Thursday, February 25, 2010

Hello Everyone!

Lots of things are happening in LPA, both locally and nationally.

Planning is continuing for the LPA National Conference which OBC and District 12 is hosting in Anaheim, July 2011. We will need lots of hands, hearts, and fresh ideas to make the conference a success. There are many jobs to fill and many volunteers are needed from Southern California to make it work. Our conference chairs and committee members are myself (Joanna), Bob and Patti Bell, Lina Guzman, and Carol Armenta. Let one of know if you are interested! We will be talking about the national conference planning at the meeting on March 27.

The chapter is also looking for volunteers who have ideas for the chapter or are perhaps willing to help plan and organize events or hold an office.

The time has come for OBC to elect leaders for the next two years. Traditional elected leaders for OBC are a President, a Vice-President and a Treasurer but we are open to adding to our roster of officers. Other positions can be appointed (parent chairperson, secretary, spanish-speaking liaison, etc…) There is room for everyone and everyone is welcome! Candidate declarations and the elections will take place at the March 27 event. If you would like to be on the Board but are not able to attend the event and meeting on March 27 please let me know and we will present your statement at the meeting.

To be an officer, candidates must be 18 or over, a current paid member of OBC for at least one year, and live within the boundaries of the chapter (unless prior authorization is received from the LPA Senior Vice President). Our boundaries are Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and south-east LA County.




LPA/OBC Olympic Picnic and Spring Party followed by Teen Party at Boomers

Saturday, March 27 11pm - 2pm


Join us for a fun-filled afternoon of friends, food, games and eggs! We’ll be having Olympic-style games and our annual Easter Egg Hunt. (Don’t forget to bring a basket and 12 filled plastic eggs for each of your children). Dress to play!

When: Saturday, March 27, 2010
Time: 11:00am – 2:00pm
Where: Peace Lutheran Church
18542 Vanderlip
Tustin, CA

Last Names A-K bring a side dish.
Last Names L-S bring a dessert.
Last Names T-Z bring a main dish

After the Olympic/Spring Party the teens will get together for their own event at Boomers in Irvine. Our Package includes unlimited laser tag, bumper boats, miniature golf, Rockwall, lil go karts, King Arthur's carnival, flamethrower & sidewinder plus 10 points for arcade. (Height & weight restrictions may apply to certain attractions. Teens who either help at the Olympic Party or who have a current paid OBC membership will get in FREE (thanks to new OBC members, the Brookfield Family.) If you help and are an OBC current paid teen we will give you a McDonalds Gift card for use at Boomers. RSVP's are necessary for the teen party.

If you would like to stay and play at Boomers, tickets may be purchased for other family members and children at $12.95 for a full pass. Or you may choose to do only certain play areas (i.e. mini golf, or laser tag) for a la carte prices. Parents, sibs and guests not participating any play areas are allowed in for free.

Boomers address: 3405 Michelson Drive, Irvine, 92715
Boomers website: http://www.boomersparks.com/park/irvine/index.html





Make Your Plans and Reservations for the District 12 Spring Regional
The spring 2010 regional for District 12 will be held at the Hyatt Valencia, and hosted by the LA Chapter of the LPA. The Hyatt Valencia is conveniently located in the heart of Valencia, across the street from the Valencia Town Center with indoor and outdoor shopping, dining and movie theaters. There are lots of things to do in the area, from golf to roller coasters to playing by the water fountains next to Borders across the street. Come out and enjoy!

Hyatt Regency Valencia
24500 Town Center Drive,
Valencia, California, USA 91355
Tel: +1 661 799 1234

Rooms are $109 a night for 1 King or 2 Doubles, and $150 a night for a Junior Suite. Parking is FREE.

Online pre-registration and more information can be found here: http://lpa-la.ning.com/events/2010-spring-regional-hosted.

Watch your mail for a registration packet.






College/Vocational Scholarships and Kitchens Applications Now Available by Anthony Connor, LPA Vice President of Programs
This is an exciting time of year for LPA and its programs.
As part of our service to people with dwarfism, LPA offers monetary scholarships to prospective and current students attending college or vocational school in the United States.

Awards can range from $250 to $1000. Scholarship candidates are evaluated based on involvement in LPA, financial need, academic achievement, and involvement and service in their communities.
Scholarships are given in order of preference to:
• members of LPA who have a medically diagnosed form of dwarfism
• immediate family members who are also paid members of LPA
• people with dwarfism who are not members of LPA

See the LPA website (www.lpaonline.org) for information and applications for the LPA Scholarship.
The deadline to apply for an LPA scholarship is April 30. Winners are announced near or at the time of the National Conference.





LPA also offers offers grants from the Kitchens Fund to its members for first time National Conference attendance. Partial travel expenses or a complimentary hotel room or meal expenses are examples of a typical award.

National Conferences are an important event for the little people community. They provide an opportunity for little people to see doctors who specialize in treating dwarfs, they provide opportunities for parents of little people to connect with other parents, and they provide a venue for kids with dwarfism to connect with each other.

To qualify for a Kitchens Fund scholarship the applicant must meet the following criteria:
1) must be a first-time attendee of a National Conference
2) must be a paid member of LPA in good standing, and
3) any minor child must be accompanied by an adult/guardian

The deadline to apply for a Kitchens Fund grant is April 28. Applicants are notified by phone or e-mail by June 1.
Information and applications for the Kitchens Fund can be found on the LPA website.





Job Opportunities for LPA Members
By Bill Bradford, LPA Senior Vice President

At the beginning of February, the LPA National Office was contacted by two U.S. Government agencies, the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Office of Fish and Wildlife, as part of the President's federal mandate to increase the employment of people with disabilities by 20%.

The two agencies are reaching out to LPA members and members of the dwarfism community, encouraging LPs to apply for federal jobs.
Specifically, the IRS is in search of accountants and IT specialists and our members will NOT need to compete for the jobs, just simply submit a resume online. Qualified individuals can be hired within one month! The IRS is hiring nationwide, in every region. More general positions are available with U.S. Fish and Wildlife. If you are job-seeking, this is a GREAT opportunity. Please visit the Federal Jobs web site to submit a resume. To learn more, visit http://www.usajobs.gov/ OR http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/a9trirs.aspx






LPA Teen Raising Money for Senior Year Project
A Special Message from a Northern
California LPA Teen
I am Willem Winkelman and have been a member of Little People of America (LPA) most of my life. I have been raised in LPA and know that it was an important part of my growing up. This year I am graduating from high school and I am required to complete a Senior Project. I am doing my project on something that has also been a big part of my life and needs the help of everyone in LPA to continue: the Painted Turtle Camp in California.
I have been a camper since it began and also hope to continue as a counselor as I get older. This camp is important because it gives all the kids something they can get nowhere else in their life, a feeling of sameness while they get the summer camp experience that every kid across America enjoys. During our week of camp 120 kids come together to enjoy the experience. The Painted Turtle does not require, nor ask, any camper to pay for camp. The Painted Turtle
raises money through donations. I am writing you in the hopes that you will be able to help keep this amazing camp available for all the kids of LPA by supporting my project with a donation to this amazing camp. Donations big and small will help fund this amazing camp.
Checks should be made out to LPAD12-TPT, and mailed to:
Willem Winkelman
P.O.Box. 1076
Bodega Bay, CA 94923
or
you may donate online through my web site:
willemsseniorproject.bbnow.org
All donations are tax-deductible and greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Willem Winkelman
(This e-newsletter submission was approved by the LPA Board of Directors).

1 comment:

chelsealush said...

newly married, newly pregnant, just had 19 week sonogram. Baby has short legs and short arms. They are in the 10th percentile. The torso and head appear normal. My doctor is not in and I'm scared. Please help me. I am hoping achondroplasia is all that is wrong. I need support and answers from parents who have been thru this already. Any info would be helpful.