I’m up in Delavan, Wisconsin with my friend Sue. We’re watching our sons compete in the Midwest Academic Bowl hosted by Gallaudet and the Wisconsin School for the Deaf. This is David’s second year competing for Hinsdale South and Alex’s first year with the Illinois School for the Deaf. The two boys have known each other since they were babies, born just a week apart. Today is the second day of the competition which begins at eight this morning.
While my kiddo is competing, I’m up here working for CSDVRS at the same time. Last night, we hosted a gathering of local deaf and hard of hearing families for a pizza night. The Z-340 was hooked up to a large TV and people took turns trying it out, making calls and ordering extra pizza as more families arrived later in the evening. Hope Turpin, who specializes in VCO (voice carry over), showed how to make calls using voice to talk directly to the hearing caller. Two of our Wisconsin outreach specialists, Scotty Franz and Gina Sutton joined us too.
Earlier in the day, I accidently dropped my Z-340 on the wooden floor when I had it on my lap during a break in the competition. I was in the middle of answering a call from Hope, who was setting things up at another location. My heart was beating when I picked it up, thinking that I broke it. Thank goodness for that durable cover which kept it intact.
After our event, we headed over to the Delavan Deaf Club to join the Gallaudet Alumni party. We met up with Dean, Susie and Ryan Kelly who also work as Outreach Specialists. Dr. Davila was there and he talked about the students who were competing in the Academic Bowl (“they’re smarter than I was at that age!”) and the long range plan for Gallaudet. I was really impressed to see the amount of giving that the alumnis put forth each year, between $200,000 to $400,000 each year. The club auctioned a few items, including a Gallaudet blanket that was part of a fierce bidding war between an older couple and a younger alumni. Dr. Davila was caught up in the auction fever and he whipped off his tie to auction that off. Susie Kelly suggested that everyone contribute toward the tie to keep it on display at the club. Everyone agreed and the money flowed. Dr. Davila signed his tie and handed it over to the club.
I’m heading back to WSD to watch my son and then heading to Milwaukee for another CSDVRS event tonight at Kozzies. It has been fun getting to know the people from Wisconsin. I’ve discovered that not everyone is a Packers fan and some admit to supporting the Chicago Bears!
