Peak Putters / ORV Trail Watch March For Respect

[Grumpy]

Here's our day at John Dam Plaza supporting the Arc Of Tri Cities "March For Respect". Susan and I arrived just after 11, and most of the gang was already there. Seems like our guys got in and took over getting popups ready. I hadn't hardly stopped and they had Jose's out of my truck and were getting it up! Go Putters! The crew made one great impression on the Arc staff. Donna was thrilled with all the help!! We have already been invited back for next year! My very personal thanks to all of you for coming out. I'm proud to be part of groups like the Putters and ORVTW!!

The roll call for the day:
Dave & Sue (Grumpy)
Lee, Chris, and The Jeeper Chicks (iaccocca)
Curtis & Brian R (Brian is an Arc volunteer. Way cool!) (oddball)
Steve R (Screaming Toylet)
Dave C (TJDave)
Rob L (Lud)
Jose, Sveta, Izzy, and Mom (Roman)
Ryan & Danielle M (White Trash & Peanut)
Danny & Ria (Reco Very & Reco's Gurl)

(Kerry from Arc wanted to see what it was like to play with the cool kids, so she parked her Jeep with us. She needs some inducement to get going on that critter)

The preliminary questimate for the days attendance was right at 600 people!! Pretty much a success, I'd say!!

The Rigs of the Day 1

The Rigs of the Day 2

From the other side of Knight St.

Rear view of the line

TJD and his new shirt

Captain Cape

Camera dueling with Michelle Homewood

March t-shirt sales table. Got me one!

Peak Putter and Trail Watch banner on G-Way.

Another view

The crowd starting to gather.

Another line up shot after Oddball showed up.

Senator Delvin (6th from left) joined us for a bit.

Another shot of the group

With the banners

Another shot

A little field repair on the banners. Note: Always use the right tool for the job.

More of the crowd.

Donna Tracy, the Arc's Program Director

More of the group

Judy Westsik, our Boss.

Bernice Lesser and her gang.

Greg Berg from the ARC BOD, a very cool guy. He has help as he's blind.

Kerry, our wannabe Jeeper chick.

Renee Wolf and Carol Hall. Carol is part of our Goodwill crew.

Heidi Channel, another Goodwill Kid.

Sandy Schut, one of my absolute favorites.

Amanda, in the dark shirt, runs our in house programs.

The PP guys finishing up their walk in the park.

Susan with Izzy

Lee's new ride

Lookin' good!

What more could you ask? A big old red Ford with a PP sticker on it.

My buddy Greg Sheer

Senator Delvin and his crew finishing the walk.

Donna looking good after a lot of work putting this event together. Good on ya, kid!

This was cool! Hung the flag out over G-Way.

[iaccocca]

That's TJDave's PP magnetic logos 'leaning' on the firetruck. My great idea was nearly defeated by the fact that fire engines are made almost completely from aluminum. Where is my aluminum magnet when I need it?

[Dromero]

Excellent PR Peak Putters. Nice work.

[TJDave]

I only snapped a couple pics from my cell phone.....
Posing with the ARC sign.

Did you notice I was the only Jeep there in the first pic?




I had a great time and was glad to help out.

[Grumpy]

700 'March for Respect' with Arc of Tri-Cities
By Michelle Dupler, Herald staff writer
About 700 people gathered in Richland's John Dam Plaza on Saturday to honor people with developmental disabilities and make others aware that they're a valuable part of the community.

The third annual "March for Respect" event was organized by The Arc of Tri-Cities and included a walk around the plaza as people with disabilities, advocates, parents and friends held signs and smiled proudly as they proclaimed they're just like everyone else.

"We are not any different," said Michelle Homewood, an Arc member for 22 years, longtime Special Olympics athlete, and mother of a 17-year-old girl with disabilities. "We may learn a little differently, but we're all human and we need the same attention everyone else gets."

The event was intended not only for Arc clients to stand up and be heard, but for the community to gather and show its support. Local luminaries in attendance included Richland Mayor pro tem Ed Revell, Sen. Jerome Delvin, R-Richland, and his wife, Benton County Clerk Josie Delvin.

The Delvins long have been supporters of The Arc and are helping to raise money for a new building that will house expanded programs. Jerome Delvin is the host each year for an Arc trip to Olympia, where the agency's clients, staff and volunteers can tell lawmakers about the issues important to them.

At the top of their list each year is the freedom to make choices about their own lives and the opportunity to have jobs and be as productive as anyone else.

That means convincing the Legislature to pay for services that help people with disabilities live independently and work in their communities.

"Sometimes we don't seem to get the services we need," Homewood said.

Jerome Delvin said he participated in the walk Saturday because he wants to help make the community aware that people with disabilities needn't be limited by them.

"They are part of our community," he said. "They are productive members of our community."

Donna Tracey, The Arc's advocacy manager, said the event also was about thanking the Tri-City community for welcoming people with disabilities.

"We have a variety of individuals with disabilities in our community -- people with hearing impairments, visual impairments, developmental disabilities -- just a gamut," Tracey said.

Homewood said for her the day was about celebrating friendships she's made through The Arc.

"When you get involved in something like The Arc you develop friendships you wouldn't think possible," she said. "You gain knowledge. You gain respect. You gain love."

-- Michelle Dupler: 582-1543; mdupler@tricityherald.com



Read more: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/03/2 ... z0jaVSOimF