From The Director…

A Night To Remember!

My name is Samuel Robinson, Jr. I am 28 years old and have Practical Muscular Dystrophy. I was born and raised in Saluda County and still live there. I remember at a much younger age I use to run and play. But at the age of 5, I had problems in walking. I did not receive treatment until I was 7. When I started treatment, I went to Richland Memorial Hospital in Columbia. When they could not help me, they transferred my records to a doctor in Aiken.

I used to use a walker. But now I do not use one. I remember that back then no one knew what I had. The school board took me out of school and I stayed out one year. The next year I started at another school in Aiken County where I graduated.

My hobbies are fishing; games; and repairing clocks, fans, and radios. I attend the day program at Emerald Center in Saluda. I enjoy working at the center. We make mops and stuff envelopes for the National Wild Turkey Federation. I am married and have a 16 month old daughter named Selena Marie. I enjoy being a father and I am thankful to be a father. I help care for my daughter when her mother goes to work. My hope is that I live to see my daughter become a grown woman. But if I don’t I still have the time we did share.

"They were overjoyed with the clothing and toys. They were especially overwhelmed with the clothing — the new pajamas and coats for the winter. They couldn’t believe that people were doing this for them," said Ruth Ellerbe, Early Interventionist.

"I wish everyone could have been there when Santa called Ricky’s name, he hollered and ran to Santa to receive his gift," stated Emma Gaskins, Assistant Day Program Coordinator.

"Reflecting back, it was a humbling experience when I asked the families what they needed and the answer I received many times was things like shampoo, deodorant, food, water, paper products, firewood — things that most of us take for granted," stated Kim Brown, Director of Service Coordination.

As the demand for services for people with disabilities and special needs grows, so must we be innovative and creative in ways to provide these services. Another way that we hope to assist participants at Emerald Center is to provide extra assistance through people who are willing to share some free time.

The Volunteer Program is a vital component to the success and quality of services provided at Emerald Center. Every day there is the opportunity to enhance the quality of life of people with disabilities and their families. Volunteers will be trained to assist staff members in a such a way as to help each individual reach their full potential as contributing citizens. Our goal is to improve quality of life.

The Volunteer Program will be designed to accommodate volunteers by providing schedules of duties and training suitable for each individual. Please consider contributing some time to this very worthy cause. Applications are now available for volunteer work in the Human Resources Department - Emerald Center, 929 Phoenix Street in Greenwood.

Maxine "Happy" McLeod has joined the Emerald Center Multi-County Board for Disabilities and Special Needs as Greenwood Operations Manager. Prior to joining Emerald Center, Happy was Manager of The Hammock Shop/Sporting Life of Pawley’s Island. Her experience also includes serving as Executive Director of the Colleton County Disabilities and Special Needs Board and as Residential/Training Director of the Horry County Disabilities and Special Needs Board.

Happy brings extensive experience in the field of disabilities to Emerald Center. She has been involved at both the state and local levels of developing services for people with disabilities and special needs.

Happy is a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a BA degree in Sociology and a Masters degree in Public Administration. She is also a graduate of the Executive Directors Academy of the University of South Carolina.

Happy resides in Greenwood and attends the First Presbyterian Church.

Reverend George C. Hill has been named Chaplain of the Emerald Center Multi-County Board for Disabilities and Special Needs. Hill, a graduate of Toccoa Falls College, is Director of the Sonshine Ministry at North Side Baptist Church, an outreach to individuals with disabilities and their families.

As Chaplain, Reverend Hill will provide pastoral care for individuals and their families and staff members in Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, McCormick, and Saluda counties.

He and his wife, Lee, have four children, Celia Nelson; Sara, Amy, and Calvin, and four grandchildren.

Kim Williams has joined the Emerald Center Foundation as Administrative Assistant. Prior to joining Emerald Center, Kim was a second grade teacher at Springfield Elementary School. Kim is a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a BA degree in Early Childhood Education. She and her husband, Mark, have a son, Greyson. They reside in Greenwood and are members of the First Baptist Church.

The new Greenwood Advisory Board members are: Gary Anderson, Kathryn Smith, Andy Lyle, James Hackett, Charles Graves, Beverly Burton, Linda Burton, and Marcellene Myers.

The purpose of the Advisory Board will be to assist Emerald Center in reaching out to the people with disabilities in our five county catchment area giving them greater opportunities to reach their potential. The basic functions of the Advisory Board will be fundraising; advocating to meet special needs; promoting public relations; special projects such as visiting one-on-one with clients or in groups, sharing a story, going to a movie or out to eat, or simply providing comfort; provide special recognition such as remembering birthdays, holidays, and special events; advise personal contacts about volunteer opportunities; set guidelines to include office meetings on a quarterly basis; advise administration of ideas that would increase effectiveness of programs at Emerald Center or provide better services to clients on a more personal level.

Our goal is to establish Advisory Boards in each of the five counties. The Ware Shoals Advisory Board has been very active over the years in enhancing services. The members of this board are: David Estes - Chairman, Marlene Strawhorn, Mary Crawford, Barbara McCurry, Joyce Madden, Robert Emory, Zell Skinner, Kelly Brooks, Lewis Bagwell, Sandy Washburn, Barbara Moore, and David Pulley. The formation of boards in Abbeville, Edgefield, Saluda, and McCormick is in progress.

If you are interested or know of someone you would recommend as a potential board member, please contact Kim Williams at 942-4902 or Teresa Medlin at 942-8902.

August 7 was graduation day for the Developmental Learning Center. The ceremony took place in the Monsanto Gymnasium at Emerald Center. Louise Robinson, Service Coordinator, sang "I Believe I Can Fly", with the audience joining in on the chorus.

Graduates were: Alexandria C. Cox, daughter of Mary Teresa and Alfred C. Cox, Jr. of Greenwood; Kayla Jayne Alexander, daughter of Jane & Jimmy Alexander of Greenwood, and George L. Ferguson, son of Melissa Ann Ferguson of Greenwood. These children are now attending public school in Greenwood.

The Developmental Learning Center provides services for children ages birth to three and after school for ages 3 to 6. Individual training is provided in eye, hand, and finger coordination skills; comprehension and language skills; toileting, dressing, and feeding skills, as well as social interaction. The DLC staff members are: Belinda Turner - Children’s Program Supervisor, Edna Brown - teacher, Janet Rushton - teacher, Estella Hill - Summer Extended Teacher, and Angela Blizzard - Extended Daycare teacher.

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