Opportunity House, Inc. Recreation Newsletter November/December 2015 Editor: Barb Lynch Thoughts From The Editor We are now counting down to the end of 2015. This Newsletter includes the activity calendars for November and December. Time continues to move so quickly! However, we are looking forward to the Holidays and the activities that are planned. Extra Special events during the Holidays include the Turkey Toe Dance, the Special Olympics Awards Night (and of course, the eagerly anticipated video!) and the Client Christmas Party. Take time to look over the activity schedules and call Barb or AJ to sign up for the activities that interest you. We can be reached at 815-991-2990 ext. 119 for Barb or ext. 122 for AJ. Opportunity House Inc. 202 Lucas St. Sycamore IL 60178 Our Holiday Wish for everyone is to enjoy spending time with family and friends. I am also looking forward to eating a lot of stuffing and fudge! Happy Holidays!
DECEMBER RECTIVITIES Announcements 1. And the Chili Cook Off winners are Center Cross Group Home and Marc Johnson! Their names will be added to the Chili Pot Trophies -and the rest of us will try to get our names added again next year! 2. Venture Scout Court of Honor Ceremony will be held in the Gym at 357 N. California Street from 1:30-3:30pm. Thursday 10/29. 3. The Aktion Club Turkey Toe Dance will be at the 357 Building on Friday, 11/6 from 6:00-8:00pm. 4. The Aktion Club Interclub Meeting will be 11/10 in the 357 Conference from 2:00-3:15pm. Ken Safford will be guest speaker. 5. The Special Olympics Awards Night is 11/20 from 6:00-9:00pm in the Terrace Room at Hopkins Park. 6. Special Olympics Basketball Game Day is 12/6. 7. Client Christmas Party is 12/12 from 6:00-9:00 at MVP s Regale Room. Table of Contents Turkey Toe Dance-Invitation and details Aktion Club-Fund raising, Convention, Service Projects and Up-coming Events Client Christmas Party Invitation and RSVP Special Olympics-Awards Night & Game Day Venture Crew-Court of Honor and Campers Rochelle Train Park and Summer Memories 1. Movin and Groovin at 357 When: Dec.1,8,15 and 22 Time: 3:45-5:15 Where: 357 Fee: $ 3 each Limit: 12 Staff: Barb 3. Venture Crew When: Dec. 3,10 and 17 Time: 3:45-5:15 Where: 357 Fee: $3 Limit: 15 Staff: Barb 5. Miracle On 34th Street at Stagecoach &Playhouse Dinner When: Dec 4 Time: 4-10:30pm Fee: $ 25.00 Limit: 13 Staff: Barb & AJ 7. Guy s Night Out to The Good Dinasaur & Steak and Shake When: Dec 15 Time: 4-8pm Where: Meet 357 Fee: $11 plus $20 cash 9. Lunch at Fanatico s Italian Restaurant in DeKalb When: Dec 19 Time: 11am-2:30pm Fee: $12.50 & $25 cash-meal/tip Dec 8 Aktion Club Officer s Mtg. 1:00-2:00 at 357 Conference Rm Dec 8 Aktion Club Meeting 2-3:15 at 357 Conference Room 2. at 357 When: Dec. 1,8 and 22 Time: 4:00-5:15 Where: 357 Fee: $3 Limit: 6 Staff: AJ 4. at Four Seasons When: Dec.3,10 and 17 Time: 3:45-5:30 Where: Meet at 357 Fee: $3 each plus $6 cash Limit: 8 Staff: AJ 6. Holiday Chorale Concert at First United Methodist Church in DeKalb When: Dec 5 Time:2-4:30pm Where: Meet at 357 Fee: $7.50 Limit: 6 8. Girl s Night Out-Movie and Homemade Pizza at 357 When: Dec 18 Time: 4-8pm Fee: $11 Limit: 12 Staff: Barb HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!! Recreation Contact Information Barb Lynch: email: barb@ohinc.org Phone: 815-991-2990 ext. 119 AJ Edwards Phone: 815-991-2990 ext. 122
Aktion Club of Opportunity House Presents The Turkey Toe Dance With DJ Sean Weisser When: Friday, November 6th Time: 6:00-8:00pm Where: 357 North California Street in Sycamore Admission: Canned goods or Non-perishable Food Items (Two items per dancer, please!) The Aktion Club is hosting The Turkey Toe Dance this year to raise awareness of hunger in our community. The food items collected will be donated to the Salem Lutheran Food Pantry. Aktion Club members will also be selling refreshments at the dance. Money raised from the sale of refreshments will be donated to Feed My Hungry Children. Refreshments will include pop ($.50) and coffee ($.25), chips ($.50) and cookies ($.50). Dust off your dancing shoes and join us for a fun filled evening! December 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 Miracle on 34th Street 5 Holiday Chorale 6 Special Olympics Basketball Games 7 8 9 10 11 12 Christmas Party Invitation on p. 5 13 14 15 Guy s Night Out 16 17 18 Girl s Night Out 19 Lunch at Fanaticos s 20 21 22 23 24 Christmas Eve Holiday DT & WS Closed 25 Christmas Holiday DT & WS Closed 26 27 28 29 30 31 New Year s Eve Holiday DT & WS Closed
NOVEMBER RECTIVITIES A Lasting Impression, a traveling detail and appearance business offered the Aktion Club a fund raising opportunity from August 31st September 14th. They donated 25% of the cost of detailing for customers supporting the Aktion Club during that time. We are pleased to report that $ 269 was raised toward our commitment to the Eliminate Project, the Roger Hoffman Memorial Scholarship, the Fairdale Recovery Effort and to the Sycamore Park District. We are very grateful to Mike Nightingale, owner of A Lasting Impression, for his support. On September 12th, Lisa Steinbis, Connie Ordonez, Shadow Gentry, Spring Bellows, Sara Killey, BJ Berkheimer and Carol Chmielewski attended the Illinois Eastern Iowa Aktion Club 2015 Convention held in Joliet, IL. The Convention gave us a chance to talk with members of other Aktion Clubs and to hear about their service projects. We are very happy to welcome Jean Ehrlenborn as the Co-Advisor of the Aktion Club of Opportunity House. Jean has been helping us for a long time -but now she is official! Thank you, Jean! 1. Movin and Groovin at 357 When: Nov 3, 10, & 24 Time: 3:45-5:15pm Where: 357 Fee: $ 3 each Limit: 12 Staff: Barb 3. Middle Eastern Music Concert at NIU Music Building When: Nov 3 Time: 6:00-9:30pm Meet at 357 Fee: $ 12 Staff: Barb 5. Venture Crew Meeting When: Nov 5, 12 &19 Time: 3:45 5:15pm Where: 357 Fee: $ 3 each Limit: 15 Staff: Barb 7. Camp Grant Museum & Lunch When: Nov 7 Time: 9:00am-2:00pm Where: Meet at 357 Fee: $12.50 plus $10 cash for lunch Staff: Barb 9. Feed My Starving Children & Lunch at Bea s Wok and Roll When: Nov 14 Time: 8:30am-1:30pm Meet at 357 Fee: $5 plus $12 cash 11. Girl s Night Out-Movie and Savory Beef Dinner at 357 When: Nov. 18 Time: 4-8pm Where: 357 Fee: $11 Limit: 12 Staff: Barb 2. at 357 When: Nov. 3, 10, & 17 Time: 3:45-5:15pm Where: 357 Fee: $ 3 each Limit: 6 Staff: AJ 4. Chinese Music Concert at NIU Music Building When: Nov 4 6:00-9:30pm Meet at 357 Fee: $12 Staff: Barb 6. at Four Seasons When: Nov 5, 12 & 19 Time: 3:45-5:15pm Where: Meet at 357 Fee: $3 each plus $6 for games Limit: 8 8. Aktion Club Community Service -Feed My Starving Children When: Nov 13 Time: 5:30-8:30pm Meet at 357 Staff: Barb & AJ 10. Guy s Day Out-Lunch and Bears Game at Hobnobbers Pizza When: Nov 15 Time: 11 4 Fee: $11 plus $20 cash for lunch Staff: AJ 12. Steel Drum Concert at NIU Music Building When: Nov 22 Time: 2:00-6:00pm Where: Meet at 357 Fee: $12 Limit: 8 Staff: AJ
Current Aktion Club Community Service Projects 1. Children s Outer-wear Clothing Drive sponsored by the Sycamore Kiwanis. We will be collecting coats, snow pants, hats, gloves and boots so children can participate in outdoor recess during the winter. Contact Barb Lynch if you have items to donate. 2. Feed My Starving Children event at The Suter Company on Friday, November 13th 6:00 8:00pm. Contact Barb Lynch if you want to participate. Upcoming Aktion Club Events 1. Turkey Toe Dance Nov 6th at 357 N. California St. 2. Delivering canned goods and non-perishable food items to The Salem Lutheran Food Pantry Monday, November 9th. 3. Officer s Meeting Tuesday, Nov 10th at 1:00pm in Conference Room at 357 N. California St. 4. Aktion Club Interclub Meeting Nov 10th at 2:00pm in Conference Room at 357 N. California St. Guest Speaker: Ken Safford, retired member of the Coast Guard. 5. Feed My Starving Children Community Service event Friday, Nov 13th from 6:00-8:00pm. 6. Officer s Meeting Tuesday, Dec 8th at 1:00pm in Conference Room at 357 N. California St. 7. Aktion Club Meeting Tuesday, Dec 8th at 2:00pm in Conference Room at 357 N. California St. November 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 M & G Concert 4 Chinese Music Concert 5 6 Turkey Toe Dance Invitation on p. 3 7 Camp Grant Museum 8 9 10 11 12 13 Feed My Starving Children 14 Feed My Starving Children 15 Guy s Day Out 16 17 M & G Jazz Concert 18 Girl s Night Out 19 20 Special Olympics Awards Night 21 22 Steel Drum Concert 23 24 25 26 Thanksgiving Holiday WS & DT Closed 27 Thanksgiving Holiday WS & DT Closed 28 29 30
Client Christmas Party At MVP s Regale Center Summer Memories in DT Members of DT enjoy at nice summer afternoon at the McGladrey Golf Clinic in Rockford You are cordially invited to Opportunity House s Annual Client Christmas Party at MVP s Regale Center on Saturday, December 12th, 2015. Here are the details: When: Saturday, December 12th, 2015 Where: MVP s Regale Center at 122 South California St (Directly behind MVP s) Time: 6:00-9:00pm Entertainment: Rock Barn Band Cost: Free Refreshments including snacks and punch will be provided. DT Staff members tour the Helping Hand Center in Hodgkins, IL Please RSVP with the next page to Barb or AJ by Friday, December 4th, so they can let Santa know you are coming! The Recreation Office can be reached at 815991-2990 ext. 119 for Barb or ext. 122 for AJ. Or email Barb at barb@ohinc.org. Don t Forget Your Dancing Shoes!! DT Clients at the annual Steam Show this past August
Rochelle Train Park On September 19th, we made one last visit to the Rochelle Train Park before cold weather sets in. On the way to Rochelle, we always stop at the Truck Stop to have the brunch for our breakfast. We saw 9 trains while we were at the Train Park on the 19th. That was the most we had seen in one day all summer long! It was a great day! Matt Rowan enjoys his time at the Rochelle Train Park! Michael and Richard display some of the cool print media they picked up at the Rochelle Train Park.
Special Olympics Upcoming Events Venture Crew 202 Special Olympics Awards Night is planned for Friday, November 20th at the Terrace Room at Hopkins Park. We are looking forward to celebrating the accomplishments of all Special Olympics athletes. We are also looking forward to the Annual Special Olympics video and the sound track for 2015! And, of course, the introduction of the Athletes of the Year. Here are the details for Awards Night: When: Friday, November 20th Where: Terrace Room at Hopkins Park Time: 6:00 9:00pm Cost: Free If you have questions about the event, Marc Johnson can be reached at 815-991-2990 ext. 120. Special Olympics Basketball Game Day is planned for Sunday, December 6th at the Sycamore High School Fieldhouse. For athletes, this is an opportunity for your team to compete with other area teams. For staff and families, this is an opportunity to cheer on Opportunity House athletes. For more information about game times and how you can help on Game Day, please contact Marc Johnson at 815-991-2990 ext. 120. The Venture Crew are very much enjoying their daytime camping activity!