Representative Joel Kitchens Celebrated Disability Employment Awareness with Door County YMCA Employee

Representative Joel Kitchens visited Elizabeth Gierhahn on Monday, March 7^th at the Door County YMCA as part of the Take Your Legislator to Work Campaign, organized each year by the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities.  

The campaign coordinates visits between legislators and their constituents with disabilities.  During the visit, Mr. Kitchens got to see community-integrated employment in action and learn more about the value it brings to the employee, employer and greater community.  Elizabeth shared her passion for assisting members and talked about how much she truly loved her job working in the Aquatics Department of the Sturgeon Bay YMCA Program Center.

Cindy Zellner-Ehlers, Children Services Program Manager and representative for the Board for People with Developmental Disabilities shared, “the opportunities for employment at businesses like the YMCA are so fantastic for Elizabeth and others with disabilities because it really allows them to focus on their strengths – in this case, Elizabeth is great with people - so this is a perfect fit. Community employment promotes full citizenship and inclusion, dispelling the myths and stereotypes that we still fight regarding what people of all abilities can and cannot do. The value system around the world of work is promotion of real lives, real work. Elizabeth is an excellent celebration of community employment and absolutely loves her work at the Y.”  Mr. Kitchens was a gracious guest and even allowed Elizabeth to show him first- hand how she runs the slide at the Y – after two fun joy rides, his visit was complete!

When people with disabilities work in the community at a competitive wage, they are less likely to rely on publicly-funded programs.  And, 87% of customers say they would prefer to patronize businesses that employ people with disabilities.  The Take Your Legislature to Work Campaign aims to bring awareness to these programs that benefit so many in our community.

For more information contact:  Beth Moss, Beth.Moss@Wisconsin.gov

Still Looking for Your Presidential Candidate? Meet Zoe

 The Y's candidate of the future.

 On Thursday, February 25th, YMCA of the USA (Y-USA) and the Door County YMCA launched Zoe for President, a campaign to elect a one-year-old girl as our nation's Commander in Chief...in 2064. The campaign highlights the potential the Y sees in all kids to grow up and change the world if they're nurtured properly and supported along the way. Through Y initiatives like childcare, after school care and homework assistance, mentorship, summer foods, leadership opportunities and more, kids have greater potential to succeed, stay active and healthy in mind, body and spirit, and one day, maybe even become president.

"While Zoe for President is a breath of fresh air during a heated campaign cycle, every child, regardless of background, needs support and guidance to reach their full potential," Kevin Washington, president and CEO of YMCA of the USA, said in a statement. "Our campaign will address actual issues that America's communities are faced with each day like access to early childhood education, safe space, meal assistance, and the Y's role in solving the challenges head on."

“The Door County Y works to ensure all individuals have the support they need to achieve their full potential,” said Tom Beerntsen, CEO of the Door County YMCA.  “We are focused here in Door County and our surrounding community, on providing programs and services that address some of the most critical social issues facing our area, such as; LiveSTRONG - a program that offers support both physically and mentally for cancer survivors, Summer Foods - which provides free, healthy meals for hundreds of children all summer long, and many other mission related programs for children, adults, families and senior citizens.”

If you are interested in donating to the Door County YMCA’s Annual Campaign, which supports all mission based programming and provides financial assistance to those in our community who otherwise would be unable to afford membership, feel free to visit our website at www.doorcountyymca.org and click GIVE or call us today at 920-743-4949.      

Door County Sturgeons Underwater Hockey Update

Door County's underwater hockey club, the Door County Sturgeons, for the first time sent 2 teams to the Can Am Midwest Championship underwater hockey tournament last weekend.  The 2 day tournament

was hosted at the Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center in Brown Deer, Wisconsin, and included thirteen teams from Canada and across the United States.  The Sturgeons’ two teams took second and third places in the open division after an exciting sudden death overtime match in the semi-finals. 

 

The second place Sturgeons team is pictured below, with players left to right: Tim Feist, Amy Ensign, Kaitlyn Schauske, Terry Chier, Molly Banks, Gale Chier, Mark Truckey, Rosa Zhang, and player/coaches Kendall and Susan Banks.  

 

The third place Zebra Muscles team included players from Sturgeon Bay, Green Bay, and Marquette: Matt Brown, Brittany DiMaria, Brendon Ewers, Paul Filar, Trisha Filar, Luke Foote, David Foulds, Adam Gardiner, Robert Vernon, and Albert Weber.

 

The Sturgeons meet on Fridays at the Sturgeon Bay YMCA at 6:30 and welcome new players of all levels.  They will also be teaching a kids underwater hockey course at the Y this spring.  Visit their website at www.sbunderwaterhockey.com   for more information about the team and the sport of underwater hockey.