages,” said Bell. “As we go forward, our goal is to study all of the ways it helps improve the lives of people with disabilities.”

Kentucky Chapter Soliders On Despite Founder's Death

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:24:01 -0600

Raymond Elliott, the founder and charismatic leader of the “Ray’s Trykes for Tykes” Friends Chapter in Columbia, KY, passed away on Sept. 27, 2007 after a short stay in the hospital.

Although he was only affiliated with AMBUCS since June of last year, Elliott quickly earned lots of local media attention for his work with providing AmTrykes to children with disabilities. It became one of his life’s passions and now, thanks to the help of his family and friends, the organization he launched continues to operate. Ray’s wife Maxine, who he married in 1958, now heads the chapter. His son, Adam Elliott, currently serves as the chapter’s vice president.

In one of the final letters Ray wrote to AMBUCS, just weeks before his passing, he described how great it felt to be a member of AMBUCS.

“When we decided to help kids with their home therapy, our son Adam got on the Internet and investigated several (organizations),” he said. “I’m glad we found the right one. It is a pleasure to help these children. A smile from a special child warms the coldest heart.”

Sooner AMBUCS Celebrate 10th Anniversary of ASK Project

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:32:45 -0600

Since 1998, the Sooner chapter of AMBUCS has attempted to bridge the technology divide in Oklahoma by refurbishing and donating computers to local children and adults with disabilities. To date, the Norman-based chapter has provided over 5,000 computers through its AMBUCS Share4Life Komputers (ASK) program.

On February 23, the Sooner AMBUCS celebrated their decade of accomplishments by hosting an Open House event at their chapter headquarters building. The event attracted over 50 supporters from the community, as well as media coverage from both the Oklahoma City and Norman daily newspapers.

During the afternoon, the Sooner AMBUCS donated 17 more computers, as well as a toddler AmTryke to a youngster with disabilities. Two of the computer recipients were visually impaired students from nearby Norman High School. Also in attendance were AMBUCS National President-elect Anna Blubaugh and several faculty members from Norman High’s special education department.

Mid-Winter Board Meeting Recap

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:29:32 -0600

There are certain things you can always seem to count on when the AMBUCS National Board of Directors convene for their annual mid-winter meeting: great discussions, important decision making, and, unfortunately, cold and wet weather conditions.

This past January, the temperatures in High Point, NC again dipped to near freezing levels as the board members gathered at the AMBUCS Resource Center for their three-day meeting.

AMBUCS National President Connie Oltman and was joined by National President-elect Anna Blubaugh, Past National President Jack Feltman, AMBUCS Executive Director Joe Copeland and the directors for all six AMBUCS regions. Also attending as special guest were AmBility Board Chairperson Jack Spurlock, AMBUCS Communication Director Semaj Marsh, and AMBUCS presidential candidate Cliff Baurele.

On the meeting’s opening day, newly appointed board members Rick Kerr (Great Plans Region Director-elect) and Frank Kenavan (Northeast Region Director-elect) received an in-depth orientation on their new positions. They were given firsthand insight on the challenges and that they are sure to encounter when they begin their terms as Regional Directors this July.

The following morning, the board turned its focus to strategic planning as members discussed ways in which AMBUCS can better position itself to become successful. At one point the board members divided into small groups and highlighted what they felt were our organization strengths and weaknesses.

Finally on Saturday, the board settled in for a marathon executive session, in which it was time to vote on several important issues and chart our organization’s course for the year ahead.Some of the key things that came out of that session were:

A new recruitment incentive was established in which every AMBUCS member who recruits a new member during Spring Roundup (March & April 2008) will receive a coupon good for $20 dollars in the AMBUCS gift store, valid for one calendar year.
After much deliberation, Reno, NV was chosen as the host city for the 2009 National Conference. Boston, Massachusetts was one of the top finalists.
The cost of early registration for this year’s national conference was reduced to $225, down from $245.
National President Connie Oltman appointed Peter Moore, Anna Blublaugh and Rick Kerr to form a committee to study the current policy for Internet chapters.
Oltman appointed Jack Feltman (chairman), Rick Kerr and Sonya Stucky-Rigano to form a committee to design a transition plan for Friends chapters to help them convert to traditional status.
Communications Director Semaj Marsh announced that a new AMBUCS website is currently under development and is slated to make its debut prior to this year’s National Conference.

When the meeting finally concluded later Saturday evening, the board members returned back to their home towns confident that their weekend full of planning and decisions will help make AMBUCS an even stronger organization.

Tri City Chapter Spreads Smiles Around The World

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:29:49 -0600

Over the years, AMBUCS members have been known for coming up with some unique ways to carry out our organization’s mission. However, one chapter in particular has discovered that bringing smiles and joy to people in need of a little levity can be the best way to make a difference in their community.

For the past two decades, the Tri-City, Fl chapter has been actively involved in humor therapy, proving that laughter is often the best medicine.

“The therapeutic benefits of magic, music, laughing, art, and helping people have been promoted by our chapter since its inception,” said treasurer Jim Greiner, one of the founding members of Tri-City and a long-time professional magician. “Learning, planning and performing simple magic tricks involves cognitive, physical, speech, and occupational therapies to various degrees.”

Drawing from the cities of Clearwater, Tampa and St. Petersburg, Florida, the Tri-City chapter currently has six dedicated members - many of whom perform as clowns and magicians.

They meet each Wednesday at 11:30 AM at the Cove Cay Country Club in Clearwater, FL. There, the members assemble in a “fun, relaxed atmosphere” for lunch, updates, brainstorming, and project management. Serving as chapter president this year is Pat Bounes, a resident of nearby Largo, Fl.

Tri-City was formed, approximately enough, on April’s Fools Day in 1968. Since then, its members have focused on improving the world around them, one smile at a time.

“What makes our chapter special is that we really enjoy making people laugh,” said member Jean “Daffodil” McNabb, who goes by the stage name “Daffodil” and is a well-respected trainer of new clowns in her area. “A lot of people under-estimate just how important laughter can be to your overall well-being.”

Griener said that most of the chapter’s fundraising revenue comes nowadays from lectures, shows, and demonstrations. In addition, they also provide humor therapy supplies for local caregivers, including clown noses, magic equipment and their own How-To magic DVD.

Despite being one of the smallest chapters in AMBUCS, Tri- City has managed to make a global impact through its numerous community service initiatives.

The members began their humor therapy work about twenty years ago after meeting with a group of missionaries to Uganda. The missionaries informed them that the leading causes of death in that region of the world were bad water and common diseases which are routinely immunized in the United States.

After learning how responsive the children were to certain toys, the chapter immediately created 4,000 balloons and pencils that displayed the AMBUCS logo and the messages: “Boil Your Water” and “Immunize Your Children.” These items were distributed by the missionaries at their temporary clinics in Uganda and were gladly received by children and parents alike. The brightly-colored items succeeded in helping to promote hygiene and health education.

The chapter has continued to provide similar items for medical missionaries around the globe and it’s been estimated that over 20,000 lives may have been saved from their efforts.

In 2004, the Tri-City donated comedy supplies and AMBUCS promotional items to medical missionaries who were traveling to areas affected from by tsunami. Most recently, the Tri-City chapter was the first AMBUCS group to respond to the Hurricane Katrina disaster, as they shipping hundreds of noses and comedy supplies to a Baton Rouge therapist who distributed them at a shelter for hurricane victims.

The chapter also installed the first “humor cart” for use at a local hospice. Through a partnership with the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor (AATH), they developed the cart which contained a big television, a VCR, and many classic and comedy videos.

Another successful project Tri-City was involved in was the “Before the Fall” grab bar installation program.

This was project spearheaded by Bounes, who operated an adult congregate living facility and noticed that a large number of his new residents had suffered falls in their own bathrooms. Family members of the residents would often use the phrase “Before the fall...” when describing their loved one’s medical history.

It’s been reported that the installation of a single grab-bar in a nursing home can have an economic impact of over $500,000 in prevented medical costs and insurance claims. With Bounes leading the charge, the Chapter celebrated the installation of its 500th Grab-Bar in 2006.

“Any way we can help our community, our members are ready to contribute”, said Griener, who will be hosting an educational session on humor therapy at the upcoming AMBUCS National Conference in Rogers, Arkansas this summer.

“It’s all about finding your niche and using your talents to help those less fortunate.”

Seniors Discover Joy of "Big Red Bike"

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 07:17:55 -0600

By Stacey Bauerle

A nursing home is often thought to be a sad place, full of senior citizens who just lie in bed all day or stare at television. The constant routine of meals, baths, bingo, and therapy can become monotonous even in the best of homes, which may explain why the introduction of an adult series AmTryke would cause such excitement

The Life Care Center of Haltom in Forth Worth, TX is a skilled nursing facility where Mid Cities AMBUCS member Stacey Bauerle works as a therapist. During last year’s AMBUCS National Conference in San Diego, Bauerle learned about the new 2700 AmTryke Series and thought that the her facility would be a great place to let older riders try this new model out.

Released just last year, the 2700 AmTryke Series was developed at the request of therapists who were seeking a therapeutic tricycle for higher functioning riders.

After getting permission from the administrator at Life Care to establish a demosite there, a 2721 model AmTryke was ordered and assembled. At first, Stacey wasn’t sure how well it would be received. After all, it would take up valuable space in the rehab gym, and there was concern that there might be a shortage of patients able to ride it. But hoping for the best, she and her husband Cliff delivered the tryke on the morning of Wednesday, January 9, 2008. The Life Care rehab team was immediately curious and identified a patient to test out the “Big Red Bike.” This patient got on the bike, and started riding down the hall and all around the building. Success!! After that, nearly every patient who was able to stand and willing to ride was placed on the bike.

The results were amazing. The patients were getting exercise while having fun at the same time. The entire staff was smiling.

One of the memorable moments was when a 95-year-old woman who had suffered a stroke was placed on the bike. She said “turn me loose and let me go!” She rode around the building and when it was time to get off she said triumphantly, “I’m alive!” The elder woman brought her daughter back the next day to show her the bike and to ride it again. “Are you going to ride the bike?,” she asked the other patients. “It’s fun!” This same patient now insists on riding the bike almost every day she is in therapy.

The therapists have put patients on the bike who previously struggled to move with a walker and assistance. By strapping their feet on the pedals, these patients were able to ride the bike. One patient was unable to pedal, but the bike was still used for building balance and trunk control. An outpatient rode the bike in the parking lot, and declared it “a real treat”.

It is interesting to note that many of the patients at the nursing home grew up during the Great Depression and never had a bicycle. Another 96-year-old woman who rode the AmTryke had never ridden a bike of any kind before!! Imagine, riding a bike for the first time at age 96!

It is exciting to imagine what innovative type of therapeutic uses the rehab team at Life Care will discover for the “Big Red Bike!” The therapists are looking forward to identifying those patients who may benefit from having a bike of their own to continue to exercise and built strength and endurance after they go home.

Danville, IL Youth Group Working to Improve Area

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 07:18:35 -0600

By Lori Burnett

The 2007-08 school year has been a busy one for the Danville, Illinois Youth Auxiliary group – also known as the Danville Advocates. On September 12, 2007, officers of the group attended a lunch meeting for the Danville chapter of AMBUCS, where they were presented a plaque for Most Outstanding Youth Auxiliary by Janet Myers, past president of the Danville AMBUCS. The Advocates were honored to win this award and especially proud to receive it in front of the adults who serve as their sponsors.

Each month, the Advocates hold special events for students with disabilities that attend Danville High School. Fun is always part of the meeting. Bowling outings, picnics, movies, playing board and card games, making crafts, going out for pizza and decorating pumpkins at a Halloween Party are just some of the fun activities the Advocates have organized year.

As teenagers affiliated with the AMBUCS organization, the Danville Advocates members find that helping people with disabilities has had a positive impact on their own lives. They credit their group involvement with helping them to become more patient and sensitive of those less fortunate.

The Advocates also perform various forms of community service around Danville. A food drive was held at the high school for Thanksgiving and the Advocates volunteered to paint faces at the Danville AMBUCS Christmas Party in December. They also made Valentines cards for residents at local nursing homes this year. In the spring, Advocates will celebrate Earth Day by doing a clean up and beautification project outside the high school. Another community service initiative for the Advocates is the recycling program at Danville High School. Teachers save paper in recycling cans and students pick it up from the classrooms to be sent for recycling.

In addition, the Advocates serve as peer helpers throughout the school day, assisting in classrooms, physical education classes and during lunch. Club sponsors Tammy Graham and Lori Burnett - both teachers at Danville High School and members of the Danville AMBUCS- appreciate having Advocates volunteer to work with their students.

“Students learn to appreciate the abilities and strengths of their new friends though sharing social activities,” said Graham. “The Advocates are role models for our students. Our students are motivated and excited when they are learning new activities with the Advocates.”

Former Scholarship Winner Starts Alumni Giving Program

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 07:17:33 -0600

By Cathy Williams White

Everybody has someone in their past who is at least partly responsible for their success.

A person who pushed them to learn a little more and challenged them to reach a little further. Someone who celebrated their growth as they began their careers.

At the University of Central Oklahoma, graduates of the school’s Speech-Language Pathology program are being asked to remember the help they received while getting their degrees and in turn lend their support to a future generation of therapists.

This annual fundraising drive - dubbed “Giving Back, Paying Forward” – was launched several years ago by Dr. Scott McLaughlin of UCO, a former AMBUCS National Therapist of the Year and co-chairman of the Scholarship Committee. This year, alumni are being asked to contribute to the Edmond, OK chapter of AMBUCS and its scholarship fund.

The aim is to have each of the school’s alumni reflect back on their careers and remember where the seed of their career was planted, how their training cultivated its growth, and who the people were that helped it blossom.

Over the past 15 years, more than 120 of the SLP graduate students at UCO have received scholarships from AMBUCS. Those who received support while in school know just how much every dollar helps. Because in some way, remembering that someone did it for you, perhaps some sense of obligation to the future to those students who are following in your foot steps, will cause you to consider “paying forward.”

Recently, the Edmond chapter received its first donation of $50 from UCO Speech Therapy Alumni Jennifer Poward- McDowell.

Altoona, PA Chapter Honors Longtime Member

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:55:22 -0600

On November 7, the Altoona, PA chapter of AMBUCS held a special ceremony to honor Yale Schulman for reaching his 60th year of active membership.

For over six decades Schulman has been a pillar of the Altoona community and a shining example of what it means to be a true Ambuc. During that period, he displayed a remarkable passion for supporting the AMBUCS™ mission of creating mobility and independence for people with disabilities.

Joined by his lovely wife Ida, Schulman was presented that evening with a beautiful cake, a 60th anniversary AMBUCS membership pin, and a number of official proclamations from a host of dignitaries including Altoona mayor Wayne Hippo.